Everyday Orthodox artwork

Everyday Orthodox

219 episodes - English - Latest episode: 18 days ago - ★★★★ - 29 ratings

Meeting interesting Orthodox people

Christianity Religion & Spirituality orthodox church christianity community story discovery struggle tales
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed

Episodes

Meet Presvytera Melanie DeStefano !

March 11, 2024 05:00

Pres. Melanie and her husband, Fr. Joseph, have one son, Michael Seraphim, whose special needs greatly impact his health and independence. She works to encourage families who face similar challenges and to dispel cultural stigmas associated with disabilities.

Meet Fr. Eugen Rosu!

February 26, 2024 06:00

Fr. Eugen is the author of Church Ministries on a Shoestring Budget, a subject he knows well, having established mission churches in Pittsburgh, PA, and Columbus, OH. A husband and father, he has been a priest for 32 years, and speaks on Pastoral Theology and other topics.

Meet Michael Witcoff!

February 05, 2024 06:00 - 54.3 MB

Michael Witcoff is one of Elissa's AHOS classmates. He grew up Jewish, and then became a Freemason, before converting to Orthodox Christianity. His book ‘On The Masons And Their Lies’ was written to help communicate the fraternity’s incompatibility with Christianity.

Meet Marie Reba !

January 29, 2024 06:00

Marie is cradle Orthodox from the coal region of Pennsylvania. She married her best friend and they have three adult children. She is outgoing and fun, and works as a Medical Assistant. Her family was always active in the Church, laying a firm foundation for her.

Meet Katherine Hyde!

January 15, 2024 06:00

Katherine is a wonderful author, and has been an editor at Ancient Faith since 1993. She has written several children's books, as well as the Crime with the Classics series of traditional mysteries for adults. She and her husband have recently moved to the Pacific Northwest.

Meet Christopher Gonzalez-Aden !

January 08, 2024 06:00

Christopher is a figurative artist working primarily in a type of Biblical Narrative. He has a degree in Drawing and Painting from Biola University and has been a work-from-home artist and homeschooler. He and his wife lead the Burial Society ministry at their parish

Meet Fr. Patrick O' Grady!

December 18, 2023 14:02

Fr. Patrick is Elissa's Liturgical Theology professor at AHOS, and author of Come, Let Us Worship. Though he grew up Protestant in New Jersey, he spent most of his life as an Orthodox priest on the West Coast.

Meet Fr. Patrick O’ Grady!

December 18, 2023 13:52 - 57 minutes - 53.1 MB

Fr. Patrick is Elissa's Liturgical Theology professor at AHOS, and author of Come, Let Us Worship. Though he grew up Protestant in New Jersey, he spent most of his life as an Orthodox priest on the West Coast

Meet Jimmy (Santiago) Garcia !

December 11, 2023 06:00

For 22 years, Jimmy (Santiago) Garcia has worked as Operations Coordinator, Director and Child Care Administrator at a long-term residential program for at-risk teens. A convert to Orthodoxy and church school teacher, he and his wife, Veronica, are raising two grandkids.

Kh. Kelleylynn Barberg!

December 04, 2023 06:00

Kh. Kelleylynn is a gifted photographer and the administrator at St. Athanasius Academy. She is the mother of five and wife to Fr. Raphael in New York state. Funny and soulful, Kelleylynn loves deeply and is an engaging and compassionate woman you'll enjoy getting to know.

Meet Dr. Pano Kanelos !

November 20, 2023 06:00

Dr. Pano Kanelos is the Founding President of the University of Austin. He previously served as President of St. John’s College, Annapolis. Pano is a Shakespeare scholar, a husband and father, and an active member of his Greek Orthodox parish in Austin, Texas.

Meet Drew Chancey !

November 13, 2023 17:46

Drew Chancey is the author of Goodnight, Child of God, and writes a semi-monthly poetry newsletter. Drew and his wife Brittney, along with their four children, live in Tulsa, and attend Holy Apostles Orthodox Church where Drew sings in the men's choir.

Meet Simon Nelson!

November 06, 2023 06:01 - 54 minutes - 50.1 MB

Simon is a soil science graduate student as well as a husband and a new father. In addition to studying and helping his wife with the baby he also works with Ancient Faith on live-streaming shows on YouTube.

Meet Simon Nelson !

November 06, 2023 06:00

Simon is a soil science graduate student as well as a husband and a new father. In addition to studying and helping his wife with the baby he also works with Ancient Faith on live-streaming shows on YouTube.

Meet John Maddex, Retiree !

October 16, 2023 05:00

John Maddex was the founder and CEO of Ancient Faith Ministries, and then he stepped down -- but what has he been up to since then? We'll catch up on how retirement is going and what John plans next.

200th Episode Special: Meet Elissa !

October 09, 2023 05:00

To celebrate our 200th episode, we welcome special guest, Helena Bjeletich, who will interview her mom, Elissa Bjeletich Davis!

