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.

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

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

Websites

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)

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

Babylon (Movie)

CCM Industrial Complex (Music Industry)

Websites

Nathan Clarkson: nathanclarkson.me

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.

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

CS Lewis on education: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/52604-education-without-values-as-useful-as-it-is-seems-rather

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

https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-can-you-change-someone-s-mind-spoiler-facts-don-t-work-so-well-hugo-mercier

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.

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

Deus Ex (video game)

Abolition of Man (Book)

That Hideous Strength (Book)

Bless/curse 

Fallout 4 (video game)

Curse

Mickey 17

Midnight Mass

Summer is a time of rest. But what is rest and how do we rest well? When is too much rest and when is not enough? 

The trend toward valuing rest more:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/01/05/brain-rest-breaks-vacation-benefits/

Benefits of rest:

https://hbr.org/2023/08/why-we-glorify-overwork-and-refuse-to-rest

https://www.forbes.com/sites/womensmedia/2021/01/15/the-benefits-of-resting-and-how-to-unplug-in-a-busy-world/

https://time.com/6969761/how-to-rest-more-effectively/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-awesome-career/202306/the-critical-need-for-intentional-rest

Millennials and Gen Z love authenticity. But is authenticity all it's cracked up to be? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson investigate and give their takes.

References and resources:

Definition and history: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/authenticity/

Present debates about authenticity: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/authenticity

Is authenticity overrated? https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/return-stillness/201909/is-authenticity-overrated

When do people feel most authentic? https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0092656618302964

Why are superheroes seemingly always so popular? And is that a good thing? We discuss with screenwriter, professor, and author Sean Gaffney.

References and resources

Superheroes aren’t cinema: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/04/opinion/martin-scorsese-marvel.html

My reply to Scorsese: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/16/opinion/letters/martin-scorsese-movies.html

Superheroes as modern gods: https://www.wired.com/2011/07/grant-morrison-supergods/

Superheroes as Chivalric Romance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPH9K0x5fY4&ab_channel=PilgrimsPass

Superheroes as worship: https://anunexpectedjournal.com/superhero-movies-are-worship-not-theme-parks/

Websites

Why is it so hard to build community today and how do we do it anyway? We discuss with author and former governor John Kasich on our latest episode.

Resources and further reading

Health costs of loneliness: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/loneliness-poses-health-risks-as-deadly-as-smoking-u-s-surgeon-general-says#:~:text=How%20do%20we%20design%20technology,15%20cigarettes%20daily%2C%20not%2012.

Interview with Ryan Burge: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/is-religion-in-decline-with-ryan-burge/id1510271421?i=1000705236657

Interview with Brad Wilcox: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/are-married-people-happier-with-dr-brad-wilcox/id1510271421?i=1000644150680

AI friends as a solution: https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/meta-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-wants-you-to-make-ai-friends/491349#:~:text=Key%20Takeaways,the%20idea%20of%20AI%20friends.