Fr. John Oliver invites us to consider the unhealthy family patterns that we have been handed through birth and have a choice whether we carry them into our future.

The death of St. Elizabeth the Grand Duchess and New Martyr tells us about how she lived her life lived long before her martyrdom.

Fr. John Oliver explores the four cycles or rhythms that are embedded in nature and in the Church.

Fr. John Oliver paints a hope-filled picture of the healing power of forgiveness.

Fr. John Oliver reflects on the writing of St. John Chrysostom titled "No One Can Harm the Man Who Does not Harm Himself."

Fr. John Oliver invites us to consider the unbelievable news that sends us searching for more.

In his first podcast, Fr. John reflects on his midnight vigil outside a prison in Tennessee.

Jesus said "the kingdom of God is taken by force" and sometime it feels like a battle to allow ourselves to love one another as God intended.

Fr. John Oliver helps us to understand why life can be so hard, and how to find joy in the midst of the struggle.

Fr. John Oliver explains how we can repel the Holy Spirit, and how we can become alive in the Holy Spirit instead.

Fr. John Oliver shares a remarkable story of service to inspire us to joyfully use our gifts in service of others.

Fr. John Oliver explains why we need the "Four S's" to energize our lives.

Fr. John Oliver talks about integrity.

You know how strange dreams can be when you're not sleeping in your own bed? Well, this one ranks up there with the strangest. But, Fr. Joseph has a very practical application in this "Best Of" Orthodixie podcast.

What time is it anyway? As we set our clocks back, Fr. Joseph is reflecting on our obsession with time as a culture and the impact it has on our priorities.

What time is it anyway? In this classic podcast from the last time we set our clocks back, Fr. Joseph reflects on our obsession with time as a culture and the impact it has on our priorities.

We've all heard "Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous." Fr. Joseph finds that hard to believe. Then again, some things which are hard to explain serve as cures for our unbelief. Is that by coincidence?

With help from his daughter, Fr. Joseph tries to stay on pitch while singing Dan Idzikowski's "Superchristological and Homoousiosis".

The recent announcement by Pope Benedict of the formation of "a special provision for Anglicans, including married clergy" to come home to Rome got Fr Joseph wondering about his own journey and what he, and they, believe. He agrees with the pope!

From clerical-collar-wearing altar boys, to postpartum Paschal choir directors, to (apparently) Alice Cooper and KISS attending the Paschal Matins ... Fr. Joseph's seen it all. And you've never heard the Good News till you've heard it read in German, with a Japanese twist, and a Southern accent.

From clerical collar-wearing altar boys to (apparently) Alice Cooper and KISS attending the Paschal Matins -- Oh, and you've never heard the Good News till you've heard it read in German, with a Japanese twist and a Southern accent. (In this "blast from the past," Fr. Joseph even describes how to get one's choir-directing wife to "do her job" only 48 hours after giving birth!)

Fr. Joseph's not much of a movie buff, but he was recently "blindsided" in Syria. This special 30-minute episode details his recent pilgrimage to Syria, and a certain "Paul" whom he kept bumping into while there. You'll need to listen all the way to the end to discover the answer to a question he's now asked: "Why did you go to Syria?"

Fr. Joseph, in this Sunday morning sermon, announces the pending changes to the worship services of St. George, Houston. Well, kinda ...

On this special edition of the Orthodixie Podcast, Fr. Joseph interviews the author of the new Conciliar Press book Aidan's Song: A Year in the Life of a Parish Priest. The book has been compared to the "Far Side" cartoon and the TV show Married With Children—but nothing quite compares to Fr. Aidan Wilcoxson's singing a rather surprising number on this very podcast. Aidan's Song is an insightful, moving, and often hilarious personal snapshot of a year in the life of a parish priest. Enjoy!

(Fr. Joseph dedicates this program to the memory of Fr. Matthew MacKay, who would have appreciated the humor—he hopes.) This week the Orthodixie podcast catches up with the author of An Empty Church is a Peaceful Church, Fr. Danislav Gregorio, about his new book, Speedy Sacraments for Liturgical Losers.

Fr. Joseph interviews two Deacons of the Church – both hailing from, ahem, the “Old Country” – that is, one was reared in middle Tennessee and the other was born and raised in the hills of West Virginia [rimshot]. Enjoy!

The number of Orthodox Christians in America is greatly inflated in a recent survey; an anonymous Orthodox comments on a Christian caterpillar; and a Muslim converts to Christianity thanks to antidoron -- all this and more as Fr. Joseph reads letters from AFR listeners.

