The Plugged In Show

4.8 (126)
TV & FILM
UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

6 DAYS AGO

Episode 271: The Oscar Nominations and Green and Gold

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have released their award nominations for 2025. As we look toward Oscar time, the Plugged In team discusses the nominees and how they fare in family-friendliness. Adam Holz then talks with Bret Eckelberry about the new Christian-adjacent movie Green and Gold. 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: · Anora · The Brutalist · A Complete Unknown · Conclave · Dune: Part Two · Emilia Pérez · I’m Still Here · Nickel Boys · The Substance · Wicked: Part 1 · Green and Gold Check out the Plugged In blog! · The Plugged In Movie Awards 2025 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.

52 min
JAN 23

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.

45 min
JAN 16

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.

33 min
JAN 9

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.

40 min
JAN 2

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.

45 min
12/26/2024

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.

41 min
12/19/2024

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.

42 min
12/12/2024

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.

43 min

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4.8

out of 5

126 Ratings

Fun!

Jan 24

Logan Hargrove

Love it! It’s fun to listen to(especially the game at the end of every episode) the plugged in team are funny heart warming and give great reviews on movies not just for overall goodness but also for problems that you might be surprised by. When I listened to there review about the movie lightyear I was surprised that inclusive world views and relationships were a big part of that. So I highly recommend thier show, bonus, it’s by focus on the family who are creators of odyssey. So keep putting the good stuff guys.
New movie podcast

Jan 22

sam gels

This podcast is really good i like it I listen to any single episode
So in depth—awesome extensive to the web reviews

10/13/2024

Anna S.L.

Grew up reading the online Plugged In reviews and respected their thoroughness and balance. Thought I’d try the podcast and started with Ep 249. This show is completely beyond—these guys really dive into the reeds with their reviews and show great care for God’s truth and the medium of film. I would definitely not watch a movie without listening to their review first. Thanks for the hard work and trustworthy insight.
WOW LOVE THIS PODCAST!

10/02/2024

Ashtyn Kelly

Me, i’m homeschooled, but i love movies and for the longest time i wondered about how i should go about watching movies with content issues, especially spiritual issues, and this really clarifies EVERYTHING I NEED TO KNOW! You also talk about worldview issues and different artists and songs which also helps!! I would love to be mentioned in an episode!

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.