Counterflow with Buck Johnson

The Counterflow Podcast is a weekly show featuring discussions and interviews with people who are outside of and critical toward mainstream liberal and conservative politics. Counterflow challenges the conventional narratives sold to us as truth. The show features thinkers from all backgrounds, who do not fit into the narrow framework of fashionable opinion. The show addresses cultural, spiritual and lifestyle issues as well as philosophy and geo-politics. Host Buck Johnson (formerly of the Death To Tyrants Podcast) is a musician, firefighter and Orthodox Christian and has always had an interest and drive to go one way while everyone else runs the other direction.

Ep. 417 - Growing Up Soviet, Finding Christ, and Ministering Behind Bars, with Fr. Sergei Sveshnikov 06/09/2026

Ep. 416 - Writing the Collapse: Fiction, Faith, and Spiritual Warfare, with Andrew Edwards 06/02/2026

Ep. 416 - Writing the Collapse: Fiction, Faith, and Spiritual Warfare, with Andrew Edwards In this episode, I chat with author Andrew Edwards to discuss his novel King of Dogs and the deeper realities that inspired it. While the conversation begins with fiction, it quickly expands into a wide-ranging discussion on spiritual warfare, civilizational decline, modern nihilism, masculinity, technology, geopolitics, and what it means to remain fully human in an age of fragmentation. We explore the themes beneath the story: the forces competing for our attention, the spiritual consequences of a culture without transcendence, the nature of suffering, and the battle for the human soul in a world increasingly defined by distraction and disorder. Is modern society experiencing a political crisis, a cultural crisis, or a spiritual one? And how can Christians cultivate clarity, courage, and faithfulness amid uncertainty and collapse? This conversation uses fiction as a lens to examine the world we actually inhabit. About Andrew Edwards: Andrew Edwards is a novelist, essayist, and cultural commentator whose work explores the intersection of faith, meaning, masculinity, power, and civilizational decline. His novel King of Dogs blends post-collapse fiction, spiritual symbolism, and philosophical reflection to examine what remains of the human person when the structures of modern life begin to fail. Through both fiction and non-fiction writing, Edwards explores the moral, spiritual, and cultural questions shaping the modern world. Connect with Andrew Edwards: * X / Twitter: * Substack: Donate to the show here: Visit my website: Podsworth App: Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: Full Ad Read AFTER processing: Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks! /episode/index/show/deathtotyrants/id/41516940

Ep. 415 - Leaving Evangelicalism for the Ancient Church, with Fr. David Hovik 05/26/2026

Ep. 414 - Orthodox Nationalism and the Israel Question, with Benjamin Michael 05/19/2026

Ep. 413 - Journey to Reality: Sacramental Christianity in a Secular Age, with Dr. Zachary Porcu 05/12/2026

Ep. 413 - Journey to Reality: Sacramental Christianity in a Secular Age, with Dr. Zachary Porcu What if the biggest obstacle to understanding Christianity is not disbelief—but modernity itself? In this episode, Buck chats with Dr. Zachary Porcu to discuss sacramental Christianity, the modern secular mindset, and why so many people today—even Christians—struggle to see reality the way the ancient Church did. They explore the difference between treating Christianity as a system of ideas versus participating in it as a lived reality. The conversation dives into the nature of truth, the problem of interpretation, the meaning of the Trinity, the Fall of man, suffering, evil, and why the sacramental worldview of historic Christianity feels so foreign to the modern mind. They also discuss the necessity of the Church, the priesthood, the sacraments, and why Christianity cannot be reduced to either “just me and my Bible” or vague spirituality detached from embodied worship and communion. IN THIS EPISODE * Why modern people misunderstand Christianity * The difference between text-based and sacramental Christianity * The meaning of “participatory” truth * The Trinity and the problem of “the one and the many” * Why modern culture struggles to understand love * The deeper meaning of the Fall * The origins of evil and suffering * Problems with modern Christian views of suffering * The necessity of the Church and priesthood * Why sacraments are more than symbols * Where the Bible fits within the life of the Church * Recovering a sacramental view of reality ABOUT DR. ZACHARY PORCU Zachary Porcu is the author of Journey to Reality and the host of the podcast The Roots of Everything. Zachary earned his PhD in Church History at The Catholic University of America under the direction of Robin Darling Young. He holds additional degrees in Philosophy, Classics, and Interdisciplinary Humanities and has taught Greek, Latin, history, philosophy, and theology at private schools and universities on both the East and West coasts. Zachary is a catechist at St. Andrew’s Orthodox Church, an editor at St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, and a lecturer at St. Athanasius College. LINKS Ancient Faith Publishing Donate to the show here: Visit my website: Audio Production by Podsworth Media: Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks! /episode/index/show/deathtotyrants/id/41265945

