Heavy Things Lightly

Jaksot

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  An Odyssean Tale: The Man Who Would Not Quit 04.09.2026 1t 36min

  Find this episode on YouTube: Crow walked America searching for his father — and found the Father.From West Virginia hollers to LA gangs, from wolves in the Mojave desert to an Orthodox cross, this is an Odyssean tale of wandering, regret, and becoming Lazarus. John Heers sits with Crow (baptism name Lazarus) for his full life arc — with surprise appearances by his childhood friend Jonathan Pageau and his spiritual father Fr. Turbo.Chapters:00:00 Intro: Crow's Life Is the Story of All of Us01:26 Meet Lazarus — With Jonathan Pageau & Fr. Turbo in Kansas City02:23 How Crow Met Pageau at 14 — The Christian Camp04:50 The Campfire Story — The Girl, The Red Car & Real Suffering10:43 Awakening: Learning Empathy13:14 Two Americas — Rich Suburbs to High-Death-Rate Ghettos14:32 Leaving Home at 15 — Sneaking Onto the Camp Bus17:24 Stories That Matter — Ninja Turtles & Pageau's Unshakable Cool20:45 The Split at 17 — Pageau to History & Literature, Crow to Roots22:36 Walking America — Elders, Traditions & The Search for Soul25:27 Dreams in California — The Bald Man Who Was His Father27:30 Finding His Father's Photo — The L.A. Library Internet Search29:50 Calypso — Distracted in Chicago30:34 The Phone Call — His Father Dies in Atlantic City31:40 L.A. Years — Being a Tough Guy Without Fighting36:10 Every Elder Had a Flag & a Cross — Flood Stories & Giants39:33 The West Virginia Church That Felt Like Africa41:40 Venice Beach Open House — An Accidental Elder44:30 His Mother Finds Orthodoxy in Montana — The Cool Hand on Her Cheek54:35 Sickness, Migraines & The Red Road to The Green Road55:30 Five Acres in the Desert — No Couch, No Bed, No TV58:36 Praying for a Wife at the Front Gate — The Reggae Festival01:03:43 Hearing the Same Jazz No One Else Heard — Falling in Love01:08:02 When the Orthodox Bible Knocked Her Rigid — Spiritual Warfare01:11:35 Finding Pageau Again Online — "Of Course He's Orthodox"01:14:30 Why "Crow"? — God's Winks & The Raven That Walked With Them in Yosemite01:15:30 Meeting Fr. Turbo — Nuns Praying, Insurance Miracle & The Aneurysm01:17:48 Baptized Lazarus — Sunday of the Last Judgment01:20:25 Kansas City — Tiny House in the Hood & "Mr. Lazarus"01:30:02 What Is Life? Repentance, August 28th Surgery & The Dormition__🏷️ Sponsored by Conrad's Beef Jerky — loyalty not guaranteed.Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have ➜ https://conradsdeli.com/ ⭐ Use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.🔥 Support First Things Foundation field workers like Sarah (featured in this episode): https://first-things.org✈ Become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities📢 First Things Telegram: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation🍷The best dinner party you've ever experienced - Supra Dinner Society: https://supradinner.com/🥂 Keipi Restaurant: https://keipirestaurant.org✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf🏖️ Tailormade tours that give back: https://www.gratitude-travels.com/hom__Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe
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  From Broadway to the Supra: Carrie Manolakos on Life After Lockdown 01.09.2026 1t 51min

  Welcome to the first episode of “Save Me a Spot at the Supra” on Heavy Things Lightly where John Heers hosts singer and Broadway performer Carrie Manolakos (best known for her performances in Mama Mia! and Wicked) at his restaurant after she attended a Supra, discussing how the tradition builds community, the role of the tamada, and ways to bring more music into American Supras. Carrie reflects on her early discovery as a vocalist, her training in the Syracuse Children’s Chorus, performing professionally as a child, and later learning to belt and pursuing powerful roles. She describes major hardships beginning around 2014, and how COVID brought stillness, but also industry pressures she refused, leading her to step away, stay quiet, and later face public backlash after speaking openly, including support for RFK Jr. She shares how pain, a dental injury, and her film “Metanoia” coincided with returning to Orthodoxy, deepening her faith and art, and closes with a toast about eye-to-eye connection, grace, and unity.Chapters00:00 Welcome to the Supra02:43 Meet Carrie Manolakos04:05 First Impressions of Supra07:37 Tamada and Table Magic08:56 Why We Sing Together15:00 Getting Americans to Sing21:15 Why You Must Go22:35 Famous Guests Wish List25:40 Carries Early Talent26:50 Training and First Gigs30:41 Work Ethic and Athletics32:19 New York Pull in Her 20s32:50 Losing Innocence33:27 Building a Belt36:01 Scarcity and Worth37:26 Faith Roots and Drift39:48 2014 Breaking Point41:43 Alone Through Crisis45:22 Defining Diva Needs51:54 Wicked Standby Chaos53:19 COVID Career Exit55:59 Intuition and Refusal58:40 Hiding and Backlash01:07:00 Nashville Reset Plan01:10:00 Reading Scripture Again01:11:50 Art Led to Faith01:12:06 Going Rogue in Nashville01:15:50 Injury and Metanoia01:19:56 Sermon Hits Home01:23:37 Learning as a Convert01:26:29 Speaking Out and Backlash01:30:05 Floods and Guardianship01:33:57 Politics as Religion01:37:42 Writing America Song01:39:27 Dealbreakers and Values01:41:15 Art and Human Commonality01:42:57 Ala Verde Toast01:49:41 Final Blessing and Outro__🏷️ Sponsored by Conrad's Beef Jerky — loyalty not guaranteed.Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have ➜ https://conradsdeli.com/ ⭐ Use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.🔥 Support First Things Foundation field workers like Sarah (featured in this episode): https://first-things.org✈ Become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities📢 First Things Telegram: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation🍷The best dinner party you've ever experienced - Supra Dinner Society: https://supradinner.com/🥂 Keipi Restaurant: https://keipirestaurant.org✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf🏖️ Tailormade tours that give back: https://www.gratitude-travels.com/hom__Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe
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  Why This App Designer Hides His Face | An Old-World Cure Built as a New-World App 28.08.2026 1t 13min

