Good Christian Fun

Good Christian Fun is a Headgum podcast about Christian pop culture hosted by Kevin T. Porter and Caroline Ely. The show debuted in 2017 after Porter's previous podcast, Gilmore Guys, had ended. Good Christian Fun examines Christian media from a progressive Christian prospective, but is not intended solely for a Christian audience. The hosts grew up in Christian homes and most of the media they discuss throughout the show is from the 1990s and early 2000s. For instance, the show has featured episodes on DC Talk, VeggieTales, and the Left Behind books.

Good Christian Fun
The podcast cover art, which depicts a winking, smiley face with a halo above its head and the title of the podcast below it.
Presentation
Hosted byKevin T. Porter and Caroline Ely
GenreChristian pop culture
FormatInterview podcast
LanguageEnglish
UpdatesWeekly
LengthApprox. 60 minutes
Production
No. of episodes296
Publication
Original releaseAugust 30, 2017
ProviderHeadgum
Related
Related showsGilmore Guys
Websitewww.goodchristianfun.com

Background

Kevin T. Porter began podcasting as a co-host of the comedy podcast Gilmore Guys, which involved Porter and his co-host Demi Adejuyigbe watching through Gilmore Girls together. When Gilmore Guys ended in 2017, Porter started Good Christian Fun with co-host Caroline Ely on the Headgum network. Good Christian Fun is a narrowcast about Christian pop culture such as Christian music and Christian movies. The hosts of the podcast were both raised in Christian families and grew up experiencing the pop culture that they discuss in the show. Each episode focuses on a different topic in Christian media—often from the 1990s and early 2000s—and is discussed with a different guest, who provides their testimony or personal experiences with religion if they have any.[1][2][3]

The podcast is not exclusively intended for a Christian audience and the aim of the show is not to proselytise or convert listeners. Although the hosts no longer inhabit the world of Christian pop culture, they are still Christians. Despite the nostalgia the hosts have for the topics they discuss, the hosts critique the artistic and moral themes present in each subject. The hosts make their critiques from a progressive Christian prospective. Ely, in particular, is interested in examining how sexism is embedded in Christian media and how women are treated in Christian culture more broadly. However, the tone of the show is typically lighthearted and comedic. For instance, the podcast includes a reoccurring segment dedicated to finding the worst Christian song of all time.[2][4][5]

The show has featured topics in Christian pop culture from the 1990s and 2000s such as DC Talk, VeggieTales, and the Left Behind books.[6] The show released an episode in 2021 that featured an interview with Amy Grant, who discussed her experiences as a musician in both Christian and secular spaces.[7] Comedian Josh Gondelman was featured in an episode discussing the song "Awesome God" by Rich Mullins, which became a popular song among Christians upon its release in 1988.[8] The show has also done episodes on more recent Christian pop culture such as the CBS series God Friended Me, which ran from 2018 until 2020. Occasionally, the hosts discuss secular topics that feature prominent Christian influences or themes.[9]

Becca James noted in Vulture that former Christians might be cynical about the show at first, but the hosts do a great job of easing the listener into the conversation.[8] Emily St. James commented in Vox that "The chemistry between the hosts is great, the guests are a lot of fun, and the recurring segments are solid."[5] Nick Douglas included an episode of the show in LifeHacker's list of best podcast episodes of 2018 and compared the show to Heeb due to its irreverent and silly tone.[9] Caroline Siede praised the show in The A.V. Club for having "goofy conversations and strong production values".[2] The podcast was nominated for best religion and spirituality podcast in the 2022 People's Choice Podcast Awards.[10]

See also

References
  1. Nuevo, Renee (April 2, 2020). "17 Pop Culture Podcasts To Keep You Company During Quarantine". Metro.Style. ABS-CBN Publishing. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  2. Siede, Caroline (December 17, 2018). "The A.V. Club's 2018 Podcast Superlatives". The A.V. Club. G/O Media. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  3. Warren, Nick (August 18, 2021). "Podcast Picks: Good Christian Fun". Erie Reader. Flagship Multimedia. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  4. Siede, Caroline (February 26, 2018). "Podcast Recommendation: Good Christian Fun". Boing Boing. Happy Mutants. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  5. St. James, Emily (September 22, 2017). "Seven Essential Pieces of Pop Culture to Catch Up on This Weekend". Vox. Vox Media. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  6. Allan, Patrick (December 20, 2017). "Our Favorite Podcast Episodes of 2017". Lifehacker. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  7. Desir, Kriska (July 22, 2021). "This Week in Comedy Podcasts: Amy Grant's Good Christian Fun". Vulture. Vox Media. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  8. James, Becca (September 17, 2020). "This Week in Comedy Podcasts: Our Josh is an Awesome Josh". Vulture. Vox Media. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  9. Douglas, Nick (January 1, 2019). "The Best Podcast Episodes of 2018". Lifehacker. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  10. "2022 Podcast Awards Winners". The People's Choice Podcast Awards. New Media Productions LLC. 2022. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
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