Sacred Frames

About Sacred Frames

A Moviecast about the overlap of film and spirituality.

Publisher

Jeff Cook, Sean Palmer, Mike Yager

Category

religion & spirituality · tv & film

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Jul 2025

Latest episode

12 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

16 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   12 Aug 2026

   Spider-Man | Brand New Day

   Spider-Man: Brand New Day gives us plenty to argue about—but its biggest questions may have very little to do with superheroes. Jeff Cook, Movie Mike Yeager, and Sean Palmer dig into Peter Parker’s loneliness, his struggle to integrate Peter and Spider-Man, and the temptation to suppress the parts of ourselves that feel dangerous or unwanted. We talk inhibitor chips, Bruce Banner, Jean Grey, the Punisher, grief, isolation, surveillance, extraordinary power—and whether becoming whole requires eliminating difficult parts of ourselves or learning how to live with them. At its best, Brand New Day becomes a story about identity: Peter discovering that he cannot simply choose between Peter Parker and Spider-Man. He has to become both. Plus: what does the MCU actually need now? More interconnected setup—or simply great stories that can stand on their own? Full spoilers throughout. #SpiderMan #BrandNewDay #Marvel #MCU #SacredFrames

2. 

   23 Jul 2026

   The Odyssey | Broken Men and Broken Worlds

   Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey begins with the Trojan Horse—but the real story begins with what that act breaks. The Odyssey isn't simply about a man trying to get home. It's about hospitality betrayed, promises broken, the cost of war, and whether someone who has violated the moral fabric of the world can ever truly return to the person they once were. In this episode of The Sacred Frames, Jeff Cook, Sean Palmer, and Movie Mike Yager unpack Nolan's adaptation scene by scene. They explore why the Trojan Horse becomes the defining moral event of the film, why hospitality—not heroism—sits at the heart of Homer's story, and why Nolan portrays home as less a place than a moral destination. Along the way, they debate whether Odysseus is a hero or simply the protagonist, whether Matt Damon was the right choice for the role, and why Nolan's screenplay has become one of the film's most divisive elements. They also discuss the film's portrayal of PTSD, confession, shame, fatherhood, the Sirens, Hades, Penelope, and the haunting question that echoes throughout the story: Do you really want to go home—and who will you be if you get there? The conversation also explores Nolan's recurring fascination with fathers and sons, why nearly all of his films are ultimately stories of homecoming, and whether The Odyssey offers hope for restoration or simply a mirror of humanity's endless cycle of violence.

3. 

   30 Jun 2026

   Movie Mt. Rushmore | Telling the Story of America

   What four films best capture the story of America? In this Fourth of July edition of Sacred Frames, Jeff Cook, Sean Palmer, and Mike Yager each build their own cinematic "Mount Rushmore," selecting four films they believe reveal the promises, contradictions, triumphs, and tragedies that have shaped the American experiment. From Far and Away, Do the Right Thing, Wall Street, and The Right Stuff to Lincoln, Killers of the Flower Moon, Saving Private Ryan, Malcolm X, and beyond, the conversation explores immigration, race, capitalism, war, religion, identity, and the enduring tension between America's highest ideals and its deepest failures. Rather than asking which films are the greatest, this episode asks a different question: Which stories help us understand who America has been—and who it might still become?

4. 

   19 Jun 2026

   Disclosure Day | Empathy, Trauma and Wonder

   Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day has become one of the most divisive films of the year—and it split the Sacred Frames hosts as well. Mike Yeager sees Disclosure Day as a late-career masterpiece: a hopeful meditation on empathy, trauma, faith, and humanity's place in the cosmos. Jeff Cook had the opposite reaction, arguing that the film never earns its emotional weight, depends too heavily on Spielberg's past work, and ultimately fails to deliver on its philosophical ambitions. Sean Palmer lands somewhere in the middle, praising the filmmaking while wrestling with the story's themes and ending. In this conversation, we explore: *Does the movie have anything meaningful to say about faith, theology, and human nature? *Does the ending work? *What role do empathy, trauma, and redemption play in Spielberg's vision? Along the way we discuss Close Encounters, E.T., A.I., The Fabelmans, Schindler's List, and the larger themes that have shaped Spielberg's career for decades. Whether you loved Disclosure Day, hated it, or are still trying to figure out what Spielberg was attempting, join us for a thoughtful—and spirited—conversation.

