<![CDATA[Everyday Dread | Horror Analysis]]>Horror movie analysis for the real world. Host Ryan Does and a panel of experts unmask the dread behind the screen to show how cinema explains our everyday lives. From the weight of grief in The Babadook and the collapse of society in The Mist, to the nuclear anxiety of Godzilla and the survival instincts of The Descent, we explore the darkness of the human condition. Join our theologians and academics to discover why horror isn't just fiction—it's a survival guide for modern life. New videos every week!

]]>https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iamryandoes1Riverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Thu, 28 May 2026 00:16:22 GMTWed, 06 May 2026 18:40:55 GMT60Ryan Does<p>Horror movie analysis for the real world. Host Ryan Does and a panel of experts unmask the dread behind the screen to show how cinema explains our everyday lives. From the weight of grief in The Babadook and the collapse of society in The Mist, to the nuclear anxiety of Godzilla and the survival instincts of The Descent, we explore the darkness of the human condition. Join our theologians and academics to discover why horror isn't just fiction—it's a survival guide for modern life. New videos every week!</p>episodicRyan Doesrgdoes@gmail.comno<![CDATA[Beyond Frankenstein: The Radical World of Mary Shelley, Jane Austen, and the Brontë Sisters]]>In this episode, Kristy Whaley leads Ryan in a deep dive into the life of Mary Shelley to uncover the intellectual and personal origins of Frankenstein. We move past the surface-level horror to explore how her radical upbringing—raised by anarchist philosopher William Godwin and feminist trailblazer Mary Wollstonecraft—defined her worldview. We also discuss the heavy influence of her own experiences with pregnancy and loss on the novel’s themes of creation, and how she carved out a space for herself in a literary landscape dominated by very different expectations.


Key Discussion Points

  • ​The Radical Pedigree: How being the daughter of a radical atheist and a pioneering feminist shaped Shelley’s critique of man’s hubris.
  • ​ Creation & Motherhood: The profound impact of Shelley’s pregnancy and personal grief on the "unnatural" birth of Victor’s creature.
  • ​ Gothic vs. Regency: Contrasting Shelley’s dark, philosophical Gothic with the contemporary societal satires of Jane Austen.
  • ​ The Struggle for a Voice: A brief look at the Brontë sisters and the shared challenges women writers faced in being taken seriously by the 19th-century establishment.
]]>https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iamryandoes1/episodes/Beyond-Frankenstein-The-Radical-World-of-Mary-Shelley--Jane-Austen--and-the-Bront-Sisters-e3glm973dd5b94e-14b0-4683-8245-56b38b08aa0eThu, 19 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT<p>In this episode, Kristy Whaley leads Ryan in a deep dive into the life of Mary Shelley to uncover the intellectual and personal origins of Frankenstein. We move past the surface-level horror to explore how her radical upbringing—raised by anarchist philosopher William Godwin and feminist trailblazer Mary Wollstonecraft—defined her worldview. We also discuss the heavy influence of her own experiences with pregnancy and loss on the novel’s themes of creation, and how she carved out a space for herself in a literary landscape dominated by very different expectations.</p><p><br /></p><p>Key Discussion Points</p><ul><li>​The Radical Pedigree: How being the daughter of a radical atheist and a pioneering feminist shaped Shelley’s critique of man’s hubris.</li><li>​ Creation &amp; Motherhood: The profound impact of Shelley’s pregnancy and personal grief on the "unnatural" birth of Victor’s creature.</li><li>​ Gothic vs. Regency: Contrasting Shelley’s dark, philosophical Gothic with the contemporary societal satires of Jane Austen.</li><li>​ The Struggle for a Voice: A brief look at the Brontë sisters and the shared challenges women writers faced in being taken seriously by the 19th-century establishment.</li></ul> no00:18:06Beyond Frankenstein: The Radical World of Mary Shelley, Jane Austen, and the Brontë Sistersbonus<![CDATA[The Shining (1980) | The Male Loneliness Epidemic: A Warning for Modern Men]]>Is Jack Torrance a victim of a haunted hotel, or is he the architect of his own destruction? This week, Ryan sits down with theology and ethics professor Michael Morelli to dissect Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. From the "male loneliness epidemic" to the chilling parallels between the film and modern toxic masculinity.


Key Discussion Points:

  • ​The Fragility of the Father: Why Jack Torrance’s failure as a writer is the true catalyst for his descent. We discuss the "shattered masculinity" that makes the Overlook Hotel so seductive to him.
  • ​The Male Loneliness Epidemic: A modern lens on an old classic. Is Jack’s isolation a supernatural curse or a reflection of the withdrawal and rage seen in contemporary social issues?
  • ​Colonialism & Control: Deconstructing the hotel as a symbol of the "colonial master." How the desire for dominance mirrors Jack’s internal struggle for power over his family.
  • ​The Wendy Dynamic: A difficult look at enablement, trauma dynamics, and why redemption requires more than just "sorry"—it requires a total repair of the damage caused.


