Orthodox Health

Dr. Michael Kuhn
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What does it mean to truly care for your body, mind, & soul in a way that aligns with Christ? Orthodox Health explores the timeless wisdom of the Orthodox Church in cultivating holistic well-being—spiritually, physically, & mentally. Join your hosts as we dive into topics like fasting, nutrition, exercise, prayer, & overcoming modern health pitfalls through an Orthodox Christian lens. With guest interviews, theological insights, & practical applications, this podcast helps you break free from the consumer-driven health industry & reclaim a balanced, faith-centered life.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    The Bodily Resurrection & the Reality of Emergency Care with Buck Johnson (Counterflow Podcast)

    Christ is Risen! In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast , Dr. Michael Christian & John welcome Buck Johnson of the Counterflow Podcast to open the new Orthodox Health “Body Arc.” Buck is known to many as a podcaster, but he has spent over 2 decades as a first responder, making him the perfect first guest for a post-Pascha conversation on the body, because Pascha is not an escape from the body. Christ rises bodily, & the Resurrection reveals that the body is not disposable. This conversation explores the proper place of emergency care & the Western medical model, the physical/mental toll of first responder work, the brotherhood of firefighters, occupational toxic exposures, trauma, EMDR, prayer in the face of death, fasting, discipline, & what it means to steward the body without turning health into vanity or self-obsession. Takeaways: Emergency care is one of the clearest strengths of the Western medical model: rescue, stabilization, trauma response, & buying time in crisis; but saving a life in the moment is not the same as restoring health over time.Buck’s work as a firefighter/EMT reveals both the fragility & resilience of the human body.Firefighter culture shows the power of embodied brotherhood: mission, trust, competence, &shared burden.First responders carry serious physical/mental costs, including sleep disruption, trauma exposure, toxic exposure, injuries, &long-term wear.Pascha reminds us that Christ did not rise to free us from the body, but to redeem it.Sound Bytes: “Christianity is not an escape plan from the body. The Resurrection is vindication of the body.”“Saving a life in the moment is not the same thing as restoring health over time.”“You start to understand how much of human chronic health problems are self-inflicted.”“The real thing that brings you together is the hard work part of it.”“You show me a young man that has an issue with p-rn & I’ll show you a young man that’s not fasting properly.”“Once you start panicking, it doesn’t matter what you know. It’s going to go out the window.”“When I do see death right in front of me, I pray for the soul every single time.”Chapters: 00:00 Opener 01:56 Why the Body Matters: Pascha & the Resurrection 05:01 Meet Buck Johnson: Firefighter & EMT 10:54 Inside the Life of a First Responder 14:02 The Physical & Mental Toll of Firefighting 15:30 Brotherhood, Camaraderie & Trust Under Pressure 18:17 What Emergency Medicine Gets Right & Wrong 23:48 How Firefighters Manage Risk, Chaos & Adrenaline 29:44 Toxic Exposure & Environmental Hazards 34:33 Spiritual Lessons from Fire & Crisis 38:15 Fasting & Lust: Fr. Turbo Qualls Insight 43:39 Empathy in Crisis: Seeing People at Their Worst 46:43 First Responder Mental Health & Suicide Reality 50:09 EMDR Therapy 52:29 Addiction, Discipline & Redirecting Desire 55:51 Fitness, Brotherhood & Firehouse Culture 01:02:23 Injury, Rehab & Long-Term Wear on the Body 01:05:43 What Emergency Services Can & Can’t Do 01:08:16 Staying Calm Under Pressure: Hesychia & Control 01:10:35 “Let No Man Fear Death”: Facing Mortality Daily 01:12:05 Blood Moon Pies & Counterflow Lore 01:14:23 Why Christian Empathy Still Matters 01:16:11 Where to Find Buck Johnson 01:17:40 Are You Living Like the Body Matters? 01:19:59 Outro Where to Find Buck Johnson: Counterflow Spotify, Youtube, & Substack Work with ⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Mike⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Signed Copies of Orthodoxy & The Medicine of the Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OrthodoxHealth.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Orthodoxy & the Medicine of the Future on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Donate to St. John the Theologian ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the Show⁠⁠⁠⁠ with a One-Time or Recurring donation Intro & Outro Music: St. John of Chicago Orthodox Church Choir (Arkansas) - Please support their building fund by buying the whole album ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Orthodox Health ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Telegram⁠

