Think Christian: A Faith and Pop Culture Podcast
117 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 101 ratingsHow might your pop culture fandom resonate with your faith? Josh Larsen, editor of Think Christian, talks with TC writers about the latest in TV, movies, music, and more, exploring the ways popular culture and its cultivators interact with God’s story.
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Episodes
Creation Care Through the Lens of Hayao Miyazaki (TC Movie Club)
March 26, 2024 14:00 - 52 minutes - 71.9 MBListen in as TC’s Josh Larsen and Fuller Seminary’s Elijah Davidson lead a conversation with Movie Club members about the animated films of Hayao Miyazaki. SHOW NOTES Join the TC Movie Club - https://www.thinkchristian.net/movieclub Elijah’s book, Hayao Miyazaki: Lifted - https://elijahdavidson.com/books/icons-of-cinema/hayao-miyazaki-lifted-ebook/ Josh’s video essay on ‘What Miyazaki and Christianity Have in Common’ - https://thinkchristian.net/what-miyazaki-and-christianity-have-in-comm...
Avatar: The Last Airbender and Common Spiritual Ground
March 13, 2024 14:30 - 35 minutes - 49.5 MBWhat can Christians take from a series that is rooted in Eastern spirituality? Josh, Claude, and Roslyn find a lot in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, from the way wisdom is shared across generations to the contrasting of fear with love to an appreciation for the “thin places” where the spiritual realm breaks into ours. SHOW NOTES Sarah Welch-Larson on “Avatar: The Last Airbender and Spiritual Gifts” - https://thinkchristian.net/avatar-the-last-airbender-and-s...
Oscars 2024
February 28, 2024 16:00 - 48 minutes - 66.8 MBJosh, Kathryn, and Sarah each bring a Best Picture nominee to the table, resulting in conversations about biblical justice in the context of Oppenheimer and personal conviction as it relates to The Zone of Interest. They also spend way more time than they anticipated singing the praises of Lorraine, a supporting character in American Fiction who quietly mirrors the gracious love of God. SHOW NOTES Roslyn Hernández on ‘Barbie and Our Reason for Being’ - https://thinkchristian.net/barbie-and-...
Sin, Debt, and Forgiveness in Fargo Season 5
February 14, 2024 14:30 - 44 minutes - 61.1 MBCan JR. and Abby bring Josh around on Fargo Season 5? They discuss the Coen brothers-inspired series — including the theology-soaked season finale. SHOW NOTES Josh Pease on Fargo Season 2 - https://thinkchristian.net/fargos-faith-in-little-green-men David Kern on Fargo Season 3 - https://thinkchristian.net/fargo-seeking-harmony-in-the-face-of-discord Josh’s video essay on 1996’s Fargo - https://youtu.be/qaRRXpfTyfU?si=U3knjwTTNIvpxid9 Abby on ‘Five Films for Lent' - https://thinkchristia...
Best Movies of 2023
January 24, 2024 20:00 - 44 minutes - 61.2 MBHow do we sense God’s presence? Through voice, touch, mystery? Josh, Claude, and Roslyn each bring a favorite 2023 film for discussion, only to realize their picks all circle around this question in some way. They cover Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, The Boy and the Heron, and All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt - while listener choices bring a handful of other titles to the table. SHOW NOTES A complete list of our favorite 2023 movies, according to Think Christian contributors, listeners, ...
Best TV of 2023
January 10, 2024 20:00 - 45 minutes - 62.5 MBAs described by Sarah on this episode, our picks for the best TV shows of 2023 all happened to feature “reluctant justice-doers.” Listen to her, Josh, JR., and Joe discuss Jury Duty, Poker Face, Trigun Stampede, and more. Plus, listener picks too! SHOW NOTES Kate Meyrick on ‘The Crown’s Half-Hearted Confessions’ - https://thinkchristian.net/the-crowns-half-hearted-confessions Julia York on ‘Poker Face and the Power of the Unremarkable Woman’ - https://thinkchristian.net/poker-face-and-powe...
