Orthodox Health

Dr. Michael Kuhn

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. 3D AGO

    Sunday of the Last Judgment: Mercy or Self-Deception? with Fr. John Peck

    The Sunday of the Last Judgment isn’t just about the end of the world... it’s about the end of your excuses. As we approach Great Lent, Fr. John Peck joins Dr. Michael Christian & John on the Orthodox Health Podcast to unpack the Gospel of Meatfare Sunday & the subtle spiritual danger that keeps most of us from repentance: delay. The demon’s best lie isn’t that God isn’t merciful... it’s that you have time to wait. In this episode we discuss: The urgency of repentance in the TriodionWhy “There’s No Hurry” is spiritually deadlyMercy vs. self-deceptionMan as the priest of creationCan yoga be Christianified?Orthodoxy & real health (GLP-1, glyphosate, & modern shortcuts)Why AI will never replace priests or physiciansThe Church does not begin Lent with a meal plan. She begins with mercy. This is Meatfare Sunday. Act accordingly. Sound Bytes: The demon’s best lie is: ‘There’s no hurry.’” “You don’t know when your last confession will be.” “Mercy starts where it becomes painful.” “I’m a psychopath on a leash... thank God for the leash.” “God sees you.” “God isn’t hiding from you... He’s inviting you to seek.” “Don’t ask Jesus to give you patience... ask Him to be your patience.” “When man disintegrates, the cosmos follows.” “Old tricks are the best tricks." Chapters: 00:00 Opener - Mercy or Self-Deception? 01:29 Meatfare Sunday: The Last Judgement Isn’t About Self-Improvement 04:07 Meet Fr. John Peck 05:57 The Triodion: Why Lent “Whips By” 10:44 BJJ, Judo, Discipline & the Spiritual Athlete 16:45 Man as the Priest of Creation 22:59 Can Yoga Be Christian? (And Why the Fathers Say No) 24:31 When Man Disintegrates, the Cosmos Follows 28:16 “A Psychopath on a Leash” - Why We Need Restraint 30:34 Grace at a Bargain: Painful Generosity 35:01 God Sees You - Even When No One Else Does 37:56 Winning the Peek-a-Boo Game with God 42:01 The Last Judgement: Fear, Mercy & Sonship 50:04 What Mercy Actually Looks Like at Home 54:37 Fr. Michael Butler, Orthodoxy & Going “On Radar” 57:15 Orthodoxy & Health: Reintegrating Body & Soul 01:00:58 Apples, Akkermansia & Beating Ozempic Naturally 01:03:11 Glyphosate, Gluten & Why Europe Doesn’t React 01:05:22 Outlaw Lobbying? Money, Power & Corruption 01:12:17 Why AI Will Never Replace Doctors or Priests 01:14:31 Hope in the End Times: Grace Super-Abounds 01:15:47 The SWAT Team Manual & Raising Spiritual Warriors Where to find Fr. John Peck - All Saints of North America Journey to Orthodoxy Preacher's Institute Good Guys Wear Black Bible Drill Field Manual S.W.A.T. Team Manual Bible Divas 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

    1h 32m
  2. FEB 9

    The Prodigal Son: Repentance & the Healing of the Soul w/ Fr. Michael Butler (Avg2Alpha)

