Know Why Podcast

From the U.S. government’s UAP file releases to Steven Spielberg’s new movie Disclosure Day, aliens are in the news again. While many assume that proof of extraterrestrial life would disprove the Christian faith, Casey Luskin, scientist and attorney with Discovery Institute, argues the opposite.
In this interview with Liberty, which originally aired on Point of View Radio Talk Show, Casey explains why the existence aliens wouldn’t prove Darwinian evolutionary theory, and why their existence would actually pose problems for it. While some, including Richard Dawkins, wonder if aliens are responsible for creating the earth, Casey highlights evidence acknowledged by multiple Nobel Prize-winning scientists— evidence that points to an Intelligent Designer beyond the universe, not within it.
Listen for a fascinating conversation about the origins of the universe, the complexity of human biology, faith, aliens, and more.
More Resources:
Original Interview:
https://www.youtube.com/live/8dnq8xa-r4g?si=r3THUrG4H51ncl7p&t=1707
Alien Life Would Not Refute Religion--but It Would Challenge Materialistic Evolution (Townhall article by Casey Luskin)
https://townhall.com/columnists/casey-luskin/2026/05/10/alien-life-would-not-refute-religionbut-it-would-challenge-materialistic-evolution-n2675780
Discovery.org
The Story of Everything
https://www.thestoryofeverything.film/
Point of View Radio Talk Show

Why aren’t people talking with their neighbors anymore? In this episode of the Know Why Podcast, Liberty breaks down the reasons for dwindling neighbor connections drawing on research from the American Enterprise Institute. She talks about…
Which age groups interact with neighbors more often
How different groups of Americans define being a good neighbor
And how religious involvement affects someone’s understanding and practice of neighborliness.
If you want to grow your social skills or challenge yourself to interact with neighbors more often, check out the resources below.
Strangers Next Door: The Decline of Neighborhood Socializing and the Class Divide in Belonging (AEI)
https://www.americansurveycenter.org/research/strangers-next-door-the-decline-of-neighborhood-socializing-and-the-class-divide-in-belonging/
The Science of Talking to Strangers
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-science-of-talking-to-strangers-eacab1f0?st=wTw2Cn&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
The Art of Asking Better Questions by J.R. Briggs
https://www.ivpress.com/the-art-of-asking-better-questions?srsltid=AfmBOor2Gl0xCG5B8BWJpuFYZ3qSYus6CuJKieuhK_S-iIVoW1ZRb5o_
The Art of Asking Better Questions: Interview with J.R. Briggs on Point of View Radio Talk Show
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-of-view-june-2-2026-hour-2-the-art-of/id333209607?i=1000770847397

The latest World Happiness Report reveals that English-speaking countries are the unhappiest, and sociologist Arthur Brooks theorizes that a major cause for this is the Anglosphere’s social media usage. According to Brooks, hours spent on social media is only part of the explanation.
In this episode of the Know Why Podcast, Liberty breaks down Brooks’s hypotheses and observes other recent research and cultural trends to help us understand why the way we use social media matters for our mental health.
More Resources:
Arthur Brooks: The Saddest Countries All Speak English
https://www.thefp.com/api/v1/post/pdf?postId=198265762
GetBrick.com

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Liberty highlights past Know Why Podcast conversations that offer insight and encouragement to those who may struggle with anxiety. See descriptions and links for each referenced episode below. 
Can Localism Ease Partisanship (And Even Anxiety)? Interview With Mark Mitchell
https://knowwhypodcast.com/2024/05/can-localism-ease-partisanship-and-even-anxiety-know-about-political-engagement/
Does the philosophy of localism offer an antidote to the hostile partisanship that typically marks American politics? Can it even address the cultural problems of anxiety and loneliness? Dr. Mark T. Mitchell, co-founder of Front Porch Republic and Dean of Academic Affairs at Patrick Henry College, joins Liberty to talk about the importance of intentional living, physical space, embodied community, and more.
What Did Jesus Say About Overcoming Anxiety? Interview With Lauren McAfee
https://knowwhypodcast.com/2024/03/what-did-jesus-say-about-overcoming-anxiety-know-about-jesus/
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 Intimacy With God. Lauren, an author, founder of Stand for Life, and Ministry Director at Hobby Lobby, joins the Know Why Podcast to share their story.
 

