• Is There a Distinct Anglican Spirituality? | Fr. Matthew C. Dallman
    Jun 15 2026

    In this video, I'm joined by Fr. Matthew C. Dallman to discuss the distinctive elements of Anglican Spirituality as well as major figures within the Anglican spiritual tradition.

    Fr. Matthew Dallman is the leading expert on Martin Thornton, and has published a new book on him, alongside republishing his works.

    Find him on Substack: https://substack.com/@frmcdallman
    Akenside Institute for English Spirituality: https://www.akensideinstitute.org/

    Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

    Get access to my book club, show notes, ad-free episodes and more: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity

    Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
    Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
    Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com


    00:00 Anglican Spirituality
    02:51 Role of the BCP
    06:10 Benedictine Spirituality
    12:04 The Riches of Anglican Spirituality
    18:02 Influential Figures
    26:52 The Impact of Saints
    43:13 Martin Thornton's Legacy
    01:10:18 The Need for Spiritual Direction

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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • What's Driving the Orthodox Convert Surge? An Orthodox Anthropologist's Perspective
    Jun 1 2026

    In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. Sarah Riccardi-Swartz to discuss how an uptick in converts, especially among young men, is impacting Orthodoxy in America. Dr. Riccardi-Swartz brings an interesting perspective to this topic as she is both an academic anthropologist and an Orthodox Christian herself. Her research is some of the first of its kind regarding Orthodoxy in America.

    Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

    Get access to my book club, show notes, ad-free episodes and more: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity

    Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
    Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
    Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com

    Get her book, Between Heaven and Russia: https://amzn.to/3SdX6vd
    Learn more about Dr. Riccardi-Swartz: https://www.riccardiswartz.com/

    About the Guest:
    Dr. Sarah Riccardi-Swartz is an assistant professor of religion and anthropology at Northeastern University, where she is also an affiliate faculty member in the women's, gender, and sexuality studies program. Before joining Northeastern University she was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Recovering Truth: Religion, Journalism, and Democracy in a Post-Truth Era project at the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict (Arizona State University). She has a Ph.D. in Sociocultural Anthropology from New York University. After completing an honors B.A. and M.A. in Religious Studies (American religions) at Missouri State University, she attended NYU to study and research religion and politics in the United States from an anthropological perspective. Along the way, she obtained a graduate certificate in Culture and Media (ethnographic filmmaking) and an M.Phil in Anthropology from NYU. Her research focuses on conservative politics, gender/sexuality, race, media worlds, and Orthodox Christianity.

    Chapters
    00:00 Orthodoxy: An Anthropological Perspective
    06:11 Media & Orthodoxy's Visibility
    09:07 Cultural Identity and Conversion
    12:10 Politics & Conversion
    20:55 Community in Conversion Experiences
    23:56 ROCOR and the Fascination with Russia
    26:54 The Future of Orthodoxy in America
    30:36 Orthodoxy in Appalachia
    35:47 The Emergence of Political Conversations
    40:39 Understanding the Unique Nature of ROCOR
    42:24 Cultural Heritage
    45:49 The Internet & Orthodoxy
    53:02 Fr. Seraphim Rose

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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Neither Capitalist Nor Socialist? An Introduction to Catholic Economics | Dr. Richard A. Gallenstein
    May 25 2026

    In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. Richard Gallenstein, Associate Professor of Economics and Director of the Master of Public Policy program at The Catholic University of America, to discuss Catholic Social Teaching and what it means for us today. We dive into the Church's teaching on Capitalism, Socialism, and how this relates to questions like wealth inequality, AI, and more.

    Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

    Get access to my book club, show notes, ad-free episodes and more: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity

    Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
    Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
    Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com

    00:00 Intro to Catholic Social Teaching
    12:15 Capitalism vs. Socialism
    37:10 Private Property & Universal Destination of Goods
    48:10 Subsidiarity & Solidarity
    01:07:05 Wealth Inequality
    01:16:20 AI
    01:30:00 Concluding Thoughts

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    1 hr and 33 mins
  • Virtue and Vice: A Medieval Perspective | Dr. Grace Hamman
    May 18 2026

    In this video, I'm joined by Dr. Grace Hamman to discuss how Medieval Christians approached spiritual formation. We give special attention to their understanding of virtue and vice, exploring how that might help enrich our modern approaches to the Christian life. We also talk about how to read medieval theologians wisely, and what to do with some of the more extreme examples of piety that might make us uncomfortable today.

    Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

    Get access to my book club, show notes, ad-free episodes and more: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity

    Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
    Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
    Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com

    Get the book: https://amzn.to/3RcUEow
    Follow Dr. Hamman on Substack: https://gracehamman.substack.com/
    Dr. Hamman's website: https://gracehamman.com/

    About the Guest: Grace Hamman, Ph.D. (Duke University) is a writer and independent scholar of late medieval poetry and contemplative writing. She is the author of Ask of Old Paths: Medieval Virtues and Vices for a Whole and Holy Life and Jesus through Medieval Eyes: Beholding Christ with the Artists, Mystics, and Theologians of the Middle Ages. Her work has been published by academic and popular outlets, including Plough Quarterly and The Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies. She lives near Denver, Colorado with her husband and three young children.

    Chapters
    00:00 The Overlooked Medieval Era
    05:07 Personal Journey into Medieval Studies
    09:54 Exploring Virtue in Medieval Literature
    15:47 Understanding Wholeness and Virtue
    20:49 The Interconnectedness of Virtues and Vices
    36:22 The Thin Picture of Christian Life
    38:45 Pairing Virtues and Vices
    42:30 The Richness of Abstinence and Gluttony
    47:21 Imagination in Christian Formation
    53:00 Navigating Historical Literature
    01:30:08 Gateway Texts to the Medieval Period

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • The Origins and Development of Christian Liturgies | Rev. Dr. Matthew S.C. Olver
    May 11 2026

    In this video, I'm joined by the Reverend Dr. Matthew S.C. Olver to discuss the origins and evolution of Christian liturgies. We talk about how Christian liturgies relate to Second Temple Judaism, what we learn from St. Justin Martyr, what happened at Vatican 2, and whether the Episcopalian Eucharistic Prayer C is great or cringe-worthy.

    Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

    Get access to my book club, show notes, ad-free episodes and more: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity

    Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
    Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
    Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com

    The Living Church: https://livingchurch.org/

    About the Guest: Fr. Olver is the Executive Director and Publisher of The Living Church Foundation. A priest for more than eighteen years, he was the assistant rector at Church of the Incarnation, Dallas (2006-2013) and has served widely in the Episcopal Church: as the Ecumenical Officer (2005-2010) and on the Executive Council (2008-2011) in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas; as a member of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Consultation in the U.S. (ARCUSA), the official dialogue between the Episcopal Church and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (2008-2014); as a member the Task Force on Liturgical and Prayer Book Revision for the Episcopal Church (2018-2021); and as a deputy to General Convention (2022 and 2024). He has also been involved in the Anglican Centre in Rome and regularly teaches a course there on Anglican ecclesiology and ecumenism.

    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction to Liturgy and Its Importance
    03:09 The Evolution of Early Christian Liturgy
    06:00 Diversity in Early Christian Worship
    09:10 Key Figures in Liturgical History
    12:09 The Impact of the Reformation on Liturgy
    15:09 The Second Vatican Council and Its Reforms
    31:39 Common Ground in the Gospel
    34:00 Scholarly Misjudgments in Liturgical History
    35:20 The Impact of Liturgical Reforms
    37:25 Eucharistic Prayer C: An Inside Look
    42:15 The Distinctiveness of Anglican Liturgy
    53:07 The Relationship Between Liturgy and Belief
    01:00:15 The Richness of Liturgical Experience

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Jesus and the Fulfillment of the Jewish Law | Dr. Paul Sloan
    Apr 27 2026

    In this conversation, Dr. Paul Sloan discusses the relationship between Jesus and the law, challenging common misconceptions about the Pharisees and the nature of ritual purity. He emphasizes that Jesus' teachings and actions should be understood within the context of Israel's restoration and the covenantal framework established in the Old Testament. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding the law not as a means of works righteousness but as a reflection of God's covenantal love and grace. In this conversation, Paul Sloan discusses the relationship between Christ, the law, and the concept of restoration in the context of eschatology. He emphasizes that Christ's ministry is a fulfillment of the law rather than an abolition, and that the restoration of Israel involves a new heart and obedience to the Torah. The conversation also explores the implications for Gentiles regarding the law, particularly in light of Acts 15, where the early church debated the obligations of Gentile believers. Sloan argues that while the law remains significant, its application differs for Jews and Gentiles, and he highlights the importance of understanding Paul's writings in this context.

    Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

    Get access to my book club, show notes, ad-free episodes and more: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity

    Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
    Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
    Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com

    Buy the book: https://amzn.to/4sRM0cd
    Dr. Sloan's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jesus-and-jewish-law/id1791111864
    Follow Dr. Sloan on X: https://x.com/paulthomasloan

    About the Guest: Paul Sloan, Ph.D. (University of St. Andrew's) is Associate Professor of Theology at Houston Christian University. He is the author of Jesus and the Law of Moses: The Gospels and the Restoration of Israel within First-Century Judaism. His research interests include the literature of the New Testament and 2nd Temple Judaism. Current research focuses on Leviticus, the sacrificial system, and sacred space, and the reception of those motifs in 2nd Temple texts.


    00:00 Introduction to Jesus and the Law
    06:19 Understanding the Role of the Pharisees
    13:44 Ritual Purity and Impurity Explained
    24:43 Jesus' Authority and Restoration Eschatology
    42:57 The Restoration and Eschatological Agenda
    45:04 Christ's Fulfillment of the Law
    46:27 Obedience to the Torah in the New Covenant
    51:03 The Role of Gentiles in the Law
    53:33 Acts 15: The Council and Its Implications
    01:05:01 Understanding Paul and the Law

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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • Historical Anglican Theology and Modern Debates | Sean Luke
    Apr 21 2026

    In this interview, I'm joined by Sean Luke of @anglicanaesthetics to discuss how historic Anglican theology can address some of our contemporary debates about sola scriptura, Protestantism, and more. We discuss whether Anglicans really believe in sola scriptura, how Anglicans have viewed historic schisms, and whether the development of the Church of England was itself schismatic. Prepare to come out of this interview with a long reading list!

    Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

    Get access to my book club, show notes, ad-free episodes and more: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity

    Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
    Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
    Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com

    Find Sean on Substack: https://substack.com/@anglicanaesthetics

    Books Mentioned:
    Richard Hooker - Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity: https://amzn.to/4tFes1F
    William Chillingworth - The Religion of the Protestants: https://amzn.to/4cDpxun
    John Tillotson - The Rule of Faith:

    00:00 Introduction
    02:00 Sola Scriptura in Anglican Thought
    03:50 The Role of Tradition and Ecumenism
    06:59 Historical Anglican Approaches to Church Authority
    12:45 The Church Schism and Anglican Continuity
    20:45 The Caroline Divines and Anglican Identity
    28:45 Sola Scriptura in Anglican Debates
    40:55 The Authority of Scripture and Church Tradition
    50:40 The Discontinuity and Continuity of the Rule of Faith
    01:00:48 Recommended Resources and Final Thoughts

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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Rethinking the Atonement and the Meaning of Sacrifice | Dr. David Moffitt
    Apr 21 2026

    In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. David Moffitt, one of the world's leading experts on the atonement and the book of Hebrews. We discuss how the ascension is a critical, yet overlooked, part of Christ's atoning work, how misunderstanding Jewish sacrifice causes us to misunderstand the cross, and why Hebrews is every bit as important as Romans for understanding the atonement.

    Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

    Get access to my book club, show notes, ad-free episodes and more: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity

    Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
    Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
    Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com

    Buy the book: https://amzn.to/3OEKmwe

    About the Guest: Dr. David Moffitt’s research focuses on the variety of ways the earliest Christians understood Jesus and their own identities in relation to Jewish scripture, practices, and beliefs. His core areas of ongoing research concern the Epistle to the Hebrews, the ways this early Christian sermon develops claims about Jesus’s person in high-priestly and sacrificial terms, and ancient practices of and beliefs about sacrifice. Beyond Hebrews, Prof. Moffitt has particular interests in the ways the early Christian confession of Jesus’s resurrection and ascension influence the theologies of the various books of the New Testament. Learn more: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/divinity/people/dm206/


    00:00 Introduction to Atonement and Hebrews
    04:19 The Role of Hebrews in Atonement Discussions
    10:47 Broad vs. Narrow Understanding of Atonement
    16:17 The Significance of the Ascension in Atonement
    26:35 Ongoing Ministry of Christ and Its Implications
    31:41 The Significance of Jesus' Death and Resurrection
    36:41 Early Church Fathers and the Interpretation of Hebrews
    41:02 Understanding Sacrifice in the Context of Atonement
    50:21 The Multifaceted Nature of Atonement
    59:50 The Ongoing Intercession of Christ

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    1 hr and 3 mins