The Overthinkers

Latest Episodes:

How Should We Handle Fear? (With Steven Taylor) Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

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/

Websites
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

What's Wrong with the Modern World? (With Paul Kingsnorth) Sep 22, 2025

Show notes

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.aspx
Blesses

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)
Websites
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com
Paul Kingsnorth: paulkingsnorth.net

What's Wrong with Re-Enchantment? (With Dr. Joy Clarkson) Sep 15, 2025

Show notes

What does it mean to be disenchanted? And why are so many people talking about the need to re-enchant the world? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss with special returning guest, author, editor, and culture writer Dr. Joy Clarkson.

References and resources:
Definition of disenchantment: https://www.britannica.com/topic/disenchantment-sociology
Against Re-Enchantment, By Joy Clarkson: https://www.plough.com/en/topics/faith/supernatural/against-reenchantment
Blesses
The Truman Show (Movie)
Hallowe'en Party (Book)
That Hideous Strength (Book)
Piranesi (Book)
Curses
The Fourth Kind (Movie)
Death of a Unicorn (Movie)
The Sandman (TV Show)
La La Land (Movie)

Websites
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

How Do We Know What We Know? (With Dr. Zak Schmoll) Sep 07, 2025

Show notes

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/epistemology
Blesses

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)
Websites
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com
Zak Schmoll: https://www.zacharydschmoll.com/

Is Social Media Making Us Dumber? Sep 01, 2025

Show notes

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-stupid
Blesses
New York Times Games (App)
Chess (App)
The Social Network (Movie)
Catfish (Documentary)
The Anxious Generation (Book)
Curses
The Circle (Movie)
The Social Dilemma (Documentary)
Social Media Bots
Social Media Friends
Websites
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

How Do We Solve Homelessness? (With Dr. Terrence Lester) Aug 25, 2025

Show notes

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 resources
Homelessness definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homeless

Homelessness stats: https://www.britannica.com/topic/homelessness

Websites
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com
Terrence Lester: https://terencelester.com/

Should the Church Support the Arts? (With Brian Brown) Aug 17, 2025

Show notes

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)

Curses
The Hayes Code (Hollywood Code)

Babylon (Movie)

CCM Industrial Complex (Music Industry)

Websites
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world

Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephhomlmesstudios.com
Brian Brown: anselmsociety.org/overthinkers

What is the Purpose of Education? (with Annie Crawford) Aug 10, 2025

Show notes

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-college
Historical 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-rather
Martin Luther King Jr. on education: https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/purpose-education
Blesses
Educating the Wholehearted Child (Book)
Community (TV Show)
Rope (Movie)
Beauty for Truth's Sake (Book)
Beauty in the Word (Book)
Curses
Dead Poets Society (Movie)
Mona Lisa Smile (Movie)
AI/Chat GPT (Technology)
Websites:
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com
Annie Crawford: anniecrawford.net

Does Discussion Really Change Minds? Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

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-mercier
Websites
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

What is Transhumanism? Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

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.html
Bless

Deus Ex (video game)

Abolition of Man (Book)

That Hideous Strength (Book)

Bless/curse

Fallout 4 (video game)

Curse

Mickey 17

Midnight Mass
Websites
The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world
Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me
Josephholmesstudios.com