In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. Sarah Riccardi-Swartz to discuss how an uptick in converts, especially among young men, is impacting Orthodoxy in America. Dr. Riccardi-Swartz brings an interesting perspective to this topic as she is both an academic anthropologist and an Orthodox Christian herself. Her research is some of the first of its kind regarding Orthodoxy in America. 

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Learn more about Dr. Riccardi-Swartz: https://www.riccardiswartz.com/

About the Guest:
Dr. Sarah Riccardi-Swartz is an assistant professor of religion and anthropology at Northeastern University, where she is also an affiliate faculty member in the women's, gender, and sexuality studies program. Before joining Northeastern University she was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Recovering Truth: Religion, Journalism, and Democracy in a Post-Truth Era project at the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict (Arizona State University). She has a Ph.D. in Sociocultural Anthropology from New York University. After completing an honors B.A. and M.A. in Religious Studies (American religions) at Missouri State University, she attended NYU to study and research religion and politics in the United States from an anthropological perspective. Along the way, she obtained a graduate certificate in Culture and Media (ethnographic filmmaking) and an M.Phil in Anthropology from NYU. Her research focuses on conservative politics, gender/sexuality, race, media worlds, and Orthodox Christianity.

Chapters
00:00 Orthodoxy: An Anthropological Perspective
06:11 Media & Orthodoxy's Visibility
09:07 Cultural Identity and Conversion 
12:10 Politics & Conversion
20:55 Community in Conversion Experiences
23:56 ROCOR and the Fascination with Russia
26:54 The Future of Orthodoxy in America
30:36 Orthodoxy in Appalachia
35:47 The Emergence of Political Conversations
40:39 Understanding the Unique Nature of ROCOR
42:24 Cultural Heritage
45:49 The Internet & Orthodoxy
53:02 Fr. Seraphim Rose

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In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. Richard Gallenstein, Associate Professor of Economics and Director of the Master of Public Policy program at The Catholic University of America, to discuss Catholic Social Teaching and what it means for us today. We dive into the Church's teaching on Capitalism, Socialism, and how this relates to questions like wealth inequality, AI, and more. 

Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

Get access to my book club, show notes, ad-free episodes and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity 

Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com

00:00 Intro to Catholic Social Teaching
12:15 Capitalism vs. Socialism
37:10 Private Property & Universal Destination of Goods
48:10 Subsidiarity & Solidarity
01:07:05 Wealth Inequality
01:16:20 AI
01:30:00 Concluding Thoughts

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In this video, I'm joined by Dr. Grace Hamman to discuss how Medieval Christians approached spiritual formation. We give special attention to their understanding of virtue and vice, exploring how that might help enrich our modern approaches to the Christian life. We also talk about how to read medieval theologians wisely, and what to do with some of the more extreme examples of piety that might make us uncomfortable today.

Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

Get access to my book club, show notes, ad-free episodes and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity

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Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com

Get the book: https://amzn.to/3RcUEow
Follow Dr. Hamman on Substack: https://gracehamman.substack.com/
Dr. Hamman's website: https://gracehamman.com/

About the Guest: Grace Hamman, Ph.D. (Duke University) is a writer and independent scholar of late medieval poetry and contemplative writing. She is the author of Ask of Old Paths: Medieval Virtues and Vices for a Whole and Holy Life and Jesus through Medieval Eyes: Beholding Christ with the Artists, Mystics, and Theologians of the Middle Ages. Her work has been published by academic and popular outlets, including Plough Quarterly and The Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies. She lives near Denver, Colorado with her husband and three young children.

Chapters
00:00 The Overlooked Medieval Era
05:07 Personal Journey into Medieval Studies
09:54 Exploring Virtue in Medieval Literature
15:47 Understanding Wholeness and Virtue
20:49 The Interconnectedness of Virtues and Vices
36:22 The Thin Picture of Christian Life
38:45 Pairing Virtues and Vices
42:30 The Richness of Abstinence and Gluttony
47:21 Imagination in Christian Formation
53:00 Navigating Historical Literature
01:30:08 Gateway Texts to the Medieval Period

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In this video, I'm joined by the Reverend Dr. Matthew S.C. Olver to discuss the origins and evolution of Christian liturgies. We talk about how Christian liturgies relate to Second Temple Judaism, what we learn from St. Justin Martyr, what happened at Vatican 2, and whether the Episcopalian Eucharistic Prayer C is great or cringe-worthy.

