James Meehan - How Should Christians Think About Mini Brands, Pokemon, and the NBA
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James Meehan: Well, welcome to Culture Makers. My name is James, and this is my friend, Steven Cole. And today we are talking about mini brands, Post Malone and Pokemon, and the NBA you are gonna be in for a treat. So with that being said, now what you've gotta understand is that you're new here.
Steven Cole: I am absolutely new.
James Meehan: And so there's some rules that you have to follow. If you don't follow the rules to the latter you'll never be welcomed back.
Steven Cole: Oh, dang okay. You want to tell me what the rules are?
James Meehan: No, we'll figure that out as we go. As you can tell those Steven Cole, he's new here. He is filling in for Vince Parker, who's out of town right now, but what you need to know about Steven, is that he and I, were on the same team here at Life Church together for years. He is the worship pastor at Life Church Edmond and the worship pastor for Life Church online. So have you ever attended Life Church online you've probably seen his face, you've heard his vocals. Just give him a little, give them a run so they can recognize you.
Steven Cole: "hee, ooh"
James Meehan: Yeah, just like that.
Steven Cole: Remember that?
James Meehan: Every single time. But here's the deal. We're talking about all things, culture and how we as Christians should think about the things that are happening in our world. And the first thing that we're going to talk about, is something that seriously needs to be talked about.
Steven Cole: Absolutely.
James Meehan: And we're going to need your help to help us understand. Because we're like millennials and boomers over here, millennial, boomer. And I don't think we quite get it.
Steven Cole: Yeah.
James Meehan: But the first thing we're talking about we're talking about mini brands. Steven, will you show them the things that we have?
Steven Cole: So over here, we've got, I guess this is the checkout thing and this is ground cinnamon.
James Meehan: Come on, that's good. Cinnamon challenge.
Steven Cole: Small.
James Meehan: Yeah, but teeny tiny.
Steven Cole: I've got, what do I have? So I've got Thai kitchen coconut milk.
James Meehan: Okay, good. Y'all seeing this?
Steven Cole: Can you see this? Let me do this. I know this is important. There's a couple other things, but I, I don't get it James.
James Meehan: What's up? The best part was, we watched one of the TikTok that went viral of these mini brands on display and the whole time I'm watching it, I'm like, man this is how I know I'm getting old because I don't, I don't understand. So please please help us understand what is the appeal of mini brands? Like I heard about somebody who got millions and millions of views and like made what, 20 bucks on it. But then they had to spend tons of money to get all of their mini brand, like little grocery items and things. It feels like Pokemon cards
Steven Cole: Right.
James Meehan: Back in my day.
Steven Cole: It just altogether doesn't make any sense.
James Meehan: Right.
— I'm thinking if this dude's making 20 bucks then why not just come on my yard. That's gonna take you literally 30 minutes. Maybe less.
— But here's the thing we do have one of the like snack packs. That's not what its called.
— Did you call it a snack pack?
— Yeah. 'Cause it's got food items in it and it's a pack of them. And Steven's going to open this on screen. We're going to see if we can get some of those rare items that I know some of y'all are looking for.
— Kara, this is important, James. Hold on. Ready? I can't do it.
— Yeah, that was terrible. You're failing this. It's supposed to be one smooth motion.
— But listen. See, I came off easy. That's how they do it on Tiktok. I don't know how to open this, James. I'm just literally going for it.
— I would love to help you, but I can't.
— Why can't you help? I jammed my thumb doing jujitsu. Dang. There we go, ooh!
— Ooh Okay. What do we got in there? Goods is there even things in there?
— Yeah, but it opened up very weirdly. So we've got, what is it? Oh, it's Babybel.
— Oh, We actually have two babybels now. are these rare?
— One babybel two babybels. Let's see what else? I got some kind of ticket, old Bay, old Bay seasoning. That sounds like something I'd call my ex girlfriend. Nah she's my old bay. You guys want a guide to start using that just hashtag #oldbay. Quart salt, I don't know. Is this cheese?