Meet Fr. Raphael Barberg

October 02, 2023 05:00

After 20 years serving the police department, Lt. Raphael Barberg retired and became an Orthodox priest! He works with IOCC to minister when catastrophes occur (9/11, mass shootings, natural disasters, etc.), and serves at St. George in Niagara Falls, NY.

Meet Lynnette Horner

September 25, 2023 05:00

Blogger, podcaster, gardener, and regular gal-in-the-pews Lynnette Horner is an editor at Ancient Faith Publishing and hosts the blog and podcast "Walking an Ancient Path: Living and Learning Orthodox Christianity."

Meet Margaret Slaiman Ewing

September 18, 2023 05:01 - 59 minutes - 54.4 MB

Margaret is a delightful grandmother who found herself in a terrible car accident. Her experience there brought her an entirely new outlook on the Orthodox faith.

Meet Margaret Slaiman Ewing !

September 18, 2023 05:00

Margaret is a delightful grandmother who found herself in a terrible car accident. Her experience there brought her an entirely new outlook on the Orthodox faith.

Meet Max and Melia

August 28, 2023 05:00

Melia studied in Abu Dhabi and learned of Orthodoxy from Matt (a history buff and convert from California) while in New York City. Baptized in Tbilisi, Georgia, Melia works in cybersecurity and decorates her church through flower-arranging. Matt works as a paralegal and sings in the church choir.

Meet Buck Johnson

August 14, 2023 02:16

Buck Johnson is host of The Counterflow Podcast, a weekly show featuring discussions on spiritual warfare, culture, and politics. Buck is an Orthodox Christian and musician who has worked as a firefighter for more than 25 years.

Meet Kh. Gigi Shadid

August 07, 2023 12:51

Kh. Gigi Shadid is a delightful musician, best known for the children's albums she has created and loved by adults and children alike!

Meet Gordon James

July 24, 2023 01:55

Gordon James is a husband, father, and grandfather. He has lived in alcoholic idolatry, changed in AA sobriety, and come home to Orthodoxy. God gave this walking miracle the gift of desperation.

Meet Dr. Michael Wingert

July 10, 2023 01:58

Dr. Michael Wingert is a professor and a podcaster specializing in ancient medicine, philology, and theology. He's a Syriac Orthodox Christian of Assyrian heritage, and the Dean of Agora University. What's more, he's a dad, a husband, and a lot of fun.

Meet Amalyssa Johnson, PhD LP

June 26, 2023 01:38

Dr. Johnson bakes prosphora and teaches Sunday School, but her greatest ministry is surely her work as a clinical psychologist, serving children, teens and their families and offering support for all the struggles of life.

Meet Fr. Thomas Manuel

June 19, 2023 20:10

Fr. Thomas Manuel grew up in the Church, and with his wife, Elizabeth, served four years in Guatemala and southern Mexico as OCMC missionaries. Fr. Thomas taught at the seminary of San Andres, and upon his return to the US, was ordained a priest!

MeetFr. Thomas Manuel

June 19, 2023 20:09 - 58 minutes - 53.7 MB

Fr. Thomas Manuel grew up in the Church, and with his wife, Elizabeth, served four years in Guatemala and southern Mexico as OCMC missionaries. Fr. Thomas taught at the seminary of San Andres, and upon his return to the US, was ordained a priest!

Meet The Ritchey Brothers

June 11, 2023 21:31

Readers Stephen and Andrew Ritchey are brothers and creative partners from Birmingham, Alabama, where they serve at St. Symeon Orthodox Church. Together, they’ve released multiple books and activities, as well as an Orthodox musical children’s show.

Meet Jane Meyer !

May 22, 2023 02:41

Jane Meyer is a children's book author and editor and is heading up the new Ancient Faith Kids project on YouTube! She lives in Santa Barbara, where she homeschools her son, tends fruit trees, bakes bread, and enjoys turning cartwheels as often as possible.

Meet Jonah Martin !

May 15, 2023 01:40

Jonah Martin and his family raise goats and ducks, manage a large garden, and sell various foods and household goods at HoldfastFarmstead.com. Jonah manages St. Nicholas Press, records audiobooks, and makes wooden carved icons in the Byzantine style.

Meet Fr. Evan Armatas

May 08, 2023 01:58

You know Fr. Evan Armatas as the host of an Ancient Faith Radio live show, podcasts and as the author of two books, and now it's your chance to get to know him more personally!

Meet Kathryn Reetzke!

April 24, 2023 02:06

Kathryn is the author of "God's Saintly Friends", and is a wife and mother of four young children, Church School Director, and Adjunct Professor of History. She loves adult and children's literature and has a passion for education.

Meet Gabriel Wilson

April 03, 2023 02:02

This week, we'll be talking with Gabe Wilson, the artist behind several beautiful graphic novels about Orthodox saints. His latest, Sands of Salvation, is about St. Moses the Ethiopian!

Get to Know Fr. Stephen Freeman

March 27, 2023 02:33

We'll be talking with Fr. Stephen Freeman, podcaster, blogger, speaker, and author of the new book, Face to Face: Knowing God Beyond Our Shame. This is your chance to learn about Father's life, and to get to know him more personally.