5. 

   7 Jun 2026

   Science Fiction Movie Draft

   Science fiction may be our culture's most spiritual genre. In celebration of Disclosure Day, Jeff Cook, Mike Yager, and Sean Palmer hold a science fiction movie draft built around eight themes that sit at the intersection of faith, philosophy, and the future. Cosmic Christ — The messianic figure who saves, sacrifices, redeems, resurrects, or carries unmistakable Christological themes. To Infinity and Beyond — Humanity pushes beyond its limits and encounters the grandeur, mystery, wonder, or terror of creation itself. Holy Communion — A transformative encounter with the Other. First contact that leads to understanding, revelation, friendship, or reconciliation. Unholy Communion — First contact gone wrong. Possession, corruption, invasion, conquest, or destruction. Imago Dei — Stories about creators and creation. Artificial intelligence, robotics, genetic engineering, and the question of what it means to make something in our image. Apocalypse — Not merely destruction, but revelation. Worlds ending, systems collapsing, and hidden truths coming to light. Kingdom Come — Visions of utopia and the future. Societies that promise salvation, perfection, or human flourishing—and the cracks that inevitably appear. Wild Card — The category for everything too strange, beautiful, profound, or unique to fit anywhere else. Along the way, the conversation touches on films such as Arrival, The Martian, Rogue One, Interstellar, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Ex Machina, Gattaca, Minority Report, Alien, WALL-E, and many more. What do our favorite science fiction stories reveal about sacrifice, hope, free will, creation, transcendence, and what it means to be human? Join us as we draft 24 films and explore the spiritual questions hidden inside some of cinema's greatest journeys into the unknown.

6. 

   29 May 2026

   The Sheep Detectives | The Cost of Forgetting

   Is The Sheep Detective just a clever animated mystery—or something much deeper? In this episode of Sacred Frames, Jeff Cook, Movie Mike Yager, and Sean Palmer explore one of the year's most surprising films. What begins as a charming murder mystery about a flock of sheep investigating the death of their beloved shepherd unfolds into a profound meditation on grief, memory, love, community, and what it means to become fully human. Along the way, the conversation touches on theology, storytelling, the role of remembrance in spiritual formation, the dignity of the outsider, and why some of the most important truths are best told through family films.

7. 

   29 May 2026

   Project Hail Mary | Friendship, Death and Meaning

   Jeff Cook, Sean Palmer, and Mike Yager return to the mic to explore Project Hail Mary—a film that surprised audiences not just with spectacle, but with heart. From cosmic survival to unexpected friendship, from science to sacrifice, this conversation moves beneath the surface. We reflect on courage, mortality, connection, and the quiet question that sits underneath it all: What makes a life meaningful? We discuss: * Friendship in unlikely places * The longing to be known—and to give your life for something that matters * The tension between fear and bravery * Faith, sacrifice, and the possibility that love gives meaning to death Along the way, we touch on theology, storytelling, Enneagram insights, and why this film resonates so deeply with audiences right now. If you’ve seen Project Hail Mary, this conversation will deepen it. If you haven’t, it might just give you a reason to go.

8. 

   26 May 2026

   The Pitt | Addiction, Identity, and the Cost of Caring

   Jeff Cook, Sean Palmer, and Movie Mike Yager step outside their usual film discussions to take on HBO’s The Pitt—a rare kind of show that feels like “must-see TV” in a fragmented, algorithm-driven world. What begins as a conversation about storytelling quickly deepens into something more personal: why this show resonates, what long-form storytelling can do that movies can’t, and how The Pitt captures both the chaos and the meaning inside a hospital’s walls. Along the way, the conversation moves into weightier territory—addiction, recovery, failure, mentorship, and the cost of caring professions. The group reflects on Langdon’s journey back from public failure, Robbie’s unraveling under the weight of responsibility, and the subtle ways the show explores spiritual themes without ever preaching. This is a discussion about medicine, but also about identity, calling, and what it means to hold yourself together while everything around you falls apart.

9. 