    1hr 21min

  2. 6 APR

    The 11th Hour: How to Walk Into Pascha Without Losing the Point

    Holy Week is not a reward for people who “nailed Lent.” It is medicine for the weak. In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John walk from Lazarus Saturday to Pascha as a field guide for real people: those who are exhausted, behind, scattered, ashamed, or tempted to turn the fast into obsession. They unpack Lazarus Saturday as truth & return, Palm Sunday as a warning against unstable zeal, the end-of-Lent traps of control, judgment, & despair, & the watchfulness required to navigate Holy Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday without getting trapped in the endless “can I?” loop. From there, they move into Holy Thursday, Holy Friday, Holy Saturday, & Pascha... showing how to keep the fruit of the fast, avoid the Paschal rebound, & enter the Resurrection with joy, sobriety, mercy, and peace. This is a practical Orthodox guide to Holy Week, Bridegroom watchfulness, repentance, discernment, & Paschal joy... not for “perfect Orthodox,” but for people who need a real rule they can actually keep. If you’ve felt spiritually distracted, emotionally volatile, physically worn down, or stuck in a thousand little what-if questions, this episode is meant to pull you back into the center: prayer, mercy, sobriety, services as you’re able, & the steady return to Christ. Takeaways: Holy Week is not about obsession; it is about watchfulness, which the episode defines as attention with humility rather than anxiety or compulsive self-monitoring.The big end-of-Lent traps are control dressed up as discipline, judgment dressed up as zeal, despair dressed up as humility, & the “can I?” loop that turns discernment into agitation.The practical Holy Monday rule is simple: prayer, Psalms, reduced input, & at least one act of mercy. The point of watchfulness is not self-improvement but communion, & the point of repentance is not self-hatred but return.Pascha is joy, but not a permission slip to rebound & lose the fruit of the fast in 48 hours.Sound Bytes: “Holy Week is not a reward for people who nailed Lent. Holy Week is medicine for the weak.” “The enemy doesn’t need to stop your fasting. He just needs to corrupt it.” “Holy Week is not a week for obsession. It’s a week for watchfulness.” “Watchfulness is not anxiety. It is attention.” “If the question is feeding agitation, it is not discernment, it is distraction.” “You lose the fruit of the 48-day fast in 48 hours.” “You can’t content Holy Week properly. You have to actually live it.”Chapters: 00:00 Opener 01:29 Holy Week for Real People: Why It Matters 07:17 Lazarus Saturday: The Doorway to Holy Week 10:56 Palm Sunday: The Unstable Human Heart 13:54 Watchfulness in Holy Week: The Battle for Attention 20:34 The Holy Week Discernment Grid 27:23 Holy Week Through Scripture & Tradition 31:17 Holy Thursday: The Mystical Supper & Betrayal 34:30 Holy Friday: The Death of Self-Justification 35:45 Holy Saturday: Hiddenness, Stillness, & Waiting 38:58 A Minimum Effective Holy Week Rule 47:17 Pascha: Joy Without Relapse 50:49 The Paschal Rebound: Don’t Lose the Fruit 55:29 From Tomb to Resurrection: The Point of the Week 58:01 Final Exhortation for Holy Week 59:25 Outro Work with ⁠⁠⁠Dr. Mike⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Signed Copies of Orthodoxy & The Medicine of the Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OrthodoxHealth.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Orthodoxy & the Medicine of the Future on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Donate to St. John the Theologian ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Support the Show⁠⁠⁠ with a One-Time or Recurring donation Intro & Outro Music: St. John of Chicago Orthodox Church Choir (Arkansas) - Please support their building fund by buying the whole album ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Orthodox Health ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Telegram⁠

    1 hr

  3. 30 MAR

    The Fast From Noise: Women’s Mental Health in Lent w/ Dr. Robyn Middleton, PhD (Guest Co-Host Gavin McCort, RDN)

