Strictly Business Daily Variety – Exploring How Spirituality and People of Faith are Portrayed in Pop Culture; Richard Gere on his Dalai Lama Doc ‘Wisdom of Happiness’
Dec 4, 2025
The podcast dives into the influence of media on spirituality, featuring insights from Brooke Zaugg of the Faith & Media Initiative. She discusses the necessity of nuanced portrayals of faith and the impact of stereotypes in Hollywood. Richard Gere shares behind-the-scenes stories about his documentary on the Dalai Lama, emphasizing compassion and kindness. They also explore the growing interest in spiritual themes, especially among younger audiences, and the potential for cultural change in the representation of faith in film and television.
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Faith Is Broadly Important In Media
- Faith and spirituality are widely important across U.S. demographics and political lines, yet often absent or stereotyped in media.
- Brooke Zaugg argues nuanced portrayals add narrative depth and help audiences find meaning.
Use Research And Awards To Shift Portrayals
- Partner with creators and award excellence to normalize complex faith portrayals in mainstream storytelling.
- Use research and examples to build confidence in newsrooms and studios to cover faith fluently.
Specific Shows Demonstrate Nuanced Faith
- Brooke highlights Somebody Somewhere and I Always Butcher the Name Shchizzle as shows that portray varied spiritual searches authentically.
- She cites We Are Lady Parts and Bridget Everett as examples of nuanced, non-stereotypical faith storytelling.