   2 Apr 2026

   The Big Jesus Movie Draft

   This week on Sacred Frames, we’re doing something a little different—a full-on Jesus Movie Draft. In honor of Holy Week, we step into the massive world of films shaped by the life of Christ, the Church, and the long shadow of Christian imagination. From direct portrayals to subtle allegories, from sacred to satirical, we’re asking a simple question: Where does Jesus show up on screen—and who tells that story best? With Mike Yeager serving as commissioner, we go head-to-head in a snake-style draft—building our own rosters and letting you decide who wins. But more than competition, this episode is about seeing how deeply the story of Jesus has shaped cinema across genres, generations, and perspectives. Draft Categories: Movie Jesus Direct portrayals of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ “Movie Jesus” (Allegory) Christ figures, sacrificial heroes, and messianic archetypes across storytelling Comedy & Satire Films that put religion and religious culture on trial The Church Institutions, clergy, and communities—both beautiful and broken The Devil & Spiritual Warfare Stories of evil, temptation, and the battle for the human soul Biblical Cinema (BC) Old Testament and non-Jesus-centered biblical narratives The Great Commission Mission, expansion, and the global impact of Christianity Wild Card Personal picks—films where the presence of Jesus shows up in unexpected ways

10. 

    13 Nov 2025

    "Sinners" | The Cost of Letting Them In

    Ryan Coogler made a 1930s Mississippi vampire blues epic about race, land, faith, and the hunger to own another person’s story. Sinners isn’t just a horror film; it’s a meditation on who gets to live, who gets remembered, and who gets consumed along the way. In this episode of The Sacred Frames, Jeff Cook, Sean Palmer, and Movie Mike Yeager finally sit down with one of 2025’s most talked-about films. We trace the story from Clarksdale cotton fields to blood-soaked juke joints, from hoodoo altars to bleached churches. We dig into how Sinners holds together a lot at once—race and cultural theft, Black joy and pain, war trauma, code-switching, sex, faith, and the American obsession with consuming what it refuses to honor. If you enjoyed this episode: 👉 Leave a rating & review so more folks can find the show 👉 Tell us your read on Sinners in the comments—what stuck with you most? 👉 Share this with the film nerd, theology friend, or horror fan in your life #Sinners #RyanCoogler #SacredFrames #FilmPodcast #FaithAndFilm #MovieDiscussion

11. 

    8 Oct 2025

    "One Battle After Another" | Art, Power, and Who Pays the Price

    Jeff Cook, Sean Palmer, and Movie Mike Yager dive into Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest—part revolution thriller, part political satire, part mirror held to 2025 America. We wrestle with the film’s big swings: the “Christmas Adventurers” as villains, whether satire trivializes white supremacy, how Black women’s bodies and sacrifices are depicted, the generational handoff at the end, and the perennial “Does art owe us a way forward—or just a clear-eyed look at now?” Along the way: DiCaprio vs. Penn, the robe discourse (!), why Sensei Sergio quietly steals the movie, and a spicy sidebar on who gets to make “unprofitable” art in Hollywood. Listen order tip: If you haven’t seen the film, pause after the intro and circle back—this one works best post-screening. Chapter Marks (HH:MM) 00:00 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFQQx32xRZI) Cold open & mea/wea-culpa 02:05 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFQQx32xRZI&t=125s) Spoiler warning & quick plot frame 06:40 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFQQx32xRZI&t=400s) First takes: form vs. meaning 13:10 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFQQx32xRZI&t=790s) The “Christmas Adventurers” problem (satire or trivialization?) 22:45 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFQQx32xRZI&t=1365s) Power, sex, and Lockjaw 32:00 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFQQx32xRZI&t=1920s) Pería, Willa, and the generational handoff 42:10 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFQQx32xRZI&t=2530s) Sensei Sergio & small-scale courage 50:05 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFQQx32xRZI&t=3005s) “Art owes us what?” (mirror vs. map) 58:20 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFQQx32xRZI&t=3500s) Industry/box-office inequities 1:05:10 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFQQx32xRZI&t=3910s) Closing thoughts + streaming recs Streaming Recs from the episode Adolescence (Netflix) — one-shot storytelling that stings The Death of Stalin (Hulu) — political satire with teeth Punch-Drunk Love (Criterion) & Phantom Thread (Netflix) — PTA context pair Point Break (original) — Friday-night fun Alien: Earth — Episode 5 for a self-contained banger Schindler’s List — rewatch notes for our present New York (Rick Burns doc) — race, power, and a city’s soul Dexter: Resurrection — “top-tier Dexter” comfort chaos Join the conversation What did One Battle After Another get right—or miss entirely? Drop your take (and your favorite scene) in the comments. We’ll read a few on the next episode. 👍 If this helped you process the film, like, subscribe, and share with a movie friend. 🔔 New episodes of Sacred Frames land weekly.

