We sit down with a former pastor who left behind the pulpit and found the ancient faith of Orthodoxy. He shares what drew him to the Church Fathers, how his theology unraveled, and what attracted him most about becoming Orthodox. After he drops off the call, we shift gears and unpack the latest protests and conflict in the Middle East—what's happening, why it matters, and how to stay grounded when the world feels like it's on fire.

In this powerful episode, we unpack my friend Kara's journey from a painful misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder to a radical rebirth in faith. Her path winds through manipulative cult-like internet Christianity, disillusionment, and eventually a quiet redemption in the depths of Orthodox tradition. We dive into the raw, real process of her journey of healing, and the meaning behind “corrective baptism”. A story of labels, liberation, and living water.

Find her on instagram at:

@herecomestroublexo

@letsbefriends_podcast

Buy her book here:

https://a.co/d/czPEDoR

In this episode, Megan takes us on a wild ride through her life, from conspiracy theories to fire dancing, and from religious zeal to deconstructing her faith. She spills the tea on her past as a lowercase "c" conspiracy theorist and her stint in a home church that felt more like a cult. Megan hilariously recounts her time as a professional hula hooper, where others tried to convince her that her hoops were demon-possessed. She dives into her struggles with Calvinism, predestination, and the evangelical obsession with all things demonic. Ultimately, Megan's journey is a rollercoaster of faith, skepticism, and the quest for a community that doesn't make her want to scream. Find her on instagram at @taste0ftruth or her substack:

https://taste0ftruth.substack.com/

Welcome to the first episode of Balanced Banter, where subtlety is overrated and nuance gets baptized. We kick things off with a trinity of hot takes: the true meaning of Orthodox Pascha (spoiler: it's not a pagan fertility festival), the popery and how conspiracy theories somehow always end up in the Vatican basement. From ancient liturgies to YouTube rabbit holes, we're unpacking it all—respectfully reverent and thoroughly unhinged.