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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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