Pop Culture Pastor

Two hundred episodes. A legendary voice. And a look toward the future.

In this milestone episode, Pop Culture Pastor celebrates its 200th journey around the fandom sun with a little help from the incomparable Malcolm McDowell, who kicks things off with a cinematic introduction worthy of the occasion.

Dave and Cody dig into what’s next for pop culture itself — from the rise of AI actors and streaming burnout to reboot fatigue and the ...

ROAD MOVIES: Stories that move us (literally).
What makes a road movie work? Dave, Cody, and guest Andy Acker break down the secret sauce — the motion that transforms the characters, the odd couples who can’t escape each other, the maps that never lead where they think, and the soundtracks that make it all feel alive.

They swap their own road-trip stories (buses, bison, and breakdowns included), revisit classics like Planes, Trai...

Pop Culture Junk Drawer (One Take Edition)
We emptied the drawer and hit record: one continuous, gloriously unedited (well...mostly unedited, lol) rummage through pop culture. Lionel Richie spills on Michael Jackson’s… laundry. Bad Bunny nabs the Super Bowl halftime show and the internet predictably loses its mind (or pretends to). Reading Rainbow returns to raise a new generation of book nerds. An AI “actress” named Tilly shows...

The Hollywood Reporter dropped a “definitive” Top 25 sports-movie list… so we grabbed our gadgets (Nuke, Recast, Rocket, Sniper, Switcheroo, and the brand-new Double Tap) and blew it up. Chaos ensues. Friendships wobble. Space Jam soars. OJ: Made in America gets the boot. And yes, we argue about Hoosiers like our playoff lives depend on it.

What you’ll hear:

• Defining what actually counts as a sports movie (docs vs. dramas vs. “th...

What happens when fandom crosses the line into worship? This week on Pop Culture Pastor, Dave and Cody welcome special guest DJ Dangerfield to dive into the new documentary Stans, a raw look at Eminem’s most devoted fans.

From rumors of an on-set Avengers brawl to the chaos of the Movie Game, the crew warms up with laughs before getting serious about the complicated legacy of Marshall Mathers. They explore how Eminem’s music gave vo...

It’s a little bit of everything this week on Pop Culture Pastor! Dave and Cody are back on their own, digging into the ultimate pop culture grab bag. From the seismic pop culture news of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s engagement (and some ridiculous “what if” wedding scenarios), to the messy Raja Jackson incident in the wrestling world, we cover it all.

Then we dive into what we’ve been watching, reading, and listening to lately—do...

Taylor Swift isn’t just a pop star—she’s a cultural juggernaut. In this Legends episode, Dave plays cultural anthropologist while Cody and Leah (our resident Swifties) unpack her rise from country roots to global dominance, the power of the Swiftie fandom, and why authenticity might be her greatest legacy. Plus, we debate tattoos, Travis Kelce, and whether Taylor is the last true pop star.

Also: In the news segment we talk the newes...

Dave, Cody, and two Geeks of the Round Table are set to tackle a brand-new type of episode, Listbusters! The series where no ranking is safe. This time, we’re crossing the streams of pop culture opinions as we take on Esquire’s Top 25 Superhero Movies List by Eric Francisco, armed with chaos-inducing items like The Bomb, The Switcheroo, and The Recast.

Will your favorites survive? Will we nuke something you love? Will questionable p...

In this episode of Pop Culture Pastor, Dave and Cody dive deep into Happy Gilmore 2, joined by special guests, recording artists Sean Rodriguez and Hilltop. We discuss the wild ride that is this sequel, from the return of Adam Sandler and Julie Bowen to hilarious cameos by Bad Bunny, Travis Kelce, and even Eminem. With plenty of laughs, an 80s training montage, and a heap of nostalgia, we review the good, the bad, and the absurdity...

This week, Dave and Cody suit up in their turtlenecks and dive headfirst into Fantastic Four: First Steps—Marvel’s latest attempt to make Reed Richards emotionally compelling and Galactus fashion-forward. With trusty Geek of the Round Table Jackson, they’re breaking down the retro-futuristic vibes, the CGI baby drama, and whether Vanessa Kirby just low-key carried the whole film. Plus: a totally unnecessary mustache, Adam Driver dr...

It’s time for a Be Kind Rewind on Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer—the 2007 sequel that gave us Chris Evans’ scene-stealing Human Torch, Andre Braugher delivering one of the best lines ever (“I’m the quarterback!”), and… a Galactus that looks like a weather cloud. Dave and Cody dig into what holds up, what absolutely doesn’t (looking at you, Jessica Alba’s blue contacts), and the surprisingly decent CGI that made Silver Su...

James Gunn’s Superman is finally here—and the Pop Culture Pastor crew is all in. This week, Dave, Cody, and Justin dig deep into the film that reboots the most iconic superhero of all time with big ideas, even bigger emotions, and (surprisingly) one very good dog. We break down the performances (Nicholas Hoult’s Lex is definitive), debate the new take on Kal-El’s parents, and celebrate the bright, hopeful tone that makes this Super...

In this episode of Pop Culture Pastor, we’re diving into all things Superman as the highly anticipated new movie hits theaters! Cody, our resident DC superfan, is practically bursting with excitement—he's been on the Superman train since day one. We discuss the early reviews, the highs, the lows, and what makes this reboot so critical for the future of the DC universe. Will it be James Gunn’s magnum opus, or is it another Man o...

This week on Pop Culture Pastor, Dave, Cody, and Jackson start off a month of blockbusters and survive Jurassic World: Rebirth—because apparently, like the dinosaurs themselves, this franchise refuses to stay extinct. From mutant monsters in lab coats to pharmaceutical villains with PowerPoint energy, the gang unpacks what worked, what mutated, and whether the Jurassic franchise should’ve stayed fossilized.

Plus:
🧢 Indiana Jones...

We spared no expense on this one — it’s our Be Kind Rewind on Jurassic Park! Join Dave, Cody, and Sir Jackson, Geek of the Round Table as they revisit Spielberg’s 1993 blockbuster that made dinosaurs cool again and Jeff Goldblum a household vibe. We’re talking animatronics, chaos theory, Mr. DNA, and why this movie still stomps the competition decades later. Plus: who wins the movie, who loses (sorry, Crichton), and what this tale ...

🎬 "Favorite Cinematic Deaths" might sound like a bummer… but trust us, it’s not. From Gladiator to Zombieland, Logan to Rocky IV, we're diving deep into the most iconic, hilarious, heartbreaking, and utterly shocking movie deaths of all time. Why do these scenes hit so hard? Why do they stick with us? And can you even talk about death without quoting Top Gun at least once? (Spoiler: nope.)

Also in this episode:
🚀 ...

Ever wonder what could’ve been if the right actor had just taken that iconic role? Well, today’s episode of Pop Culture Pastor dives into those “almost” casting decisions that could have totally changed Hollywood history. From Matthew McConaughey almost playing Jack Dawson in Titanic (imagine "Alright, alright, alright", but on a sinking ship) to someone you wouldn't believe possibly stepping into John McClane’s shoes...

This week on Pop Culture Pastor, Dave and Cody set out in search of eternal youth and… mostly find studio notes and safe choices. In our full review of Fountain of Youth, we dive into Guy Ritchie’s lightest touch yet, a charming John Krasinski, and a MacGuffin so undercooked it might still be thawing. Is it fun? Sometimes. Is it deep? Not especially. But hey, there’s a moped chase and some ancient Christian imagery just vague enoug...