The Ethan C. Lewin Podcast

Picking up where Part 1 left off, we continue our conversation with Dr. Feerrar, diving into his approaches to classroom management, mastery of the material, and the strategies that made him an effective educator. We discuss his dissertation and parent-of-the-bride speech — both with fun Harry Potter connections — and the ways he engaged students, from reading letters from local veterans to foster...

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, I sit down with Dr. Feerrar , my 8th-grade teacher, longtime mentor, and dear friend — a legendary educator whom anyone who had the opportunity to learn from was lucky to have. We explore how his early experiences at home and in school shaped his eventual approach to teaching, walking us through 1st grade to PhD with memorable stories. Along the way, we unc...

Jeanne Alix Smith grew up shaped by a chapter of World War II few people know. Born in Mauritius, off the coast of Madagascar, she was raised by unsung heroes of the war—her parents, Percy and Berthe Mayer—who served as covert intelligence agents in Madagascar, a region critical to Allied shipping routes and the balance of power in the Indian Ocean. Had they not done what they did, World War II—an...

If you grew up in Bryn Athyn and love cars, you probably remember Ric’s blue-and-white striped Shelby Cobra rolling through the Fourth of July parade or, years later, seeing him fly his original PA-18 Pitcairn autogiro over town. But if you don’t really know Ric, this episode is the perfect introduction. Ric’s fascination with speed and risk started young. A lifelong love of flying—sparked by RC a...

Gregg had to grow up quickly in the concrete jungle of Philadelphia. His home life was shaped by the weight his father carried home from Vietnam, and by age 13 he was already working. Struggling to find acceptance and belonging, he turned to drugs and alcohol to disconnect. Things began to shift when his wife Kerry introduced him to community, leading him to join SWET, a men’s group that helped hi...

Kathy has been my health guide and guru for the past five years, walking a unique path: chiropractor → physical therapist → Chinese medicine → anatomy educator → lifelong student. She’s suffered 7 concussions, dissected over 2,700 cadavers, faced the valley of the shadow of death in her 20s, and relearned how to be in her body — turning her journey into a calling to help others heal. In this episo...

David Norman has worn three uniforms—Navy, Air Force, and Marine—serving as an anesthesiologist and senior medical officer. From landing in the Philippines during an active coup to witnessing the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, and later serving in one of the hottest zones of the Iraq War in Fallujah, Dave has seen the realities of war up close. Dave carries one of the strongest faiths I’ve ever en...

Five days after birth, Conrad Burnett was taken by DCFS with heroin in his system and adopted into the Burnett foster home. By 12, life started going downhill, and by 18, he was homeless, struggling with depression, and eventually incarcerated. Through serving the homeless, someone gave him a second chance, and Conrad began the journey of turning his life around—ultimately working his way up to CE...

Do you want to love authentically — and live fearlessly, with joy and confidence in your salvation? Today, Clark Echols and I dive into how that life is promised through following the Lord, and how Jesus shows us what secure attachment with God really looks like. Clark is a minister-turned-licensed mental health counselor, passionately leading spiritual growth small groups — which he believes may...

Today, we explore the story behind the therapist — how Bri Kern’s own experiences, including a devastating series of losses and lessons no one ever wants to face, led her to the work she does today as a licensed mental health professional and founder of Mind Body Heart Counseling. We explore how childhood shapes the way we love and parent, how grief often hides as anger, and the importance of full...

Why would your own mind try to tear you down?  Curtis Childs and I explore that question through the lens of spirituality, mental health, and the unseen influences that shape our inner world. Curtis—host of Off The Left Eye and a lifelong student of Emanuel Swedenborg’s teachings—shares how faith, awareness, and understanding the thoughts that harm us can help us separate from destructive thoughts...

Oh, Esther—where do I even begin?! Following our recording, Esther shared two guiding teaching philosophies that have guided her life and work: 1) “Don’t be a lemming!” — her daily mantra urging students to think independently and resist the pull to conformity. 2) “Climb the lexicographical ladder of learning.” — her call to grow intellectually by expanding one’s vocabulary and deepening understan...

Last night was one of the most anticipated nights of the year in my hometown — ButtonFest. It’s a house concert held every Charter Day weekend, basically our town’s homecoming. PokeJawn, founded by James Lindrooth and Mark, started a few years back as a last-minute solution when the band Wheatus (yeah, the ones who sing Teenage Dirtbag ) needed an opener for the original ButtonFest. James and Mark...

