Religion and Popular Culture Podcast

Just Vivian this week, dropping in to just do a quick thank you for listening and contributing and talking, and to encourage you to take breaks during this period, whether your celebrating Christmas or not! Aled unfortunately has Covid, and is quite ill. If you could send him your get well soon wishes, I’m sure he’d appreciate it! But obviously, his health comes before the pod, but we should be back in two weeks or more with a finale episode! Send us your questions, comments, concerns and thoughts to religionpopculturepod@gmail.com, or tweet us @RPC_Pod Follow Aled on twitter: @aledjllthomas Follow Vivian on twitter, instagram or Hive: @vivianasimos on all

This week, Vivian Asimos and Aled Thomas talk about the slow downfall of twitter as it happens before our very eyes. We chat about what it means to have freedom of speech, the reality of echo chambers, and how the movement of people online mimics the movement of people in religion. Got any questions, comments, or concerns? Message us at religionpopculture@gmail.com or tweet us @RPC_Pod Follow Aled on twitter: @aledjllthomas Follow Vivian on twitter, instagram and Hive: @vivianasimos and check out her blog IncidentalMythology.com

In today’s episode, Aled Thomas and Vivian Asimos battle through plumber interruptions to talk about the role of Homelander in Amazon’s The Boys. We talk about the origins of the term ‘cliffhanger ending’, Christian nationalism in the United States, and why Vivian hates long television shows. Apologies for any oddities in this recording… it was a day!Got any thoughts or comments? Tweet at us @RPC_Pod or email religionpopculturepod@gmail.com Follow Vivian on Twitter and Instagram @vivianasimos and check out her website IncidentalMythology.com Follow Aled on Twitter @aledjllthomas

This week, Vivian Asimos and Aled Thomas talk about Klaus’s cult in season two of the Umbrella Academy on Netflix. We use it as a fun basis to then jump around sociological analyses of new religious movements, including Max Weber’s typology of charisma. We talk about the charisma of political leaders and religious leaders, how charisma changes, and what may have altered in the world between Max Weber’s ideas and our podcast. We also talk about nineties lyrics and the differences - or lack thereof - between structural anthropology and post-structural anthropology. Give us your thoughts! Tweet us @RPC_Pod or send us an email religionpopculturepod@gmail.com Follow Aled on twitter: @aledjllthomas Follow Vivian on twitter or instagram @vivianasimos or check out her website incidentalmythology.com

In this episode, Aled Thomas and Vivian Asimos round out Spooky Season with Vivian’s favourite autumnal movie/show: Over the Garden Wall. There are spoilers, so if you want to watch it fresh, please do! In this episode, we talk about the nature of purgatory, the aesthetics of nostalgia, and the role of a psychopomp. At the end of this season, Aled and Vivian will read your thoughts and questions on the last episode of the pod, so get your thoughts to us on twitter @RPC_Pod, or send them over to our email religionpopculturepod@gmail.com Follow Aled on twitter: @aledjllthomas Follow Vivian on twitter and instagram: @vivianasimos

This week, Aled Thomas and Vivian Asimos chat about the famous musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, “Once More With Feeling”. We chat about the Christian influence on the ideas of Heaven and Hell in the Buffy verse, and how Spike is one of the best vampires. We also chat about the overall themes of communication, of speaking one’s heart, and it’s impact on the formation and relationship of society and culture, and the ever-present argument between free will and determinism in all of Buffy’s episodes - but most notably in the musical episode. Hopefully you’ll say you're happy with this episode, once more with feeling. Check out Vivian’s video essay on Buffy’s episode “Hush” here Follow Aled on twitter Follow Vivian on Twitter or Instagram, or her blog Incidental Mythology. Follow the pod on twitter, or shoot us an email at: religionpopculturepod@gmail.com

This week, Vivian Asimos and Aled Thomas are joined by pop culture writer and cosplay expert Holly Swinyard. We chat about all things interesting about cosplay, including aspects of costuming vs buying, the connection between fiction and cosplayer identity, and the transformative nature of cosplay. Follow Holly on instagram: @lilistprinceCheck out Holly’s Cosplay books: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/A-Guide-to-Film-and-TV-Cosplay-Hardback/p/19103Check out the Cosplay Journal: https://thecosplayjournal.com Follow Aled on twitter: @aledjllthomasFollow Vivian on twitter and instagram: @vivianasimos Questions, comments, critiques? Send ‘em to religionpopculturepod@gmail.com or follow the pod on twitter: @RPC_Pod

