Episodes
Dec. 10, 2020
Episode 55: I'm (Not) Dreaming of a COVID Christmas
With Christmas on the horizon, family, traditions – and gift-giving – are likely on your mind. The Plugged In team reflects on their favorite holiday traditions and offers their Gift Giving – or Playing, or Streaming, or List...
Dec. 3, 2020
Episode 54: The Chosen and the State of Streaming Christian Content
The Chosen has been a huge streaming success. But there’s a lot more Christian content out there you might consider streaming. The Plugged In team explores other selections for redemptive streaming content. You’ll discover so...
Nov. 26, 2020
Episode 53: A New Video Game Lands … Among Us
The new video game Among Us is all the rage with tweens and teens. The Plugged In team unpacks this phenomenon and tells you everything you need to know about it. Because video games will continue to be a part of our families...
Nov. 19, 2020
Episode 52: TV State of the Union
With all the television options available to us today, trying to figure out what’s worth watching is not for the feint-hearted. The Plugged In team reflects on their favorite television programming and discusses several popul...
Nov. 12, 2020
Episode 51: YouTube: Where the Kids Are
With handy tutorials, funny videos, and informative presentations, YouTube has grown increasingly popular with kids and adults alike. The Plugged In team explores the draw, the upside and the downside of this user-generated v...
Nov. 5, 2020
Episode 50: When Good Content Goes Bad: Does Anyone Really Want to See Hobbits Without Clothes?
With Amazon’s scheduled 2021 release of its adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, controversy is already brewing. The Plugged In team explores why explicit content has found its way into mainstream entertainment. ...
Oct. 29, 2020
Episode 49: Ask Plugged In!
Entertainment and media discernment is a top concern for Christian families, which is why Plugged In exists! On this episode, the Plugged In team discusses some of the questions they get most frequently from people who are cu...
Oct. 22, 2020
Episode 48: Horror Movies: The Genre That Just Won’t Die
The month of October usually means an onslaught of horror movies. Even though movie theaters are just opening back up, streaming entertainment is full of the genre. Year after year, these movies remain one of Hollywood’s pred...
Oct. 15, 2020
Episode 47: The Fascinating Influence of Christian Rap
Over the last 20 years, rock’s cultural influence has given way to rap and hip-hop, giving us many of the biggest stars in the music world today. The Plugged In team explores the history of rap and how it influenced their per...
Oct. 8, 2020
Episode 46: Examining The Social Dilemma and Our Interaction with Social Media
The new Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma, has brought some interesting—and concerning—insights to our interaction with social media. The Plugged In team dives into the documentary and examines the repercussions we may ...
Oct. 1, 2020
Our Favorite Movies of the COVID-19 Season
The last seven months have been unlike any we’ve ever known. The coronavirus has changed everything, including movie-watching! The Plugged In team explores some of their favorite “hidden gems” movies (and TV shows!) that you ...
Sept. 24, 2020
Cancel Culture and Its Impact on Our Society
Scandals involving public figures are hardly new, but with the Internet’s role, someone who’s been accused—either fairly or unfairly—can suddenly find his or her career “canceled.” The Plugged In team examines a few case stud...
Sept. 17, 2020
Video Gaming's Next-Gen Future: What to Expect
With new video gaming consoles from Sony and Microsoft on the horizon, you may be wondering what new features they could offer. The Plugged In team shares a little video game history and examine the expectations of these more...
Sept. 10, 2020
The Coronavirus's Legacy for Families' Entertainment and Technology Habits
Our relationship with screens and entertainment had been a pretty big issue before the coronavirus appeared, and now researchers say kids screen time is up by another 50%. The Plugged In team discusses how some of their enter...
Sept. 3, 2020
Entertainment's Sexualization of Young Girls
Netflix’s forthcoming movie Cuties has whipped up a tempest of controversy regarding the sexualization of young girls in entertainment. The Plugged In team explores why controversy draws our attention and why the entertainmen...
Aug. 27, 2020
Episode 40: Hamilton's Cultural Encore
The musical Hamilton made an enormous splash on Broadway back in 2015 and hit the small screens on Disney+ earlier this year. The Plugged In team reflect on their favorite musicals and unpack Hamilton’s popularity and cultura...
Aug. 20, 2020
Episode 39: When Pop Stars Outgrow Our Kids
With the release of Taylor Swift’s latest—and more mature—album, we’re once more reminded of what happens when pop stars outgrow our kids. The Plugged In team reflects on their personal past music choices, examines Taylor’s n...
Aug. 13, 2020
Episode 38: Navigating the Impact of Television in Our Lives
The Emmy Awards are just a month away. As the entertainment industry shines a light on the television medium, you might notice most of the nominated shows have problematic content. The Plugged In team gives you an inside look...
Aug. 6, 2020
Episode 37: Fun Non-Screen Ideas for Your Kids and Family
With COVID-19 keeping our kids home from spring break into summer and maybe beyond, you may be looking for some great family activities that don’t involve screens. The Plugged In team recalls some of their favorite summer mem...
July 30, 2020
Episode 36: Appreciating the Influence of Books in a Screen-Based World
Although screens have permeated our culture, books continue to have a lasting impact on our lives. The Plugged In team reflects on their love of the written artform and the books that have influenced their lives. These immers...
July 23, 2020
Episode 35: The Enduring Appeal of War Movies
With the return of Tom Hanks in the new World War II movie Greyhound, the Plugged In team explores the draw of war movies. While this genre reminds us of the bravery that compels men and women to risk their lives for their co...
July 16, 2020
Episode 34: What You Need to Know About Online Predators
Worrying about your kids’ safety isn’t a new thing, but in the ever-evolving internet age, worrying about online predators is. The Plugged In team explores the risks of online interactions and offers practical ways you can he...
July 9, 2020
Episode 33: Media Discernment in Action
The phrase “media discernment” is bandied about in Christian and parenting circles, but what does it really mean? The Plugged In team—experts in media discernment—deconstructs the concept and offers practical ways you can hel...
July 2, 2020
Episode 32: Remembering the Good Old Days
You have a favorite movie or song you just can’t wait to share with your child, but it may have more problems than you remember. The Plugged In team explores some of their favorite movies from the past and how things have cha...