In this episode of Intrinsically Ordered, I sit down with Jason—a long-time friend, ultramarathoner, and secular Buddhist—to explore life beyond dogma. We dive deep into questions of meaning, suffering, and personal transformation. Jason shares his journey from childhood trauma, addiction, and depression to healing, self-acceptance, and the liberating philosophy of secular Buddhism.

We tackle the fear of leaving behind rigid belief systems, the reality of self-imposed suffering, and the beauty of finding your own path. Whether you’re deconstructing faith, seeking purpose, or just curious about running 200+ miles through the wilderness, this conversation is for you.

🔹 The illusion of certainty in religion
🔹 What it really means to "find yourself"
🔹 The power of suffering as a teacher
🔹 Ultramarathons as a metaphor for life
🔹 Reframing trauma and choosing a new narrative

If you’ve ever questioned what’s next after faith—or just want to hear an incredible journey of resilience—this episode is a must-listen.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction & Guest Introduction
01:18 – Why People Fear Leaving Religion
03:06 – What If Life Has No Meaning?
05:00 – Creating Meaning vs. Finding It
10:59 – The Role of Suffering in Growth
15:31 – How Religion Becomes a Coping Mechanism
17:30 – Hitting Rock Bottom: Alcoholism & Trauma
22:40 – Running From Pain vs. Facing It
29:09 – The Turning Point: Therapy & Healing
33:56 – How Trauma Affects the Brain
40:17 – The Difference Between Pain & Suffering
41:44 – Living in the Present: The Power of Mindfulness
47:10 – What Therapy is REALLY Like
50:48 – Running 250 Miles—Why Choose to Suffer?
54:55 – The Mental Side of Ultra-Endurance
59:46 – The Freedom of Letting Go
1:04:05 – Choosing Your Own Path & Building Community
1:10:22 – Finding Belonging Outside of Religion
1:12:03 – How to Start Living YOUR Life Today
1:28:18 – Final Thoughts & Takeaways

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.

What if you're gay but don't want to be gay? Jason Evert has the perfect solution, just hate yourself. He gives us a 'third option' to homosexuality where you can hate yourself, but publicly. Someone please patent this man's genius methods and scientific tests of what marriage must include.

But in all seriousness, Jason Evert is the Final Boss of catholic apologists who do nothing but create word salads to confuse people and pad church teaching. He's the one that started me down the catholic rabbit-hole of chastity speakers & how to deal with SSA, so I figured I'd give a humorous response to his Ascension Presents video.

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.

Why are young catholics sent to conversion therapy? Does the Catholic Church discriminate against gay men? In today's episode, I tell my story of being rejected from becoming a monk for being gay - or as they like to say: experience same-sex attraction. My co-hosts Colin (raised FSSP) and Ben (discerned a vocation) help me explain where the church stands on this issue.

00:00:00 - Introduction: Gay Men and the Priesthood Controversy
00:00:30 - The Reality: Many Priests Are Gay
00:00:50 - Personal Stories: Discerning While Gay
00:01:17 - Church Teachings and the 2005 Document
00:03:13 - The Italian Bishops' Conference: What Was Actually Said
00:05:52 - Deep-Seated vs. Transitory Homosexual Tendencies
00:15:27 - Vocational Struggles for Gay Catholics
00:25:35 - The Church’s Role in Conversion Therapy
00:36:14 - Linking Homosexuality to Abuse: A False Narrative
(I got lazy about creating chapters beyond that mark, haha)

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.