— It looks like a.. that's like a thing of cheese, some pickles.
— Good.
— This was on that video but it was a different kind of pickles. It was probably the cheap ones. These are the ones you get, the expensive one.
— These are the good ones. That's the whole foods pickles right there.
— There it is. And then Ooh, classic Velveeta cheese or shells. It's the shells.
— Ooh shoot!
— The shells was my favorite as a kid.
— Dude.
— So I'm all about these, but I'm gonna have to go with a why, still going with the why are we doing this? I wanna know, I wanna know why. So what's so funny about that question is this is literally the question that once you're asking why about things on the internet that's how you know, you're no longer relevant.
— Listen, if you're watching this don't go buy these things. Don't do it. You're not going to make money. He told you already you're gonna make $20, $20. Don't do it.
— Stephen Colbert and ladies and gentlemen.
— Dang. So here's the question now. Talking about this new trend that's going viral on Tiktok. Let's just talk about social media as a whole, Steven Cole your thoughts is social media helpful or harmful? Go.
— I think it can be both. I think it could be helpful. I see it as a way to connect with my friends, my family and stuff like that, but it can also be harmful once it gets to the side of comparison and really like finding things on there that you shouldn't be looking at as a believer as a follower of Christ, man, like I'm trying to like do my best to live a life that's worthy of Jesus.
— I think that, you know, our social media profiles, platforms whatever you want to call it, depending on what social media it is, are a reflection of who we are.
— Yeah.
— And that's the question that I'm always asking is man, is this Instagram account, is this, you know like Tiktok, is this YouTube channel, actually reflecting who I wanna be? Like who I wanna be known as who I wanna be known for.
— Yeah. Is it pointing people to what's good, to what's true, to what's uplifting. If it is, fantastic. If it's not, I should probably make some changes because you know, there's a lot of haters out in the world. And the last thing the world needs is more haters. And for those of us who are followers of Christ, I think one of the best things that we can do, is use the platforms, the influence that we have to just bring goodness, to bring love, to bring life into those different places. And so I think when we use social media in that way it can be really, really helpful. But you know, if we're just going to be a troll on the internet, probably not helpful, which to be fair I've definitely done that, but I'm trying to be better.
— Yeah, not me, I've never done that.
— Social media. Is it helpful or harmful? Both. It depends mini brands. Good or bad. I don't know, you tell us comment down below. Tell us what we're missing. Here's what we're gonna do though. Next we're talking about what was a historic event? Yeah, it was a 25 year anniversary of Pokemon, which I don't know if you know this, but that was like my childhood. I remember getting the very first ever holographic charizard Pokemon card.
— Dang.
— And that thing, all the kids in school wanted to be my friend after that.
— That's right.
— But now instead of just these cards at school we've got post Malone, remaking an old country song in an anime music video for Pokemon. Did you, did you see the video? What'd you think?
— Listen, this is another one of those things that I don't understand. No, no, actually I do understand because I get it like, hey let's do like this cool anniversary song Hootie and the Blowfish though Hootie and the Blowfish we're going, "All I wanna be with you ooh". I wasn't ready for the tie. I'm not getting the, I only want to be with Pikachu. I only want to be with, like change the words, change something.
— Yes, that's what it was missing. It just was "All I want to be with Pikachu". That would've been dope.
— Dang, So here's the thing though. Like I thought it was fantastic, right? Like what a weird way to combine Post Malone Pokemon and an an old country song and put it all together and something that caused me to ask the question why which is an indicator that I'm old. But also at the same time, I'm like, I love this. Like, this is fantastic. I agree. The song choice was what was the weirdest part for me, and when I first saw that it was happening I was so hoping that Post Malone was just covering the Pokemon theme song. Do you know that?
— I don't know that song.
— All right you ready? "Because I want to be the very best. Like no one ever was". That's how it starts, it's really good. You like that?
— I...
