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PODCAST

The Symbolic World

Jonathan Pageau

Jonathan Pageau looks at symbolism in all its forms, from its source in sacred stories and images to contemporary culture and ultimately how it shapes the world we encounter.

education

All Episodes

47:50

413 - Heidi White - The Divided Soul: Duty and Desire...

The Symbolic World ·

2025/09/25

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 many stories reflect this deep human struggle.YouTube version: https://youtu.be/1LjDeZpSviwBuy Heidi’s book:

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27:03

412 - The Age of Self-Esteem

The Symbolic World ·

2025/09/22

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__8eVCgjCEPlease consider becoming a patron to get exclusive access to videos like this: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe📖 Let's take our stories

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84:15

411 - Dr. Michael Levin & Dr. John Vervaeke - Brave...

The Symbolic World ·

2025/09/20

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, regeneration, and cancer.Levin’s research centers on diverse forms of intelligence and unconventional embodied minds, bridging conceptual theory,

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45:56

410 - Fractals: The World Is Full of Meaning...

The Symbolic World ·

2025/09/12

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/S6xHkyhoN20This talk took place at the 2025 Midwestuary conference.Estuary Hub Link: https://www.estuaryhub.com/https://www.southeastuary.com/📖 Let's take our

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26:13

409 - The Strange Symbolism of K-Pop Demon Hunters:...

The Symbolic World ·

2025/09/05

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 together.WARNING: This episode contains spoilers.YouTube version: https://youtu.be/Rh89J2eAf7o📖 Let's take our stories back. Check out the latest book in the

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72:35

408 - Andrew Gould & Michael Diamant - Architecture:...

The Symbolic World ·

2025/08/30

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 lives.Michael shares the story of the Architecture Uprising movement across Europe, and Andrew explains how he approaches designing buildings that are

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61:35

407 - Heather Pollington - Rapunzel and the Evil Witch

The Symbolic World ·

2025/08/29

📖 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 book you’ll begin to notice the different threads connecting across the series. Heather has created stunning illustrations that weave medieval and

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21:23

406 - Symbolism Explained: The Fundamental WWII...

The Symbolic World ·

2025/08/19

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 why those stories are now reaching their limits. My hope is to help you see how these patterns influence our culture and why finding balance is so

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67:50

405 - Fr. Josiah Trenham - Marriage: The Bedrock of...

The Symbolic World ·

2025/08/05

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-exists with monasticism and the meaning of marriage and the wedding ceremony not just as a gate to self-fulfillment and a joyful experience, but also as

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52:04

404 - Fr. Stephen De Young - How to Read...

The Symbolic World ·

2025/07/31

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 modern academic argument. If you’ve ever wondered how texts like Jubilees, Enoch, or the Lives of Adam and Eve connect to Christian theology, this

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24:55

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

The Symbolic World ·

2025/07/25

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.https://youtu.be/RByli5eMoP8Rapunzel and the Evil Witch is coming in August—and you can pre-order it now. If you missed the first 1,000 copies (which sold

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96:14

402 - Universal History - Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin - The...

The Symbolic World ·

2025/07/19

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, all to ask the question of whether fairies can be saved. As always, we’re weaving together myth, symbolism, and cultural insight to help reveal the patterns

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75:09

401 - Robin Hood: The Original Green Man (Nottingham...

The Symbolic World ·

2025/07/08

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 how Robin Hood, the Green Man, King David, and even figures from Islamic tradition and Arthurian legend, all point toward a surprising truth—that the

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36:07

A Dangerous Movie in the Best Way Possible

The Symbolic World ·

2025/06/30

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. This isn’t just a message movie — it’s real cinema.Check out the Kickstarter and be part of bringing this movie to theaters. This is a rare and

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106:25

399 - John Vervaeke - What Is Spirit?

The Symbolic World ·

2025/06/24

What is spirit? This was one of my most meaningful conversations with John Vervaeke yet. As we prepare for the Midwestuary 2025 conference in Chicago, we explore how beings come into existence, the mystery of unity and multiplicity, and what’s really going on with AI, angels, and the spirit of community. John shares some powerful personal transformations as well. I hope you enjoy this deep dive into spirit, ontology, and meaning.YouTube version: https://youtu.be/hqmSW3SgzHsRegister for the 2025

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72:11

398 - The Time for Orthodox Art is NOW

The Symbolic World ·

2025/06/11

In this talk at the Orthodox Arts Festival of 2025, I share my vision for a renewal of Orthodox Christian art rooted in meaningful participation and true celebration. We are living through the collapse of modern aesthetics—art has become propaganda, entertainment, and distraction. But this cultural decomposition presents an opportunity for something truly transformative.Orthodox art offers a profound alternative: not art as consumption or rebellion, but as participation, celebration, and

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64:45

397 - Nicholas Reeves - What Is Music?

The Symbolic World ·

2025/05/31

In this conversation, I sit down with composer and church musician Nicholas Reeves to explore one of the great mysteries: music. Why does music move us so deeply? How does it reflect symbolic patterns in reality? We discuss the ancient and modern roles of music—from sacred liturgies to EDM dance floors—and ask whether the liturgy might be the ultimate artwork. We also dive into the contrasts between order and chaos in sound, the compression of human experience, and the sacred role of communal

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51:31

396 - Seraphim Hamilton - Scripture: The Key to Reality

The Symbolic World ·

2025/05/23

In this conversation, I talk with Seraphim Hamilton about how scripture does more than tell a story—it reveals a symbolic pattern that runs through all of creation. We dig into how the Bible presents the world as a kind of cosmic temple, and how that vision unfolds through the Tabernacle, the life of Christ, and the Church.Seraphim brings a deep knowledge of scripture and tradition to the table, and we touch on some of the key themes he'll be exploring in his upcoming course, Scripture: The Key to

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66:55

395 - Beauty First: Envisioning a Civilization Worth...

The Symbolic World ·

2025/05/16

This is an informal roundtable discussion among friends and artists at the 2025 London ARC Conference that includes myself, Andrew Gould, Aidan Hart, Heather Pollington, Neil and Kate DeGraide from Dirt Poor Robins, Ben and Vesper Stamper, Martin Shaw, and John Heers. Amidst thousands of voices focused on policy and economics, we stepped aside to ask a deeper question: what does it mean to renew civilization through beauty?Together, we explore how architecture, music, and the arts shape our

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37:20

394 - The World War II Consensus is Breaking Down

The Symbolic World ·

2025/05/16

Several years ago, I coined the phrase “watch the fool,” because in a world turned upside down, the fool can strangely point to what’s coming and in some ways play a role in restoring order —for good or for ill. For April 2025’s patron video, now opened up to the public, I reflect on how Kanye West has continued to play this role. He is not a prophet in the traditional sense, but a kind of tuning fork, embodying the contradictions and transformations unfolding in our culture before they happen. This

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411 results

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