Orthodox Health
Orthodox Health explores the timeless wisdom of the Orthodox Church in cultivating holistic well-being—spiritually, physically, and mentally. The podcast covers topics like fasting, nutrition, exercise, prayer, and overcoming modern health pitfalls through an Orthodox Christian lens. It features guest interviews, theological insights, and practical applications to help listeners break free from the consumer-driven health industry and reclaim a balanced, faith-centered life.
Episodes
Our Thoughts Determine Our Health? Nocebo, Fear & the Orthodox Mind
Can fear, expectation, & the stories we tell about our bodies actually change what we experience physically?Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica famously taught that “our thoughts determine our lives.” Modern research into the nocebo effect, pain, conditioning, stress, & health anxiety gives us a fascinating (though much narrower) window into the relationship between thought & bodily experience
The Dormition: What the Death of the Theotokos Reveals About Yours
You will die. So what exactly are you preparing your body for?After exploring how Orthodox Christians should feed the body during fasting & how to train without making the gym an idol, in this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John confront the question that neither nutrition nor physical discipline can answer:What are health, strength, suffering, & ultima
Making the Gym an Idol? Training & Orthodox Fasting | Sdn Michael Cassell, CSCS
Is your training serving your vocation... or has your life quietly begun serving your training?Physical training can teach discipline, patience, consistency & the ability to endure discomfort. But difficulty alone does not make something Orthodox asceticism.In this episode of The Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John are joined by Subdeacon Michael Cassell: a certified stre
The Ultimate Orthodox Fasting Protein Tier List
Peanut butter contains protein... but does that make it a protein source?In this episode of The Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John build the ultimate Orthodox fasting protein tier list for the Dormition Fast. They rank shellfish, lentils, split peas, lupini beans, bean pasta, pea & rice protein, black beans, chickpeas, nutritional yeast, peanut butter, quinoa, oats, tahi
Regenerating the Land, Forming the Man: Farming, BJJ & Orthodoxy | Nick Hillman
What connects regenerative agriculture, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Orthodox community, & the formation of the human person?In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Nick Hillman rejoins Dr. Michael Christian & John to explain what regenerative agriculture is actually trying to restore... from soil biology, nutrient density & plant health to the relationship between farmers, food &
You Don't Need Spiritual Techniques... You Need Repentance | St. Paisios
Modern spirituality promises healing.St. Paisios points to something much deeper.In the conclusion of our trilogy on yoga, the New Age, & Orthodox Christianity, Dr. Michael Christian & John examine the teachings of St. Paisios the Athonite on repentance, discernment, the passions, logismoi, prayer, & communion with Christ.Rather than becoming fascinated by counterfeit spirituality, St.
False Healing Exposed: New Age, Trauma & Christ with Anastasia Gerali (The Reborn Anastasia)
Not everything called healing actually heals.In this episode of The Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John are joined by Christian trauma therapist, Anastasia Gerali, The Reborn Anastasia, to discuss her journey from cultural Orthodoxy into New Age spirituality... & back to Christ.Anastasia shares how trauma, divorce, manifestation, hypnotherapy, yoga, meditation, psychic pr
False Peace: Yoga, the New Age, & the Gospel Without the Cross with Cantor & Seminarian Robert Sirico
What if the greatest spiritual deception doesn't look darkWhat if it looks peaceful?In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John are rejoined by our good friend Robert Sirico, who is a cantor, choir director, & doctoral seminarian. In the conversation, we move beyond the question of whether yoga is religious & examine the larger worldview surrounding
Nourished Asceticism: Fasting Without Crashing | Dr. Michael Moeller
Is the Fast making you weak… or is it revealing what modern life already depleted?In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John continue the Apostle’s Fast arc with Dr. Michael Moeller, NMD, for a conversation on nourished asceticism, testosterone, men’s health, blood sugar, digestion, protein, metabolic resilience, peptides, berberine, & how to fast seriousl
The Fast & the Gut: Asceticism Without Self-Destruction
Orthodox fasting is not self-destruction.In this episode of The Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John build on two previous Orthodox Health conversations: the recent episode on nutrient pairings, & Episode 12, The Microcosm Within: Orthodoxy & the Microbiome.The core idea is simple: intake is not the same thing as reception. You can eat fasting foods and still feel bloa