​Michael Morelli is the Associate Professor of Theology & Ethics at Northwest College & Seminary and ACTS Seminaries. Both are affiliates of Trinity Western University. He’s also an adjunct professor of theology of at Trinity’s Religious Studies and Nursing Schools. He has a PhD in Theological Ethics from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland and is the author of Theology, Ethics, and Technology in the Work of Jacques Ellul and Paul Virilio: A Nascent Theological Tradition (Lexington Books) and editor of Desert, Wilderness, Wasteland, and Word: A New Essay By Jacques Ellul and Five Critical Engagements (Pickwick). Michael publishes and presents on a variety of topics within the fields of theology, morality, culture, politics, technology, and dis/ability. He’s also worked in local church ministry and continues to serve the church in a lay capacity. He lives in Langley, British Columbia, Canada, with his wife and two kids.


Links:

- Substack: personalistmanifestos.substack.com

- Instagram, BlueSky, and Twitter/X: @mchlmorelli

]]>https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iamryandoes1/episodes/The-Shining-1980--The-Male-Loneliness-Epidemic-A-Warning-for-Modern-Men-e3f2ql69c09c162-9221-433b-9b52-28d144e9ea06Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:05:00 GMT<p>Is Jack Torrance a victim of a haunted hotel, or is he the architect of his own destruction? This week, Ryan sits down with theology and ethics professor Michael Morelli to dissect Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. From the "male loneliness epidemic" to the chilling parallels between the film and modern toxic masculinity.</p><p><br /></p><p>Key Discussion Points:</p><ul><li>​<strong>The Fragility of the Father: </strong>Why Jack Torrance’s failure as a writer is the true catalyst for his descent. We discuss the "shattered masculinity" that makes the Overlook Hotel so seductive to him.</li><li>​<strong>The Male Loneliness Epidemic: </strong>A modern lens on an old classic. Is Jack’s isolation a supernatural curse or a reflection of the withdrawal and rage seen in contemporary social issues?</li><li>​<strong>Colonialism &amp; Control: </strong>Deconstructing the hotel as a symbol of the "colonial master." How the desire for dominance mirrors Jack’s internal struggle for power over his family.</li><li>​<strong>The Wendy Dynamic: </strong>A difficult look at enablement, trauma dynamics, and why redemption requires more than just "sorry"—it requires a total repair of the damage caused.</li></ul><p><br /></p><p>​<strong>Michael Morelli</strong> is the Associate Professor of Theology &amp; Ethics at Northwest College &amp; Seminary and ACTS Seminaries. Both are affiliates of Trinity Western University. He’s also an adjunct professor of theology of at Trinity’s Religious Studies and Nursing Schools. He has a PhD in Theological Ethics from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland and is the author of Theology, Ethics, and Technology in the Work of Jacques Ellul and Paul Virilio: A Nascent Theological Tradition (Lexington Books) and editor of Desert, Wilderness, Wasteland, and Word: A New Essay By Jacques Ellul and Five Critical Engagements (Pickwick). Michael publishes and presents on a variety of topics within the fields of theology, morality, culture, politics, technology, and dis/ability. He’s also worked in local church ministry and continues to serve the church in a lay capacity. He lives in Langley, British Columbia, Canada, with his wife and two kids.</p><p><br /></p><p>Links:</p><p>- Substack: personalistmanifestos.substack.com</p><p>- Instagram, BlueSky, and Twitter/X: @mchlmorelli</p> no00:44:465The Shining (1980) | The Male Loneliness Epidemic: A Warning for Modern Menfull<![CDATA[The Thing (1982) | Paranoia & Polarization: How “Us vs. Them” Kills Trust]]>In an era defined by social polarization and the erosion of objective truth, John Carpenter’s The Thing feels less like a horror movie and more like a documentary. This episode, we explore the suspicion and mistrust, drawing parallels between the film's shapeshifting antagonist and the projected paranoia that dominates our current social landscape. From the breakdown of the social contract in isolated communities to the way mind violence distracts us from systemic issues, we examine how the "Other" is often closer than we think.


In This Episode, We Discuss:

  • ​The Polarization of Truth: How the film’s atmosphere of mistrust mirrors the modern difficulty of discerning true beliefs in a hyper-divided society.
  • ​The Fragility of the Social Contract: Analyzing the emotional impact of transformative events and how misinformation acts as a catalyst for societal decay.
  • ​Projected Paranoia: Using Kurt Russell’s insights to discuss how we project our internal fears onto others, fueling political discourse and division.
  • ​Masculinity & Authority: A critique of the film’s toxic masculinity and the total collapse of trust in authority figures during a crisis.



