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 more capable of love instead of more rigid, reactive, & self-absorbed.

Takeaways:

• Why January “discipline” often becomes a modern false penance that backfires spiritually & biologically
• The difference between a resolution (firework) & a rule (candle) & why Orthodoxy is medicinal, not legalistic
• How stress debt collapses willpower (& why shame-based plans increase cravings, irritability, & burnout)
• A simple framework you can remember when you’re tired: Name → Offer → Anchor → Repair
• The Orthodox “January plan” you can actually keep: The Rule of 3 (one spiritual habit, one physical habit, & one outward habit toward your neighbor)
• Why you’re not “behind”: the Orthodox life begins the same way every time, return

Sound Bytes:

• “Willpower is not salvation.”
• “We are not doing January as penance. We’re doing January as worship.”
• “You cannot build spiritual stability on biological chaos.”
• "Orthodoxy is not perfectionism. It is repentance.”
• “The habit we’re really building is not never fail. It’s repair. Return quickly.”
• “You are not behind. That is the lie.”
• “Christ is the healer, the Church is the hospital.”
• St. John Climacus (quoted): “Great is the power of small things done consistently…”

DM “RULE” on Instagram (or message us on Telegram) and we’ll send the copy/paste template Dr. Mike outlines in the episode.

If you want help personalizing it (thyroid, gut, hormones, stress debt, fasting rhythms), coaching is available.

Christ is born.
Glorify Him.

Chapters

00:00 Opener01:29 From Willpower to Worship: An Orthodox Alternative to Resolutions06:04 New Year, New Life in Christ08:48 Habits That Heal, Not Hype14:52 The January Trap: A Modern False Penance23:38 Christian Joy, Feasting, & True Freedom28:15 Worship Reorders Your Habits35:32 True Discipline vs Willpower38:48 Small Habits, Real Change44:31 Willpower & Stress Debt50:48 Identifying January Fantasies55:37 Modern Franticness Kills Prayer57:45 Building a Framework for Change01:07:48 The Rule of 3 (An Orthodox Framework)01:15:42 Creating A Sustainable Rhythm 01:19:06 Write Your Rule of 301:20:43 Closing Thoughts & Theophany Preview01:05:56 OutroSupport the Show with a One-Time or Recurring donation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coff.ee/OrthodoxHealth⁠

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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, numbing our souls, or turning January into a war on ourselves?

This is not about dieting.
It’s not about guilt.
And it’s not about “being good.”

It’s about gratitude with guardrails... receiving the feast as worship, not as escape.

Drawing from Orthodox theology, St. Basil the Great, & real physiology, this episode covers sleep, light, food, alcohol, almsgiving, & a simple year-end examination to help you enter the New Year grounded rather than wrecked.

Takeaways:

• Why the opposite of gluttony is not dieting, but thanksgiving

• What the “Twelve Days” are & are not in Orthodox life

• How modern “holiday chaos” trains binge → crash → punish cycles

• Why sleep & light quietly make or break the feast

• How to feast at meals instead of grazing all day

• Why protein before sugar & seed oils matters

• Alcohol as celebration vs. self-medication

• St. Basil on surplus, gluttony, & remembering the poor

• Why almsgiving stabilizes the nervous system, not just the soul

• A simple Christian year-end examen (without shame)

• Why habits must flow from worship, not willpower

Sound Bytes:

• “The opposite of gluttony isn’t dieting—it’s gratitude with guardrails.”
• “We fast badly, we binge the feast, and then we punish ourselves in January.”
• “The line between wine as celebration & alcohol as self-medication gets very blurry this time of year.”
• “A resolution says, ‘I will fix myself.’ A supplication says, ‘Lord, I’m sick—here’s where it hurts.’”
• “Turning outward changes your physiology, not just your morality.”
• “This is not a productivity review. This is repentance without self-hatred.”

Chapters:

00:00 Opener

01:30 Christ Is Born... & the Feast Is a Command

08:01 What the “Twelve Days” Actually Are (& Are Not)

13:55 The Real Story of "The Holidays"

16:33 Why Light & Sleep Can Shape the Feast

19:56 Guardrails 1-3: Ordering Your Circadian Rhythm

27:25 Guardrails 4-6: Feasting Without Metabolic Chaos

33:01 Guardrails 7-9: Alcohol as Celebration vs. Self-Medication

37:45 St. Basil & The Call to Remember the Poor

43:19 Guardrails 10-12: Almsgiving, Hospitality, Thanksgiving

45:26 Why Almsgiving Heals the Body Too

50:11 Year-End Reflection & Examination

56:07 The Blessing & the Danger of Orthodoxy’s Growth

57:44 What Am I Actually Asking God to Heal?

01:01:09 Closing Thoughts & Moving From Willpower to Worship

01:05:56 Outro

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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 it with three simple, kid-friendly menus you can actually pull off this year... without a babushka living in your pantry.

• The theology of the table: why the manger (a feeding trough) already points to the Eucharist
• How the story of salvation is bookended by meals: Eden, Bethlehem, the Mystical Supper, & the Wedding Feast of the Lamb
• The difference between fasting & feasting vs. diet culture’s binge & restrict cycle
• Slavic Holy Supper: 12 humble dishes, straw under the tablecloth, & an empty plate for the stranger
• Greek Nativity: kalandas kids with triangles, “Christ’s bread” (Christopsomo), & a Mediterranean Christmas feast
• Ethiopian Gena: long fast, white garments, all-night services, & injera as “edible spoons” around a shared platter
• Lightning-round traditions: Serbian badnjak, Georgian Alilo, Romanian colinde & cozonac, Arab Christian soups & date cookies, Armenian khetum, Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes, Japanese “glorifications,” & more
• Three Nativity menus (Mini Holy Supper, Mediterranean Christmas plate, Gena-inspired shared platter) that kids can help with & your nervous system can handle.

Takeaways:

• Fasting & feasting are not punishment & reward; they’re relational training in hunger, gratitude, & trust.
• Traditional tables build mercy into the furniture: extra plates for the lonely, carols at the door, food shared from one central platter.
• When meals are anchored in real protein, whole foods, & unhurried conversation, your hormones, digestion, & sleep all respond differently than they do to a month-long sugar binge.
• You don’t need twelve dishes or a perfect house; you need a candle, a prayer, & one concrete way to let your kitchen become a chapel.

Sound Bytes:

• "Christ is born!"

• “God preaches a whole sermon with a feeding trough.”

• “The straw under the tablecloth is God messing up your tablescape on purpose.”

• “The opposite of gluttony isn’t dieting... it’s gratitude with guardrails.”

• “If your ‘fast’ is just white-knuckle dieting & your ‘feast’ is a sugar binge, you’ve kept the labels but lost the spirit.”

• “Traditional Nativity tables train kids to remember the poor without a single lecture.”