This week, in an episode recorded live from the British Association for the Study of Religion Conference, Vivian Asimos and Aled Thomas are joined by Paul-Francois Tremlett who has a passion for board games. We chat about board game nostalgia, the collective fervour of playing games, and how to teach religion through the power of play.Check out Paul’s stuff over at his Open University page: https://www.open.ac.uk/people/pt3595You can also follow Paul on twitter: @paulftremlett Follow Aled on Twitter: @aledjllthomasFollow Vivian on twitter and instagram: @vivianasimos Got questions or comments or critiques? Send ‘em over to religionpopculturepod@gmail.com, or follow the pod on twitter @RPC_Pod

Netflix’s new show How to Build a Sex Room attempts to de-stigmatise sex in United States culture through the interior design services being offered to a sex room. In this episode, Vivian Asimos and Aled Thomas talk about How to Build a Sex Room, and it’s Durkheimian use of language of sex as something set aside and special. We talk about religion as sacred vs profane, and where sex fits into this dichotomy. We talk about how United States and United Kingdom culture privatises sex while also, paradigmatically, making sex so inherently part of every part of our everyday experience. Check out Alison Robertson’s book Play, Pain and Religion here. Send us an email at religionpopculturepod@gmail.com Follow Aled on twitter: @aledjllthomas Follow Vivian on twitter: @vivianasimos Follow the pod on twitter: @RPC_Pod

This week, Aled and Vivian talk about Green Day’s album American Idiot, and in particular the figure of the Jesus of Suburbia. We talk about protest music, American nationalist myths, the connections between religion and politics, and how graffiti is the holy scripture of the shopping mall. Got a question or comment? Message us on twitter @RPC_Pod, or shoot us an email at religionpopculturepod@gmail.com Follow Aled on twitter: @aledjllthomas Follow Vivian on twitter and instagram: @vivianasimos

This week, Vivian Asimos and Aled Thomas delve into country singer Orville Peck. We talk about the different types of country music, and how hiding your identity can also be a way of being authentic about your identity. We talk about the performance of music and the comfort of the LGBT+ community. We also talk about mythology, and the creation of a cowboy mythology, and the shifting of this typically hetero-white mythology to support a marginalised community. For the image of the gay cowboys Vivian mentioned, the still was from the beginning of Hope to Die, pictured here.The image it is referencing is “Longhorns Dance” by Jim French, pictured here. Follow Aled on twitter: @aledjllthomas Follow Vivian on twitter: @vivianasimos Follow the Pod on twitter: @PRC_Pod Or send us your thoughts and questions in email to: religionpopculturepod@gmail.com

This week, Aled Thomas and Vivian Asimos return to Star Trek for an episode breakdown. This time, it’s the Original Series, season 2, episode 2 called “Who Mourns for Adonis?” And ooo boy is there loads to unpack in this one. We talk about E.B Tylor and his idea of religion and myth and the impact this has on popular conceptions of religion. We also talk about the World Religions Paradigm, and how this erases so many wonderful religions which exist. And Vivian tries really hard to not go on a feminist rampage about the representation of women. Follow Aled on twitter: @aledjllthomas Follow Vivian on twitter: @vivianasimos Tell us your thoughts, send us your questions. Follow us on twitter @RPC_Pod Or send us an email at: religionpopculture@gmail.com

Vivian and Aled return to the world of pilgrimage once again, following Vivian’s attendance at MCM Comic Con in London. After a bit of a roundabout start, we dig into the notion of the fan convention as pilgrimage, following many conversations and interactions Vivian’s had while doing fieldwork. We talk about the notion of the convention as home, and how that relates to conceptions of the travel involved in pilgrimage. We also talk about the idea of landscape, and the changing conception of the notion of place when it comes to the convention hall.

With the release of the 2021 film Dune, a conversation about Dune’s depiction of religion and it’s connection to Islam has been re-ignited. For this episode, Vivian Asimos and Aled Thomas want to dig into the depictions of Islam in Dune, especially following scriptwriter John Spaihts comment about Islam in the current day versus when Frank Herbert wrote his book in the 1960s. We talk about Islamic history, and how Islam’s history means that Islam also has a future. We discuss the notion of Jihad in Islam, as well as Talal Asad’s conception of Islam as a “discursive tradition”.