    In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian is joined by guest co-host Gavin McCort, RDN, & Dr. Robyn Middleton, PhD to explore women’s mental health during Lent... covering anxiety, burnout, stress, perfectionism, distraction, & how the Jesus Prayer restores peace in a noisy, overstimulated world. It connects Orthodox spirituality with real-world mental health, including Robyn’s research on the Jesus Prayer, breathwork, vagus nerve stimulation, & heart rate variability (HRV), along with her journey from healthcare administration & communication studies into the Orthodox Church. Together, they unpack why Lent is not “wellness culture with incense,” but a season of repentance that exposes what is actually happening beneath the surface (mentally, physically, & spiritually). From smartphone addiction & scattered attention to productivity-driven identity & isolation, this conversation addresses the root causes of modern anxiety & how the Church offers real healing. Robyn shares how stepping away from social media, entering into the life of the Church, & approaching Orthodoxy as a hospital, helped her find greater peace during the Fast. The episode also covers: The Jesus Prayer & its effects on anxiety, the nervous system, & attentionWhy the Jesus Prayer is not a mantra or biohackWomen’s mental load, burnout, & the pressure to “do it all”How productivity becomes a false identityIsolation, lockdown effects, & the need for real communityThe difference between struggle & harm during LentHow to practice sustainable prayer & fasting without burnoutWhy parish life, coffee hour, & embodied community matter for healingIf you’re struggling with anxiety, overwhelmed by stress, or trying to keep the Fast without burning out, this episode offers a grounded, Orthodox approach to restoring peace. And if you’re a man listening, this conversation matters too... because the mental load in a home is either being shared or carried by one exhausted woman. Sound Bytes: "Lent is not wellness culture with incense. It’s repentance.""We’re trying to solve identity problems at the level of behavior.""Your attention isn’t just distracted, it’s fractured.""Prayer is not something you perform, it’s something you enter into.""Struggle builds you. Harm breaks you.""The Church isn’t a performance, it’s a hospital.""Orthodoxy doesn’t just show you God... it shows you yourself.""Not perfectly, but faithfully."Chapters: 00:00 Opener 01:29 Lent, Stress & the Body: Why This Matters 04:00 Meet Dr. Robyn Middleton 07:58 The Public Health Breakdown: A Turning Point 14:10 Finding Dr. Mike’s Thesis & Counterflow Connection 16:20 The Jesus Prayer Study: Science Meets Tradition 20:15 Prayer as Communication: Rewiring the Mind 24:22 Is the Jesus Prayer a Mantra? Misconceptions Explained 31:31 Robyn’s Work: Anxiety, Speech & the Nervous System 34:04 Hidden Coping Mechanisms That Increase Anxiety 38:31 Productivity Is Not Worth: The Trap Women Fall Into 40:05 Isolation, Lockdowns & Mental Health Fallout 44:56 Why Lent Exposes Anxiety & Inner Chaos 50:29 Struggle vs Harm: When Zeal Becomes Damage 53:04 Sustainable Prayer: Where to Actually Start 56:28 Stress & Communication: Why We Stop Listening 59:08 Community as Medicine: The Parish Model 01:04:06 The Orthodox Clergy Shortage 01:08:16 Final Word: Keep Showing Up in Lent 01:11:22 Outro Work with ⁠⁠Dr. Mike⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Signed Copies of Orthodoxy & The Medicine of the Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OrthodoxHealth.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Orthodoxy & the Medicine of the Future on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Donate to St. John the Theologian ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Support the Show⁠⁠ with a One-Time or Recurring donation Intro & Outro Music: St. John of Chicago Orthodox Church Choir (Arkansas) - Please support their building fund by buying the whole album ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Orthodox Health ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Telegram⁠

    1hr 12min

  4. 23 MAR

    The Hidden Battle of Lent: Men, Temptation, & Attention | Jonathan Lewis | The Tested Man

