Pop Xulture Newsletter # 34
2025: The Halfway Mark
One week from this posting (July 2nd) will be the halfway point of 2025. I’ve enjoyed publishing my end-of-year favorites in the past (like 2023’s and 2024’s) so I’m giving you some highlights in the middle of the year. I’ll briefly share an update on my creative endeavors then some fun things to consume this summer.
Xurrent News
I didn’t post this Newsletter on July 2nd because I’m writing a Back to the Future piece for Christ and Pop Culture (CAPC) which should publish July 3rd (Back to the Future’s release date). My article celebrates the film’s 40th anniversary by looking at why it’s such an enduring miracle, how it’s adapted, and an unexpected life application. Consider supporting CAPC by becoming a member (FYI: I don’t earn a commission whether you subscribe or not).
I also wrote an exclusive for you a few weeks ago. If you haven’t gotten a chance, read “The Last of Us: Promise & Purpose in ‘The Price’” where I explore some beautiful moments from Season 2, Episode 6. The article also provides another life application on making promises and finding purpose.
Lastly, I’m working hard on my book about humility. It’s a daunting task but I’m energized in mining biblical principles and tying them to pop culture as it relates to bettering our lives.
2025: The Halfway Mark
We’ll start with a recent broken record, then a cool streaming service, and finish with my lists of media consumed thus far.
TV Record
Check out CNET’s article: “Streaming Has Overtaken Traditional TV for the First Time Ever”
In May, streaming television was responsible for more TV viewing than cable and broadcast TV combined.
Angel Studios
Angel is a faith-based distributer hosting the only streaming platform where you can share entire movies and shows with friends and family. Granted, you need to subscribe (what they call “the Guild”) before you can share some content with others, but they also have free content available to everyone.
One of the coolest things about Angel Studios is that you can invest in their productions. I backed the new show Testament, a modern telling of the book of Acts.
Thus Far: All the Media I Consumed (But Not Necessarily Created) in 2025
Film & TV
Red One, A Man on the Inside (Season 1), Outer Range (Season 2), Carry-On, What We Do in the Shadows (Seasons 5 & 6), FBI True: “Pizza Bomber” (S6, E1-2), Tag (docudrama film), Skeleton Crew [Star Wars] (Season 1), New Girl (Seasons 5 & 6), The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga, Conclave, Thelma, Bad Sisters (Seasons 1 & 2), Ladies and Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music (doc), SNL 50: Beyond Saturday Night (doc series), Gilmore Girls (Seasons 2 & 3), Bob’s Burgers (Seasons 14), Boy Kills World, Loki (Season 2), Prometheus, The Last Stop in Yuma County, Alien: Covenant (2017), Severance (Season 2), Running Point (Season 1), Alien (1979), Love on the Spectrum US (Season 3), Wolf Man (2025), The Residence (Season 1), Back to the Future, Conan O’Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (2025), John Mulaney: “Baby J,” The Last of Us (Season 2), His Girl Friday, For Your Consideration, The Apprentice (2024 film), The Studio (Season 1), and Welcome to Wrexham (Season 1).
Currently Watching:
St. Denis Medical (Season 1), Murderbot, (Season 1), The Hunting Party (Season 1), House of David (Season 1), Poker Face (Season 1), John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in LA, Gilmore Girls (Season 4), The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin, Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, Bob’s Burgers (Season 15), Brooklyn 99 (Season 5), and Dept. Q (Season 1).
Music/Podcasts
Earlier in the year Memphis May Fire released “Overdose” featuring Christian Lindskog from Blindside. More than a Marketing stunt, the song and Matty & Christian’s vocals are incredible.
Watch Ladies and Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music! I mentioned it here but it bears repeating: you have to watch the first five minute’s music montage.
I stumbled across Eiffel 65’s “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” music video and it’s awful. But, you know, so bad it’s good - and I don’t mean antiquated CGI (I can respect Toy Story’s innovation as a Citizen Cane of sorts) I mean what the CGI is doing, what the band is doing, and, of course, joyfully meaningless lyrics. As a bonus, a few months ago electronicore band The Browning covered “Blue,” which is pretty great.
My daughter introduced me to Alex Warren’s “Ordinary.” I’m heavily leaning toward a theme of hope/lessness for this year’s upcoming 1980s vs. 2020s comparison article and with lyrics like “Hopeless hallelujah,” this song has a great shot of making it in. The video, released 3 months ago, is approaching 64 million views.
A fantastic podcast called “The Redefector” also has a great shot for this year’s 1985 vs. 2025 article. The series explores Cold War spy battles, focusing on KGB Colonel Vitaly Yurchenko’s fascinating defection in 1985.
Books
I’ve only read eight books – sorry, I’m a slow reader! The ones I rated highest are: The Handmaid’s Tale, When Narcissism Comes to Church, Dune: Messiah, and Daredevil, Vol. 3: Living Hell. Check out: Chris Fogle’s Goodreads.
Xoncluding Thoughts
Thanks for reading my mid-year lists! Is there anything I should be watching or reading or listening to? Anything with a tie to 1985 or that magnifies 2025’s cultural moment? Please leave a comment!
Thanks, in Him,
-Chris (the Bearded Wonder) Fogle