Ep. 412 - If a Nation Loses Truth, What Is Left to Die For? with James Webb 05/05/2026

Ep. 412 - If a Nation Loses Truth, What Is Left to Die For? with James Webb In this episode, James Webb and I discuss the lessons America failed to carry forward from past wars, and why institutional memory seems to fade so quickly. We get into the current geopolitical landscape, including Israel, Iran, and the risks of escalation—and what’s often left out of mainstream narratives. Jim breaks down how war is actually decided at the highest levels, and why the gap between leadership and the average citizen continues to widen. We also explore the role of moral language in war—how concepts like “good” and “evil” are used, and sometimes misused, in shaping public support. From there, the conversation turns deeper: the spiritual and psychological cost of war, what it does to the people who fight it, and whether modern society has any real framework for dealing with that kind of weight. Finally, we ask the question at the center of it all: If a nation loses its relationship to truth—what is left to die for? ABOUT THE GUEST James (Jim) Webb is a third-generation Marine who, following his service, has worked in policy, politics, and journalism. In 2005, he dropped out of college to enlist in the Marine Corps Infantry and fought in the Battle of Ramadi from 2006–2007. After completing his degree, Jim worked on Capitol Hill for U.S. Senator Rand Paul, where he served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He later worked at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and as a Senior Policy Advisor for presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Jim has also worked as a journalist for multiple outlets, including embedding with U.S. troops across Afghanistan. Get the new Counterflow T-shirt before it sells out! Visit or send $30 via PayPal to buck@counterflowpodcast.com with your size and shipping address! Donate to the show here: Visit my website: Audio Production by Podsworth Media: Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks! /episode/index/show/deathtotyrants/id/41168730

Ep. 411 - The Self-Help Trap: Therapy, the Passions, and the War for the Soul, with Fr. Turbo Qualls 04/28/2026

Ep. 411 - The Self-Help Trap: Therapy, the Passions, and the War for the Soul, with Fr. Turbo Qualls We’re living in a moment where everyone is “doing the work”—therapy, healing, boundaries, trauma language—and yet people seem more anxious, unstable, and internally fragmented than ever. In this episode, Fr. Turbo Qualls joins me to challenge the assumptions behind modern mental health culture and to ask a deeper question: are we misdiagnosing spiritual problems as psychological ones? We get into the difference between trauma and the passions, where therapy can be helpful—and where it quietly falls short—and how certain modern practices can drift into spiritually dangerous territory when they’re detached from the life of the Church. We also discuss why the Orthodox tradition emphasizes repentance over self-focus, how confession differs from therapy, and what real healing actually looks like—not as self-optimization, but as transformation. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still feel stuck, this conversation goes beneath the surface. OINTMENT is a conference and movement centered on healing the soul through the life of the Church. At a time when “healing” is often reduced to self-focus and psychological frameworks, OINTMENT aims to reorient people toward repentance, ascetic struggle, and communion with God as the true path to restoration. The conference brings together Orthodox clergy, teachers, and speakers to address topics like spiritual illness, the passions, modern therapy culture, and what it means to actually be healed—not just feel better. It’s designed for people who sense that something is missing in the modern conversation around mental health and are looking for something deeper, more grounded, and ultimately more transformative. Learn more: Fr. Turbo Qualls / OINTMENT For more from Father Turbo go here: Sponsor: Podsworth App: Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: Full Ad Read AFTER processing: Donate to the show here: Visit my website: Audio Production by Podsworth Media: Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks! /episode/index/show/deathtotyrants/id/41038180

Ep. 410 - War, Truth, and the Battle You Can’t See, with Darryl Cooper 04/21/2026

