I migliori Pop Culture On The Apricot Tree podcast (2024)

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Ep 44 - Accidentally Religious? Latter-day Saints Unravel Heretic 56:12

5d ago56:12

56:12

Three Latter-day Saints share their thoughts about Heretic, a 2024 horror film about two sister missionaries and their terrifying encounter with a psychopath. Jasmin Rappleye of Scripture Central joins us to unpack whether the film is anti-religious or strangely pro-faith, as well as the accuracies and inaccuracies of its Mormon characters. Show No…

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Ep 46 - Star Wars Folklore: Crossover with Angels and Seerstones 12:40

16d ago12:40

12:40

Today's episode is a crossover with the folklore podcast Angels and Seerstones to discuss legends of Spencer W. Kimball having inspired Yoda and the general relationship between Star Wars and Mormons. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check out more of their podcast! Show Notes: https://www.popcultureapricottree.com//post/starwarsfolklore --- S…

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Ep 45 - Inside Out 2: Anxiety and Agency 53:26

2M ago53:26

53:26

Join us as we dive into Pixar's Inside Out 2, discussing the new emotions, Riley's evolving sense of self, and how the movie aligns with and challenges LDS perspectives on agency and personal growth. Guests CD Cunningham and Lauren Cassidy help us analyze this summer's hit family movie. Show Notes: https://www.popcultureapricottree.com/post/insideo…

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Ep 44 - Short: 2001: A Space Odyssey 20:25

3M ago20:25

20:25

This movie is one of Carl's favorites, but Liz had never seen it. Join us for our first in-person recording as we dive deep into the iconic film 2001: A Space Odyssey, exploring its themes and symbolism through the perspective of Latter-day Saint theology and appreciating its impact on sci-fi storytelling. View the Show Notes --- Support this podca…

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Ep 43 - Dune: The Use and Abuse of Religion 58:00

7M ago58:00

58:00

The prophesied Dune episode has arrived! Along for the ride across the sands of Arrakis are Ivan Wolfe and Michael Haycock. Our intrepid panel dissects the film's themes—from the perils of messiah complexes and the seductive power of politics to the manipulation mastery of the Bene Gesserit and the very nature of prophecy itself. We also look at ho…

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Ep 42 - Short: The Most Reluctant Convert 21:26

8M ago21:26

21:26

After two seasons of being snuck into almost every episode, CS Lewis finally takes center stage as we discuss the 2021 film The Most Reluctant Convert. Find out what we enjoyed about Lewis's conversion story and how his arguments connect to a Latter-day Saint worldview. View the Show Notes Audio mastering by Liz Busby Associate Links: Links to prod…

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Ep 41 - Pride and Prejudice: Agency Under Constraints 58:58

8M ago58:58

58:58

Do Latter-day Saints have a particular affinity for Pride and Prejudice? Maybe so, maybe not, but we're on the case to find out! Guest Katherine Cowley, author of The Secret Life of Miss Mary Bennet, joins us in discussing various imaginative adaptations of Pride and Prejudice. From Pakistan to spy dramas to crossovers with Mormon culture, explore …

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Ep 40 - Short: Self 16:19

9M ago16:19

16:19

We delve into the Pixar SparkShort "Self," exploring themes of self-acceptance and identity through a wooden doll's journey in a world of metallic dolls. Discover how this thought-provoking short might be reinterpreted to challenge notions of expressive individualism, as well as insights into deeper meaning of self-discovery and acceptance. Show No…

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Ep 39 - Indiana Jones, Lapsed Latter-day Saint? 1:00:26

10M ago1:00:26

1:00:26

Grab your hats and archeology tools; it's time to go on an adventure! Guests Matt Bowman and Megan Harris help us unpack the intriguing LDS undertones in the Indiana Jones saga, discuss the clash of science and theology within the series, and evaluate the symbolism behind the famous relics. Don't miss out on these captivating insights – it may perm…

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Ep 38 - Short: The Mission 19:31

10M ago19:31

19:31

Our first shorter-form episode explores a documentary about missionary work in the evangelical world, The Mission, available on Disney+. What ethical considerations do we need to make when doing missionary work across cultural lines? Show Notes: https://www.popcultureapricottree.com/post/themission --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spoti…

