Avatar is once again the biggest movie in the world. Ripe with Catholic allegory and lessons for our role in the natural world and our relationships to its different peoples, this movie is way more than just a visual spectacle. Journey with us into the world of Pandora and the culture of the Na’vi. Awaken Catholic president Nick De La Torre joins us once again to talk about: - is caring for the environment a liberal thing? Should conservatives care? - Consumerism - proselytization vs evangelization - learning from atheists - meeting Christ in the poor & marginalized - what do we make of the Catholic Church’s role in colonialism and poor treatment of indigenous peoples? - how did an atheist create a thoroughly Catholic allegory for the sacramental and Christian communal life? - And much more!

Episode 58 Show Host: Mike Tenney Show Page: https://www.awakencatholic.org/pop-culture-catechism/avatar-climate-change-indigenous-peoples-and-the-sacraments-w-nick Awesome Catholic SWAG - https://catholicmerch.store Join my Patron Community www.PopCultureCatechism.com Listen wherever you find podcasts including: Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pop-culture-catechism/id1530141366 Spotify Podcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/4hlSitS9FLX3sYqwr0RsFK?si=IObbssJPTWSwq9Qjn7VFaQ&fbclid=IwAR0aKkevoBgwo2CeJIpdeSnOHrE_h9vuHtKwffmOGHnYYl26XICYjllAzrU Bring the AWAKEN MISSION to your parish! https://www.awakencatholic.church/mission

The Chosen is probably the best screen adaptation of the Jesus story ever made. Bishop Bill Byrne of the Diocese of Springfield, MA joins us to talk about what it gets right about Jesus and his followers, and what it means for you and me. We discuss: - Can we trust the Bible stories? - Scandal in the Church - The Virgin Mary - Avoiding obscure theological debates - What to do when we feel broken - Political violence - Is evil winning? - And much more!

Episode 57 Show Host: Mike Tenney Show Page: https://www.awakencatholic.org/pop-culture-catechism/the-chosen-with-bishop-bill-byrne Join my Patron Community www.PopCultureCatechism.com Listen wherever you find podcasts including: Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pop-culture-catechism/id1530141366 Spotify Podcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/4hlSitS9FLX3sYqwr0RsFK?si=IObbssJPTWSwq9Qjn7VFaQ&fbclid=IwAR0aKkevoBgwo2CeJIpdeSnOHrE_h9vuHtKwffmOGHnYYl26XICYjllAzrU Bring the AWAKEN MISSION to your parish! https://www.awakencatholic.church/mission

Mike & a team of other alumni and students from the Catholic University of America recently ran a session at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Long Beach, CA. While there, we had a great conversation about the career, music, and spiritual journey of Justin Bieber and we got real deep into some stuff including: - Can you forgive but also set boundaries? - How can God be part of your friendships? Your romance? - How to come down gracefully from a spiritual high - What does a friendship/romance with God look like? - Porn addiction (it’s not just for men) - Is there anything good about “Cancel Culture?” - Purpose . . . and more!

Episode 56 Show Host: Mike Tenney Show Page: https://www.awakencatholic.org/pop-culture-catechism/justin-biebers-generation-live-from-ncyc Join my Patron Community www.PopCultureCatechism.com Listen wherever you find podcasts including: Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pop-culture-catechism/id1530141366 Spotify Podcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/4hlSitS9FLX3sYqwr0RsFK?si=IObbssJPTWSwq9Qjn7VFaQ&fbclid=IwAR0aKkevoBgwo2CeJIpdeSnOHrE_h9vuHtKwffmOGHnYYl26XICYjllAzrU

Mike recently crashed Edmund Mitchell’s Studio in Grapevine, TX and the two shared some of their favorite songs with each other. A fantastic, goofy conversation ensued featuring music by David Wimbish & the Collection, Penny & Sparrow, and Cory Wong.

  We dove into:

  - the value & risk of doubt

  - our inner monsters

  - what it takes to live a life of faith

  - making stupid decisions

  - living a confounding life

  - Jesus being awesome

  - Creativity

  - How are we gonna pay for all these hats?

  - manly hand holding

  - and much more!

Episode 55 Show Host: Mike Tenney Show Page: https://www.awakencatholic.org/pop-culture-catechism/edmund-mitchells-extraordinary-playlist Join my Patron Community www.PopCultureCatechism.com

Probably DC Comics’ best movie to date, Wonder Woman hits on some of the biggest questions of history. We dive into them with the help of Ogechi Akalegbere, speaker, youth minister, and winner of the 2021 Cardinal Bernardin Award for Leadership. We tackle:

  - Are humans fundamentally good or bad? What about me?

  - Is the devil real? Is the devil just an excuse for bad behavior?

