

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

Jan 23, 2025 • 45min
Episode 270: Let’s Talk About TikTok. Plus, The Chosen’s Elizabeth Tabish
TikTok, the short-form social media platform, has been at the center of plenty of controversy. The Plugged In team talks about the type of content on the platform, the way kids use it, and what you need to know for your family. Paul Asay then speaks with Elizabeth Tabish, the actress who portrays Mary Magdalene in The Chosen about her new movie Between Borders. Get your copy of Parenting Generation Screen by Jonathan McKee today! 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: · The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring · The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers · The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King · Raiders of the Lost Ark · The Wild Robot · The Chosen · Between Borders Check out the Plugged In blog! · The Plugged In Show: Episode 240: The Dark Side of the Influencer World. Plus, a Conversation with Director Andrew Erwin · How Are Screens Affecting Our Sleep? · The Plugged In Show: Episode 253: An Interview With Wild Robot Director Chris Sanders. Plus, Navigating Sad (but Good) Movie The Plugged In Tech Guide Focus on the Family with Jim Daly Episode: How Your Family Can Manage Technology Well Part 1 How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for Your Family Donate Now! 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.

Jan 16, 2025 • 33min
Episode 269: Beast Games, Squid Game and the Games People Play. Does Anyone Care About the Oscars?
A new game show starring YouTube sensation Mr. Beast has hit Amazon Prime. Between that and the second season of the Netflix thriller series Squid Game, game shows—real or not—can get out of hand. The Plugged In team looks at the fascination with game shows and what your family needs to know about these hit streaming shows. They then talk about the upcoming Academy Awards and if it’s still a cultural phenomenon. Get your copy of Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family today! 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: · Beast Games · Squid Game · MrBeast · The Substance · Check out the Plugged In Archives of Oscar-related content! · Plugged In - Oscars The Plugged In Tech Guide Focus on the Family with Jim Daly Episode: How Your Family Can Manage Technology Well Part 1 How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for Your Family Donate Now! 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.

Jan 9, 2025 • 40min
Episode 268: Those Wild, Wild Westerns, plus Screen Fast 2025
Since the days of John Wayne, the western genre has a special place in our hearts. The Plugged In team explores why these stories are so popular and looks at Netflix’s new western series American Primeval. Paul Asay then speaks with Bret Eckelberry about Plugged In’s Screen Fast 2025. 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: · American Primeval · Yellowstone · Hell or High Water · 1883 · Open Range · Magnificent Seven · 3:10 to Yuma · Logan · The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance · Justified Are you Addicted to Technology? Take our quiz to find out! · Technology Addiction Quiz The Plugged In Tech Guide Focus on the Family with Jim Daly Episode: How Your Family Can Manage Technology Well Part 1 How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for Your Family Donate Now! 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.

Jan 2, 2025 • 45min
Episode 267: A Conversation with Mandy Majors, plus Netflix’s Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fow
Kids today have their eyes on their screens, and those screens are full of dangers. How can you protect them? Paul Asay speaks with author and screen expert Mandy Majors and her daughter Ella. They share some ways you can help your child learn healthy tech habits. Paul Asay then speaks with Bret Eckelberry about the new Netflix movie Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. Get your copy of Mady Majors’ book Keeping Kids Safe in a Digital World: A Solution That Works today! 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: · Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl The Plugged In Tech Guide Focus on the Family with Jim Daly Episode: How Your Family Can Manage Technology Well Part 1 How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for Your Family Donate Now! 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.

Dec 26, 2024 • 41min
Episode 266: A Look Back at 2024: The Good, the Bad and the Icky
2024 was a big year in terms of entertainment and pop culture. As the year comes to a close, the Plugged In team looks back at some of the highlights and some of the low points. From YouTube to social media to the big and small screens, you’ll learn what you need to know for your family when it comes to media. 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: · Moonfall · Werewolves · Dafuq!?Boom! (Skibidi Toilet) · Inside Out 2 · Deadpool & Wolverine · Moana 2 · Dune: Part Two · Beauty and the Beast · Lightyear · Despicable Me 4 · Ultraman Rising · Avengers: Endgame Check out the Plugged In Blog: · What is Power Creep in Marvel and Why Does It Matter? The Plugged In Tech Guide Focus on the Family with Jim Daly Episode: How Your Family Can Manage Technology Well Part 1 How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for Your Family Donate Now! 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.