Best Music of 2023
January 04, 2024 17:30 - 33 minutes - 46.5 MBAccording to Josh, Kathryn, Abby, and Aarik, the best music of the year echoed our anxieties, while also offering eschatologically tinged consolation. They discuss The National, Sufjan Stevens, Cleo Sol, and more. SHOW NOTES: Master list of our favorite 2023 music - https://thinkchristian.net/best-music-of-2023 Joel Mayward on “Sufjan Stevens’ Piercing Javelin” - https://thinkchristian.net/sufjan-stevens-piercing-javelin Aarik’s poem, “Notes On a Concert by The National” - https://feverso...
Five Films for Advent
December 07, 2023 19:30 - 37 minutes - 51.7 MBThink of it as an Advent wreath, but with movies on it instead of candles. Josh, Roslyn, and Abby discuss a handful of films that will help you mark the Christmas season, including the recent release The Holdovers, the 2019 documentary For Sama, and the Satoshi Kon anime Tokyo Godfathers.
The Marvels and Getting Our Spiritual Gifts in Sync
November 21, 2023 15:00 - 30 minutes - 42.1 MBJosh is clinging onto his MCU fandom with The Marvels, thanks to the chemistry of its three leads and the way it evokes the biblical notion of spiritual gifts. Are Kathryn and Joe on board as well, or have they bailed on the franchise? SHOW NOTES TC landing page: ‘God in the MCU’ - https://thinkchristian.net/god-in-the-mcu Joe on ‘Loki Season 2 and the God of Sacrifice’ - https://thinkchristian.net/loki-and-the-god-of-sacrifice Joe’s book, The Superpowers and the Glory - https://wipfandst...
Wilco’s Cousin: Ballads of Brokenness and Beauty
November 08, 2023 15:30 - 31 minutes - 43.2 MBWilco’s latest album makes ample space for sadness, while also encouraging a beautiful belief in something more. Josh, Aarik, and Sarah discuss the eschatological echoes of the band’s music, delving deeply into tracks like “Pittsburgh,” “Sunlight Ends,” and “Infinite Surprise.” SHOW NOTES Aarik’s TC post on Wilco’s Ode to Joy - https://thinkchristian.net/considering-wilcos-joy John J. Thompson’s TC post on Wilco’s “All Lives You Say” - https://thinkchristian.net/all-lives-you-say-wilco-and...
A Christian Defense of Horror Part V (TC Movie Club)
October 26, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 76.8 MBListen in as TC’s Josh Larsen and Fuller Theological Seminary’s Kutter Callaway lead a TC Movie Club conversation considering “Horror — What Is it Good for?” They and club members talk biblical fear, horror subgenres, and the particular brand of scares offered by Jordan Peele. (To join the club, sign up at https://www.thinkchristian.net/movieclub) SHOW NOTES Kutter’s limited series podcast, Be Afraid - https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/be-afraid/ Josh’s book, Fear Not! A Chris...
Reservation Dogs and Indigenized Faith
October 11, 2023 18:30 - 45 minutes - 62 MBAs touching and hilarious as it often was, the Hulu series Reservation Dogs was also clear-eyed about the awful, historical realities indigenous people faced (and still contend with) in North America - including a complicated relationship with Christianity. Josh, JR., and Roslyn consider this in light of the series’ finale, while also sharing which of the four teens at the show’s center they’ll continue to think about in the years ahead. SHOW NOTES Christian Reformed Church in North America...
One Piece: ‘Come, follow me.’
September 28, 2023 15:00 - 31 minutes - 43.6 MBNetflix’s live-action adaptation of the popular anime series offers a mismatched batch of outcasts who are united by a warm, encouraging leader and directed toward a singular purpose. Sound familiar? Aside from those New Testament echoes, the show also delivers pirates, sea creatures, and snail phones. Josh Larsen and Abby Olcese are joined by One Piece expert Claude Atcho to discuss. SHOW NOTES Sara Kyoungah White on ‘One Piece and Straw Hat Christians’ - https://thinkchristian.net/one-pi...
