Sunny Banana

Jarvah Biltong
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Subscribe for exclusive content and 10% off Biltong at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2429544/subscribe The Sunny Banana, is a play upon the Zulu greeting, Sanibonani, meaning I see you.As tech wrenches us from real life, we are not seeing each other. The Greek word 'idea' means to see. It is as if we have lost the idea of what it means to be human; social, communal, relational. The same word, to see, in Old English is 'seon' which has connotations of understanding. Let's start seeing each other again, listening, respecting, and understanding each other and ourselves. After all, we are people through other people.

  1. 14h ago

    # 55 I Tackle Shame and Blame with The Tested Man a Trauma Christian Life Coach

    Shame is sneaky. It can sound like “I’m not good enough”, feel like a tight chest, and drive you straight into coping habits that promise relief but never deliver healing. We sit down with Jonathan Lewis, a men’s mentor and Orthodox Christian, to trace how anxiety, trauma, and the need to prove yourself can shape a life, and how that same life can be rebuilt with clarity, patience, and grace. We talk about the difference between symptom management and root-cause healing: why alcohol, pornography, scrolling, or even obsessive self-improvement can become self-soothing rituals; why the body remembers what the mind avoids; and how trauma often shows up as a nervous system trying to keep you safe long after the danger has passed. Jonathan shares practical ways to face emotions without becoming them, including the mindset shift that helps people step out of the storm and back into presence. The conversation also goes deep on shame, conditional love, and the labels we inherit in childhood, even when parents mean well. We explore blame, pride, and the hard work of forgiveness that moves from the head to the heart. Finally, Jonathan tells the story of a turning point through boxing, encountering a transformed Christian life, and discovering Orthodoxy as a coherent path where healing has a direction and mercy is lived, not just spoken. If you care about men’s mental health, trauma healing, addiction recovery, and Orthodox Christianity as a way of becoming fully human, you will find a lot to sit with here. Subscribe, share this with a friend who feels stuck, and leave us a review. What part of your own story are you ready to stop numbing and start healing? Drop us a line Support the show Do you or someone you know need or want Christian Life Coaching?Follow this link for a free chat to explore - https://linktr.ee/CoachJonah2

  2. Sep 6

    #54 I Prayer and Prostitution

    Prayer is easy to dismiss until you hit the moment where you usually lose the fight. We speak plainly about that moment, and why we believe prayer is not an “extra” but a real form of protection and change, especially when the passions feel stronger than your will. We also share a practical need close to home: our Orthodox community in Hastings is working to buy the church building on Albany Road for the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR). A permanent home is not just bricks and paperwork. It is where people learn to worship, repent, heal, and grow steady in a noisy world that pulls the heart in ten directions at once. From there we lean on The Way of a Pilgrim, the classic Russian Orthodox book on the Jesus Prayer, and we tell a striking story about a monk battling lust. The twist is simple and sharp: worship comes first. Prostrations interrupt the slide into sin, and the monk discovers he cannot sin after he has just bowed down in prayer. We then bring it back to everyday practice: “quantity before quality”. Like training a muscle, repeating the Jesus Prayer with attention, often helped by a prayer rope, can slowly become inner change, clearer sight, and kinder action towards others and ourselves. If you want a practical Orthodox approach to Christian prayer, spiritual discipline, and resisting temptation, listen now. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave us a review. What helps you return to your senses when temptation hits? Drop us a line Support the show Do you or someone you know need or want Christian Life Coaching?Follow this link for a free chat to explore - https://linktr.ee/CoachJonah2

  3. Aug 25

    #53 Anastasia Reborn I Why The Universe Is Not Your Therapist

    Self-help can be genuinely helpful, so why do so many of us end up back at the same pain, just wearing a different mask? We sit down with Anastasia Girali, a mental health and spiritual mentor, to talk about what she learned after a decade inside the personal development and manifestation world, and why the results she saw never truly lasted until faith moved from a vague spirituality to a direct relationship with Jesus Christ.  We get into the real tension between neuroscience and the soul: yes, habits and addictions carve pathways in the brain, and yes, therapy can name patterns and reduce symptoms. But we also explore what gets missed when healing becomes self-centred management rather than true transformation. Anastasia shares her journey from cultural Greek Orthodoxy to lived communion, how repentance changes the mind, and why prayer is not positive thinking with religious language but an actual encounter that reshapes desire, attention and behaviour.  The conversation also tackles New Age spirituality, “the universe” language, and the hidden cost of seeking power apart from God. We talk spiritual warfare, deliverance, forgiveness, the role of images in shaping lust and addiction, and why short prayers like the Jesus Prayer can carry you when willpower fails. If you’re looking for faith-based healing, Orthodox Christianity, addiction recovery support, or a grounded alternative to manifestation culture, this one offers a clear path and plenty to wrestle with.  Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with someone who needs hope, and leave us a review with the one line that stayed with you. Drop us a line Support the show Do you or someone you know need or want Christian Life Coaching?Follow this link for a free chat to explore - https://linktr.ee/CoachJonah2