  John Heers sits down with "Justin Smith" — an anonymous app designer you'll never see, only hear.His app, This Life, is audio-only and anonymous by design: you record your own voice, then get paired with a stranger for a day to hear three minutes of their life.In this episode John pushes back hard — is a phone app really the cure for the isolation it helped create? Is writing down your thoughts making us more ill, not less? And where does the whole thing come from — what's the "well" underneath it?They go deep on:→ Why Justin hides his face (and the Bill Wilson / AA logic behind it)→ The "force of unhelpful negative emotion" and how it plays us all→ Spiritual hitchhiking — the app's one-day anonymous pairing→ Whether an app can ever replace the in-person Supra table→ Christianity, Orthodoxy, and building something beautiful out of love for a fatherA fascinating, honest conversation about what we've lost in the modern world — and one man's attempt to build a piece of it back.Get the app 👇 http://www.jointhislife.com orhttps://apps.apple.com/us/app/this-li...Chapters00:00 Intro & Sponsors02:19 Meet "Justin Smith" — The Anonymous App Designer02:45 Why He Hides His Face (The Bill Wilson Logic)06:14 The Problem: The Human Heart at War With Itself08:24 The Force of Unhelpful Negative Emotion10:42 Watching His Father Break19:14 How the App Works22:05 Spoken Notes & Spiritual Hitchhiking25:30 Is Writing It Down Making Us Sicker?28:38 Orthodoxy, Christianity & "the Well"42:38 Why Digital? The Trade-Offs45:07 The Demon & the Puppet Strings01:05:07 Get the App & Closing Thoughts__🏷️ Sponsored by Conrad's Beef Jerky — loyalty not guaranteed.Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have ➜ https://conradsdeli.com/ ⭐ Use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.🔥 Support First Things Foundation field workers like Sarah (featured in this episode): https://first-things.org✈ Become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities📢 First Things Telegram: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation🍷The best dinner party you've ever experienced - Supra Dinner Society: https://supradinner.com/🥂 Keipi Restaurant: https://keipirestaurant.org✒ Substack: ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf🏖️ Tailormade tours that give back: https://www.gratitude-travels.com/hom__Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe
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  Neil DeGraide: The West Has Forgotten Its Own Roots 12.08.2026 1t 30min

  Find this episode on YouTube: John Heers sits down with Neil DeGraide for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about why the modern Western church feels so untethered from its own roots — and what the angry internet has to do with it.They unpack:🕊️ How post-WWII culture pushed Christianity toward non-denominationalism and away from the liturgical, experiential faith of the early Church⛪ Why modern "ecumenism" often trades real theological depth for a thin, secularized unity🍽️ The "tablecloth" problem — what happens when we treat every denomination as interchangeable and cover over centuries of genuine division🌍 How this rootlessness leaves believers vulnerable to globalist frameworks that prioritize unity over substance🎬 An update on the Christianities film productionA sincere, sometimes frustrated, always intellectually honest conversation between two men working through big questions in real time.__🏷️ Sponsored by Conrad's Beef Jerky — loyalty not guaranteed.Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have ➜ https://conradsdeli.com/ ⭐ Use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.🔥 Support First Things Foundation field workers like Sarah (featured in this episode): https://first-things.org✈ Become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities📢 First Things Telegram: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation🍷The best dinner party you've ever experienced - Supra Dinner Society: https://supradinner.com/🥂 Keipi Restaurant: https://keipirestaurant.org✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf🏖️ Tailormade tours that give back: https://www.gratitude-travels.com/hom__Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & BandChapters:00:00 Cold Open Joke00:11 Sponsor Shoutout01:00 Meet Neil DeGraide03:29 Postwar Church Confusion04:37 Ecumenism and Billy Graham07:42 Israel and WW2 Narrative18:38 Policing the Story21:41 Orthodoxy in the Spotlight26:30 Field Worker Spotlight28:33 Modern Anthropology and Nominalism32:33 Constantine Myth Debunked37:03 Ecumenism And Loose Doctrine42:52 Postwar Unity And Israel46:59 Why Truth Wont Land49:29 One True Church Objection54:47 God Is Love Not Ledger58:41 American Power Assumptions01:01:17 The Gavin Ortlund Crisis01:04:40 Audience Pressure Exposed01:06:31 Humility Over Winning01:12:00 Faith Alone Barrier01:14:59 Beauty Beyond Data01:18:46 Convert Gratitude01:21:30 Mercy and Confession01:27:22 Supra as a Way This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe
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  Jay Dyer on the Enlightenment, Americanism & the Religion of Politics 24.07.2026 1t 18min

