

Heavy Things Lightly
John Heers
This “Enlightened” New World utopia isn’t turning out to be all it was cracked up to be. Society is disenchanting, but are the only alternatives hiding out in the hills or burying yourself in books? With an air of levity and a touch of humor, John Heers teaches how to examine the confusing New World by calling upon the mind and wisdom of oft-forgotten Old. Heavy Things, Lightly. johnheersftf.substack.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 13, 2023 • 24min
Usury at Last | WAWTAR #143
It's the final chapter on usury and it's...well, we will let modern advertising tell the story. (Hint: It's not great). But the story is far from over, who knows what future generations will choose? Does the deep immersive experience interest you? You should consider becoming a Field Worker! Check out our Join FTF page: https://first-things.org/opportunities for more info, or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org Become a Monthly Donor and join our monthly Q&A with John! - https://first-things.org/donate For all the updates join our Telegram channel: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation And you should definitely check out Keipi Restaurant 👉 www.keipirestaurant.org WAWTAR now has a Facebook group: Why Are We Talking About (More) Rabbits? If you like this podcast, please consider leaving a review with your comments. Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion. You can also check out First Things Foundation: https://first-things.org/ for more information on who we are and what we do."Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" takes you beyond rhetorical "rabbits" and the shallow approach that the media and most thinkers today take to examine contemporary cultural phenomena. Using theology, history, philosophy and years of travel in Mali, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, and beyond, John Heers offers a refreshing take to how we got to where we are now. WAWTAR is all about talking about those heavy things… lightly. --- Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band Support the show2 years. Deep cultural immersion. Intense personal discovery. See what it means to become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org for more information.Please leave a review with your comments! Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion."Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" takes you beyond rhetorical "rabbits" and the shallow approach that the media and most thinkers today take to examine contemporary cultural phenomena. Using theology, history, philosophy and years of travel in Mali, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, and beyond, John Heers offers a refreshing take to how we got to where we are now. WAWTAR is all about talking about those heavy things… lightly. Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe

Jul 5, 2023 • 1h 17min
Uncle Seth and A.I. | WAWTAR #142
Uncle Seth is back and A.I. is the battleground. Where does this technology lead and what does it ultimately mean for all of us? Big shout out to Greg Gilbertson and crew for the great music! Does the deep immersive experience interest you? You should consider becoming a Field Worker! Check out our Join FTF page: https://first-things.org/opportunities for more info, or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org Become a Monthly Donor and join our monthly Q&A with John! - https://first-things.org/donate For all the updates join our Telegram channel: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation And you should definitely check out Keipi Restaurant 👉 www.keipirestaurant.org WAWTAR now has a Facebook group: Why Are We Talking About (More) Rabbits? If you like this podcast, please consider leaving a review with your comments. Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion. You can also check out First Things Foundation: https://first-things.org/ for more information on who we are and what we do. "Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" takes you beyond rhetorical "rabbits" and the shallow approach that the meSupport the show2 years. Deep cultural immersion. Intense personal discovery. See what it means to become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org for more information.Please leave a review with your comments! Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion."Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" takes you beyond rhetorical "rabbits" and the shallow approach that the media and most thinkers today take to examine contemporary cultural phenomena. Using theology, history, philosophy and years of travel in Mali, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, and beyond, John Heers offers a refreshing take to how we got to where we are now. WAWTAR is all about talking about those heavy things… lightly. Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe

Jun 27, 2023 • 17min
From Fearing to Embracing Usury | WAWTAR #141
Why was the Old World so fearful of usury? What did ancient scholars have to say about it? And how were all the warnings slowly ignored to land us in the land of usury today? Big shout out to Greg Gilbertson and crew for the great music! Does the deep immersive experience interest you? You should consider becoming a Field Worker! Check out our Join FTF page: https://first-things.org/opportunities for more info, or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org Become a Monthly Donor and join our monthly Q&A with John! - https://first-things.org/donate For all the updates join our Telegram channel: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation And you should definitely check out Keipi Restaurant 👉 www.keipirestaurant.org WAWTAR now has a Facebook group: Why Are We Talking About (More) Rabbits? If you like this podcast, please consider leaving a review with your comments. Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion. You can also check out First Things Foundation: https://first-things.org/ for more information on who we are and what we do. "Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" takes you beyond rhetorical "rabbits" and the shallow approach that the media and most thinkers today take to examine contemporary cultural phenomena. Using theology, history, philosophy and years of travel in Mali, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, and beyond, John Heers offers a refreshing take to how we got to where we are now. WAWTAR is all about talking about those heavy things… lightly. --- Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band Support the show2 years. Deep cultural immersion. Intense personal discovery. See what it means to become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org for more information.Please leave a review with your comments! Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion."Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" takes you beyond rhetorical "rabbits" and the shallow approach that the media and most thinkers today take to examine contemporary cultural phenomena. Using theology, history, philosophy and years of travel in Mali, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, and beyond, John Heers offers a refreshing take to how we got to where we are now. WAWTAR is all about talking about those heavy things… lightly. Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe

