Gospel Simplicity Podcast

You might have heard that C.S. Lewis believed in Purgatory, and that's true. But his vision of Purgatory is unique, combining Protestant and Catholic sensibilities. In this video, I unpack what Lewis taught about Purgatory in Letters to Malcom and The Great Divorce, looking specifically at the theological foundation for his views and what that means for us today.

Join Me on the Camino!: https://www.gospelsimplicity.com/pilgrimage

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Get access to my book club, one-on-one office hours, show notes, 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

Videos Referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXsyqFRVIh4&t=314s

00:00 Lewis on Purgatory
01:35 Letters to Malcolm
04:11 The Great Divorce
07:55 Theological Foundations
13:53 Implications for Protestants

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In this episode, I'm joined by Rev. Hannah Miller King to discuss how understanding the Eucharist can change how we see the entirety of the Christian life. We talk about grief, community, and divisions in the church along the way as we explore what the Eucharist really means. 

Join Me on the Camino!: https://www.gospelsimplicity.com/pilgrimage

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

Get access to my book club, one-on-one office hours, show notes, 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: Hannah Miller King is a priest and writer in the Anglican tradition. She has been a campus minister among conservatory musicians, an apartment minister in downtown Dallas, and a parish pastor in Northern Virginia and South Carolina. She currently serves as the Associate Rector at The Vine Anglican Church in Western North Carolina. She is a contributing writer for Christianity Today and Holy Post Media, and her work has appeared in Fathom Magazine, Mere Orthodoxy, The Living Church and Smoky Mountain News.  Her first book was published by InterVarsity Press in February 2026. 

Hannah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Westminster Choir College and a Master of Arts in Religion from Redeemer Seminary. She is currently being schooled in the minutia of Star Wars (and other galactic battles between good and evil) by her three kids. 

Find Rev. Hannah on Substack: https://hannahmillerking.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips

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Last week, the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X consecrated four bishops without papal mandate, and 24 hours later, the Vatican pronounced that the SSPX clergy had incurred excommunication and warned that laypeople who formally adhere to the SSPX could be guilty of excommunication as well.

It was major news, but at first, I thought I'd just leave it to the Catholics and SSPX to sort this out. However, as I was tracking the discourse on this, I became intrigued by one particular thread of the conversation: the comparisons between the SSPX and the Reformation. As a Protestant, this interested me. It also put me in an odd situation. I disagree with the SSPX on a number of things, not least of which is their assessment of the theological emphases of Vatican 2. However, much of the structure of their argument, especially the idea of the state of necessity felt familiar. Indeed, it has interesting overlaps with the Reformation. And it's those overlaps that I decided to explore in this video.

Join Me on the Camino!: https://www.gospelsimplicity.com/pilgrimage

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

Get access to my book club, one-on-one office hours, show notes, 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

SSPX Quotes referenced came from the following article: https://sspx.org/en/state-necessity-30464

00:00 The News
01:20 The SSPX
02:38 The State of Necessity
05:53 Reformation Similarities
07:40 Dissent from a Council
09:25 Rejecting Innovations
13:18 Appealing to a Higher Authority
15:39 The Crux of the Issue

Disclaimer: Links in the description may contain affiliate links, from which I receive a small percentage of the purchase.

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In this video, I'm joined by Dr. Jordan Steffaniak to discuss Classical Theism, what it is, how it's Biblical, and why all Christians, Protestants included, should hold to it. If you've ever wondered why things like Divine Simplicity or impassibility matter, this video is for you.

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: Jordan L. Steffaniak (PhD, University of Birmingham, UK) is President of the London Lyceum and Publisher for Hanover Press. He owns and operates Professor Lending, a residential mortgage brokerage and teaches at several institutions. He has a wonderful wife and three sons.

Get the book: https://amzn.to/4eLRTDV
Learn more: https://thelondonlyceum.com/


00:00 Introduction to Classical Theism
08:50 Classical Theism & Happiness
12:01 Is it Practical?
18:00 Aseity
21:01 Simplicity
39:53 Impassibility
51:10 Immutability
59:23 Classical Theism and Protestantism

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In this video, I'm joined by Fr. Matthew C. Dallman to discuss the distinctive elements of Anglican Spirituality as well as major figures within the Anglican spiritual tradition.

Fr. Matthew Dallman is the leading expert on Martin Thornton, and has published a new book on him, alongside republishing his works.

Find him on Substack: https://substack.com/@frmcdallman
Akenside Institute for English Spirituality: https://www.akensideinstitute.org/

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 Anglican Spirituality
02:51 Role of the BCP
06:10 Benedictine Spirituality
12:04 The Riches of Anglican Spirituality
18:02 Influential Figures
26:52 The Impact of Saints
43:13 Martin Thornton's Legacy
01:10:18 The Need for Spiritual Direction

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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. 

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

Get her book, Between Heaven and Russia: https://amzn.to/3SdX6vd
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

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

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.

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

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

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/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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