Apologies for Vivian’s audio in this episode. Microphone problems, which hopefully won’t happen again! This episode, Vivian Asimos and Aled Thomas discuss the pitfalls, trials and tribulations of crafting religion in fictional worlds - whatever that means. We talk about how religion is sometimes crafted in books, movies, role-playing games, and other forms of pop culture in un-realistic ways. We talk about the difference between “institutional” religion and lived religion, what “folk” religion means, what vernacular religion means, and the incredible importance of the experience, relationships and interactions of everyday people. Religion is about way more than just belief or doctrine - if you’re thinking about creating a religion for your book or next role-playing game, we hope this episode gives you some lovely things to think about! Got a question, comment, thought, or topic suggestion? Email us at religionpopculturepod@gmail.com or follow us on twitter: @RPC_Pod Follow Aled on twitter: @aledjllthomas Follow Vivian on twitter or instagram: @vivianasimos

In this episode, Vivian Asimos and Aled Thomas talk about Pixar’s Turning Red, and the complicated conception of pilgrimage. Using Mei’s family temple as a jumping off point, Vivian and Aled talk about religious tourism, religion and capitalism, and complicating the idea of the tourist. What makes a pilgrim different than a tourist? What types of pilgrimage are there, and how is pilgrimage acted? How does money and commodification play into these definitions and distinctions?

The Religion and Popular Culture Podcast is back with Season 3! Anthropologist Vivian Asimos joins once again with Sociologist Aled Thomas to discuss Netflix’s Love is Blind season 2, specifically the relationship between Kyle and Shaina. This relationship was filled with conversations about religion: what it means to be religious or “Godly”, how people of different religious understandings can be married, and what it means to be secular. In this episode, Vivian and Aled dissect Kyle and Shaina’s relationship, talking about secularisation, how religion impacts everything in our life, and how Shaina’s conversations revealed a lot about her understanding of family and gender. If you’re interested in following along, the episode and clips Vivian gave Aled are detailed here:Love is Blind, Season 02E01: 35:00-37:00E02: 23:30-28:30; 49:00-55:00E03: 30:00-36:30E06: 12:00-16:30; 42:50-47:00 Follow us on twitter: @RPC_Pod Got a question, shoot us an email: religionpopculturepod@gmail.com This episode, featuring:Vivian Asimos: @vivianasimos (twitter and instagram) and incidentalmythology.comAled Thomas: @aledjllthomas (twitter)

We’re coming back to your ears on May 12, and Aled Thomas and Vivian Asimos were just too excited to keep it from you. The Religion and Popular Culture Podcast, where we talk about religion, popular culture and everything in between, is back again with season three. Anthropologist of religion Vivian Asimos and sociologist of religion Aled Thomas are going to be dishing on all things study of religion and all the regular media and pop culture we consume every day. Follow us on twitter: @RPC_PodSend us your thoughts or suggestions: religionpopculturepod@gmail.com This episode featuring:Vivian Asimos @vivianasimosAled Thomas @aledjllthomas

Today, we reflect on the episodes we’ve gone over in season two. We not only talk about the huge variety of episode topics we’ve covered, but also trace the different analytic threads running through them all. Despite such wide-ranging topics, there are many different elements that can be seen throughout the episodes. We also give a little bit of a sneak-preview for what’s coming up in Season 3, and when to expect that to drop.

Today, Aled and Vivian talk about Christmas, but particularly the tension in the holiday between Christmas as a religious holiday or Christmas as a secular holiday. We reflect on how this tension is presented in popular culture, including Netflix rom-coms, Love Actually, and a Christmas Carol. We also talk about Christmas singles, and the importance of these in British Christmas culture, and the heavy presence of nativity plays in the UK. How secular, and how religious, is Christmas?

In this episode of the Religion and Popular Culture Podcast, Aled and Vivian talk about pop culture tattoos. We talk about our own pop culture tattoos and a little about why we got them. We also talk about how we communicate socially with our bodies, using Mary Douglas’s idea of the two bodies: the physical body and the social body. We talk a little about what kind of stories we tell with our bodies, and how that changes when we get tattoos, especially pop culture tattoos.

In honor of PSL season, we talk about how and where religion and pop culture intersects with food. We talk about food media, particularly Nigella Lawson, but also about how food can define cultural moments, such as the Pumpkin Spice Latte.

