Best Abernethys Podcasts (2024)

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The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVIII, Part IV 57:23

16m ago57:23

57:23

The very words of St. John Climacus seem to carry us up to heights hitherto unknown and unexpected. The experience of this ascent takes place as we feel our hearts begin to burn for love of God and the desire for him in prayer. St. John quickly moves us away from looking at prayer as a mere discipline and rather our being drawn into the depths of M…

1
Episode 329 - Motander SM65 Ardweirdo 26:10

2h ago26:10

26:10

Justin Motander Jones is making some wonderfully inventive guitars down there in San Diego, CA. He’s been experimenting with creating effects by controlling the pickups themselves, as opposed to simply feeding their output through an effect. He calls this idea the Ardweirdo, since the brain behind all of this is the Arduino open-source electronics …

1
The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis XVIII, Part III 58:59

34m ago58:59

58:59

Synopsis of tonight’s group on the Evergetinos- Hypothesis 18 Sections H and I: This evening we concluded hypothesis 18 with the clarity that only St. John Cassian can bring. Cassian, though as western monk, spent many years in Egypt among the desert fathers and was able to distill their thought with great clarity for the western mind as well as th…

1
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVIII, Part III 1:01:11

1h ago1:01:11

1:01:11

Joy! Suddenly, as we read through the Ladder of Dive Ascent every cross, every struggle in the spiritual life, while still present, begins to fade into the background. The costs involved in this struggle pales in comparison to the blessings and the fruits that God bestows upon us, especially prayer . St. John places before us the essentials of pray…

1
Episode 328 - Gibson J-50 22:23

3d ago22:23

22:23

Gibson introduced both the J-45 and J-50 acoustic guitars in 1942. Wood was scarce, and production in Kalamazoo was severely curtailed in favor of war-related endeavors. A few “banner” J-45s were made, but the J-50 would not be reintroduced until 1947. At that time, the J-50 was little more than a J-45 without the paint job. Our example is from 196…

1
The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis XVIII, Part II 59:24

8d ago59:24

59:24

No one is going to take up the practice of fasting or come to “love fasting” as we have often spoken of unless they are taught by those who have deep and long experience in the practice. As we have seen the desert was very much laboratory. Those who entered into it were driven by the desire for the Lord and to remove any impediment to that desire. …

1
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVIII, Part II 1:02:57

1h ago1:02:57

1:02:57

There are some things that cannot be learned from books – prayer most of all! However, St. John, as so many of the Saints speaks to us from long experience as one who truly has seen Christ, knows Christ and has conversed with him deeply. Whatever might be lacking in his thought it still stokes the fire of desire within any heart that longs for God.…

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Assessing AI's risks and impacts: A conversation with NIST's Reva Schwartz 27:30

21m ago27:30

27:30

In May 2024, the U.S. National Institute for Standards and Technology launched a new program called ARIA, which is short for Assessing Risks and Impacts of AI. The aim of the program is to advance sociotechnical testing and evaluation of artificial intelligence by developing methods to quantify how a given system works within real-world contexts. P…

1
Episode 327 - Danocaster Offset 26:03

3h ago26:03

26:03

Fortunately for all of us, impeccable, handmade boutique guitars are easy to find; no one is wanting for choice. We are truly in an instrument-building renaissance. Dan Strain of Danocaster Guitars is one such builder, and his focus is all about having a guitar feel like it’s been yours for years, even if you’ve only just picked it up. We were fort…

1
The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis XVIII, Part I 56:47

15d ago56:47

56:47

We picked up this evening with the beginning of hypothesis 18. For weeks now we have been reading about the essential practice of fasting. The cultivation of virtue and the overcoming of the passions is impossible without it. Making use of the body to strengthen the soul is a necessity. But we quickly realize from the stories that this practice can…

1
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVII, Part IX, and XXVIII, Part I 1:07:06

5d ago1:07:06

1:07:06

As St. John Climacus comes to the end of the step on stillness and segues into the step on prayer, it is as if he is beckoning us with every word to enter into silence and to give ourselves over to prayer; not as a discipline but rather as a response to the gift of God’s love. We are so often filled with a hunger that is inexplicable to us. We seek…

1
Episode 326 - Fender Tom DeLonge Starcaster 23:41

15d ago23:41

23:41

We are torn here at High Gain HQ about the Starcaster that Fender released in 1976. All these years later, it has experienced a rehabilitation of sorts in the indie crowd. Now that the Tom DeLonge Starcaster has been introduced, will those on either side of the great Starcaster debate find common ground? If so, we smell a Nobel Peace Prize for Tom …

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The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVII: On Stillness of Mind and Body, Part VIII 1:02:45