    What if repentance isn’t about punishment, shame, or self-improvement... but about coming home? In this episode, Dr. Michael Christian & John are joined by Fr. Michael Butler (Avg2Alpha) for a deep, pastoral conversation on the Parable of the Prodigal Son & the Church’s wisdom in placing it at the heart of the Triodion, just before Great Lent begins. Together, they explore repentance not as despair or moral failure, but as return... a healing movement of the whole person: body, soul, & attention. From shame & resentment to mercy, discipline, & sonship, this episode speaks especially to those who feel scattered, exhausted, or quietly resentful while trying to “do everything right.” This is not a call to perform better. It’s an invitation to come home. This conversation is part of the Triodion mini-arc leading into Great Lent, focusing on the Church’s preparation of the heart before ascetic effort begins. Episode 48 centers on the Prodigal Son; the next episode continues with Meatfare Sunday & the call to mercy in love of neighbor. Takeaways: Repentance in Orthodoxy is not self-hatred, but reorientation & return God meets us exactly where we are, but does not leave us there Mercy is not permissiveness; it is grace that calls us higher The “older brother” temptation is often resentment disguised as obedience Distraction, overstimulation, & restlessness mirror spiritual exile True healing involves confession, stability, & embodied spiritual rhythm Discipline of the body must serve communion with God, not ego or control Sound Bytes: “God meets us where we are, but He calls us back into the home.”“Repentance isn’t about self-condemnation... it’s about coming to yourself.”“Mercy does not mean permissiveness. God never leaves us where we are.”“The older brother did everything right... & still couldn’t rejoice.”“When we’re scattered spiritually, it shows up as restlessness in the body.”“The Church is not a courtroom. It’s a hospital.”“The real victory in wrestling with God is learning how to surrender.”Chapters:00:00 Opener 01:29 The Prodigal Son & the Purpose of the Triodion 03:56 Meet Fr. Michael Butler (Journey to Orthodoxy) 11:27 The Prodigal Son: Repentance, Mercy, & Return 14:22 Reality Is Informed by Christ (Not Psychology or Ideology) 16:10 Jordan Peterson, Young Men, & the Search for Meaning 24:17 Why the Orthodox Church Is Growing (Especially Among Men) 28:01 “He Came to Himself”: Repentance, Attention, & Healing the Mind 33:34 Distraction, Digital Scattering, & Spiritual Fragmentation 36:24 Can Yoga Be Christianized? 39:46 The Father Who Runs Toward the Prodigal 42:15 Slaves, Servants, & Sons: Remorse vs. Repentance 46:30 The Elder Brother: Resentment, Covert Contracts, & Pride 50:44 The Royal Path: Avoiding Both Legalism & License 56:18 Mentorship, Fatherhood, & Spiritual Authority 01:00:14 Confession as Therapy: The Church as a Hospital 01:02:16 Wrestling with God (& Hoping to Lose) 01:05:21 Bodybuilding, Asceticism, & Discipline of the Body 01:16:15 Fr. Roman Braga & the Meaning of Veneration 01:16:57 Spiritual Legacy, Saints, & Faithfulness Over Time 01:20:42 Coming Home: Practical Steps to Return to God During Lent Work with Fr. Michael Butler: Avg2Alpha.com 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

    1h 26m
  3. FEB 2

    The Sin of Being “Right”: Humility as Medicine w/ Fr. Zechariah Lynch (Inkless Pen Blog)

    We’re kicking off our 4-week Triodion mini-arc leading into Great Lent with a return guest, Fr. Zechariah Lynch, for the Sunday of the Publican & the Pharisee (Luke 18:9–14). The Church begins here for a reason: you can do “Orthodox things” with the wrong spirit. This parable is the first warning before the fast... don’t turn prayer, discipline, or fasting into a spiritual performance. The Publican’s whole prayer is one sentence, but it dismantles the ego: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” We also bring an Orthodox Health physiology lens into the conversation: Takeaways: Pride = threat posture (defensiveness, vigilance, comparison) → stress reactivity, shallow breathing, worse sleep, irritability.Humility = truth + safety → lowers reactivity, restores attention, repentance becomes possible.The Pharisee’s problem isn’t effort... it’s posture. “Doing the right things” can still become self-justification.Comparison corrupts prayer. It turns communion with God into a scoreboard.The fast is a tool, not a trophy. If it makes you harsher, something’s off.Humility isn’t self-hatred. It’s truth without theatrics... & it actually makes repentance doable.A sober Lent beats a heroic Lent. Sustainable obedience > “drill sergeant” intensity.Sound Bytes: “You can do the fast & still be worshipping yourself.”“The Church doesn’t start with the menu... she starts with the heart.”“If your fasting makes you harsher, it’s not cleansing you.”“Humility is truth without theatrics.”“Repentance isn’t a mood. It’s a direction.” Next week: Prodigal Son with Fr. Michael Butler. Chapters 00:00 Opener 01:29 Introduction to the Triodion & the Publican & The Pharisee 04:15 Welcoming Back Fr. Zechariah Lynch 05:35 Why Does the Church Open the Triodion with This Parable? 09:23 When You Become the Pharisee in Your Own Life 13:00 What is the Proper Orientation of Humility? 15:58 Humility Vs. Niceness 20:45 Martyrdom & Performative Sacrifice in Modern Ideologies 24:39 How Pride Hides in Tradition 29:50 Finding the Royal Path Between the Publican & the Pharisee 32:12 Liturgy Reveals the Heavenly 35:06 How the Fast-Free Week Teaches Us Humilty 39:11 Remembering the Essence of Fasting & Spiritual Growth 42:45 Balancing the Spiritual & Physical Aspects of the Fast 47:55 Orthodox Fasting & Hypothyroidism 49:56 Teaching Humility to Children 54:44 The Health Benefits of Forgiveness 56:08 How to Avoid Becoming the Pharisee 01:03:14 Addressing Pride Masquerading as Virtue The Life of St. Brigid: Abbess of Kildare - Jane Meyer & Fr. Zechariah Lynch Fr.'s Writings - InklessPen.Blog & Substack Buck Johnson - When Martydom Becomes a Costume 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

