We review of the second season of Amazon Prime's 'Rings of Power,' exploring what it reveals about human nature and gospel themes, particularly through Sauron's relationship with Celebrimbor, while discussing the show's overall execution and its various plotlines.

Show Notes: https://www.popcultureapricottree.com/post/ringsofpowerseason2

It's technically the third day of Christmas, so it's not too late for us to review 'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,' the 2024 Christmas movie by Dallas Jenkins. We discuss its heartfelt renewal of the gospel story and its commentary on the perils and promise of ideals.

Show Notes: https://www.popcultureapricottree.com/post/bestchristmaspageantever

Audio mastering by Liz Busby

Associate Links: Links to products may be associate links, which means a small part of your purchase goes to Pop Culture on the Apricot Tree. We appreciate your support.

Three Latter-day Saints share their thoughts about Heretic, a 2024 horror film about two sister missionaries and their terrifying encounter with a psychopath. Jasmin Rappleye of Scripture Central joins us to unpack whether the film is anti-religious or strangely pro-faith, as well as the accuracies and inaccuracies of its Mormon characters.

Show Notes: https://www.popcultureapricottree.com/post/heretic

Audio mastering by Liz Busby

Associate Links: Links to products may be associate links, which means a small part of your purchase goes to Pop Culture on the Apricot Tree. We appreciate your support.

Today's episode is a crossover with the folklore podcast Angels and Seerstones to discuss legends of Spencer W. Kimball having inspired Yoda and the general relationship between Star Wars and Mormons. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check out more of their podcast!

Join us as we dive into Pixar's Inside Out 2, discussing the new emotions, Riley's evolving sense of self, and how the movie aligns with and challenges LDS perspectives on agency and personal growth. Guests CD Cunningham and Lauren Cassidy help us analyze this summer's hit family movie.

Show Notes: https://www.popcultureapricottree.com/post/insideout2

Audio mastering by Carl Cranney

Associate Links: Links to products may be associate links, which means a small part of your purchase goes to Pop Culture on the Apricot Tree. We appreciate your support.

This movie is one of Carl's favorites, but Liz had never seen it. Join us for our first in-person recording as we dive deep into the iconic film 2001: A Space Odyssey, exploring its themes and symbolism through the perspective of Latter-day Saint theology and appreciating its impact on sci-fi storytelling.

The prophesied Dune episode has arrived! Along for the ride across the sands of Arrakis are Ivan Wolfe and Michael Haycock. Our intrepid panel dissects the film's themes—from the perils of messiah complexes and the seductive power of politics to the manipulation mastery of the Bene Gesserit and the very nature of prophecy itself. We also look at how the book adapts the complexities of the original novel's twisting plots within plots. The spice must flow!

00:00 Introducing the Panel

01:37 Best Books

10:13 Main Discussion of Dune

21:33 The Dangers of Messiahs

31:36 The Unbelievability of Long-Term Conspiracies

35:23 Religious Fundamentalism and Its Causes

40:03 Navigating Prophecy, Signs, and Destiny

47:23 Ratings Segment

56:34 Final Thoughts

After two seasons of being snuck into almost every episode, CS Lewis finally takes center stage as we discuss the 2021 film The Most Reluctant Convert. Find out what we enjoyed about Lewis's conversion story and how his arguments connect to a Latter-day Saint worldview.

View the Show Notes

Audio mastering by Liz Busby

Associate Links: Links to products may be associate links, which means a small part of your purchase goes to Pop Culture on the Apricot Tree. We appreciate your support.

Do Latter-day Saints have a particular affinity for Pride and Prejudice? Maybe so, maybe not, but we're on the case to find out! Guest Katherine Cowley, author of The Secret Life of Miss Mary Bennet, joins us in discussing various imaginative adaptations of Pride and Prejudice. From Pakistan to spy dramas to crossovers with Mormon culture, explore the diverse and captivating spins on this Jane Austen classic. Discover why this story keeps pulling us in time after time.

Show Notes: https://www.popcultureapricottree.com/post/prideandprejudice

Audio mastering by Carl Cranney & Liz Busby

Associate Links: Links to products may be associate links, which means a small part of your purchase goes to Pop Culture on the Apricot Tree. We appreciate your support.

We delve into the Pixar SparkShort "Self," exploring themes of self-acceptance and identity through a wooden doll's journey in a world of metallic dolls. Discover how this thought-provoking short might be reinterpreted to challenge notions of expressive individualism, as well as insights into deeper meaning of self-discovery and acceptance.

Audio mastering by Liz Busby

Associate Links: Links to products may be associate links, which means a small part of your purchase goes to Pop Culture on the Apricot Tree. We appreciate your support.