12d ago1:02:45

1:02:45

One of the most wonderful things that someone said in the group tonight was: “I am amazed at how simple it all is!” And they are absolutely right in their observation. All that the fathers tell us - about the struggle for purity of heart and overcoming the passions, seeking stillness and constancy in prayer - comes down to one simple reality. God i…

1
Episode 325 - Silvertone 1438 Bass 27:21

15d ago27:21

27:21

In the immediate aftermath of WWII, the founders of Teisco would get their guitar bodies from a milkman who built instruments on the side. By the 1960s they were responsible for a large chunk of the Japanese import market, coming up with wilder designs as they went along. They mostly built for third parties; case in point this Silvertone bass, made…

1
The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis XVII, Part I 1:00:21

17d ago1:00:21

1:00:21

The desert was a laboratory. The monks went into its depths precisely to push the limits of what they needed in order to sustain themselves; whether it be food, water or sleep. Therefore, we must not find ourselves put off by the stories that seem so extreme. Quite simply, they were extreme! The desert being a laboratory, compelled the monks not on…

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The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVII: On Stillness of Mind and Body, Part VII 1:03:45

1M ago1:03:45

1:03:45

St. John draws us into the experience of stillness and its many fruits. It is a precious gift that comes to us by the grace of God and takes root in a heart prepared through years of asceticism and watchfulness. It is our waiting upon God. In many ways this sums up the vocation of the hermit/monk. But it also captures the essence of our life and th…

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Episode 324 - Justin Abernethy of Abernethy Guitars 25:06

20d ago25:06

25:06

It’s been 5 years since we met Justin Abernethy of Abernethy Guitars, and he’s been very busy making top-shelf instruments. It seems like more and more we’re seeing Justin’s guitars in the hands of brilliant musicians. And there’s a reason for that. Like the Sonic Baroness baritone we enjoyed while catching up with Justin. Enjoy! Like the show? Fol…

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The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis XVI, Part II 59:14

1M ago59:14

59:14

We picked up once again with the theme of “loving fasting.” The severity of the desert father’s practice of this discipline reveals that love. They discovered not only how essential the body is in the spiritual struggle to overcome attachment and the order of one’s desires towards God, but also that fasting brings a simplicity to one’s life.We begi…

1
Episode 323 - Millimetric MGS3 22:05

28d ago22:05

22:05

It’s been quite a while since we had the pleasure of talking to Florian at Millimetric Instruments. He’s one of the most thoughtful designers out there, and his guitars reflect the care he puts into everything he does. We’ve been fortunate enough to play several Millimetrics, and have loved every one of them. And now, Ed has his own! We took it for…

1
The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis XV, Part IV and XVI, Part I 1:02:06

2M ago1:02:06

1:02:06

We continued our discussion of the fathers’ love for abstinence and fasting. While their feats seem amazing to us as well as how little food they needed to sustain themselves, the importance is what this love of these disciplines show us. They were not embraced simply as forms of discipline or endurance, but rather that which humbled the mind and t…

1
Episode 322 - Gibson Les Paul Lite 23:56

1M ago23:56

23:56

Recently, Gibson added a new Les Paul to its lineup. It’s got hot pickups and slim neck, and sports a simpler, no-frills design. And, it’s very light! Is all this enough to convince Ed? Enjoy! Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon || https://www.patreon.com/thehighgain Instagram || @thehighgain Web || https://www.thehighgai…

1
The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis XV, Part III 1:02:29

2M ago1:02:29

1:02:29

The fathers often draw us along this mysterious path, the narrow path, that leads to the kingdom. They lead us, as it were, “where angels fear to tread.” They show us in an unvarnished fashion how the path to Godly love and virtue passes through affliction. Yet, even that is too simplistic. It is the suffering heart, the heart crushed by prayer and…

1
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVII: On Stillness of Mind and Body, Part VI 1:07:39

2M ago1:07:39

1:07:39

St. John Climacus once again gives us powerful images to help us understand the meaning of stillness and how it is to be protected. One such image is that of an eyelash that falls into the eye and creates irritation. The enemy of stillness is agitation; we are often driven to distraction by a concern for our physical and emotional well-being. Fear …

1
The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis XV, Part II 1:08:31

2M ago1:08:31

1:08:31

What is it that we are hungry for in this world? So many of the writings of the fathers can be reduced to this very question. What is the deepest desire of our hearts? What have we been created for and what satisfies the sense of incompleteness or the strange feeling of nostalgia within us? Because we have been created for God and find in Him our t…

1
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVII: On Stillness of Mind and Body, Part V 1:05:08

2M ago1:05:08

1:05:08

There is a beautiful movement created in the heart by St. John’s writing; it is almost a dance. We move back-and-forth with St. John by simultaneously reflecting upon the beauty of silence and stillness and the intimacy that we experience with God through it - while also being shown what the loss of the silence does to us. The silence of which St. …