Jun 22, 2023 • 24min
Usury & the Old World | WAWTAR #140
Usury. An empire building tool? A necessary evil? A path to build wealth? John walks us through the beginnings of usury in the Old World and in later episodes how we arrived at modern usury (like pre-approved credit cards aimed at unemployed teenagers with unreasonable interest rates). Big shout out to Greg Gilbertson and crew for the great music! Does the deep immersive experience interest you? You should consider becoming a Field Worker! Check out our Join FTF page: https://first-things.org/opportunities for more info, or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org Become a Monthly Donor and join our monthly Q&A with John! - https://first-things.org/donate For all the updates join our Telegram channel: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation And you should definitely check out Keipi Restaurant 👉 www.keipirestaurant.orgWAWTAR now has a Facebook group: Why Are We Talking About (More) Rabbits? If you like this podcast, please consider leaving a review with your comments. Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion. You can also check out First Things Foundation: https://first-things.org/ for more information on who we are and what we do. "Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" takes you beyond rhetorical "rabbits" and the shallow approach that the media and most thinkers today take to examine contemporary cultural phenomena. Using theology, history, philosophy and years of travel in Mali, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, and beyond, John Heers offers a refreshing take to how we got to where we are now. WAWTAR is all about talking about those heavy things… lightly. --- CreditsMusic: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band Support the show2 years. Deep cultural immersion. Intense personal discovery. See what it means to become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org for more information.Please leave a review with your comments! Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion."Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" takes you beyond rhetorical "rabbits" and the shallow approach that the media and most thinkers today take to examine contemporary cultural phenomena. Using theology, history, philosophy and years of travel in Mali, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, and beyond, John Heers offers a refreshing take to how we got to where we are now. WAWTAR is all about talking about those heavy things… lightly. Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe

Jun 14, 2023 • 1h 8min
Conversations: Graham Pardun | WAWTAR #139
Orthodox poet, author, and essayist Graham Pardun joins John to talk about modern Orthodoxy, enlightenment, and the value of choosing the right words, in the right order. He has gained recent notoriety for his self-published collection of essays titled, The Sunlilies.Graham's Substack: https://sabbathempire.substack.com/Order Graham's books: https://treedweller.net/booksFor a more academic, written dive into WAWTAR themes, head over to the Heavy Things Done Lightly Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/Does the deep immersive experience interest you? You should consider becoming a Field Worker! Check out our Join FTF page: https://first-things.org/opportunities for more info, or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org For all the updates join our Telegram channel: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation And you should definitely check out Keipi Restaurant 👉 www.keipirestaurant.orgWAWTAR has a Facebook group for more conversations: Why Are We Talking About (More) Rabbits? If you like this podcast, please consider leaving a review with your comments. Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion. You can also check out First Things Foundation: https://first-things.org/ for more information on who we are and what we do. "Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" takes you beyond rhetorical "rabbits" and the shallow approach that the media and most thinkers today take to examine contemporary cultural phenomena. Using theology, history, philosophy and years of travel in Mali, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, and beyond, John Heers offers a refreshing take to how we got to where we are now. WAWTAR is all about talking about those heavy things… lightly. --- Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band Support the show2 years. Deep cultural immersion. Intense personal discovery. See what it means to become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org for more information.Please leave a review with your comments! Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion."Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" takes you beyond rhetorical "rabbits" and the shallow approach that the media and most thinkers today take to examine contemporary cultural phenomena. Using theology, history, philosophy and years of travel in Mali, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, and beyond, John Heers offers a refreshing take to how we got to where we are now. WAWTAR is all about talking about those heavy things… lightly. Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe

