What if the collapse of Western civilisation isn’t political—but spiritual? Artist and theologian Jonathan Pageau joins James Orr to trace our unraveling to the loss of sacred order. From ancient hierarchies to modern chaos, they explore symbolism, the breakdown of the family, and the war on meaning. Can recovering the 'Great Chain of Being' help restore sanity to our politics, our culture, and our souls?
See more of Jonathan here: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/team/jonathan-pageau
Episode Chapters:
00:00:00 Trailer
00:04:36 Symbols, Scripture & Sacred Texts
00:09:20 Reading the Bible Like the Church Fathers
00:14:15 The Postmodern-Patristic Paradox
00:20:02 Icons, Images & the Return to Orthodoxy
00:25:33 Metaphysical Collapse & Modern Politics
00:31:00 The Breakdown of Family & Meaning
00:36:05 Mental Health or Spiritual Crisis?
00:41:50 Christianity as Civilisational Bedrock
00:46:40 Hierarchies of the Heart
00:52:10 Signs of First Light
00:57:10 Like & Subscribe
Produced by https://www.arcadia-digital.com/
🔵 THIS SERIES
First Light | Episode #5
First Light is a refuge of reason in a restless age—where the hard questions are welcomed, and easy answers are left at the door. Each episode unpacks the fault lines of our culture, from faith and politics to identity and belonging, all through the lens of our civilisation’s enduring wisdom.
New episodes fortnightly.
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Thank you, and welcome to the team.
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What if the root of our crisis isn’t politics—but metaphysics? Mary Harrington joins James Orr to explore the ideological revolution behind transgenderism, transhumanism, and the rise of placeless elites. From Aristotle to airport lounges, they trace the collapse of meaning, the erasure of nature, and the urgent need to rediscover human limits.
See more of Mary here: https://substack.com/@reactionaryfeminist
Episode Chapters:
00:00:00 Trailer
00:04:36 Exploring Harringtonism: Philosophy and Feminism
00:09:28 The Role of Technology in Feminism
00:14:55 Human Nature and Metaphysics
00:19:34 The Impact of Technological Change on Society
00:24:48 The Philosophical Underpinnings of Autonomy
00:29:39 The Crisis of Human Identity
00:34:44 The Future of Transhumanism and Political Implications
00:40:22 Rootlessness and the Global Elite
00:46:14 Rediscovering Limits and the Return of Nature
00:57:11 Like & Subscribe
Produced by https://www.arcadia-digital.com/
🔵 THIS SERIES
First Light | Episode #4
First Light is a refuge of reason in a restless age—where the hard questions are welcomed, and easy answers are left at the door. Each episode unpacks the fault lines of our culture, from faith and politics to identity and belonging, all through the lens of our civilisation’s enduring wisdom.
New episodes fortnightly.
🔵 SUBSTACK
If you value this content, and want to support us in making it, please consider becoming a subscriber over on Substack where you’ll get access to exclusive content.
You can join us here: https://www.jamesorr.uk/
Thank you, and welcome to the team.
🔵 SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jtw.orr
X: https://www.x.com/jtworr
Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-light-with-james-orr/id1837532287
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/5Wkn5RsDEDW471OVGAKdMj
What happens when a civilisation forgets who it is? Jordan Peterson joins James Orr to explore the metaphysical roots of the West’s decline, the enduring power of the Bible, and why recovering the sacred is now a political imperative.
See more of Jordan here: https://www.youtube.com/@JordanBPeterson
Episode Chapters:
00:00:00 Trailer
00:01:25 Exploring the Bible's Archetypes
00:02:40 The Importance of Narrative in Understanding Reality
00:06:11 Consciousness: Beyond Biological Reductionism
00:10:06 The Biblical Account of Consciousness
00:12:24 Material vs. Immaterial: Understanding Human Existence
00:14:10 The Relationship Between Time and Consciousness
00:15:31 The Role of Sacrifice in Civilization
00:19:08 The Depth of Sacrifice in Biblical Narratives
00:22:41 The Evolution of Sacrifice in Human Culture
00:29:28 Transformative Sacrifice: The Story of Abraham
00:35:41 The Ultimate Sacrifice: Christ's Role in Ending Sacrifice
00:42:41 Political Flux and Future Directions
00:49:04 The Gender Debate and Its Implications
00:51:59 Liberalism's Challenges and Future
00:54:08 Conservatism and Its Foundations
01:01:10 The Nature of Sacrifice and Redemption
01:15:34 Hope Amidst Challenges
01:20:33 Like & Subscribe
Produced by https://www.arcadia-digital.com/
🔵 THIS SERIES
First Light | Episode #3
First Light is a refuge of reason in a restless age—where the hard questions are welcomed, and easy answers are left at the door. Each episode unpacks the fault lines of our culture, from faith and politics to identity and belonging, all through the lens of our civilisation’s enduring wisdom. New episodes fortnightly.
