The Overthinkers

Vegans are widely both celebrated and made fun of in modern society. But what is veganism? Should we all be vegans? Writer, podcast host, and adjunct theology professor Jessica Schroeder joins Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes to discuss her vegan journey, and wrestle with the dietary, ethical and theological reasons one might advocate for veganism.   A Brief History of Veganism: https://time.com/...

How do you build a community of creatives who can change the world? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson bring on Nathan Sherrer to discuss how world-shaping communities like CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's The Inklings (and The Overthinkers?) got started and can be maintained.   LInks to articles referenced in the episode:        https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-americans-are-lonelier-and-its-effect...

Is religion on balance more good or bad for the world? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson are joined by religion reporter Meagan Saliashvili to discuss.

Everyone's talking about revivals today. But are revivals real? And if they are, are they overrated? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson give their unorthodox takes on this controversial episode.   https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/02/christianity-secularization-america-renewal-modernity/672948/   https://time.com/6258703/asbury-christian-revival-america-connection/   https://www.thegos...

Why is Jesus so popular that he is beloved by everyone, even those who aren't Christians or belong to rival faiths? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson welcome back showrunner behind "The Chosen" Dallas Jenkins to discuss this question and many more.

What determines the quality of a movie? Or is all artistic quality subjective? We bring on defender of movie quality Kevin McCreary on The Overthinkers show.    Rogerebert.com’s Much More Than The Movies - The Best of Rogers Journals  

There's a lot of debate around the topic of Christian/faith-based films. But what is even a Christian film? And have we artificially limited what a Chrisitan film can be? Christian filmmaker Ben "Ironside" Koppin joins The Overthinkers to discuss this important topic and encourage a better path forward for Christian filmmaking.

Are there lines artists shouldn't cross when it comes to the content they create? Can art be too violent? Too sexual? Is there a line where art can cause harm? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes welcome back award-winning director and producer Spencer Folmar to find that line in this latest episode.   Video Games Don’t Cause Violence   https://www.theguardian.com/games/2020/jul/22/playing-video-gam...

How do you make movies that have a good message but are still entertaining? We bring on filmmaker Craig Lamar Brown to discuss.

Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss whether we are living in a dystopian society or if the world is really better than we think it is.   Check out Joseph Holmes' article in Relevant Magazine on this topic here:   https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/why-does-hollywood-think-we-live-in-a-dystopia/

What is "hook-up culture" and why is it so controversial? We chat with beloved author and podcast host Kat Harris about the good, the bad, and the ugly of casual sex in relationships.   References in episode: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/02/ce-corner https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2018/10/sexual-partners-and-marital-happiness/573493/?utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_content=true-anthe...

If you're having relationship troubles, how do you know if you should break up with someone or stick it out? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson give their takes.    Articles mentioned in the episode:   ttps://www.google.com/amp/s/www.insider.com/why-do-breakups-hurt-so-much-2019-2%3famp   https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/08/20/key-takeaways-on-americans-views-of-and-experiences-with-datin...

Breaks up and divorces everywhere make young people despair of ever having a lasting relationship. Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes welcome back beloved author and speaker Sally Clarkson to discuss the real secrets to making a relationship last.   https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/marriage-rate-uk-latest-figures-lowest-record-ons-a9464706.html   https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/arc...

Is it possible for men and women to be "just friends"? Or will sex always get in the way? We discuss with returning guest Keelia Clarkson on this latest episode: Articles and Data Referenced:   https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200109/can-men-and-women-be-friends   https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/men-and-women-cant-be-just-friends/   https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-opposite...

Why do so many creative people turn out to be mentally ill? Does being mentally ill make you more creative? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes give their hot takes on this live debate.  Links to articles cited:   https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160225-does-mental-illness-enhance-creativity   https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/beautiful-minds/the-real-link-between-creativity-and-mental-illnes...

Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes are joined by author Dominic Done to discuss whether it's sinful to doubt God, or if it's actually a healthy thing.   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/faith   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doubt   https://www.barna.com/research/two-thirds-christians-face-doubt/

People have a harder time today than ever making friends. So how does one make friends? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes sit down with author and speaker Dr. Joy Clarkson to unpack this deeply modern problem.   Articles referenced in this episode: https://www.americansurveycenter.org/research/the-state-of-american-friendship-change-challenges-and-loss/   https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/20...

"Adulting" is a tough hill to climb for Millenials and Gen Z. Most in these generations struggle with feeling like they are truly an adult. So what things does one need to do to really achieve adulthood? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss on this first episode of 2023. Below are the list of things we advise you to do to be an adult, with the resources we mention in the episode.   1. Workout...

Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss one of the surprisingly biggest controversies of the Christmas/Holiday season... should we say "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas"? Where did this controversy start? Does it matter? And if so, why?

Fantasy dominates the entertainment landscape nowadays. But does all of this fantasy pull us away from reality in a way that's harmful? Louis Giovino joins Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes to discuss.

Holidays are a time most people are seeing family. But often time with your family can be stressful. How do you navigate difficult relationships with your family during the holidays? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson are joined by Alyssa Plock to help us all get the most out of the holiday season with our loved ones without losing our minds!

We all love museums. But many of the things in museums were stolen. Should they give the stuff they stole back? Dr. Bleattler joins Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes for a discussion of this real-life modern controversy on this latest episode.

Free speech is one of the most hot-button issues in the modern day. Why is free speech so important to us? And are there cases where it does more harm than good? Attorney David Campbell joins us for a deep and wide-ranging discussion on the virtues and potential limits of freedom of speech.

We talk about everything on this show--so why do we talk so much about politics? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes give their reasons.

One of the highest compliments we can give someone is to call them relatable. But should it be? Do we prize being relatable too much? Keelia Clarkson joins Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes to explain why our desire for "relatability" might be problematic.