Frank Ritchie hosts a weekly talkback show on Newstalk ZB; he founded a Christian chaplaincy organisation to minister to journalists and others who work in the NZ media; and until relatively recently he was also a Protestant pastor. Then, in Easter 2026, after many years of profound grappling and contemplation, he swam the Tiber and entered the Catholic Church. After 15 years of back-and-forth on various hot button issues, sometimes on opposing sides, Frank and I finally sat down together in dialogue as ecclesial brothers. In this episode of The Dispatches we discuss what led to Frank’s conversion to Catholic Christianity, his experiences as a media personality, the crisis of dehumanisation in public discourse, and lots more. ❤️ Become a Patreon supporter at: www.Patreon.com/LeftFootMedia  ❤️ Become a Substack supporter at: www.thecounterculture.substack.com

In this episode I sit down with Simon O’Connor for a candid conversation about his life and views on the times we find ourselves living through. We discuss everything from conspiracy theories, to his political betrayal, to being a politician during the Ardern regime, the current state of NZ politics, and whether he regrets not going out to meet with the organisers of the COVID anti-mandate protest at Parliament grounds. ❤️ Become a Patreon supporter at: www.Patreon.com/LeftFootMedia  ❤️ Become a Substack supporter at: www.thecounterculture.substack.com

Last week a Louisiana court issued a significant ruling about how abortion pills can be accessed in their state. Within days that ruling had escalated all the way to the US Supreme Court. In this episode I explore how we got to this point and where the legal battle currently stands. I also explain the good reasons why I think that even pro-choice people should be in favour of the Louisiana ruling, as well as the deeper ideological and cultural factors at play in all of this. ❤️ Become a Patreon supporter at: www.Patreon.com/LeftFootMedia  ❤️ Become a Substack supporter at: www.thecounterculture.substack.com

Several weeks ago a respected ethics journal published a paper arguing that every pregnant minor should be subjected to a forced abortion, and that not doing so is a serious injustice and failure to provide proper care. In this episode I discuss and dissect the major flaws in this vacuous and reprehensible claim. ❤️ Become a Patreon supporter at: www.Patreon.com/LeftFootMedia  ❤️ Become a Substack supporter at: www.thecounterculture.substack.com

In this episode we discuss the deeper cultural crisis behind the shocking case of a grieving UK mother scheduled to have her life ended at a Swiss euthanasia centre and how this incident is also a prophetic call to the Christian Church. ❤️ Become a Patreon supporter at: www.Patreon.com/LeftFootMedia  ❤️ Become a Substack supporter at: www.thecounterculture.substack.com

The sixth and final episode in a special podcast adaption of a lecture series that I was asked to present at an event in January 2026 on Artificial Intelligence in the light of Christian anthropology. In this episode we discuss why AI is not like other previous technological advancements; the different types of harms arising from AI that we need to be aware of; and, most importantly, what practical steps we can take in our own lives to safeguard human dignity and flourishing. ❤️ Become a Patreon supporter at: www.Patreon.com/LeftFootMedia  ❤️ Become a Substack supporter at: www.thecounterculture.substack.com

The fifth episode in a special 6 part podcast adaption of a lecture series that I was asked to present at an event in January 2026 on Artificial Intelligence in the light of Christian anthropology. In this episode we focus on the backstory of AI; some key facts and definitions about AI; and some examples of morally good uses of AI that contribute to human flourishing. ❤️ Become a Patreon supporter at: www.Patreon.com/LeftFootMedia  ❤️ Become a Substack supporter at: www.thecounterculture.substack.com

The fourth episode in a special 6 part podcast adaption of a lecture series that I was asked to present at an event in January 2026 on Artificial Intelligence in the light of Christian anthropology. In this episode we talk about Christian anthropology, power, science, technology and morality. ❤️ Become a Patreon supporter at: www.Patreon.com/LeftFootMedia  ❤️ Become a Substack supporter at: www.thecounterculture.substack.com

The third episode in a special 6 part podcast adaption of a lecture series that I was asked to present at an event in January 2026 on Artificial Intelligence in the light of Christian anthropology. In this episode we begin exploring the issue of technology and morality. ❤️ Become a Patreon supporter at: www.Patreon.com/LeftFootMedia  ❤️ Become a Substack supporter at: www.thecounterculture.substack.com

Last week a self-styled conservative women’s magazine announced, along with some rather surprising promotional visuals, that its next edition was going to be the “Sex Issue’. However well-meaning their intentions might be, their statements and claims about sex and conservatism see the return of an age old false dichotomy, and they miss the mark in some fundamentally important ways. ❤️ Become a Patreon supporter at: www.Patreon.com/LeftFootMedia  ❤️ Become a Substack supporter at: www.thecounterculture.substack.com