The Pop Culture Contrarian Podcast
Trying to make sense of popular media, internet, and entertainment culture in a world gone insane. Sterling, Thomas, and Andrew watch the movies, read the books, and scroll the internet searching for a shred of decency. Can they find a gem contrary to the swill that permeates modern pop culture today? Tune in to find out. Brought to you by The Patriot Post — subscribe FREE today at www.patriotpost.us!
PopCon #110: Trump Stomps on DC Crime
Washington, DC, has been dealing with a decades-long crime problem. However, now that Donald Trump has federalized DC's police force for 30 days, crime is dropping fast. In this episode of "The Pop Culture Contrarian," Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew break down what happened, why it's working, and what it could mean for the future of American cities.
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PopCon #109: South Park Takes Aim at Conservatives
The producers of "South Park" have been ruffling feathers for 27 years. It's what they do. Therefore, it's no surprise that they have taken aim at conservative figures such as Charlie Kirk, Kristi Noem, Donald Trump, and JD Vance. From commentary on conservative podcasting and open mic events to ICE operations in the U.S. to killing puppies, could their latest episode be any more predictable?
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<...Pop Con #108 – Executive News Summary: FBI Burn Bags EXPOSED | Russiagate Fallout, Media Bias & Trump’s Big Moves
The topics covered today include the FBI's hidden Russiagate files, the Senate's blue-slip ritual, fired NSA lawyer April Doss, the anti-Semitic BBC, and Trump's global trade deals.
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Pop Con #107: 'Fantastic Four: First Steps': Fantastic or a Failure?
Marvel has been on a roll lately, cranking out more films for the MCU. Predicated on the idea that there are multiple universes, "Fantastic Four: First Steps" immerses viewers in an advanced 1960s space race-style world. Does Marvel honor the ideals of such a time and place, or do writers try to inject their own agenda into the universe? Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew are on the movie beat.
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PopCon #106: The Obamas Know How to Raise Boys Now
The Obamas love the spotlight, so it's no surprise that Michelle has a new podcast called "IMO" — a show dedicated to answering questions about life's dilemmas. The show recently got big viewership numbers when Barack made a rare appearance to talk about the loaded question of how parents ought to be raising boys. Many might make assumptions about what the Obamas' opinion would be, but their thoughts may actually surprise you. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew for a podcast review.
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PopCon #105: ‘Superman’ — Is It Woke, or Worth Watching?
Everyone is talking about the new Superman movie. Critics are raving and the box office is booming. Indeed, Superman is the quintessential American superhero. But lurking in the back of our minds is this: Has the woke agenda ruined another character and film? Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew take flight to answer this nagging question.
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PopCon #104: 'F1'
Whether you're a racing fan or just a fan of exciting movies, "F1" checks all the boxes. Brad Pitt stars in this "Top Gun"-inspired race car flick as a veteran driver with one last chance at a big win. It seems to be everything you want and nothing you don't — but could it be too good to be true? Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew strap in for the fastest movie this summer.
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PopCon #103: '28 Years Later'
It isn't often that the PopCon team delves into the zombie movie genre, but "28 Years Later" — which had good reviews from critics — surprised us as well. This unlikely movie is giving our highest-scored films a run for their money! Listen to what Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew have to say about the themes of humanity, religion, morality, and nature found in this film.
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PopCon #102: Fountain of Youth
A new film has vibes reminiscent of "Indiana Jones," but you won't be seeing it in theaters. Our team surmises why.
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PopCon #101: Pride, Protests, and Persia
June 2025 isn't just about Pride Month anymore. Of course, the month for
PopCon #100: Celebrating One Hundred Episodes!
The Patriot Post was founded in 1996 to be a voice for conservative values in a media landscape dominated by the Left. Like email in 1996, podcasts are the new medium for conservatives to conquer today. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew for their analysis on things like popular films and shows, politically exploitative organizations like GARM, and where the Artificial Intelligence revolution is going next.
Thomas is the level-headed voice of reason, Sterling keeps things interesting with his hot takes, and Andrew tries to find the common ground between the two. Together, "The Pop Culture Contrarian" breaks down what's w...
PopCon #99: Is 'Andor' Even Star Wars?
Many Star Wars fans have lamented Disney's butchering of the universe. Whether it be stories that don't make sense or scenarios and behavior completely out of place, there are complaints aplenty. Therefore, it's no surprise that the TV series "Andor" has fans tuning in with low expectations. But could Disney have redeemed itself with Season 2? Thomas, Star Wars scholar Sterling, and Andrew are on the case.
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PopCon #98: AI: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the world. Nothing will remain untouched by this powerful technology. There are good things as well as ugly pitfalls that are being brought about by this seismic shift. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they explore how best to adapt.
