The Ethan C. Lewin Podcast

Ray and Star Silverman bring nearly 50 years of marriage, parenting, and spiritual teaching to this conversation. Ray holds advanced degrees in English, Education, and Divinity, and spent 25 years teaching courses on Conjugial Love, the Ten Commandments, and Eastern religion. He also did prison ministry and co-developed Happy, Joyous, and Free.

Star, with a Master’s in Special Education, co-taught with Ray and helped bring the Rise ...

Calling all recent grads and those needing a push to travel!

Rafe Williams is off to Namibia with the Peace Corps—and he’s got stories. In this spur-of-the-moment episode, my longtime friend and I dive into his wild ride so far: hitchhiking in Mexico with the Cartel, getting caught in Yellowstone storms, hiking Hawaii’s coastline, and going from zero countries visited outside the US at age 18 to over 20 by age 22.

We break down what...

Jody Maddock is a dedicated bow hunter and a true legend in the whitetail community, with one of the most incredible great rooms you’ll ever see.

Jody explains why hunting, though counterintuitive, is vital for conservation—funding anti-poaching, managing wildlife, and reducing deer-vehicle collisions.

He shares the demanding preparation hunting requires, why he taxidermies his animals as stories, and unforgettable close calls with...

Welcome to Episode 10 of The Ethan C. Lewin Podcast!

Today I’m joined by Shawn “Fish” Synnestvedt, longtime educator, coach, and husband of 45 years, who brings a deep faith-based perspective on building a happy, healthy, and deeply loving marriage. Shawn’s insights come from decades of experience and his powerful presentation “Through An Open Door: A Path to a Stronger Marriage” (New Church Life, Mar/Apr 2025). 

This episode is a ge...

How do we rebuild trust in a world where faith in institutions—and the experts behind them—has crumbled for valid reasons?

In this episode, I sit down with ER doctor Dr. Halfdan Bau-Madsen for an unfiltered look at modern medicine: where it’s broken, where it still saves lives, and how truth and transparency can restore trust.

We tackle the moral dilemmas doctors face when speaking out could cost everything, Big Pharma’s influence, h...

In this episode, I sit down with Mary McCollum, who faces the end of her life with rare honesty and peace. Mary shares what dying has taught her about living, the struggle between the will to live and letting go, and finding joy even in life’s hardest moments. 

She speaks openly about stopping treatment, entering hospice, the freedom she’s found in embracing this stage of life, and the love story that’s carried her through it all—an...

In this episode, I sit down with my Uncle David—a calm, trusted voice in my life and a New Church minister—to explore life, love, and sex through a redemptive, grace-filled, spiritually grounded lens. We begin by tracing the arc of his life, from early spiritual influences and family dynamics to his unique journey into ministry.

Together, we unpack why many young adults feel confused or burned by culture and religion, and how a thir...

Ali Durand has been a healing presence in my life—and in the lives of many. In this conversation, we meet her at the doorway of a new chapter and look back on the ones that shaped her: from childhood roots and early influences to the pain of losing the father of her three children to suicide.

We talk about motherhood, marriage, divorce, sobriety, and the simple yet often overlooked truth of how life-changing it is to be seen and lov...

Ian Carswell is a friend, mentor, and a living example that you can write your own story. He retired at 39—not because he stopped working, but because he no longer had to trade time for someone else’s dollar.

In this episode, we rewind to Ian’s early hustles—reselling deformed gummy bears, mowing lawns, and running backyard carnivals. He shares how he reached FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early), what poker taught him about m...

Stan Rose is a Vietnam vet and helicopter pilot with over 14,000 flying hours—and easily one of the best next-door neighbors I’ve ever had. Over the years, I’ve loved hearing his stories on the back porch, lemonade in hand.

Stan shares how he went from getting kicked out of high school to flying dangerous missions in Vietnam, where pilot survival was only about 50%. He reflects on the realities of war, the bonds of comradeship, and ...

Chara Daum hosts the Death Café in Bryn Athyn, PA—a space where people gather over tea and cake to talk openly about death.

Death is the one thing we all face, yet rarely discuss. Why is that?

If you’ve lost someone, know someone nearing the end, or just find yourself wondering about the afterlife or the meaning of it all—or want to be invited into a conversation where nothing is off limits—this episode is for you.

Chara and I unpack ...

Cory Boyce has been a teacher, coach, mentor, husband, father, and grandfather—but more personally, he was a role model when I needed one most. In this episode, we shift the focus. After years of our conversations revolving around my story, it’s time to hear his.

From childhood adventures and coaching soccer to raising a family, living abroad, and navigating life with Parkinson’s, Cory opens up about the moments that shaped him, the...

Welcome to the first episode of the podcast.

Peter Rhodes is a dear friend—a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. A former prison counselor and probation officer, he still offers private counseling and works at the Bryn Athyn Thrift Shop (BATS), showing up with presence and humility at 80.

Peter has been a quiet giant in many lives, including mine. From childhood days playing in the woods behind his house and ...

Ethan Chase Lewin is the host of The Ethan C. Lewin Podcast.

In late April, he wrapped up a DIY study abroad trip across Europe and flew back to the U.S. just in time to walk the stage at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), where he received his degree in finance.

So what’s next? As Ethan puts it: The Trifecta — Work. Create. Educate. This podcast is the launchpad for all three.

In this intro episode, Ethan shares the "why" behind the...