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Ep 37 - Nightmare Before Christmas: Holiday Ecumenism 1:01:01

12M ago1:01:01

1:01:01

Dive into the realm where spiritual introspection meets lighthearted animation. Join Liz Busby, Carl Cranney, and our guest Christian Swenson as we decode the deep religious symbolism in The Nightmare Before Christmas. This isn't just about Jack Skellington's shenanigans--we're unearthing the profound spiritual lessons wrapped in this Halloween-Chr…

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Ep 36 - AI in the Movies 1:13:00

1y ago1:13:00

1:13:00

Ever wonder how AI is shaping the world around us? Join us on our latest episode as we delve into the societal and ethical implications of AI with guests Nathaniel Givens and Jeffrey Thayne. We discuss the representation of AI in popular culture, how it has evolved over time, the potential dangers of AI, and the importance of human discernment and …

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Ep 35 - Mrs. Harris: A Love Your Neighbor Film 53:51

1y ago53:51

53:51

Who knew that high fashion could teach us how to treat each other? Kjerste Christensen joins us to chat about the charming movie Mrs Harris Goes to Paris. We discuss the lack of a traditional happy ending, the final judgement, French philosophy, and the quiet impact of those who daily do their duty. Apologies about the video and audio difficulties …

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Ep 34 - Strange New Worlds s2: Moral Storytelling and Strange New Gimmicks 1:05:22

1y ago1:05:22

1:05:22

Jeffrey Thayne and Mike Barnhill join our intrepid crew for this episode. Our continuing mission? To dissect the moral universe of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and ask again why Mormons love Star Trek so much. Klingon boy bands, war criminals, time travel, and more! Show Notes: https://www.popcultureapricottree.com/post/strangenewworldss2 Video ed…

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Ep 33 - Barbie: Neither Matriarchy or Patriarchy is Sufficient 1:13:25

1y ago1:13:25

1:13:25

Hi Barbie! It's time for our discussion of all things pink and all things ... Ken? Meagan Kohler and Suzanne Tanner join us to talk about feminism and the feminine, matriarchy and patriarchy, and individualism versus relationships. Show Notes: https://www.popcultureapricottree.com/post/barbie Video editing by Liz Busby; Audio mastering by Carl Cran…

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Ep 32 - Oppenheimer: Seeking Between Black and White 1:06:37

1+ y ago1:06:37

1:06:37

Who would have thought a biopic adaptation of a 1000-page tome would become a summer blockbuster? Author Daniela A. Mera and returning guest Conor Hilton join us for a discussion of Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer. How did we as Latter-day Saints wrestle with the film's ambiguous messages about the development of the atomic bomb as well as the port…

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Announcement: Season 2 Fall Preview 11:48

1+ y ago11:48

11:48

We're back from our summer break. Here's what we've been watching this summer and what we're planning to talk about in the second half of this season. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/popcultureapricottree/support

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Ep 31 - Les Misérables: The Triumph of Mercy Over Vocal Trauma 1:08:29

1+ y ago1:08:29

1:08:29

Can the message of a work triumph over poor artistic execution and a lack of understanding of genre? Jim Bennett and Joseph Addington join us to discuss this less-than-successful film version of the classic musical, which is itself an adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic work. Jim tells us about the pull this musical has on the Utah theater communit…

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Ep 30 - The Mandalorian S3: Excommunication and Return 1:04:47

1+ y ago1:04:47

1:04:47

Join us as we delve into season three of Disney's The Mandalorian and Din Djarin's quest to be redeemed from his apostacy. Jacob Hess and Jared Esselman join us to discuss the latest and most religious season of the Star Wars spin-off show. We start with the overall unsatisfying religious arc of Star Wars up to this point and how this season turned…

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Ep 29 - Bluey: Realistic Kids, Idealized Parents 1:07:25

1+ y ago1:07:25

1:07:25

Join us as we dive into Bluey, the super popular children's television show from Australia. Bluey superfan Cassandra Hedelius explains why she loves this show's realistic portrayal of the special brand of humor that comes with raising kids. And BYU-Idaho education professor Ben Pacini tells us how he uses the show to teach his students about educat…

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Ep 28 - Mothers in the Media 1:03:06

