Best Richard Rohlin Podcasts (2025)

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428 - Why they want you to think Christmas is pagan 19:32

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1d ago19:32

19:32

In this video I discuss the persistence of the idea that Christmas was "stolen" by Christians from the pagans, or that it's secretly still pagan. Merry Christmas everyone. Christ is born! YouTube version: https://youtu.be/uh6rhiTrTnk Christmas symbolism playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVX4HUUPrIY9MeGP5IILeRzu62Q1NPT4C NEW COURSE: T…

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427 - Dr. Iain McGilchrist - Artificial Intelligence, Possession, and Mental Illness 1:13:36

8d ago1:13:36

1:13:36

In this conversation, I speak with British psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and author Dr. Iain McGilchrist about intelligence, mental illness, and AI. Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/DRtpKyKJcss Get Dr. McGilchrist’s books: https://channelmcgilchrist.com/home/ APPLICATIONS OPEN: Ralston seeks 25 students with the curiosity and courage to f…

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426 - Andrew Gould - Monks and Pirates: Two Extremes that Explain the Rest of Us 39:13

14d ago39:13

39:13

In this conversation filmed (by Deacon Seraphim Rohlin) in the Florida Keys, I sit down with my friend Andrew Gould to finally revisit a surprising claim he made years ago—that pirates and Orthodox monks share deep symbolic parallels. We discuss ships and treasure, costumes, death imagery, life on the edge of empire, all converging on how these two…

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425 - The Cosmic Dance of Decorating a Christmas Tree 11:26

17d ago11:26

11:26

This is a repost of a patron video I made several years ago about decorating the Christmas tree as a family. Support us for access to more video like this. Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/9y32OFyvskg NEW COURSE: The Quest for the Holy Grail with Dr. Martin Shaw In the dark heart of January, when the nights are long and the world draws cl…

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The Flood of St. Andrew

20d ago

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Delving into Old English sources, Fr. Andrew and Dcn. Seraphim read “Andreas,” the 10th-century poem that looks and sounds like Beowulf and tells the tale of how St. Andrew rescued St. Matthew from a city of cannibals.By Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, Dcn. Seraphim Richard Rohlin

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424 - Universal History: The American Religion - with Dcn Seraphim Rohlin 59:08

21d ago59:08

59:08

"Americans who think they are Christians, truly are something else; intensely religious, but devout in the American Religion." In this episode of Universal History, I sit down again with Deacon Seraphim Rohlin to explore the roots and characteristics of the true "American religion". We trace how movements in American history shaped the spiritual la…

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423 - Catholic Unscripted - Violence as the New Normal 56:57

28d ago56:57

56:57

This is a repost of an interview I did a few months ago on the Catholic Unscripted Podcast after the Charlie Kirk assassination. We discuss the topic of violence, the end of the World War 2 consensus, Israel, enchantment, science and technology, sex and gender, architecture, the structure of a normal vs a crumbling society, and more. Enjoy. YouTube…

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123 - There was an Old Inn

30d ago

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Fr. Anthony talks with returning founding host, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, as the Hobbits move forward from their encounter with Tom Bombadil and enter the village of Bree.By Fr. Anthony Cook, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick and Richard Rohlin

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Two Pilgrim Tales

1M ago

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Back from their pilgrimage to Scotland and Northumbria, Fr. Andrew and Dcn. Seraphim tell two tales from the road -- how St. Cædmon went from shepherd to hymnographer and how St. Oran insisted he be buried alive on Iona.By Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, Dcn. Seraphim Richard Rohlin

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422 - Why Exaggeration Is Necessary in Storytelling 26:25

1M ago26:25

26:25

Given we're still in the fall season, I watched The Conjuring and it got me thinking about how real events can become exaggerated in story form. In this video, I look at how legends are created, and that exaggeration of certain elements of an event can help amplify the meaning and purpose of why we're paying attention to it in the first place. Orig…

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421 - Deacon Seraphim (Richard) Rohlin - Recovering Our Heritage 57:26

1M ago57:26

57:26

I’m excited to share this powerful talk by Deacon Seraphim Rohlin, my collaborator at the Symbolic World Press and co-host of the Universal History Podcast. In this talk from the 2025 Touchstone Conference, he explores how we can recover our heritage and live an enchanted Christian life. The title of his talk originally was "The Deep Pattern: Re-En…

