The average movie length people say they want is now 88 minutes — which makes the upcoming Odyssey at 172 minutes a particularly interesting bet. Adam Holtz from Plugged In joins Brian From to break down what's happening in summer movies. First, live action Moana: a beat-for-beat remake of the original that is neither stunningly good nor stunningly bad, but probably exists because the animated film is the most streamed movie across all platforms over the last five years — 80 billion minutes of viewing. Then the bigger story: The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan's blockbuster epic, is already a flashpoint before it even opens. The latest trailer has been ratioed online with ten times as many dislikes as likes, driven largely by casting choices that have race-swapped and gender-swapped major characters including Helen of Troy and Achilles. Meanwhile mainstream media reviews from early screenings are effusive. The gap between those two reactions tells a story about who controls the narrative — and whether it's representative of the actual audience. Adam and Brian also reflect on the broader pattern: franchises and sequels keep bombing while low-budget originals like Backrooms clean up. Maybe audiences are simply exhausted by retreads. Full reviews at pluggedin.com.

The average movie length people say they want is now 88 minutes &mdash; which makes the upcoming Odyssey at 172 minutes a particularly interesting bet. Adam Holtz from Plugged In joins Brian From to break down what's happening in summer movies. First, live action Moana: a beat-for-beat remake of the original that is neither stunningly good nor stunningly bad, but probably exists because the animated film is the most streamed movie across all platforms over the last five years &mdash; 80 billion minutes of viewing. Then the bigger story: The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan's blockbuster epic, is already a flashpoint before it even opens. The latest trailer has been ratioed online with ten times as many dislikes as likes, driven largely by casting choices that have race-swapped and gender-swapped major characters including Helen of Troy and Achilles. Meanwhile mainstream media reviews from early screenings are effusive. The gap between those two reactions tells a story about who controls the narrative &mdash; and whether it's representative of the actual audience. Adam and Brian also reflect on the broader pattern: franchises and sequels keep bombing while low-budget originals like Backrooms clean up. Maybe audiences are simply exhausted by retreads. Full reviews at pluggedin.com.

The idea of “the common good” has a rich history within the Christian church. It’s the notion that, as we pursue Jesus in our lives and in the lives of others, we are fulfilling God’s purposes for His creation. This pursuit can be messy. It means rolling up our sleeves and creating space for hard conversations about real issues that impact our lives. Things like parenting, marriage, finances, politics, art, and culture. On The Common Good, Brian From creates space to have these conversations, to sit with the big questions that we all have, to sometimes disagree, but to always look for the chance to create common good, by following after Jesus. Brian welcome listeners to join them in these conversations, to bring their own questions, hopes, and struggles, and to ultimately share in a journey to see God’s design for all of us fulfilled.

The idea of &ldquo;the common good&rdquo; has a rich history within the Christian church. It&rsquo;s the notion that, as we pursue Jesus in our lives and in the lives of others, we are fulfilling God&rsquo;s purposes for His creation. This pursuit can be messy. It means rolling up our sleeves and creating space for hard conversations about real issues that impact our lives. Things like parenting, marriage, finances, politics, art, and culture. On The Common Good, Brian From creates space to have these conversations, to sit with the big questions that we all have, to sometimes disagree, but to always look for the chance to create common good, by following after Jesus. Brian welcome listeners to join them in these conversations, to bring their own questions, hopes, and struggles, and to ultimately share in a journey to see God&rsquo;s design for all of us fulfilled.

The Common Good Podcast

The Common Good

Live Action Moana & the Odyssey Controversy with Adam Holtz of Plugged In

On the eve of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Brian reflects on that day's lasting impact and shares the inspiring story of Wells Crowther, "the man in the red bandana," who saved up to 18 lives in the South Tower before losing his own. On the one-year anniversary of Charlie Kirk's assassination, Brian laments how quickly the killing of a young husband and father became politicized and memed rather than mourned as an act of senseless violence. He raises alarm over recent comments from a former Anthropic employee warning AI could threaten humanity within a decade, and calls for greater regulatory attention. Brian digs into a Gospel Coalition piece calling American Christians to reclaim the term "evangelical" from its political connotations and reconnect with the global evangelical movement, shares Paul Washer's reflection after a near-fatal heart attack on regretting not loving more rather than not working more, and discusses new Lifeway research showing church attendance growth concentrated in larger churches at the expense of shrinking smaller ones — a shift researchers attribute more to transfer growth than new conversions. He closes with a story about R.C. Sproul's humble response when pressed to say Billy Graham wouldn't be in heaven, modeling grace across theological disagreement.

