Pop Culture Coffee Hour

The girls watched the new adaption of the classic musical West Side Story. They explore how time can change your perspective, the tension between hope and the reality of hurt, and the tragedy of rejecting Love.

Steve and Christian are back to discuss the new MCU film, "Spiderman: No Way Home." Spoilers ahead! They explore restorative justice, loss and sacrifice, and identity.

Steve and Christian are back to continue their discussion on the new Christianity Today podcast, "The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill." They explore authority, culture wars, and celebrity. christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill Additional Resource: markdejesus.com/14-signs-spiritual-abuse Subscribe to "Pop Culture Coffee Hour" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. We do more than simply offer reviews. Just like a bee can take good things from flowers (and leave the rest behind), we can learn to take the good things from pop culture as we seek to open ourselves to Christ and His saving work in our lives. It's Orthodox Christian engagement with today's culture.

The girls and their guest, Dan, discuss the latest Disney/Pixar offering, Encanto. They discuss the how place (and the temple) impacts formation, how people are more than their gifts, and the healing power of forgiveness. As always, they close by discussing what they're cooking.

Steve and Christian discuss the new Christianity Today podcast, "The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill." They discuss authority, celebrity, and spiritual abuse. christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill Additional Resource: markdejesus.com/14-signs-spiritual-abuse Subscribe to "Pop Culture Coffee Hour" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. We do more than simply offer reviews. Just like a bee can take good things from flowers (and leave the rest behind), we can learn to take the good things from pop culture as we seek to open ourselves to Christ and His saving work in our lives. It's Orthodox Christian engagement with today's culture.

SPOILER ALERT The girls discuss the Ancient Faith Publishing book, The Lightkeeper. They discuss the relationship between suffering and salvation and how love is both a choice and painful, but it is ultimately essential for a meaningful life.

"I must not fear." Steve and Christian are joined by Daniel Andresen to discuss the new sc-fi movie, "Dune." They discuss power, identity, and otherness. We do more than simply offer reviews. Just like a bee can take good things from flowers (and leave the rest behind), we can learn to take the good things from pop culture as we seek to open ourselves to Christ and His saving work in our lives. It's Orthodox Christian engagement with today's culture.

The girls discuss the Apple+ hit, Ted Lasso. They discuss how Ted Lasso shows us ways to engage the world, how accountability matters, and how dads impact our relationships with others.

"We all have our secrets, we just didn't get to yours yet." Steve and Christian watched Daniel Craig's final movie as James Bond, "No Time to Die." They discuss redemption, sacrifice, and violence. We do more than simply offer reviews. Just like a bee can take good things from flowers (and leave the rest behind), we can learn to take the good things from pop culture as we seek to open ourselves to Christ and His saving work in our lives. It's Orthodox Christian engagement with today's culture.

The girls and their special guest discuss the two classic short stories, touching on themes such as how our thoughts determine our lives, generational sin, and the Harrowing of Hades.

"What's more real than a person trying to help someone they love?" Steve and Christian watched the new movie, "Free Guy." And they're joined by Paul Haworth on today's conversation. They discuss personhood, freedom, and the world to come. We do more than simply offer reviews. Just like a bee can take good things from flowers (and leave the rest behind), we can learn to take the good things from pop culture as we seek to open ourselves to Christ and His saving work in our lives. It's Orthodox Christian engagement with today's culture.

The girls discuss the Broadway-to-Silver-Screen musical, Dear Evan Hansen. They touch on themes such as the role of social media in trying to be authentic, the complexity of the human person, and the need for community in support.

"You may have noticed, I’m not like normal Dads." Steve and Christian watched the new Amazon Prime series, "Invincible." They discuss identity, power, and responsibility. We do more than simply offer reviews. Just like a bee can take good things from flowers (and leave the rest behind), we can learn to take the good things from pop culture as we seek to open ourselves to Christ and His saving work in our lives. It's Orthodox Christian engagement with today's culture.

The girls discuss Gilmore Girls and touch on themes such as the importance of having a village around you, the significance of place, and above all, unconditional love.

"I've been where you are. I've felt what you feel. Don't ask me how I know. All I know is I don't want to hurt you. I don't want the throne. I just want you to be okay." Steve, Christian, Christina, and Emma are back for the season 7 premiere of "Pop Culture Coffee Hour." They watched the new Marvel Disney+ series, "Loki." They discuss identity, freedom, and God's irresistible embrace. We do more than simply offer reviews. Just like a bee can take good things from flowers (and leave the rest behind), we can learn to take the good things from pop culture as we seek to open ourselves to Christ and His saving work in our lives. It's Orthodox Christian engagement with today's culture. "Pop Culture Coffee Hour" is hosted by Steven Christoforou, Christian Gonzalez, Christina Andresen, and Emma (Solak) Pcsolyar.

"I don’t know about you guys, but, um, you know, I’ve been thinking recently that… that you know, maybe, um, allowing giant digital media corporations to exploit the neurochemical drama of our children for profit… You know, maybe that was, uh… a bad call by us. Maybe… maybe the… the flattening of the entire subjective human experience into a… lifeless exchange of value that benefits nobody, except for, um, you know, a handful of bug-eyed salamanders in Silicon Valley… Maybe that as a… as a way of life forever… maybe that’s, um, not good." Steve and Christian watched Bo Burnham's new Netflix comedy special, "Inside." They discuss the pandemic, feeling trapped "inside," and technology. We do more than simply offer reviews. Just like a bee can take good things from flowers (and leave the rest behind), we can learn to take the good things from pop culture as we seek to open ourselves to Christ and His saving work in our lives. It's Orthodox Christian engagement with today's culture.

Steve and Christian were asked to keynote the Mid-Atlantic Parish Life Conference, and rather than giving a lecture, they decided to do an episode of Pop Culture Coffee Hour! They discuss the big question of identity and its individual, communitarian, and cosmic sources, doing so through their favorite fictional universes of Star Wars, Harry Potter, and the MCU!

"Buongiorno, principessa!" Steve, Christian, Emma, and Christina watched the classic Italian film, "Life is Beautiful." This is our season finale. We'll be back later in the year!

"Families can be hard, but they're so worth fighting for. They might be one of the only things that are." Steve and Christian watched the new Netflix film, "The Mitchells vs. The Machines." The guys discuss family, belonging, and being corrects vs being connected. Philanthropy Spotlight: Christ's last words to the Apostles were "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all people". Since 1987, OCMC has sent Missionaries and Mission Teams to work, worship and witness around the world. Continue this tradition by joining a Virtual Mission Team. If not you, then who? Find out more at www.ocmc.org

"I don’t want to survive, I want to live!" Steve and Christian watched the classic Pixar film, "WALL-E." The guys discuss sacraments, the earth, and magical thinking.