Advertise on podcast: Counterflow with Buck Johnson

What happens when the institutions running a country seem more interested in extracting its wealth than preserving its future?   I'm joined by William George, an Orthodox Christian living in England, to discuss the decline of the West, the interests of political and financial elites, and the geopolitical tensions surrounding Russia, Ukraine, and Europe. We also get into the City of London, the British establishment, and the temptation to get swallowed up by political ideology.   But the conversation goes beyond politics. As Orthodox Christians, how do we confront the problems of the world without allowing anger, fear, and ideology to consume us? We discuss why the real work begins with repentance, guarding the heart, and keeping Christ at the center of our lives.   Check out William's podcast, Preppers in Paradise, co-hosted with Alex Braszko, where they discuss preparedness, self-sufficiency, faith, and navigating an increasingly uncertain world.   Sponsors: Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com  Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA  Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!

What if we've completely misunderstood the purpose of marriage? In this episode, recorded live at my parish, St. Andrew's ROCOR Orthodox Church in Lockhart, Texas, I'm joined by Fr. Justin Havens to discuss the Orthodox Christian understanding of marriage and how it differs from what we've come to accept in the modern West. We get into love, sacrifice, divorce, the meaning behind the Orthodox wedding ceremony, and the idea that marriage isn't simply about making us happy. It's about changing us. We also discuss how individualism and our obsession with personal fulfillment have shaped the way we approach relationships, often at the expense of commitment, forgiveness, and genuine love. It's a conversation about what marriage was meant to be, what we've made it into, and what the ancient Church still has to teach us.   Fr. Justin's parish site: https://sjo.church/   Sponsors: Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com  Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA  Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!

Longinus was at the point where he didn't want to live anymore. His mother, Sophia, was at the point where all she could do was pray. They join me to tell the story of what happened next—a suicide attempt, time in a psychiatric hospital, years of struggle, and eventually, an unexpected path into the Orthodox Church. We talk about despair, a mother's persistence, conversion, and what it looks like when God begins working through circumstances that, at the time, seem completely hopeless. This is a heavy one, but a beautiful one. I'm grateful they trusted me with their story. Sponsors: Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com  Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA  Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!

Father Michael Marcantoni joins me to talk about addiction, recovery, repentance, and the Orthodox spiritual life. Father Michael shares his own journey through alcoholism and sobriety, what "rock bottom" actually means, his experience with AA and the 12 steps, and the surprising similarities between recovery and the life of repentance. We also get into his time in the military, his road to Orthodoxy and the priesthood, and what addiction can teach us about surrender, accountability, and our need for God. This was an open and honest conversation about addiction—not simply as a substance problem, but as a spiritual one—and what it really means to turn around and begin again. Learn more about Father Michael and St. John Chrysostom Greek Orthodox Church in Nashville Sponsors: Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com  Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA  Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!

This week I'm joined by Jeff Messina, a longtime Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and Orthodox Christian. We get into what happens when the mat exposes your ego, why knowing how to fight doesn't mean looking for a fight, and what jiu-jitsu can teach us about humility, discipline, and self-control. We also talk about Jeff's journey into Orthodoxy, the importance of having a teacher, and why real strength has a lot more to do with mastering yourself than dominating somebody else. Check out Jeff's gym, Revolution Dojo: https://www.revolutiondojo.com/   Sponsors: Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com  Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA  Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!

I've known Kara Mosher for a few years now and she has one hell of a story. Her road to Orthodoxy was already pretty wild. She spent years involved in the occult, New Age spirituality, psychedelics, and all kinds of things she thought might give her answers or healing. Eventually, that search led her somewhere she never expected: the Orthodox Church. This conversation is about love, loss, and what it means to surrender someone you love to God.  Kara shares the story of Jody, her partner of sixteen years, his long struggle with addiction, and the tragic fire that left him fighting for his life. In those final hours, Kara was given an unexpected opportunity to do something that Jody had wanted but never completed: baptize him into the Orthodox Church. We talk about that day, the firefighters who brought Jody back, the baptism, grief, providence, and what Kara means when she says this experience "crucified her will." This is a heavy conversation, but it's not a hopeless one. It's about discovering that loving someone doesn't mean you can save them—and learning to trust God when His answer looks nothing like the one you prayed for.  Guest Website: https://www.karamosher.com/ Sponsors: Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast!  Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com  Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA  Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!

Justine Alter joins me to discuss her book How Could I Possibly Convert to Orthodox Christianity?, written specifically for psychics, magicians, occult practitioners, and others attempting to leave that world behind. Justine writes from firsthand experience with the occult and now approaches these questions from within Orthodox Christianity. We talk about psychic phenomena, spirit communication, demons, prelest and spiritual discernment; why seemingly accurate supernatural information can itself become a trap; the seductive idea of being "gifted" or spiritually special; and why the desire to know what other people are thinking or feeling can slowly replace genuine human relationship with observation, prediction, and control. We also get into the modern fascination with being an "empath," and the danger of treating our impressions of other people as unquestionable facts. Because of threats connected to her past, Justine does not appear on camera and uses a voice modifier to protect her identity. Sponsors: Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast!  Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com  Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA  Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!

