Know Why Podcast

Is Having Kids Bad for the Environment? (Repost)

Many young adults are worried that having children will overburden a planet that’s already overpopulated and further damage the environment. They’re also worried about what kind of environment their kids will be born into.
Are these valid concerns — and if not, why not? In this episode of the Know Why Podcast (originally aired in 2023), Liberty takes listeners through research and perspectives from millennials, parents, climate scientists, and more, exploring a question many young adults are asking.
More Resources:
Why I Stopped Being a Climate Catastrophist 
Three tough truths about climate by Bill Gates
Anxiety over climate warming is leading some young adults to say they don't want children (AP)
Climate Anxiety vs. Reality (The Free Press)

Should We Do Things We Don't Enjoy? On Harvard, Grade Inflation, and Finding Life's Deeper Meaning

News outlets have reported Harvard University's students' reactions to the threat of stricter academic standards, after a commission found that grades were massively inflated despite a decline in academic involvement at the college. Some reacted by worrying they wouldn't find their classwork enjoyable or fulfilling if academic standards were raised.
Beyond Harvard, is there an underlying assumption in modern culture that life is to be enjoyed? Liberty examines that assumption, identifies why it's problematic in everything from education to relationships, and recalls research that points to what makes humans more deeply fulfilled.
More Resources:
All A's at Harvard (World)
https://wng.org/opinions/all-as-at-harvard-1762387132
The Perverse Consequences of the Easy A (The Atlantic)
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/08/harvard-college-grade-inflation/684021/
Does This Study Reveal the Key to Human Flourishing? (Know Why Podcast) 
https://youtu.be/g3tobGiNVvM?si=iTTyLQRqobwWKmGQ 

Is Autonomy a Lie?

Is autonomy the default state of human existence? Is freedom from other's neediness a human right? If the answer to those first two questions is "yes," where does that leave individuals who, through no fault of their own, are not autonomous?
In her book The Dignity of Dependence: A Feminist Manifesto, Leah Libresco Sargeant argues that modern society has been built on a "false anthropology," which is the lie that we are autonomous creatures by nature. Liberty shares insights from the book, as well as a recent interview with Leah on Point of View Radio Talk Show. Listen to learn how accepting the reality of our own needs and learning to live in mutual dependence can create a more just society for every member of the family.
More Resources:
Full Interview With Leah Libresco Sargeant on Point of View Radio Talk Show:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-of-view-november-03-2025-hour-2-the/id333209607?i=1000735119200 
The Dignity of Dependence: A Feminist Manifesto by Leah Libresco Sargeant
https://www.amazon.com/Dignity-Dependence-Feminist-Manifesto-Catholic/dp/0268210330/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OYjUX7bQQ2aHfZB2uJEnDFB3F2twIAOA8X_w2LOGsPvvRVdJ1q-Icgm_4lS1ibjPZC6s5n4yAjSgwtBItBdBcbC8rRK6goSeWyYF1KP8SIm_7HN8ESn1e1vXIL3hMQ5Vm6Jx4UnKyJBKVRXQKs6B5w.hkExGOsWMFpP1aTpR3hOujTLHjHfq-iF5WDCRC3Ewwk&dib_tag=se&hvadid=580694231644&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9026959&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=15896085238039775592--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15896085238039775592&hvtargid=kwd-2424453398105&hydadcr=20588_13321902&keywords=the+dignity+of+dependence&mcid=f8bd510d0b4f3bb6a918931f280808cb&qid=1762300177&sr=8-1 

Longing for Family: Wading Through Suffering, Childlessness, and Unmet Desires With Chelsea Sobolik

The "Know About Family Formation" series is highlighting the good of marriage and family. But what if you already know family is good, and you desire family, but for one reason or another, that desire remains unfulfilled?
Chelsea Sobolik understands what it is like to wrestle with that kind of grief. Author "Longing for Motherhood: Holding Onto Hope in the Midst of Childlessness," Chelsea joins the Know Why Podcast to share her story—as well as hope for those who may be walking through infertility, prolonged singleness, or other kinds of grief and suffering.
In this episode, Chelsea addresses topics including:
Why we shouldn't idolize marriage and motherhood
What stepping in and out of different family roles throughout life can look like
How churches can promote the goodness of family while supporting those grieving infertility and loss
How Jesus relates to and comforts us in the midst of embodied brokenness
How individuals can be an advocate, a mother figure, and a vital member of church and local communities in different seasons of life
And so much more.
Listen or share with someone you know who is longing for family.
 
More Resources:
Chelsea's Books, including Longing for Motherhood:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Chelsea-Patterson-Sobolik/author/B07CP1LPCX?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=f24ad87a-b543-4beb-9993-19a4274fbd28
Dads Hurt Too: A Father's Memoir of Miscarriage by Eric Shumacher
https://www.amazon.com/Dads-Hurt-Too-Fathers-Miscarriage/dp/1736408038
Abbey Wedgeworth
https://www.abbeywedgeworth.com/all-books
Brittany Lee Allen
https://brittleeallen.com/miscarriage-and-infertility/

The Cost of Kids: What Monetary Calculations Miss About Family Life with Ivana Greco

Many millennials and Gen Zers are intentionally avoiding parenthood, and the number one reason cited is cost.
But when it comes to kids, can crunched numbers really capture the gamut of costs AND benefits, stresses AND joys that one experiences over a lifetime?
As it turns out, spreadsheets fail to convey the lived experience of many mothers, who, statistically, report being happier than their childless counterparts. That doesn’t mean people must have kids to be happy, but media warnings about daycare costs and lost wages fail to capture the full picture of parenthood.
Ivana Greco is an attorney and homeschooling mom of four who writes about women, children, families, and family policy. She joins the Know Why Podcast to discuss her article, “What is the Price of Parenting?” published with Commonplace Magazine.
 
More Resources:
 
What is the Price of Parenting?
https://www.commonplace.org/cp/172950941

Soulmates: Myth or Marriage Material? Know About Family Formation

Do you believe in soulmates? In finding "the One?" If so, you're not alone—according to surveys, a majority of young singles hold some version of the soulmate view of marriage. Unfortunately, that's also the marriage view most likely to lead to divorce.
In this episode, Liberty summarizes research compiled by Dr. Brad Wilcox in his book "Get Married," explaining why soulmates are a myth and why a different view of marriage—"family first," or mission-minded—aligns better with our overall purpose and function as human beings made in God's image.
P.S. Liberty also mentions a resource for parents in this episode—a discount code for $10 off registration to the Raising Biblical Kids Conference for Parents in Grapevine, Texas! See more information below.
P.P.S. Comment to share your thoughts—or if you listen long enough to understand what "yellow butterflies" means!
More Resources:
Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization by Brad Wilcox
https://www.amazon.com/Get-Married-Americans-Families-Civilization/dp/0063210851
Raising Biblical Kids Conference
https://raisingbiblicalkidsconference.com/ 

Why Are People Drawn to Conspiracy Theories? Quick Question With Liberty

Almost everywhere you look online, conspiracy theories abound. Recent events are no exception. In this episode Liberty addresses three questions:
Why are people drawn to conspiracy theories?
Why is it a problem to default to conspiracy theories (especially for Christians)? 
How can we evaluate conspiracy theories with clarity?
Listen and let us know what you think in the comments.
More Resources:
How to approach conspiracy theories by Dr. Merrill Mathews (The Hill)
https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/5516547-plausibility-proof-evaluating-conspiracies/

What Should Christians Think About the 'Charlie Kirk Effect?' Quick Question With Liberty

In the three weeks since the assassination of Charlie Kirk, something is rippling across the nation that many are calling the “Charlie Kirk Effect.” On social media, individuals are professing Christian faith, returning to church, or going to church for the first time, citing Charlie Kirk’s life and public death as their inspiration.
While many Christians are celebrating this effect and even calling it a revival, others are wrestling with Kirk’s full legacy, even expressing dissatisfaction with other Christians' public admiration of Kirk's life and work.
In this episode, Liberty asks the question: How should Christians think about the “Charlie Kirk Effect?” Looking at Scripture and history can help, because when we look closely at the so-called “heroes” of the faith, what we see are people who have failed again and again...and still been used by God. And maybe that’s the point.
Share your thoughts below.

Neither Trans Nor Tradwife: Understanding the Truth of Femininity | With Rachel Schroder

What does it mean to be a woman? The culture has wrestled with this point for decades. Ironically, diametrically opposed sides often make the same mistake: conflating the aesthetics of femininity with its definition.
Many who embrace transgender ideology argue that feeling feminine and dressing the part are all it takes to identify oneself as “woman.” On the other hand, many reacting against modern feminism display their “trad wife” life on Instagram, striving to divide household labor along stereotypically gendered lines.
Joining the Know Why Podcast, Rachel Schroder argues that both camps miss the true definition of femininity, trading its aesthetics for its full meaning and purpose. She helps us know why the full definition of femininity is broader than what is often portrayed by “trad wife” extremes, and also more family-oriented than modern feminism allows.
Listen for a thought-provoking and encouraging conversation about what it means to be a woman, how women can embrace both their biological nature and their God-given talents inside the home and in the workforce, what balancing family and career might look like, and how developing virtue matters more than following stereotypes.
More Resources:
The Truth Between Trad Wife and Trans (New Guard Press) by Rachel Schroder
https://newguardpress.com/the-truth-between-trad-wife-and-trans/

Men and Meekness: Understanding Masculinity That Is Neither Weak Nor Toxic | 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:
Meek is Not Weak, It’s Masculine by Andrew Warthen
https://newguardpress.com/meek-is-masculine/
‘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
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/09/study-gen-z-leads-church-attendance-average/
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)
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Responsibility-Karol-Wojtyla/dp/0898704456