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PopCon #97: Chopped Liver King
What happens when you mix together raw meat, big muscles, big money, and big Internet fame? You get the Liver King! This ancestral fitness guru matches every hallmark of a 21st-century snake oil salesman, and Netflix has released a documentary chronicling his rise to fame and subsequent fall from glory. Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew offer thoughts on what we can learn from such a controversial figure in the age of social media.
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PopCon #96: America's Political Status Quo is Coming to an End
America's political status quo is coming to an end. During the 2024 presidential election, the American people clearly rejected wokeism and DEI. Since the Democrat Party had become synonymous with these ideas, it is in the process of collapse. Meanwhile on the Right, Donald Trump has built the biggest Republican coalition with the most diverse membership in living memory, fundamentally changing the conservative movement. But can it last? Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they identify these groups and predict the future after Trump leaves office.
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PopCon #95: The Latest Movie From Marvel: 'Thunderbolts*'
Marvel has added another movie to its universe. Titled "Thunderbolts*" (with an asterisk), the name alludes to there being more than meets the eye. With recent woke films such as "Captain Marvel" bringing the Marvel universe down, can this latest release redeem the franchise? Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew have some thoughts.
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PopCon #94: British Scientists Want to Dim the Sun
The Brits want to dim the sun! No, this isn't a fictional plot from a James Bond flick. The UK government has genuinely hatched a plan to spray chemicals into the air to deflect the suns's rays. Sometimes, reality truly is stranger than fiction. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew for an episode on this bizarre initiative.
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PopCon #93: Movie Theaters Are in Danger
Hollywood is making original films, but moviegoers aren't buying tickets. Amidst post-COVID impacts, inflation, competing distractions, and cultural shifts, the American movie theater may be in jeopardy. What can Hollywood and theaters do to reignite America's classic art form? Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew explore reasons for the decline and ideas to turn the tide.
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PopCon #92: 'King of Kings'
The latest animated film from Angel Studios, "The King of Kings," captures Charles Dickens as he shares the Gospel story with his youngest son. Based on a private family manuscript that remained unpublished until 64 years after Charles's death, Angel Studios has brought to the big screen what was once reserved for Dickens's children. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they review this appropriately timed Easter release inspired by a classic.
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...PopCon #91: Don't Be a 'Panican' About Tariffs
We often talk about capturing the cultural zeitgeist of the moment. President Trump's tariff play has captivated the world and dominated headlines everywhere. Nobody seems to know what is happening, and the markets are all over the place as a result. Few can agree on whether Trump's tactics will result in a big win or a devastating loss, but what we all can agree on is that this is a high-risk moment. Join Sterling and Andrew as they explore the sentiment, rationale, and potential outcomes of this historic moment.
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PopCon #90: 'Adolescence' and the Agenda Against Young Men
The new Netflix show “Adolescence,” which chronicles how online toxic masculinity leads a 13-year-old boy to commit murder, has so grabbed the emotions of the UK prime minister that he wants to make every student in his country watch it. The idea is that toxic masculinity is a threat to British society, but the true underlying problems are being conveniently ignored. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they unpack the danger of trying to fix a problem that doesn't exist.
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PopCon #89: 'Snow White'
In 1937, "Snow White" was the moonshot film that punched Disney's historic ticket to eternal fame. In 2025, the live-action remake is more like a fireball plummeting to earth. If there were ever a cautionary tale of what woke ideology can do to a brand, this is it. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they chronicle Disney's continued fall from glory and ask the question: Will they ever learn?
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PopCon #88: 'House of David'
Could it be that Amazon Prime Video has gotten a Bible story right? “House of David” has been making waves and might break the mold. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they discuss what’s right and what’s woke about Amazon’s telling of Israel’s greatest king.
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PopCon #87: Tolkien
The 2019 film "Tolkien" captures the youth and young adulthood of the author famous for "The Lord of the Rings." Capturing many influential moments in his life, there is a clear influence drawn between these experiences and his later literary works. Does the film capture the most important influence, though? Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew discuss where the film shines and where it misses.
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PopCon #86: Virtue Signaling's Last Gasp
Someone should tell Hollywood that woke DEI requirements for movies are over. If the Oscars are any indication, Hollywood didn't get the memo. Speaking of not getting the memo, someone should tell Volodymyr Zelensky there's a new president in the Oval Office, and he wants peace. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they discuss the last gasps of virtue signaling in Hollywood and on the world stage.
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PopCon #85: The Robots Are Coming! The Robots Are Coming!
The robots are coming, and we're on the cusp of a robot revolution! From the next generation of a quantum computing chip to AI-powered robot servants, the reality of C3PO is now actualized. Join Thomas and Sterling as they bring you all that is cutting edge in tech while wrestling with the ethical and social implications of robotics.
