A failed attempt at a leadership change, the loss of a skilled and virtuous MP, and a speedily approaching election where the race is much tighter than it really should be. In this episode I share my thoughts about the crisis of leadership in the National Party that is still just as bad today as it was before this week’s firestorm. ❤️ Become a Substack supporter at: www.thecounterculture.substack.com

I discuss an extremely disturbing story that has appeared in the NZ media as part of a new campaign to expand our ‘assisted dying’ laws to make it possible for even more people to be euthanised by the NZ state. The incident and the emotionally manipulative way it is being reported is troubling enough, but what is truly disturbing is the premise that this campaign wants us to accept about what authentic care should look like in our country. This story also raises serious questions about the role and obligations of the media when they become embroiled in political crusades for major law changes, especially when this involves the deliberate and potentially preventable death of the subject in the story. ❤️ Become a Substack supporter at: www.thecounterculture.substack.com

The issue of COVID era policy making and its impacts has returned to the public square in a major way this past week with attempts to subject Dr. Anthony Fauci to official scrutiny in the United States. In this episode I share my thoughts on why I believe this scrutiny matters, and why seeking to downplay problematic aspects of Fauci's conduct keeps us trapped in an unhealthy state of affairs. ❤️ Become a Substack supporter at: www.thecounterculture.substack.com

Last weekend I went to see Christopher Nolan’s new film The Odyssey. In this episode of The Dispatches I take a deep dive and share my unfiltered thoughts about why I don’t think it is Nolan’s greatest movie; why it is both spectacular and lifeless; and why the Law of Zeus is not a reflection of the Christian vision of reality but Odysseus’ shame about Troy is. ❤️ Become a Substack supporter at: www.thecounterculture.substack.com

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