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The Overthinkers — Leisure
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!

Copyright: © Copyright 2020 All rights reserved.

Latest Episodes:

Should We Try to Win Awards? (With Spencer Folmar) Mar 02, 2026

Show notes

With the Oscars on the horizon, everyone's talking about awards. But should we try to win awards? Or are they a distraction from what our true priorities should be? Spencer Folmar of Hard Faith Films and the Hard Faith Film Festival joins Nathan and Joseph to discuss.

Definition of award: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/award
Christian artist Forrest Frank no longer accepting awards: https://cbn.com/news/entertainment/forrest-frank-says-he-will-no-longer-participate-awards-shows-shares-conviction
Hollywood actorTimothy Challamet wants to be great: https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65146405/
Why awards are meaningless: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2023/2/23/23610516/awards-oscars-grammys-best-business-media
Actors who say awards don’t matter are lying: https://www.imdb.com/news/ni64429244/?ref_=hm_nw_tp_4
Websites
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee/JosephHolmes
Spencer Folmar: hardfaith.org

What Does it Meant to Be Spiritual? (With Dr. King-Ho Leung) Feb 22, 2026

Show notes

More and more people are defining themselves as "Spiritual But Not Religious". But what does that mean? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes interview academic and author Dr King-Ho Leung for answers.
References and resources

Spiritual definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spiritual
Spirit definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirit
Number of Americans spiritual but not religious: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/12/07/who-are-spiritual-but-not-religious-americans/
Websites
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee/JosephHolmes
Dr. King Ho-Leung: www.kcl.ac.uk/people/king-ho-leung

How Do You Keep Your Children in the Faith? (With Sally Clarkson) Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

How do you raise your kids such that they stay in your faith? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss with celebrated author and speaker Sally Clarkson--who raised four children who all stayed Christian, including Nathan--what she did and what other religious parents can do.
References and resources

The rise of the nones: https://www.graphsaboutreligion.com/p/the-nones-have-hit-a-ceiling
People who stay in vs leave their childhood faith: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/12/15/why-do-some-americans-leave-their-religion-while-others-stay/
Majority of kids check out of their faith by 8th and 10th grades: https://ifstudies.org/blog/secularization-begins-at-home
Authoritative parenting vs authoritarian and permissive: https://ifstudies.org/blog/parenting-is-the-key-to-adolescent-mental-health
Fathers especially mattering for faith transmission: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/01/us/book-explores-ways-faith-is-kept-or-lost-over-generations.html?_r=0
Websites
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson. nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee/JosephHolmes
Sally Clarkson: sallyclarkson.com

How Do You Find the Right Person to Marry? (With Dr. Wendy Wang) Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

One of the biggest reasons people aren't getting married is that they can't find the right person. But how do you find the right person? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with sociologist and researcher Dr. Wendy Wang.
References and resources:

Marriage rates dropping: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/02/america-marriage-decline/681518/
Is having a boyfriend embarassing? https://www.vogue.com/article/is-having-a-boyfriend-embarrassing-now
Majority want to marry but can’t find the right person: https://ifstudies.org/blog/why-americans-arent-getting-married-and-having-kids-and-how-to-fix-that
Websites
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: https://linktr.ee/JosephHolmes
Wendy Wang: https://ifstudies.org/about-us/wendy-wang

Why Do Women Love Romance Novels? (With Keelia Clarkson) Feb 02, 2026

Show notes

Why are romance novels so popular? Particularly with women? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes ask actress and author Keelia Clarkson why they resonate, ahead of her own upcoming romance novel "Chapter One Again".

Romance movie’s popularity with women

https://oxfordre.com/literature/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780190201098.001.0001/acrefore-9780190201098-e-415

https://www.theatlantic.com/books/2025/10/romance-fiction-genre-open-elite-popularity/684445/

https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=5002#m67973
Websites
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com
Keelia Clarkson: keelia.me
Chapter One Again (Avila Falls Series): https://www.amazon.com/dp/151401372X

Are We the Worst? Jan 25, 2026

Show notes

Is thinking we're good people or inherently sinful better for us? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss Nathan's new book "I'm the Worst: How Freedom is Found in Admitting Our Faults".