Rev. Dr. Leah Robinson is a practical theologian at Mercer University in Atlanta and previously taught at the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Her research employs ethnographic studies of lived religion to explore politics, history, the American South, feminism, liberation theology, and social justice.


Dr. Robinson has authored three books: Embodied Peacebuilding (Peter Lang), Bad Theology (SCM), and Bad Theology in COVID (Palgrave Macmillan). Her forthcoming book, Born Perfect or Boy Erased: Bad Theology and the Ex-Gay Movement (Bloomsbury), is slated for 2026. She currently serves as chair of the editorial board for the journal Practical Theology (Routledge) and is President-Elect of the American Academy of Religion Southeast. In her free time, she enjoys wine, cats, the beach, and—most days—her beloved Georgia Bulldogs.

]]>https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iamryandoes1/episodes/The-Thing-1982--Paranoia--Polarization-How-Us-vs--Them-Kills-Trust-e3f04a8e5a2334f-f013-4601-815a-db3ed595b056Mon, 16 Mar 2026 09:06:01 GMT<p>In an era defined by social polarization and the erosion of objective truth, John Carpenter’s The Thing feels less like a horror movie and more like a documentary. This episode, we explore the suspicion and mistrust, drawing parallels between the film's shapeshifting antagonist and the projected paranoia that dominates our current social landscape. From the breakdown of the social contract in isolated communities to the way mind violence distracts us from systemic issues, we examine how the "Other" is often closer than we think.</p><p><br /></p><p>In This Episode, We Discuss:</p><ul><li>​<strong>The Polarization of Truth: </strong>How the film’s atmosphere of mistrust mirrors the modern difficulty of discerning true beliefs in a hyper-divided society.</li><li>​<strong>The Fragility of the Social Contract: </strong>Analyzing the emotional impact of transformative events and how misinformation acts as a catalyst for societal decay.</li><li>​<strong>Projected Paranoia: </strong>Using Kurt Russell’s insights to discuss how we project our internal fears onto others, fueling political discourse and division.</li><li>​<strong>Masculinity &amp; Authority: </strong>A critique of the film’s toxic masculinity and the total collapse of trust in authority figures during a crisis.</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Rev. Dr. Leah Robinson is a practical theologian at Mercer University in Atlanta and previously taught at the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Her research employs ethnographic studies of lived religion to explore politics, history, the American South, feminism, liberation theology, and social justice. </p><p><br /></p><p>Dr. Robinson has authored three books: Embodied Peacebuilding (Peter Lang), Bad Theology (SCM), and Bad Theology in COVID (Palgrave Macmillan). Her forthcoming book, Born Perfect or Boy Erased: Bad Theology and the Ex-Gay Movement (Bloomsbury), is slated for 2026. She currently serves as chair of the editorial board for the journal Practical Theology (Routledge) and is President-Elect of the American Academy of Religion Southeast. In her free time, she enjoys wine, cats, the beach, and—most days—her beloved Georgia Bulldogs. </p> no00:45:46The Thing (1982) | Paranoia & Polarization: How “Us vs. Them” Kills Trustfull<![CDATA[Halloween (1978) | Pure Evil: Why Michael Myers Has No Motive]]>Why does Michael Myers still haunt our nightmares nearly 50 years later? In this episode, we travel back to Haddonfield, Illinois, to dissect John Carpenter’s 1978 horror masterpiece, Halloween. While it’s often credited as the "primordial slasher film," we’re looking past the butcher knife to explore a much darker concept: the nature of pure evil.


We dive deep into the character of "The Shape," a villain devoid of motive, conscience, or humanity. From Dr. Loomis’s iconic "Devil's eyes" speech to the chilling, minimalist John Carpenter score, we analyze how the film transforms a quiet suburban neighborhood into a landscape of creeping dread.


In this episode, we discuss:


The Embodiment of Evil: How Michael Myers represents an "inexplicable, random violence" rather than a human killer.


Various Points of View: Dr. Loomis and Sheriff Brackett's exchange of moral perspective.


Mundane Suburban Terror: The breakdown of routine and safety in small-town America.


From Skeptic to Survivor: How Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) fought back and became an icon of slasher cinema.


Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the Halloween franchise or a newcomer, join us as we investigate why "the night HE came home" changed the horror genre forever.


Rev. Dr. Leah Robinson is a practical theologian at Mercer University in Atlanta and previously taught at the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Her research employs ethnographic studies of lived religion to explore politics, history, the American South, feminism, liberation theology, and social justice.