Karen Swallow Prior on Barbie and Cultural Imagination
September 14, 2023 15:00 - 24 minutes - 34 MBKaren Swallow Prior - TC’s Greta Gerwig correspondent - joins Josh to discuss the hilarity, profundity, and theological resonance of Gerwig’s summer blockbuster, Barbie, which is now available via video on demand. SHOW NOTES Karen’s book, The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis - http://www.bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/the-evangelical-imagination/412270 Roslyn Hernández on ‘Barbie and Our Reason for Being’ - https://thinkchristian.net/b...
The Little Mermaid and Christian Obedience
August 31, 2023 15:00 - 33 minutes - 46.6 MBDoes King Triton have a point? Or is Ariel’s rebellion a leading of the Spirit? Josh, Kathryn, and Sarah discuss Disney live-action remakes and how 2023’s The Little Mermaid compares and contrasts with a Christian understanding of obedience. SHOW NOTES Sign up to join the TC Movie Club - https://thinkchristian.net/movieclub Josh’s book, Fear Not! A Christian Appreciation of Horror Movies - https://bit.ly/3YZGPJF Sarah’s podcast, Seeing & Believing - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
The Bear’s Burden of Perfection
August 15, 2023 15:00 - 39 minutes - 54.1 MBThe streaming series about a high-end chef struggling to revive his family’s Chicago beef joint turns out to be the perfect opportunity for Josh, JR., and Joe to discuss the difference between perfection and excellence, ways of welcoming all to the table, and the persistent gift of grace. Plus, JR. shares a pastor’s perspective on how The Beef’s journey toward becoming The Bear mirrors the challenge and promise of the contemporary church. SHOW NOTES Julia York on ‘The Bear’s Inheritance of ...
Wes Anderson’s Restoration Cinema (TC Movie Club)
July 27, 2023 14:30 - 1 hour - 83.3 MBListen in as TC’s Josh Larsen and Julia York lead a conversation with Movie Club members about Asteroid City and Anderson’s other films, placing them within the Christian context of creation-fall-redemption-restoration. SHOW NOTES Join the TC Movie Club - https://www.thinkchristian.net/movieclub Asteroid City's Preaching Tip - https://thinkchristian.net/asteroid-citys-preaching-tip Rushmore: Heaven and Hell and Heaven Again - https://youtu.be/lzTvH14xw9Q
Indiana Jones’ Profession of Faith
July 13, 2023 15:00 - 36 minutes - 49.9 MB“I’ve come to believe it’s not so much about what you believe, it’s how hard you believe it.” In his farewell outing, Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones offers this testimony after a lifetime of adventures and supernatural experiences. Is his statement a profound revelation, a cop-out, or just bad theology? Josh, Aarik, and Abby discuss this and more, as they consider Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. SHOW NOTES Josh’s Dial of Destiny addendum to his post about Indy’s whip in the Indiana Jo...
Spider-Verse Spirituality
June 08, 2023 14:30 - 30 minutes - 42.6 MBSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse tops its already-impressive predecessor in terms of animated artistry, thematic depth, and theological resonance. At least that’s the shared opinion of Josh and first-time guest Emanuel Padilla. SHOW NOTES Joe George on ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’s Great Commission’ - https://thinkchristian.net/spider-verses-great-commission Emanuel Padilla on Twitter: https://twitter.com/emanuelwos TC’s Into the Spider-Verse Watch Party discussion audio: https...
What Do We Do With Paul Schrader? (TC Movie Club)
May 23, 2023 16:00 - 1 hour - 82.9 MBListen in as TC’s Josh Larsen and guest Jeff Munroe lead a conversation with Movie Club members about First Reformed, Hardcore, and other films from writer-director Paul Schrader. (To join the club, sign up at https://www.thinkchristian.net/movieclub) Show Notes: Josh’s video essay on First Reformed: https://youtu.be/WDNMo83_y6w Josh’s 2018 interview with Paul Schrader: https://thinkchristian.net/first-reformed-and-holy-art-an-interview-with-paul-schrader Jeff’s TC post on First Reformed’s ...
