The Plugged In Show

4.8 (124)
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.

3 DAYS AGO

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.

39 min
NOV 14

Episode 260: When Should I Give My Kid a Cell Phone? Plus, Bonhoeffer

With Christmas coming, you may be considering a tech gift for your child…maybe even a cell phone. The Plugged In team shares insights and thoughts on the impact phones have had on younger generations and the best age to put a phone in their hands. Paul Asay then talks with Kennedy Unthank about the new biopic Bonhoeffer. Get your copy of the insightful Plugged In 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: · Bonhoeffer Check out these other resources: · Plugged In Blog: Smartphone Parental Controls · Focus on the Family Episode: Connecting with Your Tech Absorbed Kid · Focus on the Family Episode: Guiding Your Child’s Media Choices · Focus on the Family Episode: Helping Your Teens Put Down Their Screens · Focus on the Family Episode: Cultivating Wise Tech Habits in Your Teen 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.

49 min
NOV 7

Episode 259: The Power and Peril of In-Game Sales, plus, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

You’re enjoying a fun online game, but then you’re hit with having to make a purchase to go any further. The Plugged In team looks at a variety of video games that employ in-game sales. Paul Asay then talks with producer Kevin Downes and director Dallas Jenkins about their new movie The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Get your copy of the outstanding Plugged In 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: · Fortnite · Pokemon Go · Minecraft · The Best Christmas Pageant Ever · Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget 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
OCT 31

Episode 258: Entertainment Decisions and Kids’ Maturity, plus Chappell Roan

As your kids move into adolescence, you need to decide how much freedom you give them when it comes to entertainment and media. The Plugged In team offers some thoughts, sharing ways they succeeded and things they wish they could do differently. Adam Holz then talks with Paul Asay about the wildly popular recording artist Chapell Roan. Get your copy of the fantastic 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: · Cocaine Bear · Chappell Roan: Good Luck Babe 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.

44 min
OCT 24

Episode 257: Unexpected Scares in Family Movies, plus Exhibiting Forgiveness

We may be in the midst of “scary season”, but sometimes scares creep up on us from nowhere. The Plugged In team shares movies and television shows that once freaked them out and offers a few tips on how to navigate those unexpected frights. Paul Asay then talks with Adam Holz about the new movie Exhibiting Forgiveness. Get your copy of the helpful book by the Plugged In team – 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: · Who Framed Roger Rabbit? · Neverending Story · The Wizard of Oz · Land of the Lost · Pee Wee’s Big Adventure · A Dog’s Purpose · Monster House · Exhibiting Forgiveness · Father Stu · Incredibles · Up 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.

48 min
OCT 17

Episode 256: How AI is Changing Adolescence, plus Agatha All Along

Kids have been finding ways to cheat since schools themselves have been a thing. But the rise of artificial intelligence is a game-changer in the classroom. The Plugged In team looks at the rise of artificial intelligence, how kids may be misusing it, and how you can navigate it as a family. Paul Asay then talks with Adam Holz about the new streaming show Agatha All Along. Get your copy of Plugged In’s outstanding 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: · WandaVision · Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness · Agatha All Along 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
OCT 10

Episode 255: The Legend of Lara Croft and the Growing Influence of Gaming in Entertainment

Some video game characters have a special place in our hearts…and on the big screen. The Plugged In team reveals their favorite digital personalities, then explores the new animated show on Netflix Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft. You’ll learn what may be a treasure for your family…and what to steer clear from. Get your copy of Plugged In’s awesome 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: · https://www.pluggedin.com/game-reviews/tomb-raider-2013-game/ · https://www.pluggedin.com/game-reviews/rise-of-the-tomb-raider/ · https://www.pluggedin.com/game-reviews/horizon-zero-dawn/ · https://www.pluggedin.com/game-reviews/batmanarkhamasylum/ · https://www.pluggedin.com/game-reviews/batmanarkhamcity/ · Batman: Arkham Origins · Batman: Arkham Knight · Little Big Planet · Hitman · Monster Summer · Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft · Fallout (TV) · Fallout 3 · Fallout 4 · Silent Hill · Silent Hill: Downpour · Silent Hill Ascension · Mass Effect · Resident Evil 4 · Resident Evil 5 · Tron: Legacy · Free Guy · Pokemon Detective Pikachu 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.

38 min
OCT 3

Episode 254: Beauty and the Bird

Hollywood often reinforces unhealthy beauty ideals and can undermine self-esteem in the process. But a couple recent movies—Uglies and A Different Man—are taking a different twist on the topic. The Plugged In team explores these stories and gives you some points on how to start a solid conversation with your family. Adam Holz then talks with Paul Asay about the new movie White Bird. Get your copy of the Plugged In team’s helpful 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: · Ender’s Game · The Devil Wears Prada · Ready Player One · Uglies · Uglies Book Review · Pretties Book Review · A Different Man · The Substance 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.

57 min

See All (302)

4.8

out of 5

124 Ratings

So in depth—awesome extensive to the web reviews

Oct 13

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!

Oct 2

Plugged In Podcast Lover!

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!
Entertaining & Digging Deeper!

Aug 15

LifelonglearnerFNTP

Listening to this podcast has shown me how much I enjoy sharing media experiences with family! As an older sister to adopted siblings, the insights from Plugged In help me find ways to talk about the things that matter to them. I appreciate how the hosts avoid simple ‘good’ or ‘bad’ labels and instead use movies as a starting point for deeper conversations.
So helpful

Jul 12

GizmoGirl03

Being a busy mom, I don’t always have time to review content that my son is exposed to. This podcast is a very start, funny, and trustworthy source to help we with guiding my son in technology and culture.

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.