You’re Not Absorbing It: Nutrient Pairings & Orthodox Fasting
During the Apostles’ Fast, many Orthodox Christians focus almost entirely on what they are removing: meat, dairy, eggs, oil, wine.But what if the deeper question is not simply, “What am I avoiding?” but, “What am I actually receiving?”In this episode, Dr. Michael Christian & John use nutrient pairings as a practical case study in one of the deepest patterns woven into creation: things are rece
Sin Is Sickness: Trauma, Compulsion & Orthodox Healing with Fr. Hans Jacobse (St. Paisios Brotherhood)
What if sin is not merely a legal violation, or "rule-breaking," but a sickness of the whole person?In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John are joined by Fr. Hans Jacobse for a deeply pastoral conversation on trauma, compulsion, embodied memory, prayer, & Orthodox healing.Dropping the day after Pentecost, this conversation asks what true healing looks l
False Ascension: From Occult Power to Orthodox Healing with Erika of Shire Skincare
Before Erika found Orthodoxy, she had spent years in theistic satanism, occult practice, ritual magic, & demonic spirituality... until the New Testament, the Jesus Prayer, & the life of the Church revealed that the “power” she had been promised was bondage.In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John speak with Erika of Shire Skincare about her journey f
Your Body Is NOT a Machine: The Orthodox Answer to Biohacking & the New Age
Modern medicine often treats the body like a machine. New Age wellness treats the body like energy. Orthodoxy gives us something deeper than both.In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John ask the question underneath the entire post-Pascha body arc: What is the body?They discuss the machine model of modern medicine, the New Age reaction to medical reductionism
Alignment & Asceticism: Healing the Body in Christ | Dr. Christian Nelson, DC
What does chiropractic have to do with Orthodoxy, the body, pain, stress, & healing?In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John continue the post-Pascha Body Arc with Dr. Christian Nelson, DC, an Orthodox Christian chiropractor & founder of Advocate Wellness TX. Together they discuss pain, posture, nervous system patterns, stress, the esoteric roots of
Your Body Is Not Broken: Pain, Rehab & the Resurrection | Dr. Edgar Urilov, DPT
What if your body isn’t broken, but protecting you?In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John continue the Post-Pascha Body Arc with Dr. Edgar Urilov, a physical therapist &Orthodox Christian, for a conversation on pain, fascia, rehab, stress, & the body that will be raised.After speaking with Buck Johnson about emergency care & Nicholas Cerean abo
Strength After Pascha: Streetlifting & the Resurrected Body | Nicholas Cerean (Phoenixeer)
In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John sit down with USA streetlifting record holder Nicholas Cerean to talk about strength, discipline, fasting, injury, humility, & the body in light of the Resurrection. This is a conversation about the Christian body after Pascha: not as an idol, not as an afterthought, but as something to be offered back to God. Nic
The Bodily Resurrection & the Reality of Emergency Care with Buck Johnson (Counterflow Podcast)
Christ is Risen!In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast , Dr. Michael Christian & John welcome Buck Johnson of the Counterflow Podcast to open the new Orthodox Health “Body Arc.”Buck is known to many as a podcaster, but he has spent over 2 decades as a first responder, making him the perfect first guest for a post-Pascha conversation on the body, because Pascha is not an escape from the
The 11th Hour: How to Walk Into Pascha Without Losing the Point
Holy Week is not a reward for people who “nailed Lent.” It is medicine for the weak. In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John walk from Lazarus Saturday to Pascha as a field guide for real people: those who are exhausted, behind, scattered, ashamed, or tempted to turn the fast into obsession. They unpack Lazarus Saturday as truth & return, Palm Sunday as
The Fast From Noise: Women’s Mental Health in Lent w/ Dr. Robyn Middleton, PhD (Guest Co-Host Gavin McCort, RDN)
In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian is joined by guest co-host Gavin McCort, RDN, & Dr. Robyn Middleton, PhD to explore women’s mental health during Lent... covering anxiety, burnout, stress, perfectionism, distraction, & how the Jesus Prayer restores peace in a noisy, overstimulated world.It connects Orthodox spirituality with real-world mental health, in
The Hidden Battle of Lent: Men, Temptation, & Attention | Jonathan Lewis | The Tested Man
Most men don’t fail Lent because of food.They fail because they can’t sit still with their own mind.In this episode of The Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John are joined by Jonathan Lewis (The Tested Man) to break down the real battle of Lent... not physical, but mental & spiritual.When the noise drops... no constant stimulation, no comfort eating, no distraction... what’