— Hey if you ever need me to lead worship.
— Oof. Okay.
— That's my audition. Nick Jonas also released the new song. You were describing your feelings about it before we started.
— I feel like a straight up hater right now. Like I don't think I've said something positive about anyone so far.
— Your really Channeling your disappointed dad, energy.
— Dang. What was the name of it again?
— Spaceman.
— Yo, my boy said spaceman about a thousand times. Listen, I write songs. I'm not saying I'm the best song writer in the world, but you can't say that you can't say spaceman that many times he's wearing a space shuttle suit. I don't know. First of all, he's ripped. The dude is about to pop out of this suit. So that was kind of cool. I was like, my guys ripped that's dope. But the song is a noo the song is a no. I'm just saying maybe I'll like it. Tell me why. Tell me why ain't nothing but a heartache. That's also a song reference. Y'all don't know.
— Come on.
— Did they not?
— Yeah, they probably do that. They're smart. They've got the internet. So we've got a question though, from one of our listeners. It was Daphne emancipate asked the question how do you filter the music you listen to? What are the aspects that make you listen to a song or not? So now I know we've talked about this in a previous culture maker episode, but because we actually have Steven Cole who writes music, who sings all the time, we'd love to get your thoughts even like how do you filter what you will and won't listen to?
— Man, words are everything. It's like too easy to just disregard that. I love hearing people talk about like, like man, nah, man I don't wanna listen to it. 'Cause I just like the way it sounds, bro. I just love the way it sounds. But then they go off to sing pretty much every lyric that's in the song, like just jam into it, just all about it. And it's like, man, listen, like the stuff that you put in you is going to be the stuff that comes out of you. So that's in really relationships, if that's in friendships, all that stuff like all these different songs are men. They're, they're awesome. Like I'm one for production. I produce music. I love music so much but you've got to draw a line to like what you're allowing into your life.
— So we've got another question from one of our viewers LeShay Miller asked the question. What do you think about rappers in today's society? Do you listen to a lot of rap?
— I used to.
— Yeah.
— As far as that question, I just, I mean it's the same as it is. Like people are just rapping from the situations and some of them really suck, some of them are great, some of them are just lying 'cause I wanna sound cool. It's like literally the same thing like stylistically. I mean it's probably not like my jam, but I can appreciate like someone going out and just doing their thing.
— Yeah, well I thought what was interesting about this question is they asked what do you think about rappers and not just rap? And then this is like a really important question for those of us who are Christians to wrestle with. But I think it's really easy at times to assume that because somebody says or is associated with something, that's like, Oh, now they're, you know that defines all of who they are. But for those of us who are followers of Christ what we believe defines who we are is the fact that every single one of us is made in the image of God. That means every single one of us has so much capacity and potential for good, for beauty, for truth, for love, for relationship. And so like when I think about rappers regardless of what they rap about, I think man that's a human being made in the image of God. And they might be saying some things that I don't agree with or they might be saying some things that are actually really helpful and it just might be a different method. Like I think that what's really powerful to see are those rappers who use that medium of rap to speak a message to our culture, to get people to wake up to the realities of some of the choices that they're making and some of the things that are numbing them to what life is really about. That's not everybody because there's some music that you know, it's kind of empty. It's just a good beat but there's not a great message behind it. And so all of that being said, I think it depends, right? Depends on the rapper. It depends on the song, but at the end of the day, as followers of Jesus, we believe that every single human being is made in the image of God. And because of that, it is our responsibility to love them to give them grace and to believe the best about them. So that's kind of my thoughts on that. segwaying into the final topic. We're talking about some sports 'cause some things happened this last week. You actually dressed up today in honor of the one and only tiger woods who I think most people agrees like the greatest golfer of all time.
— I'm gonna say it.
— Yeah.
— I'm gonna say it right now.
— I mean, you dressed up as him so hopefully.
— I'm not dressed up as him.
— No, you specifically showed up today and said...
— Listen.