    Most men don’t fail Lent because of food. They fail because they can’t sit still with their own mind. In this episode of The Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John are joined by Jonathan Lewis (The Tested Man) to break down the real battle of Lent... not physical, but mental & spiritual. When the noise drops... no constant stimulation, no comfort eating, no distraction... what’s left? For many men: anxietycompulsive scrollinglustangerlow-grade restlessnessAnd instead of facing it, they escape it. This conversation exposes: why you are not your feelingshow isolation fuels temptationthe lie that you can use trauma as fuelwhy most men feel like they’re “failing” Lent& how to actually begin rebuilding attention, discipline, & peaceThis isn’t therapy talk. This isn’t self-help fluff. This is a real Orthodox framework for fighting back... through awareness, discipline, prayer, & ultimately the unconditional love of Christ, Himself. If you’ve already stumbled this Lent… Good. That means you’ve found the battlefield. Now get back on the path.Takeaways: You are not your emotions... you are identifying with themIsolation amplifies temptation, not peaceMost “mental health issues” in men are unprocessed patterns, not identityThe cycle of temptation follows: trigger → indulgence → shame → isolationYou cannot “grind your way out” of traumaDiscipline without God becomes prideDespair & pride are two sides of the same problemAttention is the real battleground of LentSmall acts of courage rebuild identityChrist’s love is not conditional... & neither is healing Sound Bytes: “You don’t have peace. You have distraction.”“You’re not anxious. You’re identifying with anxiety.”“Lent doesn’t create the problem. It reveals it.”“If you can’t sit alone with your thoughts, you’re not free.”“Men don’t need more motivation. They need to stop escaping.”“You can’t use trauma as fuel forever... it will burn you out.”“Isolation is where temptation wins.”“Lent is not performance. It’s training in repentance.”“You don’t fix yourself. You return to God.”“The problem is believing that love is conditional.” Chapters: 00:00 Opener 01:29 Mental Warfare Has Already Started 04:29 Meet the Tested Man (Jonathan Lewis) 08:04 Fighting, Suffering, & Finding Christ 12:23 Every Man Is Tested 14:27 You Are Not Your Feelings 16:36 What’s Wrong with Modern Men? 24:17 The 3 Pressure Points Breaking Men 27:27 The Wrong Fuel Is Destroying You 31:43 Why Men Feel Alone 35:23 Isolation Is Where You Lose 38:58 The Trap: Pride vs. Despair 41:15 Your Mind Is Scattered 44:15 Fix Your Attention (Practical Steps) 50:42 The Cycle of Temptation 55:58 Stop Using Trauma as Fuel 01:00:05 Do What You’re Afraid Of 01:04:01 Watchfulness vs. Overthinking 01:05:12 What Masculinity Actually Is 01:08:23 Hard Times, Strong Men, Real Faith 01:13:13 Christ’s Love Is the Answer 01:17:24 Outro Where to find Jonathan Lewis & The Tested Man: ⁠Instagram⁠ Work with ⁠Dr. Mike⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Signed Copies of Orthodoxy & The Medicine of the Future, with digital bonuses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OrthodoxHealth.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Orthodoxy & the Medicine of the Future on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Donate to St. John the Theologian ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Support the Show⁠ with a One-Time or Recurring donation Intro & Outro Music: St. John of Chicago Orthodox Church Choir (Arkansas) - Please support their building fund by buying the whole album ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Orthodox Health ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Telegram⁠