Dr. Robinson has authored three books: Embodied Peacebuilding (Peter Lang), Bad Theology (SCM), and Bad Theology in COVID (Palgrave Macmillan). Her forthcoming book, Born Perfect or Boy Erased: Bad Theology and the Ex-Gay Movement (Bloomsbury), is slated for 2026. She currently serves as chair of the editorial board for the journal Practical Theology (Routledge) and is President-Elect of the American Academy of Religion Southeast. In her free time, she enjoys wine, cats, the beach, and—most days—her beloved Georgia Bulldogs.

]]>https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iamryandoes1/episodes/Halloween-1978--Pure-Evil-Why-Michael-Myers-Has-No-Motive-e3eulpo995040c6-3548-4ee8-8cfa-ea599e6e526dSun, 15 Mar 2026 18:04:29 GMT<p>Why does <strong>Michael Myers</strong> still haunt our nightmares nearly 50 years later? In this episode, we travel back to Haddonfield, Illinois, to dissect <strong>John Carpenter’s</strong> 1978 horror masterpiece, <strong>Halloween</strong>. While it’s often credited as the "primordial slasher film," we’re looking past the butcher knife to explore a much darker concept: the nature of <strong>pure evil</strong>.</p><p><br /></p><p>We dive deep into the character of "The Shape," a villain devoid of motive, conscience, or humanity. From Dr. Loomis’s iconic "Devil's eyes" speech to the chilling, minimalist John Carpenter score, we analyze how the film transforms a quiet suburban neighborhood into a landscape of creeping dread.</p><p><br /></p><p>In this episode, we discuss:</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>The Embodiment of Evil:</strong> How Michael Myers represents an "inexplicable, random violence" rather than a human killer.</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Various Points of View: </strong>Dr. Loomis and Sheriff Brackett's exchange of moral perspective.</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Mundane Suburban Terror: </strong>The breakdown of routine and safety in small-town America.</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>From Skeptic to Survivor: </strong>How Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) fought back and became an icon of slasher cinema.</p><p><br /></p><p>Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the Halloween franchise or a newcomer, join us as we investigate why<strong> "the night HE came home" </strong>changed the horror genre forever.</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Rev. Dr. Leah Robinson</strong> is a practical theologian at Mercer University in Atlanta and previously taught at the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Her research employs ethnographic studies of lived religion to explore politics, history, the American South, feminism, liberation theology, and social justice. </p><p><br /></p><p>Dr. Robinson has authored three books: Embodied Peacebuilding (Peter Lang), Bad Theology (SCM), and Bad Theology in COVID (Palgrave Macmillan). Her forthcoming book, Born Perfect or Boy Erased: Bad Theology and the Ex-Gay Movement (Bloomsbury), is slated for 2026. She currently serves as chair of the editorial board for the journal Practical Theology (Routledge) and is President-Elect of the American Academy of Religion Southeast. In her free time, she enjoys wine, cats, the beach, and—most days—her beloved Georgia Bulldogs. </p> no00:30:011Halloween (1978) | Pure Evil: Why Michael Myers Has No Motivefull<![CDATA[Ready or Not (2019) | Blood, Brides, and Billionaires: Why We Eat the Rich]]>As “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” (2026) is set to hit theaters, Rebecca Lynn Thomas (The New Evangelicals) joins Ryan Does to dissect the original 2019 horror-satire Ready or Not. Samara Weaving’s bloodthirsty deconstruction of the patriarchy is a lesson that can teach us so many things!


The pair explores the film's brutal critique of elite patriarchal systems and the "satanic pacts" families make to preserve wealth. From the symbolism of the game room to the bloody subversion of the "final girl" trope, they bridge the gap between cinematic horror and real-world trauma.


Discussion Highlights:

  • ​The Church Parallel: Drawing connections between the protagonist Grace’s fight for survival and the "exvangelical" journey of leaving predatory, traditional church systems.
  • ​Complicity & Tradition: A look at why women often uphold the very systems that harm them and the "crisis of conscience" required to break free.
  • ​The Cost of Speaking Out: Rebecca shares personal reflections on being fired for challenging unethical structures, mirroring Daniel’s tragic arc in the film.
  • ​Weaponizing the Wedding Dress: Analyzing Grace’s transformation from a passive bride to an empowered survivor who literally tears down the fabric of her oppression.

Learn more about Rebecca and her work here: https://www.thenewevangelicals.com/board/rebecca-thomas