  Find this episode on YouTube: Jay Dyer joins John Heers to discuss the decline of 2000s New Atheism, shifting internet culture, the Enlightenment, Americanism, Orthodox Christianity, and the political forces shaping the modern West.They examine growing skepticism toward claims of scientific neutrality and political objectivism, arguing that politics often functions as a substitute religion—complete with its own dogmas, sacred myths, and promises of salvation. The conversation also explores whether political systems are ultimately controlled by deeper oligarchic and bureaucratic forces operating behind the scenes.Jay and John critique the Enlightenment as a project that elevated human reason into an idol, connecting its assumptions to liberalism, American civic religion, text-centered religion, and modern ideas about human nature. They contrast abstract systems that promise to save society with the concrete virtue—or vice—of the people who actually operate them.The conversation also covers monarchy and democracy in the Christian tradition, the American Dream, Tucker Carlson’s interest in theology, Kant, postmodernism, the decline of New Atheism, and what may come after the Enlightenment project.Along the way, Jay discusses his background, podcasting, internet culture, humor, and the importance of embodied community. They also introduce upcoming Art of Tamada events in Greenville, South Carolina, August 28–29, and Islamorada, October 29–November 2, describing Supra as a communal and experiential practice rooted in hospitality and Orthodox theology.Topics include:- The decline of New Atheism- The Enlightenment and reason as an idol- Americanism and liberal rights- Politics as a substitute religion- Democracy, monarchy, and Christian political thought- Oligarchy, bureaucracy, and political power- Kant, postmodernism, and human nature- Orthodox Christianity and political theology- Supra, hospitality, and the Art of Tamada- Tucker Carlson and the return of theology__🏷️ Sponsored by Conrad's Beef Jerky — loyalty not guaranteed.Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have ➜ https://conradsdeli.com/ ⭐ Use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.🔥 Support First Things Foundation field workers like Sarah (featured in this episode): https://first-things.org✈ Become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities📢 First Things Telegram: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation🍷The best dinner party you've ever experienced - Supra Dinner Society: https://supradinner.com/🥂 Keipi Restaurant: https://keipirestaurant.org✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf🏖️ Tailormade tours that give back: https://www.gratitude-travels.com/hom__Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & BandChapters:00:00 New Atheism Fades00:53 Show Intro Sponsors03:02 Tech Setup YouTube Origins06:11 Reading Habits Background08:11 Art of Tamada Pitch13:29 Supra Meaning Experience17:30 Enlightenment As Paganism24:21 IQ Technocracy Critique25:47 Americanism Liberal Rights33:57 Tucker Everything Religious36:13 Systems Versus Virtue40:31 American Dream Myth42:26 Boomer Lies and Taxes43:46 Peace Corps Democracy Lesson47:02 Enlightenment vs Christian Nature53:54 From Kant to Postmodernism55:27 What Comes Next59:25 Politics Is Bureaucracy01:01:30 Comedy and Podcasting01:07:17 Thanks and Event Details01:14:09 Authenticity and Depression01:15:51 Opposable Thumbs Outro This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe
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  Marriage Humility: When Your Intensity Becomes Your Marriage's Biggest Problem | Dr. Malamakis 04.07.2026 1t 28min

