The Pop Culture Contrarian Podcast

Many Star Wars fans have lamented Disney's butchering of the universe. Whether it be stories that don't make sense or scenarios and behavior completely out of place, there are complaints aplenty. Therefore, it's no surprise that the TV series "Andor" has fans tuning in with low expectations. But could Disney have redeemed itself with Season 2? Thomas, Star Wars scholar Sterling, and Andrew are on...

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the world. Nothing will remain untouched by this powerful technology. There are good things as well as ugly pitfalls that are being brought about by this seismic shift. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they explore how best to adapt. Get your mug: https://bit.ly/4jbYK8r ----------------  🌐 The Patriot Post: https://bit.ly/44iII97 📧 News Letter: htt...

What happens when you mix together raw meat, big muscles, big money, and big Internet fame? You get the Liver King! This ancestral fitness guru matches every hallmark of a 21st-century snake oil salesman, and Netflix has released a documentary chronicling his rise to fame and subsequent fall from glory. Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew offer thoughts on what we can learn from such a controversial figu...

America's political status quo is coming to an end. During the 2024 presidential election, the American people clearly rejected wokeism and DEI. Since the Democrat Party had become synonymous with these ideas, it is in the process of collapse. Meanwhile on the Right, Donald Trump has built the biggest Republican coalition with the most diverse membership in living memory, fundamentally changing th...

Marvel has added another movie to its universe. Titled "Thunderbolts*" (with an asterisk), the name alludes to there being more than meets the eye. With recent woke films such as "Captain Marvel" bringing the Marvel universe down, can this latest release redeem the franchise? Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew have some thoughts. Get your tumbler: https://bit.ly/436NPXA ----------------  🌐 The Patriot...

The Brits want to dim the sun! No, this isn't a fictional plot from a James Bond flick. The UK government has genuinely hatched a plan to spray chemicals into the air to deflect the suns's rays. Sometimes, reality truly is stranger than fiction. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew for an episode on this bizarre initiative. Get Your Hat: https://patriotpostshop.com/collections/second-amendment ------...

Hollywood is making original films, but moviegoers aren't buying tickets. Amidst post-COVID impacts, inflation, competing distractions, and cultural shifts, the American movie theater may be in jeopardy. What can Hollywood and theaters do to reignite America's classic art form? Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew explore reasons for the decline and ideas to turn the tide. Get Your Hat: https://patriotpos...

The latest animated film from Angel Studios, "The King of Kings," captures Charles Dickens as he shares the Gospel story with his youngest son. Based on a private family manuscript that remained unpublished until 64 years after Charles's death, Angel Studios has brought to the big screen what was once reserved for Dickens's children. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they review this appropriat...

We often talk about capturing the cultural zeitgeist of the moment. President Trump's tariff play has captivated the world and dominated headlines everywhere. Nobody seems to know what is happening, and the markets are all over the place as a result. Few can agree on whether Trump's tactics will result in a big win or a devastating loss, but what we all can agree on is that this is a high-risk mom...

The new Netflix show “Adolescence,” which chronicles how online toxic masculinity leads a 13-year-old boy to commit murder, has so grabbed the emotions of the UK prime minister that he wants to make every student in his country watch it. The idea is that toxic masculinity is a threat to British society, but the true underlying problems are being conveniently ignored. Join Thomas, Sterling, and And...

In 1937, "Snow White" was the moonshot film that punched Disney's historic ticket to eternal fame. In 2025, the live-action remake is more like a fireball plummeting to earth. If there were ever a cautionary tale of what woke ideology can do to a brand, this is it. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they chronicle Disney's continued fall from glory and ask the question: Will they ever learn? Mug...

Could it be that Amazon Prime Video has gotten a Bible story right? “House of David” has been making waves and might break the mold. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they discuss what’s right and what’s woke about Amazon’s telling of Israel’s greatest king. Mugs and Founders Wisdom Coffee: https://patriotpostshop.com/collections/founders-wisdom-coffee ----------------  🌐 The Patriot Post: htt...

The 2019 film "Tolkien" captures the youth and young adulthood of the author famous for "The Lord of the Rings." Capturing many influential moments in his life, there is a clear influence drawn between these experiences and his later literary works. Does the film capture the most important influence, though? Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew discuss where the film shines and where it misses.   Mugs and...