• “When kids bang on mugs & triangles for Christ, that noise becomes liturgy.”

• “You don’t need a new culture; you need one small faithful gesture at your own table.”

• “Let your kitchen become an extension of the altar.”

Chapters:

00:00 Opener

01:30 Introduction to Nativity Around the World

08:38 The Christmas Table as a Foretaste of the Kingdom

16:33 Exploring Slavic Christmas Traditions

19:17 The Symbolism of the Straw & the Empty Plate

23:44 Practical Steps for your Own Slavic Holy Supper

25:24 Health Benefits of Holy Supper

26:19 Christmas in the Greek World

30:59 What's on the Greek Christmas Table?

34:38 Involving the Children in the Festivities

35:48 Health Benefits of the Greek Nativity Meal

37:05 Nativity in Ethiopia: Gena

41:22 Adapting Gena for the Orthodox

43:04 Health Observations in the Ethiopian Feasts

45:03 Nativity Traditions Around the World - Lightning Round

55:55 Concrete Nativity Menus for Families

01:06:35 Closing Thoughts & Looking Ahead

01:08:41 Outro

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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 Hillman (regenerative farmer & Orthodox Christian) to go beyond vegan "certified" & ask deeper questions:

• ​What happens when fasting stops being an ascetic practice of the Church… &becomes a top-down technocratic diet plan?
• ​How do fake meats, GMOs, lab-grown protein, &insect foods shape our metabolism, microbiome, & souls?
• ​And how can Orthodox Christians fast on real food... roots, fruits, properly-prepared beans & grains... without going broke or insane?

Building on last week’s episode with Fr. Jonathan Ivanoff on St. Nicholas & almsgiving, we contrast true Christ-centered fasting with a “Future of Food” that increasingly treats food as a lever of control instead of a gift to be received in thanksgiving.

Then we land in the parish kitchen: simple swaps, realistic rhythms, & concrete family- & parish-level steps to take back the future of food at the table you actually sit at.

Key Takeaways:

• ​Fasting is medicine, not a metric. Orthodox fasting is a healing discipline ordered toward repentance, love, & communion with God... not a carbon-credit diet handed down by technocrats.
• ​Fake meats are still fake food. Plant-based burgers & vegan nuggets may be “meat-free,” but their ultra-processed ingredients often drive blood sugar swings, inflammation, & cravings... undermining the very health they promise.
• ​Who controls your food controls your options. When a handful of foundations, corporations, & agencies own the land, seeds, supply chains, & “alt protein” IP, food shifts from gift to leverage.
• ​GMOs & chemicals hit the gut first. Even before we argue ideology, industrial crops & heavy pesticide use are damaging the microbiome, liver, & immune systems of entire populations.
• ​Real fasting can be simple & everyday-friendly. You don’t need boutique products to fast well: fruits, beans, lentils, potatoes, rice, & frozen vegetables can form a nutrient-dense fasting table for ordinary families.
• ​Change happens at the family & parish tables. We may not be able to personally redesign global agriculture, but we can choose more real foods at home, support real farms, & build small parish-scale practices of shared cooking & almsgiving.

Chapters:

00:00 Opener

01:30 Introduction to Food 2.0 & Fasting

09:37 Nick Hillman Reintroduction

13:46 Orthodox Fasting Vs. Technocratic Fasting

17:24 How Does the Small Farmer Stand Up to BigAg?

22:56 What Can We Learn from Food 2.0?

29:21 The Consequences of Modern Food Systems

31:24 The Truth About Glyphosate

34:26 The Alarming Reality of 3D-Printed Food

38:03 Navigating Orthodox Fasting & Food Choices

39:55 What These Lab Creations Mean for the Future of Food

45:26 The Legal & Ethical Dilemmas in Modern Farming

50:21 The Technocratic Agenda in BigAg

57:49 Reconnecting with Real Foods in the Nativity Fast

01:01:06 Practical Steps You Can Do This Week to Help Reclaim Your Food

01:03:41 The Role of Parishes in Food Systems

01:08:37 Lightning Round: Real Food vs. Fake Fasting

01:10:21 What About the Campbell's Soup Controversy?

01:17:18 Outro

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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 merciful giving.

Together they explore how almsgiving functions as medicine… for the poor, for our own anxious hearts, & for parishes trying to live as healing communities in the middle of a stressed, debt-driven culture. You’ll also hear practical traditions for Orthodox Christian parenting around St. Nicholas Day: Vespers, Liturgy, shoes outside the bedroom door, chocolate “coins,” & icons that help kids know the saint, not just the brand.

Whether you’re a tired parent, a priest, or just someone trying to keep the Nativity Fast in a world screaming “buy more,” this conversation will help you see money, mercy, and St. Nicholas through the lens of the Church as hospital.

Takeaways:

• ​Who St. Nicholas really is in the Orthodox Church: bishop, confessor, wonderworker… not just “Santa Claus.”
• ​Why the Fathers speak of almsgiving as spiritual medicine that “covers sins” & heals the heart.
• ​How generosity changes the emotional climate of a parish, moving it from survival mode to a healing community.
• ​Concrete ways Orthodox families can celebrate St. Nicholas Day.

Sound Bytes:

• ​“Coca-Cola didn’t canonize St. Nicholas. The Church did.”
• ​“St. Nicholas is not a mascot; he’s a bishop whose generosity literally saved families.
• ​“Almsgiving isn’t a PR move… it’s medicine for the poor, for our hearts, & for the parish.”
• ​“If the world is very intentional about making our kids forget the saints, we have to be just as intentional about helping them remember.”
• ​“Take your kids to Vespers on December 5 & Liturgy on December 6. Let St. Nicholas Day form them more than the mall does.”

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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 systems.

They unpack the American liturgy of Thanksgiving (the curated Pilgrim myth) & contrast it with the older Christian rhythm where fasting & feasting are anchored in the chalice.

For Orthodox Christians navigating Thanksgiving inside the Nativity Fast, Dr. Mike offers a simple 3-question framework:

1. What has my priest blessed?

2. What is actually set before me?

3. What will lead to love of God, neighbor, & family right now?

If you’ve ever felt food anxiety, fasting guilt, or family-triggered nervous system chaos around the holidays, this conversation will help you re-center on the chalice.

Takeaways:

• How the Puritan theology of “blessing proves election” still shows up today in productivity culture & food moralism.

• Why Thanksgiving as a civil feast is not neutral... it quietly trains us to use food, family, & photos as proof that “we’re okay.”

• What the Church actually means by Thanksgiving, & how the entire Divine Liturgy is a school of gratitude, not just the moment you approach the chalice.

• A practical, Eucharistic way to navigate Thanksgiving during the Nativity Fast without either blowing up the family table or turning into the fasting police.

