The Overthinkers

Why am I a Christian? (With Nathan Sherrer)

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 Godhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-pursuit-peace/201712/the-psychology-religion
 
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-apes/201808/why-do-people-believe-in-god
Intellectuals returning to faith:
 
https://www.thefp.com/p/how-intellectuals-found-god-ayaan-hirsi-ali-peter-thiel-jordan-peterson
 
BlessesThe World Ends with You (Video Game)
Mob Psycho 100 (Anime)
All Fired Up (Song)
Evidence for Chrisitanity (Book)
Mere Christianity (Book)
Blue Like Jazz (Book)
On Guard (Book)
Curses
 
Facing the Giants (Movie)
The Eternals (Movie)
Law of Attraction (Book)
The God Delusion (Book)WebsiteThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

What's The Devil Really Like? (With Jared Brock)

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/satan-and-demons/
Blesses
 
Dardevil (TV Show)
Alan Wake 2 (Video Game)
The Screwtape Letters (Book)
Paradise Lost (Book)
Hellboy: The Crooked Man
Michael Hudson (Economist)
Friday Night Lights (TV Show)
 
Curse
 
The Devil’s Advocate (Movie)
Hazbin Hotel (TV Show)
 
Woe Anyone who makes money from lending (Usery)WebsitesOverthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josepholmesstuidos.comJared Brock: jaredbrock.com
 

Is Jesus More Than a Historical Figure? (With John Eldredge)

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-popular-beliefs/
 
Bart Ehrman on Jesus: https://ehrmanblog.org/who-was-jesus/
 
Personal relationship with Jesus not in Bible: https://theologyintheraw.com/is-having-a-personal-relationship-with-jesus-a-biblical-concept/#:~:text=If%20by%20%E2%80%9Cpersonal%E2%80%9D%20you%20mean,%3B%20it's%20communal%2C%20not%20individualistic.
 
Blesses
 
The Miracle Maker (Movie)
The Jesus I Never Knew (Book)
The Chosen (TV Show)
 
Curses
 
Bad Atheist Arguments (Internet)
Magdelene (Movie)
 
WebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.com
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

How Do You Hear The Holy Spirit? (With Tyler Staton)

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-1054Argument for continuationism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNuEImlg3yU&t=2764s&ab_channel=GavinOrtlund
Argument for cessasionism: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/cessationist/BlessesDisappointment with God (Book)Believe Me (Movie)Curses Holy Ghost (Movie)Noah (Movie)WebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.comTyler Staton: https://www.tylerstaton.com/about

Should We Fight Culture Wars?

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
 
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/05/20/culture-war-politics-2021-democracy-analysis-489900
 
Blesses
 
Trial and Death of Socrates (Book)
The Other Two (TV Show)
Eye in the Sky (Movie)
 
Curses
 
The act of announcing to the world you’re taking a break for social media for lent
Captain America: Civil War (Movie)WebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josepholmesstudios.com

How Do Movies and TV Change Us? (With Walter Hickey)

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/sesame-street-preschool-education/396056/
 
History of the Hayes Code: https://www.britannica.com/art/Hays-CodeBlessesBednobs and Broomsticks (Movie)Spider-Man 2 (Movie)
You Are What You Watch (Book)Through a Screen Darkly (Book)The Truman Show (Movie)FLow (Movie)CursesHeart Eyes (Movie)
La La Land (Movie)The Show Recommended by the Algorithm 
 
WebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.comWalter Hickey: https://walthickey.com/

What Makes a Great Hero?

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 more heroes: https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/breaking-bad-creator-vince-gilligan-good-guys-walter-white-1236309604/
 
 
 
 
Blesses
 
Gotham Knights
Daredevil
The Incredibles
Chronicles of Narnia
Superman for All Seasons
Dune: Part Two
 
Curses
 
Captain America: Brave New World
The BoysWebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

Why Do We Need Religious Movies? (With Spencer Folmar)

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%20around%2031.6%20percent,of%20global%20populations%20as%20Hindu.
 
America’s religious/secular demographics: https://news.gallup.com/poll/511133/identify-religious-spiritual.aspx
 
Atheists 7% of World Population: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-secular-life/201510/how-many-atheists-are-there
 
History of faith and Hollywood: 
 
https://www.njarts.net/hollywood-rarely-shows-much-faith-in-films-with-prominent-religious-themes/
 
https://faithlifetv.com/reel-redemption
 
Objections to Hollywood’s portrayal of Muslims: 
https://variety.com/2022/film/news/usc-annenberg-inclusion-initiative-muslim-representation-study-1235362804/
Blesses
 
Calvary
First Reformed
House of David
 
Curses
 
Interstellar
Anora
Mother Teresa & Me
 
Bless/Curse
 
Conclave
First Reformed
 
Websites
 
Spencer Folmar: hardfaith.org
Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com
 

What's Wrong with Modern Dating?

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: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/02/15/among-young-adults-without-children-men-are-more-likely-than-women-to-say-they-want-to-be-parents-someday/#:~:text=Among%20adults%20ages%2018%20to,they%20want%20to%20get%20married.
 
Global marriage rates dropping/women’s higher standards and men’s dropping performance: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/02/america-marriage-decline/681518/
 
Lack of church attendance driving singleness: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/04/happiness-recession-causing-sex-depression/586405/
 
Consumer mentality driving bad dating: https://www.freyaindia.co.uk/p/why-is-modern-dating-so-difficult
Why it’s hard to build community today: https://anunexpectedjournal.com/the-real-reason-you-dont-have-friends-and-how-to-fix-it/
 
Lies Hollywood teaches us about relationships: https://religionunplugged.com/news/2023/11/5/how-the-sexual-revolution-killed-the-hollywood-rom-com
 
 Bless
500 Days of Summer
 
Curse
The Idea of You
 
Bless/Curse
How I Met Your Mother
 
Websites
 
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

How Does Trauma Affect Our Relationships? (With Tabitha Panariso)

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%20disasterAttachment Theory: https://labs.psychology.illinois.edu/~rcfraley/attachment.htm
 
Millennials “reverse cognitive behavior therapy”: https://www.afterbabel.com/p/mental-health-liberal-girls
 
Gen Z’s “fear of taking part”: https://www.afterbabel.com/p/what-happened-to-fomo
Blesses
 
Scott Pilgrim vs the World (Movie)
The Fighter Severance CursesManchester By the Sea
HollywoodBless/CurseMarriage StoryWebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.comTabitha Panariso: https://substack.com/@tabithapanariso