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420 - How Free Will Actually Works 19:08

2M ago19:08

19:08

This was September 2025's patron video that we decided to make public. Thank you to my supporters. I explore the question of free will, drawing on the insights of St. Maximus the Confessor. While thinkers like Sam Harris argue that free will is an illusion and always contingent on material circumstances, I show how the Christian understanding refra…

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419 - Trick or Treat: Halloween Symbolism in Little Red Riding Hood 23:51

2M ago23:51

23:51

Pre-order Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf now and get a free audiobook read by me, as well as an exclusive Q&A: https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/products/the-tale-of-little-red-riding-hood-and-the-big-bad-wolf 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://th…

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418 - The Symbolism of the Entire Divine Comedy in the First Canto 30:13

2M ago30:13

30:13

In this video, I read and reflect on the first canto of Dante’s Divine Comedy — the opening of Inferno. This incredible canto puts the entire poem in perspective, serving as a microcosm for Dante's journey through inferno, purgatory, and into paradise. I discuss in detail, line by line, the rich symbolism and meaning Dante conveys. YouTube version:…

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122 - Yellow Boots and Lots of Questions

2M ago

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Fr. Anthony talks with listener Brittany Miller, about chapters 6 through 8 of the Fellowship of the Ring, as a retrospective on these chapters before proceeding through the book.By Fr. Anthony Cook, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick and Richard Rohlin

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417 - Three Things Christians Must Do to Rebuild Culture (Touchstone talk) 49:02

2M ago49:02

49:02

This talk took place at the 2025 Touchstone conference, Great and Wonderful Days: Rediscovering the Christian Life in a Post-Christian Age. The title of my talk was “This is the Day”. https://www.touchstonemag.com/ Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/cnMk_GFpVbw I explore how our modern world—built on endless disruption and self-expression—h…

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416 - Tangled: The Triumph of Self-Realization 21:33

2M ago21:33

21:33

I explore how Disney’s Tangled reimagines the classic Rapunzel story and what these changes reveal about our modern world. Tangled captures a pivotal moment in Disney’s storytelling where there was a shift from the traditional fairy tale’s emphasis on a marriage union, to a more modern emphasis on personal self-realization. I also reflect on how th…

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415 - Charlie Kirk's Assassination: We have gone beyond the pale 24:45

3M ago24:45

24:45

Huge changes are happening in the political landscape. In this video, I reflect on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and how this moment has deeply affected me toward recognizing how broken our unity has become. Drawing on symbolic insights, I explore the danger of turning opposition into real enmity and the need to return to truth, forgiveness, an…

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The Wight Stuff

3M ago

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It was a graveyard smash. From the fjords to the graves, it caught on in a flash! Our hosts tell some Viking-age ghost stories, from Grettir’s late-night tussles with draugr to Angantyr’s rude awakening. Prepare for a monster mash of restless dead, barrow brawls, and heroes who know how to crash the crypt.In this very special episode recorded live …

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414 - Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin (Universal History) - American Folk Magic and Christianity: From the Reformation to Mormonism 1:29:19

3M ago1:29:19

1:29:19

Enchantment never truly disappeared from the modern world. In this episode of Universal History Deacon Seraphim Rohlin and I explore the world of magic and folk superstition in American Christianity. What is magic? Where’s the line between prayer and magic? Why did Protestant reformers ban holy water but keep belief in the devil? How did treasure-h…

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121 - Out of the Deep Water

3M ago

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Fr. Anthony talks with ten-time returning guest co-host Michael Haldas about the eighth chapter of Fellowship of the Ring, “Fog on the Barrow Downs,” as the hobbits leave the refuge of Tom Bombadil’s house and almost immediately fall into terrible peril and near disaster.By Fr. Anthony Cook, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick and Richard Rohlin

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413 - Heidi White - The Divided Soul: Duty and Desire in Literature and Life 47:50

3M ago47:50

47:50

In this conversation, I sit down with author and educator Heidi White to discuss her new book, The Divided Soul. We explore the story of the prodigal son, the tension between duty and desire, and how these themes echo through literature, culture, and our own lives. Heidi shares insights from the Bible, classical works, and pop culture, showing that…

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412 - The Age of Self-Esteem 27:03

3M ago27:03

27:03

This is August's patron video that I decided to make public. In it I explore the modern idea of self-esteem—where it came from, how it shapes our culture, and why it so often leads us into confusion and disorder. I contrast this with the Christian vision of humility, which offers a path to true freedom and joy. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/e__…

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411 - Dr. Michael Levin & Dr. John Vervaeke - Brave New Biology: Intelligence Trumps DNA 1:24:15

3M ago1:24:15

1:24:15

Dr. Michael Levin is a professor in the Department of Biology at Tufts University and an associate faculty member at the Wyss Institute at Harvard. He directs the Allen Discovery Center at Tufts, where his team integrates biophysics, computational modeling, and behavioral science to study how cellular collectives make decisions during embryogenesis…

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Sleeping Beauty and the Bird Bombardier

3M ago

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The hosts of The Great Tales podcast read and discuss two strange, dark, wondrous, and perplexing fairy tales: Little Briar Rose (aka Sleeping Beauty) and The Juniper Tree.By Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, Dcn. Seraphim Richard Rohlin

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410 - Fractals: The World Is Full of Meaning (Midwestuary talk) 45:56

3M ago45:56

45:56

I’ve spoken about fractals on my channel for many years. In this talk, I explore the topic directly—showing how fractals are a fundamental structure of reality. Understanding these patterns is essential if we want to see the world symbolically and build true fellowship rooted in spirit rather than mere rules. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/S6xHk…

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409 - The Strange Symbolism of K-Pop Demon Hunters: Shame, Attention, LGBT, Jung 26:13

4M ago26:13

26:13

I finally watched K-Pop Demon Hunters after so many of you kept asking about it. In this episode, I explore the strange mix of symbolism: demons, idols, and the way the film deals with shame, music, and attention. There are fascinating elements in the story, but also some deep problems from a symbolic and Christian perspective. Let’s dive in togeth…

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Thunderstruck: The Thebaid of Statius

4M ago

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Join Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick & Dcn. Seraphim Richard Rohlin as they bring #HotThebanSummer to a close with Statius's Thebaid: an epic of impious hatred, monstrous serpents, and shocking horrors.By Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, Dcn. Seraphim Richard Rohlin

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408 - Andrew Gould & Michael Diamant - Architecture: The Most Important Art 1:12:35

4M ago1:12:35

1:12:35

In this conversation I’m joined by Andrew Gould and Michael Diamant to explore the importance of traditional architecture and city planning. We discuss why so much of our built environment feels alienating, how modernism abandoned human proportion and beauty, and why recovering classical forms matters for culture, community, and even our spiritual …

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407 - Heather Pollington - Rapunzel and the Evil Witch 1:01:35

4M ago1:01:35

1:01:35

📖 RAPUNZEL AND THE EVIL WITCH IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR SALE: https://rapunzelbook.com/ Heather Pollington and I are thrilled to share our brand-new storybook with you, 'Rapunzel and the Evil Witch'! Following 'Snow White and the Widow Queen' and 'Jack and the Fallen Giants', this third fairy tale feels like the culmination of our work so far. With this…

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120 - Tom Is Master

4M ago

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Fr. Anthony talks with Rob Clark about the seventh chapter of Fellowship of the Ring, “In the House of Tom Bombadil,” as the hobbits arrive at this strange and beautiful place of refuge and respite.By Fr. Anthony Cook, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick and Richard Rohlin

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Seven Against Thebes

4M ago

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Fr. Andrew and Dcn. Seraphim continue their #HotThebanSummer with the story of the Seven Against Thebes -- the great war against the Bronze Age city of Thebes, which Hesiod said, along with the Trojan War, was one of the two great wars of the Fourth Age, the Age of Heroes.By Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, Dcn. Seraphim Richard Rohlin

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406 - Symbolism Explained: The Fundamental WWII Duality That Still Haunts Us Today 21:23

4M ago21:23

21:23

In this episode, I explore the symbolism of World War II through the imagery of the Axis and the Allies. Beyond politics, these symbols reveal a deeper story about unity and multiplicity—the tension between the “one” and the “many.” I look at how the propaganda and narratives of that time shaped the post-war consensus we still live in today, and wh…

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O Tomb, My Bridal-Bed (Antigone Part 2)

5M ago

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Fr. Andrew and Dcn. Seraphim conclude their reading of “Antigone,” the tale of a sister who will stop at nothing to give her brother his burial.By Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, Dcn. Seraphim Richard Rohlin

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405 - Fr. Josiah Trenham - Marriage: The Bedrock of Civilization 1:07:50

5M ago1:07:50

1:07:50

In this episode, Father Josiah Trenham returns to the podcast for us to talk about the profound meaning and cosmic significance of marriage. We explore why marriage is a crucial civilizational cornerstone rooted in divine order, not only from a Christian perspective, but universally in all flourishing societies. We discuss how it compares to and co…

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404 - Fr. Stephen De Young - How to Read Extra-Biblical Texts Like Jubilees (and Why It Matters) 52:04

5M ago52:04

52:04

Fr. Stephen De Young returns to the channel to explore how we should approach extra-Biblical literature—looking especially at the Book of Jubilees in anticipation of his upcoming Symbolic World course: Jubilees and the Nephilim. We discuss a different, more ancient way of doing theology—through story, ritual, poetry, and image rather than flat mode…

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119 - Willows & Ashes & Oaks (oh my!)

5M ago

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Fr. Anthony talks with arborist Mark Caldwell, about the sixth chapter of Fellowship of the Ring, “The Old Forest,” as the hobbits leave the Shire behind and enter into the Wide World in a place that is not at all wide and open.By Fr. Anthony Cook, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick and Richard Rohlin

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403 - Why you might want to watch the new Superman movie 24:55

5M ago24:55

24:55

In this episode I reflect on the symbolism behind Superman as a figure rooted in American mythology and post-WWII identity. I also discuss the new Superman movie by James Gunn, which actually has an interesting twist that can help us understand not just the superhero archetype, but also the crucial and relevant question of the immigrant or convert.…

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402 - Universal History - Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin - The Spirits Beneath America: Fairies and Founding Fathers 1:36:14

5M ago1:36:14

1:36:14

In this episode of Universal History, I sit down with Deacon Seraphim (Richard Rohlin) on the 4th of July to explore the topic of fairies and titular spirits, especially as it relates to the US. We discuss America’s founding, the myth of Oedipus, heroes and monsters, boundaries of identity, stories of water spirits and crossing into territories, al…

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Unwept, Unburied (Antigone Part 1)

6M ago

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Continuing the Oedipal story, Fr. Andrew and Dcn. Seraphim read the Sophocles play "Antigone," the tale of a sister who will stop at nothing to give her brother his burial.By Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, Dcn. Seraphim Richard Rohlin

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401 - Robin Hood: The Original Green Man (Nottingham talk) 1:15:09

6M ago1:15:09

1:15:09

I was invited to give this talk on Robin Hood in Nottingham—just a stone’s throw from Sherwood Forest—on the feast of Pentecost. What began as a reflection on a beloved folk hero opened into something deeper: a meditation on rebellion, trickery, legitimacy, and the strange holiness that's possible for jesters and outlaws. In this talk, I explore ho…

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Who Will Receive the Wandering Oedipus?

6M ago

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Continuing their series on the sad tales of Oedipus, Fr. Andrew and Dcn. Seraphim discuss the Sophocles play “Oedipus at Colonus,” in which the burial place of the cursed Oedipus becomes the center of a family feud.By Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, Dcn. Seraphim Richard Rohlin

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400 - A Dangerous Movie in the Best Way Possible 36:07

6M ago36:07

36:07

I had the pleasure of speaking with filmmaker Josh David Jordan about his new movie El Tonto Por Cristo. It’s a black-and-white art film set in a Texas monastery — poetic, strange, and deeply moving. What struck me most is how the film weaves together powerful Orthodox imagery, the mystery of the holy fool, all with a totally unique visual language…

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118 - One Last Look at the Shire

6M ago

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Fr. Anthony talks with his original Tolkien Interlocutor, Josh Cook, about the first five chapters of the Fellowship of the Ring, returning to some of the essential themes that we have identified over the past several months.By Fr. Anthony Cook, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick and Richard Rohlin