Counterflow with Buck Johnson

In this episode, Buck sits down with Dr. Mark Faries, professor at Texas A&M and researcher in behavior change, to explore one of the most frustrating realities of modern life:

Why do we know what's healthy… and still fail to do it?

Dr. Faries breaks down the science behind human behavior—why people change, why they don't, and why most attempts at improving health fall apart over time. The conversation moves beyond surface-level advice and into the deeper issue of self-regulation failure—the internal battle between what we know and what we actually do.

But this isn't just a conversation about health science.

Drawing from his own journey into Orthodoxy, Dr. Faries connects modern research with the wisdom of the Church Fathers, showing how ancient teachings on the passions—especially gluttony—line up strikingly well with what we now understand about behavior, habit formation, and even gut health.

From more from Dr Mark, go here: http://markfaries.com/

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What happens when faith is reduced to a feeling? In this episode, I sit down with Fr. Justin Havens, a missionary priest serving at St. Joseph the Hesychast Serbian Orthodox Church, to talk about one of the most important spiritual questions of our time: Is truth something you feel… or something you encounter? Drawing from years of missionary work in Utah—one of the most spiritually unique regions in America—we unpack the contrast between subjective religious experience and objective truth in Christ, and why so many people today are starving for something deeper. This is a conversation about: • the limits of emotional spirituality • the reality of the ascetical life • and why Orthodoxy is quietly exploding in places no one expected Sponsor:

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In this episode, I'm joined by Fr. John Whiteford to explore one of the most misunderstood books in all of Scripture: the Book of Revelation.

For many modern Christians, Revelation is treated as a roadmap of future geopolitical events—something to decode through headlines, wars, and speculation. But in the Orthodox Christian tradition, Revelation is something far deeper: a vision of heavenly worship.

We begin by breaking down the true meaning of the Divine Liturgy—not as a symbolic gathering or a teaching session, but as real participation in the worship of heaven itself.

From there, Fr. John explains how the imagery of Revelation—altars, incense, angels, hymns, and the Lamb—directly corresponds to what the Church has preserved in her liturgical life for centuries.

This conversation reframes Revelation entirely: not as a prediction chart, but as an unveiling of the eternal reality that the Church enters into every time the Liturgy is celebrated.

We also address how modern misreadings of Revelation—especially those rooted in recent theological innovations—have led many Christians to interpret global events, particularly in relation to Israel, through a distorted and often dangerous lens.

Ultimately, this episode is about recovering a right understanding of worship, Scripture, and the Kingdom of God—and seeing the Divine Liturgy for what it truly is: heaven on earth.

Fr. John Whiteford is an Orthodox priest serving in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR). He is the rector of St. Jonah Orthodox Church in Spring, Texas, and has been a longtime teacher, writer, and defender of the Orthodox Christian faith.

He is widely known for his work in apologetics, particularly in explaining Orthodox theology in contrast to modern Protestant innovations. Fr. John has written extensively on Scripture, Church history, and liturgical theology, and is especially respected for his clear, direct approach to difficult theological topics.

Through his writing and teaching, he has helped many people rediscover the depth and continuity of the historic Christian tradition.

Find more from Fr John here: https://saintjonah.org

And here: https://frjohnwhiteford.substack.com

And here: http://fatherjohn.blogspot.com

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In recent years the language of autism and ADHD has moved from clinical psychology into mainstream culture. What was once a narrow medical diagnosis has expanded into a broad identity category embraced by millions online. But what explains this sudden rise?

In this episode of Counterflow, Buck Johnson is joined by psychiatrist and writer Dr. Hannah Spier to explore the cultural, psychological, and social forces behind the modern "neurodivergence" movement.

Drawing from her widely discussed essays on autism, identity, and modern narcissism, Dr. Spier argues that the explosion of neurodivergent identity may say as much about modern culture as it does about mental health.

Together they discuss the expansion of autism diagnoses, the rise of self-diagnosis through social media, and the growing tendency to frame personality traits and social difficulties through psychological labels.

The conversation also explores how modern identity culture, social media validation, and new expressions of covert narcissism may be contributing to the neurodivergence boom.

Finally, Buck and Dr. Spier examine a deeper question: what happens to a culture when mental illness becomes identity?

