Desert Fathers with Bishop Erik Varden
Episodes
Episode 51: Thunderstruck | Desert Fathers with Bishop Erik Varden
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine a voice that shakes the heavens. A light that makes you radiant from within.That’s what St. Benedict wants us to experience.This week, we he...
Episode 50: Facing the City, Leaving It
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
St. Benedict saw the world differently. Others pursued knowledge, pleasure, prestige. He wanted more.Once he grew up and could make his own decis...
Episode 49: From Eygpt to Italy
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine a narrow cave. A little bell to signal a visitor. A rope lowered to bring food.Alone, fasting, praying… Benedict spent three years her...
Episode 48: Endure Your Mind
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What should we do with intrusive, impure thoughts?The more we try to push them away, the harder they seem to stick.If only we had a mental delete butt...
Episode 47: Modes of Combat
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Abba Netras thrived in the desert. Life was simple. His soul was at peace.Then the Church called him to be a bishop in the city. Suddenly his quiet li...
Episode 46: No Angel
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Work can seem dull at times. Didn't God create us to praise Him, instead? That seems much preferred to work. Practical life, it can seem, gets in the ...
Episode 45: Legitimate Rest
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Desert Fathers, Bishop Erik Varden articulates the importance that rest plays in our lives—particularly our spiritual lives. He d...
Episode 44: To Gain a Brother
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When a friend or relative has been living in sin, how should we respond? Do we confront him and risk pushing him away? Or do we stay silent and thereb...
Episode 43: Detraction
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bishop Erik Varden explores the theme of detraction and judgment through the lens of a hermit's vision. The conversation covers the consequences of go...
Episode 42: Scope of Judgement
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Desert Fathers, Bishop Erik Varden explores the theme of judgment through the lens of the Desert Fathers' teachings, particularly f...
Episode 41: Rejection
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Desert Fathers, Bishop Erik Varden reflects on the teachings of the Desert Fathers, focusing on the themes of forgiveness, communit...
Episode 40: Q&A w/ Bishop Varden
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this Q&A session with Bishop Erik Varden, Jamie Baxter and Bishop Varden explore:The nature of love and self-forgetfulnessPhilosophical perspec...
Episode 39: A Low Profile
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Desert Fathers, Bishop Erik Varden explores the theme of humility through the teachings of the Desert Fathers, particularly focusin...
Episode 38: Professions of Humility
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Desert Fathers, Bishop Erik Varden explores the themes of humility and vainglory through the teachings of Abba Serapion. He discuss...
Episode 37: At the Baker's
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Desert Fathers, Bishop Erik Varden explores the teachings of the Desert Fathers, focusing on the themes of humility, the dangers of...
Episode 36: A Fall
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Desert Fathers, Bishop Erik Varden reflects on the teachings of the Desert Fathers, particularly focusing on the importance of humi...
Episode 35: On Hunting Dogs
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Desert Fathers, Bishop Erik Varden explores the theme of fortitude through the lens of monastic life, using the analogy of a hound ...
Episode 34: Living with Infirmity
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Desert Fathers, Bishop Erik Varden and Jamie Baxter explore the theme of fortitude in the face of suffering, particularly through t...
Episode 33: Xeniteia
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Desert Fathers, Bishop Erik Varden explores the theme of fortitude through the lens of Xeniteia, a call to solitude and trust in Go...
Episode 32: Philosophy
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Bishop Erik Varden reflects on the virtue of fortitude as taught by the Desert Fathers, emphasizing the importance of enduring hardsh...
Episode 31: Gold
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Desert Fathers with Bishop Erik Varden, Bishop Varden explores the teachings of the Desert Fathers on the theme of possessing nothi...
Episode 30: Foresight and Providence
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Desert Fathers, Bishop Erik Varden explores the theme of possession and trust through the story of a gardener who learns the import...
