Bobby Maddex interviews Kelly Ramke Lardin, author of the new Conciliar Press children’s book Josiah and Julia Go to Church: A Young Child’s Guide to Church Etiquette.

Bobby Maddex interviews Kevin Scherer, the author of the new AFP book Truly Human: Recovering Your Humanity in a Broken World.

On a new Ex Libris, the podcast of Ancient Faith Publishing, Bobby Maddex interviews Megan Elizabeth Gilbert, the creator of Beautiful Things: An Orthodox Coloring Book for Children.

Does it matter how "death" is defined, and who defines it?

Should animals and humans have the same rights? How best should we care for animals in a humane way without confusing the value of the two?

How did our society become so accepting of a culture of death - from Dr. Jack Kevorkian, Terri Schiavo, and Planned Parenthood?

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA's research center responsible for robotic space missions, will lay off more workers before the year ends due to budget constraints. JPL Director Laurie Leshin has announced in a memo addressed to employees that the reduction will affect 325 people, or about five percent of its whole workforce. Leshin explained that the lab took various measures to meet its budget allocation for the 2025 fiscal year and to minimize the adverse effects of a limited budget on its workers. In the end, though, JPL "reached the difficult decision" to make "one further workforce reduction."

The lab already cut 530 employees and cut over 100 contractors from its roster earlier this year because of uncertainty over the final budget that the Congress will give NASA for 2024. It also froze hiring in response to the dilemma. The main reason why the lab had to implement those measures was because the Mars Sample Return Program was allocated a much smaller budget than it needed. NASA had requested $950 million for the mission, but only $300 million was allocated for it. 

NASA's original plan was to bring home the samples collected by the mission in 2040. But its budget ballooned from $7 billion to $11 billion, and as The Washington Post notes, the government found the return date "unacceptable." For the 2025 fiscal year, NASA only requested $200 million for the project that could go through significant changes. The agency is now looking for ways to alter the mission and is even considering proposals from private companies. 

Leshin said that the layoffs will affect all areas of the lab, including its technical, business and support divisions. "[W]e had to tighten our belts across the board, and you will see that reflected in the layoff impacts," she said. JPL's director also said that the US presidential election results have nothing to do with the reduction that the "action would be happening regardless" of its outcome. 

In the third installment on the general topic of asceticism, Dr. Rossi addresses the subtle temptation to slip into secularism.

Dr. Rossi talks with Fr. Joseph Purpura, Chairman of the Department of Youth and Parish Ministry for the Antiochian Archdiocese. Learn about how to best communicate with and serve our teens and young people.

Dr. Rossi interviews Fr. Paul Lazor, the former Dean of Students at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Yonkers, NY.

Dr. Albert Rossi interviews The Right Reverend Paul, Bishop of Chicago and the Midwest in the Orthodox Church in America, on the present condition of polarization within the Church and the United States.

Dr. Albert Rossi interviews Fr. Alexis Trader, author of Ancient Christian Wisdom, on the topic of overcoming impulsivity and the desire to control the world around us.

Dr. Albert Rossi offers a reflection on the question, "What Would Jesus Do?", and offers a more helpful variation on this popular question.

Dr. Albert Rossi reflects on the ways we seek to sooth our souls and bodies.

Dr. Albert Rossi reflects on the call to accept reality without complaint, praying for the needs of each new day.

Dr. Albert Rossi continues his reflection on contentment in each new day.

Dr. Rossi reflects on what is necessary for a purposeful life.

Following his visit to the Holy Land, Fr. Lawrence Farley offers some of his impressions of the Holy Sepulchre.

Fr. Lawrence Farley argues that we must show love for all people—male or female, straight or gay or transgendered—but as we articulate and transmit our Christian culture to our young and to our catechumens, we must also take care to include a traditional understanding of gender.

Dr. Brad Nassif, Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at North Park University in Chicago, reminds us that no matter how monotonous, unseen, or ordinary, our jobs can powerfully transform us into Christlikeness. This is an audio version of an article that first appeared at christianitytoday.com.

Fr. Philip LeMasters argues that it is time for Orthodox Christians to be realistic and not panic about life in an increasingly post-Christian culture.

Dn. Michael Hyatt is the chair of the Ancient Faith Ministries board and a Deacon at St. Ignatius Antiochian Orthodox Church in Franklin, TN. Most people know him as one of the top leadership mentors in the country and the Founder and CEO of Michael Hyatt & Company, an online leadership development company dedicated to helping high achievers win at work and succeed at life. In this commentary (which is actually a sermon given at St. Ignatius), Dn. Michael assesses the impact of social media on people in general and Christians in particular. Be looking for the return of his Ancient Faith Radio podcast At the Intersection of East and West in September!