Abbott Elementary’s Amazing Grace
May 11, 2023 16:30 - 29 minutes - 40.9 MBWith Season 2 complete, Josh, Kathryn, and Roslyn discuss all things Abbott Elementary: the way iron is sharpening iron, relationally and professionally; Ava as a child in the kingdom of God; and the school’s communal importance as a place of grace, acceptance, and belonging. Oh, and what we think about the whole Janine-Gregory thing. Show Notes Brian Howell on ‘Saint Abbott Elementary’ - https://thinkchristian.net/saint-abbott-elementary Josh, Kathryn, and Joe George discussing Abbott E...
Boygenius and Being Known
April 27, 2023 15:30 - 32 minutes - 44.6 MBTeaming up for their first full-length album as supergroup boygenius, Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus seamlessly blend their talents to share what they yearn for most of all: “to be known so well.” Josh, Abby, and Sarah discuss the music, the universality of that longing, and a story about being known that’s found in the Gospel of John. Show Notes Micah Rickard's TC post on Julien Baker's Little Oblivions: https://thinkchristian.net/the-apostle-pauls-little-oblivions Chad As...
The Mandalorian Gets Religion
April 06, 2023 16:30 - 36 minutes - 50.5 MBWith Season 3 delving even more deeply into The Way of Mandalore, Josh, Claude, and JR. discuss the ideas of redemption, community, and calling that are at play. Get your free copy of our Theology of Star Wars ebook here: https://thinkchristian.net/starwars Read JR.’s post on The Mandalorian Season 2 here: https://thinkchristian.net/the-merciful-way-of-the-mandalorian Listen to Josh and Sarah Welch-Larson discuss The Mandalorian Season 1 here: https://thinkchristian.net/podcast/a-theology...
Superhero Theology (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, The Superpowers and the Glory)
March 14, 2023 15:00 - 40 minutes - 56.3 MBHow do the themes in superhero movies relate to Christ's teachings? How do believers reconcile superhero violence with Jesus' message of peace? In his new book, The Superpowers and the Glory, Joe George considers these questions and more. Joe joins Josh to discuss the project, as well as the latest MCU installment — Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Get Joe’s book here: https://wipfandstock.com/9781666731057/the-superpowers-and-the-glory/ Find a roundup of TC articles on the MCU here: http...
Oscars 2023 (TC Movie Club)
March 02, 2023 14:30 - 51 minutes - 71.1 MBListen in as TC’s Josh Larsen and Roslyn Hernández lead a conversation with Movie Club members about four faith questions relating to the 2023 Best Picture nominees. (To join the club, sign up at https://www.thinkchristian.net/movieclub)
Witness (Bono’s Surrender, Belle and Sebastian’s Late Developers)
February 14, 2023 17:30 - 54 minutes - 74.6 MBHow might Christian artists hold their faith while moving in mainstream circles? Josh and Aarik - critics who work in both faith-based and secular media - discuss, using the new memoir from U2’s frontman and the latest album from Belle and Sebastian to guide their conversation.
Best Movies of 2022
January 24, 2023 18:00 - 45 minutes - 62.5 MBFrom Everything Everywhere All At Once to Fire of Love to Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Josh, Abby, and JR. celebrate their favorite movies of 2022.
Best TV of 2022
January 17, 2023 15:30 - 32 minutes - 44.8 MBFrom Abbott Elementary to Severance to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Josh, Kathryn, and Joe celebrate their favorite television of 2022. Plus, listener picks too!
Best Music of 2022
January 09, 2023 16:00 - 38 minutes - 53.2 MBSaba. Carly Rae Jepsen. Wild Pink. Madison Cunningham. Beach Bunny. Josh, Claude, Sarah, John, and Aarik celebrate their favorite music of 2022. Plus, listener picks too!