]]>https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iamryandoes1/episodes/Ready-or-Not-2019--Blood--Brides--and-Billionaires-Why-We-Eat-the-Rich-e3gak0e499a0fe3-622e-4171-97c1-3d6ef80e1eefThu, 12 Mar 2026 09:00:00 GMT<p>As “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” (2026) is set to hit theaters, <strong>Rebecca Lynn Thomas</strong> (<em>The New Evangelicals</em>) joins <strong>Ryan Does</strong> to dissect the original 2019 horror-satire <em>Ready or Not</em>. Samara Weaving’s bloodthirsty deconstruction of the patriarchy is a lesson that can teach us so many things!</p><p><br /></p><p>The pair explores the film's brutal critique of <strong>elite patriarchal systems</strong> and the "satanic pacts" families make to preserve wealth. From the symbolism of the game room to the bloody subversion of the "final girl" trope, they bridge the gap between cinematic horror and real-world trauma.</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Discussion Highlights:</strong></p><ul><li>​<strong>The Church Parallel:</strong> Drawing connections between the protagonist Grace’s fight for survival and the "exvangelical" journey of leaving predatory, traditional church systems.</li><li>​<strong>Complicity &amp; Tradition:</strong> A look at why women often uphold the very systems that harm them and the "crisis of conscience" required to break free.</li><li>​<strong>The Cost of Speaking Out:</strong> Rebecca shares personal reflections on being fired for challenging unethical structures, mirroring Daniel’s tragic arc in the film.</li><li>​<strong>Weaponizing the Wedding Dress:</strong> Analyzing Grace’s transformation from a passive bride to an empowered survivor who literally tears down the fabric of her oppression.</li></ul><p>Learn more about Rebecca and her work here: https://www.thenewevangelicals.com/board/rebecca-thomas</p> no00:38:56Ready or Not (2019) | Blood, Brides, and Billionaires: Why We Eat the Richfull<![CDATA[Scream (1996) | Social Media: The Mask We All Wear]]>To celebrate the release of Scream 7 (2026) and the 30th anniversary of Wes Craven’s Scream, we take a dive deep into why this meta-slasher remains the ultimate blueprint for subversive horror. From Leah’s illicit childhood theater trip (post-Spice Girls, naturally) to an academic look at horror tropes, we explore how Ghostface transitioned from a 90s phone-line predator to a mirror for our modern digital anxieties.


In This Episode, We Discuss:

  • ​The Drew Barrymore Effect: How killing off a mega-star in the first ten minutes rewrote the horror rulebook and kept audiences looking over their shoulders.
  • ​The Era of Phone-Age Terror: A nostalgic look at dedicated teen phone lines and why 1996’s "limited connectivity" was the perfect ingredient for isolation and fear.
  • ​Digital Masks & Social Media: Drawing parallels between the Ghostface mask and our online personas. Does social media actually connect us, or just provide a new way to hide?
  • ​The Ethics of Gale Weathers: A character study on Gale as the ultimate "content creator." We debate who is more dangerous: the person behind the mask or the person profiting from the tragedy.
  • ​Authenticity in the Digital Age: Leah shares a personal story about meeting her partner, Stuart, online and the high-stakes "vibe check" required to bridge the gap between URL and IRL.


Rev. Dr. Leah Robinson is a practical theologian at Mercer University in Atlanta and previously taught at the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Her research employs ethnographic studies of lived religion to explore politics, history, the American South, feminism, liberation theology, and social justice.


Dr. Robinson has authored three books: Embodied Peacebuilding (Peter Lang), Bad Theology (SCM), and Bad Theology in COVID (Palgrave Macmillan). Her forthcoming book, Born Perfect or Boy Erased: Bad Theology and the Ex-Gay Movement (Bloomsbury), is slated for 2026. She currently serves as chair of the editorial board for the journal Practical Theology (Routledge) and is President-Elect of the American Academy of Religion Southeast. In her free time, she enjoys wine, cats, the beach, and—most days—her beloved Georgia Bulldogs.