Ep. 410 - War, Truth, and the Battle You Can’t See, with Darryl Cooper In this episode, I talk with Darryl Cooper, host of the Martyr Made Podcast, and cohost of the Provoked Podcast (with Scott Horton as well) to talk about war, power, and the unseen forces shaping both. With a background as a Navy Aegis technician and a decade as a DOD engineer, Darryl brings a unique perspective on leadership, influence, and the gap between narrative and reality. We get into his evolving views on political power, the danger of losing moral clarity in the pursuit of “understanding,” and why history is often more complicated—and more uncomfortable—than people want to admit. We also talk about something deeper: spiritual warfare. Darryl shares how his conversion to Orthodox Christianity changed the way he sees the world—not just politically or historically, but spiritually. Because at a certain point, you realize this isn’t just about what’s happening out there. There’s a battle happening beneath it all. About Darryl Cooper Darryl Cooper is the host of the Martyr Made Podcast, and cohost of the Provoked Podcast. His MartyrMade show is known for long-form, narrative-driven explorations of history and culture. He previously served 10 years in the U.S. Navy as an Aegis fire control technician and spent another decade as a Department of Defense engineer. His work focuses on understanding the deeper forces—historical, cultural, and spiritual—that shape the world around us. For more from Darryl, go here: Martyr Made Podcast Apple Podcasts Spotify X YouTube Provoked with Scott Horton and Darryl Cooper Official site Get the new Counterflow T-shirt before it sells out! Visit or send $30 via PayPal to buck@counterflowpodcast.com with your size and shipping address! Donate to the show here: Visit my website: Audio Production by Podsworth Media: Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks! /episode/index/show/deathtotyrants/id/40965885

Ep. 409 - (FIXED) Dying to the World in an Age of Distraction, with Fr. John Valadez 04/15/2026

Ep. 408 - The Gut and the Soul: Health, Habit, and the Passions, with Dr. Mark Faries 04/07/2026

Ep. 407 - Beyond Feelings: Truth, Asceticism, and the Orthodox Path, with Fr. Justin Havens 03/31/2026

Ep. 406 - Heaven on Earth: The Divine Liturgy and the Book of Revelation, with Fr. John Whiteford 03/24/2026

Ep. 406 - Heaven on Earth: The Divine Liturgy and the Book of Revelation, with Fr. John Whiteford In this episode, I’m joined by Fr. John Whiteford to explore one of the most misunderstood books in all of Scripture: the Book of Revelation. For many modern Christians, Revelation is treated as a roadmap of future geopolitical events—something to decode through headlines, wars, and speculation. But in the Orthodox Christian tradition, Revelation is something far deeper: a vision of heavenly worship. We begin by breaking down the true meaning of the Divine Liturgy—not as a symbolic gathering or a teaching session, but as real participation in the worship of heaven itself. From there, Fr. John explains how the imagery of Revelation—altars, incense, angels, hymns, and the Lamb—directly corresponds to what the Church has preserved in her liturgical life for centuries. This conversation reframes Revelation entirely: not as a prediction chart, but as an unveiling of the eternal reality that the Church enters into every time the Liturgy is celebrated. We also address how modern misreadings of Revelation—especially those rooted in recent theological innovations—have led many Christians to interpret global events, particularly in relation to Israel, through a distorted and often dangerous lens. Ultimately, this episode is about recovering a right understanding of worship, Scripture, and the Kingdom of God—and seeing the Divine Liturgy for what it truly is: heaven on earth. Fr. John Whiteford is an Orthodox priest serving in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR). He is the rector of St. Jonah Orthodox Church in Spring, Texas, and has been a longtime teacher, writer, and defender of the Orthodox Christian faith. He is widely known for his work in apologetics, particularly in explaining Orthodox theology in contrast to modern Protestant innovations. Fr. John has written extensively on Scripture, Church history, and liturgical theology, and is especially respected for his clear, direct approach to difficult theological topics. Through his writing and teaching, he has helped many people rediscover the depth and continuity of the historic Christian tradition. Find more from Fr John here: And here: And here: Sponsor: Podsworth App: Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: Full Ad Read AFTER processing: Get the new Counterflow T-shirt before it sells out! Visit or send $30 via PayPal to buck@counterflowpodcast.com with your size and shipping address! Donate to the show here: Visit my website: Audio Production by Podsworth Media: Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks! /episode/index/show/deathtotyrants/id/40611270