  Find this episode on YouTube: Dr. Philip Mamalakis says you'd take a bullet for your wife. But would you fix the light in the freezer she's been asking about for six weeks?That gap — between the heroic love we imagine and the ordinary love we're actually called to — is exactly what this conversation is about.Dr. Philip Mamalakis teaches the core courses in Pastoral Care at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, alongside electives in pastoral counseling, grief, marriage and family, and pastoral care and mental health. He has published widely on Orthodox marriage and marital counseling, and is the author of Parenting Toward the Kingdom (Ancient Faith Publishing, 2016) — the best-selling Orthodox parenting book — and the father of seven.He joined John Heers on Heavy Things Lightly for one of the most grounded, honest, and quietly radical conversations about love, marriage, and faith you'll hear anywhere.In this episode:- Why Dr. Mamalakis teaches seminary students the sacrament of listening — and why their wives notice the difference by the end of the semester- The danger of coming into Orthodoxy with the wrong kind of intensity and how the Church actually heals that- What happens when you bow down at your wife's feet mid-argument (and why John's Nigerian friends did not approve)- The difference between solving problems and walking with people — and why most priests are trained to do the wrong one- Why "responsive" is a better word than "love" — and what that means in marriage, parenting, and pastoral care- How modern psychology and ancient Orthodox anthropology actually complement each other (instead of conflicting)Dr. Mamalakis's upcoming parenting book: what to do in the heat of the moment, for every parent who says "don't tell me principles, tell me what to actually say""Curiosity is the opposite of narcissism. To be curious about your wife, your kids, the person in front of you — that requires getting out of your own head. That is the spiritual life."— Dr. Philip MamalakisDr. Philip Mamalakis teaches Pastoral Care at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, where he has published on Orthodox marriage, marital counseling, grief, and pastoral care and mental health. He and his wife Georgia have seven children and several grandchildren.John Heers is the founder of First Things Foundation and the host of Heavy Things Lightly, where ancient wisdom meets the confusion of modern life.Chapters:00:00 Ask Their Story00:31 Meet Philip Mamalakis01:09 Jerky Sponsor Break02:04 Neon Backdrop Tales04:35 Teaching Inside Institutions08:42 Teaching Other Faiths12:52 Internet Teachers Debate17:43 Knowing Beyond Facts24:07 Online Conflict and Fear32:16 Beauty That Converts34:50 Pastoral Authority Model37:41 Sacrament of Listening42:40 Marriage Humility Stories46:10 Marriage Changes Hearts47:18 Prayer With Guidance49:33 Psychology And Orthodoxy53:13 Brain Soul And Nous59:53 Sacred Mundane Marriage01:05:23 Attend In Liturgy01:08:12 Elders And Parish Stories01:09:41 New Books And Parenting01:12:04 Orthodoxy Without Creepiness01:17:04 Friendship Wrap Up01:21:55 Online Influencers Question01:24:04 Final Reflections And Support__🏷️ Sponsored by Conrad's Beef Jerky — loyalty not guaranteed.Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have ➜ https://conradsdeli.com/ ⭐ Use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.🔥 Support First Things Foundation field workers like Sarah (featured in this episode): https://first-things.org✈ Become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities📢 First Things Telegram: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation🍷The best dinner party you've ever experienced - Supra Dinner Society: https://supradinner.com/🥂 Keipi Restaurant: https://keipirestaurant.org✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf🏖️ Tailormade tours that give back: https://www.gratitude-travels.com/hom__Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe
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  The Orthodox Cure for Broken Young Men | Fr. Hans Jacobse 22.06.2026 1t

  Find this episode on YouTube: Father Hans has spent years reaching young men on the edge — men who are economically stuck, spiritually fragmented, and slow to trust. In this conversation, he names what’s really going on: a generation that woke up inside a world already infected with “narcissistic spiritual cancer,” and a culture that gave them consumer identity instead of a soul.They go deep on:* What “boomerism” actually means — and whether the criticism is fair* Why resentment and resignation will hold young men back no matter how justified they feel* The difference between ethnos and race, and why it matters for how we form community* Why politics can’t answer the questions that only the purification of the heart can* The “black-pilled” trap — and how to actually fight evil (hint: it’s not screaming at the machine)* What it looks like to pull someone back from the cliff — Fr. Hans has done it, literally“I’m a recovering materialist. That’s what I am.” — Fr. Hans JacobseThis is Heavy Things Lightly — conversations about faith, culture, and the lives of real men trying to live with integrity. If this hit, share it with someone who needs it.0:00 Cold Open — Fr. Hans on Orthodoxy Flourishing0:47 Intro & Sponsor (Conrad’s Jerky)2:31 Meet Father Hans Jacobse3:38 What Is “Boomerism”? Defining the Young Men’s Critique5:46 The Anger Parallel: Young Men Today vs. Black Men in the ‘80s9:20 The Orthodox Response to Resentment and Anxiety12:00 Healing Through Adversity — Men Must Lift the Weight15:47 Why Fr. Hans Left the Culture Wars17:14 “Open Your Eyes” — The Call That Launched St. Paisios Brotherhood20:00 Fear of Becoming a Compliant Consumer: The Identity Trap21:30 What “Black-Pilled” Really Means — and Why It Fails23:50 How Orthodoxy Actually Heals: Purification, Not Critique26:40 What Breaks Through the Granite Wall: The Love of a Brother31:45 No Politics Rule — Why Politics Is a Lagging Indicator36:50 Nationalism, Ethnos, and Living Where You Are43:45 What Held America Together — and When It Collapsed45:35 Young Men Born Into the “Narcissistic Spiritual Cancer”48:00 Why Fr. Hans Was Drawn to This Work (His Own Story)53:00 When Government Can’t Answer What Only the Heart Can54:55 Fr. Hans’s Closing Vision: Orthodoxy Flourishing57:45 Outro — First Things Foundation & the Tamada Network__🏷️ Sponsored by Conrad’s Beef Jerky — loyalty not guaranteed.Conrad’s Deli - The best jerky you’ll ever have ➜ https://conradsdeli.com/ ⭐ Use promo code “FIRST THINGS” for 10% off.🔥 Support First Things Foundation field workers: https://first-things.org✈ Become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities📢 First Things Telegram: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation🍷The best dinner party you’ve ever experienced - Supra Dinner Society: https://supradinner.com/🥂 Keipi Restaurant: https://keipirestaurant.org✒ Substack: ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf🏖️ Tailormade tours that give back: https://www.gratitude-travels.com/hom__Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe
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  Orthodoxy in Palestine 12.06.2026 43min

