The Overthinkers

A place where you can have fun thinking deeply about all the big and beautiful questions of life complete with cutaways. Hosts Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson explore subjects of art, faith, philosophy, culture, and more with some of today’s leading and most influential minds and figures. So put your thinking caps and your laughing socks on and come on in!

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Episodes

3 days ago

Americans' number one fear is corrupt politicians. Why is that? And is that valid? We discuss fear of the government and propose solutions. 
Links to Further Resources
 
Chapman University study of Americans’ greatest fears: https://www.chapman.edu/wilkinson/research-centers/babbie-center/survey-american-fears.aspx 
 
Summary of implications for new US rankings in global corruption: https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/01/28/report-transparency-international-corruption-worst-decade-united-states/
Christopher Bader interview on Chapman University study: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/19/science/sociology-fear-uncertainty.html
 
Liberty of the Ancients vs the Moderns speech: https://fee.org/resources/the-liberty-of-ancients-compared-with-that-of-moderns/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsoe5BhDiARIsAOXVoUvAN9dp6i3daV7OFgzeY5hfEwHv9JPJETxoenffgIjunKHUPd1SGBUaAj3NEALw_wcB
 
Federalist 51 - James Madison’s justification for our system of government in men’s natures: https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/text-51-60
 
Blesses:
 
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Death of Stalin
Hamilton
Trial of the Chicago 7
 
Curses
 
The West Wing
Civil War
Don’t Look Up
Megalopolis
 
Overthinkers Team Contact and Websites:The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com
 
 

Sunday Nov 10, 2024

Many Christians are worried about the phenomenon of "deconstruction". But what is "deconstruction" and is it something we should fear or embrace? Author and scholar Scot McKnight and musician and pastor Tommy Preson Phillips join to discuss their new book on deconstruction "The Invisible Jesus: A Book About Leaving the Church and Looking for Christ"References and Resources:
 
Deconstruction Definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deconstruction
 
What Does Deconstruction Mean? https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-does-deconstruction-even-mean
 
How many people deconstruct? https://www.barna.com/trends/ex-christians-deconstructing/
 
Why We Should Not Redeem Deconstruction https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/redeem-reconstruction/
 
Five Reasons Young People are Deconstructing Their Faith: https://careynieuwhof.com/five-real-reasons-young-people-are-deconstructing-their-faith/
 
Deconstruction encounters from Pastors: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2022/07/deconstruction-faith-pastors-church-lifeway-survey/
 
Rise in family estrangement: https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/01/why-parents-and-kids-get-estranged/617612/
 
Rise of “everyone’s toxic”: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/09/toxic-person-tiktok-internet-slang-meaning/670599/
 
Millennials true religion: customizable beliefs, observation by Dr. Jean Twenge, author of Generations: https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/columns/ad-fontes/generations-by-jean-m-twenge-review-and-reflections/
 
Blesses
 
WIldcat
The Great Dechurching
Mrs. Davis
 
Curses
 
First Reformed
Silence
Bonhoeffer (film)
 
Contact and Websites:
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com
Scot McKnight: https://scotmcknight.substack.com/
Tommy Preson Phillips: http://presonphillips.com/

Sunday Nov 03, 2024

Do we have a moral obligation to vote for the lesser of two evils? Do we have a moral obligation not to? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss in the lead up to the American presidential  Election.
 
St. Francis advises voting for lesser of two evils, and why: https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/pope-francis-kamala-harris-donald-trump-rcna171092
 
History of American “Lesser of Two Evils” debates: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/lesser-of-two-evils-history-voting/
 
Reasons to not vote lesser of two evils:
 
https://www.cato.org/commentary/why-voting-lesser-two-evils-waste-vote
 
https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2023/08/karty-the-lesser-of-two-evils-argument-needs-to-die
 
Americans disatisfied with choices: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/americans-dismayed-by-biden-trump-2024-rematch-reutersipsos-poll-finds-2024-01-25/
 
Federalist 51 - Why lesser of two evils thinking is built into American government:
 
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-04-02-0199#:~:text=If%20men%20were%20angels%2C%20no,on%20government%20would%20be%20necessary.
 
