The Overthinkers
A place to have fun thinking deeply! Every week, the hosts of The Overthinkers pose a question having to do with art, faith, philosophy, psychology, literature, pop culture, creativity, and more—then attempt to answer it with the help of New York Times bestselling authors, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists, Oscar-winning Hollywood directors/actors, Grammy-winning musicians, esteemed academics, prolific professors, and many more influential and intriguing guests. This is a place where you can both think well and laugh loudly. All are welcome, so put your thinking caps and your laughing socks on and come on in!
Episodes

Sep 29, 2024
Sep 29, 2024
1 hr 6 min
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

Sep 23, 2024
Sep 23, 2024
51 min
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

Sep 16, 2024
Sep 16, 2024
1 hr 2 min
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.

Sep 9, 2024
Sep 9, 2024
51 min
Some think the world is getting too many people to sustain the planet. Others warn that we don't have enough kids to care for the old people. Who's right? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson invite Economist Dr. Jared Pincin to discuss.Info highlighted in episode:
World hits 8 billion people: https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/11/world-population-estimated-eight-billion.html#:~:text=Population%20Division%20estimates%20the%20world,billion%20on%20November%2015%2C%202022.
The overpopulation/underpopulation debate:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220905-is-the-world-overpopulated
https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/23436211/overpopulation-population-8-billion-people

Sep 2, 2024
Sep 2, 2024
1 hr 52 sec
Getting offended is very common today--particularly online. But is being offended off-limits for Christians? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss.
Definition of “Offended”: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/offended
Why Christians Shouldn’t Be Offended:
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/blessed-are-the-unoffendable
https://www.christianitytoday.com/karl-vaters/2016/december/im-offended-by-easily-offended-christians.html
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scotty-smith/easily-offended-isnt-a-fruit-of-the-holy-spirit/

Aug 25, 2024
Aug 25, 2024
1 hr 1 min
Christians and Charles Darwin's theory of evolution have often been at odds. But is that conflict justified? Dr. Dru Johnson, Biblical scholar and author of the book "What Hath Darwin to Do with Scripture?", walks Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson through the places where Darwin's work matches with the Biblical narrative--and where it diverges. And it's not always where you might think!
Bio of Charles Darwin: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Darwin/Evolution-by-natural-selection-the-London-years-1836-42

Aug 19, 2024
Aug 19, 2024
1 hr 14 min
We all want community today. But is community possible in a modern society that puts up so many barriers to it? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson are joined by thinker and filmmaker Houston Coley to discuss.
Lack of friends today:https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/07/well/live/adult-friendships-number.htmlhttps://nypost.com/2021/07/27/americans-have-fewer-friends-than-ever-before-study/
Health risks of loneliness: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/nov/16/who-declares-loneliness-a-global-public-health-concern#:~:text=The%20World%20Health%20Organization%20(WHO,smoking%2015%20cigarettes%20a%20day.
Rising rates of depression correlating to loss of community:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/our-changing-culture/201510/are-mental-health-issues-the-rise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpP7ESJ3hEQ
Joseph Holmes' review of "The Anxious Generation": https://lawliberty.org/book-review/what-the-smartphone-hath-wrought/

Aug 11, 2024
Aug 11, 2024
53 min
Is AI Dangerous? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes look at the evidence and discuss.
AI Definition: https://www.britannica.com/technology/artificial-intelligence
Why AI is Dangerous: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/heres-why-ai-may-be-extremely-dangerous-whether-its-conscious-or-not/
Why Experts Disagree: https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2024/3/13/24093357/ai-risk-extinction-forecasters-tetlock

Aug 5, 2024
Aug 5, 2024
48 min
Is watching the news necessary to stay informed, or bad for your mental health? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss.
Growing number of people avoiding the news: https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2023/08/01/news-avoid-depressing/
Media confidence reaches new low: https://news.gallup.com/poll/512861/media-confidence-matches-2016-record-low.aspx
News mental health harms: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/11/strain-media-overload
Where and how often people get their news: https://www.statista.com/statistics/717651/most-popular-news-platforms/#:~:text=A%20survey%20on%20news%20consumption,content%20in%20the%20last%20year.
Frequency of news consuption: https://www.statista.com/statistics/946580/network-news-usage-frequency/#:~:text=The%20findings%20of%20a%20study,news%20on%20a%20daily%20basis.
Why You Should Quit the News: https://markmanson.net/why-you-should-quit-the-news
Benefits and harms of watching news: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-global-lens/202302/is-the-news-harming-or-helping-your-psychological-health

Jul 28, 2024
Jul 28, 2024
51 min
For an idea so often discussed and debated, tolerance is a relatively recent virtue. Why did it become so popular? And is it overrated? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss.
Merriam Webster definition of Tolerance: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tolerance
History of the virtue of tolerance: https://iep.utm.edu/tolerati/#H2
Popper’s Paradox of Tolerance: https://www.freiheit.org/mexico/limits-tolerance-poppers-paradox#:~:text=In%20practical%20terms%2C%20Popper%20tells,should%20be%20admitted%20without%20limits.
Criticism of Popper’s Paradox: https://markmanson.net/the-paradox-of-tolerance
Tolerance is Not a Virtue: https://www.equip.org/articles/is-tolerance-a-virtue/

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.