For Dr Hannah's Substack, go here: https://substack.com/@psychobabblewithspier

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In this episode, Buck Johnson sits down with author Michael W. Davis, general editor of the Union of Orthodox Journalists, for a serious discussion about Christian Zionism, theology, and geopolitics.

Over the last century, Christian Zionism has become an influential framework shaping how many Christians understand the modern state of Israel, biblical prophecy, and the politics of the Middle East. But how does this theology compare with the faith of the early Church and the witness of the Church Fathers?

Drawing on Scripture, Church history, and Orthodox theology, Buck and Michael explore the origins of Christian Zionism, its relationship to modern political movements, and the ways in which eschatology can shape political imagination.

They also discuss how prophetic language surrounding modern conflicts — including tensions involving Israel and Iran — can influence how Christians interpret war, peace, and the responsibilities of the Church in a fractured world.

Rather than approaching these issues through ideology or partisanship, this conversation seeks to recover the historic Christian vision of the Kingdom of God, which transcends nationalism, geopolitics, and modern political categories.

For more from Michael Davis, go here: https://substack.com/@michaelwarrendavis

...and here: https://uoj.news/author/michael-davis

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What happens when a man who built his identity in hip hop walks away from the illusion of the industry and into the ancient Church?

James "J-Ro" Robinson rose to prominence in the golden era of West Coast hip hop as a member of Tha Alkaholiks, part of Los Angeles' influential underground scene. Fame, touring, culture, and credibility were all there.

But behind the curtain, things weren't what they seemed.

In this conversation, J-Ro opens up about:

• His childhood and the spiritual influence of his great-grandfather, a Christian minister • The formation of Tha Alkaholiks and life inside 90s hip hop culture • What he learned about the record industry that led to deep disillusionment • Why he eventually moved to Sweden • The tension between persona and personhood • Fatherhood and the call to something more rooted • Discovering the Orthodox Church • Life today in Tucson, Arizona, attending St. Anthony's Monastery • Asceticism, repentance, and redefining masculinity • What "keeping it real" actually means

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What do silver crashes, sovereign power, Vatican banking scandals, and free cash flow have in common?

In this conversation, Fr. Emmanuel Lemelson joins us to explore the moral psychology of markets and the spiritual dangers of fear-driven investing. From the 2026 silver collapse and what he calls the "Imperial Margin Call," to the collapse of the safe-haven narrative, to the deeper arithmetic behind margin-of-safety investing, this episode moves beyond headlines into first principles.

This is not merely a conversation about investing; it's about anthropology, empire, illusion, and sobriety. It's about whether modern markets form disciplined stewards or anxious speculators.

For more from Fr Emmanuel Lemelson, go here:

https://lemelson.substack.com

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What if the future of medicine looks less like a laboratory… and more like the life of the Church?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Michael Christian Kuhn, author of Orthodoxy and the Medicine of the Future, to explore the deep connection between spiritual life and physical health.

We discuss how modern society has become increasingly disembodied — separated from rhythm, stillness, fasting, and community — and how many of today's chronic health struggles may reflect that deeper fragmentation.

This conversation is not about rejecting modern medicine. It's about recovering wholeness.

If you're Orthodox — or simply curious about how faith shapes health — this episode will help you think more clearly about the unity of body and soul.

For more from Dr Mike, go here:

https://www.orthodoxhealth.com/orthodox-health-podcast

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In this conversation, Kate DeGraide reflects on faith that rearranges a life rather than decorating it. We talk about making art without losing your soul, creating music with her husband, Neil, in Dirt Poor Robbins, raising children without turning belief into performance, and what it means to live in the world without being absorbed by it. This is a conversation about beauty and art that demands something of us—about choosing a whole life over an easy one, and learning to remain human in the process. We also discuss challenges for women coming into the Orthodox Church, Covid years, Kate's worship music background, and more.

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What does it mean to confront real evil without letting it destroy your soul?

In this episode, I'm joined by Tommy Green, vocalist of the band Holy Name and an Orthodox Christian deeply committed to ending child and sex trafficking. Tommy and his wife have an organization that helps young people getting out of this terrible life of being trafficked.

We talk about what it's like to look directly at the darkest expressions of human sin, and how the Orthodox Church, prayer, and the Holy Name of Christ provide a framework for fighting evil without becoming it.

Tommy's organization: https://www.irunagainsttraffic.com

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