Yasin is a longtime family friend, and this was my first time visiting his home and seeing him in person in nearly a decade. His story is remarkable—growing up in Pakistan, immigrating to the U.S. in pursuit of the American Dream, and building both a thriving medical practice and successful real estate ventures. Along the way, he achieved great success but also came dangerously close to losing it...

In this milestone 20th episode , I sit down with Glenn Bostock—founder and CEO of SnapCab—and Kendall Hyatt for one of my favorite conversations yet. Glenn’s story is inspiring: he struggled in school, but outside of it, he built sophisticated inventions like sailboats, gliders, and hot air balloons. His love for woodworking grew into a career, and what started as a dream of running a small woodsh...

Rev. Willard Heinrichs—“Opi”—might be the last true cowboy. From growing up on a Canadian farm with nine siblings and no electricity to riding horseback from Canada to Mexico, working cattle, serving in the U.S. Forest Service, rock climbing in Yosemite, and ministering in Newfoundland and Africa, Opi’s life reads like a western novel. At the center of it all is his 60-year marriage to Vanessa and...

In this episode, I’m joined by my friend Bronwen Mayer Henry — painter, meditation practitioner, and so much more. My connection to her and her art dates back over a decade, when I was gifted my first painting of hers — an elephant — which has hung beside my bed ever since, serving as a daily reminder of strength, gentleness, and resilience. Bronwen shares her journey before and during her cancer...

Grayson Zuber’s story can’t be put in a box —he’s more than a stone mason, a musician, or someone who has battled addiction. Being in his presence felt almost angelic, and hearing him share both his words and music was unforgettable. The morning after our conversation, Grayson texted me this: “I try not to ruminate too much on the infinities I omitted. But I do wish I would have conveyed this abou...

Trent Odhner and I go way back to when I was 11, and he’s always been a stand-up man. Usually someone who stays off the socials, Trent joins me to share his story. In this episode, we dive into his roots, his six-month journey becoming a scuba instructor in Thailand—including close calls with jellyfish and naval ordnance—his White House internship under President Clinton (who knew him by first nam...

Ever wonder what happened to PECO's century-old abandoned power plants? In this episode, filmmaker John Kramer takes us inside the forgotten world of Philadelphia’s Electric Company and its once-grand stations. His upcoming documentary Electric Rust (co-directed with Ben Kees) uncovers the rise, fall, and human stories behind these massive, cathedral-like structures that once powered entire ci...

Jeff Harmer is a true walking legend — someone who’s lived life to the fullest. Adventure and entrepreneurship have been the two driving forces throughout his journey. Early on, Jeff took on the ambitious 7 Summit Challenge, aiming to climb the tallest mountain on each of the seven continents. Inspired by The Art of the Deal in his youth, Jeff dreamed of building skyscrapers. From delivering newsp...

Ray and Star Silverman bring nearly 50 years of marriage, parenting, and spiritual teaching to this conversation. Ray holds advanced degrees in English, Education, and Divinity, and spent 25 years teaching courses on Conjugial Love, the Ten Commandments, and Eastern religion. He also did prison ministry and co-developed Happy, Joyous, and Free . Star, with a Master’s in Special Education, co-taugh...

Calling all recent grads and those needing a push to travel! Rafe Williams is off to Namibia with the Peace Corps—and he’s got stories. In this spur-of-the-moment episode, my longtime friend and I dive into his wild ride so far: hitchhiking in Mexico with the Cartel, getting caught in Yellowstone storms, hiking Hawaii’s coastline, and going from zero countries visited outside the US at age 18 to o...

Jody Maddock is a dedicated bow hunter and a true legend in the whitetail community , with one of the most incredible great rooms you’ll ever see. Jody explains why hunting, though counterintuitive, is vital for conservation—funding anti-poaching, managing wildlife, and reducing deer-vehicle collisions. He shares the demanding preparation hunting requires, why he taxidermies his animals as stories...

Welcome to Episode 10 of The Ethan C. Lewin Podcast! Today I’m joined by Shawn “Fish” Synnestvedt, longtime educator, coach, and husband of 45 years, who brings a deep faith-based perspective on building a happy, healthy, and deeply loving marriage. Shawn’s insights come from decades of experience and his powerful presentation “Through An Open Door: A Path to a Stronger Marriage” (New Church Life,...