• A nervous-system-aware look at food anxiety & health perfectionism: why every bite doesn’t have to be a referendum on your worth.

• How to respond sanely to the Food Pusher & the Food Police at your table, without getting sucked into arguments or shame spirals.

• Why “your worth is not on the plate; your true Thanksgiving is at the chalice,” & how that can reshape the other 364 days of your year, not just one Thursday.

Sound Bytes:

• “This is still a clinic, not a courtroom. We are not here to put your Thanksgiving plate on trial.”
• “The story we got as kids was heavily curated… Thanksgiving as a civil feast is not neutral. It is a ritual that shapes how we see God, ourselves, history, and each other.”
• “We are not pretending that the turkey is the Eucharist... Lord forbid. But we are teaching them that every meal can point to the Eucharist. Every table can become a small icon of that bigger table.”
• “Fasting is not a private performance art. It’s something we do in obedience to the Church & in conversation with our confessor.”
• “If everything in your life has been moralized... your productivity, your workouts, your food choices... then every bite becomes a referendum on your worth.”
• “The Eucharist tells us that your worth is not on the plate. Your worth is in that chalice.”

Chapters:

00:00 Opener

01:30 Introduction to the True Thanksgiving

04:12 The Myth of the First Thanksgiving

10:40 A Quick History of Thanksgiving

16:19 Thanksgiving as the Modern Civil Feast

23:43 The Eucharist: A Thanksgiving Ritual

27:12 Living in Thanksgiving: Practical Applications

31:58 How Can Living Eucharistically Calm Anxiety?

35:48 Connecting the Eucharist to Everyday Meals

39:23 Navigating Thanksgiving Day Challenges

45:05 Navigating Family Dynamics During Thanksgiving

48:54 Avoiding Post-Thanksgiving Punishment Mentality

50:41 Incorporating Almsgiving into Thanksgiving

52:14 Simple Thanksgiving Rule of Thumb

53:24 On the 11th Hour Club

54:27 Final Advice on Eucharistic Life

01:04:05 Closing Thoughts & Looking Ahead

01:08:13 Outro

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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 longevity culture: Blue Zones branding, “magic water” in Nicoya, glossy documentaries like The Human Longevity Project, & extreme anti-aging experiments to ask:

At what point does caring for your body quietly turn into salvation by technique?

You’ll hear:

• A region-by-region audit: what’s real in Okinawa, Sardinia, Ikaria, Nicoya, Loma Linda... what’s marketing
• How Adventist data, Mediterranean patterns, & Costa Rican staples overlap with the Orthodox fasting calendar
• A simple way to sort Keepers vs. Idols so your kitchen doesn’t become a shrine
• A closing theological check-in on the body, death, & the temptation to make longevity the real gospel

Takeaways:

• Blue Zones ≠ Bible - There are real signals, but messy records & heavy branding.
• The bundle > superfoods - Modest intake, daily movement, strong community, weekly rhythm, simple foodways.
• Adventist data is real, not magic - Loma Linda’s edge comes from Sabbath, community, restraint, & simple plant-forward eating, not veganism-as-sacrament.
• Orthodoxy already encodes the keepers - Fast/feast, Lord’s Day, panigyria, parish tables, & almsgiving hard-wire the same habits.
• Hospitality is the test - If your “health rule” can’t survive coffee hour, kids, or a neighbor’s casserole, it’s drifting into control.
• Body ≠ god, body ≠ prison - Against ancient Gnostics & modern techno-gnostics, the Fathers call the body a temple, made for resurrection, not endless optimization.
• Bryan Johnson is a parable - Extreme anti-aging shows what happens when monastic-grade discipline is driven by fear of death, not love of God & neighbor.

Sound Bytes:

• “If your diet can’t survive parish hospitality, it’s not Christian health—it’s a cult of control.”
• “Steal the forms, not the coordinates. You don’t need Ikaria’s zip code to copy her slow tables, walks, & prayers.”
• “Ancient Gnostics wanted to escape the body; modern biohackers want to deify the body. Orthodoxy says: the body is a temple... good, fallen, redeemable, destined for resurrection.”
• “Two people can do the same walk and the same beans. One is saying, ‘Lord, thank You for this day.’ The other is saying, ‘I will not die if I can help it.’ Same habits, different gospel.”
• “We’re not anti-gut or anti-sleep. We’re anti–soteriology by spreadsheet.”
• “Let your body be healthy enough to serve & your soul be ready enough to die well. That’s a better goal than ‘hack death.’”

Chapters:

Chapters

00:00 Opener

01:30 Recap of the Sacred Diets Arc

04:02 Introduction to the Myth of the Blue Zones

08:04 On the Religion of Longevity at Any Cost

13:10 Defining the Blue Zones

20:55 Narrative Landmines to Avoid

24:08 A Quick Trip to Okinawa

29:09 Making Okinawa Orthodox Again

32:34 Goats of Sardinia

38:14 Making Sardinia Orthodox Again

41:40 Ikaria: The Mediterranean Lifestyle at Human Speed

45:33 Keeping Ikaria Orthodox

48:18 Lessons from Nicoya: Simplicity & Community

55:26 Making Nicoya Orthodox Again

57:21 Insights from Loma Linda: The Adventist Approach

01:01:41 Making Loma Linda Orthodox Again

01:05:58 Blue Zones Keepers Vs. Idols

01:10:25 The Human Longevity Project: Insights & Cautions

01:13:40 Closing Thoughts on Sacred Diets

01:21:40 Outro

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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 question: How do I actually fast toward the Feast without wrecking my body, my mood, or my family?

We lay out a simple, livable 7-day “Rule of the Kitchen” for the Nativity Fast, then walk line-by-line through the usual snags: fasting with kids without becoming the food police, therapeutic diets (PCOS, insulin resistance, AIP, gluten-free), heavy labor & shift work, & what to do when “Sunday blows up my macros.”

From there, we connect the dots with the 5R Orthodox Health framework: Reorient, Rebuild, Resensitize, Refine, Return.

If you’ve ever tried to keep the Church’s fasts & ended up edgy, scrupulous, isolated from parish meals, or just flat-out exhausted, this episode will give you merciful guardrails: clinic, not courtroom; altar, not lab bench. We keep the mind of the Fathers while staying brutally practical for real Orthodox families in the modern world.

Takeaways:

• Fasting is ascetical medicine, not a diet challenge: it must move you toward Christ and neighbor.

• Think clinic, not courtroom: you confess, adjust, & begin again at the next meal.

• Prayer before protocol: timing, macros, & hacks are good only when they serve repentance and Eucharist.

• Aim for “calm, strong, & charitable”: roughly 1.0–1.6 g protein/kg plus steady salt & potassium.

• Keep one simple family table; adapt for kids, heavy labor, & illness with a priest’s blessing.

