Heavy Things Lightly

Find this episode on YouTube: Dr. Philip Mamalakis says you'd take a bullet for your wife. But would you fix the light in the freezer she's been asking about for six weeks? That gap — between the heroic love we imagine and the ordinary love we're actually called to — is exactly what this conversation is about. Dr. Philip Mamalakis teaches the core courses in Pastoral Care at Hellenic College Holy...

Find this episode on YouTube: Father Hans has spent years reaching young men on the edge — men who are economically stuck, spiritually fragmented, and slow to trust. In this conversation, he names what’s really going on: a generation that woke up inside a world already infected with “narcissistic spiritual cancer,” and a culture that gave them consumer identity instead of a soul. They go deep on:...

In this conversation recorded live at Symbolic World, John Heers sits down with Mother Agapia for a deep, unfiltered account of life on the ground in the West Bank: the building of the wall, the expansion of settlements, the targeting of Christian communities, and the complicated, often beautiful relationship between Orthodox Christians and their Muslim neighbors. Mother Agapia is an American Orth...

Find this episode on YouTube: Is American Orthodoxy even possible? John Heers sits down with Ben Michael (Orthodox Luigi) to talk about race, ethnicity, what it means to be an American — and whether there's a future for Orthodox Christianity in a nation built on rootlessness. This conversation goes where most won't — deep into the tension between ethnic identity and faith, the rise of nationalism,...

Georgia's ancient faith is still alive — and it demands more than just going through the motions. Professor Levan Gigineishvili joins John to discuss the importance of continuous personal growth as an Orthodox Christian, the ultimate answer to avoiding complacency and transforming our lives in Christ. A medievalist, philosopher, and one of Georgia's most respected public intellectuals — walks us t...

Find this episode on YouTube: Fr. Paul Girgis joins HTL to talk about American Orthodoxy, what's happening culturally, Lebanon and the Hezobollah question among many more. Discover more about Fr. Paul here: @Floridoxy -----------------------Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have: https://conradsdeli.com/ use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.-----------------------✒ Substack: https://...

Find this episode on YouTube: Dr. Nicole Roccas has been researching and writing about time from both a historical and theological perspective for nearly ten years. In addition to being a writer and editor, she lectures at the Orthodox School of Theology at Trinity College (Toronto). You can find more of her writing on her Ancient Faith podcast and blog, Time Eternal. Discover more about Nicole: h...

Jonathan Pageau is back for a short chat, because we have to talk about clown world and Hegseth, and what in the world is going on in American politics. BUT! Also, we have to mention Symbolic World and especially the upcoming conference. Hope to see you all in Ohio, follow the link below for more info! Symbolic World Summit: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/ -----------------------Conrad's Deli - T...

Find this episode on YouTube: Jonathan Pageau is back for a short chat, because we have to talk about clown world and Hegseth, and what in the world is going on in American politics. BUT! Also, we have to mention Symbolic World and especially the upcoming conference. Hope to see you all in Ohio, follow the link below for more info! Symbolic World Summit: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/ ----------...

Find this episode on YouTube: Let's take a look at what's happening in Iran, Israel, Ukraine. How are we 'waging' war? Well, the answer is more nuanced than you think. And St. Basil has a couple of words for us near the end.-----------------------Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have: https://conradsdeli.com/ use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.-----------------------✒ Substack: ht...

Find this episode on YouTube (subbed in Russian as well): Frederica Mathews Green on what it means to be a guest or a host at the Art of the Tamada event in Greenville, SC 2025."The Art of the Tamada" by the First Things Foundation (FTF) is a transformational cultural experience and fundraising event modeled on the traditional Georgian Supra (a feast led by a toastmaster or Tamada). It is designed...

Find this episode on YouTube: Let's all be calm and cool and watch the recent State of the Union address with Uncle Seth, because obviously that is a good idea. -----------------------Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have: https://conradsdeli.com/ use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.----------------------- ✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf 🍷...

Find this episode on YouTube: Pavel Schelin sits down once more with John to talk about the tragic story of Marc Antony and those characters around him. What happens when massive Dionysian energy has no true master? It's a story of a bad Tamada, or Trump, or crazy college parties - and understanding this can help us all order our lives a little better. We invite you to join Pavel's new course at t...

