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Men and Meekness: Understanding Masculinity That is Neither Weak Nor Toxic

Interview With Andrew Warthen

You can’t have healthy marriages without healthy individuals, and healthy individuals are people who understand themselves and their purpose in life.

Perhaps one reason more young men aren’t getting married, despite many desiring to do so, is because they lack understanding about who they are and what they were made for.

The left tells men that being masculine is “toxic.” On the far right, misogynistic influencers like Andrew Tate respond by telling young men to embrace those “toxic” traits without apology. Often missing from the masculinity conversation is a character trait that provides the much needed balance: meekness.

In this episode, guest Andrew Warthen explains why “Meek is not Weak,” why good should not always equal safe, and how men can find purpose in fully understanding the meaning of their masculinity.

Listen to this next installment of our “Know About Family Formation” series, and check out the links below if you’d like to dive deeper into this topic.

Be sure to rate the podcast, subscribe, and comment or email Know Why with your thoughts or requests for future topics!

Articles Referenced: 

‘Life Without a Father’: Less College, Less Work, And More Prison For Young Men Growing Up Without Their Biological Father

https://ifstudies.org/blog/life-without-father-less-college-less-work-and-more-prison-for-young-men-growing-up-without-their-biological-father

Study: Gen Z Now Leads in Church Attendance 

Gen Z Men and Women Divided Over Getting Married, Having Kids

https://www.newsweek.com/gen-z-men-women-divide-kids-marriage-poll-donald-trump-kamala-harris-republican-democrat-2126843

Andrew’s Recommended Resources: 

Father Mike Schmitz on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/fathermikeschmitz/?hl=en

Bishop Robert Barron on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@BishopBarron

Ryan T. Anderson at the Ethics and Public Policy Center

https://eppc.org/author/ryan_anderson

The Heritage Foundation

https://www.heritage.org

The Daily Wire

https://www.dailywire.com

Theology of the Body by John Paul II

https://stmarys-waco.org/documents/2016/9/theology_of_the_body.pdf

Love and Responsibility by John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla) 

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Podcasts

Why is Marriage Good?

Interview With John Mancini

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 extrinsic benefits, and invites us to understand why in this conversation.

More Resources:

How to Make Marriage Great Again by John Mancini (Institute for Family Studies) 

Institute for Family Studies 

Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization by Brad Wilcox 

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Podcasts

Is It Ok to Be Mediocre?

Summer series 2025

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 success can distract from our true purpose as human beings. In fact, the life some call “mediocre” could be a life of immeasurable eternal impact. Listen to know why.

More Resources: ‘Work-Life Balance’ Will Keep You Mediocre — The Wall Street Journal 

Know About Creating: Why We Write Stories (And Why You Don’t Have to Rush) || Interview With Chelsea and Jonathan Boes — Know Why Podcast

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Podcasts

Three Reasons Why Medically-Assisted Suicide is Wrong

Summer Series 2025

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 anecdotes, and mentions of suicidal ideation.

More Resources:

Canada is Killing Itself (The Atlantic) 

How Can I Help a Friend Struggling With Suicidal Thoughts? (Know Why Podcast) 

988 Lifeline

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Podcasts

Is “Follow Your Passion” A Lie?

Book Review: You Have a Calling by Karen Swallow Prior (Summer Series 2025)

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 ourselves.

Thankfully, Karen Swallow Prior offers wisdom and clarity in her new book, You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful. In this episode, Liberty shares some key takeaways from the book, tying them into previous series on the Know Why Podcast.

More Resources:

You Have a Calling by Karen Swallow Prior

Know About Thriving At Work, a Know Why Podcast Series

What Gen Z’s Work Priorities Reveal About Human Needs, Longing, and Purpose (Know Why Podcast, Summer Series 2025)

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Podcasts

Live Streaming Life Away?

Summer Series 2025

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 needs for identity, connection, and purpose if we’re not careful.

Do you agree or disagree? Share your thoughts below!

More Resources:

If I Don’t Post About My Vacation, Did It Even Happen? 

Teens Are Spending Nearly 5 Hours Daily on Social Media 

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Podcasts

Coping With Fear and Anxiety Amid World Chaos

Summer Series 2025

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 health experts for truly coping with anxiety about global events. It is possible to find inner peace with Jesus in a dangerous, unstable world.

More Resources:

Gen Z, Iran, and the Mass Panic Happening on TikTok – USA Today

How Can I Feel Safe in an Unstable World? Interview With Dr. Tanita Maddox 

What Did Jesus Say About Overcoming Anxiety? Interview With Lauren McAfee 

Is it Possible to Thrive With Anxiety and Depression? Interview With Ben Bennett 

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Podcasts

Why is Gen Z Returning to Religion?

Summer Series 2025

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 Resources:

Why is Gen Z More Religious Than Previous Generations? (Northeastern Global News)

How Catholicism Got Cool (The Free Press) 

“Know About Creating,” Know Why Podcast Series

“Know About Jesus,” Know Why Podcast Series

“Know Why God is Good,” Know Why Podcast Series 

Categories
Podcasts

What Gen Z’s Work Priorities Reveal About Human Needs, Longing, and Purpose

Summer Series 2025

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 series, “Know About Thriving at Work.”

More Resources:

Deloitte 2025 Global Survey on Gen Z and Millennials

Know About Thriving At Work: A Know Why Podcast Series

The Religion of Workism is Making Americans Miserable

The Secret to Happiness at Work 

Categories
Podcasts

God’s Goodness, Foundations of Humanity, and AI

Recap and Preview

Liberty recaps this season’s two series, Know Why God is Good and Know About AI. Then, she previews what viewers can expect from the Know Why Podcast over the summer and in the months ahead.

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share!

More Resources:

Know Why God is Good series

Know About AI series

Contact Liberty