• Let the Church’s calendar, not influencers, set your rhythm: fast simply, feast gratefully, give alms.

Sound Bytes:

• “When prayer leaves, control rushes in. The fast becomes a god you’re trying to appease.”

• “Fasting is a clinic, not a courtroom. You don’t get sentenced for every stumble, you begin again at the next meal.”

• “The table is meant to be an altar, not a lab bench. People matter more than your plate.”

• “If the fast turns you into a jerk, you’re doing it wrong... no matter how ‘perfect’ your compliance is.”

• “Time, not technique, is the Church’s answer. The calendar forms desire better than any hack.”

• “One warm carb, a pinch of salt, & a short walk often fix more ‘fasting problems’ than a new app.”

• “We’re not chasing heroics; we’re building availability to God & to the people in front of us.”

  
  

Chapters:

00:00 Opener

01:30 Introduction to the Orthodox Response to the Sacred Diets

08:46 Fasting as an Ascetical Medicine & Not a Punishment

13:11 Lessons from the Fathers About Fasting

18:50 The 7-Day Rule of the Kitchen

25:57 Dealing with Physical & Social Exceptions to the Rule

28:55 Dietary Defaults During the Fast

32:49 "But What About My Protein?"

42:16 Some Quick Housekeeping About Shellfish Concerns

44:03 When is it Time to Supplement Protein?

44:52 Won't Somebody Please Think of the Children?

45:56 Solutions for Specific Conditions

48:50 What About Pregnant or Nursing Women?

52:08 Fasting Physiology: The Orthodox Health Five R's

01:03:55 60-Second Saves

01:05:13 Closing Thoughts & Looking Ahead

01:09:39 Outro

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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, confession, & excommunication... yet leave us restless?

Along the way, they define the “occult kitchen,” widen the history (Sumeria, Babylon, Old Testament household idols & the prophets’ critique; Neoplatonic theurgy; Renaissance Hermeticism/Agrippa/Dee), & note how social algorithms turn private rites into public identity.

If mercy can’t sit at your table, your rules need repentance.

Takeaways:

• The “occult kitchen” = technique used like liturgy to bend outcomes (timing, words, objects).

• Ancient → Renaissance → wellness is one lineage: control-by-method with new props each era.

• Case studies (cacao circles, lunar eating, manifestation macros, diet purity codes, & biohacking stacks) have real goods... but need re-orientation.

• Orthodox contrast: blessing over charging, communion over control, gift over technique.

• Fasting is training in love, not leverage; feasting completes fasting.

• Practical rule: short prayers at prep/table, modest rhythms (Wed/Fri), Sunday joy, community > scruples.

• Quick test: If a practice isolates you, replaces prayer with scripts, or promises sovereignty, it’s turned into a private liturgy.

Sound Bites:

• “Magic treats the world like a machine to hack; the Church treats it like a gift to bless.”
• “If your kitchen has a calendar, make sure it’s the Church’s... not the moon’s.”
• “We don’t charge food... we bless it, & we give thanks.”
• “The recipe isn’t the Savior. Christ is.”
• “Use tools as stewardship; don’t turn them into guarantees.”
• “Fasting trains desire; feasting finishes the song.”
• “If mercy can’t sit at your table, your rules need repentance.”
• “Shared cup? Without Christ, it’s ritual... without communion.”
• “Scrupulosity inflames; thanksgiving heals.”
• “Keep the kitchen; tear down the altar you built inside it.”

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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, yoga, Theosophy, & the UN/WHO era shaped America’s diet imagination... from the 1893 Parliament of Religions to the yoga boom... then separate what truly helps bodies from what quietly replaces communion with technique.

They offer an Orthodox rule of life for the table (prayer, pace, portion, people, pattern), name where the stack breaks (scrupulosity, magical thinking, performance), & land with merciful, family-ready practices.

Final calls for pre-orders of Orthodoxy & the Medicine of the Future: digital bundle + 40-day companion journal + Leaves for the Healing of the Nations.

Takeaways:

• ​Techniques can calm your physiology; only Christ makes you communion-ready.
• ​Keep the goods: warmth, slowness, salt, safety; relocate meaning under prayer & thanksgiving.
• ​America’s “calm eating” pipeline: Transcendentalists → 1893 Parliament → Theosophy → Suzuki/Watts → SF Zen Center → post-’65 yogis/TM → medicalized mindfulness → platform performance.
• ​Theosophy normalized “universal technique”; wellness turned it into personal stacks (breath counts, chew quotas, purity rules).
• ​Orthodox table rhythm: Prayer → Pace → Portion → People → Pattern (Church fast/feast).
• ​Red-flag tests: contamination (feel “unclean” after a rushed meal), availability (ritual > people), confessor (app > God), fragility (can’t eat without the stack).
• ​Repairs: Relocate (presence toward Someone), Repent (don’t ritualize shame), Replace (performance cues → communion cues).
• ​Bottom line: Pray. Eat warm. Chew. Share. Thank. Five words. No app. Plenty of grace.

Sound Bytes:

• ​“Techniques can calm you, only Christ makes you communion-ready.”
• ​“Keep the calm; ditch the cult. Keep the rhythm; drop the ritualism.”
• ​“Food isn’t your judge; it’s a gift to be received with thanksgiving.”
• ​“When technique becomes your savior, peace is always on probation.”
• ​“Peace isn't a project, He is a Person."
• ​“You didn’t break grace by missing a breath cue.”
• ​“Fast a little, feast a little, give thanks a lot.”
• ​“If your ritual makes you harsher at home, drop the ritual.”
• ​“We imported techniques for peace & built a diet religion for control.”
• ​“Pray. Eat warm. Chew. Share. Thank. That’s the maintenance plan.”

Chapters:

00:00 Opener

01:30 Introduction to Zen & Other Eastern Imports

08:31 Tracing the Path of Eastern Religion into Modern Kitchens

16:50 Extending an Olive Branch to the Yogis & New Agers

19:16 The Danger of Performative Rituals

21:51 A Deeper Spotlight on Fr. Seraphim Rose

27:14 Theosophy & Its Influence on Modern Yoga

33:12 Theosophy & UN Global Public Health Language

37:17 An Orthodox Response to New Age

50:38 The Five Anchors of Peaceful Eating

53:30 Be the Bee: Keep, Modify, & Toss Matrix

54:51 Closing Thoughts

57:42 Outro

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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 way, they tackle the evolution of sacrifice, the loss of the Temple, the rise of Talmudic law, Kabbalah’s mystic sparks, & Sufi longing.
Orthodox Christianity stands in contrast: in Christ, the altar becomes a table & holiness becomes communion, not control.
This is the story of how humanity keeps trying to eat its way back to God... & why only the Eucharist truly fulfills the hunger for holiness.Takeaways:

• Orthodox health emphasizes a faith-aligned approach to nutrition.
• The shift from sacrificial systems to transactional views of food reflects broader cultural changes.
• Dietary laws serve as a means of identity & community for religious groups.
• Purity laws in Judaism & Islam have evolved into consumerist trends in modern society.
• Mysticism in both traditions highlights the spiritual significance of eating.
• The Eucharist represents the fulfillment of dietary laws in Christianity.
• Consumerism has commodified purity, turning it into a marketing tool.
• The intersection of faith & modern diets reveals a longing for spiritual connection.
• Holiness in Christianity is about communion rather than mere compliance with laws.
• Food is meant to be a means of grace & connection to the divine.