Find this episode on YouTube: Fr. Andrew Damick and Rev. Mike Landsman of the Areopagus podcast (https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/areopagus/) join the show to talk the state of Protestantism in America, what's happening in the world of Christianity in general, and the different flavors of folks coming into the church. Discover more of these fine gentlemen here:youtube.com/@frandrewstephendami...

Discover more about the Svanes, their mission and support their efforts here:The Story: Support: https://helligebebudelsen.no/en/help-us-build-a-sacred-space-in-norway/Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have: https://conradsdeli.com/ use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.-----------------------✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf🍷The best dinner pa...

Find this episode on YouTube: Reupload** The internet spirits inhabited our audio on the previous upload - we think we have it fixed this time around. John and James tackle the modern technology empire that seems to be consuming all of us. James sums it up pretty well during our convo: "...we are all slowly becoming cyborgs."James Poulos is the Editor of The American Mind and author of multiple bo...

Find this episode on YouTube: Alex Sorin joins the show today to talk about debating and defending the Orthodox Church, a little on Cicero, and a lot on the Protestant mindset in America. Also Alex is equal parts intelligent and nice. 10/10 would recommend as your lawyer. Find more Alex here: https://www.youtube.com/@Alex_Ortodoxie or on X: https://x.com/Alex_Ortodoxie Conrad's Deli - The best jer...

Andrew McLuhan is the son of Eric McLuhan, a grandson of Marshall McLuhan, founder and director of The McLuhan Institute (founded 2017). TMI was founded to conserve and continue media studies in the McLuhan tradition, which arguably began with "Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man" published in 1964.Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have: https://conradsdeli.com/ use promo code "FIR...

I'll say it one more time, this pod chose me! We weren't planning on doing this episode, but then the curse of the Old Calendar and Christmas being on different days...well, it all conspired to deliver this. A pod where I sound like a jerk, but I'm really not. Baby Jesus Night! Lets go! Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have: https://conradsdeli.com/ use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10%...

Find this episode on YouTube: The Heers Girls join HTL to educate us on what cuffing is, what women look for in men (kinda) and if body odor is a deal breaker. Also, there is singing. Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have: https://conradsdeli.com/ - use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off. ✒ Substack: ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf 🍷The best dinner party you've ever experienced - Supra D...

Find this episode on YouTube: Lt. Colonel Dan Horst joins the show as both a veteran and Tamada at our Keipi restaurant. We chat about the changing Christian landscape in America and drill down into what makes America...America. Conrad’s Deli - The best jerky you’ll ever have: https://conradsdeli.com/ use promo code “FIRST THINGS” for 10% off.-------------------------------------------------------...

Find this episode on YouTube: Pt. 2 following up on last episodes exploration of materialism and Gnosticism as we se them playing out in modern culture. Conrad’s Deli - The best jerky you’ll ever have: https://conradsdeli.com/ - use promo code “FIRST THINGS” for 10% off.-----------------------------------✒ Substack: ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf 🍷The best dinner party you’ve ever experienced - Supr...

Find this episode on YouTube: Let’s figure out reality. No really, let’s try and understand where reality exists as per an ancient understanding. And then maybe, we can understand why Candace might sound crazy, but really isn’t. Conrad’s Deli - The best jerky you’ll ever have: https://conradsdeli.com/ use promo code “FIRST THINGS” for 10% off.-----------------------------------✒ Substack: https://...

Find this episode on YouTube: Ceremonial magician Justine Alter talks and what a talk it is. Extremely fascinating (terrifying?) look into what is happening just out of site. After a life of being a psychic, extreme artist, and cult leader Justine converted to Orthodoxy. Her story is wild. Discover “Outside of the World” at New Martyr Press: https://www.newmartyrpress.com/books/blog-post-title-two...

Find this episode on YouTube: A tale of ancient Christians, modern celebrations, and what it says about our current culture. The best jerky you’ll ever have: https://conradsdeli.com/ use promo code “FIRST THINGS” for 10% off. ✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf 🍷The best dinner party you’ve ever experienced - Supra Dinner Society: https://supradinner.com/ 🏖️...