

The Plugged In Show
Focus on the Family
Join Focus on the Family's media and culture analysts for lighthearted reviews for parents and conversation about entertainment, pop culture and technology. Through this 30-minute podcast from Focus on the Family, you'll hear practical information from a Biblical worldview to help guide decisions about what to watch, listen and visit. And connect to a ton of related Christian resources and articles.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 21, 2023 • 26min
Episode 200: The Influence of Podcasts and a Plugged In Show Retrospective
It's our 200th episode! To celebrate, the Plugged In team discusses the popularity of podcasts and why they can have such a strong impact on us. We then have a little fun, sharing some of our favorite bloopers and outtakes. Receive the book Parenting Generation Screen for our donation of any amount! Connect with us! www.ThePluggedInShow.com Connect on Facebook Find us on Instagram EMAIL: team@thepluggedinshow.com PHONE: 800-A-FAMILY (800-262-3459) Read the Full Review: Critical Role Only Murders in the Building Additional Resources: Plugged In’s Podcast Archives How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for Your Family Explore the Plugged In Tech Guide We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail. If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback.

Sep 14, 2023 • 43min
Episode 199: Social Media's Role in Cultural Polarization, plus The Bells of St. Mary's.
Social scientists are looking at social media as a potential accelerant for political and social polarization. The Plugged In team looks at a new study on this phenomenon and how social media can actually divide us instead of bring us together. Adam Holz then speaks with Bob Hoose about a beloved classic movie, The Bells of St. Mary’s. Connect with us! www.ThePluggedInShow.com Connect on Facebook Find us on Instagram EMAIL: team@thepluggedinshow.com PHONE: 800-A-FAMILY (800-262-3459) Read the Full Review: Bells of St. Mary’s Additional Resources: Plugged In’s Social Media Archives Plugged In Blog Post: These Five Books Tell Us About the Power and Perils of Technology How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for Your Family Explore the Plugged In Tech Guide We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail. If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback.

Sep 7, 2023 • 41min
Episode 198: Baldur’s Gate 3 and Olivia Rodrigo’s “Bad Idea, Right?”
If you have gamers in the house, you may have heard them talking about the new fantasy role playing video game, Baldur’s Gate 3. The Plugged In team examines this game and reveals all you need to know before your family decides to play it. Adam Holz then talks with Kristin Smith about Olivia Rodrigo's newest release, "Bad Idea, Right?" and her evolution from Disney Channel star to reckless, vulgar recording artist. Connect with us! www.ThePluggedInShow.com Connect on Facebook Find us on Instagram EMAIL: team@thepluggedinshow.com PHONE: 800-A-FAMILY (800-262-3459) Read the full review: · Mass Effect · Baldur’s Gate 3 · Olivia Rodrigo’s Bad Idea, Right? · Super Mario Bros Movie · Silent Hill · Tetris Listen to The Plugged In Show Episode 175 about Dungeons and Dragons How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for Your Family Explore the Plugged In Tech Guide We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail. If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback.

Aug 31, 2023 • 46min
Episode 197: Surface Messages and Deeper Meaning, plus Plugged In Talks to Actress Leigh-Allyn Baker
When we engage with entertainment—movies, TV, music—there may be deeper, not-so-obvious messages. The Plugged In team looks at the critical distinction between surface-level content and subtext. Emily Tsiao then speaks with actress Leigh-Allyn Baker about faith and her latest movie Into the Spotlight. Connect with us! www.ThePluggedInShow.com Connect on Facebook Find us on Instagram EMAIL: team@thepluggedinshow.com PHONE: 800-A-FAMILY (800-262-3459) Read the full review: · Barbie · Talk to Me · Spiderman 2 · The Perfect Storm · His Only Son 2023 · Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring · Show Dogs · Good Luck Charlie · Into the Spotlight · Game of Thrones How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for your family Explore the Plugged In Tech Guide We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail. If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback.

Aug 24, 2023 • 47min
Episode 196: How Pop Culture, Entertainment, and Technology Are Shaping Girls Growing Up Today, plus
Between magazines, popular entertainment, and social media, girls today receive a mixed bag of cultural messages on body image, behavioral expectations, and their place in the world. The Plugged In team examines those messages and offers steps for parents to speak truth into their daughters’ lives. Adam Holz then speaks with Bob Hoose about the newest fantasy video game Final Fantasy XVI. Receive the book Parenting Generation Screen for your donation of any amount! Connect with us! www.ThePluggedInShow.com Connect on Facebook Find us on Instagram EMAIL: team@thepluggedinshow.com PHONE: 800-A-FAMILY (800-262-3459) Read the full review: · Game of Thrones · The Witcher · Legally Blonde · Star Wars: The Force Awakens · Final Fantasy XVI Focus on the Family Counseling Services and Referrals Find Out More about Brio Magazine for Teen Girls How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for Your Family Explore the Plugged In Tech Guide We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail. If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback.