  In this conversation recorded live at Symbolic World, John Heers sits down with Mother Agapia for a deep, unfiltered account of life on the ground in the West Bank: the building of the wall, the expansion of settlements, the targeting of Christian communities, and the complicated, often beautiful relationship between Orthodox Christians and their Muslim neighbors.Mother Agapia is an American Orthodox nun who spent decades living and working in Bethany, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem — running a school where 98% of the students were Muslim Palestinians. What she witnessed about the fate of Christians in the Holy Land is rarely spoken of in Western media.Topics covered:• How Mother Agapia ended up living and working in Palestine for decades• The spiritual geography of the Holy Land and who actually lives there• The Second Intifada and the moment everything changed• Soldiers confiscating crosses and icons at checkpoints — in broad daylight• Christian Zionism: a critique from someone who lived inside the conflict• Why Mother Agapia believes this is now a direct attack on Christianity• Her work in Washington DC and what changed when she returned• The Tucker Carlson interview and the message it carriedThis is not a political debate. It is a first-hand witness testimony from a woman who gave 30 years of her life to the people of Palestine — Christian and Muslim alike.⏱ Timestamps:0:00 – John Heers intro2:40 – Interview begins: How did you get to Jerusalem?10:00 – The geography: "The size of New Jersey"15:00 – Before the wall: life in Bethany22:00 – The Second Intifada and the settlements28:58 – Soldiers at checkpoints: crosses thrown in the garbage33:00 – Tucker Carlson and the Western media narrative36:00 – Christian Zionism: a false theology?40:00 – Raising the alarm: why it's different now42:30 – John Heers closing: wine, words, and the SupraFind this episode on Youtube: __🏷️ Sponsored by Conrad's Beef Jerky — loyalty not guaranteed.Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have ➜ https://conradsdeli.com/ ⭐ Use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.🔥 Support First Things Foundation field workers like Sarah (featured in this episode): https://first-things.org✈ Become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities📢 First Things Telegram: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation🍷The best dinner party you've ever experienced - Supra Dinner Society: https://supradinner.com/🥂 Keipi Restaurant: https://keipirestaurant.org✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf🏖️ Tailormade tours that give back: https://www.gratitude-travels.com/hom__Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe
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  Race, Ethnicity & Nationalism: Is an Orthodox America Possible? 05.06.2026 2t 3min

  Find this episode on YouTube: Is American Orthodoxy even possible? John Heers sits down with Ben Michael (Orthodox Luigi) to talk about race, ethnicity, what it means to be an American — and whether there's a future for Orthodox Christianity in a nation built on rootlessness.This conversation goes where most won't — deep into the tension between ethnic identity and faith, the rise of nationalism, and the hard question: can America — a country of immigrants with no single ethnic root — ever truly become an Orthodox nation? John and Ben pull from history, theology, and their own experiences to explore what American Orthodoxy might actually require.💡 On this Episode of Heavy Things Lightly:🔹 Ben's Protestant-to-Orthodox journey — worship leader, Marine, convert🔹 Why Gen Z is returning to religion AND nationalism simultaneously🔹 The rise of nationalism — friend or foe to faith?🔹 What does Orthodoxy mean in a Western context?🔹 Ethnicity vs. race vs. species — defining terms most people won't🔹 The surprising role of geography, roots, and belonging🔹 What would it actually take for America to become Orthodox?Chapters0:00 — Gen Z, nationalism & the return to religion1:19 — Meet Ben Michael (formerly Ben Luigi / Orthodox Luigi)2:00 — Conrad's Beef Jerky & First Things Foundation field work — Sierra Leone & Guatemala3:01 — "The Johnny Depp of our parish" — how John & Ben know each other5:42 — Ben's life: Non-denominational Protestant, youth worship leader, apologetics, Marine Corps 11:42 — TikTok rise, COVID-era growth, political content ban14:46 — The conversion path: Meeting his wife, church history, St. Ignatius19:55 — "The nail in the coffin": Eucharist, children at communion, the cloud of witnesses25:00 — Race begins: What does "white" even mean? The Amazon rainforest analogy27:01 — The big question: Can America become an Orthodox nation?27:55 — Sarah joins from Mozambique: Immersion missionary work31:00 — Return to Ben: Protestant-to-Orthodox pipeline, deeper conversion story58:00 — Orthodoxy as the bridge between nationalism & Gen Z faith01:30:00 — The race & ethnicity deep-dive: "White" as an Enlightenment construct, genus vs. species vs. ethnicity1:50:45 — Ben's Jordan baptism story & re-assessing faith through an Orthodox lens1:55:00 — Sarah extended: Cultural whiplash, Portuguese & Makua, urban vs. rural Mozambique2:00:00 — Closing thoughts: What American Orthodoxy actually requires🔎 Discover the non-profit behind Heavy Things Lightly: https://first-things.org/✈ Become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/🥂 Keipi Restaurant: https://keipirestaurant.org---This “Enlightened” New World utopia isn’t turning out to be all it was cracked up to be. Society is disenchanting, but are the only alternatives hiding out in the hills or burying yourself in books? With an air of levity and a touch of humor, John Heers teaches how to examine the confusing New World by calling upon the mind and wisdom of oft-forgotten Old. Heavy Things, Lightly.--- Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe
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  The Ancient Christianity That is Alive and Well in Georgia 02.06.2026 1t 4min