Jun 6, 2023 • 13min
Magic Never Really Left... | WAWTAR #138
As we wrap up this White JuJu series, John looks at the future. Is magic, spiritualism, religion, or "how we make meaning in the post-modern world" really gone? And what happens when the irrational world view gets its revenge?Big shout out to Greg Gilbertson and crew for the great music! For a more academic, written dive into WAWTAR themes, head over to the Heavy Things Done Lightly Substack: https://johnheersftf.substack.com/Does the deep immersive experience interest you? You should consider becoming a Field Worker! Check out our Join FTF page: https://first-things.org/opportunities for more info, or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org For all the updates join our Telegram channel: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation And you should definitely check out Keipi Restaurant 👉 www.keipirestaurant.orgWAWTAR has a Facebook group for more conversations: Why Are We Talking About (More) Rabbits? If you like this podcast, please consider leaving a review with your comments. Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion. You can also check out First Things Foundation: https://first-things.org/ for more information on who we are and what we do. "Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" takes you beyond rhetorical "rabbits" and the shallow approach that the media and most thinkers today take to examine contemporary cultural phenomena. Using theology, history, philosophy and years of travel in Mali, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, and beyond, John Heers offers a refreshing take to how we got to where we are now. WAWTAR is all about talking about those heavy things… lightly. --- Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band Support the show2 years. Deep cultural immersion. Intense personal discovery. See what it means to become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org for more information.Please leave a review with your comments! Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion."Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" takes you beyond rhetorical "rabbits" and the shallow approach that the media and most thinkers today take to examine contemporary cultural phenomena. Using theology, history, philosophy and years of travel in Mali, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, and beyond, John Heers offers a refreshing take to how we got to where we are now. WAWTAR is all about talking about those heavy things… lightly. Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe

May 31, 2023 • 18min
How the West Rid Itself of Magic | WAWTAR #137
White JuJu. Public Schooling. And this week the rise of the mechanistic mind. The expulsion of magic from society. Join John as we take a look at the beginning of how the West today started to expel "magic" and "religion" from society. Big shout out to Greg Gilbertson and crew for the great music! Does the deep immersive experience interest you? You should consider becoming a Field Worker! Check out our Join FTF page: https://first-things.org/opportunities for more info, or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org Become a Monthly Donor and join our monthly Q&A with John! - https://first-things.org/donate For all the updates join our Telegram channel: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation And you should definitely check out Keipi Restaurant 👉 www.keipirestaurant.org WAWTAR now has a Facebook group: Why Are We Talking About (More) Rabbits? If you like this podcast, please consider leaving a review with your comments. Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion. You can also check out First Things Foundation: https://first-things.org/ for more information on who we are and what we do. "Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" takes you beyond rhetorical "rabbits" and the shallow approach that the media and most thinkers today take to examine contemporary cultural phenomena. Using theology, history, philosophy and years of travel in Mali, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, and beyond, John Heers offers a refreshing take to how we got to where we are now. WAWTAR is all about talking about those heavy things… lightly. --- Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band Support the show2 years. Deep cultural immersion. Intense personal discovery. See what it means to become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org for more information.Please leave a review with your comments! Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion."Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" takes you beyond rhetorical "rabbits" and the shallow approach that the media and most thinkers today take to examine contemporary cultural phenomena. Using theology, history, philosophy and years of travel in Mali, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, and beyond, John Heers offers a refreshing take to how we got to where we are now. WAWTAR is all about talking about those heavy things… lightly. Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe

May 24, 2023 • 1h 29min
Conversations: Fr. Peter Heers | WAWTAR #136
John is joined by his brother Fr. Peter Heers to talk life, Orthodoxy in America, and his current state of affairs in an almost perfect rendition of heavy things done lightly. Take a moment to visit the Orthodox Ethos here: https://www.orthodoxethos.com/ Big shout out to Greg Gilbertson and crew for the great music! Does the deep immersive experience interest you? You should consider becoming a Field Worker! Check out our Join FTF page: https://first-things.org/opportunities for more info, or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org Become a Monthly Donor and join our monthly Q&A with John! - https://first-things.org/donate For all the updates join our Telegram channel: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation And you should definitely check out Keipi Restaurant 👉 www.keipirestaurant.org WAWTAR now has a Facebook group: Why Are We Talking About (More) Rabbits? If you like this podcast, please consider leaving a review with your comments. Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion. You can also check out First Things Foundation: https://first-things.org/ for more information on who we are and what we do. "Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" takes you beyond rhetorical "rabbits" and the shallow approach that the media and most thinkers today take to examine contemporary cultural phenomena. Using theology, history, philosophy and years of travel in Mali, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, and beyond, John Heers offers a refreshing take to how we got to where we are now. WAWTAR is all about talking about those heavy things… lightly. --- Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band Support the show2 years. Deep cultural immersion. Intense personal discovery. See what it means to become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org for more information.Please leave a review with your comments! Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion."Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" takes you beyond rhetorical "rabbits" and the shallow approach that the media and most thinkers today take to examine contemporary cultural phenomena. Using theology, history, philosophy and years of travel in Mali, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, and beyond, John Heers offers a refreshing take to how we got to where we are now. WAWTAR is all about talking about those heavy things… lightly. Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe

