IMR Podcast with Glanz & Jerončić

In this episode, we reflect on Paul Kingsnorth’s critique of modern civilization, beginning with his recent lecture and moving into a wider discussion of Christian civilization, cultural decline, and the spiritual conditions of the modern age. Drawing on figures such as Oswald Spengler and Arnold Toynbee, the conversation explores Kingsnorth’s account of “the Machine” as a way of naming the impers...

In this episode, Oliver and Ante explore themes of biblical lamentations, trauma, divine silence, and hope. They analyze the structure and theology of Lamentations, connect it to contemporary suffering, and discuss how faith persists amidst unanswered prayers and divine absence. Chapters 00:00 Exploring the Book of Lamentations 13:30 The Meaning of 'No Resting Place' 22:15 The Structure and Chaos...

Olive and Ante are discussing the meaning of Easter and how, paradoxically, it addresses both human doubt and comfort. Along the way, they explore whether doubt is beneficial, whether it might be "demonic," and what role certainty plays in a mature Christian faith. * * * * * NEW TO THE PODCAST? In this podcast, we engage in free-ranging conversations about life, faith, philosophy, ethics, relation...

It has been nearly a year since Oliver and Ante recorded their last episode. During this time, much has happened both in the world and in their personal lives. They have decided to engage in a free-flowing conversation about various aspects of their lives to reconnect, catch up, and set the stage for future discussions. For the first time, there is a transcript of the episode, which may be of inte...

Shame is a powerful and elusive emotion—often unnamed, yet deeply formative. In this episode, Ante and Oliver explore the nature of shame: what it is, where it comes from, and why it matters. They consider whether shame is universal or culturally accentuated, how it emerges early in life, and how it is bound up with our sense of standing and visibility before others. Drawing on insights from psych...

René Girard—a French-American literary critic, philosopher, and anthropologist—has profoundly shaped Oliver's and Ante's thinking. In this episode, they explore key Girardian themes: desire, imitation, envy, resentment, violence, the origins of religion, and scapegoating. They argue that Girard offers a lens that, if taken seriously, radically reconfigures how we understand both reality and Script...

In this episode of IMR Bites , Ante turns to the theme of wisdom, central to Scripture, moral philosophy, and the moral life. Drawing on biblical texts, especially the wisdom literature and Paul’s letters, as well as insights from psychology, he explores how wisdom involves discernment, moral perception, and the ability to navigate complexity. In a time flooded with information but lacking clarity...

In this episode, Olive and Ante tackle the fraught topic of sexuality and gender.  What they are primarily interested in is how these issues are framed in contemporary culture and how certain types of discourse on these matters have become normalized over time. In so doing, they are coming to terms with the basic truism of life: all beliefs and convictions have a history behind them. * * * * * NEW...

In this first episode of In Medias Res Bites , Ante introduces a new short-form format within the IMR podcast. These occasional reflections, offered by either Oliver or Ante, and possibly guest contributors in the future, complement the longer dialogues with focused meditations on themes central to the art of living. Edited episode transcript In this opening reflection, Ante explores the idea of a...

In this episode, Oliver is joined by Torben, a psychiatrist from Norway, and Julia, a high school teacher, mother, and CBT counselor from Austria. Together, we explore how narratives shape personal and communal identity, drawing on insights from psychology, neuroscience, and theology. The conversation delves into the formative power of memory, its connection to trauma and healing, and how we can b...

For this episode, Oliver and Ante are delighted to connect with their good friends, Oleg Kostyuk, Assistant to the President for Mission at AdventHealth University, and Torben Bergland, a psychiatrist from Norway. Building on their previous discussion of fear, they use this conversation to deepen their understanding of fear, particularly as it relates to the dynamics of memory, trauma, and authori...

Fear is an incredibly complex emotion, differing in expressions as it does in its causes. Ante and Oliver try to tackle it from different angles, including its neurobiology, connection with human identity, personal and social manifestations, negative effects, strategies for addressing them, and place in the life of Christians. * * * * * NEW TO THE PODCAST? In this podcast, we engage in free-rangin...

