The Overthinkers

What Is The True Spirit of Christmas? (With Nathan Sherrer)

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/

Should We Be More Grateful?

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
 
 

How Do You Handle Suffering? (With Brock Heasley)

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

Is It Better To Be Nice or Honest?

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
 
 

Should We Trust The Experts?

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

When Should We ”Unfriend” People?

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
 
 

Is Witchcraft Real?

Every culture and time has believed in witches and witchcraft, and each time and place has disagreed on whether they're evil or good. But is witchcraft real? And if so, is it harmful? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss and debate this topic just in time for Halloween!
 
Links to info on this topic:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2022/10/15/witchcraft-meaning-types-history/8191168001/
 
https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/history-of-witches
 
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/paganism-witchcraft-are-making-comeback-rcna54444
 
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/kat-von-d-gets-baptised-143221536.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall
 
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/feb/16/witchcraft-most-benign-silly-religion
 
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/03/witchcraft-juliet-diaz/605518/?fbclid=IwAR3q_nP1OlAylwclgXlQnhBFxWQ4BVc5ZQBBVR6tt6QswBhYWanqhlFeETc
 
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66992504
 
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/9-things-you-should-know-about-wicca-and-modern-witchcraft/
 
https://africa.thegospelcoalition.org/article/how-to-understand-and-dispel-the-fear-of-witchcraft/
 
https://africa.thegospelcoalition.org/article/please-dont-meddle-with-witchcraft/
 
 

Are R-Rated Movies Bad For Us? (With Tyler Smith)

Is watching harmful things like violence or terror bad for us? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson bring on film critic Tyler Smith to discuss.
 
Click the link below to donate to Tyler Smith's family during his time of illness.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-tyler-smith-and-family?member=21781955&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer
 
Check out these links for further reading:https://www.apa.org/pi/prevent-violence/resources/tv-violence#:~:text=While%20media%20violence%20exposure%20may%20have%20short-term%20effects,development%20of%20aggressive%20and%20violent%20behavior%20in%20adulthood.
https://fightthenewdrug.org/
https://www.history.com/news/kkk-birth-of-a-nation-film
https://faithlifetv.com/reel-redemption
 
 
 
 

Are Aliens Demons?

A growing number of Christians are convinced that supposed alien sightings are actually demons in disguise. What evidence is there for that? Is it convincing? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson weigh in as spooky month continues!
 
 

Is True Crime Entertainment Bad For Us?

Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss the good and bad of true crime and how you know if your love of true crime might be problematic.
 
https://today.yougov.com/entertainment/articles/43762-half-of-americans-enjoy-true-crime-yougov-poll?redirect_from=%2Ftopics%2Fentertainment%2Farticles-reports%2F2022%2F09%2F14%2Fhalf-of-americans-enjoy-true-crime-yougov-poll
 
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/28/opinion/true-crime-petito.html
 
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/psychological-effects-of-watching-crime-shows/
 
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/psychologist-warns-watching-true-crime-30268448