🔵 SUBSTACK
If you value this content, and want to support us in making it, please consider becoming a subscriber over on Substack where you’ll get access to exclusive content.You can join us here:https://www.jamesorr.uk/Thank you, and welcome to the team.
🔵 SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jtw.orr
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Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-light-with-james-orr/id1837532287
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/5Wkn5RsDEDW471OVGAKdMj
What happens when institutions abandon the people they serve? Matt Goodwin joins James Orr to expose the crisis in British universities, the rise of new media, and the urgent demand for political realignment.See more of Matt here: @drmatthewgoodwinEpisode Chapters:00:00 Trailer01:50 The Crisis in Higher Education20:18 The Rise of New Media and Its Impact34:44 The Role of GB News in Political Discourse37:55 The Need for Political Change and New Leadership39:25 The Call for a Political Revolution43:07 Rebuilding Trust in Political Institutions49:49 The Rise of Reform UK and Its Potential56:06 The Future of the Conservative Party and Political Realignment01:01:16 Defining the Movement: National Conservatism and Beyond01:04:52 Hope for the Future: A New Political Landscape01:08:24 Like & SubscribeProduced by https://www.arcadia-digital.com/This episode was recorded on 1 May 2025.🔵 THIS SERIESFirst Light | Episode #2First Light is a refuge of reason in a restless age—where the hard questions are welcomed, and easy answers are left at the door. Each episode unpacks the fault lines of our culture, from faith and politics to identity and belonging, all through the lens of our civilisation’s enduring wisdom. New episodes fortnightly. 🔵 SUBSTACKIf you value this content, and want to support us in making it, please consider becoming a subscriber over on Substack where you’ll get access to exclusive content.You can join us here:https://jamesorr1.substack.com/Thank you, and welcome to the team.🔵 SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jtw.orrX: https://www.x.com/jtworrApple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-light-with-james-orr/id1837532287Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/5Wkn5RsDEDW471OVGAKdMj
What happens when a civilisation loses faith in itself? Konstantin Kisin joins James Orr to discuss the future of the West, from Trump 2.0 and Ukraine to Britain’s immigration failures.
See more of Konstantin here: @triggerpod.
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Trailer
03:00 Cultural Shifts in Comedy and Free Speech
06:13 The Political Landscape: Trump and Wokeness
09:05 Geopolitical Dynamics: The US and Europe
12:05 Understanding the Russian Mindset
14:58 The Ukraine Conflict: A Complex Reality
17:49 Negotiating Peace: Challenges Ahead
21:06 The Future of Global Security
30:49 Putin's Legacy and Russia's Strategic Interests
32:05 Central Asia: Stability and Autocracy
33:56 Immigration: Perceptions and Realities
35:46 Islamism vs Islam: Understanding Extremism
39:58 The Paradox of Tolerance in Liberal Democracies
42:59 Political Will and the Challenge of Extremism
47:56 The Future of Political Discourse in Britain
53:47 Hope for a Balanced Society
59:21 Like & Subscribe
Produced by https://www.arcadia-digital.com/
This episode was recorded on 2 May 2025.
🔵 THIS SERIES
First Light | Episode #1
First Light is a refuge of reason in a restless age—where the hard questions are welcomed, and easy answers are left at the door. Each episode unpacks the fault lines of our culture, from faith and politics to identity and belonging, all through the lens of our civilisation’s enduring wisdom.
New episodes fortnightly.
🔵 SUBSTACK
If you value this content, and want to support us in making it, please consider becoming a subscriber over on Substack where you’ll get access to exclusive content.
You can join us here:
https://jamesorr1.substack.com/
Thank you, and welcome to the team.
🔵 SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jtw.orr
X:
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-light-with-james-orr/id1837532287
Spotify: