It is the Holiday Season at the Stake Podcast, and Courtney Algeo is back to talk about an American classic that she somehow has never seen: It’s a Wonderful Life. The Frank Capra film about a suicidal dad has become a mainstay in the Christmas Movie genre, and for good reason. It’s a moving family story that brings audiences to tears while simultaneously boosting and challenging some of our most basic American ideals.

So join us this week as we wonder about what makes this movie such a standard. Is it the radical economic message? The chemistry / face-smooshing between Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed? Whatever it is, Capra’s masterpiece shows no signs of fading.

Listen to the episode on Libsyn, or find and follow the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher

Next week on The Stake Podcast, Chris Erv, Chris ZF and Andrew discuss the worst parts of popular culture in 2015. Tune in to find out all the terrible things you’ve forgotten this year.

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