Pop Culture Catechism

Green Day, Bob Dylan, 2Pac, Flobots, Marvin Gaye . . . What do all of these artists have in common? They all stood up against violence through their music. Consistent Life Ethic activists Savannah & Ryan Ackermann join us to talk about the great protest songs of history. We discuss A LOT of hot button issues including: - The death penalty - Euthanasia - Torture - Abortion - Racism - War - And...

In this special solo, Father’s Day episode, Mike shares what he admires about TV’s superdad, Jack Pearson from NBC’s “This is Us.” We discuss: - What is masculinity? Is it toxic? - Angry prayers - Rising to the occasion - How to find purpose in life - Why a real man should be liturgical

Juneteenth is right around the corner so it’s the perfect time to talk about the music and message of Beyoncé. We welcome Vice President of New Wave Feminists, Marcia Lane-McGee to the show. So come get in formation as we discuss: - Privilege, Color Blindness, & Anti-racism - Art & Solidarity - Feminism & Clericalism - Hot sauce [swag] - Black Lives Matter, Abortion, & the preferen...

Marshall Mathers is a force to be reckoned with. His talent is undeniable. His story: inspiring. His lyrics? Frequently reprehensible. Pop rap artist Jeremy Flick joins us to discuss the music and message of Slim Shady. We discuss: -Why God (and we) love an underdog -How to pursue your dreams, even with family responsibilities -How to “make it” in music -What is success? -Perfectionism and what if...

Follow us into the Upside Down as we ready ourselves for Season 4 of Stranger Things. Kaiser Johnson, who played the infamous Jazzercise Instructor/Evil Russian, joins us to share some of his journey and insight. We share what we love about the show and it brings up some pretty personal stuff as we discuss: - the value of being a nerd - Friendship: quality or quantity? - Stories of annulments, div...

An old soul with a heavenly voice, Adele is the world's most widely celebrated musician. Nashville-based songwriter Dana Catherine joins us to talk about Adele's music and craft, as well as how to have God help navigate the twists and turns of young adulthood. We discuss: - calling and how to know when to follow your heart - is God calling me to make a change or are things just hard right now? - m...

"We gon’ praise our way out the grave, dog!" Hip Hop artist John Levi joins us to discuss the phenomenon that is Kanye West and his music. We hit some big topics including:  -the key to real holiness  -the N-word & profanity  -doing stupid things  -failure  -materialism  -self-doubt and mental health  -the power of verbal confession and profession  -vuln...

I first met Dan and his brother Alex when they were in seminary to become priests. But then they spent the next 15 years building Scythian from a pub band to one of the biggest festival acts in the country. Dan and I had a great time sharing some of our favorite folk songs. The conversation got deep pretty quickly as we talked about the relationships of fathers and sons, the violence in Ukraine (h...

The first live-action Star Wars show is arguably also the most compelling Star Wars story ever. We welcome Deacon, Professor, and Star Wars nerd-extrordianire Bob Rice to unpack the Mandoverse as we discuss:   - Fundamentalism   - the stories of 3 orphans   - religious deconstruction & reconstruction   - How to question God? Is there a value to doubt? &n...

The world's most beloved (and rebooted) super hero, Batman. We invite psychologist Jake Khym from the Restore the Glory podcast to unmask the caped crusader and see how we can face the fear and injustice in our own lives. We discuss: - Trauma - When bad things happen to good people - Mike’s issues - Forgiveness - healthy identity - building resilience - the Joker, Two-Face, Ras Al Gul, and more! B...

Are you ready for a controversial episode? Cuz we got one! We cover the beloved show Schitt’s Creek with Pieter Valk, licensed counselor, aspiring deacon in the Anglican Church, and founder of Equip Your Community, a ministry which helps churches to better love LGBTQ Christians. So come with an open heart and mind as we discuss: - Using the term “Gay” vs “Same-Sex Attracted” - Materialism & th...

What if your favorite boy band could improve your love life? Regina Boyd, LMHC, and host of the “Connecting Out Loud” podcast, joins us to answer that question. We talk about One Direction, *NSYNC, BSB, BTS, Boyz II Men, and more. Along the way we chat about: -Who is the best boy band? -What if you and your partner aren’t compatible? -How to fight with your partner -The 4 things that kill love -Se...

ATLA may be the best animated show ever. The characters, the themes, the world building, the artistry . . . it’s just a really good show. Self-proclaimed super-nerd Luke Dimyan, (Judas Iscariot in The Chosen) joins us to celebrate the beauty that is this show. We focus specifically on the characters and their relationships including: - Trauma - Responsibility & mission - Detachment - Anger - R...

