Christian moms often seek entertainment that aligns with their faith values for their young adult kids. “Shred Games: The Legend of Kid Z” is a new fiction audio podcast series that weaves a Christian message through allegorical storytelling, emphasizing themes of redemption, sacrifice, and divine providence. The series reflects the creator, Lynne Ruttkay’s, belief in the transforming power of the Gospel into a narrative that engages youth and adults alike with depth, imagination, music, sports, and cheeky humor.
Coming from a background as an apparel artist in the surf, skate and snowboard industry for over 30 years, Ruttkay was a single mom, who raised her son in Christ –and in the action sports lifestyle. In “Shred Games: The Legend of Kid Z,” she has crafted a fantastic world where Christian themes emerge naturally through narrative, music and humor. The series is a high-quality audio production. It is an audio gem with its eclectic blend of music by Loud Harp, Future of Forestry, Skeewiff and more. Ruttkay likens the feel of the series to Willy Wonka meets action sports meets C.S. Lewis meets Princess Bride. She avoids heavy-handed preaching, and instead aims to “smuggle” theology past the defenses of the skeptical, making the series accessible yet profound. The message is one of hope: A loving just God is very present and offers redemption, purpose, and worth in a broken world.
Like a modern-day Narnia, the Shred Games podcast resonates with universal truths, subtly embedded in a fantastical world.
- The Orchanvilly Flower: The Orchanvilly is a mythical flower that blooms continually. It serves as a symbol for Jeremiah 31:3, the unfailing love of God through Christ, embodying divine beauty, love, and awe. His death and resurrection are illustrated in the Orchanvilly field. Answered prayer and the overcoming faith that works beyond our own strength are literally illuminated, proving the power of divine love to overcome evil. The Orchanvilly’s role across the series underscores God’s guidance and presence.
- Redemption and Forgiveness: Characters like Kid Z, Deluxe, and Fast Earnie reflect human sinfulness and the possibility of redemption. Kid Z’s failure and subsequent restoration through faith mirror Christian teachings on repentance and divine forgiveness.
- Moral and Spiritual Growth: The call to spiritual growth and purpose resonates from Galatians 5:6b, “Faith working through love is the only thing that matters.” Proton trains young athletes in the “character-through-sports” tradition of Coach John Wooden. Kid Z, Deluxe, and Fast Earnie face trials that shape their virtues—courage, humility, and faith. Ruttkay uses their journeys to illustrate the Christian call to grow in character and align with divine purpose.
- Divine Justice: Divine Justice in the story follows the example of Christ in 1 Peter 2:23, “when reviled, He did not revile in return; when suffering, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to the One who judges justly.” Justice in the story is never promoted in the form of “getting even” or “human revenge.” But rather, empty revenge is contrasted showing those who choose not to exercise it with the providential justice of consequences that result in those who do “falling into the trap that their own hands have made.”
- Universal Truths Through Myth: Ruttkay uses myth in conjunction with the controlling idea of “where do we get our worth” to prepare the heart for truth. Character vs. image is the theme of the story. But where does character come from? The Shred Game’s story, while not explicitly doctrinal, points to a moral order and a loving creator, inviting listeners to consider Christianity’s claims indirectly, enticing them to the possibility of the power available through Christ that can transform a person’s character.
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12 Episode Audio Fiction Series
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