    1h 17m
  4. JAN 26

    Healing in a Sanctified World: Herbs, Winter, & Discernment w/ Presvytera Krystina Valadez

    In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John are joined by clinical herbalist Presvytera Krystina Valadez to explore healing through an Orthodox Christian lens... cutting through both modern medical reductionism & New Age “wellness” spirituality. This is a conversation about right order: herbs without magic, prayer without superstition, suffering without despair, & healing rooted in faith, sacrament, & community. We talk about using herbs in their proper place, detaching natural medicine from New Age spiritual confusion, & why Christian bioethics matters when health decisions get serious. Along the way, we discuss the intercession of the saints, relics, anointing oils, & prayer; plus microbiome basics, herbs vs. pharmaceuticals, & how Big Ag & Big Pharma have distorted the modern “terrain.” Presvytera also shares simple local-herb wisdom, wildcrafting principles, & a practical DIY chest rub for kids... while we imagine what an Orthodox approach to hospitals & healthcare could look like. We also address how health trials often deepen prayer, why the Church has always understood healing as more than symptom management, & how Orthodox Christians can reclaim herbal wisdom without detaching it from Christ. Takeaways: Health is not a technique, supplement, or hack... it is relational & participatoryHerbs are tools, not talismansHealing often unfolds through prayer, repentance, & endurance, not instant fixesSaints, relics, & sacramental life belong in conversations about healthModern “wellness culture” often mirrors magical thinking more than medicineCommunity, motherhood, & lived faith profoundly shape healingThe Orthodox Health 5R framework restores order to modern health chaosLocal, seasonal, & embodied practices matter more than imported solutions Sound Bytes: “Health is not magic.”“It’s not just that an herb worked... it’s that prayer deepened.”“We cry out to God most often in our trials.”“Herbs don’t replace faith. They belong under it.”“Suffering isn’t punishment... it can be for healing.”“Wellness culture often replaces the Church with techniques.”“The body heals best when it’s placed back into right relationship.” Chapters: 00:00 Opener 01:29 Winter Wellness: Why “Herbs 2.0” Matters 04:24 Meet Presvytera Krystina Valadez 08:34 Herbs Without the New Age 11:35 From “Wellness” to Christian Bioethics 12:46 When Health Trials Deepen Prayer 15:43 Saints, Relics, & Healing 20:29 Faith in a Health Crisis 23:56 Suffering as Healing & Refinement 26:22 Reclaiming Health Culture for the Church 29:43 Presvytera’s Winter Apothecary 33:29 Dr. Mike’s Herbal Childhood 36:35 Microbiome Basics (Orthodox Health Lens) 40:34 Herbs vs. Pharmaceuticals: Right Order 46:34 Big Ag, Big Pharma, & the Modern Terrain 51:58 Top Acute Illness Tools (What We Actually Use) 58:07 The Orthodox Health 5R Framework 59:42 What an Orthodox Healthcare System Could Look Like 01:04:57 Wildcrafting: Local Herbs & Simple Harvesting 01:12:17 DIY Kids Chest Rub (Practical Recipe) 01:17:24 A Word of Encouragement for Tired Moms 01:23:12 Closing Thoughts & What's Up Next: Lenten Triodion Arc Presvytera Krystina's Substack: Motherly Journey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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