Doubt shows up in many different guises. What accounts for the variety of such human experiences? What is its relation to faith? What are the different causes and expressions of doubt? What is it about our cultural moment that makes doubt such a widespread phenomenon? Can doubt sometimes be an expression of laziness? To what extent is doubt central to intellectual and spiritual growth?... These ar...

This time, the starting point for the conversation is Oliver's upcoming article, "A Critical Look at Modern Graduate Education Through the Lens of Ancient Texts." They explore some strengths and weaknesses of contemporary education, how some of those weaknesses are engendered and reinforced through the use of modern textbooks, the kind of cognitive (fore)closure these texts encourage, what the rel...

Back in November 2024, Ante presented a paper at the Society of Adventist Philosophers titled The Anthropotechnics of Freedom: Training in Objectivity and the Ethics of Epistemic Authenticity. In this episode, Oliver and Ante take up that topic to explore the meaning and possibility of objectivity—so often a term of derision. They ask: Why does truth matter? Can we ever attain objective knowledge?...

In this episode, Oliver and Ante delve into the enduring legacy of Homer's Odyssey . They explore its profound impact over the centuries, discussing why this epic poem remains so significant today. The conversation covers a breadth of existential themes presented in the Odyssey , such as destiny, homecoming, virtue, identity, and the human condition. Additionally, they examine the benefits of stud...

This time around, Ante and Oliver have a free-ranging conversation on a number of issues. After a brief life debrief and some discussion of AI tools, they delve into a US presidential election post-mortem, questions of objectification in relation to human subjectivity, how objectification leads to alienation and conflict, how the deepening of relationships with people who are different from us req...

After a longish break, Oliver and Ante are back recording new IMR episodes. In this one, they tackle different aspects of understanding, ranging from problematic self-perceptions, to evaluations and surveys, to the problem of objectification, and much more. CONNECT WITH US Email * * * * * NEW TO THE PODCAST? In this podcast, we engage in free-ranging conversations on life, faith, philosophy, ethic...

In recent years, "manifesting" has gained significant traction in pop culture and social media. It is the idea of willing the universe to bring into being our desires, in the sense of already possessing them in the act of wishing. As this rides on many interesting ideas and has a lot to say about our current cultural moment, Oliver and Ante have decided to discuss the issue to wrap their minds aro...

In recent weeks, all across the country, students have received countless awards, recognitions, and trophies. That state of affairs prompted Ante and Oliver to examine the participation trophy phenomenon to probe the underlying forces that fuel it. For instance, what does it say about how we view parenting, psychological development, personal well-being, growth and resiliency, self-esteem, and mot...

Continuing in the spirit of Kant's 300th anniversary, Oliver and Ante are taking another crack at this monumental thinker. This time, they focus more specifically on his moral thought, running with the contention, partially tongue in cheek, that a consistent application of his principles of morality might lead to a revival in Christian communities. Among others, they discuss Derek Parfit's reformu...

In light of the 300th anniversary of Immanuel Kant's birth, Ante and Oliver discuss his status as one of the most influential thinkers of the modern era. It is hard to fully capture all the ways in which he has influenced our culture. In a way, we are all Kantians to some degree, whether we know it or not. To that end, they explore his background, the context in which he worked, some troublesome a...

In this fascinating episode, Oliver and Ante discuss the importance of Eugen Drewermann, a leading  20th-century theologian, particularly his integration of exegesis and depth psychology. Using his ideas as a springboard, they explore insights that a psycho-existential reading of Exodus might bring to understanding various life experiences and key turning points.  CONNECT WITH US Email Website * *...

As mentioned in their previous episode, Oliver and Ante continue discussing the topic of trauma rooted in personal experience. They examine the rise of trauma literature, how it has impacted biblical studies and theology, and the new insights it has brought to the table. While such reflections are not new--people have forever struggled with suffering, loss, grief, tragedy, and meaning--trauma disc...

In another guest episode, Oliver and Ante connect with Steve Yeagley, the Assistant Vice President for Campus & Student Life at Andrews University, to discuss various aspects of trauma. After some introductory remarks, they discuss the definition of trauma, the state of current trauma literature, the meaning of inter-generational trauma, the problem of moral injury and its relationship to trau...