  Georgia's ancient faith is still alive — and it demands more than just going through the motions.Professor Levan Gigineishvili joins John to discuss the importance of continuous personal growth as an Orthodox Christian, the ultimate answer to avoiding complacency and transforming our lives in Christ. A medievalist, philosopher, and one of Georgia's most respected public intellectuals — walks us through 1,600 years of Christianity that refuses to die.This conversation goes deep, we cover:✧ Why Ilia Chavchavadze (philosopher, national hero, and saint) believed good ritual isn't good enough✧ The Golden Age of Georgia: Rustavelli, Neoplatonism, and the "Second Athens"✧ How Georgia kept the faith when empires — Byzantine, Persian, Ottoman, Russian, Soviet — tried to erase it✧ Why Sola Scriptura and the Reformation never took root in the Caucasus✧ Levan's own journey from Soviet atheism to Orthodox Christianity✧ The Georgian Supra: why Americans are falling in love with this ancient feast tradition✧ And one unforgettable story about a panic attack, a monastery, and a phone call🕯️ "Be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect." — That's the Christianity Georgia has been living for centuries. It might be the Christianity we've forgotten.00:00 - Introduction: Professor Levan Gigineishvili02:30 - Ilia Chavchavadze: Saint, Philosopher & National Hero11:45 - Why the Church Canonized a Modern Thinker15:08 - Georgia's Golden Age: Rustavelli & the Second Athens20:00 - The Reformation That Bypassed Georgia22:00 - Soviet Atheism to Orthodox Faith: Levan's Journey30:00 - Field Report: Sarah in Mozambique32:00 - Georgia Between Iran & Russia: Choosing the Lesser Evil38:00 - A Panic Attack, a Monastery & Georgian Hospitality42:00 - Why Americans Love Supra (The Georgian Feast)44:00 - Be Perfect: Christianity as Continuous Growth__Levan Gigineishvili is a PhD graduate of the Central European University, Budapest. He also graduated Catholic University of Leuven (Philosophy), Harvard University (Education) and Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (Classics). His PhD dissertation “The Platonic Theology of Ioane Petritsi” later published as a book (Gorgias Press, 2007) is the first English monograph written on this 12th century philosopher. Presently Levan Gigineishvili works at the Institute of Classics, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies of the Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, giving courses on Byzantine literature and Medieval Philosophy. He is an author of numerous articles on Ioane Petritsi and medieval Christian Platonism in the Eastern Christendom.__🏷️ Sponsored by Conrad's Beef Jerky — loyalty not guaranteed.Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have ➜ https://conradsdeli.com/ ⭐ Use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.🔥 Support First Things Foundation field workers like Sarah (featured in this episode): https://first-things.org✈ Become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities📢 First Things Telegram: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation🍷The best dinner party you've ever experienced - Supra Dinner Society: https://supradinner.com/🥂 Keipi Restaurant: https://keipirestaurant.org✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf🏖️ Tailormade tours that give back: https://www.gratitude-travels.com/hom__Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe
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  Online and American Orthodoxy w/ Fr. Paul Girgis 08.05.2026 1t 16min

  Find this episode on YouTube: Fr. Paul Girgis joins HTL to talk about American Orthodoxy, what's happening culturally, Lebanon and the Hezobollah question among many more.Discover more about Fr. Paul here: @Floridoxy -----------------------Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have: https://conradsdeli.com/ use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.-----------------------✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf🍷The best dinner party you've ever experienced - Supra Dinner Society: https://supradinner.com/🏖️ Tailormade tours that give back: https://www.gratitude-travels.com/home🔎 Discover the non-profit behind Heavy Things Lightly: https://first-things.org/ ✈ Become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities📢 First Things Telegram: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation🥂 Keipi Restaurant: https://keipirestaurant.orgPlease leave a review with your comments! Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion. ---This “Enlightened” New World utopia isn’t turning out to be all it was cracked up to be. Society is disenchanting, but are the only alternatives hiding out in the hills or burying yourself in books? With an air of levity and a touch of humor, John Heers teaches how to examine the confusing New World by calling upon the mind and wisdom of oft-forgotten Old. Heavy Things, Lightly.--- Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe
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  Time and Despondency w/ Nicole Roccas 30.04.2026 1t 15min

  Find this episode on YouTube:Dr. Nicole Roccas has been researching and writing about time from both a historical and theological perspective for nearly ten years. In addition to being a writer and editor, she lectures at the Orthodox School of Theology at Trinity College (Toronto). You can find more of her writing on her Ancient Faith podcast and blog, Time Eternal.Discover more about Nicole: https://www.nicoleroccas.com-----------------------Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have: https://conradsdeli.com/ use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.-----------------------✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf🍷The best dinner party you've ever experienced - Supra Dinner Society: https://supradinner.com/🏖️ Tailormade tours that give back: https://www.gratitude-travels.com/home🔎 Discover the non-profit behind Heavy Things Lightly: https://first-things.org/ ✈ Become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities📢 First Things Telegram: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation🥂 Keipi Restaurant: https://keipirestaurant.orgPlease leave a review with your comments! Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion. ---This “Enlightened” New World utopia isn’t turning out to be all it was cracked up to be. Society is disenchanting, but are the only alternatives hiding out in the hills or burying yourself in books? With an air of levity and a touch of humor, John Heers teaches how to examine the confusing New World by calling upon the mind and wisdom of oft-forgotten Old. Heavy Things, Lightly.--- Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe
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  Pageau talks Hegseth, Pulp Fiction, Clown World, and more... 24.04.2026 45min

