Ep. 366 - From Calvinism to Orthodoxy, with Ambrose McReynolds
Release Date: 06/10/2025
Ep. 393 - The Orthodox Family Life, with Christina Taylor
Counterflow with Buck Johnson
In this episode, we’re joined by Christina Taylor, founder of Orthodox Family Life, for a wide-ranging and honest conversation about marriage, parenting, education, and faithfulness in a desensitized modern world. Christina shares her personal journey into Orthodoxy, how her understanding of family life has deepened over time, and the unique pressures Orthodox parents face today—especially converts raising children without the support of extended Orthodox communities. We explore the tension between overprotective parenting and permissiveness, the roles of men and women within marriage, the...
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Ep. 392 - What is Knowledge, and How Do We Actually Know the Truth?
Counterflow with Buck Johnson
In this episode, I speak with Fr. Deacon Ananias about Orthodox epistemology and the claim that true knowledge is not grounded in autonomous reason but in God's self-revelation. Contrasting Athens and Jerusalem, this conversation explores why Orthodoxy understands truth not as an idea, but as a Person: Jesus Christ. We discuss revelation as theophany, the limits of philosophy, the apophatic tradition, and how knowledge in the Church is personal, communal, and transformative, not merely intellectual. Topics include: - East vs. West on knowledge and reason - Revelation as encounter, not...
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Ep. 391 - From Protestant Pastor to Orthodox Christian, with Ben from Cleave to Antiquity
Counterflow with Buck Johnson
My guest this week is Ben, host of Cleave to Antiquity. Formerly an associate pastor in a Protestant Evangelical church and active in online Protestant apologetics, Ben began to realize that many of the arguments he made against Orthodox theology and dogma didn't hold up. That realization forced him to confront some difficult truths and make major changes in his life. Today, Ben is a catechumen in the Orthodox Church. We talk about his journey, what led him to re-examine his assumptions, and the lessons he has learned along the way. Sponsor: Podsworth App: Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your...
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Ep. 390 - The Antichrist is a Nice Guy, with Fr Zechariah Lynch
Counterflow with Buck Johnson
In this episode, we dig into the idea that the Antichrist might not show up as some dark, terrifying figure, but instead as a really nice guy. The article we're discussing suggests he'll look peaceful, tolerant, reasonable, and even compassionate. In other words, the kind of leader most people would cheer for. We talk about why that kind of "niceness" can actually be the most dangerous form of deception. Modern culture often tells us that being a good person just means being kind, promoting unity, and making life comfortable, but the article points out that goodness without God slowly pushes...
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Ep. 389 - The Spiritual Formation of Men & Women, with Metropolitan Jonah
Counterflow with Buck Johnson
In this deeply pastoral and wide-ranging conversation, Buck chats with Metropolitan Jonah to discuss the surge of interest in Orthodox Christianity, the spiritual formation of newcomers, and the timeless wisdom the Church offers to a restless modern world. From the inner life of the believer to practical struggles facing parishes today, this episode provides both clarity and compassion for anyone seeking to understand Orthodoxy more deeply — or walk it more faithfully. Sponsors: Perfect Spiral Capital: Podsworth App: Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your...
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Ep. 388 - Christ as Truth and Truth as Christ, with Protodeacon Patrick Mitchell
Counterflow with Buck Johnson
Protodeacon Patrick Mitchell returns to the show to discuss his new book, Christ as Truth and Truth as Christ. In this conversation, we explore what it truly means that Christ is Truth—not as a concept, not as a feeling, but as a living Person. Protodeacon Patrick helps us unpack the difference between objective truth and the modern world's obsession with "personal truth," showing how our understanding of Truth shapes everything from our love for others to our view of the world. We then examine the five great enemies of Truth: Gnosticism, Romanticism, Anarchism, Nihilism, and Tribalism, each...
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Ep. 387 - It's Not a War of Disinformation; It's a War of Discernment, with Mano Elia
Counterflow with Buck Johnson
In this episode, I'm joined again by Mano Elia for a wide-ranging conversation on discernment, community, and the spiritual struggle of our time. We're not in an age where truth is hidden anymore; everything, from truth to lies, is out in the open. The real challenge is no longer finding information, but seeing clearly through it. What we face now isn't a war of disinformation; it's a war of discernment. Mano and I zoom out from the noise of world events to explore the deeper physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions of our modern crisis. We discuss how evil reveals itself openly in today's...
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Ep. 386 - Antisemitism and the Church, with GM Davis
Counterflow with Buck Johnson
My guest this week is someone you might remember from last year when we talked about his book, Antichrist: The Fulfillment of Globalization (from Uncut Mountain Press). He's back with us today to dig into the themes from his recent article, Is God an Antisemite? (on Orthodox Ethos). We get into what antisemitism actually means, the roots of Rabbinic Judaism, and how all of this connects to Christ and His Church — and what it all means for us today. Sponsors: Perfect Spiral Capital: Podsworth App: Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro,...
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Ep. 385 - Modern Therapy and the Forgotten Soul, with Nicholas Mamey
Counterflow with Buck Johnson
This week on the podcast, I'm excited to feature Nicholas Mamey, an Orthodox Christian and psychotherapist. Nicholas joins me to discuss the positive and negative aspects of therapy and self-healing through an Orthodox Christian lens. In a world filled with pop-psychology "white noise" and self-obsession, Nicholas offers a unique perspective on what true healing entails. Tune in for this important conversation. Learn more about Nicholas here: Support our friend Cooper Brooks in his time of need: Sponsors: Fox n Sons Coffee: Code: BUCK15 Podsworth App: Code: BUCK50 for...
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Ep. 384 - From Medium to Messenger: An Orthodox Journey Out of the Occult, with Justine Alter
Counterflow with Buck Johnson
This week, we are featuring one of the most unique interviews I've ever conducted. My guest, Justine Alter (a pseudonym), is an Orthodox Christian and author of the book *Outside of the World*. In her book, Justine shares her incredible journey from a difficult childhood through the occult, her experiences as a psychic medium, and even her time as a cult leader, ultimately finding her way to the Orthodox Church. During the interview, Justine uses a voice augmenter to disguise her identity due to multiple death threats she has received from individuals within occult circles. You can order her...
info_outlineMy guest today was raised wonderfully by a loving family in the Protestant Calvinist church. He grew to become so involved in the church that he was giving sermons and leading youth groups, Bible studies, veterans groups, and so on. One day his sister, previous Counterflow guest Monique Mathiesen, introduced him to the Orthodox faith. This challenged Ambrose to confront the possible wrongs of Calvinism, which he had been believing and teaching for years. Join us in this great story, as you'll find Ambrose to be humble, smart, and able to deal with uncomfortable truths.
Please support Monique Mathiesen's children's book:
"Who Can Cleanse Me Of My Sin?"
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cleanheart/who-can-cleanse-me-of-my-sin
Sponsor:
Sheath Underwear: https://sheathunderwear.com/counterflow
Code: Counterflow
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