Kenneth B., writer of Becoming Orthodox, joins me for a great conversation about his journey to the Orthodox Church and what he's learned along the way. We get into Scripture and Tradition, the saints, the Theotokos, the ancient Jewish world Christianity emerged from, and why more young people seem to be searching for something deeper than what modern Christianity and culture are offering. We also talk about the danger of being right—especially for Orthodox converts. Finding the ancient Church doesn't mean our job is to beat everyone we love over the head with it. Sometimes we speak the truth, live the faith, love people where they are, and trust the Holy Spirit to do what we can't. It's a very beautiful conversation about discovering Orthodoxy, living the faith, and what it actually means to become Orthodox. Sponsors: Ludwell Orthodox Fellowship Conference, Sept 12th 2026 Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com  Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA  Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!

In this episode, I'm joined by my friend and one of my favorite authors, Dr. Clark Carlton, for a conversation about Protestantism, Orthodoxy, and what happens when Christianity becomes less a lived, sacramental faith and more an ideology derived from a text. Clark takes us through the history of American Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism, including the Southern Baptist "Conservative Resurgence," and asks an important question: why do conservative Protestant movements seem to win battles while the larger drift continues? His answer goes much deeper than politics, wokeness, or simply blaming theological liberals. We get into sola scriptura, the relationship between Scripture and the Church, Fundamentalism's attempt to fight rationalism with rationalism, and Clark's argument that Orthodoxy begins from an entirely different understanding of Christianity—not primarily as a system of ideas, but as life in Christ and participation in His Body, the Church. Clark is also co-founder and editorial director of the Philip Ludwell III Orthodox Fellowship, which works to nurture and grow the Orthodox faith in the American South. Check out their work, articles, conferences, and more at SouthernOrthodox.org. Sponsors: Ludwell Orthodox Fellowship Conference, Sept 12th 2026 Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com  Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA  Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!

My guest this week is Carollynn Xavier—Orthodox  catechumen , longtime touring comedian, and now host of a brand-new interview show coming to Logos Cinema. We get into Carollynn's years doing stand-up and touring, what life as a comedian actually looks like, how Orthodoxy fits into all of it, and why she's now trading some of that stand-up time for sitting down with interesting people. Her new show is pretty simple: no script, no formula, no manufactured outrage. Just genuine curiosity about people and seeing where the conversation goes. Sometimes it gets deep, sometimes it gets weird, sometimes it apparently ends up at monster trucks. We talk comedy, faith, curiosity, listening, storytelling, and why actually talking to people—and being interested in them—might be more important than ever. Visit: https://Carolynnxavier.com https://LogosCinema.com Sponsor: Ludwell Orthodox Fellowship Conference, Sept 12th 2026 Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com  Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA  Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!

Fr. Zechariah Lynch joins me to talk about something a lot of people would rather forget: what the COVID years actually did to us. We get into fear, mandates, "misinformation," the pressure to conform, and the damage done to people who simply asked questions. Fr. Zechariah also gets personal about what he and his family went through within the Church during that time and why he describes some of it as psychological abuse. We also talk about repentance, forgiveness, and how we move forward without pretending none of it happened. Read Fr. Zechariah's article, Social Trauma, Dr. Fauci, Covid Mandates, the Church, and Forgiveness: https://inklesspen.blog/2026/07/30/social-trauma-dr-fauci-covid-mandates-the-church-and-forgiveness/ Subscribe to his Substack here: https://substack.com/@inklesspen Sponsors: Ludwell Orthodox Fellowship Conference, Sept 12th 2026 Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com  Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA  Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!

In this episode of Counterflow, I'm joined by Neil DeGraide, musician, songwriter, and founding member of Dirt Poor Robins. Neil spent years in the Evangelical world leading worship and creating Christian music before beginning a journey that ultimately led him to the Orthodox Church. We talk about what changed, the assumptions he had to unlearn, and why he came to believe the search for the true Church is about much more than denominations. We also dive into Christianities, the upcoming documentary Neil is helping produce alongside Fr. Peter Heers and John Heers. The film explores the biggest questions in Christianity by interviewing voices from across the Christian world while inviting viewers to seriously consider the claims of the ancient Church. Along the way we discuss worship, storytelling, imagination, culture, filmmaking, and why the stories we live inside shape us far more than we often realize. We Discuss: * Neil's journey from Evangelicalism to Orthodoxy * Leading worship—and why his understanding of worship completely changed * Dirt Poor Robins and storytelling through music * The upcoming documentary Christianities * Why there are so many expressions of Christianity today * The search for the historic Church * Story, imagination, and the Christian life * Recovering a richer vision of worship * The role of artists in rebuilding Christian culture * Why beauty, truth, and story belong together * Hope for the future of Christianity Learn More: Dirt Poor Robins Dirt Poor Robins on YouTube Christianities Documentary Sponsors: Ludwell Orthodox Fellowship Conference, Sept 12th 2026 Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com  Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA  Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!

