We’re in our mid-50’s and I can still recite my favorite lines from the John Hughes’ movies in the 80’s. When certain songs come on the radio (looking at you, YACHT ROCK station!), I know all the words & it immediately transports me to a different time.
That’s because music & entertainment work powerfully in our imaginations. Our kids loved the Adventures in Odyssey series and listened to those stories for hours in their rooms and in the car. Same for Veggie Tales. (and, yes, Pixar and Disney from the 90’s).
In 2025, parents have to work a little harder to find entertainment that doesn’t cross some kind of line. It’s gotten to be like sifting thru the GoodWill bins out there…. You gotta sort through a lot of junk to find an occasional item worth taking home.
Our guests on today’s episode are Nathan & D’Lytha Myers, and we’re so excited to have their voices in this conversation!
INTRO:
D’Lytha & Nathan are from Texas. She’s a stage & screen actress, musical theater performer, & producer and homeschool mom of 2. Nathan is a filmmaker, actor and designer. He was lead designer for seasons 1-3 of The Chosen (perhaps you’ve heard of it?). Together, they’ve created & produced an award winning musical feature film.
Welcome…. Tell us about Aria Appleton Shines. What is it, how’d you come up with it, and what was the inspiration behind it?
Previewed: Aria is geared toward an elementary/middle school audience (she’s 11). The movie looks and feels like a straight up Hollywood production. It’s that well done. Christian media has come a long way since the 80s!! Aria Appleton won the ICVM Crown Award for best feature comedy & has been stacking up a host of other awards besides that one. (congrats!)
How did your personal parenting experience become a call to action within your careers?
How would you say entertainment disciples children?
How would you respond to the argument that the film industry’s success depends on how well it can appeal to the public’s interests and values….so most of the movies, music and TV produced are simply a reflection of the cultural norms of our time? “They’re only making what people seem to want to see.”
Is it enough to find movies or books or video games or music that’s clean? (If it doesn’t have the “E” explicit label, it’s probably ok, right?
How have you been able to follow your creative calling and homeschool and raise children?
Do you think the role of storytelling has anything to do with spiritual warfare? (explain spiritual warfare for listeners)
(optional) What do you think about mother-daughter relationships? What’s breaking them?
What’s next for you guys? Are there going to be more Aria Appleton movies? A series or character spinoffs?
LINKS TO HIGHLIGHT
https://www.facebook.com/ariaappletonfilm
https://www.instagram.com/ariaappleton/?hl=en