1
PMS and the Perimenopause, with Jackie Lynch, Menopause Nutritionist & Author. S5. Ep 16. 23:24

1M ago23:24

23:24

You know when it’s coming don’t you? That time of the month, when people start to tiptoe around you and discretion is definitely the better part of valour amongst your loved ones. Woe betide the fool that dares to suggest you’re a little hormonal – especially if it’s a man! Yep, I’m talking about PMS, premenstrual syndrome, which is the focus of th…

1
Episode 321 - Squier Katana 22:38

2M ago22:38

22:38

In the early 1980s Fender briefly found itself without a factory. The company had been bought from CBS by a consortium, and the factory wasn’t included in the deal. So, they set up shop in Japan. At the same time, the Hair Metal Onslaught™ was in full bloom. What’s an instrument manufacturer to do? Make a guitar shaped like a samurai sword, that’s …

1
Privacy litigation trends: A discussion with Darren Abernethy 45:16

2M ago45:16

45:16

With the proliferation of comprehensive U.S. state privacy laws in recent years, there’s been an understandable focus by privacy professionals on this growing patchwork. But privacy litigation is also on the rise and the plaintiff’s bar has explored some novel theories, particularly around the use of onlin tracking technologies. Greenberg Traurig S…

1
Episode 320 - Fender Mustang 25:35

2M ago25:35

25:35

Ed has recently acquired one of the most uniquely beat up Fender Mustangs we’ve ever seen. Made in the year the model was released, every last sticker, scrape and scratch on it is perfect; character like this comes along rarely. So , naturally, we thought it best to do a review of what makes the Mustang the rock machine it is to this day. Like the …

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The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis XIV, and XV, Part I 1:01:37

2M ago1:01:37

1:01:37

Humility and affliction: Two words that often evoke within us intense fear and anxiety. We are formed by a kind of pathological self-love. The fathers understood our focus upon worldly things as a need to create a sense of security and identity. We desperately want to protect ourselves from hardship and from pain and so we surround ourselves as muc…

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The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVII: On Stillness of Mind and Body, Part IV 1:01:08

3M ago1:01:08

1:01:08

In pursuing life in Christ, the experience of reality is often turned on its head. Our perception of the world around us and the interior world is shaped and formed by so many forces and influences. In a counterintuitive fashion, we have to move in opposing directions to the things that satisfy our ego or the desires of the flesh. Needless to say t…

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Beating Brain Fog with Dr Sabina Brenna, Neuroscientist & Psychologist - Best Bits #6 15:10

2M ago15:10

15:10

Do you ever wonder what you came upstairs for, forget where you’ve parked the car or find yourself grappling for the right word that just won’t come? These are all common concerns for women in midlife because brain fog is one of the classic symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. In my latest Best Bit to celebrate half a million downloads for The …

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Episode 319 - Author Nick Corasaniti 32:05

3M ago32:05

32:05

Nick Corasaniti is a domestic correspondent covering national politics for the New York Times. He has covered four presidential cycles, along with countless congressional, gubernatorial and mayoral races in more than 15 years at the Times. He was once the Times’s Jersey correspondent, tracking the politics, policy, people, trains, beaches, and ecce…

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The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis XIII, Part II 1:02:15

3M ago1:02:15

1:02:15

Only the most stalwart and patient of souls can follow along with this evening’s readings without being troubled. Once again it is repeated for us that our life is to be one of constant repentance; that is, turning toward God. Systematically the fathers break down every illusion that we might have about ourselves as having no need of such repentanc…

1
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVII: On Stillness of Mind and Body, Part III 1:06:14

3M ago1:06:14

1:06:14

What possibly could hesychasm or the life of hesychasts - those who live in perpetual stillness and prayer - mean for those who living in the world; for all of those surrounded by a constant stream of noise and distraction?The answer is everything! Though few are called to this manner of life, all are destined to experience the fullness of its joy …

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The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis XIII, Part I 1:00:43

3M ago1:00:43

1:00:43

We picked up this evening with Hypothesis 13 on the subject of keeping Vigil and not giving oneself over to excessive sleep. However, as we immersed ourselves in the reading, we began to see the father guiding us into something much deeper. The teaching on keeping vigil is a bridge to talking about Repentance. We were presented with the most beauti…

1
Episode 318 - Supro Kingston 27:32

3M ago27:32

27:32

Thanks to people like Jack White and Dan Auerbach, budget line catalog guitars remain fondly in our conscience as the vibe-laden machines they are. Supro was/is no exception, having crafted some amazing instruments out of little more than a pickup and some fiberglass. Among them was the Kingston, with its buff sand color and swoopy good looks. Enjo…

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The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVII: On Stillness of Mind and Body, Part II 1:02:02