Sound Bytes:

• “The table became the new altar... the kitchen replaced the priesthood.”

• “Every ideology builds its own table and says, ‘Sit with us & you’ll be saved.’ But every one of them ends up lonely.”

• “Christ doesn’t appease wrath... He conquers death. The knife doesn’t define the sacrifice; love does.”

• “The same purity logic that built kosher & halal now runs our grocery aisles: sustainable, cruelty-free, plant-based. It’s moral marketing.”

• “Plato tried to leave the cave; Kabbalah tries to light it up.”

• “That’s the politics of the plate... salvation by brand loyalty.”

Chapters:

00:00 Opener

01:30 Introduction to The Covenant Kitchen

06:23 Nutrition & Ritual Under the Law

08:33 The Birth of the Talmud

10:28 The Intersection of Faith & Consumerism

11:49 Enter the Kabbalah

17:06 On the True Nature of Sacrifice

21:43 Western Legalism from Rome to Reform

24:32 Halal Structures & Spiritual Compliance

27:22 From Purity to Praise

29:37 Ritual Without Reverence

31:12 Extending an Olive Branch

34:02 Where Mysticism Enters the Kitchen

37:13 Kabbalah Reloaded

44:11 Islam's Holistic Hadiths

47:19 On Purity Laws & the Holiness Code

51:33 Closing Thoughts

55:01 Outro

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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 (& post-Prostestant) restraint replaced the sacramental joy of the table.

You’ll hear how Mormonism’s “Word of Wisdom” mixed piety with folk magick, how the Temperance Movement made self-control America’s new religion, & why Orthodoxy restores what the modern diet religions lost: communion, celebration, & thanksgiving.

Because the goal isn’t to scrub the world clean... it’s to let grace illuminate it again.

Takeaways:

• The Word of Wisdom & Methodist temperance reforms weren’t just health codes... they were moral boundary-markers born from revivalist guilt.

• Protestant suspicion of the body paved the way for America’s caffeine-free, low-fat, self-denying “diet gospel.”

• Mormonism’s origins in the “Burned-Over District” fused folk magick, Freemasonry, & alchemy with the language of revelation.

• The Enlightenment’s split between matter & spirit created a vacuum that folk magic rushed to fill... a kind of what Jonathan Pageau calls “mis-enchantment.”

Sound Bytes:

• “When America gave up the chalice, it didn’t lose alcohol... it lost sacrament.”
• “The problem isn’t caffeine — it’s when we turn self-control into a new gospel.”

• “The only real detox? Repentance. That’s how the icons are restored.”

Chapters:

00:00 Opener

01:30 Introduction to the Caffeine-Free Gospel

05:45 The Word of Wisdom: Mormonism's Dietary Advice

09:06 The Role of Control in "Holiness"

11:28 Methodists & the Rise of the Temperance Movement

13:00 John's Quick Gospel of the Jedi Aside

13:40 On Trying to Legislate Holiness

19:37 An Aside on Mary as the Queen of Heaven

21:14 Prohibition as Fasting Without Feasting

24:07 Protestant Guilt & Modern Diet Culture

30:10 Hedonism as a Revolt Against Puritanism

31:55 Joy as a Commandment

34:54 Moralism & The Need for Ritual

37:57 Mormonism: America's Gnostic Great Awakening

41:02 Thy Will Vs. Self-Will in Salvation

43:50 The Contrast Between Prayer & Magic

49:20 The Folk Magic Roots of Modern Wellness Culture

53:15 The Wellness Gospel & Modern Rituals

55:40 Asceticism & the True Nature of Fasting

58:06 Closing Thoughts & Looking Ahead

59:36 Outro

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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 traces how spiritual deception entered the kitchen & the clinic... redefining womanhood in the image of control, not communion.

This conversation moves from Calvinism to Orthodoxy, from anorexia disguised as asceticism to the Gnostic myth of “liberation from biology.” Rachel also discusses her health challenges, the healing power of pregnancy, & the misconceptions surrounding childbirth.Together, they reveal how the Orthodox phronema, in general, & the Theotokos, in particular, restore true dignity to women... body, soul, & spirit.

Takeaways:

• Feminism’s Hidden Roots: How Marxist & occult influences shaped early feminist movements through figures like Alexandra Kollontai & Helena Blavatsky.

• Food as Control: Why the birth control pill, diet culture, & “clean eating” all share the same antinatal, Gnostic worldview.

• Yoga & the Occult: How yoga was introduced to the West as a spiritual Trojan horse & why Orthodox Christians should beware its theological roots.

• True Liberation: The Orthodox path honors women’s cycles, fertility, & embodiment, not as obstacles, but as icons of divine wisdom.

• Marriage vs. the State: Why Soviet communists abolished sacramental marriage, & how Western feminism inherited that ideology.

• Healing the Family: Rachel’s powerful testimony of homeschooling, rebuilding health after autoimmune illness, & reclaiming the household as the center of formation.

Sound Bytes:

• “It’s a Gnostic idea, that our biology is inherently bad?”

• “Yoga was kind of a Trojan horse that was snuck in by theosophists and occultists.”
• “Feminism made the sexual liberation stuff possible; it wouldn’t be here without that.”
• “The whole idea that men & women are the same is damaging to women on every front.”
• “Having babies destroys your body & you’ll die from it... that’s all a lie too.”
• “When we lose the sacramental view of man & woman, we lose the meaning of health itself.”

Chapters:

00:00 Opener

01:30 Introduction to Feminism & Health Outcomes

02:59 Rachel Wilson's Journey to Orthodoxy

13:38 Perks of Being an Intellectual Outcast

19:07 Ancestral Health & Autism

26:17 On Robb Wolf, The Godfather of Paleo

27:53 The Dark Roots of Yoga

32:41 Homeschooling & Preparing for Life Phases

34:11 The Scourge of Birth Control & "Family Planning"

42:01 Feminism's Impacts on Health

49:17 The Tragedy of the Two-Income Economy

56:01 The Realities of Biological Differences Between Men & Women

01:01:14 Callback to Presbytera Marina & Cycle Syncing

01:03:59 Hemochromatosis & Orthodox Fasting

01:08:20 The Feminist Myth of Death While Giving Birth

01:14:12 The Theotokos as a Model for Women

01:16:27 A Proper Christian Response to "Pro-Choice"

01:21:03 New Age & The Protestant Founding of America

01:26:10 The Growth of Orthodoxy in America

01:30:02 On the Amish

01:31:50 How Feminism Affects Food

01:34:09 Historical Misconceptions of Male Power

01:43:28 Rachel's Favorite Lift

01:50:09 The Importance of Lifting as We Age

01:55:46 Where Can You Find Rachel Wilson?

01:57:45 Closing Thoughts & Looking Ahead

02:00:43 OutroSupport the Show with a One-Time or Recurring donation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with Dr. MikePre-Order Orthodoxy & The Medicine of the FutureIntro/Outro Music: St. John of Chicago Orthodox Church Choir (Arkansas) - Please support their building fund by buying the whole album hereOrthodox Health InstagramOrthodox Health TelegramRachel's YoutubeRachel's Substack Rachel's Book: Occult Feminism

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 government approval.

In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John trace how revivalism, guilt, & moral panic built modern diet culture.
From the Great Disappointment of 1844 to Kellogg’s sanitarium empire, discover how a false asceticism of fiber replaced true fasting, and how Orthodoxy restores what these health reformers lost:
Communion instead of control.
Thanksgiving instead of guilt.
Grace instead of gluten-free salvation.

Takeaways:

• How the Second Great Awakening birthed America’s obsession with bodily purity.

• Why Ellen G. White’s visions turned diet into moral law.

• The shocking ways John Harvey Kellogg used cereal & electricity as “sin prevention.”

• How the Food Pyramid became a moral document... not a scientific one.

• Why Orthodoxy offers a better way: fasting as love, not punishment.

• Food should be seen as a gift, not a tool for control.
• The body is sacred & should be treated with respect.
• Modern dietary ideologies echo the moral panic of the past.
• True healing comes from Christ, not dietary restrictions.

Soundbytes:

• “Most people today don’t follow a diet... they follow a doctrine.”“Cereal replaced confession, & fiber became a form of penance.”“The Food Pyramid wasn’t science. It was theology in disguise.”“Fasting without grace became a diet of control.”“Orthodoxy doesn’t treat food as sin or salvation. It treats it as communion.”“You’re not saved by what you eat. You’re saved by Who you feast on.”

Chapters:

00:00 Opener

01:30 Introduction to Sacred Diets

06:15 The 19th Century Health Reform Movement

11:51 Ellen G. White & Dietary Purity

16:38 From the Great Disappointment to the Gospel of the Gut

23:08 Fasting Without Burnout Plan Promo

24:19 John Harvey Kellogg & the Birth of Cereal

29:58 Establishing Battle Creek & The Sanitarium System

34:39 Institutionalization of Battle Creek & the Sanitariums

36:15 The USDA Food Pyramid & Its Implications

41:20 Traditional Orthodox Rejection of Veganism

44:53 Reorienting Food's Sacredness

46:17 On the Nature of Orthodox Fasting

50:15 Closing Thoughts & Looking Forward

53:22 Outro

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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 challenges. Casey shares her personal journey with PCOS, highlighting the emotional & physical struggles that she faced. Brennan delves into various aspects of women's health, particularly hormonal health, & the impact of nutrition & lifestyle choices.

They discuss the importance of understanding labwork, the role of vitamins & genetic mutations, & the significance of herbal remedies. The conversation also touches on the emotional aspects of infertility & the importance of faith in navigating these challenges.

Takeaways

• Fasting can be a gift, but challenging for the body.
• PCOS is often diagnosed when women start trying to conceive.
• Dietary changes & supplements can significantly impact PCOS symptoms.
• Faith plays a crucial role in dealing with health challenges.
• Understanding the hormonal effects of birth control is essential.
• Nourishment should be viewed as a blessing, not a restriction.
• Finding balance in fasting & nutrition is key to health.
• Women often face unique health challenges that require tailored approaches.
• Hope & faith are vital in the journey of fertility and health.
• Community support is important in navigating health issues.
• Lipid panels can be misunderstood in conventional medicine.
• MTHFR mutations can affect folate metabolism.
• Folic acid supplementation has historical significance.
• Herbal remedies like spearmint tea can help with PCOS.
• Gentle exercise is crucial for managing PCOS symptoms.
• Dietary choices impact hormonal health significantly.
• Healing involves addressing the whole person, not just symptoms.

Sound bytes

• “It’s gut-wrenching. You’ve set your heart on a family… & then the ‘maybe a year’ talk.” - Casey
• “Diagnosis means excess androgens & ovulatory dysfunction... many women won’t show cysts at all.” - Brennan
• “Under stress, precursors get diverted to cortisol... & progesterone gets over-used downstream.” - Dr. Mike
• “Chronically undereating resets your basal rate... your thyroid is the thermostat for that system.” - Dr. Mike

Chapters

00:00 Opener

01:30 Introduction to Women's Health & PCOS Awareness

03:36 Casey's Orthodox Journey

07:12 Casey's PCOS Journey

11:02 On Wanting to Provide Your Husband with a Large Family

13:15 What Really Helped Casey's PCOS the Most?

15:36 Balancing Hope & Faith During PCOS Struggles

21:39 Brennan Enters the Chat - What Is PCOS?

25:19 PCOS, Progesterone, & the HPA Axis

26:38 Birth Control Pill Use & Estrogen Issues

31:27 ADHD Medication & Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

32:53 The Stress of Over- & Undereating

38:54 Good Night to Casey

39:56 Orthodox Health Fasting Promo

40:35 The Dangers of Chronic Caloric Restriction

42:45 On Balancing Pride & Asceticism

45:34 Reframing "Diets" as Nourishment

46:25 Examining PCOS Labwork

50:01 MTHFR Gene Mutations in PCOS

54:09 Brennan's Own MTHFR Struggles

56:29 John's PCOS 101 Seminar

58:39 Herbs & Tea Time with Brennan

59:57 Brennan's Top Supplements for PCOS

01:02:42 Top Lifestyle Habits for PCOS

01:04:59 On the Benefits of Sugary Coffee for Hypothyroid

01:07:32 What About PCOS Without Hypothyroid

01:10:23 On the Taboo of Dietary Sugar

01:14:24 Brennan's Advice for Those Struggling with Fertility

01:18:52 Closing Thoughts & Looking Ahead

01:20:47 Outro

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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 conversation delves into the concept of cycle syncing, emphasizing how aligning health practices with hormonal cycles can enhance well-being.

They also touch on the significance of bioavailability in nutrition & how understanding one's body can lead to better health outcomes.

