Know Why Podcast

Primaries, propositions, and partisanship, oh my! Does political jargon make your head spin? In Part 2 of our interview, campaign manager Lisa Hendrickson explains primaries, offers tips on staying engaged and effective in between election cycles, and discusses the importance of being willing to find common ground with your political opponents.

Feel confident next time you head to the polls! To kick off our new series, Know About Political Engagement, Lisa Hendrickson joins the Know Why Podcast with tips on becoming an informed voter. Drawing from her years of experience managing campaigns and working in various political roles, Lisa encourages listeners to own their vote and know why it counts. 

Lauren McAfee and her husband, Michael, know firsthand what it's like to face back-to-back tragedies and unforeseen trauma. How can we handle the anxiety and grief that results from life spinning out of control? Jesus' teachings and life offer helpful examples, which Lauren and Michael write about in their book Beyond Our Control: Let Go of Unmet Expectations, Overcome Anxiety, and Discover Intima...

Brant Hansen is back for Part 2! The radio personality and author discusses research from an atheist that points to the genius of Jesus' teachings on anger, forgiveness, and anxiety. Listen and learn why Brant says Jesus is the "smartest man who ever lived."

Talking about anger has never been more fun! Radio personality and author Brant Hansen joins the Know Why Podcast to discuss his book Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better. In Part 1 of his interview, Brant explains Jesus' teachings on anger and forgiveness, sharing personal testimonies revealing that "the way to freedom is the way of Jesus." 

In Jesus' radical inclusion of women, was he bucking God's system, or acting in perfect alignment with the rest of Scripture? In Part 2 of her interview with Know Why, Dr. Sandra Glahn of Dallas Theological Seminary tackles the issue of gender roles and what the church gets wrong. She also sheds helpful light on a few under-preached stories of women in the Old Testament, and what they teach us abo...

In Part 1 of this interview, Dallas Theological Seminary professor Dr. Sandra Glahn offers insight into Jesus' interactions with women and what it means for Christian women today. She explains cultural context surrounding several Bible stories and passages, answering hard questions (such as why Jesus' 12 apostles were male). Dr. Glahn also exposes certain blindspots that can impede our understandi...

Do Jesus' teachings on justice conflict with Old Testament teachings on justice? In Part 2 of Know Why's interview with apologist Jon Noyes, we examine the continuity of biblical justice throughout the Old and New Testaments. Jon even argues that a proper understanding of justice can help us answer this question: Why do bad things happen to good people? Jon shares free resources at the end of the...

Gen Z is oriented toward social justice. As part of our Know About Jesus series, Jon Noyes from Stand to Reason joins us to discuss what Jesus said about justice. In Part 1 of a two-part interview, Jon, a former atheist, explains differences between the cultural and biblical definitions of justice. He also shares how he went from thinking "Christians were stupid" to now defending the Christian fai...

In Part 2 of Know Why's interview with Pastors Lafe and Hope Angell of Grace Point Family Church, we tackle tough questions, including... Does loving my enemies mean I have to put up with toxic people? How can I follow Jesus when I've known Christians who are so unloving? This episode may challenge you to examine your own beliefs and behaviors in light of Jesus' teachings on love!

What did Jesus' love look like? How can we emulate it today—especially in a culture that is often so divided? In this episode (part one of a two-part interview), Pastors Lafe and Hope Angell of Grace Point Family Church discuss examples of how Jesus loved with truth and yet without condemnation. They also offer tips on how young people can do the same today, even when it's difficult. 

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 Part 2 of our interview with Robby Lashua, we walk through the historical evidence for Jesus' resurrection, including what non-Christian historians have to say about the event. 

In the kick-off to our Know About Jesus series, apologist Robby Lashua tackles two tough questions. First, how do we know the New Testament we have today is the same as what was originally written down? Second, how do we know what was written down is true? In this episode, you'll learn about the tests historians use when determining the reliability of ancient documents—and whether the New Testamen...

Want to tackle loneliness, anxiety, or depression in 2024? Improving mental health is a common New Year's resolution. In this episode of the Know Why Podcast, returning guest Ben Bennett of the Resolution Movement shares practical tips from brain science that can help you go from feeling pressured to feeling empowered. 

What are the most pressing issues facing teens and young adults today? What questions are they asking about life, purpose, and religion? Joe and Tiffany Williamson work in youth ministry at Thousand Hills Church in Hickory Creek, Texas. They join the Know Why Podcast with firsthand insight into the questions young adults ask, what support they need, and why. Don't miss this insightful and relatabl...

What do listeners want to know about? We looked at our most-downloaded episodes of 2023 and compiled the highlights here! Listen for excerpts from 5 of listeners' favorite episodes of the year, with selections from every Know Why Series series of 2023! In this episode, you'll hear snippets of the following interviews: 1. Is Social Media Robbing Me of a Richer Life? Know About Healthy Tech Habits:...

Joshua Barnes of the popular YouTube channel The Bible Explained is back. He demonstrates why Jesus' birth is unique compared to the origin stories of ancient mythical gods. Josh also highlights intriguing prophesies that predicted the details of Jesus' birth hundreds of years before it happened. 

Have you ever heard that Christmas has pagan origins? Does the date we celebrate Christmas—December 25th—have anything to do with ancient holidays like Saturnalia, Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, or even the Winter Solstice? Are traditions like caroling and decorating trees borrowed from other religions? Find out in this interview with Joshua Barnes, creator of popular YouTube channel The Bible Explai...

Chatbots can be problematic, but can they also be useful? If artificial intelligence can do everything we can do, what makes humans unique? Back to think through tough questions like these is Kate Lucky from Christianity Today. She shares insight from her recent feature piece, “AI Will Shape Your Soul,” a deep-dive into what theologians and tech experts are saying about AI chatbots. Don’t miss par...

Are you prepared for a world where AI bots have replaced customer service workers, tutors, and even therapists? Do we lose part of our humanity when inconvenient, messy conversations with people are replaced by streamlined, efficient chatbots? Here to think through this with us and provide some answers is Kate Lucky from Christianity Today. She shares insight from her recent feature piece, “AI Wil...

How can problematic technology use hamper a child's emotional development? How can you tell if a child's relationship with media is problematic? Answering these questions and more on the Know Why Podcast is Jane Shawcroft. A PhD student at UC Davis, Jane studies the effects of media and technology on children and adolescents. Whether you have kids, work with kids, plan to have a family in the futu...

When college students enter Dr. Brad East's class at Abilene Christian University, they're often spending 6 hours or more on social media per day. Then he challenges them to give it up. Listen to this episode as Dr. East shares what young adults gain when they give up their screen addiction—and what you lose when your life is spent staring at your screen. And if you're brave enough, take Dr. East'...

What does an ancient story about a father, two sons, and a promise have to do with the Israel-Hamas war? In this episode, Know Why Podcast interrupts its series on Healthy Tech Habits to discuss the war between Israel and Hamas that began with Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Specifically, this episode addresses the biblical history of the conflicts over Israel, which stretch...

Are you in control of your screen time... or is it the other way around? Listen as Doug Smith helps kick off Know Why's series on healthy tech habits. In the episode Liberty and Doug discuss his recent book, "[Un]Intentional: How Screens Secretly Shape Your Desires and How You Can Break Free," written from his perspective as a former software developer. Doug offers insights that are both sobering...

In Part 2 of Know Why's interview with Peyton Luke, Peyton talks about a public "fail" she experienced in college and what it taught her about life and career. Peyton also pinpoints the root of much of America's workism and offers pointers for developing a healthier work-life balance. Don't miss this final episode in the Thriving at Work Series!