The Overthinkers

How Do We Know What We Know? (With Dr. Zak Schmoll)

How can we know anything for certain? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson welcome back author and academic Dr. Zak Schmoll to discuss the ever-pesky problem of epistemology. References and resources:https://www.britannica.com/topic/epistemologyBlesses
Foe (Book)
Biblical Knowing (Book)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (Movie)
Interstellar (Movie)
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Book)Curses
Foe (Movie)
Zodiac (Curse)
Life of Pi (Curse)
The Multiverse (Trope)WebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.comZak Schmoll: https://www.zacharydschmoll.com/

Is Social Media Making Us Dumber?

Is social media making us dumber? Is it making us worse? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes give social media a grade and give advice on how to be smarter about your use of your online socials.References and resources:
Social media is making us dumber:
 
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/05/social-media-democracy-trust-babel/629369/
 
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/11/opinion/social-media-dumber-steven-pinker.html
 
https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2025/01/nicholas-carr-is-the-internet-making-us-stupid/681517/
 
Social media is (probably) not making us dumber:
 
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/unique-everybody-else/201904/social-media-probably-isn-t-making-you-stupidBlessesNew York Times Games (App)Chess (App)The Social Network (Movie)Catfish (Documentary)The Anxious Generation (Book)CursesThe Circle (Movie)The Social Dilemma (Documentary)Social Media BotsSocial Media FriendsWebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

How Do We Solve Homelessness? (With Dr. Terrence Lester)

Homelessness is something everyone agrees is a problem. Yet, no one seems to know how to solve it. Scholar, speaker, community activist and author of From Dropout to Doctorate Dr. Terrence Lester joins Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes to share his life story and data-driven solutions on how to make a difference in the lives of those experiencing this devastating life situation.
References and resourcesHomelessness definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homeless
Homelessness stats: https://www.britannica.com/topic/homelessness
 
WebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.comTerrence Lester: https://terencelester.com/

Should the Church Support the Arts? (With Brian Brown)

Is the church not supportive enough of the arts? What would such support look like? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes talk to Brian Brown of the Anselm Society and Imagination Redeemed Podcast on this latest episode.
References and resources
 
Art definition: https://www.britannica.com/art/visual-arts
 
Banning theatrical portrayals of religion: https://lithub.com/why-was-shakespeare-wary-of-writing-about-religion/
 
Why the church should support the arts: https://thecollision.org/its-time-for-the-church-to-unleash-its-artists%EF%BF%BC/
 
Why the church should be balanced on the support of the arts: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/the-church-and-the-arts-some-common-ground-and-some-common-sense/
 
Blesses
 
Sistine Chapel (Art)
The Anselm Society (Organization)
The Hephzibah House (Organization)
Greenhouse (Organization)Hollywood Prayer Network (Organization)
The Agony and the Ecstasy (Movie)
Handel’s Messiah (Music)
People Creating New Art in Dialogue with the Old Stuff (Artists at Spotify Playlist: anselmsociety.org/theoverthinkers)
 
CursesThe Hayes Code (Hollywood Code)
Babylon (Movie)
CCM Industrial Complex (Music Industry)
 
WebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephhomlmesstudios.comBrian Brown: anselmsociety.org/overthinkers

What is the Purpose of Education? (with Annie Crawford)

As more and more people are questioning the usefulness of higher education, it's worthwhile to ask: what is the purpose of education in the first place? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with educator and cultural apologist Annie Crawford.References and resources:
What students want from college: https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/true-purpose-college-education
Why young people are abandoning college: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/why-more-americans-are-skipping-collegeHistorical development of modern education: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/why-understanding-the-historical-purposes-of-modern-schooling-matters-today/
CS Lewis on education: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/52604-education-without-values-as-useful-as-it-is-seems-ratherMartin Luther King Jr. on education: https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/purpose-educationBlessesEducating the Wholehearted Child (Book)Community (TV Show)Rope (Movie)Beauty for Truth's Sake (Book)Beauty in the Word (Book)CursesDead Poets Society (Movie)Mona Lisa Smile (Movie)AI/Chat GPT (Technology)Websites:Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.comAnnie Crawford: anniecrawford.net

Does Discussion Really Change Minds?