— I want it to be like tiger woods.
— I saw what happened to them. That sucks. This is my Tiger Woods support. That's what it is, that's what it's all about.
— The good thing is it seems like he's doing okay. And there were a lot of golfers who showed up this past weekend to honor him for those who don't know, Tiger Woods was in an accident in a car accident this past week. But like I said, thankfully, he's doing well. People showed up dressed with the red top black pants
— Pam, Pam? Should've said, bam, I could've said a lot of things.
— You could of said a lot of things, but what you said you said...
— Pam!
— And I loved it.
— That's a new thing too.
— So that's what happened in the world of golf. I don't know anything else about golf because I don't watch it.
— All I know is I I'm left-handed
— Oh, okay.
— So LeShay, who asked the question about rappers also asked us this question? Who do you think is the greatest NBA player ever or currently? So you can answer either way and LeShay. LeShay thinks that the greatest player ever is Damian Lillard.
— What?
— Steven Cole, what are your thoughts?
— Michael Jordan from here and to infinity and beyond. you heard it Michael freaking Jordan. So, you know what's funny? Is I actually used to make the argument that LeBron James was the greatest of all time.
— If you say that, I will literally walk out.
— Okay fine, Lebron James is the greatest of all time. So now that he's gone, he didn't actually leave. He just shut the door. Come back, come back.
— I did, he got me, he got me.
— Okay, Okay. What I was saying is I used to say that and I used to argue vigorously about it until I saw space jam too.
— I thought you were, thought you were gonna be like the stats, no, space jam.
— 'Cause the first space jam, incredible Space jam two more like space jam poo.
— Wait was Michael Jordan even in space jam two.
— No, LeBron was that's what I'm saying. Oh, I never saw space jam two.
— Yeah, clearly you're so gone.
— I didn't watch that.
— But you didn't, you didn't follow the train of thought? I was saying LeBron was the best.
— Ooh!
— Then I saw space jam two.
— This all makes sense now.
— Okay, cool. Well good thing Steven is following. but back to LeShay's pick, Damian Lillard. Here's the problem with that LeShay. We're from Oklahoma, and Damian Lillard has called himself the thunder killer. That's not okay. The Oklahoma City Thunder that's our team. So I take that very personally. Obviously I'm just kidding. I don't take it personally, but here's what you need to know about the thunder Darius Bazley, keep your eye on that.
— Come on baby.
— How old is he? He's like what? 18, 19 years old.
— He's crazy young.
— He's crazy young.
— That dudes got it.
— He's 20 years old and what's super cool, is he actually recorded a video for us here at switch on this YouTube channel that you can check out where he shares the story of what God has done in his life. Here's what I like about Darius is he's taken something he is really good at, basketball and he's used it as a platform to share his story with other people, man, what a freaking gift. Love that guy. Darius Bailey's take that. Damian Lillard.
— Yeah. We've talked about a lot of things, right?
— We have. We talked about mini brands which is your new favorite thing, his new hobby. You talked about Pokemon and post Malone. We talked about sports also coming up this upcoming week is the NBA all-star game. So we'll be talking about that next week on Culture Makers. Yeah, you heard that right. Not in two weeks because as of today Culture Makers is every single week. Y'all said you liked it, you've been liking it, leaving comments. So we want to bring this content to you next week. I'm sure we'll have Vince back but, Steven Cole probably make a guest appearance in the future because...
— This is fun.
— Those disappointing dad vibes. I think we need more of that. Any last words for our viewers?
— Don't do drugs.
— Thank you for joining us for this week's episode of Culture Makers. Seriously, it's an honor to get to be a part of the conversation with you as you're trying to navigate what it looks like to follow Jesus in a culture that oftentimes tempts us to do things and say things that are so much less than what God has called us to. So make sure if you haven't already liked the video leave a comment down below with any questions you have that you want us to talk about in future videos subscribe to the YouTube channel because we've got content like this that comes out every single week with all that being said
— Goodbye.