  Jonathan Pageau is back for a short chat, because we have to talk about clown world and Hegseth, and what in the world is going on in American politics. BUT! Also, we have to mention Symbolic World and especially the upcoming conference. Hope to see you all in Ohio, follow the link below for more info!Symbolic World Summit: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/-----------------------Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have: https://conradsdeli.com/ use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.-----------------------✒ Substack: ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf🍷The best dinner party you've ever experienced - Supra Dinner Society: https://supradinner.com/🏖️ Tailormade tours that give back: https://www.gratitude-travels.com/home🔎 Discover the non-profit behind Heavy Things Lightly: https://first-things.org/✈ Become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities📢 First Things Telegram: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation🥂 Keipi Restaurant: https://keipirestaurant.orgPlease leave a review with your comments! Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion. ---This “Enlightened” New World utopia isn’t turning out to be all it was cracked up to be. Society is disenchanting, but are the only alternatives hiding out in the hills or burying yourself in books? With an air of levity and a touch of humor, John Heers teaches how to examine the confusing New World by calling upon the mind and wisdom of oft-forgotten Old. Heavy Things, Lightly.--- Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe
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  Pete Hegseth, I'm not sure that was a prayer. 21.04.2026 45min

  Find this episode on YouTube: Jonathan Pageau is back for a short chat, because we have to talk about clown world and Hegseth, and what in the world is going on in American politics. BUT! Also, we have to mention Symbolic World and especially the upcoming conference. Hope to see you all in Ohio, follow the link below for more info!Symbolic World Summit: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/-----------------------Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have: https://conradsdeli.com/ use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.-----------------------✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf🍷The best dinner party you've ever experienced - Supra Dinner Society: https://supradinner.com/🏖️ Tailormade tours that give back: https://www.gratitude-travels.com/home🔎 Discover the non-profit behind Heavy Things Lightly: https://first-things.org/ ✈ Become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities📢 First Things Telegram: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation🥂 Keipi Restaurant: https://keipirestaurant.orgPlease leave a review with your comments! Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion. ---This “Enlightened” New World utopia isn’t turning out to be all it was cracked up to be. Society is disenchanting, but are the only alternatives hiding out in the hills or burying yourself in books? With an air of levity and a touch of humor, John Heers teaches how to examine the confusing New World by calling upon the mind and wisdom of oft-forgotten Old. Heavy Things, Lightly.--- Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe
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  Old Testament or No Testament War? 15.04.2026 37min

  Find this episode on YouTube: Let's take a look at what's happening in Iran, Israel, Ukraine. How are we 'waging' war? Well, the answer is more nuanced than you think. And St. Basil has a couple of words for us near the end.-----------------------Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have: https://conradsdeli.com/ use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.-----------------------✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf🍷The best dinner party you've ever experienced - Supra Dinner Society: https://supradinner.com/🏖️ Tailormade tours that give back: https://www.gratitude-travels.com/home🔎 Discover the non-profit behind Heavy Things Lightly: https://first-things.org/ ✈ Become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities📢 First Things Telegram: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation🥂 Keipi Restaurant: https://keipirestaurant.orgPlease leave a review with your comments! Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion. ---This “Enlightened” New World utopia isn’t turning out to be all it was cracked up to be. Society is disenchanting, but are the only alternatives hiding out in the hills or burying yourself in books? With an air of levity and a touch of humor, John Heers teaches how to examine the confusing New World by calling upon the mind and wisdom of oft-forgotten Old. Heavy Things, Lightly.--- Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe
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  Frederica Mathews Green | Art of the Tamada Talks 01.04.2026 1t 1min

  Find this episode on YouTube (subbed in Russian as well): Frederica Mathews Green on what it means to be a guest or a host at the Art of the Tamada event in Greenville, SC 2025."The Art of the Tamada" by the First Things Foundation (FTF) is a transformational cultural experience and fundraising event modeled on the traditional Georgian Supra (a feast led by a toastmaster or Tamada). It is designed as a weekend-long, intimate event that explores the philosophy of true hospitality, community, and the "Old World" way of interaction.Art of the Tamada: https://first-things.org/aot✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/🥂 Keipi Restaurant: https://keipirestaurant.orgPlease leave a review with your comments! Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion. ---This “Enlightened” New World utopia isn’t turning out to be all it was cracked up to be. Society is disenchanting, but are the only alternatives hiding out in the hills or burying yourself in books? With an air of levity and a touch of humor, John Heers teaches how to examine the confusing New World by calling upon the mind and wisdom of oft-forgotten Old. Heavy Things, Lightly. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe
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  State of Reality (oh wait, Union) with Uncle Seth 24.03.2026 1t 21min