Someone should tell Hollywood that woke DEI requirements for movies are over. If the Oscars are any indication, Hollywood didn't get the memo. Speaking of not getting the memo, someone should tell Volodymyr Zelensky there's a new president in the Oval Office, and he wants peace. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they discuss the last gasps of virtue signaling in Hollywood and on the world stage...

The robots are coming, and we're on the cusp of a robot revolution! From the next generation of a quantum computing chip to AI-powered robot servants, the reality of C3PO is now actualized. Join Thomas and Sterling as they bring you all that is cutting edge in tech while wrestling with the ethical and social implications of robotics. Mugs and Founders Wisdom Coffee: https://patriotpostshop.com/col...

Elon Musk has released his DOGE analysis program into the ledgers of federal agencies, and his findings are every bit as shocking as one might expect. But it's not just tax dollars being wasted that's so alarming; there are things even more sinister being exposed. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they dig into the waste that DOGE has uncovered and reveal how USAID has maliciously manipulated t...

Tucker Carlson and Piers Morgan have gone head-to-head in a debate, covering issues like the war in Ukraine to government censorship to woke culture and everything in between. Join Thomas and Sterling as they recount the debate and weigh the problem with Carlson and his increasingly conspiratorial tendencies.   Mugs and Founders Wisdom Coffee: https://patriotpostshop.com/collections/founders-wisdo...

The Daily Wire has been known to make careers for big conservative personalities. Brett Cooper is the latest to strike out on her own after working with the Wire for years. Amid rumors about the nature of her departure, "The Brett Cooper Show" has launched, and the first episode seems to set the record straight in a tactful way. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew for a review of the new show. Mugs...

On January 20, your Pop Culture Contrarian team traveled to Washington, DC, in hopes of viewing the inauguration of Donald Trump. Almost nothing went to plan. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they recount their experience at the Capitol. Mugs and Founders Wisdom Coffee: https://patriotpostshop.com/collections/founders-wisdom-coffee ----------------  🌐 The Patriot Post: https://patriotpost.us/...

Christianity, seemingly on the decline in the West, may be gaining some traction from some unlikely sources. Jordan Peterson has rocked the world with his ascent to fame. His very public wrestling with the Bible and Jesus Christ have inspired other notable personalities to ask similar questions. Joe Rogan, once dismissive and even hostile toward Christianity, now seems drawn to questions of the fa...

Mark Zuckerberg has announced what may be the biggest news of the year. Meta (Facebook) will end oppressive "fact-checking"  and bigoted DEI policies, as well as simplify community guidelines. After years of conservatives being bullied by all of these, this about-face is a seismic development. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they tackle the implications for free speech and decide if this news...

It's 2025, and it feels like a whole new world! With the outcome of November's presidential election, it seems that woke is on the backpedal, Hollywood might start listening, and Big Tech may be falling in line (for now). What will the result be? Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they project what may be on the horizon in culture, entertainment, and even politics. Mugs and Founders Wisdom Coffe...

Middle Earth returns to the big screen, but in an unexpected way. In a story set nearly 200 years prior to the trilogy most are familiar with, Director Kenji Kamiyama, in conjunction with Peter Jackson, expands on an obscure text included in J.R.R Tolkien's appendices. Unlike Jackson's live-action films, this one was produced in an anime medium. Is "The War of the Rohirrim" worthy of the love LOTR...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the hosts of "The Pop Culture Contrarian Podcast"! It has been a wild year. To all our listeners, thanks for tuning in, and please accept our deepest gratitude. Our third season will begin during the first week of January 2025, so don't go anywhere. Mugs and Founders Wisdom Coffee: https://patriotpostshop.com/collections/founders-wisdom-coffee --------------...

This Christmas season, Netflix has released "Mary" — its take on the life of the mother of Jesus. With Joel Osteen (Protestant) as executive producer and D.J. Caruso (Catholic) as director, one might draw certain conclusions about where the film could take this story. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they explore the life of Mary. Mugs and Founders Wisdom Coffee: https://patriotpostshop.com/co...