The Sanctified Womb: Women's Health, Fasting, & Peace | Khouria Cathryn Barker
Women are not tiny men.In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John, are joined by Khouria Cathryn Barker, RN of The Sanctified Womb to unpack a neglected but urgent topic: women’s health, fasting, fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, recovery, & peace from a distinctly Orthodox perspective.Khouria Cathryn explains why women cannot simply approach fasting like
Discipline, Testosterone, & the Fast: Men’s Health Done Right w/ Gavin McCort
Is Lent lowering testosterone… or exposing weak discipline?In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John are re-joined by Gavin McCort of Temple Builder Fitness to discuss the real foundations of male strength: discipline, asceticism, training, & responsibility.Modern culture talks endlessly about the testosterone crisis, declining male strength, and collapsi
Minimum Effective Lent: A Practical Orthodox Rule for the Great Fast
What is the minimum effective dose of Lent?If you’re overwhelmed by strict fasting rules, long services, & seemingly unrealistic expectations... this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast gives you a grounded, strategic framework for a Lent that actually transforms you.Dr. Michael Christian & John break down a “Minimum Effective Lent” protocol... the smallest viable ascetical rule that st
Repentance is a Miracle: Forgiveness Is the Doorway to Lent with Fr. John Wehling
The Church does not begin Great Lent with a productivity plan, a diet, or a heroic list. She begins Lent with a doorway... forgiveness. In this Forgiveness Sunday episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John sit back down with Fr. John Wehling to unpack why forgiveness isn’t sentimental, why it isn’t the same as reconciliation or access, & how the Rite of Forgivenes
Sunday of the Last Judgment: Mercy or Self-Deception? with Fr. John Peck
The Sunday of the Last Judgment isn’t just about the end of the world... it’s about the end of your excuses.As we approach Great Lent, Fr. John Peck joins Dr. Michael Christian & John on the Orthodox Health Podcast to unpack the Gospel of Meatfare Sunday & the subtle spiritual danger that keeps most of us from repentance: delay. The demon’s best lie isn’t that God isn’t merciful... it’s th
The Prodigal Son: Repentance & the Healing of the Soul w/ Fr. Michael Butler (Avg2Alpha)
What if repentance isn’t about punishment, shame, or self-improvement... but about coming home?In this episode, Dr. Michael Christian & John are joined by Fr. Michael Butler (Avg2Alpha) for a deep, pastoral conversation on the Parable of the Prodigal Son & the Church’s wisdom in placing it at the heart of the Triodion, just before Great Lent begins.Together, they explore repentance not as
The Sin of Being “Right”: Humility as Medicine w/ Fr. Zechariah Lynch (Inkless Pen Blog)
We’re kicking off our 4-week Triodion mini-arc leading into Great Lent with a return guest, Fr. Zechariah Lynch, for the Sunday of the Publican & the Pharisee (Luke 18:9–14).The Church begins here for a reason: you can do “Orthodox things” with the wrong spirit. This parable is the first warning before the fast... don’t turn prayer, discipline, or fasting into a spiritual performance.The Publi
Healing in a Sanctified World: Herbs, Winter, & Discernment w/ Presvytera Krystina Valadez
In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John are joined by clinical herbalist Presvytera Krystina Valadez to explore healing through an Orthodox Christian lens... cutting through both modern medical reductionism & New Age “wellness” spirituality.This is a conversation about right order: herbs without magic, prayer without superstition, suffering without desp
The Spiritual Root of Winter Immunity: Order, Fear, & Faith
Winter isn’t an emergency, it’s a season.In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John unpack what Theophany proclaims about reality: creation is sanctified, the body matters, & health can’t be reduced to control, hacks, or fear.We contrast communion logic vs. control logic, explain why modern life turns winter into a panic cycle (overstimulation, stress debt
Sanctified Matter: Living After Theophany
What if Theophany isn’t just a feast you celebrate... what if it’s a new reality you’re supposed to live from? In this episode, Dr. Michael Christian & co-host John unpack how Orthodox Christianity rejects both “flat secular materialism” & escapist spirituality, & why that matters for your body, nervous system, sleep, food, home, & daily rhythms.You’ll hear why “sanctified matter”
From Willpower to Worship, Building Habits that Heal