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Get access to my book club, show notes, ad-free episodes and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity

Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com

The Living Church: https://livingchurch.org/

About the Guest: Fr. Olver is the Executive Director and Publisher of The Living Church Foundation. A priest for more than eighteen years, he was the assistant rector at Church of the Incarnation, Dallas (2006-2013) and has served widely in the Episcopal Church: as the Ecumenical Officer (2005-2010) and on the Executive Council (2008-2011) in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas; as a member of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Consultation in the U.S. (ARCUSA), the official dialogue between the Episcopal Church and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (2008-2014); as a member the Task Force on Liturgical and Prayer Book Revision for the Episcopal Church (2018-2021); and as a deputy to General Convention (2022 and 2024). He has also been involved in the Anglican Centre in Rome and regularly teaches a course there on Anglican ecclesiology and ecumenism.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Liturgy and Its Importance
03:09 The Evolution of Early Christian Liturgy
06:00 Diversity in Early Christian Worship
09:10 Key Figures in Liturgical History
12:09 The Impact of the Reformation on Liturgy
15:09 The Second Vatican Council and Its Reforms
31:39 Common Ground in the Gospel
34:00 Scholarly Misjudgments in Liturgical History
35:20 The Impact of Liturgical Reforms
37:25 Eucharistic Prayer C: An Inside Look
42:15 The Distinctiveness of Anglican Liturgy
53:07 The Relationship Between Liturgy and Belief
01:00:15 The Richness of Liturgical Experience

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In this conversation, Dr. Paul Sloan discusses the relationship between Jesus and the law, challenging common misconceptions about the Pharisees and the nature of ritual purity. He emphasizes that Jesus' teachings and actions should be understood within the context of Israel's restoration and the covenantal framework established in the Old Testament. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding the law not as a means of works righteousness but as a reflection of God's covenantal love and grace. In this conversation, Paul Sloan discusses the relationship between Christ, the law, and the concept of restoration in the context of eschatology. He emphasizes that Christ's ministry is a fulfillment of the law rather than an abolition, and that the restoration of Israel involves a new heart and obedience to the Torah. The conversation also explores the implications for Gentiles regarding the law, particularly in light of Acts 15, where the early church debated the obligations of Gentile believers. Sloan argues that while the law remains significant, its application differs for Jews and Gentiles, and he highlights the importance of understanding Paul's writings in this context.

Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

Get access to my book club, show notes, ad-free episodes and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity

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Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
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Buy the book: https://amzn.to/4sRM0cd
Dr. Sloan's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jesus-and-jewish-law/id1791111864
Follow Dr. Sloan on X: https://x.com/paulthomasloan

About the Guest: Paul Sloan, Ph.D. (University of St. Andrew's) is Associate Professor of Theology at Houston Christian University. He is the author of Jesus and the Law of Moses: The Gospels and the Restoration of Israel within First-Century Judaism. His research interests include the literature of the New Testament and 2nd Temple Judaism. Current research focuses on Leviticus, the sacrificial system, and sacred space, and the reception of those motifs in 2nd Temple texts.


00:00 Introduction to Jesus and the Law
06:19 Understanding the Role of the Pharisees
13:44 Ritual Purity and Impurity Explained
24:43 Jesus' Authority and Restoration Eschatology
42:57 The Restoration and Eschatological Agenda
45:04 Christ's Fulfillment of the Law
46:27 Obedience to the Torah in the New Covenant
51:03 The Role of Gentiles in the Law
53:33 Acts 15: The Council and Its Implications
01:05:01 Understanding Paul and the Law

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In this interview, I'm joined by Sean Luke of  @anglicanaesthetics to discuss how historic Anglican theology can address some of our contemporary debates about sola scriptura, Protestantism, and more. We discuss whether Anglicans really believe in sola scriptura, how Anglicans have viewed historic schisms, and whether the development of the Church of England was itself schismatic. Prepare to come out of this interview with a long reading list!

Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

Get access to my book club, show notes, ad-free episodes and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity

Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
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Find Sean on Substack: https://substack.com/@anglicanaesthetics

Books Mentioned: 
Richard Hooker - Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity: https://amzn.to/4tFes1F
William Chillingworth - The Religion of the Protestants: https://amzn.to/4cDpxun
John Tillotson - The Rule of Faith: 

00:00 Introduction
02:00 Sola Scriptura in Anglican Thought
03:50 The Role of Tradition and Ecumenism
06:59 Historical Anglican Approaches to Church Authority
12:45 The Church Schism and Anglican Continuity
20:45 The Caroline Divines and Anglican Identity
28:45 Sola Scriptura in Anglican Debates
40:55 The Authority of Scripture and Church Tradition
50:40 The Discontinuity and Continuity of the Rule of Faith
01:00:48 Recommended Resources and Final Thoughts

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In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. David Moffitt, one of the world's leading experts on the atonement and the book of Hebrews. We discuss how the ascension is a critical, yet overlooked, part of Christ's atoning work, how misunderstanding Jewish sacrifice causes us to misunderstand the cross, and why Hebrews is every bit as important as Romans for understanding the atonement. 

Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

Get access to my book club, show notes, ad-free episodes and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity

Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com

Buy the book: https://amzn.to/3OEKmwe

About the Guest: Dr. David Moffitt’s research focuses on the variety of ways the earliest Christians understood Jesus and their own identities in relation to Jewish scripture, practices, and beliefs. His core areas of ongoing research concern the Epistle to the Hebrews, the ways this early Christian sermon develops claims about Jesus’s person in high-priestly and sacrificial terms, and ancient practices of and beliefs about sacrifice. Beyond Hebrews, Prof. Moffitt has particular interests in the ways the early Christian confession of Jesus’s resurrection and ascension influence the theologies of the various books of the New Testament. Learn more: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/divinity/people/dm206/


00:00 Introduction to Atonement and Hebrews
04:19 The Role of Hebrews in Atonement Discussions
10:47 Broad vs. Narrow Understanding of Atonement
16:17 The Significance of the Ascension in Atonement
26:35 Ongoing Ministry of Christ and Its Implications
31:41 The Significance of Jesus' Death and Resurrection
36:41 Early Church Fathers and the Interpretation of Hebrews
41:02 Understanding Sacrifice in the Context of Atonement
50:21 The Multifaceted Nature of Atonement
59:50 The Ongoing Intercession of Christ

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In this interview, I'm joined by Kevin Fernandez of  ⁨@SinceAD33⁩ for a friendly discussion about the current state of the sola scriptura debate to see if there are ways in which Protestants and Catholics can productively move the conversation forward. And part of moving forward, we find, is looking backwards, retrieving the best of the past for fruitful discussion in the present.

Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

Get access to my book club, show notes, ad-free episodes and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity

Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com

00:00 - Where we're at
05:06 - Learning from the Past
11:19 - The Real Differences
17:12 - Infallibility
25:15 - The Role of the Magisterium
34:14 - Is this Getting Too Complicated?
44:13 - The Trouble with Contradictions
55:21 - How to Debate Well
01:05:11 - Going Deeper

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In this interview, I'm joined by Fr. James Dominic Rooney O.P. to discuss the role of infallibility and dogma in Christianity based upon his book, Whoever Hears You Hears Me? In essence, Fr. JD argues that all Christians--not just Catholics--need some form of infallibility to make their theological systems work.

Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

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Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity...
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com

About the Guest: Fr. James Dominic Rooney is an assistant professor of philosophy at Hong Kong Baptist University whose work is primarily in metaphysics, medieval philosophy, Chinese philosophy (程朱理学), and philosophy of religion. 

He is also a Dominican friar of the Province of St. Albert the Great (Chicago, IL) and a Catholic priest.

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In this interview, I'm joined once again by my good friend, Dr. Barnabas Aspray. This time, we're picking up a conversation we've been having for sometime offline about whether liberal Protestantism is the most consistent form of Protestantism. In other words, does the Reformation naturally lead to Liberal Protestantism?

Note, when we talk about Liberal Protestantism, we're not talking about the hot button issues of the 21st century, but more so the academics of the 19th and 20th century who rejected or rethought fundamental categories of Christian orthodoxy.

Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

Get access to my book club, show notes, ad-free episodes and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity

Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com

About the Guest: Barnabas Aspray (PhD, Cambridge) is Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Baltimore, USA. He is the author of Ricœur at the Limits of Philosophy (CUP, 2022) and On the Significance of Religion for Immigration Policy  (Routledge, 2025). He is a columnist for Seen & Unseen magazine and host of Faith at the Frontiers podcast.

Barney's Podcast: https://faithatthefrontiers.com/

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