Episodes
Jan. 16, 2025
Episode 269: Beast Games, Squid Game and the Games People Play. Does Anyone Care About the Oscars?
A new game show starring YouTube sensation Mr. Beast has hit Amazon Prime. Between that and the second season of the Netflix thriller series Squid Game, game shows—real or not—can get out of hand. The Plugged In team looks a…
Jan. 9, 2025
Episode 268: Those Wild, Wild Westerns, plus Screen Fast 2025
Since the days of John Wayne, the western genre has a special place in our hearts. The Plugged In team explores why these stories are so popular and looks at Netflix’s new western series American Primeval. Paul Asay then spe…
Jan. 2, 2025
Episode 267: A Conversation with Mandy Majors, plus Netflix’s Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fow
Kids today have their eyes on their screens, and those screens are full of dangers. How can you protect them? Paul Asay speaks with author and screen expert Mandy Majors and her daughter Ella. They share some ways you can he…
Dec. 26, 2024
Episode 266: A Look Back at 2024: The Good, the Bad and the Icky
2024 was a big year in terms of entertainment and pop culture. As the year comes to a close, the Plugged In team looks back at some of the highlights and some of the low points. From YouTube to social media to the big and sm…
Dec. 19, 2024
Episode 265: What Makes a Christmas Movie Good? Plus, Mufasa: The Lion King
With so many Christmas movies out there, are there certain ingredients that make up a great one? And what makes a Christmas movie go bad? The Plugged In team reflects on some recent Christmas movies as well as some of their …
Dec. 12, 2024
Episode 264: Is Social Media Ruining Our Kids? Plus, Netflix’s ‘Mary’
Teens today have never known a world without social media—and that’s affecting kids in many different ways. The Plugged In team discusses the impact of social media and the new Hulu docu-series Social Studies. Paul Asay then…
Dec. 5, 2024
Episode 263: All I Want For Christmas Is What TikTok Tells Me: Plus, Kevin Sorbo
It’s gift-giving season! What do you buy for your family, friends, and teens? TikTok wants to tell you. The Plugged In team examines the influence TikTok has on teens as consumers. Adam Holz then speaks with Hercules actor K…
Nov. 28, 2024
Episode 262: Creating with AI: A Parents' Primer. Plus, Moana 2
Artificial intelligence gets a bad rap, but it can also help us create in ways we never thought possible. The Plugged In team looks at ways we can create using AI and things we may want to steer clear of. Paul Asay then talk…
Nov. 21, 2024
Episode 261: Wicked and the World of Musicals. Plus, Plugged In’s New Tech Guide!
This week, the Broadway musical Wicked flies from the stage to the screen. The Plugged In team talks about the Wicked phenomenon as well as other movie musicals and the power of music woven into a story. Paul Asay then talks…
Nov. 14, 2024
Episode 260: When Should I Give My Kid a Cell Phone? Plus, Bonhoeffer
With Christmas coming, you may be considering a tech gift for your child…maybe even a cell phone. The Plugged In team shares insights and thoughts on the impact phones have had on younger generations and the best age to put …
Nov. 7, 2024
Episode 259: The Power and Peril of In-Game Sales, plus, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
You’re enjoying a fun online game, but then you’re hit with having to make a purchase to go any further. The Plugged In team looks at a variety of video games that employ in-game sales. Paul Asay then talks with producer Kev…
Oct. 31, 2024
Episode 258: Entertainment Decisions and Kids’ Maturity, plus Chappell Roan
As your kids move into adolescence, you need to decide how much freedom you give them when it comes to entertainment and media. The Plugged In team offers some thoughts, sharing ways they succeeded and things they wish they …
Oct. 24, 2024
Episode 257: Unexpected Scares in Family Movies, plus Exhibiting Forgiveness
We may be in the midst of “scary season”, but sometimes scares creep up on us from nowhere. The Plugged In team shares movies and television shows that once freaked them out and offers a few tips on how to navigate those une…
Oct. 17, 2024
Episode 256: How AI is Changing Adolescence, plus Agatha All Along
Kids have been finding ways to cheat since schools themselves have been a thing. But the rise of artificial intelligence is a game-changer in the classroom. The Plugged In team looks at the rise of artificial intelligence, h…
Oct. 10, 2024
Episode 255: The Legend of Lara Croft and the Growing Influence of Gaming in Entertainment
Some video game characters have a special place in our hearts…and on the big screen. The Plugged In team reveals their favorite digital personalities, then explores the new animated show on Netflix Tomb Raider: The Legend of…
Oct. 3, 2024
Episode 254: Beauty and the Bird
Hollywood often reinforces unhealthy beauty ideals and can undermine self-esteem in the process. But a couple recent movies—Uglies and A Different Man—are taking a different twist on the topic. The Plugged In team explores t…
Sept. 26, 2024
Episode 253: An Interview With Wild Robot Director Chris Sanders, Plus Navigating Sad (But Good) Mov
The best kids’ movies usually prompt a lot of emotion. And many adults are often just as taken with these stories as their children. Paul Asay talks with Chris Sanders, the director of the new Dreamworks animated movie The W…
Sept. 19, 2024
Episode 252: Is It Harder to Be a Teen Today? Plus: Transformers One
With cultural influences, technology, and social media, being a teen can be a challenge. The Plugged In team reflects on their own teen years and how things have changed. In looking at recent research and personal stories, t…
Sept. 12, 2024
Episode 251: God on the Gridiron, plus, A Look at God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust
Football season is getting into swing! The Plugged In team tackles some thoughts on the beloved sport—looking at the game itself and players who profess a strong faith in Christ. Paul Asay then speaks with Adam Holz about th…
Sept. 5, 2024
Episode 250: Resetting Screentime for School, plus Are Movies Like Beetlejuice Bad?
Your kids are heading back to school, and after a summer filled with screens, you may struggle to get back to normal. The Plugged In team offers some thoughts on how to reset your family’s tech use and balance home screen ti…
Aug. 29, 2024
Episode 249: Looking at The Rings of Power and Reagan
With Amazon Prime taking on Tolkien's beloved The Lord of the Rings stories, you may want to know if it's family-friendly. The Plugged In team discusses The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and what you need to know for…
Aug. 22, 2024
Episode 248: A Conversation with the Kendrick Brothers
As Christians, God sometimes calls us to tell stories in a unique way. Paul Asay of the Plugged In team talks with Christian filmmakers Alex and Stephen Kendrick about their movies, zeroing in on their latest movie The Forge…
Aug. 15, 2024
Episode 247: Understanding the Allure of Bad Content, plus My Penguin Friend
Sometimes, racy and non-family-friendly content lurks in entertainment that might look like kids’ programming. The Plugged In team discusses two streaming animated shows—Exploding Kittens and Sausage Party: Foodtopia and wha…
Aug. 8, 2024
Episode 246: Do Old Movies Still Matter? Plus: Spotify Goes Social
Do old movies hold up in our fast-paced culture? The Plugged In team looks back at three black-and-white movies they've recently reviewed - To Kill a Mockingbird, The Many who Shot Liberty Valance, and Seven Samurai. You mig…