January is when modern culture tries to “punish itself into purity.” In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Mike & John dismantle the New Year, New Me courtroom & replace it with something actually Orthodox: repentance, rhythm, & repair.This is not a hype plan. It’s a Rule of Life approach to health: habits that support prayer, stabilize the nervous system, & make you
12 Days, Not 12 Pounds of Christmas How to Feast Without Falling Apart
Christ is born. Glorify Him.The Church does not give us the feast so that we can fall apart... & then punish ourselves in January.In this episode of The Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John walk through the often-ignored stretch from Nativity to Theophany & ask a different question than the culture does:How do we feast like Christians... without burning out our bodies,
Christ Is Born: Nativity at the Kitchen Table
From straw hidden under a tablecloth in a tiny Slavic house… to kids banging metal triangles in Greek stairwells… to families tearing injera around a shared platter in Ethiopia…The Nativity isn’t just about presents & photo ops. It’s about Christ showing up at the table.In this episode, Dr. Mike & John take you on a tour of global Orthodox (& other) Nativity traditions & then land
Beyond ‘Vegan’: Fake Meats, Food 2.0, & Technocratic Fasting w/ Nick Hillman (Regenerative Ag So
Lab-grown “meat.” Cricket protein bars. Impossible burgers at the grocery store.The world is loudly preaching a new gospel of “ethical,” “sustainable,” plant-based everything... while the same foundations & corporations that built chemical agriculture now tell us the “Future of Food” is bugs, bioreactors, & patented pea protein.In this Nativity-season episode, Dr. Mike & John welcome back Nick Hil
Santa Vs. St. Nicholas & the Medicine of Almsgiving w/ Fr. Jonathan Ivanoff (The Transfigured Life)
What if St. Nicholas wasn’t a jolly mascot for consumer Christmas… but a bishop whose hidden generosity literally healed people and communities?In episode 39 of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & co-host John sit down with Fr. Jonathan Ivanoff to rescue St. Nicholas from the Santa-Industrial-Complex & recover him as a true Orthodox saint, wonderworker, & icon of merci
Puritans, Pilgrims, & the Price of Forgetting the Eucharist
Is your Thanksgiving plate quietly acting like a spiritual report card?In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John trace how the Thanksgiving Myth, Puritan productivity culture, & wellness legalism turned “Turkey Day” into a kind of substitute sacrament... & how the Eucharist, the true Thanksgiving, reclaims our tables, our bodies, & our nervous sys
Blue Zones, Longevity, & the Myth of the Perfect Diet
Is “Blue Zone” longevity the new health religion?In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John audit Okinawa, Sardinia, Ikaria, Nicoya, & Loma Linda... & ask what actually survives scrutiny when you put the Blue Zones story under an Orthodox Christian lens.We tie this episode back through the whole Sacred Diets Arc & then we zoom in on modern longevit
Fasting Towards the Feast: An Orthodox Response to "Sacred Diets"
Fasting isn’t a diet challenge or a biohack... it’s ascetical medicine inside the life of the Church. In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John pull together everything we’ve been tracing through the "Sacred Diets" arc... from Adventist “health reform” & occult kitchen rituals to Zen minimalism & macro-tracking... & answer the real quest
The Occult Kitchen: Food as Magic, Diet as Ritual
Food can train love... or it can train control. In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John follow the threads from ancient hearths & local household idols through the Renaissance’s “cookbook of correspondences” & into today’s wellness culture & #WitchTok. Why do so many modern routines feel like liturgy... complete with initiation, penance, confess
Zen & the Art of Dietary Maintenance: Eastern Imports & the New Age Diet
In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & co-host John explore the intersection of Eastern dietary techniques and Western wellness culture. They discuss how these practices have evolved over time, the influence of Theosophy, & the moral implications of modern dietary practices. They put the wellness world’s calm-eating gospel under a brighter light & trace how Zen, yo
The Covenant Kitchen: Judaism, Islam, & The Politics of the Plate
From Levitical purity laws to global halal certification, The Covenant Kitchen traces how food became both a boundary & a battleground.In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John explore how kosher & halal codes shaped identity, power, & perception... & how modern “clean eating” & “ethical” brands echo those same ancient impulses.Along the w
The Temperance Table: Mormonism, Methodism & the Caffeine-Free Gospel
Why did America learn to fear the feast?In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John continue the story of how 19th-century revivalism, temperance preachers, & eventually Mormonism redefined food & drink as moral tests instead of gifts of grace. From Joseph Smith’s “caffeine-free gospel” to the Methodist crusade against alcohol, we uncover how Protestant
