Episodes
Nov. 9, 2023
Episode 207: Journey to Bethlehem, plus A Holiday Video Game Guide
As the Christmas season approaches, you may be looking for movies and TV specials really reflect the Biblical story of Jesus’s birth. The Plugged In team explores some holiday favorites, including a look at the new musical m…
Nov. 2, 2023
Episode 206: Focus on Parental Controls, plus Christian Board Games
You probably know that your family’s devices all offer some sort of parental controls…but do you use them? The Plugged In team dives into the best ways you can use parental controls on streaming services such as Netflix, Ama…
Oct. 26, 2023
Episode 205: The Worldview Hurricane, plus Loki
There’s a lot to be concerned about when we look at the content and worldview in so much of today’s entertainment. The Plugged In team takes a closer look at the issue of content, worldview, and Hollywood. Adam Holz then tal…
Oct. 19, 2023
Episode 204: The Devil’s in the Entertainment Details, plus, Taylor Swift’s Eras Movie
We’re knee-deep in the scary season where horror movies lurk around every corner and the devil or his minions show up in many of them. The Plugged In team examines the history behind depictions of Satan and why entertainment…
Oct. 12, 2023
Episode 203: How Pop Culture, Entertainment, and Technology Are Shaping Boys Growing Up Today
Our media-saturated culture influences all of us in various ways. The Plugged In team recently looked at how entertainment and technology affects girls, so now they will examine how they shape boys' lives and hearts. They th…
Oct. 5, 2023
Episode 202: Helping Our Kids Deal With News-Induced Anxiety, plus A Look at Netflix's Barbie
Plugged In spends a lot of time talking about the influence of screens, mostly related to entertainment and “fictional” content. But real-world issues are often emphasized or exaggerated on the news...and that news is everyw…
Sept. 28, 2023
Episode 201: Digital Detox Interview with Molly DeFrank, plus Ahsoka
Sometimes you just need to step back and take a break from screens. Adam Holz, director of the Plugged In team, talks with author and mom Molly DeFrank about how her family took a two-week digital detox and what they learned…
Sept. 21, 2023
Episode 200: The Influence of Podcasts and a Plugged In Show Retrospective
It's our 200th episode! To celebrate, the Plugged In team discusses the popularity of podcasts and why they can have such a strong impact on us. We then have a little fun, sharing some of our favorite bloopers and outtakes. …
Sept. 14, 2023
Episode 199: Social Media's Role in Cultural Polarization, plus The Bells of St. Mary's.
Social scientists are looking at social media as a potential accelerant for political and social polarization. The Plugged In team looks at a new study on this phenomenon and how social media can actually divide us instead o…
Sept. 7, 2023
Episode 198: Baldur’s Gate 3 and Olivia Rodrigo’s “Bad Idea, Right?”
If you have gamers in the house, you may have heard them talking about the new fantasy role playing video game, Baldur’s Gate 3. The Plugged In team examines this game and reveals all you need to know before your family deci…
Aug. 31, 2023
Episode 197: Surface Messages and Deeper Meaning, plus Plugged In Talks to Actress Leigh-Allyn Baker
When we engage with entertainment—movies, TV, music—there may be deeper, not-so-obvious messages. The Plugged In team looks at the critical distinction between surface-level content and subtext. Emily Tsiao then speaks with …
Aug. 24, 2023
Episode 196: How Pop Culture, Entertainment, and Technology Are Shaping Girls Growing Up Today, plus
Between magazines, popular entertainment, and social media, girls today receive a mixed bag of cultural messages on body image, behavioral expectations, and their place in the world. The Plugged In team examines those messag…
Aug. 17, 2023
Episode 195: A Look at This Year's Christian Movies, plus Transformers: Earthspark
This year, we’ve seen two faith-based films outperform some Hollywood heavyweights. The Plugged In team examines Jesus Revolution and Sound of Freedom and why they have been so popular with movie-going audiences. Paul Asay t…
Aug. 10, 2023
Episode 194: We Need to Talk About Taylor Swift. Plus, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Taylor Swift’s Eras tour just wrapped up its North American run. The Plugged In team talks about her influence and how you can help our kids navigate her version of the world. Adam Holz then speaks with Kennedy Unthank about…
Aug. 3, 2023
Episode 193: A Conversation with The Hiding Place's Producer Pete Peterson, plus the Movie Theatre Camp
Although many film remakes seem unnecessary, some stories deserve to be told more than once. Paul Asay chats with Pete Peterson, the producer of a new version of Corrie Ten Boom's powerful story, The Hiding Place. The Plugge…
July 27, 2023
Episode 192: A Look at the Summer Blockbuster Movies—Haunted Mansion, Barbie, and Oppenheimer
The big summer blockbusters are rolling out, and your family is ready to trot off to the cinema! The Plugged In team examines the new movies Haunted Mansion, Barbie, and Oppenheimer and equips you with all you need to know a…
July 20, 2023
Episode 191: The Promise and Peril of Nerd Culture, plus Olivia Rodrigo's Vampire
With large scale fantasy and superhero movies, epic video games, and popular nostalgic streaming shows, nerd culture is hot. The Plugged In team explores this phenomenon, what it means, and why we become so captivated with a…
July 13, 2023
Episode 190: Plugged In Talks with Author David Murrow, plus Mission Impossible, Dead Reckoning, Part 1
While we often talk about screen time, it’s an important topic for you and your family to consider. Paul Asay speaks with author David Murrow about his book Drowning in Screen Time and how he learned to balance his tech habi…
July 6, 2023
Episode 189: Exploring Educational Video Games & The Island Book Review
Can video games be entertaining...and educational? The Plugged In team looks at the way certain video games can actually help kids learn. Adam Holz then talks with Plugged In's summer intern Sarah Rasmussen about the young a…
June 29, 2023
Episode 188: A Conversation with Jim Caviezel and Jordan Harmon, plus Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Movies can entertain, but they can also educate and inspire us. Adam Holz speaks with actor Jim Caviezel and Angel Studios co-owner Jordan Harmon on their new movie Sound of Freedom. The Plugged In team then looks at the lat…
June 22, 2023
Episode 187: Our Romance with AI, plus Elemental
As AI grows more advanced and refined, we’re seeing the possibilities of “real” human/AI relationships. The Plugged In team explores what these relationships might look like and the impact this may have. Paul Asay then speak…
June 15, 2023
Episode 186: Transformers: Rise of the Beasts & An Interview with Flamin’ Hot Producer DeVon Franklin
The robots in disguise are back in theaters with Transformers: Rise of the Beasts! The Plugged In team takes a look at the franchise and what you need to know about this latest movie. Adam Holz then talks with Hollywood prod…
June 8, 2023
Episode 185: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse & The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Franchises are popular in our current culture, and new installments are trending this summer. The Plugged In team looks at the latest animated Marvel movie, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and the recent Nintendo Switch …
June 1, 2023
Episode 184: Focus on Filters: What’s the Big Deal? Plus Jonas Brothers’ The Album
As long as we’ve been creating images of ourselves, other people have been tweaking, manipulating and changing them. The Plugged In team looks at some of the newest social media filters—what they can do, what you need to kno…