Think Christian: A Faith and Pop Culture Podcast
How might your pop culture fandom resonate with your faith? Josh Larsen, editor of Think Christian, talks with TC writers about the latest in TV, movies, music, and more, exploring the ways popular culture and its cultivators interact with God’s story.
Episodes
May 7, 2025 • 3 mins
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.
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April 14, 2025 • 35 mins
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-...
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March 20, 2025 • 35 mins
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, Beco...
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February 26, 2025 • 30 mins
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-peac...
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January 29, 2025 • 42 mins
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/shrinkin...
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January 15, 2025 • 35 mins
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...
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December 18, 2024 • 30 mins
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 ...
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November 19, 2024 • 27 mins
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 tcpodcast@thinkchristian.net
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October 30, 2024 • 26 mins
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
Ka...
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October 8, 2024 • 32 mins
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 ...
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September 6, 2024 • 44 mins
The familiar threats of the Alien franchise — namely xenomorphs and the Weyland-Yutani Corporation — take on new forms in Alien: Romulus. Josh, JR., and Sarah discuss how this installment fits with the other films, as well as what it might have to say about sin — both original and chosen. Oh, and JR. defends THAT choice involving a “new” synthetic.
SHOW NOTES
TC on Instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/thinkchristian_/
Josh on ...
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August 6, 2024 • 31 mins
“Winning isn’t for everyone.” So declares a prominent Nike ad that ran during the 2024 Olympics, suggesting deception and selfishness are qualities required to capture the gold. If that’s true, how should Christians think about athletic competition? With the Olympics as the backdrop, Josh, Aarik, and Kathryn discuss what it means to win as a follower of Christ. They also share some of their own triumphant/humbling sports memories.
...
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July 30, 2024 • 31 mins
In the Star Wars streaming series The Acolyte, the Force is wielded by self-righteous Jedi, a coven of space witches, and a dark, mysterious stranger. Do any of them do so with honor? And what of the twin sisters, played by Amandla Stenberg, caught in the middle? Josh, Joe, and Abby consider what the series has to say about sin and confession, abusive church practices, and a Christian understanding of obedience.
SHOW NOTES
A Theo...
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July 17, 2024 • 29 mins
With a handful of fresh tracks on the eve of a promised mixtape, what is the State of Chance? Josh and Claude consider the trajectory of the artist’s career thus far, as well as the “language of redemption” that can be heard in his new music.
SHOW NOTES
Xavier Ramey on ‘Coloring Book: A Chance Encounter with Joy’ - https://thinkchristian.net/coloring-book-a-chance-encounter-with-joy
Claude on ‘Chance the Rapper’s Wedding Invitat...
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June 26, 2024 • 59 mins
Listen in as Josh Larsen and Amber Noel lead a TC Movie Club conversation that centers on the audacious ending of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Do the movie’s final moments — which are rife with religious imagery — leave us in a place of revenge? Redemption? Somewhere in between?
SHOW NOTES
Amber on ‘Survival, Seeds, and Salvation in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ - https://thinkchristian.net/new-entry-1
Josh’s video essay on ‘The Christia...
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May 22, 2024 • 42 mins
Did you catch the references to Noah, Melchizedek, and the Aramaic roots of a character’s name in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes? JR. and Roslyn have you covered as they join Josh to talk about the latest Apes installment, set a few generations after the time of Caesar the chimpanzee, who is now regarded as something of a religious figure.
SHOW NOTES
Josh on ‘Planet of the Apes and the Reason Monkey Movies Fascinate’ - https:/...
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May 9, 2024 • 26 mins
Left without their teacher, can the mutant superheroes of X-Men ’97 find their purpose? Josh, Joe, and Sarah discuss the ways the animated series might — and might not — echo the dynamics of the disciples leading up to Pentecost. But first they have to decide which one of them gets to play Nightcrawler.
SHOW NOTES
TC podcast on Jonathan Hickman’s X-Men comics - https://thinkchristian.net/podcast/do-justice-netflixs-unbelievable-j...
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April 30, 2024 • 25 mins
Josh, Aarik, and Abby discuss whether any spiritual comfort can be found amidst the sonic agitation of Vampire Weekend’s fifth album, Only God Was Above Us.
SHOW NOTES
TC podcast on Vampire Weekend’s Father of the Bride - https://thinkchristian.net/podcast/resurrection-hope-avengers-endgame-vampire-weekends-father-of-the-bride
Joel Mayward on Father of the Bride - https://thinkchristian.net/father-of-the-bride-of-christ
John J....
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March 26, 2024 • 52 mins
Listen in as TC’s Josh Larsen and Fuller Seminary’s Elijah Davidson lead a conversation with Movie Club members about the animated films of Hayao Miyazaki.
SHOW NOTES
Join the TC Movie Club - https://www.thinkchristian.net/movieclub
Elijah’s book, Hayao Miyazaki: Lifted - https://elijahdavidson.com/books/icons-of-cinema/hayao-miyazaki-lifted-ebook/
Josh’s video essay on ‘What Miyazaki and Christianity Have in Common’ - https://...
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March 13, 2024 • 35 mins
What can Christians take from a series that is rooted in Eastern spirituality? Josh, Claude, and Roslyn find a lot in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, from the way wisdom is shared across generations to the contrasting of fear with love to an appreciation for the “thin places” where the spiritual realm breaks into ours.
SHOW NOTES
Sarah Welch-Larson on “Avatar: The Last Airbender and Spiritual Gifts...
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