Feminism, Food & the Fall: Diet, Control & the Occult w/ Rachel Wilson
In the finale of our Women’s Health Arc, Dr. Michael Christian & John sit down with Rachel Wilson, Orthodox Christian & author of Occult Feminism: The Secret History of Women’s Liberation, to expose how feminism, the occult, & modern wellness culture reshaped the female body, diet, & family.From yoga & the birth control pill to the Rockefeller-funded feminist revolution, Rachel
The Gospel of Grains: Revivalism, Guilt, & The USDA Food Pyramid
When America lost throne & altar, it found a cereal bowl.In the 19th century, revival preachers turned purity into a health plan.Ellen G. White’s visions warned that meat led to lust.John Harvey Kellogg tried to purify the body with cereal, shock therapy, & ice baths...By the 20th century, their strange theology had hardened into the USDA Food Pyramid: a gospel of grains preached with gove
PCOS, Prayer, & Practical Healing w/ Brennan Straka & Casey Kuhn
In this episode of The Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & co-host John are joined by return guest, certified nurse midwife Brennan Straka, & Dr. Michael's own wife, Casey, to discuss the complexities of women's health, with a particular focus on PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). They explore fasting, dietary changes, & the importance of faith in navigating health
Sanctified Cycles: Femininity & Functional Health w/ Presbytera Marina Thornburg
In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Presbytera Marina Thornburg (Orthodox True Femininity) joins hosts Dr. Michael Christian & John to explore the multifaceted aspects of femininity within the Orthodox tradition.They discuss the significance of women's roles in the Church, personal conversion stories, & the challenges women face regarding health, particularly PCOS. The conv
New Motherhood & Conversion: Finding Christ in the Chaos w/ Gwynne Hoffmaster
In this heartfelt episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian and co-host John sit down with new mother & recent Orthodox convert, Gwynne Hoffmaster, to talk about the beautiful chaos of entering the Church while navigating motherhood.From midnight feedings to toddler wrangling in the nave, Gwynne shares her honest experiences of finding Christ in exhaustion, messiness, &
Faith, Flourishing, Femininity, & Public Health w/ guest Katherine Phillips of The Faithful Flourish Podcast
In this opening episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast Women’s Health & Femininity arc, Dr. Michael Christian & co-host John welcome Katherine Phillips, host of the Faithful Flourish Podcast. With a background in public health & daily work as a health insurance broker, Katherine brings both clarity & conviction to the challenges women face in today’s medicalized, performance-driven
Fighting the Good Fight: Orthodoxy & BJJ w/ Jeff Messina
In this long-awaited episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & co-host John are joined by Jeff Messina: 4th degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Judo black belt, owner of the Revolution Dojo, paratrooper & infantryman, theology graduate, & newly-illumined Orthodox Christian.Jeff shares his powerful journey from the mat to the Church, weaving together themes of d
The School of the Body: How Movement & Suffering Form the Soul
In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & co-host John explore how the body itself is a school of formation. Building from last week’s conversation with Fr. Zechariah Lynch on the war against the Incarnation, this discussion goes deeper into the theology of movement, the sanctifying role of suffering, & the communal power of training together.From the Desert Fathers s
From Dust to Data: The War on the Incarnation w/ Guest Fr. Zechariah Lynch
In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John welcome Fr. Zechariah Lynch to close out a four-part arc on the future of man. Together, they explore the rising ideology of transhumanism, the cult of fitness, AI-driven medicine, & how these movements represent not mere “progress,” but a new worldview that wages war on the Incarnation itself.The conversation div
The Gospel According to the Algorithm: AI, Medicine, & the Post-Human Promise
In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John explore the intersection of AI, medicine, and Orthodox theology. They discuss the ethical implications of AI in healthcare, the allure of transhumanism, & the importance of community & communion in true healing. The conversation emphasizes the need for a return to the Orthodox understanding of the person, whic
Disembodied Men: Virtual Selves & The Death of Real Masculinity
In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John discuss the crisis of masculinity in modern society, exploring themes of disembodiment, the spiritual roots of masculinity, & the importance of reclaiming the body as a tool for virtue & sacrifice.They emphasize the need for practical steps to embody masculinity, the significance of brotherhood, & the role
