The Overthinkers

Is beauty just in the eye of the beholder? Or is there some objectivity in what beauty is? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss the science and philosophy of beauty on this latest episode.    https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/beauty/   https://www.philosophytalk.org/blog/beautiful-and-metaphysics-beauty#:~:text=The%20word%20%E2%80%9Cbeauty%E2%80%9D%20 (and,It%20can%20work%20both%20ways.   Th...

What is envy? Why do we all agree it's bad, and how do we overcome it? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss on this latest episode.    Article Links:   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/envy   https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/anxiety-files/201510/envy   https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/anxiety-files/201511/coping-your-envy-turning-envy-its-head

Why don't Millennials and Zoomers feel like adults even though they are? Nathan Sherrer joins the show once again to discuss.   Articles mentioned in the episode: https://time.com/4361866/adulting-definition-meaning/   https://www.npr.org/2022/06/11/1104056661/disney-adults     https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/sep/23/economy-millennials-children-low-birthrate   https://aninjusticemag...

What do we as a culture get wrong when it comes to discussing race? Are colorblind advocates and antiracism advocates missing something to have productive racial discussions? If not, why aren't we making any progress? Sociologist and author Dr. George Yancey joins Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson to discuss a new approach to racial conversations that he believes will help make real racial progres...

Are younger generations getting more sensitive? Or is that just a myth that older generations perpetuate? And if they are, why, and what can we do about it? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss.   Some articles referenced in this show:    https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jerry-seinfeld-college-politically-correct-racism-sexism_n_7534978   https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/kids-today-ar...

Abortion is one of the most controversial issues in America right now. Typically the controversy is framed as disagreements about whether to prioritize the needs of the child (if one believes the fetus is a child) or the mother. But a growing part of the debate is about whether abortion is even good for the mother. Author and scholar Dr. Erika Bachiochi joins Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson to d...

Can words change reality? Or are words just labels we put on things. We talk to translator and philosopher Matas Gelezauskas on this latest episode.      https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7246-the-basic-tool-for-the-manipulation-of-reality-is-the#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20basic%20tool%20for%20the%20manipulation%20of%20reality%20is%20the,people%20who%20must%20use%20them.%E2%80%9D   https://psychcentral...

Is morality subjective or objective? If subjective, why do we intuitively think it's objective? If objective, why don't we agree on it? We invite cultural apologist Dr. Zak Schmoll to discuss on this latest episode.   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/morality   https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-relativism/   https://medium.com/writers-blokke/is-morality-subjective-or-objective-953...

Gun violence is all too common in America. And conversations around them are all to commonly toxic. How do we think better about having conversations around guns? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes give it the old college try.   List of mass shootings: https://www.axios.com/2017/12/15/deadliest-mass-shootings-modern-us-history   General facts about guns in America: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-...

Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss why the multiverse is everywhere in pop culture nowadays--from blockbusters to TV to even Oscar Best Picture winners--and what it says about modern society.   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multiverse     https://www.space.com/why-is-the-multiverse-so-popular-in-sci-fi   https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20220425-doctor-strange-and-the-histor...

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...