What is the Appeal of Faith (With Rian Johnson)

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

The Bible--and the wider culture--agree: "It's better to give than to receive". But is that what the data says? And why would that be? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with insights from Dallas Jenkins, who discusses the DVD release of his film "The Best Christmas Pagaent Ever".  References and resources: What happens to your brain when you give vs receive: https://www.apa.org/topics/mental-health/brain-gift-giving Websites The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com Dallas Jenkins: https://www.instagram.com/dallas.jenkins/?hl=en

Everyone talks about getting in the Christmas spirit. But what is the Christmas spirit? And how do you have it? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss. References and resources Christmas spirit definition: https://www.facebook.com/fb.oed/posts/oed-wordoftheday-christmas-spirit-na-mood-or-attitude-appropriate-to-the-christm/1136215868511469/, https://www.oed.com/dictionary/christmas-spirit_n?linkId=300000019641113&fbclid=IwY2xjawN314hleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFUSnNKSDY4UGRoSDI4WWFwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvA0QL5PLZnJNTCoP7-DaWOfA5jOZJH18DOtdASApamvn0lrpaHtACOMgfw0_aem_Ah8kEn_mj7ADGUERhyJgwA Measuring the Christmas spirit: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/stretching-theory/202212/now-you-can-measure-christmas-spirit? A Christmas Carol Influence: https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/anthropology-in-practice/what-is-christmas-spirit/ Religious meaning of the Christmas spirit: https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/columns/straight-paths/the-christmas-spirit/ Christmas Stress: https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/11/holiday-season-stress Websites The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

What was the world like that CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien wrote their stories in? And how did their work change things? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with author and historian Dr. Joseph Loconte. References and resources:   Tolkien and Lewis fantasy influence: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/cambridge-companion-to-fantasy-literature/tolkien-lewis-and-the-explosion-of-genre-fantasy/47A1D63A6D2D6F2553664D98F0F2EC1D Lewis and Tolkien’s influence through their fantasy writing and school curriculum: https://aeon.co/essays/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-oxford-school-of-fantasy-literature?utm_source=chatgpt.com   Lewis and Tolkien influence on Christian thought leaders: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2000/04/books-of-century/   Lewis books sold: https://www.cslewis.com/us/about-cs-lewis/   Tolkien books sold: https://200.hc.com/stories/j-r-r-tolkien-and-the-trilogy/ Websites The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee/JosephHolmes Joseph Loconte: https://sagamoreinstitute.org/joseph-loconte/

We hear a lot about the importance of pursuing your dreams. But which dreams? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss. References and resources: Pew research: https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/09/14/what-makes-for-a-fulfilling-life/#:~:text=When%20asked%20what%20it%20takes,Gender   Marriage matters more for happiness than career: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/17/opinion/marriage-happiness-career.html   Fantasizing about dreams kills goals, fantasizing about process helps achieve them: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/09/manifestation-positive-thinking-happiness/679695/   Most people do not achieve their goals: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2980864/ Nearly half of Americans very satisfied with their lives: https://news.gallup.com/poll/610133/less-half-americans-satisfied-own-lives.aspx   The changing definitions of “calling”: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/how-do-we-know-our-calling-with-dr-william-klein/id1510271421?i=1000684667698 Websites: The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.com Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com Link to watch Joseph Holmes' debut feature film, "Jim vs the Future": https://linktr.ee/JosephHolmes

Should we try to convert others to our beliefs? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson welcome American film director Justin Lin (director of multiple Fast and Furious movies) to discuss his new film "Last Days" about the 26-year-old Christian missionary John Chau, who died trying to convert the North Sentinel Island people. References and resources: Conversion definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conversion https://www.oed.com/dictionary/conversion_n#8281191 Benefits of missionaries: https://www.christianitytoday.com/about/stories/the-unexpected-good-news-about-missionaries/ Websites The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: linktr.ee/JosephHolmes Justin Lin: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0510912/ Last Days film: https://www.lastdays-movie.com/

What are the Medieval virtues? How are they related to the seven deadly sins? And how can they help us today? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson are joined by scholar and author Dr. Grace Hamman to answer these very questions. References and resources: https://www.britannica.com/event/Middle-Ages   Websites The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com Dr. Grace Hamman: https://gracehamman.com/

What are real-life exorcisms like? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson interview real-life exorcist Reverend Dan Todd on our latest episode.  References and resources   https://www.history.com/articles/exorcisms-christianity-gospels-movie   https://bigthink.com/thinking/history-of-exorcism/ Websites The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournal.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com Rev. Dan Todd: https://www.ourladyofdivinemercyac.net/about-us

Vampires have been a part of our mythology and pop culture for centuries. But why do they remain so popular? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss. References and resources: History of Vampires https://www.history.com/articles/vampire-history Blesses Twilight (Movie) Let the Right One In (Movie) Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (Movie) Curses Vampire Diaries (TV Show) Bram Stoker's Dracula (Movie) Websites The Overthinkers: theoverthinkersjournanl.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com

Do monsters, cryptids, and urban legends like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster exist? If so, how would we know for certain? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson discuss with hosts of the Campfire Files podcast: Colin Blackburn and Kara Russo.   References and resources History of Bigfoot: https://www.history.com/articles/bigfoot-legend-newspaper Belief in Bigfoot, aliens, and loch ness monster on rise: https://civicscience.com/u-s-belief-in-sasquatch-has-risen-since-2020/ Websites The Overthinkers: theoverthinkers.world Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me Joseph Holmes: josephholmesstudios.com Campfire Files: https://campfirefiles.podbean.com/