Ascetic Strength: Orthodox Health for the Modern Man w/ Gavin McCort RDN/LDN
In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian (sans John) is joined by Orthodox catechumen, registered dietitian, & fitness specialist Gavin McCort, RDN, LDN to discuss the multifaceted crisis in men's health, exploring the decline in testosterone levels, the impact of social & environmental factors, & the importance of spirituality & community.They emphasiz
Roots & Remedies: From Wellness to Witchcraft
In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & co-host John explore the intersection of Orthodox Christianity & herbal medicine, emphasizing the importance of discernment in using natural remedies. They discuss the historical context of herbal practices within the Orthodox tradition, the dangers of New Age ideologies, & the philosophical roots that contribute t
From Terrain Theory to Theosophy: Wellness as a False Gospel
In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & co-host John delve into the complex world of Anthroposophy, its founder Rudolf Steiner, & the implications of his teachings on health & healing. They explore the intersections of Anthroposophy with terrain theory, contrasting it with Orthodox Christian views on healing, which emphasize the unity of body, soul, & spirit, repent
The Parish as a Hospital for the Soul w/ Special Guest Fr. Jonathan Ivanoff of the Transfigured Life Podcast
In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & co-host John are joined by Fr. Jonathan Ivanoff to explore the vital role of community in healing within the Orthodox Church. They discuss the Church as a spiritual hospital, the importance of understanding healing beyond the physical, & the communal aspect of salvation. The conversation delves into the tools for spiri
The Axe at The Root: Addressing the Sickness of Modern Civilization
In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & co-host John explore the deep-rooted issues of modern health & spirituality through the lens of Orthodox Christianity. They discuss the importance of addressing the root causes of sickness, both physically & spiritually, & how modern medicine often fails to do so.The conversation emphasizes the need for awarene
Preparing the Way: Women's Health & The Sacred Call to Life w/ Guest Certified Nurse Midwife Brennan Straka
In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & co-host John engage in a profound conversation with certified nurse midwife Brennan Straka about the intersection of faith, health, & the sacredness of women's bodies. They explore the spiritual dimensions of childbirth, the importance of community support, & the challenges women face in modern healthcare. Bren
The Breath of Life: On Healing & The Holy Spirit
In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian and co-host John explore the profound connection between breath, health, & Orthodox Christianity. They discuss how breath is not merely a biological function, but a spiritual practice that connects us to God & the Holy Spirit. The conversation delves into the dangers of alternative spiritual & modern "secular&qu
Stillness Without Christ? The False Promise of Yoga w/ Guest Cantor Robert Sirico
Is yoga just stretching—or something far deeper?In this powerful episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, cantor, choir director & seminarian, Robert Sirico, joins Dr. Michael Christian & co-host John, to unpack the hidden spiritual foundations of yoga & why it stands in sharp contrast to the Orthodox Christian life. From kundalini awakenings to Eastern metaphysics, we explore how yoga
The Microcosm Within: Orthodoxy & The Microbiome
In this thought-provoking episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & co-host, John take a deep dive into the astonishing world of the microbiome—the vast ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, & other microorganisms that live in & on the human body—& how it intersects with the rich theological tradition of the Orthodox Christian faith.They explore how spiritual discipli
From the Jordan to the Body: Water as the First Medicine
In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & co-host John explore the profound significance of water from an Orthodox Christian perspective. They delve into the theological, ancestral, & scientific aspects of water, emphasizing its sacredness & the need for reverence in our relationship with this essential element. The conversation covers the importance of hy
Tending the Garden: On the Sacred Duty of Stewardship w/ Guest Nick Hillman of Regenerative Ag Solutions
In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & co-host John are joined by Nick Hillman, founder of Regenerative Ag Solutions, to explore the intersection of Orthodox Christianity & regenerative agriculture. They discuss the sacred relationship with the land, the importance of stewardship, & how modern agricultural practices have strayed from traditional wisdom.