  4. Aug 21

    Joan Part 2 I From New Age Seeking To The Faith

    A single moment can cut through years of noise: a quiet nudge that says, go to church because you cannot do it by yourself. Joan from Primal Thrive joins us for a wide-ranging conversation on Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Orthodox masculinity, and what it looks like to move from private spiritual seeking to an ancient, communal way of life. He shares how childhood glimpses of Russian churches and icons stayed in the background, then resurfaced after a long stretch of New Age spirituality that left him with more confusion than answers. We talk honestly about the first liturgy experience: incense, vestments, the shared communion spoon, and the feeling of being out of place. Then something shifts. Joan describes the surprising sense of coming home, and how one small act of hospitality after the service can be the difference between walking away and staying. From there we explore why Orthodoxy does not rush you, why humility is so hard for modern people, and why prayer and fasting are not self-improvement tricks but a steady battle to reorient the heart towards God and neighbour. One of the strongest themes is forgiveness. Joan argues that bitterness and bad thoughts can fester into stress and even psychosomatic illness, while forgiveness can bring real lightness, peace, and healing. We also push into the paradoxes of Christian life: strength and gentleness, boundaries and mercy, physical weakness and spiritual beauty. If you’ve been searching for meaning, struggling with isolation, or tired of spiritual content that loops back to “me”, this will give you language, direction, and a practical next step. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Drop us a line Support the show Do you or someone you know need or want Christian Life Coaching?Follow this link for a free chat to explore - https://linktr.ee/CoachJonah2

  5. Aug 12

    #52 Joan Part 1 | Raising Testosterone Naturally

    Consider supporting the Sunny Banana with all proceeds going to our new church building fund. We are the Orthodox Church of the Mother of God of the Sign in Hastings, England. Sunny Banana (Sunny Banana + Jarvah Biltong) Not only will your support go towards the church, but all supporters can also access discounts on all Jarvah Biltong products! Biltong UK supporters only. All products | Jarvah Biltong Low energy, low drive and a constant sense of being “off” have become oddly normal for a lot of men, but Joan isn’t buying the idea that we should just accept it. We talk about his personal turnaround from moderate testosterone levels to feeling genuinely stable and masculine again, and how that shift came from changing the inputs rather than chasing quick fixes. If you care about men’s health, natural testosterone support and building a life with more resilience, this conversation gives you a grounded place to start. We get practical about what raises testosterone naturally: eating a nutrient-dense diet with enough healthy fats, reconsidering missing foods like organs, and looking for hidden root causes such as gut issues, hypothyroidism and the long drag of chronic stress. Joan also makes the case for friction: heavy lifting, physical challenge and real recovery. He explains why a sedentary desk life can quietly erode hormonal health unless we deliberately bring movement and strain back into the week. Then we widen the lens to the social side. Technology, smaller families and constant digital contact can leave men isolated, and Joan argues that brotherhood and purpose are not “nice extras” but part of the health equation. We also cover Shilajit, including where it comes from and why people commonly report more energy, better focus and improved libido, with notes on how women use it too. If you want to support what we’re building in Hastings and hear more conversations like this, subscribe, share the episode and leave us a review. Drop us a line Support the show Do you or someone you know need or want Christian Life Coaching?Follow this link for a free chat to explore - https://linktr.ee/CoachJonah2

  6. Aug 8

    George Demourtzidis Part 2 | Orthodoxy and Modern Manhood

    Consider supporting the Sunny Banana with all proceeds going to our new church building fund. We are the Orthodox Church of the Mother of God of the Sign in Hastings, England. Sunny Banana (Sunny Banana + Jarvah Biltong) Not only will your support go towards the church, but all supporters can also access discounts on all Jarvah Biltong products! Biltong UK supporters only. All products | Jarvah Biltong A calm voice can carry more strength than a shout, and that idea runs through our chat with George from the Gold Coast. We begin with the everyday realities of work and place, then get practical about what property and land development actually looks like: buying land, master planning, civil works, subdivision, and selling blocks to families, homeowners, and investors. It’s a useful lens on patience, responsibility, and long-term thinking, not just business talk for business’ sake. From there, we move into Orthodox Christianity and what it asks of modern men who want marriage and family life. George shares how his view changed from the Hollywood “honeymoon forever” story to an Orthodox understanding of marriage as a union ordered towards salvation, with husband and wife helping each other towards the Kingdom of Heaven. We speak frankly about preparation: prayer, confession, communion, repentance, and the slow building of discipline so a relationship has foundations rather than vibes. We also explore masculinity through the Orthodox lens of meekness. Not weakness, not passivity, but controlled power: being cool, calm, and collected in the eye of the storm. That connects to fatherhood too, including the idea that a father sets the atmosphere of the home. We then tackle self-mastery, sexual discipline, pornography, and why some men practise semen retention as part of resisting compulsions and staying focused, plus the countercultural boundaries around sex and preparation before Holy Communion. If this conversation helps you think more clearly about Orthodox marriage, masculine strength, fatherhood, and spiritual discipline, subscribe for more, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave us a review with your biggest takeaway. Drop us a line Support the show Do you or someone you know need or want Christian Life Coaching?Follow this link for a free chat to explore - https://linktr.ee/CoachJonah2

