This week Fr. Michael talks about life after death, specifically the teaching of the early church Fathers. He uses the book Life After Death as part of his main talking points. We hear a bit about how this teaching helped Mother Natalia realize...

This week Mother Natalia talks about intentionally incorporating Jesus into our lives. She gives two examples of this in action in her own life, in embroidery and running, and how she was able to come to a prayerful understanding of that in her...

This week Fr. Michael talks about prayer, fasting, and alms-giving in relation to the Great Fast and the paradoxes that exist within each  of those. He talks about humility and how we can find a paradox within our humility as well.<...

This week Mother Natalia talks about some of the things she's excited to encounter while on the upcoming pilgrimage. She differentiates between pilgrimage and vacation, reminding us that we're supposed to be uncomfortable on pilgrimage. She con...

This week Fr. Michael talks about the importance of knowing Jesus and encountering Him in prayer. He talks about the need to encounter Him in our regular devotions like Divine Liturgy, Mass, Rosary, etc., but how we must also seek Him out in on...

This week Fr. Michael reflects on the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. He talks about how each of us can reflect the thoughts and actions of the younger son, the older son, and the father. He talks about the significance of the younger s...

This week we're joined by special guest Joni Seith. Joni share with us the many sufferings she's endured over 30+years, and how she has used that suffering as a form of prayer. She talks about how her family has helped her in this, and how she'...

This week's episode was recorded live at SEEK25. Fr. Michael talks about vulnerability in leadership. He references written and spoken vulnerability in leaders from group commitments, prayers said by the priest at baptism, and prayers said by t...

This week we're joined by special guest, Mother Iliana. Mother Natalia and Mother Iliana talk about a mistake that was made that impacted their relationship. They give background on all the other things going on in their individual lives before...

This week Fr. Michael reflects on a sentence in a prayer that the priest prays during Divine Liturgy, "...in the greatness of your mercy you have brought all things out of nonexistence into being..." Fr. Michael talks about what it means for Go...

This week Mother Natalia reflects on her recent poustinia, where the Lord placed the idea of rest on her heart. She talks about the ways she can rest in her monastic life allowing God to take charge in her life. She talks about how we are all c...

This week Mother Natalia talks about ruptured relationships and the hurt that comes in that rupture. She talks about offering up relationships to the Lord, recognizing that healing in the relationship may not come in this life, and the desire t...

This week Fr. Michael talks about anamnesis and relates it to our day-to-day life. He talks about the origins of anamnesis in Liturgy and how we can remember the good God has done in our individual prayers. He also talks about epiclesis and the...

This week we start out with a mini-topic on the icon of the Trinity. Then for the main topic, Fr. Michael reflects on a prayer that is said during matins where we beg God to save us through the intercession of the holy martyrs. He relates the i...

We're joined again this week by special guest, Fr. Chris. Fr. Chris is back with us to talk about Tolkien and Lord of the Rings. Fr. Chris talks about the difference between authority and power; mind and forming matter vs mind over matter; and ...

This week we're joined by special guest, Fr. Chris Seith. Mother Natalia and Fr. Chris talk about Aragorn's Today is Not that Day speech and how it relates to the spiritual life. Fr. Chris talks about some of Tolkien's intentions in wr...

This week Fr. Michael reflects on nostalgia, and the ways it can be manifest in both good and bad ways. He talks about how nostalgia is a way of thinking about the transcendent that we experienced in the past, which is ultimately our longing fo...

This week Fr. Michael reflects on Psalm 63, which he has felt the Lord calling him to give as a penance in confession. Fr. Michael walks through some of the verses in the Psalm and contemplates some ways we can link the passages to our daily li...

This week Mother Natalia and Fr. Michael reflect on the entrance of their friend and spiritual daughter, Maddie, into Christ the Bridegroom Monastery. Mother Natalia then reflects on one of her favorite stichera that we sing during the Nativity...

This week Fr. Michael reflects on a passage in Luke where Jesus encounters the man living with the legion of demons, which he then casts out. He talks about how the devil twists the truth and beauty and the world, perverting it which leads to s...

This Mother Natalia talks about her recent experience on a long run and how that compares to the spiritual life. She breaks down her run into three parts, each of them equating to us persevering in holiness.References:

This week Fr. Michael takes inspiration from Matthew's gospel to talk about Jesus not being accepted as a prophet in his own home. Fr. Michael takes this further to talk about the ways we can be jealous of others, even of the good that they're ...

This week Mother Natalia shares something that she asked for in prayer. She shares how that impacted her as she tried to remember that as she went about her day. Mother Natalia makes a suggestion to us on how to incorporate this into our lives ...

This week Fr. Michael unpacks two scripture passages that many find hard to receive, especially with our knowledge that God is good and loving.References:

This week we're joined by special guest, Bree Solstad. Bree is a new member of the podcast team and works as our video editor.In today's episode, Bree surprises Mother Natalia by telling her why she loves her. This conversation expands ...