    1hr 18min

  5. 16 MAR

    The Sanctified Womb: Women's Health, Fasting, & Peace | Khouria Cathryn Barker

    Women are not tiny men.In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John, are joined by Khouria Cathryn Barker, RN of The Sanctified Womb to unpack a neglected but urgent topic: women’s health, fasting, fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, recovery, & peace from a distinctly Orthodox perspective. Khouria Cathryn explains why women cannot simply approach fasting like men, why season of life matters, & why the Church has never taught a legalistic, one-size-fits-all fast that ignores creaturely reality. They discuss hormones, motherhood, burnout, nursing, fertility struggles, nourishment, & what practical discernment looks like when you are trying to live faithfully in a real body with real responsibilities. If your version of fasting is making you harsher, more fearful, more obsessive, more ashamed, and less capable of prayer, patience, & love, something has gone wrong. This is a conversation for women in every season... & for husbands, fathers, & families who want a better understanding of women’s embodied life under God. Takeaways: Women are not tiny men. Female physiology is different, & fasting has to account for that reality.Not every woman is in the same season. Pregnancy, postpartum, nursing, fertility struggles, illness, fatigue, & motherhood all matter when discerning the right fast.If fasting is making you harsher, more fearful, more obsessive, ashamed, depleted, & less capable of prayer, patience, & love, something has gone wrong. The Church is not legalistic here. The conversation repeatedly rejects a mechanistic, one-size-fits-all approach to Lent. The female body is not the enemy. The episode frames women’s embodied life as something to be honored under God, not controlled, punished, or erased.Khouria Cathryn built The Sanctified Womb to fill a real gap. She saw that almost no one in the Orthodox world was addressing women’s health, birth, fertility, & postpartum from an Orthodox perspective. Sound Bytes: “Women are not tiny men.” “The body is not the enemy.” “Not every woman is in the same season.” “The Church has never taught this legal, mechanistic, one-size-fits-all approach.” “If your fasting is causing you to yell at your kids, you’re not doing it right.” “You can only lift the cross that’s right in front of you.”“Keep it simple.” “We’re not on Athos.” “The body is not an inconvenience to holiness.” Chapters: 00:00 Opener01:29 A Better Way to Approach Lent as a Woman05:55 Meet Khouria Cathryn Barker, RN10:31 Why She Created The Sanctified Womb15:57 Birth, Health & Modern Ideologies23:37 The Orthodox Women’s Health Avengers24:59 How Modern Culture Distorts Women’s Health27:55 Fasting, Overwhelm & Cutting Out the Noise32:49 Marriage, Family & Spiritual Priorities36:06 Women’s Seasons of Life & the Fast41:59 Pregnancy, Postpartum & Fasting Wisdom47:37 Signs You’re Running on Empty49:08 Fertility Is More Than Biology53:43 Motherhood, Mystery & the Divine54:45 Fertility, Identity & the Pain of Waiting59:18 Rest, Zeal & Learning to Slow Down01:04:10 The Jesus Prayer in Daily Chaos01:06:02 The Unique Vocation of Women in the Church01:08:25 Final Encouragement for Women in Lent01:10:53 Where to Find The Sanctified Womb01:13:47 Closing Takeaways & Next Week’s Episode01:17:39 Outro Where to find Khouria Cathryn & The Sanctified Womb: Instagram, Blog, & Esty Work with Dr. Mike ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Signed Copies of Orthodoxy & The Medicine of the Future, with digital bonuses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OrthodoxHealth.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Orthodoxy & the Medicine of the Future on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Donate to St. John the Theologian ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the Show with a One-Time or Recurring donation Intro & Outro Music: St. John of Chicago Orthodox Church Choir (Arkansas) - Please support their building fund by buying the whole album ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Orthodox Health ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Telegram⁠

    1hr 19min

  6. 9 MAR

    Discipline, Testosterone, & the Fast: Men’s Health Done Right w/ Gavin McCort

    Is Lent lowering testosterone… or exposing weak discipline? In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John are re-joined by Gavin McCort of Temple Builder Fitness to discuss the real foundations of male strength: discipline, asceticism, training, & responsibility. Modern culture talks endlessly about the testosterone crisis, declining male strength, and collapsing masculinity. But what if the real problem isn't hormonal... it's spiritual & cultural? From Orthodox fasting & strength training to dopamine addiction, gaming culture, & the loss of male purpose, this conversation explores why modern men feel weak, tired, & directionless... & how discipline rebuilds both body and soul. This episode breaks down how fasting, training, & spiritual life work together, & why real masculine strength requires resistance, responsibility, & sacrifice. Takeaways: Why testosterone is collapsing in modern menThe difference between ascetic discipline vs biohacking cultureTraining during Orthodox fasting seasonsHow dopamine addiction, adult entertainment, & gaming culture destroy male driveThe connection between spiritual discipline & physical strengthWhy modern men avoid resistance & responsibilityHow fasting actually builds strength instead of weakening menMasculinity, virtue, & the collapse of discipline Sound Bytes: “The problem isn't low testosterone... it's low discipline.”“If your life requires zero resistance, your body will reflect that.”“Asceticism isn't weakness. It's training for the soul.”“Modern men want optimization without sacrifice.”“Strength training without discipline is just vanity.”“Orthodox fasting doesn't weaken men... it forges them.” Chapters: 00:00 Opener 04:21 Welcoming Back Gavin McCort 06:38 Understanding the Role of Discipline in Men's Lives 10:20 Navigating Spiritual & Physical Discipline 12:08 Do Men Understand What Normal Even Feels Like? 16:04 Practical Tips for Maintaining Health During Lent 24:02 The Importance of Strength for Service 27:42 Understanding Testosterone & Its Effects 35:43 Gollum, The Ring, & Low-T 36:53 The Role of Training in Hormonal Health 39:20 Adjusting Training During Lent 41:38 Boredom, Business, & Moderation in Eating 45:37 Irritability, Anxiety, & Testosterone 48:57 Managing Lustful Thoughts & Behaviors 56:27 Effects of Self-Discipline on Daily Life 01:00:23 Overcoming Nihilism with the Fast 01:02:47 Motivation Vs. Discipline 01:06:36 Rapid Fire Rules for Lent 01:08:16 3 Rules for the Next 7 Days of Lent 01:10:47 Closing Thoughts & Looking Ahead 01:13:55 Outro Gavin McCort is the founder of Temple Builder Fitness, helping Christians build physical strength alongside spiritual discipline. Work with Dr. Mike: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OrthodoxHealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Signed Copies of Orthodoxy & The Medicine of the Future, with digital bonuses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OrthodoxHealth.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Orthodoxy & the Medicine of the Future on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Donate to St. John the Theologian ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the Show with a One-Time or Recurring donation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coff.ee/OrthodoxHealth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Intro & Outro Music: St. John of Chicago Orthodox Church Choir (Arkansas) - Please support their building fund by buying the whole album ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Orthodox Health ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Orthodox Health ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Telegram⁠