  7. Jul 31

    #51 George Demourtzidis | Shilajit, Sin, And Starting Again

    For £2.27 ($3) a month you get: Exclusive access to premium contentAccess to great value on all Jarvah Biltong Products (UK only)All funds go to the Orthodox Church in St Leonard's, Hastings to continue it's transformational workSunny Banana (Sunny Banana + Jarvah Biltong) One bad drink in Fiji turns into a lifelong lesson: what you consume shapes you, not only your gut, but your focus, your mood, and the direction of your soul. George Demourtzidis joins me from the Gold Coast to talk about the unexpected bridge between health and Orthodox faith, starting with the practical stuff we all feel daily: energy, clarity, hormones, and the basics of what we put into our bodies. George shares how he works in land development and why he chose to build a health supplement brand around shilajit, a mineral-rich mountain resin often called nature’s multivitamin. We get into why sourcing matters, how fake products flood the market, and why third-party testing is non-negotiable if you care about real results. From there we zoom out into a bigger idea for men’s health and mindset: your inputs are not neutral. Water quality, processed food, music, and media all train your attention and, over time, your appetites. Then we go deep into Orthodox Christianity: the Eucharist as the real Body and Blood of Christ, the countercultural reality of being told “not yet” at the chalice, and why confession, fasting, and repentance are part of a serious way of life rather than a quick spiritual shortcut. George opens up about drifting into a hedonistic lifestyle, hitting a low point at 32, and the verse that turned him back: Matthew 6:33. He also shares a powerful Pentecost experience that brought a kind of peace and joy he can only describe as grace. If you care about clean living, spiritual discipline, and becoming whole, this conversation will challenge and steady you. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review to help more people find the show. Drop us a line Support the show Do you or someone you know need or want Christian Life Coaching?Follow this link for a free chat to explore - https://linktr.ee/CoachJonah2

  8. Jul 14

    #50 Fr Aleksandr Groves | Orthodoxy reveals our true humanity

    Please support or subscribe to help us raise funds to buy our new Church Building - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2429544/subscribe We are an Orthodox Church in St Leonard's-on-Sea, Hastings in Albany Road. Check out the awesome Bed and Breakfast run by Fr Aleksandr and Paul - St Benedict - Victorian Bed and Breakfast, Hastings (updated prices 2026) Join the Jarvah Founders Club and get a discount on Biltong for a whole year!  https://www.jarvahbiltong.com/jarvah-founder-s-page Something strange happens when you step into an Orthodox church: the room is full, yet nobody is performing for anybody else. Attention stops being stolen and starts being trained.  We’re joined by our own Father Alexander Groves to talk about Orthodox Christianity as the work of becoming fully human. We dig into why the Orthodox life involves effort and sacrifice, why that struggle is worth it, and how the Church heals us through prayer, confession, and the Eucharist. Father Alexander also shares his personal journey from an Anglican choirboy with a sense of vocation, to a Church of England priest, to Roman Catholic lay life, and finally to what he describes as a joyful homecoming into the Orthodox Church.  We go deep on Russian Orthodoxy, not as an idea but as lived history: the persecution under communism, the witness of martyrs, and the quiet heroism of grandparents who kept the faith alive when the state tried to crush it. From there we turn to the saints, veneration, and the startling closeness of holiness, including Father Alexander’s own patron, Saint Alexander of Svir, and the story of relics rediscovered after 1989.  Finally, we bring it home to Hastings and St Leonards in East Sussex: a tiny chapel built on a sliver of land, a growing parish, and the surprising chain of events that led to renting a larger building while we work towards buying it, including a visit from the myrrh-streaming Hawaiian icon of the Mother of God. If you care about Orthodox liturgy, Christian tradition, spiritual discipline, and building a real local community, this one’s for you.  Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review so more people can find the Sunny Banana. Drop us a line Support the show Do you or someone you know need or want Christian Life Coaching?Follow this link for a free chat to explore - https://linktr.ee/CoachJonah2

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About

Subscribe for exclusive content and 10% off Biltong at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2429544/subscribe The Sunny Banana, is a play upon the Zulu greeting, Sanibonani, meaning I see you.As tech wrenches us from real life, we are not seeing each other. The Greek word 'idea' means to see. It is as if we have lost the idea of what it means to be human; social, communal, relational. The same word, to see, in Old English is 'seon' which has connotations of understanding. Let's start seeing each other again, listening, respecting, and understanding each other and ourselves. After all, we are people through other people.

Information

  • Creator
    Jarvah Biltong
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    54
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sunny Banana
  • Show Website
    Sunny Banana