"What's more real than a person trying to help someone they love?" Steve and Christian watched the new movie, "Free Guy." And they're joined by Paul Haworth on today's conversation. They discuss personhood, freedom, and the world to come. We do more than simply offer reviews. Just like a bee can take good things from flowers (and leave the rest behind), we can learn to take the good things from pop culture as we seek to open ourselves to Christ and His saving work in our lives. It's Orthodox Chr...
Oct 19, 2021
The girls discuss the Broadway-to-Silver-Screen musical, Dear Evan Hansen. They touch on themes such as the role of social media in trying to be authentic, the complexity of the human person, and the need for community in support.
Oct 12, 2021
"You may have noticed, I’m not like normal Dads." Steve and Christian watched the new Amazon Prime series, "Invincible." They discuss identity, power, and responsibility. We do more than simply offer reviews. Just like a bee can take good things from flowers (and leave the rest behind), we can learn to take the good things from pop culture as we seek to open ourselves to Christ and His saving work in our lives. It's Orthodox Christian engagement with today's culture.
Oct 04, 2021
The girls discuss Gilmore Girls and touch on themes such as the importance of having a village around you, the significance of place, and above all, unconditional love.
Sep 28, 2021
"I've been where you are. I've felt what you feel. Don't ask me how I know. All I know is I don't want to hurt you. I don't want the throne. I just want you to be okay." Steve, Christian, Christina, and Emma are back for the season 7 premiere of "Pop Culture Coffee Hour." They watched the new Marvel Disney+ series, "Loki." They discuss identity, freedom, and God's irresistible embrace. We do more than simply offer reviews. Just like a bee can take good things from flowers (and leave the rest beh...
Sep 22, 2021
Steve and Christian were asked to keynote the Mid-Atlantic Parish Life Conference, and rather than giving a lecture, they decided to do an episode of Pop Culture Coffee Hour! They discuss the big question of identity and its individual, communitarian, and cosmic sources, doing so through their favorite fictional universes of Star Wars, Harry Potter, and the MCU!
Sep 13, 2021
"I don’t know about you guys, but, um, you know, I’ve been thinking recently that… that you know, maybe, um, allowing giant digital media corporations to exploit the neurochemical drama of our children for profit… You know, maybe that was, uh… a bad call by us. Maybe… maybe the… the flattening of the entire subjective human experience into a… lifeless exchange of value that benefits nobody, except for, um, you know, a handful of bug-eyed salamanders in Silicon Valley… Maybe that as a… as a way o...
Jul 23, 2021
"Buongiorno, principessa!" Steve, Christian, Emma, and Christina watched the classic Italian film, "Life is Beautiful." This is our season finale. We'll be back later in the year!
May 23, 2021
"Families can be hard, but they're so worth fighting for. They might be one of the only things that are." Steve and Christian watched the new Netflix film, "The Mitchells vs. The Machines." The guys discuss family, belonging, and being corrects vs being connected. Philanthropy Spotlight: Christ's last words to the Apostles were "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all people". Since 1987, OCMC has sent Missionaries and Mission Teams to work, worship and witness around the world. Conti...
May 14, 2021
"I don’t want to survive, I want to live!" Steve and Christian watched the classic Pixar film, "WALL-E." The guys discuss sacraments, the earth, and magical thinking.
Apr 28, 2021
The girls discuss Joan Didion's essays. They touch on themes such as the power of simply finding God in the world around you, the power of words, and the pain of grief.
Apr 20, 2021
"Eww." Steve and Christian watched the CBC TV series, "Schitt's Creek." The guys discuss repentance, gratitude, and love. We're shining a light on RIP Medical Debt, a non-profit that uses donor funds to wipe our medical debt from the neediest cases up. Medical debt destroys the financial stability of large segments of America’s most vulnerable communities: the sick, the elderly, the poor, and veterans. It also targets the middle class, driving many families who are barely getting along into pove...
Apr 14, 2021
The girls discuss the novel The Big Finish, and they contemplate themes such as struggling with the passions, how we perceive other people, and the reality that salvation is messy.
Apr 07, 2021
"That’s what rap is, making the best out of a bad situation, brother." Steve and Christian watched the FX series, "Atlanta." The guys discuss tragedy, comedy, human brokenness, and race in America. Philanthropy Spotlight: At the start of Great Lent, we're shining a light on the important place almsgiving has in the Christian life.
