Pop Culture Pastors Hour Podcast

PCPH - The Sheep Detectives

No pulling the wool over your eyes as we ask the important question… “Will it preach?” about the recent film, The Sheep Detectives. We shear-ly had some great conversation about this fun film and there were only a few baaaaa-d puns throughout the episode. We cover a lot of areas from the film but mostly we spend time with the flock. As always, you can find past episodes here on Substack or on Apple or Spotify. Conveniently, MaryAnn brought The Sheep Detectives into her sermon from June 7. You can listen to the message here: A behind-the-scenes video was mentioned in our conversation and you can check that out here: Our next scheduled episode is on Thursday, June 25 as we are joined once again by Marlon Weems as we talk America250 films. There may be one or two more that show up between now and then. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pcph.substack.com [https://pcph.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

PCPH - AI

Ok - full disclosure… the “movie” poster on the cover image for this episode was created by Anthropic’s Claude AI. I gave it a prompt describing the three of us and the name of the podcast and this is what it came up with. I have much that could be said but I am really not sure what’s happening with MaryAnn in this and how it seems to have tried to represent her hair. Phuc also commented on the “Electronic halo looking like a Bene Gesserit reverend mother” that MaryAnn is rocking. I also think the circles are supposed to be headphones? The full image is at the end for your mocking pleasure. Anyway, I think its a fitting example of some of what we discussed throughout this great conversation that might be part 1 of at least 2 episodes since we barely touched base on much pop-culture-wise. This is our second time (and definitely not the last) having Phuc join us in the conversation. You can find his work at Love and Other Substances [https://phucluuphd.substack.com] and also several books he’s written. We did reference several things in the episode: * The Presbyterian Church (USA) is discussing a response to AI at its national gathering (aka General Assembly) later this month. Here’s their proposal being discussed. The Algorithm and the Almighty: Navigating Artificial Intelligence Through a Reformed Lens [https://www.luminosityconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Corey-Schlosser-Hall-2026-GA-ACSWP-AI_AND_FAITH_POLICY_FINAL.pdf] * Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical that was released in recent weeks entitled Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence [https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html]. * Below is a great infographic created about it * And here’s an “interesting” commentary [https://open.substack.com/pub/linch/p/claude-author-of-the-humanitas?r=b8sra&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web] wondering how much of the encyclical was AI generated. * NY Times Podcast - Can AI Make People Feel Less Lonely? [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/28/podcasts/the-daily/ai-robot-elderly-loneliness.html] Our next episode will be Monday, June 8 at 1pm ET as we’ll be doing a “Will It Preach?” on the recent film, The Sheep Detectives. And we also have another episode scheduled with Marlon Weems at 2:30pm ET on movies connected with America250. More on that to come! Thanks for joining us! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pcph.substack.com [https://pcph.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

PCPH - Running / Sports Movies

That was one fast paced conversation! We laced our shoes up, stretched a bit, and then ran our own 10K through a whole slew of sports and running movies. A special thank you to Terrell Johnson [https://substack.com/profile/117071-terrell-johnson] of The Half Marathoner [https://www.thehalfmarathoner.com] for joining us yesterday! I think we set a few PRs along the way! Here are the films/shows/books that we taked about: * Unbroken (book [https://bookshop.org/p/books/unbroken-a-world-war-ii-story-of-survival-resilience-and-redemption-laura-hillenbrand/ee7d63a7d7a05781?ean=9780812974492&next=t] | movie [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1809398/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_unbroken]) * Seabiscuit (book [https://bookshop.org/p/books/seabiscuit-an-american-legend-laura-hillenbrand/d2166bbfe5524fd8?ean=9780449005613&next=t] | movie [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0329575/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_4_nm_4_in_0_q_seabis]) * Moneyball (book [https://bookshop.org/p/books/moneyball-the-art-of-winning-an-unfair-game-michael-lewis/0f7fca386b1db46a?ean=9780393324815&next=t] | movie [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210166/?ref_=fn_t_1]) * Invictus (book [https://bookshop.org/p/books/playing-the-enemy-nelson-mandela-and-the-game-that-made-a-nation-john-carlin/175d4c66709e5229?ean=9780143115724&next=t] | movie [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1057500/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_invictus]) * Running with Raven [https://bookshop.org/p/books/running-with-raven-the-amazing-story-of-one-man-his-passion-and-the-community-he-inspired-laura-lee-huttenbach/90e37019493e8c53?ean=9780806538440&digital=t] * A League of their Own [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104694/?ref_=fn_t_1] * 42 [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0453562/?ref_=fn_t_1] * Friday Night Lights (book [https://bookshop.org/p/books/friday-night-lights-25th-anniversary-edition-a-town-a-team-and-a-dream-h-g-bissinger/1726e6a3cf6f088d?ean=9780306824203&next=t] | movie [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390022/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_friday%20night%20lights] | TV show [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758745/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_5_nm_3_in_0_q_friday%20night]) * McFarland USA [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2097298/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_7_in_0_q_mcfarland] * Free Solo [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7775622/?ref_=fn_t_1] And there’s so many more out there! We also share a few running tidbits and our go-to running songs Our upcoming ones are not yet scheduled but we have plans for one on AI films (especially in light of Pope Leo’s newest encyclical) and another on America250 related films. Watch for those dates to be scheduled. As always, you can find the audio podcast of our conversations on Apple or Spotify! Thanks for running with us! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pcph.substack.com [https://pcph.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

PCPH - Shrinking

We have loved the AppleTV show Shrinking [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15677150/?ref_=fn_t_1] since it first premiered three seasons ago and w’re finally talking about this comedy-drama centering (mostly) on a group of therapists (and their associated circles of family and friends). The show deals with grief, loss, community, healing, and so much more. And it has a stacked cast with people like Jessica Williams, Harrison Ford, Christa Miller, and Jason Segel. We were joined by Dr. Amber Groomes who writes here on Substack at Dr. Amber_Writes [https://agroomes.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips] . Dr. Groomes is a licensed therapist in Maryland and brought some tremendous perspective to our conversation! Our next PCPH is yet to be scheduled as the rest of May gets really crazy for family and church life stuff for both of us. But, as King George said… we’ll be back… Thanks for joining in! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pcph.substack.com [https://pcph.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

PCPH - Ted Lasso Season 4 Teaser Reax

Just a quick conversation with the excitement of the 4th season of Ted Lasso coming out later this summer! So just our quick histories with the Richmond crew, what the original meant to us, what are hopes are for S4, and also some of the things we noticed in the teaser. And a quick reminder that our next “full” episode is this coming Wednesday (5/6) at 12:30pm ET as we talk with Amber Groomes,Ph.D. (she/her) [https://substack.com/profile/182608980-amber-groomesphd-sheher] about the AppleTV show, Shrinking. Dr Groomes (Amber) writes here on substack and is a licensed therapist and counselor and will help us navigate this really unique and wonderful show. Here’s a few links from our conversation today… The Ted Lasso Season 4 Teaser The song that plays during the trailer is Rubber Band Man by Mumford and Sons and Hozier… And of course… May the Fourth Be With You! See you Wednesday! MaryAnn and Ed This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pcph.substack.com [https://pcph.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]