The Overthinkers

Why are superheroes seemingly always so popular? And is that a good thing? We discuss with screenwriter, professor, and author Sean Gaffney.   References and resources List of billion dollar superhero movies: https://deadline.com/gallery/highest-grossing-movies-all-time/mcdjuwo-uv042/ Superhero dominance of the 2010s: https://www.statsignificant.com/p/the-rise-and-fall-of-superhero-movies   Superh...

Why is it so hard to build community today and how do we do it anyway? We discuss with author and former governor John Kasich on our latest episode. Resources and further reading Rise in loneliness: https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/americans-no-friends/   Health costs of loneliness: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/loneliness-poses-health-risks-as-deadly-as-smoking-u-s-surgeon-general-says#:~:te...

Everyone wants to be happy. But for so many, it seems so out of reach. What's the secret? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss on our latest episode. References and resources Definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happiness   Less than half of Americans are happy: https://news.gallup.com/poll/610133/less-half-americans-satisfied-own-lives.aspx   Philosophers on happiness: http...

How do you deal with FOMO (the fear of missing out)? Why is this such a modern phenomenon, and what steps can you take to overcome it? Nathan and Joseph discuss their experiences on the latest episode. References and resources:     FOMO definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/FOMO   History and review of literature: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8283615/   Understanding o...

Today lots of people are turning against experts. But is this wise? What are the problems with relying on experts and what are the problems with rejecting them? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss. References and resources   Expert definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expert   Trust in science has gone down: https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2023/11/14/americans-trust-in-...

What is a victim mentality? How do you know you have it and how do you overcome it? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss. References and resources   Victim mentality definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/victim%20mentality https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-a-victim-mentality https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/putting-psyche-back-into-psychotherapy/202401/the-ag...

Everyone who has ambitious goals has probably at some point dealt with impostor syndrome. So what is it? And how do we overcome it? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with best-selling author, podcast host, and sought-after business coach Mary Marantz. Further Reading Imposter Syndrome definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impostor%20syndrome   Imposter Syndrome history: ht...

Most people have either struggled with an addiction or know someone who has. So how does one overcome addiction? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson invite bestselling author, psychotherapist, Enneagram teacher, and Episcopal priest Ian Morgan Cron to bring insight and empathy to this important topic. Further reading Addiction definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/addiction   Nation...

What is beauty? Does it matter? If so, why? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with bestselling author and podcaster Andew Klavan.  Further reading Beauty definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beauty Philosophers on beauty: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/beauty/   Modern people on beauty: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/12/07/opinion/andre-aciman-why-is-beauty-...

What is shame? And how do we overcome it? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with celebrated author Aimee Byrd her book "Saving Face" about her own journey of shame and healing. Further reading: Shame definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shame   Shame vs guilt: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/shame#:~:text=Shame%20can%20breed%20feelings%20of,can%20erode%20trust%2...

Is religion in decline or are we headed for a revival? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with America's leading political scientist Ryan Burge. Further resources Karl Marx thought religion would disappear: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2009/jun/29/marx-religion-philosophy-opium Durkheim thought religion would decline/disappear: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00...

Why do people beome (and stay) Christians or any religion whatsoever? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson welcome Nathan Sherrer on the show to discuss their testimonies and what they think that says about faith and belief in the world.  Links to more resources: Reasons why people believe in God https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-pursuit-peace/201712/the-psychology-religion   https://www.ps...

What's The Devil really like according to the original Biblical writers who talked about him? We discuss with writer and filmmaker Jared Brock, author of the new book, "A Devil Called Lucifer". Definitions of The Devil:   https://www.britannica.com/topic/Satan   https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/history-of-the-devil   Christiian views of The Devil: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/sa...

Everyone loves Jesus. But who was Jesus? Was he just a historical figure, or was he someone you can have a relationship with today? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with beloved author John Eldredge Americans positive view of Jesus: https://www.barna.com/research/openness-to-jesus/   Americans belief in Jesus divinity: https://www.barna.com/research/what-do-americans-believe-about-jesus-5...

The Holy Spirit is a really important part of Christian theology. But he's also the least understood. What's the traditional Christian understanding of the Holy Spirit? And why does that matter? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson invite author and pastor Tyler Staton to discuss. Link to more resources:   Catholic/Orthodox Split: https://www.britannica.com/event/East-West-Schism-1054 Argument for co...

Culture wars seem to dominate life today. Should we participate in them, or abandon them? If we should engage with them, how and why? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss. Links to resources Definition of culture war: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/culture-war   James Davison Hunter on the culture war:    https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2024/08/09/culture-wars-james-davison-hunter-politics  ...

Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson talk with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Walter Hickey about what the research says on how the media we consume really does--and does not--affect us and our lives.   Time people spend with TV/Media: https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2023/tops-of-2023-tv/   Sesame Street improves education outcomes: https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/06...

We all love heroes. But not all heroes are created equal. What makes a hero that can stand the test of time and also make us better? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss.  Resource Links   Hero definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hero   Different cultural ideas of heroes: https://www.cam.ac.uk/system/files/heroes_teacher_resources_.pdf   Why Vince Gilligan thinks we need mo...

Why are there so few religious movies when the majority of the world is religious? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson welcome back filmmaker Spencer Folmar to discuss. 85.6% of world’s population is religious. 31.6% of world’s population are Christians (majority religion); unaffiliated 14.4%: https://www.statista.com/statistics/374704/share-of-global-population-by-religion/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20a...

Nobody likes modern dating. But why is it so hard? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss. Pew research on modern dating: https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/08/20/nearly-half-of-u-s-adults-say-dating-has-gotten-harder-for-most-people-in-the-last-10-years/   Why Does Modern Dating Suck? https://www.vice.com/en/article/why-dating-sucks-we-asked-experts/   Majority want to get married:...

How does the experience of hardship in our past affect our ability to have healthy relationships now? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with author and licensed counselor Tabitha Panariso to discuss. Referenced resources Definition of trauma: https://www.apa.org/topics/trauma#:~:text=Trauma%20is%20an%20emotional%20response,from%20Recovering%20emotionally%20from%20disaster Attachment Theory...

Men and women have been involved in a "battle of the sexes" throughout history. What is the source of this conflict, and how do we solve it? We bring on cultural apologist Annie Crawford to discuss. Growing Gender Divide: https://www.axios.com/2024/09/28/young-men-women-divided-politics-religion Blesses The Essential Difference (Book) Much Ado About Nothing (Play/Kenneth Branagh Movie) A Guide to...

The romance genre may be the most popular genre in the world. But is it harmful for us? Does it create unrealistic and harmful expectations? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes bring on author, actress and podcast host Keelia Clarkson to get some answers. Links to sources Popularity of the romance genre: https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/liberal-arts/misconceptions-about-the-romance-genre   Pop...

In honor of co-host Nathan Clarkson's new Western movie "Bright Sky", Nathan and Joseph discuss whether anyone is beyond redemption, and what that means.   Links to sources cited: Summary of Thomas Aquinas’s Compilation of Answers to What is Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit (including St. Augustine): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf8pin8x71Y   Psychologists emphasize the capacity to grow and ch...

How do we know our calling in life? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes talk to Biblical scholar Dr. William Klein on the history of the word "calling" and how we might be all--religious and non-religious alike--using the word wrong. Links to resources mentioned: Calling Definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calling   More definitions of “calling”: https://www.christianitytoday.com/...