Meet Clayton Dale, aka Nomadik Vagabond

March 13, 2023 00:21

Meet Clayton Dale, aka Nomadik Vagabond (born Clayton, baptized Moses, after Moses the Ethiopian) is an Orthodox Christian living in Portland, Oregon. He’s co-host of the Brews, Beards, & Shipwrecks podcast with Jamey Bennett. He’s a husband of 18 years with 2 teenagers.

Meet Meseker Yohannes

March 06, 2023 05:28

Meseker Yohannes was baptized into the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. After growing up in Nevada, he went to college in California where, after graduating, he began working as a software engineer at a solar software startup. He and his wife currently live in Dallas, TX.

Meet Derek Cummins

February 20, 2023 03:22

Derek grew up in a nominally Christian home, but REALLY met Christ while touring with a heavy metal band. He was a pastor in a charismatic church until deeper study led him to Orthodoxy. Derek and his wife, Rebekah, have 3 children.

Meet Sarah Byrne-Martelli

February 13, 2023 02:32

We'll be talking with Sarah Byrne-Martelli, a board-certified Orthodox Christian Palliative Care Chaplain, health care researcher, and author of Memory Eternal: Living with Grief as Orthodox Christians. Sarah and her husband Peter and son Rafael live in the Boston area.

Meet Ioana and Sebastien!

December 19, 2022 03:00

Meet Ioana and Sebastien! Dr. Ioana Popa is back, and she is bringing her husband, Sebastien Falardeau! We'll be talking about their experience of finding one another after divorce, embarking on a second marriage, and blending their families. Sebastien loves to cook, Ioana loves to garden, and together they co-founded Team For The Soul®. Hear all about it.

Meet Susan Zacharia

December 12, 2022 01:16

On Everyday Orthodox, Susan is a licensed clinical social worker and has been providing mental health care for the veteran population for 8 years, and she has a passion for advocating for mental health resources within Orthodox parish settings, particularly in ethnic parishes where the stigma of seeking care is prevalent. She is the current Vice-President of OCAMPR. Prior to this role, she served as the co-chair for the Needs Assessment Working Group with the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bi...

Meet Katrina Bitar from YES

December 05, 2022 04:04

On Everyday Orthodox, meet Katrina Bitar! Katrina has dedicated her life to serving Christ through work with young people. After graduating from St. Vladimir’s Seminary, she became the Director of Youth Equipped to Serve and worked for years as a summer camp director. Katrina's heart for service, for people, and for Christ is apparent in everything she does and we think you'll enjoy getting to know her.

Meet Kassiane

November 28, 2022 03:25

On Everyday Orthodox, we'll be live with Kassiane, the dynamic force behind Ancient Faith Ministries' Chinese Language Division. We'll talk about life in China and in North America, and about what it means to her to be to creating Orthodox materials in Chinese.

Meet Nazo Zakkak

November 21, 2022 01:34

On Everyday Orthodox, we will be live with Nazo Zakkak, the composer of the groundbreaking Mandarin Chinese Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom album commissioned and produced by Ancient Faith Ministries' Chinese Language Division.

Meet Zeina Livanos

November 14, 2022 01:14

On Everyday Orthodox, we talk with Zeina Livanos. Zeina is the author and creator of Zeina's Table on Instagram. She not only shares recipes but her life as a recipe collector, Orthodox Christian, wife, artist, and soon to be mother of 5.

Meet Dn. Romanos Slockett

October 31, 2022 03:18

This week on Everyday Orthodox, join us for an interview with icon carver and chanter, Dn. Romanos (Ron) Slockett. He is an Orthodox convert at St. Elias in Austin, Texas, is married to Sh. Jessica and has three children.

Meet Mena Mesiha

October 17, 2022 02:36

Mena was born into the Coptic Orthodox Church in Assiut Egypt, and moved to Puerto Rico and then to New York. He and his family now live in Massachusetts, where he and his wife are currently raising their young kids.

Meet Josh David Jordan

October 10, 2022 01:35

Meet Josh David Jordan! Josh began his career as an actor before transitioning to work behind the lens. When his short film, Sam and Gus, won several film festival awards, he decided to write/direct his full-length feature film, This World Won't Break, which won 14 festival awards, received distribution, theatrical release, and on every platform. Josh directed Joshua Ray Walker's hit single and directed the live spot on The Late Show with Jimmy Fallon. He is currently in pre-production for hi...

Meet Dr. Ioana Popa

October 03, 2022 10:54

Meet Dr. Ioana Popa! Join Elissa for a visit with Dr. Popa, a National Board Certified Life Coach, with a host of additional qualifications that help her provide support and healing to families, those who are grieving, and more.

Meet Lee Kopulos

October 03, 2022 10:52

Lee Kopulos has been an active contributing member of several parishes throughout his adult life, and works in prison ministry as well as missions and outreach.  He and his wife Linda have been married for 54b years, and have three adult children.