The Overthinkers

How Did CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien Change the World? (With Dr. Joseph Loconte)

What was the world like that CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien wrote their stories in? And how did their work change things? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with author and historian Dr. Joseph Loconte.
References and resources:
 
Tolkien and Lewis fantasy influence: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/cambridge-companion-to-fantasy-literature/tolkien-lewis-and-the-explosion-of-genre-fantasy/47A1D63A6D2D6F2553664D98F0F2EC1D
Lewis and Tolkien’s influence through their fantasy writing and school curriculum: https://aeon.co/essays/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-oxford-school-of-fantasy-literature?utm_source=chatgpt.com
 
Lewis and Tolkien influence on Christian thought leaders: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2000/04/books-of-century/
 
Lewis books sold: https://www.cslewis.com/us/about-cs-lewis/
 
Tolkien books sold: https://200.hc.com/stories/j-r-r-tolkien-and-the-trilogy/WebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: linktr.ee/JosephHolmesJoseph Loconte: https://sagamoreinstitute.org/joseph-loconte/

What Dreams Should You Pursue?

We hear a lot about the importance of pursuing your dreams. But which dreams? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss.References and resources:
Pew research: https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/09/14/what-makes-for-a-fulfilling-life/#:~:text=When%20asked%20what%20it%20takes,Gender
 
Marriage matters more for happiness than career: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/17/opinion/marriage-happiness-career.html
 
Fantasizing about dreams kills goals, fantasizing about process helps achieve them: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/09/manifestation-positive-thinking-happiness/679695/
 
Most people do not achieve their goals: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2980864/
Nearly half of Americans very satisfied with their lives: https://news.gallup.com/poll/610133/less-half-americans-satisfied-own-lives.aspx
 
The changing definitions of “calling”: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/how-do-we-know-our-calling-with-dr-william-klein/id1510271421?i=1000684667698Websites:The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.comNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.comLink to watch Joseph Holmes' debut feature film, "Jim vs the Future": https://linktr.ee/JosephHolmes

Should We Try to Convert Others? (With Justin Lin)

Should we try to convert others to our beliefs? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson welcome American film director Justin Lin (director of multiple Fast and Furious movies) to discuss his new film "Last Days" about the 26-year-old Christian missionary John Chau, who died trying to convert the North Sentinel Island people.References and resources:Conversion definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conversion
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/conversion_n#8281191Benefits of missionaries: https://www.christianitytoday.com/about/stories/the-unexpected-good-news-about-missionaries/
WebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: linktr.ee/JosephHolmesJustin Lin: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0510912/Last Days film: https://www.lastdays-movie.com/

What are the Medieval Virtues? (With Dr. Grace Hamman)

What are the Medieval virtues? How are they related to the seven deadly sins? And how can they help us today? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson are joined by scholar and author Dr. Grace Hamman to answer these very questions.
References and resources:
https://www.britannica.com/event/Middle-Ages
 
WebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.comDr. Grace Hamman: https://gracehamman.com/

What are Exorcisms Really Like? (With Rev. Dan Todd)

What are real-life exorcisms like? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson interview real-life exorcist Reverend Dan Todd on our latest episode. References and resources
 
https://www.history.com/articles/exorcisms-christianity-gospels-movie
 
https://bigthink.com/thinking/history-of-exorcism/WebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.comRev. Dan Todd: https://www.ourladyofdivinemercyac.net/about-us

Why Are Vampires So Popular?

Vampires have been a part of our mythology and pop culture for centuries. But why do they remain so popular? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss.
References and resources:History of Vampireshttps://www.history.com/articles/vampire-historyBlessesTwilight (Movie)Let the Right One In (Movie)Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (Movie)CursesVampire Diaries (TV Show)Bram Stoker's Dracula (Movie)WebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournanl.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

Does Bigfoot Exist? (With CJ Blackburn and Kara Russo)

Do monsters, cryptids, and urban legends like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster exist? If so, how would we know for certain? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with hosts of the Campfire Files podcast: Colin Blackburn and Kara Russo.
 
References and resources
History of Bigfoot: https://www.history.com/articles/bigfoot-legend-newspaper
Belief in Bigfoot, aliens, and loch ness monster on rise: https://civicscience.com/u-s-belief-in-sasquatch-has-risen-since-2020/
WebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkers.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.comCampfire Files: https://campfirefiles.podbean.com/

Should We Be Scared of AI? (With Boze Herrington)

Everyone's talking about AI nowadays. Should we be scared of it? If so, what exactly should we be scared of? We bring on culture and social critic Boze Herrington to discuss. 
References and resources
 
Plato’s Argument against writing: https://fs.blog/an-old-argument-against-writing/Definition of AI: https://www.nasa.gov/what-is-artificial-intelligence/
AI is making us dumber
 
https://www.forbes.com/sites/dimitarmixmihov/2025/02/11/ai-is-making-you-dumber-microsoft-researchers-say/
https://time.com/7295195/ai-chatgpt-google-learning-school/BlessesThe Lord of the Rings (book)WALL-E (film)Meagan (film)Children of Men (film)
CursesCompanion (Movie)The Creator (Movie)Five Nights at Freddy's (Movie)Addictive Children's Video Games/Roblox (games)
 
WebsitesNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.comThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldBoze Herrington: @SketchesbyBoze (Twitter/X) 

How Should We Handle Fear? (With Steven Taylor)

It seems like today we're more afraid than ever. So how do we handle these fears? And how do we help our children handle fears? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with legendary singer and filmmaker Steven Taylor--who's new scary family film "Sketch" has brought such questions into the spotlight.
References and resources
Why fear is so powerful:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tech-happy-life/202008/why-it-feels-the-end-the-world-even-when-its-not
 
How to overcome fear:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/unpacking-anxiety/202312/facing-your-fears
 
Why anxiety is rising: https://www.afterbabel.com/p/mental-health-liberal-girls
 
“Sketch” controversy:
https://religionunplugged.com/news/2025/8/28/on-religion-angel-studios-sparks-debate-with-scary-faith-film
Joseph Holmes’ review of “The Anxious Generation
https://lawliberty.org/book-review/what-the-smartphone-hath-wrought/
WebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

What's Wrong with the Modern World? (With Paul Kingsnorth)

Most people feel like there's something wrong with our modern world. But what exactly is it? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with writer and thinker Paul Kingsnorth, unpacking his new book "Against the Machine".References and resources:
How cell phones made life worse: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/05/social-media-democracy-trust-babel/629369/Dropping confidence in US instititons: 
https://news.gallup.com/poll/647303/confidence-institutions-mostly-flat-police.aspxBlesses
Time Out of Joint (Book)You are a Tree (Book)Weapons (Movie)The Master and his Emissary (Book)Wounded By Love (Book)
 
Curses
Idiocracy (Movie)Eddington (Movie)AI (Technology) WebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.comPaul Kingsnorth: paulkingsnorth.net