From Broadway to the Grammys to TV shows, is there anything Sara Bareilles can’t do? We welcome actress, writer, and director Kiersten Lyons from “Crushed The Podcast” to explore the music of Sara B. Be warned! This episode gets pretty emotional as Kiersten brings A LOT of wisdom to the table and Mike weeps openly. Here’s some of what else you can expect: - Moving on from crushed moments - Being e...

Amazing! Spectacular! Spider-Man is back in a big way in No Way Home. The characters, the quips, the moral dilemmas . . . We loved this movie so much we had to talk about it. Follow us into the Spider-Verse as we discuss: - how to be a hero - when is it ok to kill? - how do you choose in a no-win situation? - how trauma shapes our identity - living greatness - community & isolation - and much...

We’ve got a very special present for our listeners this Christmas . . . the truth that will set you free! Follow us down the rabbit hole as we red-pill The Matrix trilogy. Buckle your seat belts and get ready to party like it’s 1999, cuz we filmed late and we had some whiskey so you can expect: - Bad impressions of Agent Smith - A fight about the souls of artificial intelligence - Gnostic allegory...

His hits keep coming and they don’t stop coming. Jack Antonoff is most known for his co-writing and producing the biggest names in music: Lorde, Lana, Taylor, Springsteen . . . But it’s with his own band, The Bleachers, where he shares his journey and crisis of faith. Ashley & Zac from the Jesuitical podcast join us to wax theological and personal on the music & lyrics of the world’s hotte...

Ed Sheeran & Taylor Swift have new music out and we LOVE it. This is our first live show! Recorded on location at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis, with our old friend Brian Rhude (director of the Light the World Institute at the Catholic University of America) and Molly & Liv (two current CUA students). In this episode we talk about: - why is bad stuff so attractive?...

What is the best Disney movie of all time and why is it The Lion King? TikTok All-Star and #FOCUS Missionary Tanner Kalina joins us to talk about our cats, his time as a Hollywood actor, and this beautiful gift of an animated movie. Seriously, this might be my favorite episode of #PopCultureCatechism yet. We cover a billion topics including: - Farts - Fathers, masculinity, & the meaning of Kin...

The world’s biggest sci-fi novel finally has a good movie adaptation. JonMarc Grodi of the Coming Home Network joins us again, this time to unpack this thematically gargantuan book. Along the way discuss: - What does it mean to be human? - can we improve upon human nature - can human society actually progress? - What is religion and is it a force for good? - is marriage mainly about social status?...

What is the zaniest comedy of the past 10 years? Not The Office. Not Parks & Rec. No, it’s Andy Samburg’s Magnum Opus, Brooklyn 99. Sirius XM radio host Katie Prejean McGrady joins us to talk about what is just so special about this show and it’s characters. We cover:-Representation in media and why it matters-Love languages-Real friendship-Maturity-The power of words-The impact of family dyna...

The guitar skills, the fame, the looks, the charisma . . . it sure seems like John Mayer’s got it all, and he’s widely regarded as one of the best musicians and songwriters ever. But his lyrics reflect a yearning for something more and a desire to repair the harm of past indiscretions. Recording artist BT & the King (aka Brian Wilson) joins us to unpack the heart of life with help from John’s...

Arguably the biggest rock band of the last decade, Imagine Dragons have reached a generation with their eclectic style and raw, yet spiritual lyrics. David McHugh, inventor of Percoustix, joins us to jam and unpack some of their biggest songs. We hit some big themes: - Depression and chronic pain - The radioactive cross of Christ - failed dreams and disillusionment - Does the Church create saints...

This episode is a little bit . . . different. Come along for a journey through Pop Culture Catechism past, present, and future. Become a PATRON and SUPPORT our show! Go to www. PopCultureCatechism.com Show notes: https://www.awakencatholic.org/pop-culture-catechism/the-greatest-hits Download the official AWAKEN App: http://theawakenapp.io Pray with the Hallow app! It's the only audio-guided Cathol...

She’s the biggest thing in music and she keeps. getting. better. Last year we covered Folklore which won the grammy for Album of the Year. Listeners requested we circle back to discuss Ms. Swift’s surprise follow-up album, Evermore. Darker, riskier, and more eclectic than it’s sister, we tour through the best songs in Taylor’s songwriting sandbox of an album. Some stops on our route include: - Bre...