Apr 01, 2021
"Why God, why God do I gotta bleed? Every stone thrown at you restin' at my feet." Steve and Christian listened to Kendrick Lamar's 2017 album, "DAMN." The guys discuss wickedness, duality, mercy, and Christian art. Philanthropy Spotlight: We're also shining a light on "Samaritan Ministries," a community of Christians paying one another's medical bills. Learn more on their website: https://samaritanministries.org
Mar 31, 2021
"What is grief, if not love persevering?" Steve and Christian watched the new Disney+ series in the MCU, "WandaVision." The guys discuss grief, justice, power, and the cross-pressure of Secular3. Philanthropy Spotlight: We're also shining a light on "Philoptochos," the philanthropic arm of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Philoptochos fulfills its mission to “help the poor, the destitute, the hungry, the aged, the sick, the unemployed, the orphaned, the imprisoned, the widowed, those w...
Mar 16, 2021
The girls discuss the Netflix series, Firefly Lane. They touch on issues of self-discovery, the importance of friendship, and what constitutes a real relationship.
Mar 10, 2021
"I'm Santa Claus, Teddy, not Yoda." Steve and Christian watched the delightful holiday movies, "The Christmas Chronicles" and "The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two" The guys discuss Santa Claus, pastoral care, the struggle to determine our identity, and a sacramental view of the world. Philanthropy Spotlight: We're also shining a light on the FOCUS North America, a national movement of Orthodox Christians, united in faith and joined by a desire to provide action-oriented and sustainable solution...
Mar 05, 2021
The girls discuss the poetry of Amanda Gorman, the young poet who read her work at the inauguration and Super Bowl. They discuss themes of light and darkness, the way burdens can be inherited, and a vision of God's Kingdom.
Feb 24, 2021
The girls watched the Netflix film, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. They discuss the emphasis on community over individualism, how death impacts life (and vice versa), as well as issues between races.
Feb 10, 2021
"Cool. Cool cool cool." Steve and Christian watched the classic comedy series, "Community." The guys discuss plot-driver vs character-driven Christianity, unconditional love, and the importance of the table. Philanthropy Spotlight: We're also shining a light on "Reconciliation Services," non-profit serving in Kansas City, MO. Desiring to accept the challenge to “love thy neighbor,” they approach each person with dignity and love, seeing them as made in the image of God. Their programs strategica...
Feb 03, 2021
The girls discuss the novel, Transcendent Kingdom. They address issues of cross-pressure between belief and doubt, the role or purpose in our lives, and how the modern self is buffered against engagement with the transcendent.
Jan 29, 2021
“Those really aren't purposes, 22. That's just regular old living.” Steven Christoforou and Christian Gonzalez watched the new Pixar movie, "Soul." The guys discuss spark vs purpose, lost souls, and living with gratitude. Philanthropy Spotlight: We're also shining a light on "The Second Liturgy," a podcast which explores how Orthodox Christians can partake fully, not just at the first altar we approach on Sundays, but also with our encounters with all people, especially those in need, throughout...
Jan 20, 2021
The girls take a listen to Taylor Swift's new new album, evermore. They discuss dealing with mistakes, life after death, and how repentance is not the same as getting off the hook.
Jan 14, 2021
"Wherever I go, he goes." Steve and Christian watched season 2 of the amazing Disney+ series, "The Mandalorian." The guys discuss the difference between tradition and traditionalism; the empire's evil; and discerning the Way. Philanthropy Spotlight: We're also shining a light on the Astoria Food Pantry, a neighborhood mutual aid project that provides high-quality fresh food to 200 people per week. In 2021, they plan to both continue the programs that they started in 2020 and expand operations to...
Dec 26, 2020
The girls discuss Becoming Mrs. Lewis, the historical fiction novel about Joy Davidman, CS Lewis' wife. They address the idea of womanhood, how love builds up, and how faith is often very messy.
Dec 17, 2020
The girls take on the Netflix series, The Queen's Gambit. They discuss the needs to take responsibility for ourselves, how love is not the same as turning a blind eye, and the need for healthy emotional boundaries.
Dec 17, 2020
"There is no spoon." Steve and Christian watched the classic sci film, "The Matrix." The guys discuss what it means to be human, the nature of reality, free will, and taking the "red pill." We're also shining a light on the Saint Haralambos Agape Grocery, which has distributed over 16 tons of groceries to the public since in the last few months. It's one of many outreach programs the parish offers to the wider community. Learn more on the parish website: saintharalambosgoc.org. In our next episo...
Dec 10, 2020
“Dude!” Steve and Christian watched the new film, "Bill and Ted Face the Music." The guys discuss the failures of past generations, ways to empower younger people, and the unity of all people. We're also shining a light on Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry, which serves those who are incarcerated and their families, and provides resources, training and support to their ministry partners so that lives are transformed and God is glorified. Learn more on their website: theocpm.org.
Nov 22, 2020
The girls discuss the classic 80's film, The Breakfast Club. They discuss issues of identity, generational sin, and the community of God's Kingdom.
Nov 19, 2020
