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!
Episodes

Jan 21, 2024
Jan 21, 2024
50 min
What is art and what is it for? And why does that question even matter? By request, Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson tackle with one of the most difficult questions yet.
Links to other resources:
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/art-definition/
https://www.britannica.com/art/visual-arts

Jan 14, 2024
Jan 14, 2024
1hr 17 min
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?

Jan 7, 2024
Jan 7, 2024
49 min
"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.

Jan 1, 2024
Jan 1, 2024
59 min
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&sh=135b3ebe100e
https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-weight-ing-game/202206/what-are-we-teaching-children-about-their-life-s-dreams
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/insight-therapy/201112/dont-dream-big%3famp
ttps://tifwe.org/three-reasons-you-shouldnt-be-content/
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/be-content-with-what-you-have
https://twitter.com/ChrisWillx/status/1668644275209248769
https://joycemeyer.org/everydayanswers/ea-teachings/how-to-be-content?fbclid=IwAR0eMLDSWEg7CR-IJE8urGCbDZI6JzbOGLGVItPUchqS1xoZYBkV_quRIo0
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-politicization-of-motherhood-1509144044
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/15/parenting/baby/fatherhood-mens-bodies.html

Dec 10, 2023
Dec 10, 2023
50 min
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/

Dec 3, 2023
Dec 3, 2023
56 min
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%20and%20risk%20of%20disease.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/08/well/mind/gratitude-health-benefits.html
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/anger-in-the-age-entitlement/202202/why-americans-are-frustrated-entitled-and-judgmental
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-homework-myth/201807/the-overselling-gratitude
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tech-happy-life/202008/why-it-feels-the-end-the-world-even-when-its-not

Nov 26, 2023
Nov 26, 2023
56 min
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-deal-or-not-suffering

Nov 19, 2023
Nov 19, 2023
59 min
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-emotional-neglect/202211/beware-brutal-honesty-it-may-be-sign-toxic-person
https://qz.com/work/1402692/researchers-find-we-routinely-overestimate-how-much-honesty-hurts
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/09/180919133003.htm

Nov 12, 2023
Nov 12, 2023
55 min
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.
https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2022/02/15/americans-trust-in-scientists-other-groups-declines/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/09/06/teachers-trust-history-lgbtq-culture-war/
https://news.gallup.com/poll/403166/americans-trust-media-remains-near-record-low.aspx#:~:text=The%20percentage%20of%20Americans%20with%20a%20great%20deal%20or%20fair,has%20averaged%2042%25%20since%202004.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/508352/americans-confidence-higher-education-down-sharply.aspx
https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/how-and-why-the-food-pyramid-diet-recommendations-changed

Nov 5, 2023
Nov 5, 2023
1hr 1 min
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://www.huffpost.com/entry/advice-family-estrangement-politics_l_6369630ee4b0eb51ab13079a
https://jonathanhaidt.substack.com/p/mental-health-liberal-girls

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.




