Know Why Podcast

Why is marriage good? Is it only good for the material benefits it may provide individuals, like relational security and legal protection? Or is there an intrinsic good to marriage that can't be analyzed with science?

Social and political philosopher John Mancini joins the podcast to kick off the next series, Know About Family Formation. John argues that there is a transcendent good to marriage that can't be fully explained by its ...

A 22-year-old founder of two multi-million dollar businesses recently made headlines for claiming that "Work-Life Balance Will Keep You Mediocre." In this last episode of Know Why's 2025 summer series, Liberty looks at whether Emil Barr's extreme sacrifices, including giving up relationships and even sleep, are worth it.

Noting that Mr. Barr makes a few good points, Liberty argues that such an extreme focus on future material succe...

This episode looks at the issues of medically-assisted suicide, also called doctor- or physician-assisted death, and euthanasia. Referring to a recent feature in The Atlantic, Liberty uses examples from Canada to show three problems that arise when medically-assisted death is legalized in a society, and three reasons why it is wrong.

TW: The episode includes several mentions of medically-assisted death, including real-life anecdote...

Are you trying to find your calling in life? Are you just trying to find a job? Either way, it can be a frustrating time.

The job market is changing. AI is threatening many collar jobs. A bachelor’s degree isn’t the ticket to success it once was. Meanwhile, culturally accepted wisdom about passion, vocation, and job satisfaction isn’t always rooted in the truth—about happiness, about God, or even about o...

Are we at risk of live streaming our lives away?

In a world where large amounts of young people spend more time "connecting" online than in physical life, where we are constantly plagued by FOMO and the urge to share every moment on social media, we risk losing the very life we are trying to preserve in digital memory.

While convenient and sometimes helpful tools, social media and smart technology can present a counterfeit to our n...

What makes people happy in life? In this episode, Liberty highlights research from the Global Flourishing Study, a 5-year research project that measures human flourishing using a broad range of questions.

Led by social scientists from Harvard and Baylor University, and in partnership with Gallup and the Center for Open Science, the Global Flourishing Study has produced findings indicating that our idea o...

Young men are in crisis. A recent article argues that married fatherhood is the key to solving the masculinity crisis, because married fatherhood gives men the meaning in life they inherently desire. It's true that humans need human relationships to be fulfilled, and that marriage incentivizes fathers to invest in their children. But is there more to it that that?

What if our need for other people is more than an evolutionary accid...

How politically diverse is your friend group? If your answer is "not very," you're not alone. Nearly half of U.S. voters view their political opponents as "downright evil," according to a 2024 poll. Fewer and fewer people live in politically diverse areas, and digital media exacerbates our ideological bubbles.

But Americans miss out on a lot of good things when we avoid people who think differently than we do. In this episode, Libe...

Are your opinions based more on hot takes or real ideas? Liberty spends the first half of this episode discussing why young adults are more likely to build their worldview on a foundation of "takes" rather than carefully considered ideas. This results from things like social media algorithms to the way modern classrooms teach English and literature.

Then, she switches gears to commemorate that this is Know Why Podcast's 100th episo...

If you're on social media apps like TikTok and Instagram, you've seen the videos—reels using satire, sarcasm, and dark humor to react to recent events in the Middle East. Cynical, offbeat humor is typical of a generation accustomed to "unprecedented times," but is often used to mask a deeper sense of fear and anxiety about what's going on.

In this episode, Liberty draws on principles found in the Bible and often repeated by mental ...

For decades, religious affiliation has dropped off with each new generation. But with Gen Z, that trend appears to be stalling. Why are young adults returning to religion, especially traditionally conservative expressions of religion like Catholicism?

Liberty suggests that in today's chaotic world, young people want more than vague spirituality and moral relativism, and they're finding it in the pews their parents abandoned.

More R...

Deloitte's 2025 Global survey of Gen Zs and millennials reveals that at work, young adults prioritize mentorship, meaning, and financial security. But survey answers reveal deeper themes at play, including strong needs for a secure identity and a sense of purpose. What do these deeper themes reveal about who we are as humans? That's what Liberty tackles in this 20-minute episode, drawing on experts featured in Know Why's past serie...

President Donald Trump has pledged to “solidify our position as the global leader in AI and secure a brighter future for all Americans.”

“It is the policy of the United States to sustain and enhance America’s global AI dominance in order to promote human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security,” an Executive Order from January 2025 states.

But how will enhanced “global ...

Some AI enthusiasts argue that artificial intelligence will usher in a new age of human thriving, even sparking a renaissance of deeper and more meaningful human connection. Others argue that AI chatbots can offer social benefits, providing a "friend" to those in need.

Are these optimistic takes on AI's potential impact valid? Or are they the result of delusion? Liberty considers these arguments in light of existing evidence on how...

A recent Teen Vogue article explores common ways college students are using ChatGPT. The anecdotes in the article align with other reporting on common uses for AI, leading Liberty to explore three trends...

• Using AI to replace or assist in interpersonal conversations
• Using AI to replace brainstorming solutions for difficult situations
• Using AI in place of or in addition to a therapist for mental health purposes.

Are ther...

Next up in our series "Know About AI," Liberty recalls three past interviews on the Know Why Podcast with illustrators who addressed the purpose of creation and the affect of artificial intelligence on art. Featured artists are best-selling author and illustrator John Hendrix, author, illustrator, and mechanical engineer Ross Boone, and illustrator Jared Boggess, the art director for Christianity Today.

This episode features clips ...

The efficiency of generative AI can be tempting. But Philip Bunn, assistant professor of political science at Covenant College, argues that we may be sacrificing part of our humanity—and eventually our freedom—for the apparent perfection of AI results. When we allow ourselves do things badly instead of relying on AI, we're forming important parts of ourselves, Philip argues.

Don't miss this latest installment in the series "Know...

Is it cheating to have ChatGPT give feedback on your research paper? 

What if you just ask ChatGPT to check your math homework?

Should professors stop fighting the use of AI and incorporate it into collegiate-level assignments? 

How can teachers mitigate the negative effects of technology overload in their classrooms? 

We cover all these questions and more in the second installment of our Know About AI series, featuring Emily Harri...