For decades, Christians have lamented the decline of culture. We criticize Hollywood, complain about entertainment, and point out everything that's wrong with the stories shaping our civilization. But what comes after the criticism? My guest, Andrew Stokich, co-founder of Logos Cinema, believes the answer isn't retreat—it's creation. In this episode, we explore why storytelling has always been one of the primary ways civilizations pass on their values, why beauty matters as much as truth, and why the battle for culture begins in the imagination long before it reaches politics. We discuss the failures of modern Christian filmmaking, the unique vision of Orthodox storytelling, and how Logos Cinema hopes to cultivate not just better films, but stronger communities rooted in the life of the Church. Andrew also shares the vision behind the Logos Parish Roadshow, the importance of moving from digital platforms to real-world relationships, and why building culture ultimately requires artists, families, parishes, and ordinary Christians working together. If you've ever wondered what it actually looks like to "build culture" instead of simply critiquing it, this conversation offers a hopeful and practical vision for the future. Learn more about Logos Cinema Sponsor: Ludwell Orthodox Fellowship Conference, Sept 12th 2026 Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com  Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA  Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!

What happens when Orthodox Christians stop simply criticizing culture and start creating it? In this episode, Buck chats with his good friend Mano Elia—host of the Study of Stuff Podcast, founder of Spoon Records, and one of the driving forces behind the Bored No More movement—to discuss what it means to reclaim culture by creating art, music, film, and authentic community centered on Christ and His Church. Mano shares the vision behind Bored No More, a growing network of Orthodox Christian creators dedicated to producing meaningful media, cultivating community, and encouraging artists to create work rooted in Christ. He also discusses Bored No More's partnership with Logos Cinema, where the network's growing catalog of content will soon be available alongside a broader streaming platform devoted to faith-centered films and entertainment. Rather than merely reacting to a culture in decline, Mano challenges Orthodox Christians to what he calls "inverting the inversion"—reclaiming the very spaces that have been distorted and restoring them to the service of God. Buck and Mano also discuss the spiritual condition of Canada, the growing sense of isolation and nihilism they see throughout the country, the expansion of medically assisted suicide, and what these trends reveal about a society that has lost hope. They also explore the blessings and pitfalls of online Orthodoxy, why internet debates should never replace life in the parish, and why our hardworking priests deserve far more grace and gratitude than criticism. Topics include: * What "inverting the inversion" really means * Why Orthodox Christians should create culture instead of merely critique it * The vision behind the Bored No More movement * Bored No More's partnership with Logos Cinema * Spoon Records and cultivating meaningful music * Canada's growing spiritual crisis * Loneliness, nihilism, and medically assisted suicide * The strengths and weaknesses of online Orthodoxy * Why faithful parish life matters more than internet arguments * Showing grace and appreciation for our priests Learn more about Mano's work: Bored No More Community Support the mission Bored No More Study of Stuff Podcast (YouTube) Study of Stuff on Instagram Logos Cinema Sponsor: Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow  Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com  Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA  Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com  Audio Production by Podsworth Media: https://www.podsworth.com  Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!

Before becoming Orthodox, Erika MacDougall spent years immersed in the occult. She practiced theistic Satanism, participated in blood rituals, worked with ritual magic, and was even paid to place curses on others. What promised power, hidden knowledge, and spiritual enlightenment ultimately led to bondage, fear, and despair. In this episode, Erika shares her remarkable journey to Christ and the Orthodox Church while exploring the deeper spiritual realities behind the modern resurgence of occult practices. Together we discuss astrology, tarot, manifestation, yoga, spiritual warfare, beauty, motherhood, repentance, and why so many people today are searching for transcendence everywhere except the Church. We also explore why evil cannot create—only imitate and invert—and why Orthodoxy offers the fullness of truth, beauty, healing, and freedom found in Jesus Christ. In This Episode: * Erika's journey from the occult to Orthodoxy * Blood rituals, ritual magic, and placing curses * Astrology, tarot, manifestation, yoga, and modern spirituality * Spiritual warfare and discernment * Beauty, icons, and the Orthodox vision of creation * The body, motherhood, and authentic healing * Repentance, forgiveness, and finding freedom in Christ Learn More About Erika: Shire Skincare creates handcrafted products inspired by a Christian vision of beauty, creation, and caring for the body. Explore Erika's skincare line, articles, and resources at shireskincare.com. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with someone searching for truth, beauty, and the Orthodox faith.  Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow Sponsors: Thea's Orthodox Young Adult Formation Conference: https://thetemplesteps.com Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com  Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA  Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com  Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!