On the eve of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Brian reflects on that day's lasting impact and shares the inspiring story of Wells Crowther, "the man in the red bandana," who saved up to 18 lives in the South Tower before losing his own. On the one-year anniversary of Charlie Kirk's assassination, Brian laments how quickly the killing of a young husband and father became politicized and memed rather than mourned as an act of senseless violence. He raises alarm over recent comments from a former Anthropic employee warning AI could threaten humanity within a decade, and calls for greater regulatory attention. Brian digs into a Gospel Coalition piece calling American Christians to reclaim the term "evangelical" from its political connotations and reconnect with the global evangelical movement, shares Paul Washer's reflection after a near-fatal heart attack on regretting not loving more rather than not working more, and discusses new Lifeway research showing church attendance growth concentrated in larger churches at the expense of shrinking smaller ones &mdash; a shift researchers attribute more to transfer growth than new conversions. He closes with a story about R.C. Sproul's humble response when pressed to say Billy Graham wouldn't be in heaven, modeling grace across theological disagreement.

25 Years After 9/11, and the Danger of Trivializing Violence

Brian partners with Daniel Patino of Food for the Poor to raise awareness and support for families devastated by recent earthquakes in Colombia. Daniel, who is Colombian himself, describes the scale of the disaster — families living in tents beside piles of rubble, losing homes and belongings in seconds — and explains how Food for the Poor's decade-long local partnerships allow them to deliver food, hygiene supplies, and clean water directly to the hardest-hit communities even after the story has faded from the news cycle. He shares that a $30 gift provides a family with a week of urgent food, $75 covers hygiene kits for five families, and $120 feeds four families for a week, and makes a personal appeal for listeners to respond with compassion to a crisis still unfolding weeks after the earthquakes struck.

Brian partners with Daniel Patino of Food for the Poor to raise awareness and support for families devastated by recent earthquakes in Colombia. Daniel, who is Colombian himself, describes the scale of the disaster &mdash; families living in tents beside piles of rubble, losing homes and belongings in seconds &mdash; and explains how Food for the Poor's decade-long local partnerships allow them to deliver food, hygiene supplies, and clean water directly to the hardest-hit communities even after the story has faded from the news cycle. He shares that a $30 gift provides a family with a week of urgent food, $75 covers hygiene kits for five families, and $120 feeds four families for a week, and makes a personal appeal for listeners to respond with compassion to a crisis still unfolding weeks after the earthquakes struck.

Responding to the Colombia Earthquakes: How You Can Help

Brian talks with twin brothers Chad and James Hampton, pastors and co-founders of Hunt the Truth Ministries, about their new devotional, 100 Days of Strength for Hunters: Lessons from the Hunt That Lead to God's Greatest Harvest. They unpack the connection between hunting and the Christian life, noting that the Hebrew words for "hunt" and "seek" are essentially the same, framing pursuing God as life's most important hunt. Chad addresses common misconceptions about hunting, explaining their focus on wildlife management and their ministry's partnership providing processed venison to families in need, along with a new animal rescue division. They share the heart behind their devotional, aimed at giving hunters and non-hunters alike daily spiritual strength through Scripture, and describe one of their ministry's most meaningful efforts: a multi-year partnership with the U.S. Army at Fort Benning mentoring Gold Star children who lost their fathers in active duty through hunting trips.

Brian talks with twin brothers Chad and James Hampton, pastors and co-founders of Hunt the Truth Ministries, about their new devotional, 100 Days of Strength for Hunters: Lessons from the Hunt That Lead to God's Greatest Harvest. They unpack the connection between hunting and the Christian life, noting that the Hebrew words for "hunt" and "seek" are essentially the same, framing pursuing God as life's most important hunt. Chad addresses common misconceptions about hunting, explaining their focus on wildlife management and their ministry's partnership providing processed venison to families in need, along with a new animal rescue division. They share the heart behind their devotional, aimed at giving hunters and non-hunters alike daily spiritual strength through Scripture, and describe one of their ministry's most meaningful efforts: a multi-year partnership with the U.S. Army at Fort Benning mentoring Gold Star children who lost their fathers in active duty through hunting trips.

Live Action Moana & the Odyssey Controversy with Adam Holtz of Plugged In

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