Episode 29: Lovely Books
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Desert Fathers, Bishop Erik Varden explores the themes of unity in early Christianity, the significance of books in monastic life, ...
Episode 28: Lacerated Body
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join Bishop Erik Varden, a Trappist monk and Bishop of Trondheim, Norway, in this episode of Desert Fathers with Bishop Erik Varden, where he unpacks ...
Episode 27: Q&A with Bishop Erik Varden: Wisdom from the Desert - Answers on Chastity, Temptation, and Communal Redemption
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special Q&A episode of Desert Fathers with Bishop Erik Varden, host Jamie Baxter welcomes Bishop Varden to answer listener questions, offe...
Bonus Roundtable: Sympathy
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bearing One Another’s Burdens - Lessons from the Desert Fathers on Lust and FraternityIn this powerful bonus roundtable discussion for Episode 26 of...
Episode 26: Sympathy
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode OverviewIn this episode of Desert Fathers in a Year, we delve into a poignant story from the Systematic Collection of the Desert Fathers about...
Bonus Roundtable: The Source of Strength
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have a question for Bishop Varden?In this bonus roundtable for Episode 25 of Desert Fathers in a Year with Bishop Erik Varden, host Jamie Baxter and g...
Episode 25: The Source of Strength
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Submit your question to Bishop VardenEpisode OverviewJoin host Jamie Baxter from Exodus 90 for Episode 25 of Desert Fathers in a Year, titled “Amma ...
Bonus Roundtable: On Discernment: Three Approaches
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have a question for Bishop Erik Varden? Bonus Roundtable Discussion - On Discernment: Three Approaches Join us for a special bonus roundtable discussi...
Episode 24: On Discernment: Three Approaches
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode OverviewJoin host Jamie Baxter from Exodus 90 for Episode 24 of Desert Fathers in a Year, titled “On Discernment: Three Approaches.” This ...
Bonus Roundtable: Lust
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a question for Bishop Varden? Submit your questions here.Episode OverviewJoin host Jamie Baxter from Exodus 90 and guests Adam, Doyle, and...
Episode 23: Lust
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Submit your questions to Bishop Erik Varden by emailing [email protected] OverviewThis episode delves into the Desert Fathers' insights ...
Bonus Roundtable: Austerity at Home, Charity Abroad
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Desert Fathers in a Year: Episode 22 Bonus Roundtable - Austerity at Home, Charity AbroadEpisode Overview:In this Bonus Roundtable for Episode 22 of D...
Episode 22: Austerity at Home, Charity Abroad
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Austerity at Home, Charity AbroadIn Episode 22 of Desert Fathers in a Year, we continue our journey into the wisdom of the Desert Fathers, focusing on...
Bonus Roundtable: Necessary Words
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Desert Fathers in a Year: Episode 21 Bonus Roundtable - Necessary WordsOverviewIn this bonus roundtable discussion for Episode 21 of Desert Fathers in...
Episode 21: Necessary Words
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Necessary Words: Confession, Freedom, and the Danger of Silence🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year!In today’s episode, we explore the powerf...
Bonus Roundtable: Words that Wound
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Desert Fathers in a Year: Episode 20 Bonus Roundtable - Words That WoundEpisode OverviewWelcome to the bonus roundtable discussion for Episode 20 of D...
Episode 20: Words that Wound
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 20: Words That Wound🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year!In this episode of Desert Fathers in a Year with Bishop Erik Varden, we explor...
Bonus Roundtable: Donkey on the Loose
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To Speak or Not to Speak?Jamie, Doyle, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 19: Donkey on the Loose...
Episode 19: Donkey on the Loose
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Donkey on the Loose - Mastering Speech with Abba Antony🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year!In this episode of Desert Fathers in a Year, we div...
Episode 18: Q&A - Ask Bishop Varden
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 18: Q&A - Ask Bishop VardenEpisode OverviewIn this special episode of Desert Fathers in a Yea...
