St. Issac of Nineveh tells us that “a small but always persistent discipline is a great force; for a soft drop falling persistently hollows out hard rock.” In this episode, Rita discusses ways to set realistic goals for healthy behavior change.

In this episode, Rita shares a story from a monk that explains what is needed to cook. Whether you currently do not cook and know you need to start or are an avid cook, the wisdom in this story will provide you with a way to look at cooking as a component of our spiritual life. 

For a variety of reasons, many of us have to eat alone. Rita presents strategies for eating alone in a healthful and satisfying manner. She also provides strategies for helping those who have to deal with the struggle of eating alone.

Did you overdo it during the fast-free period of the Holy Nativity? Are you frustrated with how you ate and that lack of attention you paid to your body? Do you struggle with overindulgence on foods and beverage? Rita discusses how and why we must forgive ourselves and move forward.

Many people feel they are experiencing some intolerance to foods (and for sure some people do) but some may be experiencing stress and when their body is in stressed mode it can create physical symptoms that do not feel the best. We will look at the teachings of the Desert Fathers for some wisdom to help with stress. In addition we will explore the program My Beautiful Lent (http://www.mybeautifullent.com) which is an online program being released this Great Lent (2016) to help decrease the stress that somehow appears during this time. The program aids to simplify Great Lent to allow it to be a fruitful season.

Rita interviews Cynthia Damaskos about the current research on gluten. Rita and Cynthia are the creators of My Beautiful Lent, a program to help Orthodox Christians in all stages of life to use the fast for the nourishment of the soul, leaving room for the blessings that the Church intends and that God wants to give freely. Find out more at http://www.mybeautifullent.com

Jamey Bennett approached me about doing an interview as on ancientfaith.com he has blogged about fasting and created music about healthy eating. Jamey shares his thoughts from his blog post titled, "Paleo Living and Orthodox Lent."

Following the feasts and fasts of the Church cannot only help us care for our own health, but it can also benefit the environment and God's creation.

As we continue to move through the fast, it is quite beautiful to see how the physical end of our fasting tradition aids us in the spiritual hunger we all feel.

Fr. Adrian Budica interviews Pediatric Chaplain, Elizabeth Hawkins, BCC. Elizabeth is a Board Certified Chaplain and endorsed by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. (Part 1 of 2)

Fr. Adrian Budica continues his interview with Pediatric Chaplain, Elizabeth Hawkins, BCC. Elizabeth is a Board Certified Chaplain and endorsed by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. (Part 2 of 2)

Chaplain Sarah and Fr. Adrian continue their discussion about the need for CPE training in order to become a professional, Board Certified Chaplain.

Chaplain Sarah and Fr. Adrian discuss the process of discernment to be a chaplain, and what is involved in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).

Fr. Adrian Budica interviews Beryl Knudsen, a chaplain at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut and a graduate from St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary.

Chaplain Sarah Byrne-Martelli shares an essay she wrote on the topic of why bad things happen to good people.

On Myrrh-bearers Sunday, Fr. Andrew speaks about our motivation for Acts of Piety and whether they are done because of our love for our Lord Jesus Christ.