    1h 29m
  5. JAN 19

    The Spiritual Root of Winter Immunity: Order, Fear, & Faith

    Winter isn’t an emergency, it’s a season. In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John unpack what Theophany proclaims about reality: creation is sanctified, the body matters, & health can’t be reduced to control, hacks, or fear. We contrast communion logic vs. control logic, explain why modern life turns winter into a panic cycle (overstimulation, stress debt, broken sleep, constant vigilance), & lay out the Church’s “winter plan”: humility, rhythm, prayer, warmth, simplicity, & community. Along the way, we address infection fear through the lens of Christian love, discuss allostatic load (stress debt), & explore the Theophany cross dive as a window into cold exposure, brown fat (BAT), & resilience... without turning remedies into a new religion. This episode sets the foundation for next week’s conversation on Herbs 2.0 / Winter Immunity with Presvytera Krystina Valadez... because remedies only make sense inside a life that’s already ordered. Takeaways: Theophany isn’t a calendar moment... it’s a proclamation of reality: creation is sanctified, not neutral & not magic.Winter demands containment, not heroics: more warmth, more rhythm, fewer chaotic inputs.“Communion logic” beats “control logic”: health is received through order, not seized through panic.Modern winter sickness is often “stress debt”: overstimulation + poor sleep + constant urgency, leads to lower resilience (allostatic load).Orthodox winter health includes community: we don’t build a “perfect immunity” lifestyle that requires abandoning parish life.Cold exposure can train resilience (carefully): the Theophany cross dive points to courage & seasonal adaptation; BAT activation is real, but not a magic shield.Health is stewardship, not salvation: when remedies become identity, peace collapses.Remedies belong downstream: order first; then supportive tools (setting up Herbs 2.0 next week). Soundbytes: “Theophany isn’t a theme... it’s a proclamation about reality.”“Sanctified matter isn’t magic. It’s gift.”“Winter has to be received as a season, not treated as an emergency.”“Winter demands containment... not more effort.”“If you want to see what you worship, look at what you sacrifice your peace for.”“The body can handle winter if the soul is not screaming.”“Existence is exposure... but you can receive it with peace or with panic.”“Health is stewardship, not salvation.”“When remedies become a religion, peace goes down as ‘knowledge’ goes up.”“Boring, holy, effective... that’s winter done right.” Chapters: 00:00 Opener 01:29 Theophany: A Proclamation of Reality 03:56 Communion Logic Vs. Control Logic 07:16 Living with the Seasons: Embracing Winter's Gifts 12:47 The Emergency Mindset: A Modern Dilemma 17:11 The Church's Winter Plan: Embracing Humility 21:47 Winter as a Teacher: Accepting Our Limits 25:16 Understanding Winter's Impact on Health 29:14 Christian Love in the Face of Infection 30:44 Winter Overstimulation & Health 34:05 The Allostatic Load & Stress Debt 35:46 Theophany & Diving for the Cross 38:30 The Role of Brown Fat in Cold Exposure 41:34 Health as Stewardship, Not Salvation 46:57 Avoiding the Religion of Remedies 50:34 Living Winter Well: Practical Tips 55:18 The Biggest Driver of Illness & Suffering in 2020 56:45 Closing Thoughts & Looking Ahead 58:18 Outro Support the Show with a One-Time or Recurring donation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coff.ee/OrthodoxHealth⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with Dr. Mike: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OrthodoxHealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Donate to St. John the Theologian ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ Signed Copies of Orthodoxy & The Medicine of the Future, with digital bonuses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OrthodoxHealth.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Orthodoxy & the Medicine of the Future on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ 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

