John and Uncle Seth back for more as they bite into what exactly happened to individuality and community in the last year. Was there a chance to unite under a common cause and repair social rifts? Or is taking horse de-wormer really the issue at stake here? WAWTAR! Interested in joining First Things Foundation? We are looking to send people to Sierra Leone and the Georgian Republic! Check out our Join FTF page: https://first-things.org/opportunities for more info, or email Daniel at danielpadrno...
Oct 06, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Welcome back! John has been ruminating since his trip to Africa (Mozambique - where we might be working at some point in the future, stay tuned!). He was noticing trash. Or the lack of it. And it got him thinking about how we enlightened folk think about waste. Is it all bad? Interested in joining First Things Foundation, we are looking to send people to Sierra Leone and the Georgian Republic! Check out our Join FTF page: https://first-things.org/opportunities for more info, or email Daniel at d...
Sep 28, 2021•26 min
On this episode of WAWTAR, John is joined by iconographer Aidan Hart. They talk about the role icons and secular art play in society alongside a more detailed discussion on why icons look the way they do. Aidan has been a professional icon painter and carver for over thirty years with works in over twenty countries of the world in a wide range of mediums. He has experience with panel and wall painting, mosaic, stone and wood carving, metalwork and church architecture. He has also published vario...
Sep 15, 2021•57 min
John has returned from a trip to Mozambique where slave castles and the old world mixed in his brain to produce this episode. It's a little about our culture (Chuck D and Public Enemy), it's a commentary on the Enlightenment and the cost of utopian dreams. And it's a reflection on all the "leftover" people when utopian dreams fall through. Interested in joining First Things Foundation? Check out our Join FTF page: https://first-things.org/opportunities for more info, or email Daniel at danielpad...
Sep 08, 2021•34 min
Jonathan Jackson joins the show to talk about art and Orthodoxy, how Orthodoxy has affected his view on art, and a discussion on what beauty might be. Jonathan is a five-time EMMY® Award-winning actor and Critics’ Choice Award nominee, who has starred in numerous TV and films including ABC/CMT’s hit drama “Nashville,” “General Hospital,” “Tuck Everlasting,” among others His band Enation has performed alongside artists across the musical spectrum, including post-punk legends Echo & The Bunnym...
Aug 31, 2021•58 min
La Tanya Hall is a renown singer and musician who has played with some of the world’s most celebrated artists, including Steely Dan, Diana Ross, and Aretha Franklin among many others. She has also appeared as a solo artist in her own right with the American Composers Orchestra, The Denver Symphony, and the St. Louis Symphony and at jazz clubs around the world. Her new record, Say Yes (Blue Canoe Records), debuted in November of 2020. She is also a teacher, having created the first vocal jazz deg...
Aug 24, 2021•56 min
Fr. John Strickland is an Orthodox Priest, teacher, and podcast host of Paradise and Utopia on Ancient Faith Radio. He is also the author of several books including: The Making of Holy Russia , The Age of Division , and The Age of Paradise . He joins John Heers today discussing the historical roots of the secular dimension. What was the world view before it included a secular "space?" And how has the secular space changed from it's inception to now? Links: Paradise and Utopia podcast: https://ww...
Aug 10, 2021•58 min
Welcome one and all yet again to "Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" This week is an Uncle Seth special where we attempt to close out some outstanding topics. Whether that happens or not is entirely unknown. Teaching and parenting are on the table alongside the new never normal COVID-19 reality and God. It's Uncle Seth folks, everything is up for grabs. Interested in joining First Things Foundation? Check out our Join FTF page: https://first-things.org/opportunities for more info, or email Danie...
Aug 03, 2021•1 hr 17 min
Interested in joining First Things Foundation? Check out our Join FTF page: https://first-things.org/opportunities for more info, or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org . We are going to Georgia this September and you should come! Keipi Journeys by FTF is an immersive 10 day trip across the Georgian Republic. Past Journeys have included stops in Kazbegi, Tusheti, Tbilisi, and Kakheti among others. You'll experience the Supra (learn more in the link below), traditional foods like Khach...
Jul 28, 2021•44 min
Baseball is changing. In fact it has been changing for a while now. And the shift involves a move from "old timer wisdom" to KPIs, swing statistics, and algorithms that let a team win for less money. It might also be heralding a deeper problem in our society as a whole. Join Heers as we take a quick look at how greed and selfishness are changing the game. Interested in joining First Things Foundation? Check out our Join FTF page for more info, or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org . ...
Jul 20, 2021•28 min
Kingsnorth is an English writer and thinker currently living in Ireland. Growing up he was actively involved in protests, at one point going so far to chain himself to a bridge. He has worked for Greenpeace, openDemocracy, and EarthAction, is an honorary member of the Lani tribe and was infamously named one of Britain's top 10 troublemakers. He is also a recent convert to Orthodoxy. Today John and Kingsnorth talk about the journey from protest to humbleness and seeing the divine around us. Links...
