The Overthinkers

Who are the most iconic and influential people of the past 20 years? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes put forward and explain the people who they think shaped the way we think about the world?

"Romanticize your life" is a social media trend that has swept the internet. But what does it mean? And is it problematic? Keelia Clarkson joins Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes to discuss.

Our culture constantly gives us mixed messages about whether we live our best life by dreaming big and chasing those dreams or by being content whatever our circumstances. So which is it? We discuss on our first episode of the new year!   Links to resources:    https://www.forbes.com/sites/jodiecook/2020/06/01/dream-bigger/?fbclid=IwAR3ulZkJsYLXM0IQ1kFStJ3StW9J-J-B3i-V9QbZ9It8pUG7I21cvh7rtP4&s...

What is the true spirit of Christmas? How do we define it? We discuss this and more on 2023's annual Christmas episode.    https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas   https://www.statista.com/topics/3216/national-holidays-in-the-us/#topicOverview   https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/09/13/how-u-s-religious-composition-has-changed-in-recent-decades/

Is gratitude important? Surprisingly that's a controversial question. But even if it is important, how does one practice it? Joseph and Nathan discuss.   https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2022/11/24/gratitude-giving-thanks/   https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/can-expressing-gratitude-improve-health#:~:text=Studies%20have%20shown%20that%20feeling,pain%2...

Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson invite on author and filmmaker Brock Heasley to discuss how to deal with suffering in a way that makes us better rather than worse. Along the way they discuss Brock Heasley's new faith-based sci-fi film "The Shift", and all three of our own journeys with profound suffering.    https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/meditation-modern-life/201410/the-three-ways-we-...

So many people struggle with finding the balance between being nice and being honest. How do you find that balance? Nathan and Joseph break down their thoughts and their experiences with this very relevant issue, and of course, bring the data.   https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2022/12/do-real-friends-tell-truth-confrontation/672437/   https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/childhood-em...

We live in a complex world that requires specialized knowledge in order to live in, whether it's science, medicine, technology, psychology, and whatever else. And yet, a growing number of people are losing trust in experts to give them reliable information in their areas of expertise. But is this lack of trust misplaced? And what is the alternative? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss.   htt...

With more and more people cutting out friends and family for being "toxic", Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss when we should or shouldn't make the decision to axe a relationship.   https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/09/toxic-person-tiktok-internet-slang-meaning/670599/   https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/01/why-parents-and-kids-get-estranged/617612/   https://w...

Every culture and time has believed in witches and witchcraft, and each time and place has disagreed on whether they're evil or good. But is witchcraft real? And if so, is it harmful? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss and debate this topic just in time for Halloween!   Links to info on this topic: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2022/10/15/witchcraft-meaning-types-history/8191168001/  ...

Is watching harmful things like violence or terror bad for us? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson bring on film critic Tyler Smith to discuss.   Click the link below to donate to Tyler Smith's family during his time of illness. https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-tyler-smith-and-family?member=21781955&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer   Check...

A growing number of Christians are convinced that supposed alien sightings are actually demons in disguise. What evidence is there for that? Is it convincing? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson weigh in as spooky month continues!    

Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss the good and bad of true crime and how you know if your love of true crime might be problematic.   https://today.yougov.com/entertainment/articles/43762-half-of-americans-enjoy-true-crime-yougov-poll?redirect_from=%2Ftopics%2Fentertainment%2Farticles-reports%2F2022%2F09%2F14%2Fhalf-of-americans-enjoy-true-crime-yougov-poll   https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10...

Should we leave society and move to a cabin in the woods? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss whether packing up and leaving society is really the best solution to our problems.    

CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien were giants of fantasy literature and Christian thought. So why haven't there been others like them since? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson invite cultural apologist Annie Crawford to discuss the conditions that created Lewis and Tolkien and how we can create those conditions again.

Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes welcome on celebrated author Amanda Dykes to discuss why we seem so embarrassed to read fiction and why that's a mistake. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/sep/17/us-losing-appetite-for-reading-fiction-research-finds#:~:text=But%20novels%20and%20short%2Dstory,24%2Dyear%2Dolds%E2%80%9D .   https://news.gallup.com/poll/388541/americans-reading-fewer-books-past....

People tend to either think that pop culture is harmful or that it doesn't matter. But is pop culture more important than we think? And might it be a positive force for good? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson bring on author and culture critic Dr. Daniel Blackaby to discuss.       Times of India Are young people of a society more influenced by pop culture? Rohit Chowdhury   https://timesofindia.in...

Why do men go to church so much less than women do? We bring on men's coach and filmmaker Jesse Dvorak to discuss why church isn't working for men and what to do about it.   https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/04/06/christian-women-in-the-u-s-are-more-religious-than-their-male-counterparts/

Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes talk to writer and podcast host of "The Wallflower Journal" and "Dear Wallflower" about why women seem to be having an identity crisis that nobody is talking about.    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4478054/   https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/08/health/women-anxiety-disorders/index.html

Everyone's talking about AI. Is it something we should be scared of? If so, what should we be scared of about it? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss.     https://www.ibm.com/topics/artificial-intelligence   https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognitiveworld/2019/10/31/should-we-be-afraid-of-ai/?sh=2b90d8274331   https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/06/youre-right-to-be-scared-of-ai-white-house-advisor-ivy...

It's one of the most famous paradoxes in history. But is it really that big a deal? And what's the answer? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson answer the omniscience paradox on this latest episode.   The Omnipotence Paradox   https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/omnipotence/#IntrPrel     A God Problem   https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/25/opinion/-philosophy-god-omniscience.html     The Rock God Can’t...

Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss how society defines success and how we could or should define it differently.   Dictionary   https://www.dictionary.com/browse/success   The moral consequences of teleological beliefs about the human species   https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2023-92110-001?fbclid=IwAR0gIv8NdbnL9jl92aRi5K3_s1zB6xaRXND_MsX47o-bDC-1xRJTF-sv-k8     ‘Is This It?’ When Success Is...

Why do we feel uncomfortable with preachers having lots of money? Is there something wrong with pastors having expensive things? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes bring on Ben Kirby--author and man behind the viral "preachers and sneakers" account--on this latest episode.   History of prosperity gospel: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-you-should-know-about-the-prosperity-gospel/  

Does The Bible have anything to say about conspiracy theories for the church? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson bring on biblical scholar Dr. Dru Johnson to discuss.   https://www.businessinsider.com/pastors-quit-after-qanon-radicalize-congregation-2021-3   https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-03-03/la-na-church-qanon-conspiracy-theories   https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/decem...

Forgiveness is one of the most most difficult values our culture aspires to. But what is it and how do we do it? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson are joined by author and forgiveness expert Karen Laing on this latest episode.    https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/forgiveness   https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/forgiveness/#TheoForg   https://ndpr.nd.edu/reviews/before-forgiveness-the-orig...