Author: Know Why

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Entertainment in 20 Years: Choose Your Own Adventure?

Why That’s Not a Great Idea

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 perception of art as entertainment, a matter of personal taste rather than formation of character.  Does it matter that our culture largely views art this way? Yes, and in this episode, Liberty shares reasons why. 

If you care about art, our understanding of humanity, the formation of moral character, and the preservation of a culture’s “collective memories,” listen to this episode and comment with your thoughts about where the entertainment industry is headed. 

More Resources:  What Entertainment Might Look Like in 20 Years https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/ente…

Christians Reading Classics by Nadya Williams https://zondervanacademic.com/product…

On Reading Well by Karen Swallow Prior https://bakerpublishinggroup.com/prod…

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Why Your Story of Reality Matters

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 living in; we just absorb the story the culture around us tells. That story is our worldview. Every story tries to answer three fundamental questions. If things aren’t making sense, it’s probably because you’re trying to live within a false story of reality.

In this episode of the Know Why Podcast, Liberty draws on philosophical insight from Nancy Pearcey’s popular book, Total Truth, to analyze the different stories in our culture. She argues that there is one true story, and when we acknowledge it, the world makes sense. What story are you telling yourself? Is it true?

More Resources:

Confessions of a Former Climate Activist https://www.thefp.com/p/confessions-o…

Confessions of a Former Pro-Palestine Activist https://www.thefp.com/p/confessions-o…

Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity by Nancy Pearcey https://www.wtsbooks.com/products/tot…

Is the Bible Reliable? Josh Barnes on the Know Why Podcast    • Is the Bible Reliable? Josh Barnes on the …  

Is There Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection? https://knowwhypodcast.com/2024/01/is…

Does This New Study Reveal the Keys to Human Flourishing?    • Does This New Study Reveal the Keys to Hum…  

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What to Know About the Online Sports Betting Craze

Interview with Philip Bunn

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 betting?

What are some of the individual and cultural side effects of pervasive gambling?

How is the men’s loneliness epidemic connected to the rise in online gambling?

Why should Christians, including pastors, care about addressing this issue?

Listen for a conversation that addresses the legal background of legalized sports betting, the “why” behind many states’ support for legalized gambling, a Christian angle on the issue, and more.

More Resources:

Pastors, Please Take Sports Betting Seriously (article by Philip Bunn) https://byfaithonline.com/pastors-ple…

Addiction By Design (book by Natasha Dow Schull) https://www.amazon.com/Addiction-Desi…

Why My Generation Is Turning to ‘Financial Nihilism’ (The Wall Street Journal) https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/…

Meet the Young Men Rushing Into Betting Markets (The Wall Street Journal) https://www.wsj.com/business/media/me…

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Do All Religions Point to the Same Truth?

Interview With Jon Noyes

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 large part of his progressive political platform. But they’re worth examining, because his comments touch on sincere questions that many people have about faith in general and Christianity in particular.

For instance… Is ultimate truth a mystery, or can it be known? Are all religions ultimately pointing to the same universal truth, just (to use Mr. Talarico’s metaphor) in different languages? What’s most important to understand about Jesus? And what is the point of religion, anyway? Is it to understand the story of reality—or to understand the story within ourselves?

Atheist-turned-Christian apologist Jon Noyes joins the Know Why Podcast to examine these questions closely and reveal that ultimate truth can be known, and share why finding it matters.

More Resources: How Should We Then Live? By Francis Shaeffer https://www.amazon.com/Should-Then-Li…

Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey https://www.amazon.com/dp/1433502208/…

Stand to Reason https://www.str.org/home

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Why Young Men Need Spiritual Mentors in an Age of AI Companions

Interview with Matt Trayler

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, and a lack of direction.

In this episode of the Know Why Podcast, CBMC Director of Programs Matt Trayler talks about…

  • The problems facing many young men today
  • Why men need community
  • Why spiritual mentorship matters
  • Practical tips for finding connection as a mentor or mentee
  • And more.

Listen and check out the free programs and resources at the link below, or share them with a man in your life.

More Resources

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What Was So Special About George Washington?

Interview with Richard Lim

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 American history, and argues that Washington’s vision for the USA can offer hope and encouragement for a cynical generation.

More Resources:

https://www.richardmlim.com/

https://www.thisamericanpresident.com/

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What Christians Should Know About Chatbots, Big Tech, and the Bible

Interview With Doug Smith

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 You Can Break Free, and the forthcoming [Un]Intelligence: The Lies Behind Today’s AI and the Truths You Need to Thrive. In this deep-dive interview, Doug helps us think through the following topics: 

  • What epistemology means and how it helps us understand AI
  • How large language models (LLMs) fundamentally differ from other search engines
  • Whether the “neutral tool” trope applies to AI
  • Why Big Tech founders use spiritual terms to talk about AI
  • And much more. 

Listen to this fascinating conversation for a unique perspective on AI and chatbots that is thoroughly informed by a biblical worldview and relevant for every human being. 

More Resources: 

It’s Time To Be More Intentional With Your Life Than Big Tech.

https://www.estherlightcapmeek.com

How People Are Really Using AI (Harvard Business Review)

Empire of AI by Karen Hao

That Hideous Strength by C. S. Lewis

How Bad Are AI Delusions? We Asked the People Treating Them (The New York Times)

Against the Machine by Paul Kingsnorth

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Best of 2025: Biblical Reliability, AI, Charlie Kirk, Trad Wives, and More

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    • Is the Bible Reliable? Josh Barnes on the …  

“Does AI ‘Perfection’ Harm Our Souls?” With Philip Bunn    • Does AI ‘Perfection’ Harm Our Souls? Phili…  

“What Should Christians Think About the ‘Charlie Kirk Effect?'”    • What Should Christians Think About the ‘Ch…  

“Neither Trans nor Tradwife: Understanding True Femininity” with Rachel Schroder    • Neither Trans Nor Tradwife: Understanding …  

“Is it Ok to be Mediocre?”    • Is It Ok To Be Mediocre? Summer Series 2025  

These top 5 most popular episodes are a great representation of the kinds of topics and series Know Why has covered in 2025. If you’ve enjoyed the Know Why Podcast or found any episode helpful or informative, send us an email, and let us know what you’d like to see the Know Why Podcast cover in 2026.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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Understanding God’s Design for Marriage and Sex

With Andrea Crum

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 fail to talk about sex?

What does it mean that biblical marriage is described as a covenant between one man and one woman?

What would happen in the world if everyone followed a biblical sexual ethic?

How does healthy marriage represent God to the world?

Despite secular cultural narratives, there is spiritual significance to God’s design for sex and marriage. Listen to know why.

More Resources:

AndreaCrum.com

GenuineFamilyMinistries.com

*Video recording is not available for this episode, due to technical difficulties. Thank you for your understanding!

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How to Build the Village Your Family Needs

Interview With Nadya Williams

“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 more Americans’ lives—the local church. Reflecting on the state of parenthood today, Nadya offers practical advice for building a village right where you are. She reminds parents that villages are about more than “insurance friends” to call during an emergency…they’re about thriving.

More Resources:

What’s a Village For? A Response to Olga Khazan by Nadya Williams (IFS) https://ifstudies.org/blog/whats-a-vi…

Nadya Williams on Substack https://substack.com/@nadyawilliams?u…

The Gospel Comes With a House Key: Practicing Radical Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World by Rosaria Butterfield https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Comes-H…

Scruffy Hospitality — Google Search https://www.google.com/search?q=scruf…