12. 

    15 Sept 2025

    "The Long Walk" | Dystopia, Spectacle & Mortality

    Stephen King’s The Long Walk hits the screen, and we dig into what it says about power, violence, and how we walk with each other toward the end we all face. We compare King’s novel to the film (3 mph vs. 4 mph, book’s crowds vs. film’s bleak roadsides), weigh the “prophetic horror” label, and ask whether this story critiques dehumanization—or risks feeding it. We track Ray Garrity and Pete’s bond, the Major’s face of authority, and the finale’s turn from vengeance to mercy. Along the way we name the pull of spectacle over dignity, the economy-over-people creed, and why friendship may be the only way to keep our humanity on the road. We cover * Book-to-film shifts and what they change * Dystopian rules, “choice” vs. coercion, and the lottery * Spectacle, reality TV, and the cost to the young * NFL/OnlyFans analogies: risk, poverty, and “tickets out” * Spiritual read: perverted pilgrimage, memento mori, mercy over revenge * Violence on screen: numbness, outrage, and discernment Plus * Where it ranks among King adaptations * A nod to 28 Years Later and why “forsaken worlds” keep calling us back * Content note: frank talk about violence and death.

13. 

    29 Aug 2025

    "Jaws" | Outsiders and Salvation

    Fifty years ago, Jaws forever changed the way we experience movies. In this episode, Jeff Cook, Sean Palmer, and Mike Yeager revisit Spielberg’s classic on its 50th anniversary and explore why it remains one of the greatest films ever made. From the birth of the summer blockbuster to John Williams’ iconic score, from themes of community crisis and outsiders to the haunting parallels with modern events like COVID, the conversation dives deep into what makes Jaws timeless. Along the way, we unpack representation, class, paranoia in 1970s cinema, and the unseen fears that still shape our culture today. Join us as we ask: What does Jaws reveal about who we are—and how we respond when the waters get dangerous?

14. 

    15 Aug 2025

    "Weapons" | A Discussion

    In this episode, we dive into Weapons, the recent film from director Zach Cregger, unpacking its spiritual themes and the cultural conversations it sparks. From its layered storytelling to the moral questions at its core, we explore how the film challenges and engages its audience. This full discussion is available now on YouTube.

15. 

    1 Aug 2025

    "The Fantastic Four" (2025) | Review

    In this episode of Sacred Frames, Jeff Cook, Sean Palmer, and Mike Yager dive deep into Marvel’s new Fantastic Four—a film loaded with potential but plagued by missed opportunities. We explore the movie’s central moral question: Would you sacrifice one life—your own child—to save the world? Along the way, we compare this film to The Incredibles, unpack the themes of motherhood, cosmic hunger, and accountability, and ask what’s next for the MCU as it heads toward Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. Plus, a hilarious game of “Dr. Doom or God?” you won’t want to miss. Timestamps: 0:00 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofnv0IEf2Y4) – Introduction 2:15 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofnv0IEf2Y4&t=135s) – First Impressions: Why The Incredibles Sets a Higher Bar 6:50 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofnv0IEf2Y4&t=410s) – Would You Sacrifice a Baby for Humanity? 13:10 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofnv0IEf2Y4&t=790s) – Galactus, Cosmic Hunger, and Enslavement 18:25 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofnv0IEf2Y4&t=1105s) – The Missed Opportunity of Motherhood in the MCU 25:40 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofnv0IEf2Y4&t=1540s) – Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards: Miscast? 32:00 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofnv0IEf2Y4&t=1920s) – Why Fantastic Four Feels Like a Movie Made by Committee 40:15 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofnv0IEf2Y4&t=2415s) – Dr. Doom or God? (Game Segment) 46:00 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofnv0IEf2Y4&t=2760s) – What the MCU Needs to Fix Before Avengers: Doomsday #fantasticfour (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/fantasticfour) #fantasticfourmovie (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/fantasticfourmovie) #fantasticfour2025 (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/fantasticfour2025) #fantasticfourfirststeps (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/fantasticfourfirststeps)

16. 

    19 Jul 2025

    "Superman" (2025) | Review

    A discussion of James Gunn's Superman, what it asks about us, and what it says about God. #Superman #God #Spirituality #Movies #moviereview

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