Aug 17, 2023 • 33min
Episode 195: A Look at This Year's Christian Movies, plus Transformers: Earthspark
This year, we’ve seen two faith-based films outperform some Hollywood heavyweights. The Plugged In team examines Jesus Revolution and Sound of Freedom and why they have been so popular with movie-going audiences. Paul Asay then speaks with Kristin Smith about the new Paramount+ animated series, Transformers: Earthspark. Connect with us! www.ThePluggedInShow.com Connect on Facebook Find us on Instagram EMAIL: team@thepluggedinshow.com PHONE: 800-A-FAMILY (800-262-3459) Read the full review: · Jesus Revolution · Sound of Freedom · God’s Not Dead · Fireproof · Noah · Exodus: Gods and Kings · Passion of the Christ · The Chosen · Nefarious · The Mission · Silence · The Exorcism of Emily Rose · Transformers: Earthspark How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for Your Family Plugged In Blog: What Makes a Christian Movie Christian? Explore the Plugged In Tech Guide We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voice note. If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback.

Aug 10, 2023 • 40min
Episode 194: We Need to Talk About Taylor Swift. Plus, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Taylor Swift’s Eras tour just wrapped up its North American run. The Plugged In team talks about her influence and how you can help our kids navigate her version of the world. Adam Holz then speaks with Kennedy Unthank about the new movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Connect with us! www.ThePluggedInShow.com Connect on Facebook Find us on Instagram EMAIL: team@thepluggedinshow.com PHONE: 800-A-FAMILY (800-262-3459) Read the full review: · Taylor Swift · Midnights 3am Edition · Speak Now · Speak Now Taylor’s Version · Lover · Evermore · Fearless · Fearless Taylor’s Version · Folklore · 1989 · Reputation · Red · Reputation Stadium Tour · Miss Americana · Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem · Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for Your Family Explore the Plugged In Tech Guide We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voice note. If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback.

Aug 3, 2023 • 40min
Episode 193: A Conversation with The Hiding Place's Producer Pete Peterson, plus the Movie Theatre Camp
Although many film remakes seem unnecessary, some stories deserve to be told more than once. Paul Asay chats with Pete Peterson, the producer of a new version of Corrie Ten Boom's powerful story, The Hiding Place. The Plugged In team then looks at the new movie Theatre Camp. Connect with us! www.ThePluggedInShow.com Connect on Facebook Find us on Instagram EMAIL: team@thepluggedinshow.com PHONE: 800-A-FAMILY (800-262-3459) Find out more about The Hiding Place Read the full review: · The Hiding Place · Theater Camp · Les Miserables · Phantom of the Opera · The Greatest Showman · Annie · Glee · Into the Woods · Mary Poppins Returns · Mamma Mia · Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for Your Family Explore the Plugged In Tech Guide We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voice note. If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback.

Jul 27, 2023 • 41min
Episode 192: A Look at the Summer Blockbuster Movies—Haunted Mansion, Barbie, and Oppenheimer
The big summer blockbusters are rolling out, and your family is ready to trot off to the cinema! The Plugged In team examines the new movies Haunted Mansion, Barbie, and Oppenheimer and equips you with all you need to know about the content and related concerns. Connect with us! www.ThePluggedInShow.com Connect on Facebook Find on Instagram EMAIL: team@thepluggedinshow.com PHONE: 800-A-FAMILY (800-262-3459) Read the full review: · Sound of Freedom · Haunted Mansion · Barbie · Oppenheimer · Inception · Manifest · Dunkirk · The Prestige · The Dark Knight · Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices For Your Family Explore the Plugged In Tech Guide We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voice note. If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback.

Jul 20, 2023 • 43min
Episode 191: The Promise and Peril of Nerd Culture, plus Olivia Rodrigo's Vampire
With large scale fantasy and superhero movies, epic video games, and popular nostalgic streaming shows, nerd culture is hot. The Plugged In team explores this phenomenon, what it means, and why we become so captivated with all things nerdy. Adam Holz then speaks with Kristin Smith about Olivia Rodrigo’s latest song Vampire. Receive the book Drowning in Screen Time for your donation of any amount! Connect with us! www.ThePluggedInShow.com Connect on Facebook Find us on Instagram EMAIL: team@thepluggedinshow.com PHONE: 800-A-FAMILY (800-262-3459) Read the full review: · Big Bang Theory · The Witcher · Stranger Things · Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring · Glee · Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves · The Breakfast Club · Olivia Rodrigo: Vampire How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for Your Family Explore the Plugged In Tech Guide We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail. If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback.