The world watched in disbelief as the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris burned. But why should it matter? Fr. Andrew Damick has an answer.

Three "Sayings from the Desert Fathers," two by Abba Elias and one by Abba Joseph, reveal the way of freedom in the spiritual life, and the truly transfiguring nature of authentic prayer.

Examining a passage from the anonymous second-century Epistle to Diognetus, Archimandrite Irenei explores the witness borne by the early Christian community and asks: does it reflect our Christian testimony today?

In this first half of a lecture recorded live in commemoration of the "Pauline Year," celebrating 2,000 years since the birth of the Apostle, Archimandrite Irenei explores the heritage of the great missionary saint in Orthodoxy. Drawing connections to Elder Joseph the Hesychast of Mount Athos, St Symeon the New Theologian, and other great figures of the Orthodox tradition, this first portion of the lecture addresses questions of conversion and relationship, and how St Paul’s example is at the heart of living Orthodox Tradition.

This week we broadcast the second half of our lecture on the heritage of St Paul in Orthodoxy, given recently in Manchester, UK, to a largely non-Orthodox audience. In this portion, Archimandrite Irenei focuses on St. Paul’s injunction to "pray without ceasing," and explores the manner in which this is lived out in the Prayer of the Heart and experiential life of Orthodox Christianity throughout history.

In the first sections of the second book of his Life of Moses, St. Gregory of Nyssa instructs that Christians are to "emulate the fortuitous birth of Moses"—but how can this be done? Is not birth outside the realm of a person's control? In examining the manner in which St. Gregory exposes "birth" as the constant making of choices by the free human creature, we discover the rich manner in which the saint finds spiritual significance in the historical moments of Scripture.

In the first sections of the second book of his Life of Moses, St. Gregory of Nyssa instructs that Christians are to "emulate the fortuitous birth of Moses"—but how can this be done? Is not birth outside the realm of a person’s control? In examining the manner in which St. Gregory exposes "birth" as the constant making of choices by the free human creature, we discover the rich manner in which the saint finds spiritual significance in the historical moments of Scripture.

In this week’s broadcast, Fr. Irenei examines a text by St. Cyril of Jerusalem, which prompts the Christian to ask the question, "Do I truly believe in Christ’s resurrection?" If so, how does this belief shape the actual decisions and determinations of our lives?

In his third lecture, Dr. Demetrios Katos addresses the ways in which theology is scientific, why we should never say “mere symbol” in Orthodox thought, what we mean by essence and energies, what we mean by a personal God, and how the Bible and other sources are used in theology.

Almost three years after the hurricane that devastated the Gulf Coast, families are still living in temporary housing. IOCC and Orthodox volunteers around the country have been building new homes in Louisiana as part of a special program to provide aid to the region. Listen now to one participant as she journeys to America's embattled Gulf Coast as part of an IOCC work team. If you want to be involved, call 1-877-803-IOCC or visit the IOCC website.

Ancient Faith Radio presents part one of a speech delivered on November 14, 2009, by Archpriest and Bishop-elect Michael Dahulich at St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church in Emmaus, Pennsylvania.

Ancient Faith Radio presents part two of a speech delivered on November 14, 2009, by Archpriest and Bishop-elect Michael Dahulich at St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church in Emmaus, Pennsylvania.

Bobby Maddex interviews Paul Karos, who will be leading a retreat titled "The Passions That Drive Us; the Virtues That Save Us" from June 11-13 at Antiochian Village in Ligonier, Pennsylvania.

Bobby Maddex interviews David and Mangala Frost of the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies (IOCS) about a new IOCS Orthodox evangelism tool called The Way, now available in the United States exclusively through Conciliar Press.

Ancient Faith Radio travelled to Ellwood City, PA, to capture this warm and wonderful conversation with the widow of Fr. Alexander Schmemann, Matushka Juliana Schmemann. Get a glimpse into the personal side of Fr. Alexander as well as Matushka's thoughts about his greatest legacy.

Bobby Maddex interviews Ron Moore, the new owner of two online Orthodox retail outlets—Saint Romanos Records and Fullness of the Faith.

Bobby Maddex, Operations Manager of Ancient Faith Radio, interviews Fr. John Behr, Dean of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, about the school's new fully paid tuition plan.