A project Nate worked on is arriving this February: It's House of David, a serious retelling of the life of David. But Nate only worked on early drafts, and it's now a Prime Video project. The guys watch the preview; Brian criticizes vestiges of what feels like Rings of Power; Nate talks about the vision for the project, and (even if he were to have quibbles about the final result) talks about what success for this series would do: Reignite some interest in telling faithful Bible stories. He talks about the importance of Christians telling real stories, and Brian makes a surprising pivot into the movie Magnolia (1999, directed by PTA, definitely NOT a Christian movie, don't show your family and then send us angry messages). Brian argues that Magnolia's director Paul Thomas Anderson is trying to take a divine perspective on the rise and fall of ten characters in Los Angeles. Nate gives his thoughts on a movie that is more honest about grace and judgment than any "Christian" film he has seen recently.  As Magnolia's Christian Officer Kurring (John C. Reilly) puts it: "Sometimes people need to be forgiven. And sometimes they need to go to jail. And that's a very tricky thing on my part." This leads to a challenge: Christian directors should be more ambitious than Paul Thomas Anderson in their efforts to make Christian films great again.

James Engerbretson, director of the nature documentary series Riot & the Dance, shares his passion for celebrating nature's beauty through film. He discusses the unique challenges of storytelling in animal documentaries and the need for a positive narrative that resonates with younger audiences. Engerbretson recounts thrilling adventures, like swimming with sharks and almost getting gored by a rhino. He emphasizes the spiritual connections found within nature, encouraging listeners to appreciate the artistry of creation in their backyards.

As a conservative artist who's been working in the mainstream since 2007, Nate has an artistic opinion that's going to get conservative folks angry: Capitalism doesn't produce great art. Lest you join this commenter who said "this take is so dumb it got me to engage, brilliant", if you care about this topic, you need to listen to the whole episode. Nate's argument is that the incentives of capitalism reward the MOST entertainment, for the MOST people, for the MOST money. But actual greatness of art? That's not a problem that capitalism is solving for. Capitalism is a Delta stewardess serving cheese cubes to the Delta Sky Club Diamond members. It'll get you the most cheese cubes at the lowest price, but it's not not gonna get a steak. Instead, Nate argues for a return of patronage. Cathedrals, requiems, masses, paintings, statuary -- it's all been the result of patronage. Brian objects. Nate qualifies. The truth is that when streaming is king, an uncompromising demand for excellence and improvement only eats into your profit, because a creator's profit is capped by the streaming service. How do you resist the allure of cold hard cash if you're a creator? Better make sure you have principles you can hold on to beyond the desire for money.

This episode is a justification for the Stories Are Soul Food manifesto. First, Brian makes Nate react to the worst SASF episode from last year; then, Brian makes Nate react to the 2025 Golden Globes winners (The Brutalist, Emilia Perez, The Substance, Flow, etc.); and lastly Brian makes Nate justify the importance of story in a time when everybody else seems to be crazy. Kinda seems like we should be focusing on more important stuff than narrative, right? Nate describes 2025 as the year of living next to the insane asylum -- what can we do with our own lives when your neighbors are coloring on all their walls? Nate says story is not only part of the answer, it's the solution for how you, your spouse, and your kids are going to get through these "interesting times."

Prepare for a journey through the murky waters of mediocrity where Black Pill Nate reveals the harsh reality of aiming for excellence while settling for subpar input. The duo delves into the surprising success of 'Wicked' despite its lack of quality, and critiques storytelling in adaptations like 'Silo.' They humorously navigate the minefield of second seasons, pointing out the essential role of high-quality production. With a mix of nostalgia and sharp critiques, the conversation inspires listeners to reconsider their creative endeavors and life choices.

Nate and Brian dive into the tricky balance of flattery and honesty in parenting. They tackle the impact of compliments on children’s self-worth and the importance of genuine support. The duo humorously debates the implications of a gift-less Christmas. They also explore the individuality of children in large families and how to nurture their unique strengths. Plus, classic Christmas movies like 'Elf' and 'Die Hard' get a light-hearted critique, blending humor with reflections on holiday traditions.

Listeners of this podcast know that when Christmastime rolls around, the SASF podcast likes to focus on the less appreciated Bible stories that lead up to the birth of the Christ:. You may remember past Advent episodes on the Levite's concubine, Onan, and Tamar. This year, the guys discuss the place of the Jewish people in the Christmas story. Why? Well, nobody needs a reason to talk about the Gospel, but in addition (if you're on X), you've definitely noticed a certain vocal minority who loves nothing more than to denigrate the Jews. Don't worry, we don't spend much time on those dummies -- but we do spend time discussing the meaning of Christmas, its place in history, the rights and wrongs of Zionism, Old Testament heresies like Talmudic Judaism, and, of course, the Jewish story that is the whole basis for the birth of our Jewish Savior... and why we're Christians now. You're also going to find out that you're the second lobster on the heavenly sheet in Peter's vision, so get used to not being the main character. Merry Christmas!

Under duress, Brian admits that Gladiator (the original) is still his favorite movie, having stayed atop the BK Movie podium since Brian was a teenager. Nate attacks Brian for his bashfulness at recommending what is, in fact, an all-time great movie, and the guys have a pleasant reminiscence of Russell Crowe and 2000's Gladiator, remembering all the great parts and forgetting all the supporting actors' names. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and it turns out they just released a NEW Gladiator, and Nate had watched it with his kids. You get to hear Nate's analysis of how the new Gladiator fails to emulate the old, along with his hypothesis for why Ridley Scott keep churning out poor quality movies from potentially amazing IP. You'll also hear Nate's director's take on the casting in Gladiator II, which is a single point of failure (well, maybe the CG baboons are the single point of failure). But the worst of Gladiator II is the effort spent undermining the nobility of Maximus.

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A monumental announcement kicks off discussions about the 1977 animated Hobbit now streaming. Nostalgia takes center stage as the guys reflect on its cinematic legacy and the importance of family film nights. They humorously critique sci-fi definitions, particularly targeting Heinlein. The conversation bridges humanity with divinity, highlighting storytelling's role in human values. There's a push for deeper engagement with art and spirituality, while redefining the fine line between sci-fi and fantasy, urging listeners to appreciate quality storytelling over strict genre borders.