Counterflow with Buck Johnson

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 395 - January 6th: Power, Lies, and the Cost of Truth, with Stewart Rhodes Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

In this interview, we speak with Oath Keepers founder and firsthand participant in the January 6 events, Stewart Rhodes, to explore what actually happened that day, from early morning intentions to the chaos that unfolded, the legal aftermath, and the long-term personal consequences.

We examine the gap between mainstream media narratives and lived experience, discuss federal involvement, accountability, and political responsibility, and reflect on the mental, spiritual, and moral toll of becoming a symbol in one of the most polarizing events in modern American history.

For more information on Stewart, go here: https://oathkeepers.info

...and here: https://givesendgo.com/Oath

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Ep. 394 - Will the Catholic Church Reunite with the Orthodox Church? with Fr Emmanuel Lemelson Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Buck sits down with Fr. Emmanuel Lemelson to discuss a recent event widely framed as a historic step toward Christian unity, and why, from an Orthodox perspective, it feels anything but unifying.

Drawing from firsthand experience and deep ecclesial memory, the conversation explores why language of "unity" often masks unresolved (and unresolvable) theological differences between Rome and Orthodoxy. Together, they speak candidly about papal authority, conciliarity, modern ecumenism, and why converts are often the first to feel the spiritual consequences of institutional ambiguity.

This is not a polemic but a sober conversation about truth, faithfulness, and what Orthodoxy cannot surrender without ceasing to be itself.

For more from Fr Emmanuel, check these links:

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Lemelson Substack: https://lemelson.substack.com

Connect with @Lemelson on social media: https://facebook.com/lemelson https://twitter.com/Lemelson https://instagram.com/lemelson https://tiktok.com/@fr_emmanuel_lemelson https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmanuellemelson

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Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com

Audio Production by Podsworth Media: https://www.podsworth.com

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Ep. 393 - The Orthodox Family Life, with Christina Taylor Dec 24, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, we're joined by Christina Taylor, founder of Orthodox Family Life, for a wide-ranging and honest conversation about marriage, parenting, education, and faithfulness in a desensitized modern world.

Christina shares her personal journey into Orthodoxy, how her understanding of family life has deepened over time, and the unique pressures Orthodox parents face today—especially converts raising children without the support of extended Orthodox communities.

We explore the tension between overprotective parenting and permissiveness, the roles of men and women within marriage, the lingering effects of feminism inside and outside the Church, and the challenges of raising children faithfully amid cultural chaos.

This episode is especially for parents (and future parents) asking not just what to teach their children but who they are becoming.

For more from Christina, go here : https://www.youtube.com/@UCyVEOCzGT9E-wE86PPJ01tA

Sponsor:

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Ep. 392 - What is Knowledge, and How Do We Actually Know the Truth? Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I speak with Fr. Deacon Ananias about Orthodox epistemology and the claim that true knowledge is not grounded in autonomous reason but in God's self-revelation. Contrasting Athens and Jerusalem, this conversation explores why Orthodoxy understands truth not as an idea, but as a Person: Jesus Christ.

We discuss revelation as theophany, the limits of philosophy, the apophatic tradition, and how knowledge in the Church is personal, communal, and transformative, not merely intellectual.

Topics include: - East vs. West on knowledge and reason - Revelation as encounter, not information - Apophatic knowing and humility - Philosophy: rejected, redeemed, or baptized? - Why truth is known in communion

For more from Fr Deacon Ananias, go here: https://www.patristicfaith.com

...and here: https://www.youtube.com/@esorem

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Ep. 391 - From Protestant Pastor to Orthodox Christian, with Ben from Cleave to Antiquity Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

My guest this week is Ben, host of Cleave to Antiquity. Formerly an associate pastor in a Protestant Evangelical church and active in online Protestant apologetics, Ben began to realize that many of the arguments he made against Orthodox theology and dogma didn't hold up. That realization forced him to confront some difficult truths and make major changes in his life.

Today, Ben is a catechumen in the Orthodox Church. We talk about his journey, what led him to re-examine his assumptions, and the lessons he has learned along the way.

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Ep. 390 - The Antichrist is a Nice Guy, with Fr Zechariah Lynch Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, we dig into the idea that the Antichrist might not show up as some dark, terrifying figure, but instead as a really nice guy. The article we're discussing suggests he'll look peaceful, tolerant, reasonable, and even compassionate. In other words, the kind of leader most people would cheer for.