  - Forgiveness

  - The myth of redemptive violence

  - Suffering & Sacrifice

  - diversity in the Church

Episode 54 Show Host: Mike Tenney Show Page: https://www.awakencatholic.org/pop-culture-catechism/wonder-woman-and-the-fall-of-man-w-ogechi-akalegbere Join my Patron Community www.PopCultureCatechism.com Listen wherever you find podcasts including: Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pop-culture-catechism/id1530141366 Spotify Podcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/4hlSitS9FLX3sYqwr0RsFK?si=IObbssJPTWSwq9Qjn7VFaQ&fbclid=IwAR0aKkevoBgwo2CeJIpdeSnOHrE_h9vuHtKwffmOGHnYYl26XICYjllAzrU

Mumford & Sons have been our most requested/suggested episode and we are finally doing it! Nashville recording artist Ricky Vazquez of Village Lights (who were just nominated for a Dove award) joins us to discuss the lyrics and music of the neo-folk rock giants. We go pretty deep as we discuss: - The struggles of being a young man - Sex, passion, intimacy, chastity, love, & romance - The necessity of desire for hope - Facing darkness & suffering - The search for God & meaning - Plato, St Augustine, & Pope Benedict

Episode 53 Show Host: Mike Tenney Show Page: https://www.awakencatholic.org/pop-culture-catechism/mumford-&-sons-sex-suffering-&-god-w-ricky-vazquez Join my Patron Community www.PopCultureCatechism.com Listen wherever you find podcasts including: Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pop-culture-catechism/id1530141366 Spotify Podcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/4hlSitS9FLX3sYqwr0RsFK?si=IObbssJPTWSwq9Qjn7VFaQ&fbclid=IwAR0aKkevoBgwo2CeJIpdeSnOHrE_h9vuHtKwffmOGHnYYl26XICYjllAzrU

Paramore’s influence is all over the airwaves and interwebs these days. We revisit one of Mike’s favorite bands with the help of recording artists and founders of Enemy Love Records, Emma Fradd & David Kruse. In this episode we discuss: - Losing your innocence - Fake happiness - Can you choose joy? - The relief of hitting rock bottom - What is hope & how do I get it? - Why we sin - The ritual of grief - Authenticity & Creativity

Episode 52 Show Host: Mike Tenney Show Page: https://www.awakencatholic.org/pop-culture-catechism/paramores-last-hope-w-emma-fradd-and-david-kruse Join my Patron Community www.PopCultureCatechism.com

We kick off Season 3 of Pop Culture Catechism with everyone’s favorite religious dystopia: The Handmaid’s Tale. Samantha Povlock, founder & Editor in Chief of FemCatholic, joins us to talk about: -Feminism -The Patriarchy -Consent & sexual assault -Is sex in America too masculine? -Unjust Laws -Do Catholics want a theocracy?

Episode 51 Show Host: Mike Tenney Show Page: https://www.awakencatholic.org/pop-culture-catechism/the-handmaids-tale-w-femcatholic-samantha-povlock Join my Patron Community www.PopCultureCatechism.com

With Amazon’s new “Rings of Power” show about to be released, it’s time to delve “deeply & greedily” into the lore of Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings.” Jon Marc Grodi (The Coming Home Network, Elevate Ordinary) returns to the show to nerd out about the rich mystical, spiritual, and mythological meaning of this remarkable work of literature. We discuss: - how sin seduces us - the antidote to both pride & despair - how to be a real man (or woman) - world transforming friendships - how God really is in control - and much more!

Episode 50 Show Host: Mike Tenney Show Page: https://www.awakencatholic.org/pop-culture-catechism/the-lord-of-the-rings-w-jonmarc-grodi Join my Patron Community www.PopCultureCatechism.com Listen wherever you find podcasts including: Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pop-culture-catechism/id1530141366 Spotify Podcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/4hlSitS9FLX3sYqwr0RsFK?si=IObbssJPTWSwq9Qjn7VFaQ&fbclid=IwAR0aKkevoBgwo2CeJIpdeSnOHrE_h9vuHtKwffmOGHnYYl26XICYjllAzrU

Facts? Truth? History? Myth? What does it all mean and how do we know? Bible Geek & LifeTeen CIO Mark Hart joins us to spelunk the world & themes of Indiana Jones. We discuss: - Biblical archeology & history - Icons vs Idols - Mystery & myth - Fathers & Sons - Mary - Faith & Reason - Pride, Glory, & Fame - Which is the best Indy movie - And as usual, why Jesus is awesome :)

Episode 49 Show Host: Mike Tenney Show Page: https://www.awakencatholic.org/pop-culture-catechism/indiana-jones-and-the-mystery-of-faith-w-mark-hart Join my Patron Community www.PopCultureCatechism.com