Can you imagine for a moment that all this revealed religion stuff is really, really real? Imagine, if you will, the Theotokos pondering things, like: Where is Christ the Savior? Fr. Joseph imagines and ponders his way toward answers in Part One of this special episode, "live" and edited, from Christ the Savior church in the Windy City.

Fr. Joseph speaks at the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver's Clergy-Laity Conference, hosted by St George Greek Orthodox Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico. (He was going to title the talk "What Does a Greek Look Like?"—but then again, what DOES a Greek look like?)

Studies show that no matter how many people get on an elevator, riders move around to allow the same amount of space between themselves and each of the others. Some elevator riders stare at the numbers, some continue conversations, and others start superficial ones. Uh oh, someone just asked about Orthodoxy! You've got about 30 seconds (and a $100 prize riding on it); what do you say?

Fr Joseph slips into something a little less comfortable, but it's what everyone wears in the Kingdom!

Ever tempted by those misbaving in church—you know, the parents? (Of course, kids can be quite the nuisance, too.) Fr. Joseph ventures where angels, at least priests—even parents, fear to tread!

Fr Joseph reminisces about Metropolitan Philip prior to the Trisagion for the Departed at St Joseph Church, Houston, on the Sunday of the Cross, March 23, 2014.

Stephen King writes the news? Delivers the newspaper? Either times are hard or the news is horrible! If it's both, what are we to do about it?

Rumor has it that this episode is about gossip. But like I told someone else . . . don't tell anyone!

Why on earth are Aaron Copland, the Dubliners, Yo-Yo Ma, Alison Krauss, the New York Philharmonic, and a Muslim found in the same podcast? Simple! Maybe within the Light of the Resurrection we'll all turn 'round right.

Fr Joseph interviews Kh. Erin Kimmett about her forthcoming book Hospitality and Joy—available at hospitalityandjoy.com.

Sometimes we're too familiar with a Gospel passage. Fr Joseph's retelling of the story of Zacchaeus is, to say the least, a li'l diff.

In some cases a good old fashion paddling is in order. Fr. Joseph explains.

The legend of Sunshine Boy and his lesson in humility.

If Christ can make eyeballs out of spit and clay, He can take care of you!

The Great Commission just doesn't apply to us, right?

We all have the tendency of turning a small concern into a full-scale worry.

You know how strange dreams can be when you're not sleeping in your own bed? Well this one ranks up there with the strangest but, as usual, Fr. Joseph has a very practical application.

This week, Fr Joseph gets real: "The thing about Confession is that it is natural. That is, it is Real. Almost everything else we do with our sin is false and unnatural. We punish ourselves, justify our actions, and hide. Yet, in Confession -- in opening ourselves to God the Light -- we expose the hypocrisy of our double life. In truth, we've been living a lie. Without Confession, Absolution, and Reconciliation we live a lie before God and Man as if it were Reality. In reality, no one is fooled -- not our neighbor, not ourselves. And, let's be real, certainly not God."

Fr Joseph, struggling toward humility in the first week of the Fast, tells of his first visit to Fasters Anonymous... and their curious theme song.

Much like the pains of labor endured by a mother bearing a child, sometimes our journey back to healing is a painful one. And yet, the joy that comes with the new birth is far greater -- inexplicably greater -- than that which our cold heart endured. In the meantime, we must begin where we are.

After talking a bit more about narcissism in the priesthood (and a brief word from a sponsor), Fr. Anthony uses some insights from comparative politics to help explain some of the divisions that plague some communities and why things often get blown out of proportion.

In this episode Fr. Anthony interviews Bill Marianes, a gifted evangelist and lawyer (don't hold that against him; or at least pray for him because of it). Bill argues that the best way to bring energy and growth to our parishes is to reorganize ourselves around ministries and transform members into disciples, apostles, and ministry leaders. Bill has shared this vision with several dioceses and is currently working with the UOC-USA to implement it through their strategic planning process. Enjoy the show!

On St. Michael's Day of 2012, the parish of St. Michael the Archangel (UOC-USA) in Woonsocket, RI suffered tremendous damage from a fire. In this podcast, Fr. Anthony, the priest of St. Michael's at that time, shares hard-earned advice on preparing for, dealing with, and recovering from parish disasters. The most important advice? Keep the One Thing Needful top on the list of priorities at every step of the process.