Bobby Maddex interviews Dr. Phillip Walker, the brother of Fr. Gordon Walker of Blessed Memory. He is the editor and compiler of the new AFP book Led By His Love: An Evangelical Pastor’s Journey to the Orthodox Faith.

On a new “classics” edition of Ex Libris, the podcast of Ancient Faith Publishing, we re-explore one of the more timeless AFP offerings. Featured today is the book Surprised by Christ: My Journey from Judaism to Orthodox Christianity by Fr. James Bernstein.

Who should decide what is best for a child, the parents or medical professionals and the state?

Apple and art house film company A24 are in early development on a film about convicted crypto scammer Sam Bankman-Fried with a script written by Lena Dunham, Variety reported. The project will be based on the Michael Lewis book Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon that many critics found overly deferential to Bankman-Fried. 

The book describes the dizzying rise and equally vertiginous fall of Bankman-Fried and his FTX crypto exchange and Alameda hedge fund. However, it paints the FTX founder as a benevolent prodigy and glosses over the fact that he embezzled billions of dollars from customers and spent it on things like celebrity endorsements, political donations and high-end real-estate purchases.  

FTX was worth billions at its peak, but the exchange eventually collapsed and Bankman-Fried was convicted of fraud and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Most FTX customers will get their original investments back, plus interest, but that's based on a bitcoin price of around $17,000 — and the current price is nearly five times that.

Basing the film on Lewis's fawning hagiography isn't a promising start. Hopefully, Dunham or other writers will also draw on far better books (like Numbers Go Up by Zeke Faux) that show the dark, scammy side of crypto promoters like Bankman-Fried and the entire industry in general.

Apple Original Films and A24 have announced other collaborations recently, including the Spike Lee and Denzel Washington film High and Low. Other scripted FTX projects are also in the works, including a limited Amazon Prime series from the Russo brothers based on the 2022 FTX collapse. 

Dr. Marcus Plested, the Academic Director of the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge, addresses the theme of Love at the 2009 IOCS Summer School. Please note that this episode is not up to our usual audio standards. For this we apologize.

Dr. Albert Rossi interviews Chaplain Sarah Byrne-Martelli, co-host of the AFR podcast "A Wounded Healer," on the upcoming OCAMPR conference. OCAMPR stands for The Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology and Religion.

Fr. Lawrence Farley argues that we must show love for all people—male or female, straight or gay or transgendered—but as we articulate and transmit our Christian culture to our young and to our catechumens, we must also take care to include a traditional understanding of gender.

Fr. Philip LeMasters responds to a review on National Public Radio of the new film Straight Outta Compton. "If we will cheat, abuse, or simply use others sexually, we will take a long step down a path toward forms of corruption that we do not control well at all."

Ancient Faith Radio presents Fr. James Early speaking at the Festival of Icons in Houston, Texas. Fr. James Early serves as the assistant pastor of St. Joseph Antiochian Orthodox Church in Houston, Texas, and the title of his talk is “From Baptist to Bosnia to Byzantium.”

Combined, Fr. John and Fr. Stephen have been involved with prison ministry for well over 50 years. From their experiences in this work, they speak on the important concept of "Ministry of Presence" that is truly vital for all Orthodox Christians to understand. This concept is brought to life by the stories they share from their ministries. This presentation was given in Houston as part of an Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry gathering. Fr. John Kowalczyk is the priest of St. Michael's Church in Jermyn, PA, the Chancellor of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania, a Chaplain at S.C.I. Waymart's Forensic Treatment Center for over 27 years, teaches at St. Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary, and is the Director of their Field Education Program. Fr. John is a member of the Board of Directors of Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry. Fr. Stephen Powley is the priest of St. John the Baptist Church in Pueblo, CO, and is the Assistant Director of Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry. He served as a Prison Chaplain for almost 26 years until his retirement in August of 2010. During that time he served as a chaplain in every security level of prison from minimum to maximum.

Bobby Maddex interviews Lesia Maruschak of Studio IKONA, an art gallery in Ottawa, Canada, that will soon be hosting a four-day symposium titled Byzantium, which will feature the sacred art of Georgios Kordis and benefit the charity cure: blood cancer.