]]>https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iamryandoes1/episodes/Scream-1996--Social-Media-The-Mask-We-All-Wear-e3f049g24e7ed19-05cf-47df-9002-16a74f92ea45Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:00:00 GMT<p>To celebrate the release of Scream 7 (2026) and the 30th anniversary of <strong>Wes Craven’s </strong><em><strong>Scream</strong></em>, we take a dive deep into why this meta-slasher remains the ultimate blueprint for subversive horror. From Leah’s illicit childhood theater trip (post-Spice Girls, naturally) to an academic look at horror tropes, we explore how Ghostface transitioned from a 90s phone-line predator to a mirror for our modern digital anxieties.</p><p><br /></p><p>In This Episode, We Discuss:</p><ul><li>​<strong>The Drew Barrymore Effect:</strong> How killing off a mega-star in the first ten minutes rewrote the horror rulebook and kept audiences looking over their shoulders.</li><li>​<strong>The Era of Phone-Age Terror:</strong> A nostalgic look at dedicated teen phone lines and why 1996’s "limited connectivity" was the perfect ingredient for isolation and fear.</li><li>​<strong>Digital Masks &amp; Social Media:</strong> Drawing parallels between the Ghostface mask and our online personas. Does social media actually connect us, or just provide a new way to hide?</li><li>​<strong>The Ethics of Gale Weathers:</strong> A character study on Gale as the ultimate "content creator." We debate who is more dangerous: the person behind the mask or the person profiting from the tragedy.</li><li>​<strong>Authenticity in the Digital Age:</strong> Leah shares a personal story about meeting her partner, Stuart, online and the high-stakes "vibe check" required to bridge the gap between URL and IRL.</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><strong>Rev. Dr. Leah Robinson</strong> is a practical theologian at Mercer University in Atlanta and previously taught at the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Her research employs ethnographic studies of lived religion to explore politics, history, the American South, feminism, liberation theology, and social justice. </p><p><br /></p><p>Dr. Robinson has authored three books: Embodied Peacebuilding (Peter Lang), Bad Theology (SCM), and Bad Theology in COVID (Palgrave Macmillan). Her forthcoming book, Born Perfect or Boy Erased: Bad Theology and the Ex-Gay Movement (Bloomsbury), is slated for 2026. She currently serves as chair of the editorial board for the journal Practical Theology (Routledge) and is President-Elect of the American Academy of Religion Southeast. In her free time, she enjoys wine, cats, the beach, and—most days—her beloved Georgia Bulldogs. </p> no00:43:53Scream (1996) | Social Media: The Mask We All Wearfull<![CDATA[The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) | Bodily Autonomy: The Power of "No!”]]>To start Women’s History Month and ahead of Maggie Gyllenhaal’s bold 2026 reimagining, The Bride!, we’re going back to dissect the 1935 classic The Bride of Frankenstein. We aim to uncover why an 8-minute performance by Elsa Lanchester remains the ultimate icon of bodily autonomy.


We explore how Mary Shelley’s own history with agency helped birth a "monstrous" creation who refuses to play the role of the passive mate. From the James Whale adaptation to modern echoes in Edward Scissorhands, we discuss the radical moral agency of the Bride, her rejection of a "made-to-order" existence, and why her defiant "No" is more relevant today than ever.


Key discussion points:

  • ​The 8-Minute Icon: Why the Bride’s brief screen time defined a century of feminine defiance.
  • ​Manufacturing Consent: The dark ethics behind scientific "god-complexes" and women’s bodies.
  • ​Reclaiming Eve: Shifting the narrative from a subservient partner to a powerful agent of choice.
  • ​From Shelley to Gyllenhaal: How the Bride continues to evolve as a symbol of women’s history and resistance.


Dr. Kristy Whaley is faculty at St. Petersburg College, where she teaches both religion and humanities. Her interdisciplinary interests are primarily centered on Christian theology and literature, but often also stray into pop culture, mostly about Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Lost.

]]>https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iamryandoes1/episodes/The-Bride-of-Frankenstein-1935--Bodily-Autonomy-The-Power-of-No-e3fv59h7284264c-82c8-49e7-a429-c78aea3b6530Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT<p>To start Women’s History Month and ahead of Maggie Gyllenhaal’s bold 2026 reimagining, The Bride!, we’re going back to dissect the 1935 classic The Bride of Frankenstein. We aim to uncover why an 8-minute performance by Elsa Lanchester remains the ultimate icon of bodily autonomy.</p><p><br /></p><p>We explore how Mary Shelley’s own history with agency helped birth a "monstrous" creation who refuses to play the role of the passive mate. From the James Whale adaptation to modern echoes in Edward Scissorhands, we discuss the radical moral agency of the Bride, her rejection of a "made-to-order" existence, and why her defiant "No" is more relevant today than ever.</p><p><br /></p><p>Key discussion points:</p><ul><li>​The 8-Minute Icon: Why the Bride’s brief screen time defined a century of feminine defiance.</li><li>​Manufacturing Consent: The dark ethics behind scientific "god-complexes" and women’s bodies.</li><li>​Reclaiming Eve: Shifting the narrative from a subservient partner to a powerful agent of choice.</li><li>​From Shelley to Gyllenhaal: How the Bride continues to evolve as a symbol of women’s history and resistance.</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><strong>Dr. Kristy Whaley</strong> is faculty at St. Petersburg College, where she teaches both religion and humanities. Her interdisciplinary interests are primarily centered on Christian theology and literature, but often also stray into pop culture, mostly about Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Lost.</p> no00:36:37The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) | Bodily Autonomy: The Power of "No!”full<![CDATA[28 Days Later (2002) | Outrage Culture: Why Anger is the New Contagion]]>As “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” comes to theaters and streaming we dive into Danny Boyle’s 2002 masterpiece, 28 Days Later. We explore how its "Rage Virus" serves as a hauntingly accurate metaphor for today’s outrage culture. We discuss the film’s origins, its gritty aesthetic, and the thin line between "justified" anger and the mindless fury that dismantles civilization.


Rev. Dr. Leah Robinson is a practical theologian at Mercer University in Atlanta and previously taught at the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Her research employs ethnographic studies of lived religion to explore politics, history, the American South, feminism, liberation theology, and social justice.


