Know Why Podcast

The State of Texas went viral recently for requiring students to read parts of the Bible in public schools. In this episode of the Know Why Podcast, Liberty looks at what is actually going on. Topics covered include: Understanding the First Amendment, the Establishment Clause, and the “Wall of Separation” between church and state What the Supreme Court has said in the past about when it is and is...

The latest Gallup polling shows that rates of patriotism in the United States are at an all time low. Why does that matter? Ahead of America’s 250th anniversary celebration, Liberty argues why you should be patriotic—and what that actually means. Included in this episode: What does patriotism actually mean? Can Christians be patriotic? Should they be? What about when I disapprove of my country or...

Can Gen Z be effectively evangelized through social media, religious apps, and digital media? In this episode of the Know Why Podcast, Liberty reacts to a recent article by Gen Z writer Freya India on “The Commodification of Christianity.” When using digital tools like short-form videos and apps to reach young adults, Christians should be mindful of how those mediums might be changing the message—...

From the U.S. government’s UAP file releases to Steven Spielberg’s new movie Disclosure Day, aliens are in the news again. While many assume that proof of extraterrestrial life would disprove the Christian faith, Casey Luskin, scientist and attorney with Discovery Institute, argues the opposite. In this interview with Liberty, which originally aired on Point of View Radio Talk Show, Casey explains...

Why aren’t people talking with their neighbors anymore? In this episode of the Know Why Podcast, Liberty breaks down the reasons for dwindling neighbor connections drawing on research from the American Enterprise Institute. She talks about… Which age groups interact with neighbors more often How different groups of Americans define being a good neighbor And how religious involvement affects someon...

The latest World Happiness Report reveals that English-speaking countries are the unhappiest, and sociologist Arthur Brooks theorizes that a major cause for this is the Anglosphere’s social media usage. According to Brooks, hours spent on social media is only part of the explanation. In this episode of the Know Why Podcast, Liberty breaks down Brooks’s hypotheses and observes other recent research...

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Liberty highlights past Know Why Podcast conversations that offer insight and encouragement to those who may struggle with anxiety. See descriptions and links for each referenced episode below.  Can Localism Ease Partisanship (And Even Anxiety)? Interview With Mark Mitchell https://knowwhypodcast.com/2024/05/can-localism-ease-partisanship-and-even-anxiety...

Surveys show that Gen Z is spiritual. One study found that teens today are very interested in learning more about Jesus. And yet research also shows that young people frequently struggle with anxiety, depression, and even loneliness. Is prayer the answer? In this week’s episode, Garryt Bryant, a youth leader and pray coordinator for his church, talks about prayer. Garryt shares his own experience...

The man behind the robot vacuum has developed something new—"The Familiar," an AI-powered robot "pet" designed to bond with its owner.  While the product itself is interesting or weird, depending on how you look at it, its existence highlights deeper issues in American society today, including... The growing loneliness problem Falling fertility rates and an aging society The lie that autonomy lead...

A recent survey said that 60% of Gen Zers and 50% of Millennials cut someone out of their life in the last year. In the reasons given, many survey respondents listed reasons that had to do with conflict and disagreement. At the same time, young adults report the highest rates of loneliness and poor mental health. If we're cutting out the people who stress us out, shouldn't our mental health improv...

Sam Altman talks about uploading his brain to the cloud. Elon Musks says humans should merge biological intelligence with digital intelligence. Peter Thiel isn’t sure if the human race should continue without that kind of human-tech merger. What do these tech leaders have in common? Transhumanism—the idea that humans should be able to change, or even eradicate, their physical bodies by merging wit...

Is the American Dream dead for Millennials and Gen Z? Is there a version of traditional success that’s still attainable? How are young adults redefining their life dreams in the face of economic instability and loss of trust in institutions? This week on the Know Why Podcast, Cole Douglas Claybourn and Liberty discuss all this and more. A journalist and former English teacher, Cole talks about fig...

First Lady Melania Trump recently asked Americans to imagine a humanoid robot tutor named "Plato." Meanwhile, many schools are already incorporating AI into the classroom, in some cases eliminating human teachers altogether. Can AI help solve America's education problems? Or should we draw a line and protect the classroom from AI encroachment? In this episode, Liberty offers three reasons why AI d...