Royalty (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Crown)
December 15, 2022 14:30 - 42 minutes - 58.7 MBThe concept of royalty drives much of the action in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It’s also the reason for being in Netflix’s The Crown. How do these depictions of royalty stand alongside those in the Bible — including the King of Kings?
Antiheroes (Andor, Taylor Swift’s Midnights)
November 15, 2022 14:30 - 45 minutes - 61.9 MBOn Midnights, Taylor Swift adopts the persona of an antihero (especially on “Anti-Hero”). On Andor, Disney Plus’ latest Star Wars series, Diego Luna plays one. Are either of these antiheroes reminiscent of those we find in the Bible? What can we learn from antiheroes about the human condition — and how does the gospel respond to that condition? Josh, JR., and Kathryn discuss.
Transcendent Spielberg (TC Movie Club)
November 07, 2022 20:00 - 52 minutes - 71.7 MBListen in as TC’s Josh Larsen and Robert Rivera lead a conversation with Movie Club members about signs of transcendence in the films of Steven Spielberg. (To join the club, sign up at https://www.thinkchristian.net/movieclub)
A Christian Defense of Horror IV (Barbarian, 1978’s Halloween)
October 25, 2022 15:00 - 39 minutes - 54.2 MBOur annual Halloween show applies a theological lens to horror both new (Barbarian) and old (1978’s Halloween). Josh, Joe, and Abby discuss what Christians might appreciate about movies designed to scare us. Show Notes Sign up to receive email updates about Josh's forthcoming book, Fear Not! A Christian Appreciation of Horror: fuller.edu/fearnot Read Joe's TC post on 1978's Halloween: thinkchristian.net/looking-for-good-samaritans-in-john-carpenters-halloween Read Abby's TC post on Five Fil...
Innocence (Marcus Mumford’s Self-Titled, Death Cab for Cutie’s Asphalt Meadows)
October 11, 2022 14:30 - 35 minutes - 49 MBHow should Christians think about innocence, especially alongside the reality of original sin? Two new albums — by Marcus Mumford and Death Cab for Cutie — provide context for considering innocence lost and gospel repair.
Tolkien Theology (The Rings of Power)
September 27, 2022 14:30 - 38 minutes - 53.1 MBJ.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth has captured countless imaginations, Christian imaginations in particular. Josh, Claude, and Sarah weigh in on the Lord of the Rings-based fantasy series, now streaming on Prime Video, and also dig into the new TC ebook reflecting on the eight previous screen adaptations of Tolkien’s work.
Christlike Masculinity (Prey, 1987’s Predator)
September 13, 2022 14:00 - 43 minutes - 60.4 MBPrey, the new Predator installment, feels fresh partly because its central female character recontextualizes the macho masculinity of the original action film. Josh, Abby, and JR. discuss both movies alongside the idea of Christlike masculinity.
Freedom in Surrender (Beyoncé’s Renaissance, Maggie Rogers’ Surrender)
August 30, 2022 19:30 - 26 minutes - 36.3 MBToward the end of a summer in which many slowly emerged from COVID, Beyoncé released Renaissance, a celebratory dance album. How might Christians understand its spirit of freedom? And how does it sound alongside another new release, Maggie Rogers’ Surrender? Josh and Kathryn discuss the albums and the biblical idea of freedom in surrender.
TC Movie Club: The Prophetic Voice of Jordan Peele
August 16, 2022 14:30 - 52 minutes - 72.5 MBListen in as TC’s Josh Larsen and D. Marquel lead a conversation with Movie Club members about the ways Nope, Us, and Get Out speak truth to power. (To join the club, sign up at http://www.thinkchristian.net/movieclub)
Gentleness (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Julia)
July 18, 2022 20:30 - 33 minutes - 46.4 MBGentleness, a fruit of the Spirit, defines a silly little movie about a talking shell and an HBO Max biography series about television chef Julia Child. How might both encourage us to “keep in step with the Spirit” by living lives of gentleness? Josh, Sarah, and Joe discuss.
