Modify WordPress theme to mimic Quartz's large header image

I am a big fan of how Quartz’s site works (https://qz.com/).

I found the Independent Publisher theme, where the author’s GitHub page can be found here… https://github.com/raamdev/independent-publisher

Also, the theme’s home page is here…
https://independentpublisher.me/

I have a test site running here…
https://ridestory.com/substory/

The theme includes the ability to auto-set a featured image as a post cover, with the post title overlaying the post cover (featured image). You see this when you click through to read the post.

On the home page, the most recent post is, of course, at the top of the page. But I would like that first post to be the header image with overlaying title, linking to the full post, like what Quartz does. The second most recent post would then become the first post in the main content area of the home page. The theme already provides the option to abbreviate all posts after the first.

I hope I am explaining myself clearly enough.

I am able to do simple theme modifications but nothing like this. Please let me know if this looks possible or if too much work is required to pull it off.

I appreciate any help you can offer.

As a side note, I did contact the developer and asked if he would be interested in incorporating this or helping me modify the theme for my use, but he said he has not received any requests like mine, thus didn’t want to take the time to do it, which I understand.