Pop Culture Catechism

Halo has been XBox’s flagship game for 20 years and it was one of the first games to make a FPS with a compelling story and realistic characters combined with a fantastical, expansive world. It revolutionized not just game play, but what we’ve come to expect from a great game. Our guest today is a man whose work you know: Ethan Nagy, AWAKEN Catholic’s video producer!  We get pretty personal a...

Bad Bunny is bigger than Taylor Swift currently and it’s past time we talked about his music, his message, and his influence. Fernando Catragena joins the show to talk about: - How to have hope amidst brokenness - Do our failings define us? - Can we really change? - Are you blessed? - Dealing with haters - Why Puerto Rico is awesome - And much more! Episode 67 Show Host: Mike Tenney Show Page: htt...

Miley’s hits, hijinx, and hairstyles have been ubiquitous for a decade and a half. Ali Hoffman of @‌theoodlesofdoodles joins us to go through Miley’s hits of past and present. We go deep on this episode and discuss: - Vulnerability - Independence vs codependency vs interdependence - Fame! - Singleness - Asceticism and delight - How to let god love me - Leaving space for god - Having to prove yours...

Two of the biggest rappers with a lot in common and a lot that’s not, the music of Machine Gun Kelly and NF drips with trauma and pain from contrasting perspectives. Hip Hop artist Connor Flanagan joins us to go through it. - Following your dreams - Can you dream big with a family? - Quick fixes & lasting solutions - Coping mechanisms - The antidote to envy & comparison - Collaboration &am...

FOOTBALL IS LIFE!  Luke Carey, football geek and cohost of the seminal Catholic podcast Catching Foxes, joins us to talk about the most uplifting show on television, Ted Lasso. We cover a lot including: - Why the world needs Ted - Healthy responses to suffering - Father wounds - Abandonment wounds - How to deal with bullies - The benefits and failings of positivity - Ted vs Jesus - Is there s...

Ever wondered if the "Patron Exclusive Content" is worth it?  Here's a sneak peak for you! It includes the opening talk from Mike's Lenten parish retreat as well as a few songs from the U2 concert Mike did for patrons for episode 19 with Christopher West. Show Host: Mike Tenney Show Page: https://www.awakencatholic.org/pop-culture-catechism/bonus-patron-content-sneak-peak Awesome Catholic SWA...

INCONCEIVABLE! How have we not talked about the Princess Bride on this show yet? Tom Corcoran of Rebuilt welcomes Mike to the Church of the Nativity in Timonium, MD to discuss the most delightful movie of all time. We cover a lot including: - How to help a parish - Feminine and masculine strength - How many men fail - How to be a hero? - What if I feel trapped by my life? - Is faith naive? - What...

Sex sells and it always has but with the advent of streaming, shows have much more leeway to display nudity and sex. In another potentially TMI episode, author & speaker Mary Lenaburg joins us to talk about: - What’s the difference between porn & nudity - How porn affects individuals, couples, and society - How to talk to a spouse about porn - What can single, celibate, and queer/SSA peopl...

Venturing into a corner of pop culture we largely ignore on PCC, we asked Jon (Bearded)Blevins to take us through the world of sports, e-sports, and online gaming. - Can competition be holy? - Jesus as an underdog - When games become too much - How to be holy online - Why teams are important to a community - Fostering friendship & building community - Healthy competition vs envy - The purpose...

We all have songs that take us back to key moments in our lives. In this episode, Chika & Mike share stories from their youth and that music that accompanies them. Along the way we discuss: - Mistakes - Starting over - Friends who call you out - Family and family wounds - Weddings! - When Mike almost became a priest - Living with anxiety - Music you “aren’t supposed to like” Episode 60 Show Ho...

It’s about time we talked about the GOATs of Rock N’ Roll: THE BEATLES! Speaker & musician Dominic Quaglia joins the show to geek out about their music and contemplate their messages. - Some personal stuff comes out as we discuss: - Friendships - Losing & finding hope - Jesus’ most revolutionary teaching - Mary - Suffering - And more! Episode 59 Show Host: Mike Tenney Show Page: https://ww...

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 en...

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 -...

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 fri...

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...

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 behavio...

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 n...

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 rit...

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.awakenca...

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 b...

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 awesom...

Blink 182 were as big as Britney in their heyday and set the tone for rock music for a decade. Anthony D’Ambrosio, co-founder of Catholic Creatives, joins us to explore the Godfathers of Emo. We discuss: - Vulnerability - Manliness & Masculinity - Growing up - Learning about sex - Boomers - Jesus - Reverence & Irreverence And much more! Episode 48 Show Host: Mike Tenney Anthony’s Info: Boo...

https://youtu.be/lfMlL8qd_9s

https://youtu.be/MXvkTDfMTs4

https://youtu.be/lltLPueWJ9g