1+ y ago1:03:06

1:03:06

In this episode, we delve into the many ways mothers are portrayed in the pop culture. Our guests Carol Rice and Tiffany Hales help us explore the complexity and variety of moms in television, from Tami Taylor in Friday Night Lights, juggling motherhood with her career as a principal, to Marge Simpson's tireless commitment to her family's well-bein…

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Ep 27 - Keep Your (Covenant) Oath: Latter-day Saints on D&D Honor Among Thieves 1:14:56

1+ y ago1:14:56

1:14:56

Dungeons and Dragons is a popular hobby among Latter-day Saints, so we rounded up some dungeon masters for this episode. Shannon Oler and Parker Sappington join us to discuss D&D: Honor Among Thieves, the new movie starring Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez. This fantasy adventure comedy has us asking how similar are paladin oaths to temple covenan…

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Ep 26 - Where the Crawdads Sing: Wading Through the Marshes of #metoo 1:00:59

1+ y ago1:00:59

1:00:59

Join us as we get our feet wet in the North Carolina marshes to discuss this adaptation of the popular novel. Guests Jamie Lewis Holt and Shelby Thayne help us discuss how we might use Kya's experiences with Tate and Chase to talk about warning signs of dating violence with our teenagers and young adults. Is Kya justified in seeking justice outside…

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Ep 25 - The Whale: To Live A Celestial Life, Sometimes You Have to Stare Into the Abyss 1:06:23

1+ y ago1:06:23

1:06:23

Can you atone for years of hurt after a major breach of trust by asking forgiveness? And are people inherently awful to each other or are they unable to help caring for each other? We welcome Glen Nelson of the Center for Latter-day Saint Arts and David Sandhu onto the podcast to discuss The Whale, Darren Aronofsky's latest film. Watch Carl's persp…

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Ep 24 - Arrival: In Heaven We Will All Speak Heptapod 56:57

1+ y ago56:57

56:57

Do we understand God as clearly as we think, or do we have to fight through as many difficulties as Louise does when conversing with the heptapods in the film Arrival? Our guests Paul Williams and Michael Davenport have a lot to say about this and other questions. We delve into Louise as a type of Eve and nature of her choice to bring a child into …

1
Ep 23 - Dueling Pinocchios 59:00

2y ago59:00

59:00

Two Pinocchio films, one clear winner? Come compare these two 2022 adaptations of the classic story as we discover that you can buy anything in this world with money except good CGI effects. Our guests Adam Stokes and Rachel Helps get us into some deep discussions about the Mormon doctrine of the resurrection and the materiality of the spirit. And …

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Ep 22 - (Re)Tell Me the Stories of Jesus: Mormon Perspectives on the Chosen 1:13:02

2y ago1:13:02

1:13:02

In this episode, we dive into everyone's favorite show starring Jesus, The Chosen. With guests Dallin Crump and poet Merrijane Rice, we give a Latter-day Saint perspective on the multi-season New Testament adaptation phenomenon. What does Drew Barrymore's Cinderella adaptation Ever After have to do with The Chosen? What scenes were the most moving …

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Ep 21 - Black Mirror: Hated in the Nation #deathtosocialmedia 1:07:05

2y ago1:07:05

1:07:05

Normally hashtags are not lethal, but you can always expect the worst of technology in the dystopian world of Black Mirror. This episode is a crossover with Radical Civility, a podcast run by our friend Ben Pacini, all about having difficult conversations with civility and respect. We use the Black Mirror episode "Hated in the Nation" as a jumping-…

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Announcement: Season 2 Preview 5:14

2y ago5:14

5:14

Just a quick announcement to let you know that season 2 will be starting on January 26th. We'll let you know what we're going to be discussing so you can follow along from home. Show Notes: https://www.popcultureapricottree.com/post/season2preview --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/popcultureapricottree/support…

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Ep 20 - The Rings of Power: The World is Round and It's Your Fault! 1:16:11

2y ago1:16:11

1:16:11

Rounding out our first season is our discussion of Amazon's Rings of Power series. We do some buy-or-sell discussion on the various plotlines that are crammed into this eight-episode, billion-dollar series: Galadriel, the Southlanders, Elrond and Durin, and more. We talk about some of the ways that the series fails to capture the pre-modern worldvi…