Our culture, and our entire political system, is based on the idea that discussion and debate can change hearts and minds. But is that a lie? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss.
References and resources
 
Exposure to alternative viewpoints causes us to dig in our heels: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2018/04/actually-social-media-isn-t-an-echo-chamber/
 
Cognitive bias: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-baby-scientist/202406/changing-hearts-and-minds
 
Our mental map: https://www.turing.ac.uk/blog/facts-dont-change-minds-and-theres-data-prove-it
 
Persuade people through relationships: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/18/change-mind-evidence-arguing-social-relationships
Persuade people through better forms of debate: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evidence-based-living/201811/proven-ways-change-someone-s-mind
 
https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-can-you-change-someone-s-mind-spoiler-facts-don-t-work-so-well-hugo-mercierWebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

What is Transhumanism?

Transhumanism is a growing topic of conversation and concern in the culture. But what exactly is it? And why is it so controversial? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarson discuss.References and resources
Transhumanism Defintion: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/transhumanism
 
Transhumanism History: https://www.britannica.com/topic/transhumanism
 
Douthot/Tiel Convo: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/opinion/peter-thiel-antichrist-ross-douthat.htmlBless
Deus Ex (video game)
Abolition of Man (Book)
That Hideous Strength (Book)
 
Bless/curse 
 
Fallout 4 (video game)
 
Curse
 
Mickey 17
Midnight MassWebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJosephholmesstudios.com

What is Rest?

Summer is a time of rest. But what is rest and how do we rest well? When is too much rest and when is not enough? References and resources:
The trend toward valuing rest more:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/01/05/brain-rest-breaks-vacation-benefits/
 
Benefits of rest:
https://hbr.org/2023/08/why-we-glorify-overwork-and-refuse-to-rest
https://www.forbes.com/sites/womensmedia/2021/01/15/the-benefits-of-resting-and-how-to-unplug-in-a-busy-world/
https://time.com/6969761/how-to-rest-more-effectively/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-awesome-career/202306/the-critical-need-for-intentional-rest
You're not working hard enough: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDNAE73vEyX/?hl=en&__coig_challenged=1WebsitesOverthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.comNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

Is Authenticity Overrated?

Millennials and Gen Z love authenticity. But is authenticity all it's cracked up to be? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson investigate and give their takes.
 
References and resources:Definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authentic
 
Definition and history: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/authenticity/
 
Present debates about authenticity: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/authenticity
 
Is authenticity overrated? https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/return-stillness/201909/is-authenticity-overratedhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbooksauthors/2022/11/22/authenticity-is-overrated-building-a-more-effective-leadership-style/
 
When do people feel most authentic? https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0092656618302964
BlessesWe Are Not as Strong as We Think We Are (Song)Ragamuffin (Movie)The Life of Chuck (Movie)CursesMaterialists (Movie)How to Be Single (Movie)

Why Do We Love Superheroes? (With Sean Gaffney)

Why are superheroes seemingly always so popular? And is that a good thing? We discuss with screenwriter, professor, and author Sean Gaffney.
 
References and resourcesList of billion dollar superhero movies: https://deadline.com/gallery/highest-grossing-movies-all-time/mcdjuwo-uv042/Superhero dominance of the 2010s: https://www.statsignificant.com/p/the-rise-and-fall-of-superhero-movies
 
Superheroes aren’t cinema: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/04/opinion/martin-scorsese-marvel.html
 
My reply to Scorsese: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/16/opinion/letters/martin-scorsese-movies.html
 
Superheroes as modern gods: https://www.wired.com/2011/07/grant-morrison-supergods/
 
Superheroes as Chivalric Romance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPH9K0x5fY4&ab_channel=PilgrimsPass
 
Superheroes as worship: https://anunexpectedjournal.com/superhero-movies-are-worship-not-theme-parks/
 
WebsitesThe Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.worldNathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.meJoseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.comSean Gaffney: https://gaffneyinkwell.com/