Episodes
Jan. 11, 2024
Episode 216: How Movies Challenge Our Indifference, plus Sigmund Freud Meets C.S. Lewis
Here at the beginning of the year, blockbusters ride the final crest of holiday glory and little-known Oscar hopefuls and deep-thinking indie movies take center stage. The Plugged In team examines a couple of these films—The ...
Jan. 4, 2024
Episode 215: The Tech and Entertainment Reset
With Christmas and 2023 behind us, it's time to start thinking about new habits to take into 2024. The Plugged In team talks about some concrete ways to embrace a tech and entertainment reset in your family. You’ll pick up so...
Dec. 28, 2023
Episode 214: Our Favorite Reviews of 2023, plus CoComelon Lane
Plugged In chronicles a lot of content in pop culture so that you can know what you’re getting into ahead of time. The team recalls their favorite reviews of 2023. Adam Holz then asks Kristin Smith about the Netflix children'...
Dec. 21, 2023
Episode 213: Christmas Classics Revisited, plus The Boys in the Boat
You probably have a classic Christmas movie that you love. And believe it or not, there are some holiday films the Plugged In team haven’t seen…until now. As promised on previous episodes, Adam Holz has watched It’s a Wonderf...
Dec. 14, 2023
Episode 212: Wonka & The Worldview of Roald Dahl, plus Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
Roald Dahl’s stories have impacted generations of children and families. The Plugged In team talks about the fantasy worlds of Roald Dahl and the new origin story movie Wonka. Adam Holz then speaks with Paul Asay about the se...
Dec. 7, 2023
Episode 211: Why Scrooge Still Haunts Christmases Past, Present and Future, plus Disney's Grasp on Hulu
Since Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol back in 1843, Ebenezer Scrooge has become an indispensable part of the holidays. The Plugged In team explores some of the film adaptations and why the story is still so popular. P...
Nov. 30, 2023
Episode 210: Social Media, Addiction, and Self-Esteem, plus a Look at Bentkey
You’ve probably heard social media can negatively impact our mental health. The Plugged In team examines some of the studies that point to the harmful effects on tweens' and teens' self-esteem and mental health. Adam Holz the...
Nov. 23, 2023
Episode 209: The Thanksgiving Movie Episode
Thanksgiving weekend traditionally marks the beginning of Hollywood’s second-most important blockbuster season. The Plugged In team looks at a few of the big movie releases—including Disney’s Wish and The Hunger Games: The Ba...
Nov. 16, 2023
Episode 208: The Marvels & Female Heroes in Action Movies, plus Trolls Band Together
When it comes to action movies and TV shows these days, you’re just as likely to see a woman in a lead role as a man. The Plugged In team examines the latest MCU movie, The Marvels and how women are empowered to lead the acti...
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 mo...
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, Amaz...
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 talk...
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 the...
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 everywh...
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. R...
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 of...
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 decid...
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 a...
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 message...
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 th...
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 Plugged...