Think Christian: A Faith and Pop Culture Podcast

As part of budget cuts, our parent ministry has decided to close its faith and pop culture program, which means the end for the Think Christian podcast. On this short podcast, Josh gives a final farewell and thank you to our readers, listeners, viewers, and supporters.

With its second season finished and the Cold Harbor file complete, how might the Apple TV series Severance resonate with a Christian understanding of money and work? Josh, Joe, and Abby discuss — and also name the Macrodata Refinement team member with whom they most identify.

SHOW NOTES

Daniel Jung on ‘Severance, Pachinko, and Facing the the Truth of Trauma’ - https://thinkchristian.net/severance-pachinko-and-facing-the-truth-of-trauma

Joe on Daredevil: Born Again - https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/daredevil-born-again-episodes-1-2-review/

Abby on Panic Fest 2025 - https://www.thepitchkc.com/panic-fest-2025-hell-of-a-summer-blends-a-teen-comedy-throwback-slasher-to-mostly-satisfying-results/

Bong Joon-Ho’s madcap, sci-fi satire turns the notion of resurrection on its head, depicting it as something of a curse. The movie, starring Robert Pattinson as an “expendable” on an interplanetary mission, also explores ideas related to the imago dei and Ash Wednesday. Sarah 13, JR. 15, and Josh 24 discuss.

SHOW NOTES

Joe George on ‘The Parable of Parasite’ - https://thinkchristian.net/the-parable-of-parasite

Sarah’s book, Becoming Alien - https://wipfandstock.com/9781725283008/becoming-alien/

Abby Olcese on ‘Five Films for Lent’ - https://thinkchristian.net/five-films-to-help-you-observe-lent-at-home

Five Films for Lent video - https://youtu.be/BBaByLYHy8U

Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty - https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/mur-lafferty/six-wakes/9780316389686/

Sarah’s Seeing and Believing newsletter - https://seeingandbelieving.substack.com/

JR.’s newsletter - https://jrforasteros.substack.com/

Abby and Joe guide Josh through his first watch of Twin Peaks, the landmark mystery series (and soap opera) from the late David Lynch. They discuss its weirdly consoling spirituality, the essential nature of Special Agent Dale Cooper, and if you should ever skip the show’s intro. (Of course not!)

SHOW NOTES

Joe’s essay: ‘David Lynch Offered a Peace That Passes Understanding’ - https://thinkchristian.net/david-lynch-offered-a-peace-that-passes-understanding

Abby on ‘Director David Lynch’s Fascination with Sin and Redemption’ - https://sojo.net/articles/culture/director-david-lynch-s-fascination-sin-and-redemption

Joe on ‘Twin Peaks’ Spiritual Warfare’ - https://thinkchristian.net/twin-peaks-spiritual-warfare

From gossipy priests to corrupt cops to . . . whatever Demi Moore becomes in The Substance, Josh, JR., and Roslyn discuss some of their favorite films from last year — two of which have been nominated for Best Picture.

SHOW NOTES

Zachary Lee on 'Conclave and the Sin of Certainty' - https://thinkchristian.net/conclave-and-the-sin-of-certainty

BJ Krug on 'Shrinking and the Sermon on the Mount' - https://thinkchristian.net/shrinking-and-the-sermon-on-the-mount

Joe George on David Lynch - https://thinkchristian.net/david-lynch-offered-a-peace-that-passes-understanding

Our favorite music of last year came from established voices reaching new heights — and no, not Taylor Swift or Beyoncé. Sarah, Claude, and Aarik join Josh to discuss Charli XCX, Kendrick Lamar, and Bon Iver. They also sneak in a couple of TV and movie picks.

SHOW NOTES

Claude on ‘Kendrick Lamar and Wounded Healers’ - https://thinkchristian.net/kendrick-lamar-and-wounded-healers

Claude on ‘Kendrick Lamar’s Alright as a Pop Psalm’ - https://thinkchristian.net/pop-psalms-kendrick-lamars-alright

Aarik on ‘Signs and Wonder on Bon Iver’s i, i’ - https://thinkchristian.net/signs-and-wonder-on-bon-ivers-i-i

Aarik on ‘Bon Iver and the Sounds of Change’ - https://thinkchristian.net/bon-iver-and-the-sounds-of-change

Sarah’s Top Ten Movies of 2024 list at Seeing and Believing - https://seeingandbelieving.substack.com/p/sarahs-favorite-movies-of-2024

Detectives, witches, and robots feature prominently in our favorite television of the year. Kathryn, Joe, and Abby join Josh to share their picks — as well as their favorite snacks for taking in some TV on the couch.

SHOW NOTES

Roslyn Hernández on ‘COWBOY CARTER as Liturgy’ - https://thinkchristian.net/cowboy-carter-as-liturgy

Josh on ‘Seeing Romans 6 in Inside Out 2’ - https://thinkchristian.net/seeing-romans-6-in-inside-out-2

God in the MCU - https://thinkchristian.net/god-in-the-mcu

A new podcast series explores the monumental run of albums released by Stevie Wonder in the 1970s, giving Josh, Aarik, and Kathryn an excuse to celebrate the expansive musicality and spirituality of the pop-culture icon.

SHOW NOTES

The Wonder of Stevie podcast — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wonder-of-stevie/id1767486783

Send your picks for the best music, movies, and TV of 2024 to [email protected]

To celebrate Abby’s new book, Films for All Seasons, she, Josh, and Claude have a conversation about one of the lesser-observed dates on the church calendar—All Souls Day—and one of the movies that captures its spirit: Pixar’s Coco.

SHOW NOTES

Abby’s book, Films for All Seasons — https://www.ivpress.com/films-for-all-seasons

Claude’s book, Reading Black Books — http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/reading-black-books/408390

Kathryn Freeman on ‘Disney’s Coco and God’s Calling’ — https://thinkchristian.net/disneys-coco-and-gods-calling

Get thee behind me, Satan? That’s been difficult as of late — at least at the movies. From the recent Rosemary’s Baby prequel Apartment 7A to other 2024 titles like Late Night with the Devil, Longlegs, and The Deliverance, satanic cinema has been growing in popularity. What might explain the trend? Josh, Joe, and Roslyn share their theories, as well as thoughts on Apartment 7A, starring Julia Garner.

SHOW NOTES

Josh’s book, Fear Not! A Christian Appreciation of Horror Movies - https://wipfandstock.com/9781666738520/fear-not/

Joe on Twitter/X - https://x.com/joewriteswords

Roslyn’s podcast, Bible Tea - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9sapTJagvFP9c2cG85_L3g

Joshua Stevens on ‘Immaculate and Conceiving Our Own Jesus’ - https://thinkchristian.net/immaculate-and-conceiving-our-own-jesus

Angelica Jade Bastién’s Substack - https://angelicabastien.substack.com/