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Ep 19 - Why Does Everybody Love A Christmas Carol? 1:01:03

2y ago1:01:03

1:01:03

For our Christmas episode, we discuss the perennial favorite Charles Dickens novella A Christmas Carol, and why it has been made and re-made so many times in TV and film. We discuss the themes of repentance and re-integration, why the story is so Christian and yet barely mentions Christ. Our lively discussion compares and contrasts many incarnation…

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Ep 18 - PCAT Live: Mormonism in the Mistborn Series 42:10

2y ago42:10

42:10

A conversation about Mormonism in Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series, live from Dragonsteel 2022. Our panel digs into the LDS symbolism and theology in the Wax & Wayne series. Crack open your Book of Mormon as we discuss the problem of theodicy when God is someone you know (and might be someday!). We also talk about how agency is more complex than…

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Ep 17 - Howl's Moving Castle: The Heroism of Domesticity in a Weird World at War 55:16

2y ago55:16

55:16

Join us for a discussion about the weirdness that is Hayao Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle with William Morris, author of The Darkest Abyss: Strange Mormon Stories, and Ivan Wolfe, who throws trees for fun. We talk about the contrast between the book and the movie and why this movie's weirdness makes it a great anti-war film. We also talk about the…

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Ep 16 - Midnight Mass: Who Among Us Hasn't Started a Supernatural Cult? 1:08:06

2y ago1:08:06

1:08:06

If you're ready for some spooky watching, Midnight Mass will fit the bill. Join us for our Halloween special as we discuss horror director Mike Flanagan's 7-part miniseries about the small fishing town of Crockett Island and its Catholic priest. We'll cover portrayals of religion in Hollywood, moral choices for vampires, life after death, forgivene…

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Ep 15 - Top Gun Maverick: Fast Planes, Amazing Cameras, and Heroic Masculinity 1:08:33

2y ago1:08:33

1:08:33

Sure, Top Gun Maverick is a near perfect summer blockbuster, but what moral lessons can we draw from it? We talk about the difficulty of forgiveness, the nature of teamwork, and Ben Pacini returns to sell us on heroic masculinity. We also get a glimpse behind the scenes from Brad Wilson of Keslow Camera, who provided the specialized gear to shoot t…

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Ep 14 - Strange New Worlds: Star Trek is Back 1:11:04

2y ago1:11:04

1:11:04

Fire up your warp drive and order some Postum from the replicator! It's time for a super nerdy, super Mormon discussion of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. We talk about the return to episodic storytelling, the theme of sacrifice, and which episode was based on a classic science fiction short story by Ursula LeGuin. Find out which episode disappointe…

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Ep 13 - Mirai: Travels Through a Literal Family Tree 50:22

2y ago50:22

50:22

Join us for a cozy discussion of the delightful Japanese film Mirai. We talk about how this film compares to other depictions of family dynamics and how the film is unique in highlighting a stay-at-home dad (or househusband, if you will). Is this film the best way to motivate yourself to do family history? Listen and find out! Show Notes: http://ww…

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Ep 12 - The Adam Project: Time Travel Families Are Forever 1:02:04

2+ y ago1:02:04

1:02:04

This movie may be so-so as a science fiction property, but we think it's excellent as a film about family relationships, grief, and raising teenagers. This episode has a lot of callouts to other time travel films and tv shows as well as some disagreement about the appropriateness of young Adam's questions for his older self. We also reveal that Liz…

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Ep 11 - Stranger Things 4: Elevated Horror and Perfect Mormon Representation 1:12:59

2+ y ago1:12:59

1:12:59

You might have guessed from the title, but we loved Stranger Things season 4. Not only did we get a nearly perfect representation of the reality of a large LDS family, but the show gave us some things to think about. Not that it was perfect: we talk about how many Latter-day Saints were hesitant to watch with the increased horror level, and the mor…

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Announcement: Summer Break 1:52

2+ y ago1:52

1:52

Carl and I will be taking a summer break for the month of July to spend some time traveling with our families. So we won’t be appearing in your podcast feed for the next few weeks, but we will be back soon! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/popcultureapricottree/support…