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PopCon #84: USAID is NOT About Aid
Elon Musk has released his DOGE analysis program into the ledgers of federal agencies, and his findings are every bit as shocking as one might expect. But it's not just tax dollars being wasted that's so alarming; there are things even more sinister being exposed. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they dig into the waste that DOGE has uncovered and reveal how USAID has maliciously manipulated the very fabric of American culture.
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PopCon #83: Tucker Carlson vs. Piers Morgan
Tucker Carlson and Piers Morgan have gone head-to-head in a debate, covering issues like the war in Ukraine to government censorship to woke culture and everything in between. Join Thomas and Sterling as they recount the debate and weigh the problem with Carlson and his increasingly conspiratorial tendencies.
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PopCon #82: Brett Cooper Premieres New Show
The Daily Wire has been known to make careers for big conservative personalities. Brett Cooper is the latest to strike out on her own after working with the Wire for years. Amid rumors about the nature of her departure, "The Brett Cooper Show" has launched, and the first episode seems to set the record straight in a tactful way. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew for a review of the new show.
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PopCon #81: The Inauguration
On January 20, your Pop Culture Contrarian team traveled to Washington, DC, in hopes of viewing the inauguration of Donald Trump. Almost nothing went to plan. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they recount their experience at the Capitol.
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PopCon #80: Christianity Is the West’s New Counterculture
Christianity, seemingly on the decline in the West, may be gaining some traction from some unlikely sources. Jordan Peterson has rocked the world with his ascent to fame. His very public wrestling with the Bible and Jesus Christ have inspired other notable personalities to ask similar questions. Joe Rogan, once dismissive and even hostile toward Christianity, now seems drawn to questions of the faith. Could the public struggles of these famous men signal a Christian revival on the horizon? Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew discuss.
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PopCon #79: Facebook Stops Censoring
Mark Zuckerberg has announced what may be the biggest news of the year. Meta (Facebook) will end oppressive "fact-checking" and bigoted DEI policies, as well as simplify community guidelines. After years of conservatives being bullied by all of these, this about-face is a seismic development. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they tackle the implications for free speech and decide if this news is worth celebrating just yet.
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<...PopCon #78: Our Outlook on 2025
It's 2025, and it feels like a whole new world! With the outcome of November's presidential election, it seems that woke is on the backpedal, Hollywood might start listening, and Big Tech may be falling in line (for now). What will the result be? Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they project what may be on the horizon in culture, entertainment, and even politics.
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PopCon #77: ‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’
Middle Earth returns to the big screen, but in an unexpected way. In a story set nearly 200 years prior to the trilogy most are familiar with, Director Kenji Kamiyama, in conjunction with Peter Jackson, expands on an obscure text included in J.R.R Tolkien's appendices. Unlike Jackson's live-action films, this one was produced in an anime medium. Is "The War of the Rohirrim" worthy of the love LOTR fans have show to Jackson's previous films? Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew to find out.
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PopCon #76: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the hosts of "The Pop Culture Contrarian Podcast"! It has been a wild year. To all our listeners, thanks for tuning in, and please accept our deepest gratitude. Our third season will begin during the first week of January 2025, so don't go anywhere.
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PopCon #75: Mary
This Christmas season, Netflix has released "Mary" — its take on the life of the mother of Jesus. With Joel Osteen (Protestant) as executive producer and D.J. Caruso (Catholic) as director, one might draw certain conclusions about where the film could take this story. Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they explore the life of Mary.
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PopCon #74: ‘Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.’
"Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin." is the latest film from Angel Studios to make waves in the movie world. Following the life of Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the film outlines many of the events that transpired as the heroic pacifist opposed the Nazi regime in thought, word, and deed. But did Angel Studios hit this one out of the park, or has it misrepresented the real story of this storied martyr? Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they scrutinize the film.
PopCon #73: Robby Starbuck: DEI Slayer
Robby Starbuck is among a growing list of conservative activists fighting back against leftist woke ideology. He is quickly becoming famous for dismantling DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives within major corporations. Join Sterling and Andrew and discover how he and others like him are gaining ground in the culture war.
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PopCon #72: Thanksgiving
For some Americans, this Thanksgiving may be a bit awkward. Threats of cancellation or making the annual gathering about politics have popped up across the internet, in op-eds, and in vlog posts. How many disgruntled leftists will make good on these threats, and is there any hope of reminding them about the true spirit of the holiday? Join Thomas, Sterling, and Andrew as they tackle this question in a Thanksgiving episode.
Cited articles:
https://www.newsweek.com/women-boycotting-thanksgiving-donald-trump-election-1988342
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-voter-family-marriage-holidays_n_67321c1ce4b0231a203b1b80?d_id=8359829...
PopCon #71: Cultural Winds Deliver Wins
Trump's election remains a polarizing cultural subject both at home and abroad. While scores on the Right rejoice, many on the Left are embracing radical reactions. Join Thomas and Sterling as they explore the landscape just weeks after this historic election.
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