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From Grimms fairy tales to 1984 to the Bible itself, humanity has always told dark stories. But why? What purpose do they serve? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with film critic, author, and co-host of the "Filmspotting" podcast Josh Larsen. Websites The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee.com/josephholmes Josh Larsen: larsenonfilm.com

Why do we love art so much? What purpose does art serve for humans? Or is art useless and maybe that's a good thing? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson talk to author Dr. Merideth Hite Estevez about her new book "Art is How God Loves Us" on The Overthinkers.  References and resources Does art have health benefits? https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/e1cc8536-773d-446f-9822-8ae376f41415/content Can art express things words can’t? https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/langer/ Is art useless? https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/526851-we-can-forgive-a-man-for-making-a-useful-thing Is art for therapy? https://www.alaindebotton.com/art/ Website The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee.com/josephholmes

Why is there so much anti-elite sentiment in the world today? Is it the fault of the elites themselves, or cultural trends they can't control? Joseph Holems and Nathan Clarkson talk to culture critic and author Aaron Renn on their latest episode.  Defining elites:  https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elite https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-soc-071811-145542? American trust in institutions at all-time low. https://news.gallup.com/poll/712436/confidence-institutions-remains-near-time-low.aspx Global trust decreasing from fear to grievance: https://www.edelman.com/trust/2025/trust-barometer Anti-elite sentiment worldwide: https://www.ipsos.com/en/populism-remains-strong Christopher Nolan on democracies and greatness: https://singjupost.com/transcript-christopher-nolan-interview-with-podcaster-zhong-shu/ Low trust makes problems harder to solve: https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2019/07/22/how-americans-see-problems-of-trust/ Tyranny of merit hypothesis: https://pitchforkeconomics.com/episode/the-tyranny-of-merit-with-michael-sandel/ Democratization of information hypothesis: https://www.discoursemagazine.com/p/revolt-of-the-public-10-years-on Elite overproduction hypothesis: https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/the-elite-overproduction-hypothesis-994 Websites The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee.com/josephholmes

Are we addicted to outrage? Why does everyone seem so angry? Is social media making us angrier or making us overperceive our anger? And if we are angrier, is that a good thing because we have so much to be angry about? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss the theories and science behind outrage culture on the latest episode of The Overthinkers. References and resources Do most Americans think politics is worse today? https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2023/09/19/americans-feelings-about-politics-polarization-and-the-tone-of-political-discourse/ Does negativity drive news consumption? https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-023-01538-4 Does high emotion drive news consumption? https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1509/jmr.10.0353 Does tribal signalling drive engagement? https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8256037 Does moral grandstanding increase status? https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/papa.12075 Does status seeking predict outrage? https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6795490/ Do we overestimate how much outrage there is? https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-023-01582-0? Does social media amplify outrage? https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8363141/ Is outrage good?: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37000374/ Websites The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee.com/josephholmes

There's a movement to make America's towns and cities more walkable and less car-dependent. But is that actually what's best for the people who live there? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss. Walkable cities definition and case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wai4ub90stQ&t=832s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPbfdcvv0to&t=676s https://archive.strongtowns.org/journal/2023/2/14/why-so-difficult-build-walkable-places   Critiques of the walkable cities movement https://www.cato.org/policy-analysis/debunking-portland-city-doesnt-work https://www.cato.org/policy-analysis/transit-urban-parasite Websites The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee.com/josephholmes

There often feels like there's a conflict between creative people and religious people, and even between creativity and religion itself. But does there have to be? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson talk to Anne Miranda and Scott Magie, filmmakers behind the documentary series "Creative Icons". Websites The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee.com/josephholmes Creative Icons: https://www.creativeicons.tv/?pgid=kve8eguz-308c5bdf-f231-4a9f-9ec1-5980ab1ade3e

American culture is experiencing a decline in deep, lasting friendships. Why is this happening, and what can we do about it? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss based on their own experiences and what the data says. Friendship definition: https://www.apa.org/topics/friendship   Friendship decline: https://nypost.com/2025/02/24/opinion/friendship-in-america-is-in-freefall-and-its-killing-us/ Loneliness in America: https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2025/01/16/men-women-and-social-connections/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Websites The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee.com/josephholmes

One of the toughest questions religious people face is the question of "Divine Hiddenness". Simply put: if God is real and loves us, why isn't he more obvious? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes give their own perspective as overthinking Christians. References and resources: Divine hiddenness definition: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/divine-hiddenness/ Christian counterarguments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO4-cSNIUAg&t=295s Websites The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee.com/josephholmes

Has there been a vibe shift in American culture where we're tired of cynical stories and want more optimistic ones? Are we tired of deconstructing the culture and want to start repairing it? If so, why, and what do we do about it? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with cultural theologian and author Paul Anleitner his new book: "Based on a True Story: Vibe Shifts, the End of Deconstruction, and the Reboot of Meaning" Websites Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee.com/josephholmes

Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes talk about their experiences of traveling and what they think its benefits are--and where it can go wrong. References and resources Travel and tourism are growing: https://wttc.org/news/global-travel-tourism-growth-to-outpace-wider-economy-by-1-5-times-over-the-next-decade https://www.aei.org/commentary/passport-to-springfield/ American demographics of tourism: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/12/06/americans-who-have-traveled-internationally-stand-out-in-their-views-and-knowledge-of-foreign-affairs/   History of tourism: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301479723019114?utm_source=chatgpt.com   Travel builds empathy: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-empathy/202210/pack-your-bags-and-travel-its-good-for-you https://www.aei.org/commentary/passport-to-springfield/ https://qz.com/763433/want-your-children-to-grow-into-more-empathetic-adults-travel-with-them   Overtourism explained: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301479723019114 Travel creates memories (particularly with others) and therefore more lasting happiness than possessions: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00472875211064631 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/buy-experiences-instead-of-possessions-to-build-social-connection   Instagramification of travel: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2025/05/10/tourism-in-the-age-of-tiktok-and-instagram-how-social-media-has-transformed-vacations_6741113_19.html Wendell Berry on problems with travel: https://aleteia.org/2025/07/27/wendell-berry-and-what-it-means-to-love-a-place Websites The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee.com/josephholmes

Why is there so much controversy about whether to use AI to make art--whether that's movies, images, or music? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with author and educator Dr. Kelsey Kramer McGinnes the benefits and drawbacks of using AI in or outside of the creative process. References and resources What is Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)? https://academic.oup.com/nsr/article/12/5/nwaf050/8029900 Generative AI controversy in Christian music:  https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/11/solomon-ray-ai-christian-music-soul-singer/ Generative AI controversy in film: https://religionunplugged.com/news/2026/6/11/the-old-stories-moses-groundbreaking-ai-filmmaking-is-artistically-underwhelming Websites The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee.com/josephholmes Kelsey Kramer McGinnes: https://www.kkramermcginnis.com

Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes bring actor, producer, and health and fitness advocate Joshua Murray on the show to discuss the new phenomenon of "looksmaxxing". What is it? What makes it different from other health trends? And what is wrong with it? Nathan, Joseph, and Josh discuss, along with Josh's new film "Gym Rat". References and resources Looksmaxxing definitions and analysis: https://www.merriam-webster.com/slang/looksmaxxing https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20240326-inside-looksmaxxing-the-extreme-cosmetic-social-media-trend https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/looksmaxxing-may-point-to-deeper-body-image-issues-in-young-men-mental-health-expert-says Social media causes looksmaxxing https://www.freyaindia.co.uk/p/how-social-media-feminised-us-all Men falling behind drives looksmaxxing: https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/braden-eric-peters-clavicular-manosphere-looksmaxxing-masculine-ick-0h7hzhf0s Websites The Overthinkers.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee.com/josephholmes Josh Murray: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3394219/

Millennials and Gen Z often feel more behind in life than previous generations did. They call this "milestone anxiety". But should we? And what should we do about it? Millennials Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss the ways they have--and continue to--feel behind and how they deal with it. References and resources Milestone anxiety: https://www.relate.org.uk/get-help/milestone-anxiety-rise-among-millennials-and-gen-z Late bloomers: https://www.vox.com/advice/492291/late-bloomer-envy-milestones Gen Z putting off milestones to buy a home:  https://fortune.com/2025/11/10/gen-z-delaying-milestones-housing-affordability-crisis-no-single-fix Religious and conservatives way more likely to be married and have kids: https://ifstudies.org/report-brief/the-ideological-fertility-divide https://ifstudies.org/blog/americas-growing-religious-secular-fertility-divide Websites The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.com Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee/josephholmes

Everyone dreams of being a success. But how should we define success? Is it by external or internal standards? And what standards? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson welcome Grammy-Winning musical artist  Kevin Olusola and life coach Donovan Dee Donnell to discuss their new book "Designed to Succeed". References and resources Success definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/success Why you should define success for yourself: https://www.stjohns.edu/news-media/johnnies-blog/how-do-you-define-success-tips-tricks Problems with external success: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/everyday-resilience/202406/defining-success-on-your-own-terms Websites The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee.com/josephholmes Kevin Olusola: kevinolusola.com Donovan Dee Donnell: donovandeedonnell.com Book Designed to Succeed: A Faith-Driven Blueprint to Building the Life You Were Created to Live: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0310370124/?bestFormat=true&k=designed%20to%20succeed%20kevin%20olusola&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-bk-ww_k1_1_13_de&crid=25MYANYDQMPZ9&sprefix=kevin%20olusola

Why does home matter? And how do we make it one that people want to stay in? Dr. Christie Purifoy discusses her book "A House to Call Home" with Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson on The Overthinkers Websites The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee.com/josephholmes christiepurifoy.com