    1hr 15min

  7. 2 MAR

    Minimum Effective Lent: A Practical Orthodox Rule for the Great Fast

    What is the minimum effective dose of Lent? If you’re overwhelmed by strict fasting rules, long services, & seemingly unrealistic expectations... this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast gives you a grounded, strategic framework for a Lent that actually transforms you. Dr. Michael Christian & John break down a “Minimum Effective Lent” protocol... the smallest viable ascetical rule that still moves you toward repentance, discipline, & Christ. This is not bio-hacking Lent. It’s reclaiming the ascetical tradition in a way that busy Orthodox men can actually execute. Takeaways: • What “Minimum Effective Lent” really means• Why Lent is spiritual warfare... not diet culture• The 5 Anchors of an effective Lenten rule• Fasting plate vs. fasting posture• Why sleep discipline matters during Lent• Movement as ascetic training• The danger of performative fasting• How repentance changes your nervous system• How to avoid burnout & still grow spiritually Sound Bytes: “If you don’t define your Lent, your passions will.” “Lent is not about optimization. It’s about obedience.” “Repentance is not a mood, it’s a direction.” “The minimum effective Lent is the smallest rule you will actually keep.” “You don’t need heroic discipline. You need anchored discipline.” The 5 Anchors of Minimum Effective Lent: Prayer Rule – Non-negotiable daily rhythmFasting Plate – Simplify, don’t obsessSleep Discipline – Asceticism includes restMovement – Train the body, don’t punish itRepentance Posture – Humility over performance Chapters: 00:00 Opener 01:29 What Is a “Minimum Effective Lent” 08:43 The 5 Anchors of an Effective Orthodox Lent 10:03 Anchor 1: Building a Consistent Orthodox Prayer Rule 15:46 Anchor 2: Designing a Practical Orthodox Fasting Plate 26:34 Simple Lenten Meal Examples (Orthodox Friendly) 29:22 Anchor 3: Why Sleep Discipline Matters During the Great Fast 35:24 Common Lenten Sleep Mistakes (& How to Avoid Them) 38:03 Anchor 4: Movement & Training During Lent (Without Burnout) 40:06 Foundational Movement Patterns 46:59 Anchor 5: Lent as a School of Repentance 51:25 The Minimum Effective Discernment Grid (Know When to Adjust) 53:55 Supplements During Lent: What Actually Helps? 59:48 Closing Thoughts: A Rule You’ll Actually Keep If you’re searching for: an Orthodox Lent guide Orthodox fasting rules Lent for busy men How to fast Orthodox Minimum effective fasting Spiritual discipline for men Orthodox repentance ... then this episode is for you. Work with Dr. Mike: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OrthodoxHealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Signed Copies of Orthodoxy & The Medicine of the Future, with digital bonuses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OrthodoxHealth.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Orthodoxy & the Medicine of the Future on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Donate to St. John the Theologian ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the Show with a One-Time or Recurring donation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coff.ee/OrthodoxHealth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Intro & Outro Music: St. John of Chicago Orthodox Church Choir (Arkansas) - Please support their building fund by buying the whole album ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Orthodox Health ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Orthodox Health ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Telegram⁠