Dec 19, 2024 • 42min
Episode 265: What Makes a Christmas Movie Good? Plus, Mufasa: The Lion King
With so many Christmas movies out there, are there certain ingredients that make up a great one? And what makes a Christmas movie go bad? The Plugged In team reflects on some recent Christmas movies as well as some of their favorites. Paul Asay then speaks with Emily Tsiao about the new Disney movie Mufasa: The Lion King. Get your copy of Plugged In’s great book Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family today! 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: · The Best Christmas Pageant Ever · Dear Santa · Bad Santa · Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause · Violent Night · Elf · A Christmas Story · Spirited · It’s a Wonderful Life · Home Alone · Bells of St. Mary’s · The Nativity Story · Dr. Seuss: How the Grinch Stole Christmas · Mufasa: The Lion King · The Lion King · The Lion King (2019) · The Lion King 1 1/2 · The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride Check out the Plugged In Blog: · The Lion King Takes the Throne · What’s the Real King in the Lion King? Technology The Plugged In Tech Guide Focus on the Family with Jim Daly Episode: How Your Family Can Manage Technology Well Part 1 How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for Your Family Donate Now! 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.

Dec 12, 2024 • 43min
Episode 264: Is Social Media Ruining Our Kids? Plus, Netflix’s ‘Mary’
Teens today have never known a world without social media—and that’s affecting kids in many different ways. The Plugged In team discusses the impact of social media and the new Hulu docu-series Social Studies. Paul Asay then speaks with Emily Tsiao about the new Netflix movie Mary. Get your copy of the great Plugged In book Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family! 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: · Cars 2 · Batman and Robin · Up · Star Wars: The Last Jedi · Social Studies · Euphoria · The Best Christmas Pageant Ever · Mary The Plugged In Tech Guide Focus on the Family with Jim Daly Episode: How Your Family Can Manage Technology Well Part 1 How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for Your Family Donate Now! 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.

Dec 5, 2024 • 48min
Episode 263: All I Want For Christmas Is What TikTok Tells Me: Plus, Kevin Sorbo
It’s gift-giving season! What do you buy for your family, friends, and teens? TikTok wants to tell you. The Plugged In team examines the influence TikTok has on teens as consumers. Adam Holz then speaks with Hercules actor Kevin Sorbo. Get your copy of Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family today! 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 more: · Do AI Music Generators Hurt Kids’ Creativity? · The Rise and Danger of the AI Relationship · AI is Terrible at Translating: Why Christians Should Care · The Plugged In Show Episode 256: How AI is Changing Adolescence. Plus, ‘Agatha All Along’ · A Conversation with Kevin Sorbo The Plugged In Tech Guide Focus on the Family with Jim Daly Episode: How Your Family Can Manage Technology Well Part 1 How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for Your Family Donate Now! 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.

Nov 28, 2024 • 41min
Episode 262: Creating with AI: A Parents' Primer. Plus, Moana 2
Artificial intelligence gets a bad rap, but it can also help us create in ways we never thought possible. The Plugged In team looks at ways we can create using AI and things we may want to steer clear of. Paul Asay then talks with Emily Tsiao about the new Disney movie sequel Moana 2. Get your copy of Plugged In’s fantastic book Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family today! 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: · Moana 2 Read more: · Do AI Music Generators Hurt Kids’ Creativity? · The Rise and Danger of the AI Relationship · AI is Terrible at Translating: Why Christians Should Care · The Plugged In Show Episode 256: How AI is Changing Adolescence. Plus, ‘Agatha All Along’ The Plugged In Tech Guide Focus on the Family with Jim Daly Episode: How Your Family Can Manage Technology Well Part 1 How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for Your Family Tetrazzini Recipe Donate Now! 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.

Nov 21, 2024 • 39min
Episode 261: Wicked and the World of Musicals. Plus, Plugged In’s New Tech Guide!
This week, the Broadway musical Wicked flies from the stage to the screen. The Plugged In team talks about the Wicked phenomenon as well as other movie musicals and the power of music woven into a story. Paul Asay then talks with Bret Eckelberry about the team’s new tech guide. Get your copy of Plugged In’s great book Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family today! 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: · Mean Girls · Joker: Folie a Deux · Transformers One · Wicked More Episodes on Musicals: · The Plugged In Show Episode 40: Hamilton’s Cultural Encore · The Plugged In Show Episode 98: Dear Evan Hansen and the Musical Renaissance Check out the new Plugged In Tech Guide: · Focus on the Family: Plugged In Tech Guide PDF Focus on the Family with Jim Daly Episode: How Your Family Can Manage Technology Well Part 1 How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for Your Family Donate Now! 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.