The episode highlights the importance of community support & the sacred vocation of womanhood, offering insights & resources for women navigating their health journeys.

Throughout the conversation, the emphasis is always placed on the importance of patience, consistency, & honoring God's design in health and wellness.
Takeaways:

• Womanhood is a sacred vocation, not a costume; Orthodoxy gives the frame for softness, order, & strength.

• “Cycle syncing” = aligning food, movement, & daily rhythms to hormonal phases: working with God's design, not against it.

• Orthodox fasting can harmonize with each phase (e.g., sprouted/fermented in follicular; more raw/salads at ovulation), & even during fasting days, there can still be strategic proteins (shellfish) & honey.

• Severe cycle pain isn’t “normal”; don’t accept quick pharmaceutical dismissals without root-cause work.

• “Womanhood is not a cultural costume. It is a sacred vocation.”

• “Cycle syncing is living with our design: when we do, energy, digestion, & emotional balance improve.”

• “Our cycles aren’t about shock value or ‘uterus power’: they’re about humility, reflection, & God’s intentional rhythm.”

• “Crippling cycle pain is not normal. Don’t let them medicate you & tell you it’s normal.”

• “Cycle syncing isn’t a quick fix... you have to put in the time.”

• “Be faithful, not frantic. Let training & ascetic life work together.”

Chapters:

00:00 Opener

01:30 Introduction to Orthodox Health from the Feminine Perspective

03:33 Presbytera Marina's Journey to Orthodoxy

07:08 Comparing Catechetical Experiences

09:08 The Birth of Orthodox True Femininity

11:03 PCOS, Women's Health, & Presbytera Marina's Journey

15:51 How Chronic Stress Frequently Leads to Misdiagnoses

18:10 Cycle Syncing to Optimize Women's Health

19:33 The Occult & Feminist Connections to Health

23:26 Growth of Orthodoxy in America

25:13 Seed Oils & Early Onset of Puberty in the West

28:03 Understanding Cycle Syncing & Fitness

31:40 Navigating Conversations About Female Health

35:39 Orthodoxy Vs. The Bhagavad Gita

38:29 Cycle Syncing & Orthodox Christian Fasting

43:48 Should You Be Eating Soy While Orthodox Fasting?

45:36 Improving Nutrient Bioavailability During the Fast

48:31 John Running His Informational Race

49:48 Dealing with Health Effects of Childhood Dyes & Processed Foods

51:14 On the Importance of Dairy Quality

56:00 Looking Forward to a Part 2 With Presbytera Marina?

57:21 Remembering That This is a Marathon & Not a Sprint

01:01:01 Where Can You Find Presbytera Marina of Orthodox True Femininity

01:01:46 Closing Thoughts & Looking Ahead

01:04:55 Outro

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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, & motion.

Together, we explore fasting during breastfeeding, prayer in the midst of interruptions, & the gift of community that carries new families through the struggles & joys of life in the Church.

Takeaways

• New motherhood in Orthodoxy isn’t picture-perfect: it’s patient, messy, & sanctifying.

• Fasting & prayer rules adapt to health, seasons, and the needs of the child.

• The Orthodox parish family provides cross-generational support &love: “if the church isn’t crying, it’s dying.”

• Family prayer, even when short or chaotic, is a powerful foundation for children.

• Patience is the virtue learned in both motherhood & conversion.

Soundbytes

• “This is your liturgy... rocking the baby, chasing the toddler, it all counts.”

• “If the church isn’t crying, it’s dying.”

• “Patience: with children, with fasting, with ourselves... that’s what I’ve learned most.”

• “The Church is for the tired, the ones showing up with spit-up on their shoulders and a whisper of prayer in their hearts.”

Chapters:

00:00 Opener

01:30 Intro to New Motherhood & Conversion

03:21 Gwynne's Journey to Orthodoxy

05:43 Pews or No Pews for Toddler Wrangling?

07:08 Entering the Church as a New Mother

09:50 The Role of Godparents in the Orthodox Community

10:53 Fasting and Spiritual Growth

12:21 Living the Rhythms of the Church Prior to Orthodoxy?

15:14 The Ascetic Life of Motherhood

17:13 The Church as a Postpartum Hospital

21:03 On the Importance of Community, Especially Godparents

22:33 The Joy of Going to a Church Where Everybody Knows Your Name

24:19 Establishing a Personal Prayer Life

28:29 Come to Him as Little Children

30:34 Embracing the Sunday Morning Chaos

34:46 Craziest Toddler Experience in Church

38:48 Toddlers & Blessed Wine?

39:35 Toddler Excitement for the Eucharist

40:57 Orthodox Church Growth

42:09 Gwynne's Advice to New Mothers in the Church

45:56 Toddler Psy-Ops

49:23 The Most Important Thing Gwynne Has Learned on This Journey

51:11 Closing Thoughts & Looking Ahead

54:47 Outro

Orthodox Health Instagram: @Orthodox_HealthSupport the Show with a One-Time or Recurring donation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy Us a Coffee

Work with Dr. Mike: OrthodoxHealth.comPre-Order Orthodoxy & The Medicine of the Future: https://www.orthodoxhealth.com/bookIntro & Outro Music: St. John of Chicago Orthodox Church Choir (Arkansas) - Please support their building fund by buying the whole album here:⁠https://stjohnorthodoxchurch.bandcamp.com/album/come-ye-faithful-building-fundraiser⁠

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 world.

Together, we explore the deep intersections of Orthodox faith, prevention, & the feminine body... & how the Church’s vision for healing goes far beyond what modern healthcare systems can offer.

This episode lays the foundation for our new series on women’s health. Whether you’re a mother, daughter, or simply longing to understand the sacred feminine body through an Orthodox lens, this conversation will challenge, encourage, and inspire.

Takeaways:

• Why spiritual health forms the foundation for physical, mental, & relational health.
• The pitfalls of modern healthcare: access, affordability, & profit-driven care.
• Orthodoxy’s preventative wisdom: fasting, prayer, rhythms of the Church.
• The feminine call to live a “soft life,” rooted in Scripture and tradition.
• How sisterhood & mentorship in the Church strengthen women at every stage.
• Yoga may distract from spiritual focus & should be approached with caution.
• The current healthcare system often prioritizes profit over patient care.
• The church has a historical role in providing healthcare & should continue to do so, in an expanded manner.
• Women often face unique challenges in maintaining their faith & health.
• Flourishing in faith involves integrating spiritual practices into daily life.