Jul 13, 2021•1 hr 13 min
Secret meetings. Plots. Unexplained things. Our imaginations can run wild when we think about conspiracies. They are the proverbial rabbit hole. Instead of talking about a bunch of conspiracies directly, today Heers discusses the historical and post-enlightenment understanding of conspiring along with ice trays and Emmanuel Kant. Links: Check out this semesters podcourse on Conspiracies here: https://first-things.org/wawtar-podcourse Interested in joining First Things Foundation? Check out our J...
Jul 06, 2021•30 min
Today Richard Rohlin joins Heers to talk about missionary work, the idea of immersion, silence, and a little on the Medieval mindset. Richard Rohlin is a software developer, Germanic philologist, and Orthodox Christian. He speaks and publishes on Germanic poetry, the Inklings, and the Sacramental Imagination. His podcast on Ancient Faith Radio, Amon Sul, explores the themes of JR Tolkein as informed by the Orthodox way of life. Links: The Amon Sûl Podcast - Tolkien & Orthodox Christianity Fi...
Jun 29, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Today Andrew Martin joins WAWTAR to talk about the religious impulse in corporate America. Andrew is a Senior Manager of Talent Development with many years of experience in corporate America. Links: Century of Self documentary Interested in joining First Things Foundation? Check out our Join FTF page for more info, or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org . We are going to Georgia and you should come! Keipi Journeys by FTF is an immersive 10 day trip across the Georgian Republic. Past J...
Jun 22, 2021•54 min
Fr. Peter Heers, Orthodox priest and author, rejoins WAWTAR to talk more about Orthodoxy, what a martyr is, and the perilous state of education. Fr. Peter, known for his book "The Ecclesiological Renovation of Vatican II" ( https://tinyurl.com/52udprh9 ), is also the host and creator of The Orthodox Ethos podcast ( https://orthodoxethos.com/ ). Links: Check out Fr. Peter's "Survival Course" here: https://orthodoxethos.com/survival-course-2020 Interested in joining First Things Foundation? Check ...
Jun 15, 2021•1 hr 12 min
This week WAWTAR is joined by nonother than Gregory David Roberts, international best selling author of Shantaram and The Mountain Shadow. He is also a singer/songwriter, speaker, and seeker of deeper meaning and spirituality. This week John and GDR discuss what it means to be truly human, finding deep meaning in life, and a little on sacrifice. Links: Shantaram ( AMZN ) GDR's Website The Spiritual Path GDR's Music Interested in joining First Things Foundation? Check out our Join FTF page for mo...
Jun 08, 2021•59 min
Evan Amato, founder of "Rewire the West" joins WAWTAR today to talk about beauty, truth, and virtue. From his bio: "Evan is passionate about helping others rediscover beauty, truth, and virtue in today's Western culture. To this end he created Rewire the West, wrote and published a free ebook, and now releases weekly videos on YouTube. He is a firm believer in beauty's power to change lives and improve our world." Links: Rewire the West Rewire the West - Explore the Greatest Works of Western Cul...
Jun 02, 2021•45 min
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected our world in far reaching and profound ways. Perhaps overlooked is the spiritual impact it has had on all of us. Namely, the ubiquitous mask, which prior to this was reserved for thieves, select medical persons, and old world cultures. To help us make sense of all of this John invited Fr. Silouan back on. As an iconographer and someone well versed in traditional art, he sheds some light on the symbolic and iconic aspects of the mask. Links: Fayoum Portraits Hie...
May 25, 2021•1 hr 7 min
While there could easily be parts three through infinity, we are ending our foray into evolution here. But hold on, because on this episode we take a look at the philosophical and rational underpinnings of evolution. We examine the idea as it transitions from theological into its post-enlightenment rational theory. Also featured is the Birmingham Lunar Society. What? Links: Kenya bishop leads anti-evolution fight | Science A PHILOSOPHICAL ROMANCE: Thomas Day Denis Diderot and science: Enlightenm...
May 18, 2021•38 min
In part one of this two part exploration of evolution, John dives into the idea of evolution as seen from the past and present. We also learn a bit about how many people actually believe in evolution both in the States and abroad. The numbers may surprise you! For a deep dive into WAWTAR, register for our weekly "WAWTAR Podcourse". This semester's course is called "Are you a Communist, a Capitalist, or a Christian?" Find out more about the course and how to join (it's never to late!) here . Inte...
May 11, 2021•33 min
Are we suffering from a thanksgiving problem? Is giving thanks irrational (but really...is it?). Today John and Dan look at a bunch of hardcore "light" people (post-enlightenment people) who argue that in fact, your gratitude may be something akin to a vestigial organ. Of course the Old World will have something to say about that. Welcome to episode 43 of WAWTAR! Links: 5 Things You Should Do First Thing In The Morning To Be Happier All Day The Mayan ceremony : Mystico Mayan Dawkins talk at 30:5...
Apr 27, 2021•51 min
You read it right. Uncles Seth is both A) back again and B) calculating how long he has left on this earth. Things are light despite the topic so we hope you'll join us yet again as everyone wonders aloud, "Why are we talking about rabbits?" --- For a deep dive into WAWTAR, register for our weekly "WAWTAR Podcourse". This semester's course is called "Are you a Communist, a Capitalist, or a Christian?" Find out more about the course and how to join (it's never to late!) here . Interested in joini...
Apr 22, 2021•1 hr 40 min
This week WAWTAR is proud and honored to be hosting Eugene Vodolazkin. John and Eugene explore topics related to time and history, memory and of course, Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Mr. Vodolazkin is an internationally recognized author, having written Laurus and The Aviator (links below), and has submitted published articles to the First Things magazine. Enjoy this wonderful talk with Eugene and make sure to check out his works. Links: Articles for First Things Magazine Laurus The Aviator For a deep div...
Apr 13, 2021•57 min
Hello and welcome (back!) to WAWTAR. After a week off we are back and talking about something on everyone's mind, wait, face. Of course we had to talk about masks at some point and we finally got around to it. What are they really? What are they in the "Old World?" And for us... what are they in the "New World?" Links: Behind the Mask: The History and Symbolism of the Pandemic Icon How Face Masks Became A Powerful Symbol Of Expression In Dark Times MASKS OF THE SPIRIT - by Peter and Roberta Mark...
Apr 05, 2021•48 min
Most of us live in one, but what is it really? A place to live? A place to work? What about a place to become human? Or discover your purpose? Yikes. Don't worry though, Heers keeps things light as we dip into the idea of a city. Links: The Line - A Linear City in Saudi Arabia The Republic - Plato Coomaraswamy, Ananda (Amazon Link) For a deep dive into WAWTAR, register for our weekly "WAWTAR Podcourse". This semester's course is called "Are you a Communist, a Capitalist, or a Christian?" Find ou...
Mar 23, 2021•35 min
James Mohebali, Chinese medicine practitioner, joins John today to talk a little bit about Eastern and Western medicine and a lot about the heart. You see, it may not just be a pump moving blood around. James takes us away from a mechanistic viewpoint and (re)introduces ideas that have been around for a very long time. Links: Rudolph Steiner The Notions of the Five Essential Elements in Chinese Medicine Dr. James Mohebali, L.Ac. For a deep dive into WAWTAR, register for our weekly "WAWTAR Podcou...
Mar 16, 2021•1 hr 14 min
What is Capitalism? Is it an economic model or something more? We take a look at Adam Smith and his contemporaries to better understand what capitalism actually is, which as John argues, is much more than a system of economics. Rather the extension of an idea called individualism. Links: How did the Enlightenment Influence Modern Economics Clark Carlton: My Two Cents on Capitalism Ayn Rand: Introduction to the Objectivist Epistemology JSJ Consulting: Write us at johnheers@first-things.org For a ...
Mar 09, 2021•51 min
On todays episode of WAWTAR Heers talks with Roifield Brown. Roifield is known for his "10 American Presidents" podcast, but also produces six more and has published hundreds of episodes total. He is the founder of MyVillage.com , has radio shows, directed live TV and has contributed to the Huffington Post from time to time. He also happens to be an avid international traveler. Today Heers and Roifield talk about what is eating away at the foundations of the great American experiment and on bein...
Mar 02, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Welcome to episode 35 of WAWTAR. Today Heers looks at the life of General Curtis LeMay and his thoughts on air combat and how that relates (it does) to modern love and marriage. But more importantly we examine what it is we base our decisions on in life. Links: Bomber Mafia, Revisionist History Land Your Man podcast What is a Sutra (Wikipedia) For a deep dive into WAWTAR, register for our weekly "WAWTAR Podcourse" with John Heers. This semester's title is "Are you a Communist, a Capitalist, or a...
Feb 23, 2021•40 min
He's back. It's Uncle Seth again and we're discussing "cancel culture," New World commandments, and if it's possible to be friends with people on the other side of the political divide. You know it's going to get spicy when Uncle Seth shows up... --- For a deep dive into WAWTAR, register for our weekly "WAWTAR Podcourse" with John Heers. This semester's title is "Are you a Communist, a Capitalist, or a Christian?" Find out more about the course and how to join (it's never to late!) here . Intere...
Feb 16, 2021•1 hr