Historical tests affirm that the New Testament we read today accurately reflects the original documents—but were the authors of the New Testament telling the truth? Did Jesus really do the impossible—come back to life? In this interview, reposted in honor of Holy Week, Stand to Reason apologist Robby Lashua walks listeners through the historical evidence for Jesus’ resurrection, including what non...

A recent story in The Wall Street Journal includes predictions that in 20 years, AI-augmented entertainment will be so customizable that people can watch the same show and choose their own endings—or even entire plot paths—via "unobstrusive" devices like contact lenses or BCIs.  While this prediction may sound futuristic or outlandish to some, it's consistent with a trend we're already seeing: the...

Why do some social movements seem religious in nature? Why do some even seem like a cult, where questioning the narrative is not allowed? Looking at others' actions—and our own lives—through the lens of story can help us understand. Everyone lives within a story of reality that they are either telling themselves, or that they have accepted as true. Often, we don't even realize which "story" we're...

Did you notice the ads for sports betting apps during the Super Bowl? Maybe you've seen them pop up on your favorite social media platform or YouTube streamer's videos. In this episode featuring returning Know Why Podcast guest Philip Bunn, we answer questions about the online sports phenomenon, including... Why does it seem like sports betting is suddenly everywhere? How popular is online sports...

James Talarico is a Texas State Representative and senatorial primary candidate, a Democrat, and a Christian. In recent viral podcast interviews with both Joe Rogan and The New York Times' Ezra Klein, Mr. Talarico sparked some controversy with his claims about religion, Jesus, and the nature of truth. Mr. Talarico's comments garnered attention in part because he has made his Christian faith a larg...

Young men are craving mentors. But in an era of AI companions, social isolation, and for many, an uncertain economic future, finding the kind of guidance and support a mentor provides can be a challenge. That's where CBMC comes in. Christian Business Men's Connection was founded during the Great Depression, another time period that found many men struggling with disenfranchisement, discouragement,...

Through travel and research, historian Richard Lim discovered something most Americans don't know: people around the world are still huge fans of George Washington. Why? In this episode, Richard explains why Washington's decision to step down from power at the dawn of the republic still reverberates around the world. He shares historical insight about the American Revolution and other parts of Ame...

Should Christians use chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Grok? Is AI simply a neutral tool that humans can use for either good or evil? How does the book of Genesis offer clarity to the AI conversation?  Kicking off Know Why's 2026 season is Doug Smith, longtime software engineer, lifelong student of the Bible, and author of [Un]Intentional: How Screens Are Secretly Shaping Your Desires and How Yo...

It's time for Know Why Podcast's annual "Best Of" Episode! In 2025, most popular episodes among Know Why listeners and viewers included... "Is the Bible Reliable?" With Josh Barnes https://youtu.be/kosxhlxC-WI?si=QJvsjc7rwO1Vh4HW "Does AI 'Perfection' Harm Our Souls?" With Philip Bunn https://youtu.be/Zp_fVegLcx0?si=qhxuawgVb4EkwrTO "What Should Christians Think About the 'Charlie Kirk Effect?'" h...

At the beginning of the Know About Family Formation Series, we asked why marriage is good. In today’s episode with Andrea Crum, we wrap up the series talking once again about marriage—specifically the God’s design for marriage and sex that is articulated in the Bible. Andrea addresses questions such as… Why do Christians often avoid talking about sex? Why is biblical marriage described as a covena...

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) accounts for 2 percent of births in the United States, and that percentage is expected to grow. In the U.S., it’s a largely unregulated, multi-billion dollar industry which more and more families are utilizing to form their families. But there are ethical questions that can’t be ignored, which Liberty explores in this episode, including… Is it ok that the vast majority...

"It takes a village." Parents often hear this old adage, and having a community to help with childcare or call on during emergencies sounds nice. But the reality for many parents today is that their "village" is nowhere to be found. Author, academic, and homeschooling mother Nadya Williams joins the Know Why Podcast to discuss an overlooked village source that historically played a major role in m...