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Ep 10 - Hamilton: Church History Needs More Rap Battles 1:03:03

2+ y ago1:03:03

1:03:03

Surprisingly few movies exist about the revolutionary period of American history, but a huge exception is the musical phenomenon known as Hamilton. We discuss the various receptions of the musical, both in the Obama era when it premiered and in 2020 when the Disney+ recording was released. We also look at the significance of the constitutional era …

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Ep 9 - Under the Banner of Heaven: Ex-Mormon Fan Fiction? 1:21:59

2+ y ago1:21:59

1:21:59

We promise that this is more than just an hour of Mormons complaining about the bad representation in Under the Banner of Heaven, though there is a good deal of that. We discuss the problems caused by picking the true crime genre to tell this story and how we would have rewritten the story. (Too bad no one consulted us!) Bad history is debunked and…

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Ep 8 - Films for a Faith Crisis: Using Movies to Talk About Doubt 59:51

2+ y ago59:51

59:51

A faith crisis can be a difficult experience to talk about with your family or friends, especially if they haven't experienced one. Using Chris Wei's essay from Mormonism and the Movies, we use popular movies to describe three approaches to resolving a faith crisis and weigh the positive and negative aspects of each. We're biased, but this may be o…

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Ep 7 - Free Guy: Living in the Simulation 1:00:41

2+ y ago1:00:41

1:00:41

We use the unexpectedly delightful movie Free Guy as a jumping off point to discuss all things video games. How do video games differ from other media and how can we make moral choices in the games we choose to play? We also hit some good points in LDS theology like the idea of life as a test and living in a fallen world. Check out the show notes o…

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Ep 6 - Star Trek: Therapy (Discovery, Season 4) 1:25:36

2+ y ago1:25:36

1:25:36

We discuss the most recent season of Paramount+'s new Star Trek flagship show, Discovery. Though several of us have fond memories of watching Star Trek with our families growing up, this new show doesn't quite reach those same heights. Even if an improvement over the first seasons, the show still struggles with balancing all of its characters and s…

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Ep 5 - Silence: Struggling for Faith, Come Hell or High Water 1:15:18

2+ y ago1:15:18

1:15:18

We dive into Martin Scorsese's 2016 film Silence, an adaptation of the novel by Shusaku Endo. The story explores the story of Jesuit missionaries in Japan which resonates with the LDS mission experience. Joining us is special guest Van Gessel, a retired BYU professor who translated Endo's works into English and was a consultant on the film. We talk…

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Ep 4 - Turning Red: Crouching Tiger Mom, Twerking Panda 55:18

2+ y ago55:18

55:18

Pixar's 2022 coming-of-age film Turning Red has proved controversial, to say the least. It's a step away from the studio's usual all-ages content, but is it appropriate for your LDS family? We examine what the film says about parenting teenagers and how to have a good relationship with kids, along with the movie's questionable attempts to be sex-po…

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Ep 3 - Noah: Interesting Interpretation or Stretching Scripture? 44:21

2+ y ago44:21

44:21

Did rock monsters really help Noah build the ark? How about Methuselah wielding the flaming sword? We discuss the 2014 film Noah, the many extra Biblical sources it draws upon, and whether the movie is a failure of scriptural storytelling or an interesting interpretation that makes us think. (Spoilers: a little bit of both.) Apologies to Ivan, whos…

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Ep. 2 - The Wheel of Time: Taking Fantasy Religion Seriously 1:00:00

3y ago1:00:00

1:00:00

In this episode, we discuss the first season of Amazon's Wheel of Time series, including some narrative missteps in the show, the thread of pacifism versus fighting evil, and how the series treats the religious beliefs of its characters. We also talk about how some LDS viewers may be turned off by the nudity, casual relationships, and homosexuality…

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Ep 1 - Encanto: We Don't Talk About Expressive Individualism 49:14

3y ago49:14

49:14

We open our podcast with an episode on Disney's 2021 family musical, Encanto. And we actually mostly don't talk about Bruno. Listen for our thoughts about the portrayal of families in film, psychology and trauma, and whether this film has too much expressive individualism. Our Ratings: Content: Celestial Artistic Merit: 4 Popcorn Balls Gospel Conne…

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