Bonus Roundtable: The Fear of God
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is the Fear of God?Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 17: The Fear of Go...
Episode 17: The Fear of God
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a question for Bishop Varden?Submit your question to Bishop Varden for our upcoming Q&A episode. You can submit your question here.🏜...
Bonus Roundtable: The Monk and the Actress
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a question for Bishop Varden?Submit your question to Bishop Varden for our upcoming Q&A episode. You can submit your question here.Jam...
Episode 16: The Monk and the Actress
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 16: The Monk and the Actress.Discover the profound story of Abba Pambo, a Desert Father, whose en...
Bonus Roundtable: Penthos
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 15: Penthos.Each week, we'll meet to discu...
Episode 15: Penthos
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 15: Penthos.Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to download a...
Bonus Roundtable: Compunction
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 14: Compunction.Each week, we'll meet to d...
Episode 14: Compunction
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 14: Compunction.Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to downlo...
Bonus Roundtable: Silence in Grief
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 13: Silence in Grief.Each week, we'll meet...
Episode 13: Silence in Grief
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 13: Silence in Grief.Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to d...
Bonus Roundtable: Staying Put
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 12: Staying PutEach week, we'll meet to di...
Episode 12: Staying Put
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 12: Staying Put.Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to downlo...
Bonus Roundtable: Flee, and Be Saved
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 11: Flee, and Be Saved.Each week, we'll me...
Episode 11: Flee, and Be Saved
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 11: Flee, and Be Saved.Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to...
Bonus Roundtable: Peace
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 10: Peace.Each week, we'll meet to discuss...
Episode 10: Peace
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 10: PeacePlease visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to download a fr...
Bonus Roundtable: Singing with the Angels
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 9: Singing with the Angels.Each week, we'l...
Episode 9: Singing with the Angels
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 9: Singing with the Angels?Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter an...
Bonus Roundtable: What Defines a Christian
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 8: What Defines a Christian.Each week, we'...
Episode 8: What Defines a Christian?
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 8: What Defines a Christian?Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter a...
Bonus Roundtable: Take Up Your Cross
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the Exodus 90 team meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Episode 7: Take Up Your Cross.Each week, we'll mee...
Episode 7: Take Up Your Cross
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 7: Take Up Your Cross.Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to ...
Bonus Roundtable: Pursuit of Perfection
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the team at Exodus 90 meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on the pursuit of perfection.Each week, we'll meet...
Episode 6: Pursuit of Perfection
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 6: Pursuit of PerfectionPlease visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and t...
Episode 5: Q&A with Bishop Varden
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 5: Question & Answer with Bishop VardenPlease visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our ema...
Bonus Roundtable: Antony - A Strength to Others
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the team at Exodus 90 meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Antony's solitude in the desert transformed him...
Episode 4: Antony - A Strength to Others
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 4: Antony - A Strength to OthersPlease visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newslett...
Bonus Roundtable: Become Who You Are
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the team at Exodus 90 meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on the effects that Antony's asceticism had on his...
Episode 3: Become Who You Are
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 3, Become Who You Are. Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to...
Bonus Roundtable: Facing Antony's Temptations
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the team at Exodus 90 meet to discuss Bishop Varden's reflection on Antony's temptations.Each week, we'll meet disc...
Episode 2: Facing Antony's Temptations
07 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 2, Facing Antony's Temptations.Visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to downlo...
Bonus Roundtable: Changed by the Life of Antony
02 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to our first Bonus Roundtable of Desert Fathers in a Year!Meet Jamie, Doyle, Adam, and Jared from the team at Exodus 90. Each week, we'll meet...
Episode 1: Changed by the Life of Antony
01 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 1, Changed by the Life of Antony.Modern life is like a desert, parched for the life-giving water that Jes...
TRAILER: Desert Fathers with Bishop Erik Varden | Exodus 90
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 1, will go live on January 1, 2025. Visit DesertFathers.com to learn more.Modern life is like a desert, parched for ...