Blesses:
 
The Righteous Mind
Eye in the Sky
Lincoln
13 Days
 
Curses:X/Twitter/Threads
God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust
Conclave
 
Contact and Websites:
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

What Are We Most Afraid Of?

Sunday Oct 27, 2024

Sunday Oct 27, 2024

What are Americans most afraid of? And what does that say about us? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss.Top ten list for 2024:
https://www.chapman.edu/wilkinson/research-centers/babbie-center/survey-american-fears.aspx 
 
Conversation around Americans fears: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/19/science/sociology-fear-uncertainty.html
 
Top ten list for 2014: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/10/30/clowns-are-twice-as-scary-to-democrats-as-they-are-to-republicans/BlessesThe VillageNopeWhere's God When I'm Scared
It: Part One
CursesBeau is AfraidIt: Part Two
Contact and Websites:
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

Sunday Oct 20, 2024

There's a rise in interest and practice of witchcraft among young people. Is that worth being concerned about? We discuss with journalist Mary Jackson.Notes from the show:
 
Witchcraft definition: 
 
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/witchcraft
 
Witchcraft history: 
 
https://www.britannica.com/topic/witchcraft
 
Mary Jackson's article on rise of witchcraft and its harms: https://wng.org/articles/out-of-darkness-1713232697
 
More modern witchcraft trends
 
https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/culture/a42798881/magic-touch-witchcraft/
 
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/paganism-witchcraft-are-making-comeback-rcna54444
 
https://www.brandeis.edu/now/2021/september/wicca-berger-conversation.html#:~:text=It%20is%20estimated%20that%20there,approximately%20800%2C000%20Americans%20are%20Wiccans
 
BlessesThe CrucibleThe Village Talk to MeThe Screwtape LettersCursesThe WitchThe Front RoomThe Wicked Witch characterContact and Websites:
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com
Mary Jackson at World Magazine: https://wng.org/authors/mary-jackson
Mary Jackson on X: https://x.com/mbjackson77
 
 
 

Sunday Oct 13, 2024

Do demons exist? If so, what are they like? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson welcome New Testament Scholar, author, and demon-expert Dr. Joy Vaughan to help them navigate the world of supernatural evil on this latest episode of spooky month.Further links: 
Demon definition:
 
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demon
 
Demon history:
 
https://www.britannica.com/topic/angel-religion#ref410057
 
70% of Americans believe in The Devil:
https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/4400922-americans-ghosts-aliens-devil-survey/
 
Modern day exorcism debate: 
 
https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/04/health/exorcism-doctor/index.html
 
Mental health vs demonic possession in Middle Ages:
 
https://www.bu.edu/cas/demonic-obsession-a-different-look-at-mental-health-in-the-medieval-period/
Bless:
 
Movie - Interview with The Devil
Movie - The Deliverance 
Book - Glimpses of The Devil
Books by Adam C. Blai
 
Curse
 
Movie - The Exorcist: BelieverMovie - The Exorcism
(Not curse - warning against) Spiritual Warfare Handbooks
Websites:
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com
Dr. Joy Vaughan: https://www.asbury.edu/about/directory/joy-vaughan/

Is Fear Ever a Good Thing?

Sunday Oct 06, 2024

Sunday Oct 06, 2024

Everyone wants to overcome fear. But is fear ever something to embrace rather than reject? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss in their latest episode - the first of scary thinking month.Links to referenced resources:
Fear Definition:
 
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fear
 
Fear is one of our most powerful emotions:
 
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications/face-fear
 
Rise in anxiety: 
 
https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/annual-poll-adults-express-increasing-anxiousness#:~:text=Washington%2C%20D.C.,2023%20and%2032%25%20in%202022.
 