  Find this episode on YouTube: Let's all be calm and cool and watch the recent State of the Union address with Uncle Seth, because obviously that is a good idea. -----------------------Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have: https://conradsdeli.com/ use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.-----------------------✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf🍷The best dinner party you've ever experienced - Supra Dinner Society: https://supradinner.com/🏖️ Tailormade tours that give back: https://www.gratitude-travels.com/home🔎 Discover the non-profit behind Heavy Things Lightly: https://first-things.org/ ✈ Become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities🥂 Keipi Restaurant: https://keipirestaurant.orgPlease leave a review with your comments! Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion. ---This “Enlightened” New World utopia isn’t turning out to be all it was cracked up to be. Society is disenchanting, but are the only alternatives hiding out in the hills or burying yourself in books? With an air of levity and a touch of humor, John Heers teaches how to examine the confusing New World by calling upon the mind and wisdom of oft-forgotten Old. Heavy Things, Lightly.--- Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe
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  Eros Unbound: the story of Donald Marc Antony Trump 16.03.2026 1t 6min

  Find this episode on YouTube: Pavel Schelin sits down once more with John to talk about the tragic story of Marc Antony and those characters around him. What happens when massive Dionysian energy has no true master? It's a story of a bad Tamada, or Trump, or crazy college parties - and understanding this can help us all order our lives a little better.We invite you to join Pavel's new course at the Symbolic World - Plutarch: Symbolism in History. The course reads Plutarch’s Lives as a grammar of symbolism embodied in history to better understand the patterns that govern human political order and disorder.▶ Discover more and register here: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/plutarch-symbolism-in-historyEarly bird discount available. Live sessions · Wednesdays · 4–6 PM ET · Starting March 18th-----------------------Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have: https://conradsdeli.com/ use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.-----------------------✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf🍷The best dinner party you've ever experienced - Supra Dinner Society: https://supradinner.com/🏖️ Tailormade tours that give back: https://www.gratitude-travels.com/home🔎 Discover the non-profit behind Heavy Things Lightly: https://first-things.org/ ✈ Become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities📢 First Things Telegram: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation🥂 Keipi Restaurant: https://keipirestaurant.orgPlease leave a review with your comments! Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion. ---This “Enlightened” New World utopia isn’t turning out to be all it was cracked up to be. Society is disenchanting, but are the only alternatives hiding out in the hills or burying yourself in books? With an air of levity and a touch of humor, John Heers teaches how to examine the confusing New World by calling upon the mind and wisdom of oft-forgotten Old. Heavy Things, Lightly.--- Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe
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  Engaging the Other: Fr. Andrew Damick & Rev. Mike Landsman 12.03.2026 1t 21min

  Find this episode on YouTube: Fr. Andrew Damick and Rev. Mike Landsman of the Areopagus podcast (https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/areopagus/) join the show to talk the state of Protestantism in America, what's happening in the world of Christianity in general, and the different flavors of folks coming into the church.Discover more of these fine gentlemen here:youtube.com/@frandrewstephendamickyoutube.com/@mikelandsman8993Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have: https://conradsdeli.com/ use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.-------------------------------------------✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf🍷The best dinner party you've ever experienced - Supra Dinner Society: https://supradinner.com/🏖️ Tailormade tours that give back: https://www.gratitude-travels.com/home🔎 Discover the non-profit behind Heavy Things Lightly: https://first-things.org/ ✈ Become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities📢 First Things Telegram: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation🥂 Keipi Restaurant: https://keipirestaurant.orgPlease leave a review with your comments! Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion. ---This “Enlightened” New World utopia isn’t turning out to be all it was cracked up to be. Society is disenchanting, but are the only alternatives hiding out in the hills or burying yourself in books? With an air of levity and a touch of humor, John Heers teaches how to examine the confusing New World by calling upon the mind and wisdom of oft-forgotten Old. Heavy Things, Lightly.--- Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe
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  The Svanes: A Missionary Tale 06.03.2026 1t 5min

  Discover more about the Svanes, their mission and support their efforts here:The Story:Support: https://helligebebudelsen.no/en/help-us-build-a-sacred-space-in-norway/Conrad's Deli - The best jerky you'll ever have: https://conradsdeli.com/ use promo code "FIRST THINGS" for 10% off.-----------------------✒ Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/ⓧ https://x.com/johnfromftf🍷The best dinner party you've ever experienced - Supra Dinner Society: https://supradinner.com/🏖️ Tailormade tours that give back: https://www.gratitude-travels.com/home🔎 Discover the non-profit behind Heavy Things Lightly: https://first-things.org/ ✈ Become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities📢 First Things Telegram: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation🥂 Keipi Restaurant: https://keipirestaurant.orgPlease leave a review with your comments! Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion. ---This “Enlightened” New World utopia isn’t turning out to be all it was cracked up to be. Society is disenchanting, but are the only alternatives hiding out in the hills or burying yourself in books? With an air of levity and a touch of humor, John Heers teaches how to examine the confusing New World by calling upon the mind and wisdom of oft-forgotten Old. Heavy Things, Lightly.--- Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe