Faithspotting is a podcasts dedicated to spotting and sharing issues of life, faith, and theology presented in film, television, and music, then empower listeners to use these stories as tools to strengthen and apply faith in their everyday life.
Mike and Kenny discuss the latest collabortation between Brad PItt and director David Ayer (Fury), the survival thriller Heart of the Beast. In the film, James Belmont (Pitt) is a retired Special Forces officer who flies into the wild of Alaska with Odin (Uber) his retired German Shepherd partner. After spending two nights fishing and camping they are involed in a plane crash on the way home and must traverse 58 miles of rough terrain, wolves and bears, while overcoming injuries sustained in the crash and along the journey. The film shows the dedication James and Odin have for each other as they work together on their dangerous trek out of the Alaskan wild.
Faith Spotted:
As one might expect in a film about a difficult and dangerous journey, the film reflects the growth one can achieve in when persevering trials and suffering. In Romans 5 Paul teaches that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. Such perseverance also leads to hope when journeying through the wilderness of the struggles faced in life.
In addition, the film depicts the role of a shepherd as told through the 23rd Psalm. Both James and Odin serve as shepherds to the other and are present together as they walk through the hills and valleys of the Alaskan wild which serve as the valley of the shadow of death. Both work to restore each other's souls as they are impacted by PTSD from the trauma experienced in the war in Iraq. Odin specifically leads James as the shepherd led the psalmist. The Psalm speaks of the loyalty and love of the shepherd for the flock, loyalty James and Olin have and that represents the faitfulness and love of God who is also present with us as we journey through dark valleys and green pastures and who restores our soul.
Psalm 22 is also reflected in again showing that despite the dangers and enemies one faces, God is present and God turns loss and sure death into everlasting life.
Another element reflected in the film is the power and place of purpose. As holocaust survivor and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl expeienced and shares in his acclaimed book, Man's Search for Meaning it was the prisoners who found a purpose, not necessarily the strongest or initially healthiest, that were most likley to survive the horrors of the concentration camps. The call to ministry and discipleship offers that purpose that also gives meaning in both the struggles as well of joys of life.
Heart of the Beast is rated PG-13
Thank you WIT PR for the opportunity for Faithspotting to host a pre-screening in the Dallas area.
31 Aug 2026
Faithspotting "1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture
Kenny and Mike are joined by Director and Producer Sharon "Rocky Roggio for a discussion of her documentary film 1946: The Mistranslations That Shifted Culture. The film chronicles the first time the word "homosexual" appears in the Bible, the Revised Standard Verson (RSV) which was first published in 1946. The film stars Kathy Baldock and Ed Oxford, researchers who discover the translation committee that worked on the original Revised Standard Version Bible conflated and translated the Koine Greek words malakoi and arsenokoitai as "homosexual." Prior to 1946 major translations such as the King James Version (KJV) used the words for the sexual acts rather than an identity label. The work of Kathy and Ed cast light on the translation process used by the RSV committee leading up to their publication, and how changes were made to the original translastion.
Interwoven throughout the film are the personal stories of Ed and Sharon and their struggles as persons of faith who faced rejection in or from their congregations. Sharon's father ,Sal Roggio, an Evangelical pastor who does not accept the mistranslation is also featured throughout parts of the film. While the film does depict tension, disagreement and pain between Sharon and her father, the film also shows that they still love one another and are in relationship, which is not always the case in families. This focus on being able to hold tension of disagreement while also maintaining a relationship is model of faith for others to consider to replicate.
Sharon Roggio
In the discussion, Sharon also discusses how she produced and has distrubuted the film. 1946 won over 20 awards on the festival circuit including the prestigious Audience Award at the 2022 DOC NYC. It was also eligible for consideration for best feature documentary for the Academy Awards in 1924. In 2025 Sharon organized a "1946 Tour" where they showed the film in conservative communities in the United States as a way to speak for the LGTB community and have dialogue with others in the towns. Sharon has also shown the film internationally including Korea, Japan, various Eurpopean countries and is taking the film to South Africa as well. There are also plans for "Good Faith" tour in 2027 in the United States.
Kathy Baldock Ed Oxford
29 Jul 2026
Faithspotting The Odyssey
Kenny and Mike discuss and spot faith elements in Christopher Nolan's latest epic film, The Odyssey. Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Tom Holland lead a strong cast that also includes Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, and John Leguizamo. Both Kenny and Mike think John Leguizamo's performance may result in an Academy Award Nomination for Supporting Actor. Both the film and Christopher Nolan are most likely to be nominated as well.
Filmed with IMAX 70mm cameras and shown in a variety of formats including IMAX, which have sold out for a year, the The Odyssey fits the epic nature and scope of Homer's foundational literary work. Though not an IMAX screening Mike and Kenny shared their experience seeing the film in 70mm film rather than digital screening. Mike shared his appreciation for the rich contrast presented in the low light photography the IMAX film stock allows. Other technical aspects included the use of practical effects including forced perspective. Kenny questioned why Nolan did not choose more accurate costumes and other production design elements as well as some more modern words and phrase that took him out of the film briefly.
Faith Elements Reflected:
Among the many elements of faith spotted in the story, Kenny discusses the very nature of faith from a Christian perspective is as an odyssey as one journeys through seasons of struggle and joy as we travel toward our spiritual home, the Kingdom of God.
Calypso's instruction to Odysseus to surrender to and trust the ocean waves and tides rather than struggle against them is akin to surrendering to God's faithfulness, grace, and power rather than reliance of one's own abilities and power against the ooverwhelming power of sin and evil.
Athena's care, presence, and guidance to Odysseus reflects God's presence and involvement through the Holy Spirit in the lives of individuals as well as the work of God in transforming the broken world into the Kingdom of God.
Zeus's Law of Hospitality echoes the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament teachings on hospitality, especially the welcoming and caring for strangers and even enemies, Abram's hosting of Angels, Jesus's parable of the Good Samaritan.
The need for humility in living a faithful life. Echoing the teaching of Paul in Philippians 2 to imitate the humility of Jesus. Odysseus's boasting set the stage for many of the struggles in his journey home.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
11 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 61 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
92
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
77
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