May 16, 2023 • 15min
Quantifying Religion | WAWTAR #135
Last week was Juju, both here in the Americas and overseas, and the Old World mindset that accompanied it. And like magic, religion would be "explained" to us by those uncomfortable with mystery. Join us as we peel back history to reveal the roots of Babylon (maybe) and future America's DNA in the guise of the 5x winner of best named things, the New York State Buffalo Normal School. AKA the first public school. Does the deep immersive experience interest you? You should consider becoming a Field Worker! Check out our Join FTF page: https://first-things.org/opportunities for more info, or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.orgBecome a Monthly Donor and join our monthly Q&A with John! - https://first-things.org/donate For all the updates join our Telegram channel: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation And you should definitely check out Keipi Restaurant 👉 www.keipirestaurant.org WAWTAR now has a Facebook group: Why Are We Talking About (More) Rabbits? If you like this podcast, please consider leaving a review with your comments. Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion. You can also check out First Things Foundation: https://first-things.org/ for more information on who we are and what we do. "Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" takes you beyond rhetorical "rabbits" and the shallow approach that the media and most thinkers today take to examine contemporary cultural phenomena. Using theology, history, philosophy and years of travel in Mali, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, and beyond, John Heers offers a refreshing take to how we got to where we are now. WAWTAR is all about talking about those heavy things… lightly. --- Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & BandSupport the show2 years. Deep cultural immersion. Intense personal discovery. See what it means to become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org for more information.Please leave a review with your comments! Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion."Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" takes you beyond rhetorical "rabbits" and the shallow approach that the media and most thinkers today take to examine contemporary cultural phenomena. Using theology, history, philosophy and years of travel in Mali, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, and beyond, John Heers offers a refreshing take to how we got to where we are now. WAWTAR is all about talking about those heavy things… lightly. Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe

May 9, 2023 • 19min
White People JuJu | WAWTAR #134
Magic. Juju. Voodoo. It's Old World and for us new worlders, incomprehensible, nonsensical, and quite often frightening. Using magic as our springboard, we are going to explore how we went from a time of mystery to quantity. From magic to data and beyond.Links:Documentary on Appalachia Magic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwaUcSRsQPQ Does the deep immersive experience interest you? You should consider becoming a Field Worker! Check out our Join FTF page: https://first-things.org/opportunities for more info, or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org Become a Monthly Donor and join our monthly Q&A with John! - https://first-things.org/donate For all the updates join our Telegram channel: https://t.me/firstthingsfoundation And you should definitely check out Keipi Restaurant 👉 www.keipirestaurant.org WAWTAR now has a Facebook group: Why Are We Talking About (More) Rabbits? If you like this podcast, please consider leaving a review with your comments. Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion. You can also check out First Things Foundation: https://first-things.org/ for more information on who we are and what we do. "Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" takes you beyond rhetorical "rabbits" and the shallow approach that the media and most thinkers today take to examine contemporary cultural phenomena. Using theology, history, philosophy and years of travel in Mali, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, and beyond, John Heers offers a refreshing take to how we got to where we are now. WAWTAR is all about talking about those heavy things… lightly. --- Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Edward Gares / Pond5.com Sound effects and additional music: Sounds provided by https://www.zapsplat.com Support the show2 years. Deep cultural immersion. Intense personal discovery. See what it means to become a Field Worker with FTF: https://first-things.org/opportunities or email Daniel at danielpadrnos@first-things.org for more information.Please leave a review with your comments! Your support keeps this podcast alive and allows us to broaden our discussion."Why Are We Talking About Rabbits?" takes you beyond rhetorical "rabbits" and the shallow approach that the media and most thinkers today take to examine contemporary cultural phenomena. Using theology, history, philosophy and years of travel in Mali, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, and beyond, John Heers offers a refreshing take to how we got to where we are now. WAWTAR is all about talking about those heavy things… lightly. Credits Music: Intro / Outro Provided by Greg Gilbertson & Band This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnheersftf.substack.com/subscribe