Soundbytes:

• “When your spiritual health is out of line, everything else falls out of balance.” – Katherine Phillips

• “The Church is not just a place of worship. It’s a hospital for the soul.” – Dr. Michael Christian

• “There’s no reason to choose practices like yoga when Orthodoxy already gives us healthier, holier ways to flourish.” – Katherine Phillips

• “Prevention isn’t just a medical term. It’s a spiritual calling to tend to the temple of the Holy Spirit.” – John

Chapters:

00:00 Opener

01:30 Introduction to the Orthodox Health Women's Arc

03:34 Introduction to Katherine Phillips of the Faithful Flourish Podcast

04:57 Katherine's Personal Connections Between Orthodoxy & Health

07:18 Yoga & Christianity?

10:59 The Biggest Problem in the Healthcare System

15:07 The Profit-Driven Model & Medical Devastation

16:46 Bureaucratic Red Tape in Diagnostics & Insurance Claims

19:09 On the Importance of Preventive Care

26:28 Greek & Italian Folk Medicine

27:36 On the Importance of Tradition & Ritual in Spiritual Life

32:10 What is the Faithful Flourish Podcast?

36:20 What Does Femininity Look Like From an Orthodox Perspective

40:16 Complementary Roles Within Marriage

43:36 The Role of Sisterhoods in the Church

49:34 A Message to the Ortho Gentlemen

51:06 Final Thoughts on Facilitating Care as the Church

53:07 A Call to Greek Angel Investors

54:10 Where to Find Katherine Phillips & the Faithful Flourish Podcast

56:47 Closing Thoughts & Looking Ahead

58:32 Outro

Support the Show with a One-Time or Recurring donation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠coff.ee/OrthodoxHealth

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Pre-Order Orthodoxy & The Medicine of the Future: ⁠⁠https://www.orthodoxhealth.com/book⁠⁠

Intro & Outro Music: St. John of Chicago Orthodox Church Choir (Arkansas) - Please support their building fund by buying the whole album here:⁠⁠⁠https://stjohnorthodoxchurch.bandcamp.com/album/come-ye-faithful-building-fundraiser⁠⁠⁠

Orthodox Health IG: @Orthodox_Health

Katherine's IG: @faithfulflourishpodcast

Work with Katherine for Insurance: katherinephillipsinsurance.com

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 discipline, humility, struggle, & faith. With decades of experience training & teaching, he offers insights on how martial arts can shape not only the body but also the soul... & how Orthodoxy calls men to a higher form of strength: ascetic, sacrificial, & Christ-centered.

Takeaways:

• Struggle shapes our character & faith.
• Discipline in training parallels spiritual discipline.
• Community support is vital in both martial arts & faith.
• Ego can hinder growth in both training & spirituality.
• The journey of faith is continuous & requires effort.
• Understanding lineage in faith & martial arts is crucial.
• Failure is a part of growth and learning.
• Humility is essential in both training & spiritual life.
• Accountability helps maintain focus & purpose.
• Living out one's faith is a daily practice.
• Why Orthodoxy is, in Jeff’s words, “the Jiu-Jitsu of Christianity.”

Soundbytes:

• “Formation is not just spiritual... it’s also physical.”

• “The world tells men to dominate or disappear. Orthodoxy calls us to sacrificial leadership.”

• “You can’t just go once a week: in the gym or in the Church. Faithfulness is daily.”

• “Orthodoxy is the Jiu-Jitsu of Christianity. If you want the truth, this is it.”

Chapters:

00:00 Opener

01:30 Introduction to the Journey of Faith & BJJ

04:36 Jeff Messina's Path to Orthodoxy

08:54 Apostolic Succession & Knowing Your Roots

11:51 Jeff Messina's Martial Arts Journey

17:14 Intersection of BJJ & Orthodoxy

22:41 Sola Scriptura & Tradition

27:04 The Professor & The Spiritual Father

29:24 On Failure, Repetition, & Humility

32:00 On Remaining Dispassionate While Fighting

35:28 Jeff's Advice to Christians Interested in Martial Arts

40:50 Tempering Convert Zeal

43:48 Living Orthodoxy: A Compelling Witness

46:07 The Selfishness & Pride of "Ritual Purity"

52:22 A Call to Orthodox Men & BJJ Practitioners Alike

54:19 Where Can You Find Jeff Messina

55:46 Closing Thoughts & Looking Ahead

58:57 Outro

Support the Show with a One-Time or Recurring donation: ⁠⁠⁠coff.ee/OrthodoxHealth⁠⁠⁠Work with Dr. Mike: ⁠https://www.OrthodoxHealth.com⁠Pre-Order Orthodoxy & The Medicine of the Future: ⁠https://www.orthodoxhealth.com/book⁠Intro & Outro Music: St. John of Chicago Orthodox Church Choir (Arkansas) - Please support their building fund by buying the whole album here:⁠⁠https://stjohnorthodoxchurch.bandcamp.com/album/come-ye-faithful-building-fundraiser⁠⁠

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 swinging axes & weaving baskets, to modern men carrying barbells & practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the truth remains: the soul does not grow despite the body... it grows through the body.

Takeaways:

• The Incarnation proclaims that the body is good... the very medium of salvation.

• Movement is not just about health metrics; it’s about integration of mind, body, & spirit.

• Voluntary suffering trains the will, reshaping us for communion with God.

• Ascetic labor is not punishment, it is freedom from the passions.

• Brotherhood & shared struggle break the isolation of modern life.

• John shares a mock functional movement protocol: a practical “rule of the body” to root training in Orthodox anthropology.

  
  

Soundbytes:

• “The soul doesn’t grow despite the body, it grows through the body.”

• “Movement isn’t about achieving a physique. It’s about reclaiming the image of Christ.”

• “The world sees suffering as a glitch in the system. Christ sees it as a doorway.”

• “Embodiment is resistance in an age of disembodiment.”

Chapters:

00:00 Opener

01:30 Introduction to the School of the Body

04:44 Suffering as a Path to Transformation

06:57 The Role of Asceticism in Spiritual Growth

08:35 Integration of Body, Mind, and Spirit

10:36 The Connection Between Movement and Suffering

11:25 Embracing Suffering for Spiritual Growth

13:24 The Role of Community in Suffering

21:32 The Modern Disembodiment Crisis

24:28 Embodiment as Resistance

28:30 The Power of Brotherhood in Struggle

37:38 Practical Movement Protocols for Spiritual Growth

46:56 Closing Thoughts on the Protocol & Looking Ahead

52:06 OutroSupport the Show with a One-Time or Recurring donation: ⁠⁠⁠coff.ee/OrthodoxHealth⁠⁠⁠Work with Dr. Mike: ⁠https://www.OrthodoxHealth.com⁠Pre-Order Orthodoxy & The Medicine of the Future: ⁠https://www.orthodoxhealth.com/book⁠Intro & Outro Music: St. John of Chicago Orthodox Church Choir (Arkansas) - Please support their building fund by buying the whole album here:⁠⁠https://stjohnorthodoxchurch.bandcamp.com/album/come-ye-faithful-building-fundraiser⁠⁠