Aled Thomas and Vivian Asimos talk about how cinema can function as religion. We talk about communal experiences, how films can be ideological, and the importance of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Aled is caught up in the hype of the start of filming for Good Omens season 2, and Vivian can be convinced that the themes of angels and demons tied to the apocalypse is enough to get it in for Halloween. That's right! This week, we're chatting Good Omens! We talk about the gender fluidity - or even just lack of gender - for angels and demons, how silly it is that some societies get angry about the idea of God as a female, and the fluid constant-changing nature of mythology.

Today, Aled Thomas and Vivian Asimos dig into Satanism and its represention in popular culture. We talk about its connection in pop culture to witchcraft and demons, and specifically give a look at how it was used in the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix.

In this episode, Aled Thomas and Vivian Asimos chat about the claims surrounding Mary Cosby's church in Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (RHOSLC). Many online, as well as outside of the internet sphere, are claiming Cosby runs a "cult". In this episode, Aled and Vivian talk about "cults" from the perspective of a social scientific approach to the study of religion.

This week, Aled Thomas and Vivian Asimos chat about religion in Lord of the Rings (LotR). We chat about what religion looks like in Middle Earth, and how Lord of the Rings was created to form a type of English mythology. We talk about religion and Tolkien, focusing on how his Catholicism both influenced and didn't influence his work. There's so much to talk about when it comes to religion in Lord of the Rings - this episode serves as an introduction to the different topics within the subject of religion and Lord of the Rings, so look forward to another episode focusing on one of these in particular.

In this episode, Vivian Asimos and Aled Thomas chat about when religion works as a game mechanic. Instead of looking at the way religion is portrayed in the narrative, today we're focusing on how religion functions in the video game. We chat about how religion can work without faith or belief, and relates how religion works in video games to our more analog life, including henotheism. We also chat about the opposite: when religions use video games and their game mechanics to experience or celebrate their religion. Follow Aled on Twitter: @aledjllthomas Follow Vivian on Twitter: @vivianasimos

This week, Vivian Asimos and Aled Thomas chat about comedy, religion and popular culture. We specifically chat about the Book of Mormon musical, and South Park's approach to comedy and Scientology. We talk atheist comedy, and discuss why religion is often the target of many jokes. We also talk about blasphemy and comedy, with reference to the depiction of Muhammad and the Charlie Hebdo comics.

This week, Vivian Asimos and Aled Thomas chat nostalgia - how it acts with popular culture, and how it acts with religion. We spend some time chatting Christmas and nostalgia, understanding both the religious Christmas and the secular Christmas. We also chat about nostalgia for the future. We then extend our conversation outward, reflecting on cultural nostalgia and the politics of nostalgia.

This week, Vivian and Aled talk about Star Trek: Next Generation’s episode “Who Watches the Watchers” (S03E04). This episode is available on UK Netflix, and hopefully other places available for streaming as well. Vivian and Aled talk about what it means to study religion, how religion develops, and why covert research is unethical.

This week, Vivian and Aled begin to explore the worlds of fashion, and how fashion intersects with religion and popular culture. We talk subcultural dress, cultural appropriation, religious garb, and what it means to have a hedge.

This week, Aled and Vivian take their first dive into the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Our first approach to this world is in the show’s approach to monsters, and the way the approach to monsters is complicated and shifted in its overarching narrative. We talk about what a monster is and how monsters relate to discussions on religion. We then explore the show Buffy and talk about some of its iconic monsters, including Angel, Spike and Oz. Follow us on twitter: @vivianasimos @aledjllthomas

In this episode, Aled leads a discussion into invented religions - new religions which take inspiration from popular culture and uses it as metaphor to understand themselves and their world. We talk about what it means to be a “new” religion and how play can be serious and meaningful at the same time. We spend a bit of time on both Jediism and the Church of the SubGenius, both invented religions but who take the form in two different directions. If you’re interested in the blog post by Paul-Francois Tremlett about Jediism and how it complicates the idea of religion, you can check it out here. For the Guardian article about Tesco’s discrimination against Jedis, you can read that here. Follow us on social media: @vivianasimos @aledjllthomas

Aled and Vivian take the first dive into the world of the Legend of Zelda with a look into its connection with mythology. We talk about the definition of mythology, the mythology in the world of Zelda, and how the games themselves can be myths. Follow us on twitter: @vivianasimos @aledjllthomas

In this episode, Aled and Vivian discuss what an exploration into the intersections of religion and popular culture means. We talk about the three main approaches: (1) what religion feels about pop culture; (2) what pop culture feels about religion; and (3) pop culture as religion. Follow us on twitter: @vivianasimos @aledjllthomas

After a long hiatus, I have revitalised the religion and popular culture podcast to reflect what I think we should be doing with this podcast. In the new format, myself and Aled Thomas (@aledjllthomas) will do a deep dive into an aspect of the interconnections between religion and popular culture.