    1hr 3min

  8. 23 FEB

    Repentance is a Miracle: Forgiveness Is the Doorway to Lent with Fr. John Wehling

    The Church does not begin Great Lent with a productivity plan, a diet, or a heroic list. She begins Lent with a doorway... forgiveness. In this Forgiveness Sunday episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John sit back down with Fr. John Wehling to unpack why forgiveness isn’t sentimental, why it isn’t the same as reconciliation or access, & how the Rite of Forgiveness trains the heart for real repentance. Fr. John ties Forgiveness Sunday to the Expulsion of Adam from Paradise, the first commandment as fasting, & the deeper reality: if we won’t forgive, our hearts won’t be able to repent... & Lent won’t “work” the way the Church intends. Takeaways: Lent begins with reconciliation: before you pick up the fast, put down the grudge.Forgiveness ≠ reconciliation: forgiveness is not the same thing as trust, access, or pretending the wound was imaginary.Forgiveness as “loosing”: forgiveness separates the person from the sin as far as it’s within our power.Don’t feed the memory of injury: treat it like a tempting thought (don’t rehearse it; redirect it into prayer).Repentance is a miracle: despair paralyzes, but repentance is already grace at work (expose the wound & give the Physician a chance to treat it).A household practice of peace: asking forgiveness regularly trains the home for communion, not just “good behavior.” Sound Bytes: “The Church is not starting Lent with a productivity plan. She's not starting with a diet. She's not starting it with a heroic list.”“However, she is starting it with a doorway & that doorway is forgiveness.”“Before you pick up the Fast, put down the grudge.”“Repentance makes anything possible.”“Repentance is a miracle.”“If you refuse to forgive somebody, your heart just won't work right.”“Lent is the school. It will teach you what repentance is.” Chapters: 00:00 Opener 01:31 Forgiveness Sunday: The Doorway to Lent 06:33 Fr. John Wehling Returns 07:14 What Forgiveness Sunday Trains in Us 12:04 Adam’s Expulsion & Why the Church Starts Here 16:27 “Repentance Is a Miracle” 20:50 God’s Mercy: What Forgiveness Reveals 22:55 Forgiveness Vespers: The Rite of Mutual Forgiveness 29:50 Letting Go of Non-Orthodox Traditions 32:31 What Forgiveness Is (and Isn’t) 38:57 Sin, Redemption, & the Healing of the Heart 46:10 Jiu-Jitsu & the Passions 48:41 Confession & Forgiveness Sunday: How They Connect 52:09 The Royal Path of Confession 57:00 Tolkien “Grand Slam” 57:52 Forgiveness Inside the Family 01:03:33 When Forgiveness Isn’t Returned 01:06:54 Lingering Resentment on the Eve of Lent 01:12:51 Resentment’s Toll on the Body 01:17:24 Final Exhortation for Great Lent 01:22:12 Outro Work with Dr. Mike: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OrthodoxHealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Signed Copies of Orthodoxy & The Medicine of the Future, with digital bonuses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OrthodoxHealth.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Orthodoxy & the Medicine of the Future on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Donate to St. John the Theologian ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the Show with a One-Time or Recurring donation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coff.ee/OrthodoxHealth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Intro & Outro Music: St. John of Chicago Orthodox Church Choir (Arkansas) - Please support their building fund by buying the whole album ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Orthodox Health ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Orthodox Health ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Telegram⁠

    1hr 23min
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About

What does it mean to truly care for your body, mind, & soul in a way that aligns with Christ? Orthodox Health explores the timeless wisdom of the Orthodox Church in cultivating holistic well-being—spiritually, physically, & mentally. Join your hosts as we dive into topics like fasting, nutrition, exercise, prayer, & overcoming modern health pitfalls through an Orthodox Christian lens. With guest interviews, theological insights, & practical applications, this podcast helps you break free from the consumer-driven health industry & reclaim a balanced, faith-centered life.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Michael Kuhn
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dr. Michael Kuhn
  • Show Website
    Orthodox Health

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