Bobby Maddex interviews Kyranna Mamalakis, Alexandra Mamalakis, and Regina Vasilopoulos of the Unfading Rose Byzantine Youth Choir. He also speaks with Sotiris and Georgia Vasilopoulos, who are the directors of the choir. The six discuss the new Unfading Rose CD Hymns to the Mother of God.

John Michael Boyer and Dn. John El Massih join us to talk about their new Byzantine chant CD for Nativity - Sun of Justice. This debut release by the ensemble PRÓTO presents traditional chants for the Byzantine celebration of Christmas, including selections from The Royal Hours, Vespers, Matins, and the Divine Liturgy. A deluxe 32-page booklet is included with full texts in Greek, Arabic, and English.

At the dinner following the 33rd Annual Schmemann Lecture at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary, Dr. Charles Ajalat, the former chancellor for the Antiochian Archdiocese and the co-founder of International Orthodox Christian Charities, presented a plan for a governing structure of the world wide Orthodox Church. Also see transcript below. Earlier in the evening, Dr. Ajalat received an honorary doctorate in Canon Law. Here he is with his January 31, 2016, proposal.

Bobby Maddex interviews Joel J. Miller, the author of a brand new book from Thomas Nelson publishers titled Lifted by Angels: The Presence and Power of Our Heavenly Guides and Guardians.

Richard Barrett, protopsaltis and choir director at Holy Dormition Greek Orthodox Church in Somerville, MA—and the co-host of A Sacrifice of Praise—interviews Amy Hogg, Samuel Herron, and Gabriel Cremeens, the individuals behind the new Trisagion School of Byzantine Music, an online Byzantine Chant training program whose mission it is to offer Byzantine Chant instruction in English with a focus on the ever-growing English-language repertoire available in Byzantine notation.

Fr. Pat preaches on the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness as told in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 4.

Fr. Pat reflects upon the encounter between Jesus and the woman with the chronic bleeding who touched the hem of His robe.

As Christians, we're called to union with each other and God. Yet we're constantly stuck in divisions, both external and internal. So how are we supposed to achieve true union? The answer is forgiveness: God's invitation to share the same space with Him.

Is faith alone enough to save us? Father Barnabas Powell, an Orthodox priest and former Protestant, joins Steve to consider this important question.

We've spent the last two episodes exploring how the internet shifts our attention from Christ and makes it harder than ever to be holy. In this episode, we're going to say goodbye by pointing to three things that need to shape the future of our homes and communities. We need to encounter Christ, embody the Church, and engage the world in His name.

(screenshots) An official statement from Google says the site was designed to "provide content owners an easy way to give us access to their content". (more screenshots)

Uses Ajax and some other web2.0-ish features.

World number one Jannik Sinner says he is "surprised" by the World Anti-Doping Agency's appeal against the decision to clear him of blame after he twice tested positive for a banned substance.

Novak Djokovic says he is shocked and overwhelmed by the news that his "greatest rival" Rafael Nadal will retire at the end of the season.

British number one Katie Boulter is comfortably beaten in straight sets by top seed Diana Shnaider in the final of the Hong Kong Open.

Warren Gatland joins Chris, Ashy and Ugo to discuss his Wales squad and we talk Newcastle

Chris and Ashy head to Jersey to chat to double World Cup winning coach Rassie Erasmus.

Chris and Tom look ahead to the start of the Autumn Nation Series.

Chris, Ashy and Matt Dawson react to New Zealand's dramatic win over England.

Chris, Matt Dawson and Paul Grayson bring you reaction to a crazy game at Twickenham.

England's review of their last-gasp defeat by Australia was "brutal" but exactly what the squad needed, says wing Ollie Sleightholme.

Ugo, Danny and Chris reflect on a difficult weekend for the home nations.

Major Test nations need to play more matches overseas to help the game bring in more fans and money says World Rugby chair candidate Brett Robinson.

Rory McIlroy hopes the presence at the Dunhill Links Championship of the men involved in talks aimed at ending the split in men's professional golf is a "good sign".

Australian golfer Jeffrey Guan has lost sight in his left eye after being hit by a ball at a pro-am tournament.