Sin - The Bible Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNOZ7ocLD74

Original Sin - BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/beliefs/originalsin_1.shtml

Doctrine of Sin - Roman Catholic Cathecism: https://www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_three/section_one/chapter_one/article_8/ii_the_definition_of_sin.html

Doctrine of Sin - Mockingbird: https://mbird.com/theology/hiding-in-plain-sight-the-lost-doctrine-of-sin/

Definition of sin - Desiring God: https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/what-is-sin-the-essence-and-root-of-all-sinning

Richard Dawkins thinks the doctrine of sin is “hideous”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f6Lar8Qp0E

Albert Ellis critiquing the doctrine of sin: https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0%2C33009%2C865989-2%2C00.html

Authoritative parenting vs authoritarian and permissive: https://ifstudies.org/blog/parenting-is-the-key-to-adolescent-mental-health

https://ifstudies.org/blog/do-your-political-beliefs-affect-your-parenting-

Serial killers are unmade, not made: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/10/what-makes-a-serial-killer

Most aggressive people are males at the age of two: https://archive.nytimes.com/well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/16/terrible-twos-who-stay-terrible/
Websites
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

Why Does Forgiveness Matter? (With Yana Jenay Conner) Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

Why is it important for all of us--but particularly Christians--to forgive others? And how do we do it without allowing evil to triumph? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss with author and educator Yana Jenay Conner, unpacking lessons from her book: Living Beyond Offense: Doing the Hard Work of Forgiveness God’s Way.
References and resources

Forgiveness definitions:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forgive

https://www.apa.org/topics/forgiveness
Websites
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: https://linktr.ee/JosephHolmes
Yana Jenay Conner: https://www.yanajenay.com/

How Do You Love Your Enemies? (With Dr. Neil Shenvi) Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

What does it really mean to love our enemies? And how do we do it without allowing evil? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with author, apologist, and theoretical chemist Dr. Neil Shenvi.
References and resources:

Rabbi Shai Held on Christianity’s Loving Enemies: https://religionunplugged.com/news/2024/3/26/book-review-judaism-is-about-love-shatters-stereotypes-about-the-hebrew-bible
Nietzsche on “slave morality” in Christ’s teachings: https://bigthink.com/personal-growth/the-master-and-slave-moralities-what-nietzsche-really-meant/
Early Church Fathers on Nonviolence: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/nonviolence-in-the-ancient-church-and-christian-obedience/
New Advent: Augustine on will to love our enemies to change them to friends: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/170208.htm
Martin Luther King Jr. on Loving Your Enemies: https://www.plough.com/en/topics/life/forgiveness/love-your-enemies
Websites
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.com
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com
Neil Shenvi: https://shenviapologetics.com/
Neil Shenvi's new book: "Post Woke: Asserting a Christian Vision of Race, Gender, and Sexuality"
Nathan Clarkson's new book: "I'm the Worst: How Freedom is Found in Admitting Our Faults"
Joseph Holmes's new film: "Jim vs the Future"

How Do You Change Your Life? Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

It's a new year, and everyone wants to make positive life changes. So how do you make real ones that last? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss their own experience and the research on the topic.

References and resources
Americans are becoming less satisfied with their lives - record low of 44%: https://news.gallup.com/poll/655493/new-low-satisfied-personal-life.aspx
30% of Americans make New Year’s Resolutions: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/01/29/new-years-resolutions-who-makes-them-and-why/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Only 10% of Americans keep their resolutions: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-years-resolutions-tips-why-they-fail/
New years resolutions are global and historical: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/history-of-new-years-resolutions
How to stick with your resolutions. Actionable steps + accountability. https://fisher.osu.edu/blogs/leadreadtoday/why-most-new-years-resolutions-fail
Small steps - knowing why you’re doing it: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/arthur-brooks-new-years-resolutions-happiness/
Fantasize about process, not results: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/09/manifestation-positive-thinking-happiness/679695/
Websites
Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.com
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee/JosephHolmes

What is the Appeal of Faith? (With Rian Johnson) Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

Why do so many people choose to be religious? What draws people to embrace belief? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with filmmaker Rian Johnson, his new film "Wake Up Dead Man" and the themes of faith his movie brings up.
References and resources

Global religious population: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/06/09/how-the-global-religious-landscape-changed-from-2010-to-2020/

American religious population: https://religionunplugged.com/news/2025/12/8/us-religious-decline-stalls-as-new-pew-data-shows-stabilization-even-among-young-adults

Jon Stewart on faith: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSmrEVjQdG8
Arthur Brooks on faith: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty-research/policy-topics/public-leadership-management/happiness-may-be-decline-we-can-all
Websites
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmestudios.com
Rian Johnson: https://x.com/rianjohnson

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