Mentors (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ms. Marvel)
July 06, 2022 15:00 - 53 minutes - 72.8 MBWhat does mentorship look like in a Christian context? How might two new streaming series - Ms. Marvel and Obi-Wan Kenobi - offer helpful models? Josh, Michelle, and JR. head to Disney Plus to find out.
Reading Black Books (Beloved)
June 22, 2022 15:30 - 33 minutes - 46.3 MBA new book from Claude Atcho looks at classic African-American literature through a Christian lens. Claude joins Josh to discuss the book and a film adaptation of one of those classics: 1998’s Beloved.
Patriarchy (Men, Florence + the Machine’s “King”)
June 06, 2022 22:30 - 41 minutes - 57.1 MBA new movie from Alex Garland (Annihilation, Ex Machina) and a new song from Florence + the Machine employ biblical language to consider the reign of men. Josh, Abby, and Sarah discuss how the film and song remind us of the ways sinful and broken expressions of patriarchy warp God's plan for humanity, especially by devaluing the imago dei in women.
The Race-Wise Family (Turning Red)
May 24, 2022 19:30 - 35 minutes - 48.9 MBHow can we raise kingdom-minded kids who love God and their neighbors, in all their diversity? Michelle Reyes and Helen Lee join Josh to discuss their new book, The Race-Wise Family, in the context of Pixar’s Turning Red.
Stranger Things: Grace in the Upside Down
May 09, 2022 13:30 - 24 minutes - 33.6 MBIn anticipation of Stranger Things Season 4, Josh, Sarah, and Joe discuss the latest TC ebook, Stranger Things: Grace in the Upside Down. Download the ebook for free at thinkchristian.net/strangerthingsebook
TC Movie Club Discussion: True Grit
May 02, 2022 14:00 - 1 hour - 90.7 MBListen in as TC’s Josh Larsen, Zachary Lee, and Kathryn Freeman lead an online discussion with Movie Club members about True Grit, from brothers Joel and Ethan Coen. It’s the final installment in our four-part series, “O Brothers, Where Art Thou?”
Doubt (Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy, Big Thief’s ‘Certainty’)
April 27, 2022 15:30 - 40 minutes - 56.3 MBWhat might a new documentary about Kanye West and a new song from Big Thief say about doubt: doubting ourselves, doubting our artists, doubting our faith? Josh, Claude, and Aarik discuss.
Ten Films for Holy Week
April 12, 2022 15:30 - 48 minutes - 66.2 MBLooking for a few movies to work into your liturgical observance during Holy Week? Josh, Abby, and JR. run through a handful of titles - including a few surprising ones - that evoke the magnitude of Good Friday and Easter.
TC Movie Club Discussion: No Country for Old Men
March 28, 2022 16:30 - 56 minutes - 77.8 MBListen in as TC’s Josh Larsen, Zachary Lee, and Sarah Welch-Larson lead an online discussion with Movie Club members about No Country for Old Men, from brothers Joel and Ethan Coen. It’s the third installment in our four-part series, “O Brothers, Where Art Thou?” (To join the club, sign up at thinkchristian.net/movieclub.)
Identity Crisis (The Batman, Insecure)
March 22, 2022 14:30 - 43 minutes - 59.5 MBWho am I? Who do others expect me to be? Everyone faces such questions, including the characters in The Batman and Insecure. For Christians, a related question arises: What does it mean to find our identity in Christ? Josh, Joe, and Kathryn take a look in the mirror and talk it out.
Perseverance (Abbott Elementary, Eddie Vedder’s Earthling)
March 08, 2022 15:00 - 38 minutes - 53 MBWhat is a biblical understanding of perseverance, and how might it be reflected in the Hulu series Abbott Elementary, as well as Eddie Vedder’s new album, Earthling? Josh, Michelle, and Aarik discuss.