We talk about why that kind of "niceness" can actually be the most dangerous form of deception. Modern culture often tells us that being a good person just means being kind, promoting unity, and making life comfortable, but the article points out that goodness without God slowly pushes real spiritual life out of the picture.

We get into how our culture's obsession with progress, peace, and material well-being makes it easy to confuse charm with truth. We also look at what the Church Fathers say about the Antichrist's personality: that he'll win people over with flattery and a gentle demeanor before revealing what he's really after.

In short, this is a conversation about discernment: how to recognize the difference between true goodness and a polished counterfeit, especially in a world that loves a friendly face.

For the article , go here: https://open.substack.com/pub/inklesspen/p/the-antichrist-is-a-nice-guy

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Ep. 389 - The Spiritual Formation of Men & Women, with Metropolitan Jonah Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

In this deeply pastoral and wide-ranging conversation, Buck chats with Metropolitan Jonah to discuss the surge of interest in Orthodox Christianity, the spiritual formation of newcomers, and the timeless wisdom the Church offers to a restless modern world. From the inner life of the believer to practical struggles facing parishes today, this episode provides both clarity and compassion for anyone seeking to understand Orthodoxy more deeply — or walk it more faithfully.

Sponsors: Perfect Spiral Capital: https://PerfectSpiralCapital.com/counterflow

Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow

Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com

Audio Production by Podsworth Media: https://www.podsworth.com

Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!

Ep. 388 - Christ as Truth and Truth as Christ, with Protodeacon Patrick Mitchell Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

Protodeacon Patrick Mitchell returns to the show to discuss his new book, Christ as Truth and Truth as Christ. In this conversation, we explore what it truly means that Christ is Truth—not as a concept, not as a feeling, but as a living Person. Protodeacon Patrick helps us unpack the difference between objective truth and the modern world's obsession with "personal truth," showing how our understanding of Truth shapes everything from our love for others to our view of the world.

We then examine the five great enemies of Truth: Gnosticism, Romanticism, Anarchism, Nihilism, and Tribalism, each of which distorts the human mind and heart in its own way. Along the way, we discuss the God of Israel and the temptation to make the self the measure of all things.

This is a deep-dive into how Truth, rightly understood, leads us not into ideology or isolation, but into the life of Christ Himself.

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Get the new Counterflow T-shirt before it sells out! Visit https://www.counterflowpodcast.com/store or send $30 via PayPal to buck@counterflowpodcast.com with your size and shipping address!

Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow

Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com

Audio Production by Podsworth Media: https://www.podsworth.com

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Ep. 387 - It's Not a War of Disinformation; It's a War of Discernment, with Mano Elia Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I'm joined again by Mano Elia for a wide-ranging conversation on discernment, community, and the spiritual struggle of our time.

We're not in an age where truth is hidden anymore; everything, from truth to lies, is out in the open. The real challenge is no longer finding information, but seeing clearly through it. What we face now isn't a war of disinformation; it's a war of discernment.

Mano and I zoom out from the noise of world events to explore the deeper physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions of our modern crisis. We discuss how evil reveals itself openly in today's culture, how digital life isolates us, and why the ultimate answer isn't political power or conspiracy-chasing, but a return to Christ, creativity, and tangible community.

The conversation also challenges common misunderstandings about the so-called "black pill" mindset. While many look for salvation in politics or cultural battles, Mano and I argue that the only true white pill is Christ Himself.

For more of Mano's content, go here: https://www.skool.com/the-bored-no-more-network-8401

...and here: https://borednomore.net

Sponsors: Fox n Sons Coffee: https://www.foxnsons.com Code: BUCK15

Perfect Spiral Capital: https://PerfectSpiralCapital.com/counterflow

Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow

Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com

Audio Production by Podsworth Media: https://www.podsworth.com

Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!

Ep. 386 - Antisemitism and the Church, with GM Davis Oct 28, 2025

Show notes

My guest this week is someone you might remember from last year when we talked about his book, Antichrist: The Fulfillment of Globalization (from Uncut Mountain Press).

He's back with us today to dig into the themes from his recent article, Is God an Antisemite? (on Orthodox Ethos).

We get into what antisemitism actually means, the roots of Rabbinic Judaism, and how all of this connects to Christ and His Church — and what it all means for us today.

Sponsors: Perfect Spiral Capital: https://PerfectSpiralCapital.com/counterflow

Get the new Counterflow T-shirt before it sells out! Visit https://www.counterflowpodcast.com/store or send $30 via PayPal to buck@counterflowpodcast.com with your size and shipping address!

Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow

Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com

Audio Production by Podsworth Media: https://www.podsworth.com

Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!

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