At least 60% have at least one unreasonable fear:
 
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/fear
 
How to manage fear:
 
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications/how-overcome-anxiety-and-fear
 
How to cope with fear:
 
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications/how-overcome-anxiety-and-fear
 
Overcome fear of failure:
 
https://hbr.org/2018/12/how-to-overcome-your-fear-of-failure?utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=domcontent&utm_term=Non-Brand&tpcc=paidsearch.google.dsacontent&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9Km3BhDjARIsAGUb4nwDJRKY-UqTLI2l-f2j_V2lDqJbzLPSBCH9F-rauYz0tIz42SGFOPUaAuUTEALw_wcB
 
Overcome fear of change: 
 
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-adaptive-mind/201809/how-overcome-the-fear-change
 
Fear and authoritarianism:
 
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/02/authoritarian-leaders-people-safe-voters
No fear in love: 
https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/1%20John%204%3A18
Fear - Costs and Benefits:
 
https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/2022/10/fear-when-it-rational-and-when-it-unhealthy
 
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-fear-is-a-good-thing_b_8258746
 
Blesses:
 
Video Game: Outlast
Movie: A Quiet Place
 
Curses:The Terrifier Texas Chainsaw Massacre 

Sunday Sep 29, 2024

Many people feel like they have to choose between science and faith. But do they really? What is the history of science and faith, and when did this supposed conflict start? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson welcome author and scholar Dr. Spencer Klavan to discuss this topic and Klavan's new book on the subject "Light of the Mind, Light of the World.Further Resources:
https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2015/10/22/science-and-religion-2/#:~:text=Some%2073%25%20of%20adults%20who,religion%20are%20often%20in%20conflict.
https://www.samharris.org/blog/science-must-destroy-religionhttps://scienceforthechurch.org/2020/11/10/a-conversation-with-john-lennox/BlessesSumma TheologicaGod's UndertakerNetflix's The Three-Body ProblemCursesThe Theory of EverythingFreud's Last SessionMIxed Bless/CurseDark Matter

Monday Sep 23, 2024

Who is therapy for? Is it only people with diagnosed mental illness? Or can anyone benefit? We discuss with mental health advocate Alyssa Plock.Data and references:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrobinson/2021/02/04/47-of-americans-believe-seeking-therapy-is-a-sign-of-weakness/
 
https://www.scrippsnews.com/health/75-of-americans-feel-health-care-system-handles-mental-health-worse-than-physical-poll-finds
 
https://kindbridge.com/mental-health/why-do-people-avoid-therapy/
 
https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2012/08/psychotherapy-effective
 
Blesses:Allender Center Podcast
The Place We Find Ourselves Podcast
The Sixth SenseOrdinary People
Curses:ShrinkingSplitMoon KnightExtremes

Is the 9-5 Bad for Us?

Monday Sep 16, 2024

Monday Sep 16, 2024

Why do most people work a 9-5? And should we get rid of it? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss in the latest episode of The Overthinkers.
 
Further reading:
 
History and the origin of the 9-5. https://hbr.org/2021/07/breaking-free-from-a-9-to-5-culture
 
Arguments against 9-5: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2021/07/25/working-9-to-5-is-an-antiquated-relic-from-the-past-and-should-be-stopped-right-now/
 
Remote workers aren’t as productive: https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2024-01-04/2024-year-employers-clamp-down-on-remote-work-not-so-fast#:~:text=It's%20true%20that%20widespread%20studies,be%20factors%20in%20the%20decline
 
Benefits of a 9-5: https://medium.com/@lester03g/5-reasons-why-its-good-to-work-9-5-d4c41df9a3ee#:~:text=Working%209%E2%80%935%20builds%20are,between%20work%20and%20personal%20life.
 

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The Show

A home for the creative intellectual who wants to have fun thinking deeply. Through interviews with influential and interesting guests; The Overthinkers ask the big and beautiful life-questions about faith, philosophy, art, culture, and humanity. Come and join the often deep and always hilarious conversation. 

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