Dr. Robinson has authored three books: Embodied Peacebuilding (Peter Lang), Bad Theology (SCM), and Bad Theology in COVID (Palgrave Macmillan). Her forthcoming book, Born Perfect or Boy Erased: Bad Theology and the Ex-Gay Movement (Bloomsbury), is slated for 2026. She currently serves as chair of the editorial board for the journal Practical Theology (Routledge) and is President-Elect of the American Academy of Religion Southeast. In her free time, she enjoys wine, cats, the beach, and—most days—her beloved Georgia Bulldogs.

]]>https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iamryandoes1/episodes/28-Days-Later-2002--Outrage-Culture-Why-Anger-is-the-New-Contagion-e3f2o2bf1d778d3-406a-4819-8c6a-3cc7b7eb5324Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:00:00 GMT<p>As “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” comes to theaters and streaming we dive into Danny Boyle’s 2002 masterpiece, 28 Days Later. We explore how its "Rage Virus" serves as a hauntingly accurate metaphor for today’s outrage culture. We discuss the film’s origins, its gritty aesthetic, and the thin line between "justified" anger and the mindless fury that dismantles civilization.</p><p><br /></p><p>Rev. Dr. Leah Robinson is a practical theologian at Mercer University in Atlanta and previously taught at the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Her research employs ethnographic studies of lived religion to explore politics, history, the American South, feminism, liberation theology, and social justice. </p><p><br /></p><p>Dr. Robinson has authored three books: Embodied Peacebuilding (Peter Lang), Bad Theology (SCM), and Bad Theology in COVID (Palgrave Macmillan). Her forthcoming book, Born Perfect or Boy Erased: Bad Theology and the Ex-Gay Movement (Bloomsbury), is slated for 2026. She currently serves as chair of the editorial board for the journal Practical Theology (Routledge) and is President-Elect of the American Academy of Religion Southeast. In her free time, she enjoys wine, cats, the beach, and—most days—her beloved Georgia Bulldogs. </p> no00:30:42428 Days Later (2002) | Outrage Culture: Why Anger is the New Contagionfull<![CDATA[A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) | Sins of the Past: The Metaphysics of Sinister Secrets]]>One, two, Freddy’s coming for you... but he isn't just coming for your life; he’s coming for the secrets your parents buried. In this episode, we are joined by Josh Patterson, host of the Rethinking Faith podcast, to deconstruct Wes Craven’s 1984 masterpiece, A Nightmare on Elm Street. While Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) is a pop-culture icon, we’re looking deeper into the intergenerational trauma that fuels the fires of Elm Street.

We explore how Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp) represents the ultimate struggle against "inherited guilt." From the metaphysics of the dream world to the terrifying reality of parental gaslighting, we discuss why this film remains a groundbreaking exploration of how the sins of the past haunt the children of the future.

In this episode, we discuss:

The Theology of Trauma: Josh Patterson breaks down how Freddy Krueger acts as a physical manifestation of "thrownness"—the philosophical idea that we are born into burdens we didn't choose.

Metaphysics and Pan-experientialism: A deep dive into the nature of reality and how Freddy bridges the gap between consciousness and the physical world.

Parental Gaslighting: Analyzing the ethical dilemmas of the Elm Street parents and how their denial of the past creates a lethal environment for their children.

Freddy as Vengeance: The dark irony of a villain born from a community’s "well-intentioned" vigilante justice.

Confronting the Shadow: Why Nancy’s journey is a blueprint for active participation in healing and resolving deep-seated trauma.

Whether you're interested in horror film theory or the intersection of faith and film, join us as we pull Freddy Krueger out of the dream world and into the light of day.