    59 min
  6. JAN 12

    Sanctified Matter: Living After Theophany

    What if Theophany isn’t just a feast you celebrate... what if it’s a new reality you’re supposed to live from? In this episode, Dr. Michael Christian & co-host John unpack how Orthodox Christianity rejects both “flat secular materialism” & escapist spirituality, & why that matters for your body, nervous system, sleep, food, home, & daily rhythms. You’ll hear why “sanctified matter” isn’t superstition or symbolism, how holy water points to a life of cooperation with God, & why exhaustion can masquerade as spiritual failure... especially in winter. Theophany reveals reality: Christ in the Jordan, the Spirit descending, the Father’s voice... the Trinity made manifest, & creation shown as capable of grace. Sanctified matter: your body is not a machine to ignore or a project to dominate... Orthodoxy calls a “third way”: reverence without obsession, freedom without neglect. Water & the nervous system: hydration isn’t “8 cups a day”... water supports regulation, resilience, circulation, digestion, & steadiness; don’t confuse depletion with spiritual collapse. Coffee done soberly: caffeine can push metabolism & stress... why pairing coffee with sugar can change the stress response (& why black coffee may backfire). Light + sleep in winter: circadian rhythm, cortisol/melatonin patterns, & why “tired/wired” winter living erodes prayer, patience, & appetite stability. Food as communion training: escaping “diet religion” & learning gratitude + restraint without fear... because food forms desire & trains the heart. House blessings + the home: your home isn’t spiritually neutral... environment shapes nervous system, attention, & family peace; icon corner is anchor, not décor. A post-Theophany rule of life: prayer + water, morning light, food that supports prayer, protect sleep like repentance, one consistent act of peace in the home, sacraments at the center. “Theophany explodes that split… creation is revealed as something that can be filled with grace.” “God meets us in the material world… because Christ Himself truly entered matter.” “Matter is not God… but matter is not meaningless. It is capable of communion.” “Do not confuse physiological depletion with spiritual failure.” “Transformation happens through small, faithful repetition... your body learns safety through repetition.” “Food… is not just macros. It forms desire & trains the nervous system & heart.” “Your home is not spiritually neutral… it can & should be ordered towards God.” “Living after Theophany means living as if nothing is sealed off from God’s grace.” Chapters 00:00 Opener 01:29 Living After Theophany: A New Reality 06:42 What is "Sanctified Matter?" 12:13 What is Theophany (Epiphany)? The Revelation of the Trinity 19:13 Theophany & Creation After the Fall 21:22 Sanctified Matter: The Role of Water in Spiritual & Physical Health 27:29 Coffee & The Nervous System 29:45 Light, Sleep, & Their Impact on Health 38:18 Food as Communion Training: Ending Diet Religion 44:04 The Importance of Home Blessings 50:05 Theophany Physically Blesses The Whole World 54:07 Living After Theophany: A New Orientation 59:31 Outro Support the Show with a One-Time or Recurring donation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coff.ee/OrthodoxHealth⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with Dr. Mike: ⁠⁠⁠⁠OrthodoxHealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Donate to St. John the Theologian ⁠here⁠ Signed Copies of Orthodoxy & The Medicine of the Future, with digital bonuses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠OrthodoxHealth.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Orthodoxy & the Medicine of the Future on ⁠Amazon⁠ 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

    1h 1m
  7. JAN 5

    From Willpower to Worship, Building Habits that Heal

    January is when modern culture tries to “punish itself into purity.” In this episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Mike & John dismantle the New Year, New Me courtroom & replace it with something actually Orthodox: repentance, rhythm, & repair. This is not a hype plan. It’s a Rule of Life approach to health: habits that support prayer, stabilize the nervous system, & make you more capable of love instead of more rigid, reactive, & self-absorbed. Takeaways: Why January “discipline” often becomes a modern false penance that backfires spiritually & biologicallyThe difference between a resolution (firework) & a rule (candle) & why Orthodoxy is medicinal, not legalisticHow stress debt collapses willpower (& why shame-based plans increase cravings, irritability, & burnout)A simple framework you can remember when you’re tired: Name → Offer → Anchor → RepairThe Orthodox “January plan” you can actually keep: The Rule of 3 (one spiritual habit, one physical habit, & one outward habit toward your neighbor)Why you’re not “behind”: the Orthodox life begins the same way every time, return Sound Bytes: “Willpower is not salvation.”“We are not doing January as penance. We’re doing January as worship.”“You cannot build spiritual stability on biological chaos.”"Orthodoxy is not perfectionism. It is repentance.”“The habit we’re really building is not never fail. It’s repair. Return quickly.”“You are not behind. That is the lie.”“Christ is the healer, the Church is the hospital.”St. John Climacus (quoted): “Great is the power of small things done consistently…” DM “RULE” on Instagram (or message us on Telegram) and we’ll send the copy/paste template Dr. Mike outlines in the episode. If you want help personalizing it (thyroid, gut, hormones, stress debt, fasting rhythms), coaching is available. Christ is born.Glorify Him. Chapters 00:00 Opener 01:29 From Willpower to Worship: An Orthodox Alternative to Resolutions 06:04 New Year, New Life in Christ 08:48 Habits That Heal, Not Hype14:52 The January Trap: A Modern False Penance 23:38 Christian Joy, Feasting, & True Freedom 28:15 Worship Reorders Your Habits 35:32 True Discipline vs Willpower 38:48 Small Habits, Real Change 44:31 Willpower & Stress Debt 50:48 Identifying January Fantasies 55:37 Modern Franticness Kills Prayer 57:45 Building a Framework for Change 01:07:48 The Rule of 3 (An Orthodox Framework) 01:15:42 Creating A Sustainable Rhythm 01:19:06 Write Your Rule of 3 01:20:43 Closing Thoughts & Theophany Preview 01:22:30 Outro Support the Show with a One-Time or Recurring donation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coff.ee/OrthodoxHealth⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with Dr. Mike: ⁠⁠⁠OrthodoxHealth.com⁠⁠⁠ Donate to St. John the Theologian here Signed Copies of Orthodoxy & The Medicine of the Future, with digital bonuses: ⁠⁠⁠OrthodoxHealth.com/book⁠⁠⁠ Order Orthodoxy & the Medicine of the Future on AmazonIntro & 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