Follow Lucinda: @LucindaMurphy Follow Gelf: @MyElfGelf Lucinda’s website: https://lucindaslog.com/thefestivelog/ Follow me: @vivianasimos

Find out more about Jennie: https://www.dur.ac.uk/research/directory/staff/?mode=staff&id=17154 Follow me on twitter: @vivianasimos

Follow Aled on twitter: @AledJLLThomas Check out his website: https://holyscripturesoftheshoppingmall.home.blog/ Follow me on twitter: @vivianasimos

Follow Jonathan on twitter: @UU_Academics Follow me on twitter: @vivianasimos

Tim Ingold (2000), Perception of the Environment Keith Basso (1996) Wisdom Sits in Places Follow me on twitter: @vivianasimos

Today, is something a little different. We’ve got an informal roundtable discussing fieldwork. We talk about issues regarding representations and access, and the importance of following what’s weird. Featured in this episode: Aled Thomas - @AledJLlThomas Alison Robertson - Her staff page Theodora Wildcroft - @TheoWildcroft Follow me on twitter: @vivianasimos

The prodigal podcast returns! We have an interview with Dr. Ruth Penford-Mounce from the University of York, recorded last summer. We talk about celebrity, the changing nature of popular culture, and, of course, consuming the dead (but not cannibalism). Want to know more about Ruth? Twitter: @DeathandCulture Find her on her staff page here Find out more about the Death and Culture Network Follow me on twitter: @vivianasimos Until next time!

After a long and almost unscheduled hiatus, the Religion and Popular Culture Podcast is back!! This time, we’re talking to David Beer, from University of York, about his work on the sociology of popular culture. We discuss his work on data politics, as well as the perils and positives of teaching popular culture modules. If you want to know more about David: his website: https://davidbeer.net/ Follow him on twitter: @davidgbeer Follow me on twitter: @vivianasimos

Today I talk to Robert Geraci about technology pujas in India, Max Weber's disenchantment thesis, and even comic books. Robert's website: https://robertgeraci.com/ Follow me on twitter: @vivianasimos

This time I talk to Theodora Wildcroft at the Open University Religious Studies conference about her work on contemporary Yoga. We discuss what Yoga is, the complications of studying contemporary practices constantly changing, and even what religion is. For more about Theo: Follow on Twitter: @TheoWildcroft Her website: https://www.wildyoga.co.uk/ Follow me on twitter: @vivianasimos

Today I talk to Rob Barward-Symmons about his research on Young Evangelicals and social media use, ethics in the online field, and the lack of distinction between online and offline. Email Rob: rmb50@kent.ac.uk Follow him on twitter: @robsymmons Follow me on twitter: @vivianasimos Enjoy!

This time I talk with Áine Warren, currently doing a PhD at Edinburgh University on the Dark Goddess. We talk about how people share their information and devotion on YouTube primarily, and a little on other social media and mass media sources. Follow Áine on twitter: @AineOrga Áine's Email: aine.m.warren@gmail.com Follow me on twitter: @vivianasimos Thanks for listening! Until next time

Today we talk to Dani Shalet, who does research on Transhumanism in anime and video games. Follow Dani on twitter: @Jenahra Follow me on twitter: @vivianasimos Thanks for listening!

Chris Deacy - https://www.kent.ac.uk/secl/thrs/staff/deacy.html Follow me on twitter: @vivianasimos Thanks for listening!

Apologies for background noise on this one. I did my best, but learned a lot. Thank you for hanging in there, those who did. To find out more about Lucinda's research, and to be actively involved: https://lucindaslog.com/thefestivelog/ Follow her on twitter: @lucinda_murphy Follow her elf research assistant: @myelfgelf Follow me on twitter: @vivianasimos

Today I'm talking to Eleanor Course about her PhD research on Hull City of Culture 2017. Eleanor Course: Twitter - @ElliCourse Website - religionculturephd.wordpress.com Vivian Asimos Twitter - @vivianasimos