]]>https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iamryandoes1/episodes/A-Nightmare-on-Elm-Street-1984--Sins-of-the-Past-The-Metaphysics-of-Sinister-Secrets-e3eumpl492ed45f-be01-4d76-8766-4f81a90f7978Sun, 15 Mar 2026 18:05:27 GMT<p>One, two, Freddy’s coming for you... but he isn't just coming for your life; he’s coming for the secrets your parents buried. In this episode, we are joined by <strong>Josh Patterson</strong>, host of the Rethinking Faith podcast, to deconstruct Wes Craven’s 1984 masterpiece, <strong>A Nightmare on Elm Street</strong>. While <strong>Freddy Krueger </strong>(Robert Englund) is a pop-culture icon, we’re looking deeper into the intergenerational trauma that fuels the fires of Elm Street.</p><p>We explore how <strong>Nancy Thompson </strong>(Heather Langenkamp) represents the ultimate struggle against "inherited guilt." From the metaphysics of the dream world to the terrifying reality of parental gaslighting, we discuss why this film remains a groundbreaking exploration of how the sins of the past haunt the children of the future.</p><p>In this episode, we discuss:</p><p><strong>The Theology of Trauma: </strong>Josh Patterson breaks down how Freddy Krueger acts as a physical manifestation of "thrownness"—the philosophical idea that we are born into burdens we didn't choose.</p><p><strong>Metaphysics and Pan-experientialism: </strong>A deep dive into the nature of reality and how Freddy bridges the gap between consciousness and the physical world.</p><p><strong>Parental Gaslighting: </strong>Analyzing the ethical dilemmas of the Elm Street parents and how their denial of the past creates a lethal environment for their children.</p><p><strong>Freddy as Vengeance: </strong>The dark irony of a villain born from a community’s "well-intentioned" vigilante justice.</p><p><strong>Confronting the Shadow: </strong>Why Nancy’s journey is a blueprint for active participation in healing and resolving deep-seated trauma.</p><p>Whether you're interested in horror film theory or the intersection of faith and film, join us as we pull Freddy Krueger out of the dream world and into the light of day.</p> no00:40:013A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) | Sins of the Past: The Metaphysics of Sinister Secretsfull<![CDATA[Jaws (1975) | Killer Sharks and Climate Change]]>Before the summer blockbuster was a Hollywood staple, there was the "Great White" terror of Amity Island. In this episode, we are joined by Derrick Weston from Creation Justice Ministries to dive into the deep end of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws (1975). While many see a simple creature feature, we explore a much more profound struggle: the battle between human dominion and the uncontrollable forces of nature.We move beyond the mechanical shark to discuss how Jaws acts as an environmental allegory.


From Mayor Vaughn’s refusal to adapt to the "blizzard-like" inevitability of the shark, we analyze why the real horror isn't just the teeth—it’s our own hubris.


In this episode, we discuss:

  • ​The Myth of Control: How the shark challenges our place at the top of the food chain and the metaphor of nature as a virus.
  • ​Dominion vs. Adaptation: Derrick Weston breaks down the theological and environmental tension between trying to "fix" nature with technology versus learning to live harmoniously with it.
  • ​The Politics of Denial: Why Mayor Vaughn represents the ultimate resistance to change, prioritizing economic interests over public safety in a way that mirrors modern climate challenges.
  • ​Collaboration in Crisis: How the trio of Brody, Hooper, and Quint represents the necessity of bridging scientific knowledge and "street smarts" to survive an environmental threat.
  • ​The Original Summer Blockbuster: A look at the legacy of the 1975 classic and its impact on pop culture.


Whether you're a film buff or an environmental advocate, join us as we deconstruct the film that made everyone afraid to go back in the water.

]]>https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iamryandoes1/episodes/Jaws-1975--Killer-Sharks-and-Climate-Change-e3eunvoa214228c-2e81-41e4-96ab-a2c942c619eeSun, 15 Mar 2026 18:07:06 GMT<p>Before the summer blockbuster was a Hollywood staple, there was the "Great White" terror of <strong>Amity Island</strong>. In this episode, we are joined by <strong>Derrick Weston</strong> from Creation Justice Ministries to dive into the deep end of <strong>Steven Spielberg’s Jaws (1975)</strong>. While many see a simple creature feature, we explore a much more profound struggle: the battle between <strong>human dominion</strong> and the <strong>uncontrollable forces of nature</strong>.We move beyond the mechanical shark to discuss how <strong>Jaws</strong> acts as an environmental allegory. </p><p><br /></p><p>From <strong>Mayor Vaughn’s</strong> refusal to adapt to the "blizzard-like" inevitability of the shark, we analyze why the real horror isn't just the teeth—it’s our own hubris.</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>In this episode, we discuss:</strong></p><ul><li>​<strong>The Myth of Control:</strong> How the shark challenges our place at the top of the food chain and the metaphor of nature as a virus.</li><li>​<strong>Dominion vs. Adaptation:</strong> Derrick Weston breaks down the theological and environmental tension between trying to "fix" nature with technology versus learning to live harmoniously with it.</li><li>​<strong>The Politics of Denial:</strong> Why Mayor Vaughn represents the ultimate resistance to change, prioritizing economic interests over public safety in a way that mirrors modern climate challenges.</li><li>​<strong>Collaboration in Crisis:</strong> How the trio of <strong>Brody, Hooper, and Quint</strong> represents the necessity of bridging scientific knowledge and "street smarts" to survive an environmental threat.</li><li>​<strong>The Original Summer Blockbuster:</strong> A look at the legacy of the 1975 classic and its impact on pop culture.</li></ul><p><br /></p><p>Whether you're a film buff or an environmental advocate, join us as we deconstruct the film that made everyone afraid to go back in the water.</p> no00:37:462Jaws (1975) | Killer Sharks and Climate Changefull