    1h 24m
  8. 12/29/2025

    12 Days, Not 12 Pounds of Christmas How to Feast Without Falling Apart

    Christ is born. Glorify Him. The Church does not give us the feast so that we can fall apart... & then punish ourselves in January. In this episode of The Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John walk through the often-ignored stretch from Nativity to Theophany & ask a different question than the culture does: How do we feast like Christians... without burning out our bodies, numbing our souls, or turning January into a war on ourselves? This is not about dieting.It’s not about guilt.And it’s not about “being good.” It’s about gratitude with guardrails... receiving the feast as worship, not as escape. Drawing from Orthodox theology, St. Basil the Great, & real physiology, this episode covers sleep, light, food, alcohol, almsgiving, & a simple year-end examination to help you enter the New Year grounded rather than wrecked. Takeaways: Why the opposite of gluttony is not dieting, but thanksgiving What the “Twelve Days” are & are not in Orthodox life How modern “holiday chaos” trains binge → crash → punish cycles Why sleep & light quietly make or break the feast How to feast at meals instead of grazing all day Why protein before sugar & seed oils matters Alcohol as celebration vs. self-medication St. Basil on surplus, gluttony, & remembering the poor Why almsgiving stabilizes the nervous system, not just the soul A simple Christian year-end examen (without shame) Why habits must flow from worship, not willpower Sound Bytes: “The opposite of gluttony isn’t dieting—it’s gratitude with guardrails.”“We fast badly, we binge the feast, and then we punish ourselves in January.”“The line between wine as celebration & alcohol as self-medication gets very blurry this time of year.”“A resolution says, ‘I will fix myself.’ A supplication says, ‘Lord, I’m sick—here’s where it hurts.’”“Turning outward changes your physiology, not just your morality.”“This is not a productivity review. This is repentance without self-hatred.” Chapters: 00:00 Opener 01:30 Christ Is Born... & the Feast Is a Command 08:01 What the “Twelve Days” Actually Are (& Are Not) 13:55 The Real Story of "The Holidays" 16:33 Why Light & Sleep Can Shape the Feast 19:56 Guardrails 1-3: Ordering Your Circadian Rhythm 27:25 Guardrails 4-6: Feasting Without Metabolic Chaos 33:01 Guardrails 7-9: Alcohol as Celebration vs. Self-Medication 37:45 St. Basil & The Call to Remember the Poor 43:19 Guardrails 10-12: Almsgiving, Hospitality, Thanksgiving 45:26 Why Almsgiving Heals the Body Too 50:11 Year-End Reflection & Examination 56:07 The Blessing & the Danger of Orthodoxy’s Growth 57:44 What Am I Actually Asking God to Heal? 01:01:09 Closing Thoughts & Moving From Willpower to Worship 01:05:56 Outro Support the Show with a One-Time or Recurring ⁠donation⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with Dr. Mike: ⁠⁠⁠⁠OrthodoxHealth.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate to the ⁠St. John the Theologian⁠ Signed Copies of ⁠Orthodoxy & The Medicine of the Future⁠, with digital bonuses Order Orthodoxy & the Medicine of the Future on ⁠Amazon⁠ 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

    1h 7m
4.6
out of 5
10 Ratings

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.

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