Carnivores, Vegans & An Orthodox Response to the Diet Wars
In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & co-host John explore the extremes of modern diets, such as carnivore & veganism, & how these approaches often neglect the spiritual dimensions of eating. The conversation emphasizes the importance of Incarnational Theology, the royal path of balance, & the significance of the liturgical calendar in guiding diet
Self-Help is Not Salvation: An Orthodox Response to Wellness Culture w/ Special Guest Fr. John Wehling
In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & co-host John are joined by special guest, Fr. John Wehling to discuss the inadequacies of contemporary self-care practices, the search for meaning in a secular world, & how Orthodoxy offers a holistic approach to health that encompasses both body & soul. The conversation delves into personal journeys to Orthodoxy,
Antisocial Media & The Health of the Soul (Psyche)
Has social media taken over your spiritual life?In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & co-host John explore the impact of screens & social media on spiritual life. We discuss the importance of silence & stillness, the dangers of comparison & identity distortion through social media, & the role of confession in fostering authenticity & connec
Movement as Medicine: An Orthodox Approach to Physical Activity
What does it mean to move your body, not for vanity, but for virtue?In this episode of Orthodox Health, Dr. Michael Christian & co-host John explore physical movement through the lens of the Orthodox Christian life – from the embodied rhythms of monastic tradition, to the daily disciplines that help us to resist acedia, cultivate humility, & honor the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit.We
Sleep, Rest, & The Sabbath Mindset
Have we traded in productivity at any cost for true rest? Are idle hands really the devil's play things? What should you do if you suffer from sleep paralysis?In this episode of Orthodox Health, Dr. Michael Christian & John explore the critical role of rest & sleep in overall health, emphasizing its importance not just for physical recovery, but also for spiritual well-being. They disc
Fasting & Feasting: Orthodox Christian Nutrition Principles
Struggling to know what & how to eat?In this episode of Orthodox Health, Dr. Michael Christian & John dive deep into the ancient wisdom of fasting & feasting through the lens of Orthodox Christian tradition—& how it aligns with real nutrition & metabolic health today. For centuries, Orthodox Christians have practiced structured fasting cycles, alternating with nutrient-dense fe
Prayer, Stress, & The Nervous System
In this episode, Dr. Michael Christian & John explore various aspects of health from an Orthodox Christian perspective. They discuss the health benefits of prayer on the nervous system, effective prayer strategies, allostatic load, heart rate variability, the impact of corporate worship, the gut-brain connection, whether there can be a "Christian yoga," & the physiological effect
Fasting: A Spiritual & Physical Detox
In this episode, hosts, Dr. Michael Christian & John, explore the multifaceted nature of fasting within the context of Orthodox Christianity, emphasizing the spiritual, physical, & communal aspects. They discuss how Orthodox Christian fasting is not merely a dietary restriction, but a profound spiritual practice that fosters humility, obedience, and a closer relationship with God. They del
An Orthodox Christian Approach to Health & Wellness
In this episode hosts, Dr. Michael Christian & John, explore the intersection of Orthodox Christianity & holistic health, emphasizing the importance of caring for the body, mind, & spirit. They discuss the concept of telos in the Christian worldview, the significance of asceticism (spiritual discipline), & the role of community in achieving wellness. The conversation critiques mode
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