3M ago1:02:02

1:02:02

It’s hard to imagine ourselves as being nourished upon stillness and silence. Yet, this is exactly what the fathers and St. John Climacus seek to teach us. Stillness allows us to have an experiential knowledge of intimacy with God - an encounter with Mystery. When we have shut the door to the senses, when we stilled our mouth from constant chatter …

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Sleepless: How to Cope with Insomnia, with Annabel Abbs, Author & Researcher. S5. Ep 15 39:42

3M ago39:42

39:42

Chronic insomnia can be very stressful – not only are you feeling tired and worried about how you’ll cope the next day, but you’re probably also worrying about all those stories you’ve heard about the potential long-term health impact of not sleeping. And that means that you’re even less likely to get to sleep! Women are generally much more prone t…

1
Episode 317 - Airline Upbeat Stereo 27:11

3M ago27:11

27:11

Montgomery Ward produced one of the largest mail order catalogs in the US, starting way back in the 1870s. By the time the 1950s rolled around, they were including electric guitars, like the Upbeat. Our example is a stereo version, and left us scratching our heads more than we thought it would. But it sounds good, and plays well, as most budget ins…

1
The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis XII, Part I 58:34

3M ago58:34

58:34

We picked up this evening with Hypothesis 12. The subtitle is on avoiding idle talk. However, this does not do justice to what we are given in the text. It is revealed to us how we are to kindle within our hearts the fire of love for God that then gives rise to a holy sacrifice of praise. Thus, the greatest thing that we can give God is to emulate …

1
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVII: On Stillness of Mind and Body, Part I 1:03:46

3M ago1:03:46

1:03:46

St. John Climacus brings us now to discuss the fruits of the ascetic life. We picked up this evening with Step 27 on “stillness of mind and body”. John is very hesitant to approach such a subject. He does not want to distract the warrior from the task at hand; that is, those who are engaged in the spiritual warfare against the passions and the prov…

1
The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis XI, Part III 1:05:16

3M ago1:05:16

1:05:16

As we conclude Hypothesis 11, we are given very solid food to nourish our understanding of the nature of prayer and our demeanor. How is it that we are called to worship God, to pray the psalms, and what is our demeanor to be following that worship? A kind of liturgical asceticism must guide and direct our prayer and piety. Even the way that we pra…

1
Episode 316 - Ernie Ball Music Man Armada 27:50

3M ago27:50

27:50

like, well, cool things that drop out of stuff. The Armada was the company’s first guitar designed with a neck-through. The result is every bit as sonorous as you might imagine. Enjoy! Like the show? Follow us at these fine establishments: Patreon || https://www.patreon.com/thehighgain Instagram || @thehighgain Web || https://www.thehighgain.com…

1
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVI: On Discernment, Part IX 1:05:00

3M ago1:05:00

1:05:00

We come to the end of Step 26 on Discernment and in doing so we begin to see, or at least get a glimpse of, its importance for the spiritual life. So often sin distorts are perception of reality. It prevents us from seeing with clarity both the dignity and the blessings that come from being a son or daughter of God, baptized into Christ - as well a…

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213 - Then and Now | Steven Argue 20:28

3M ago20:28

20:28

Steven Argue preaches about our call to love, and about how such love is formed as we look back to our past, live in our present, and look ahead in the future. Steven Argue is Associate Professor of Youth, Family, and Culture. Recorded at Fuller’s All-Seminary Chapel on May 15, 2024.

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The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis XI, Part II 1:00:19

4M ago1:00:19

1:00:19

All that we do is to be touched by the grace of God, shaped by it, and perfected by it. This includes our virtues, and also the manner in which we pray. Psalmody has always been apart of the prayer tradition of the church and in particular of the monastics. The psalms capture within them both the adversities and the joys that we experience in this …

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Dealing With Vaginal Dryness, with Kathy Abernethy, Menopause Specialist - Best Bits #5 14:23

3M ago14:23

14:23

Welcome to my latest Best Bit, part of my series to celebrate half a million downloads for The Happy Menopause podcast, and the chance for you to catch up on some of the brilliant episodes you may have missed. This edition focuses on vaginal dryness, which is rather the Cinderella of the menopause. In recent years, we’ve become more confident about…

1
Episode 315 - Fender Jaguar Thinline 23:30

4M ago23:30

23:30

In 2012, Fender celebrated the 50th anniversary of one its greatest instruments, the Jaguar. In the US reissues were designed to evoke the look of those original guitars. In Japan, production took a wider turn that saw a double bound thinline model hit the market. We’re divided as to how successful it was at the time, or what we think of it now, bu…

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The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVI: On Discernment, Part XIII 1:01:02

4M ago1:01:02

1:01:02

Every week it is as if we are diving into living waters that renew and refresh the soul. This is particularly true of step 26 on Discernment and St. John’s summary towards its conclusion. So often as is true with the Fathers, St. John makes use of concrete and colorful imagery to capture for us the nature of the spiritual life and in this case disc…

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