Surveys show that Gen Z is spiritual. One study found that teens today are very interested in learning more about Jesus. And yet research also shows that young people frequently struggle with anxiety, depression, and even loneliness. Is prayer the answer?
In this week’s episode, Garryt Bryant, a youth leader and pray coordinator for his church, talks about prayer. Garryt shares his own experience with mental health struggles and loneliness, and what helped him heal. He also gives practical tips for how to pray, including suggested passages of the Bible to study for anyone who wants to grow in their spiritual journey.
Garryt also shares about a movement he’s a part of, Prayer at the Heart, which is aimed at helping people around the nation engage in prayer.
Check out the resources Garryt recommends below:
E. M. Bounds Online
https://www.embounds.online/
Project Pray (Dr. Doug Small)
https://www.projectpray.org/p-douglas-small
The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206%3A9-13&version=ESV
Other Scriptures on Prayer (Isaiah 6, 1 John 5)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%206%3B%201%20John%205%20&version=ESV Prayer at the Heart https://prayerattheheart.org/ 

The man behind the robot vacuum has developed something new—"The Familiar," an AI-powered robot "pet" designed to bond with its owner. 
While the product itself is interesting or weird, depending on how you look at it, its existence highlights deeper issues in American society today, including...
The growing loneliness problem
Falling fertility rates and an aging society
The lie that autonomy leads to fulfillment
And more.
Listen to understand how we should think about many of the new AI products being pushed on everyday people and how we can build a society where AI friends, companions, and "familiars" aren't needed. 
More Resources: 
The Roomba Guy's Second Act: A Robot You'll Want to Snuggle
https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/familiar-machines-and-magic-robot-c8711e45?st=1KpV63&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
Who do Americans spend time with over their lives? (Graph)
https://x.com/BradWilcoxIFS/status/2050776421035905172?s=20
Does This New Study Reveal the Keys to Human Flourishing? (Know Why Podcast)
https://youtu.be/g3tobGiNVvM?si=mk5vdPu1uDtnnh5E 
Dismal Demographic
https://pointofview.net/viewpoints/dismal-demographic/ 
More Gen Z Adults Say Life Can Be Fulfilling Without Marriage, Children: study
https://www.christianpost.com/news/more-gen-z-adults-say-life-can-be-fulfilling-without-marriage.html?utm_source=Daily&utm_campaign=Daily&utm_medium=newsletter
 

A recent survey said that 60% of Gen Zers and 50% of Millennials cut someone out of their life in the last year. In the reasons given, many survey respondents listed reasons that had to do with conflict and disagreement.
At the same time, young adults report the highest rates of loneliness and poor mental health.
If we're cutting out the people who stress us out, shouldn't our mental health improve?
Liberty argues that young adults were raised in environments that eliminated friction, and that this has harmed expectations about conflict in relationships, and is harming young people today by isolating them from the people they need.
More Resources:
Why So Many Gen Z Cut Family and Friends Off Without Warning
https://www.vice.com/en/article/why-so-many-gen-z-cut-family-and-friends-off-without-warning/ 
Jonathan Haidt — "The Anxious Generation" on the Daily Show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcr0yg7Mvg8&t=1s 
The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting a Generation up for Failure
https://www.thecoddling.com/ 
How Gen Z is helping to drive a digital detox boom
https://www.axios.com/2026/04/24/phone-free-spaces-digital-detox-retreats-gen-z 
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book 
Friend-Wise: Practical Ideas for Richer Relationships
https://www.moodypublishers.com/friend-wise?srsltid=AfmBOoqYEKZ8Zqy8BhUWiCiVAUHATnXG2WceVojbBu3u80cjsZVLI1wV 

Sam Altman talks about uploading his brain to the cloud. Elon Musks says humans should merge biological intelligence with digital intelligence. Peter Thiel isn’t sure if the human race should continue without that kind of human-tech merger. What do these tech leaders have in common? Transhumanism—the idea that humans should be able to change, or even eradicate, their physical bodies by merging with technology.
This may sound sci-fi, but the core tenets of transhumanism aren’t actually new. In fact, humans have been moving toward this idea for a long time. Some even predicted it.
In this episode, Liberty discusses how ancient and classic literature and thinkers of the past, including J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, can help us understand transhumanism and the “brave new world” we find ourselves in.
More Resources:
Do You Want to Live Forever? A Tolkienian Critique of Transhumanism by Julie Miller
https://press.ratiochristi.org/product/do-you-want-to-live-forever/
The Abolition of Man by C. S. Lewis
https://www.amazon.com/Abolition-Man-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060652942
Christians Reading Classics by Nadya Williams
https://zondervanacademic.com/products/christians-reading-classics
Inside the alarming cyborg future 'transhumanists' Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and Sam Altman are already preparing for
https://nypost.com/2026/04/15/tech/inside-the-alarming-cyborg-future-transhumanists-elon-musk-peter-thiel-and-sam-altman-are-preparing-for/
How Ben Sasse is Living Now That He's Dying
https://youtu.be/7CFo6-6BN9k?si=yGBbvXL3TcK-zw0E 

Is the American Dream dead for Millennials and Gen Z? Is there a version of traditional success that’s still attainable? How are young adults redefining their life dreams in the face of economic instability and loss of trust in institutions?
This week on the Know Why Podcast, Cole Douglas Claybourn and Liberty discuss all this and more. A journalist and former English teacher, Cole talks about fighting back against the lies we are prone to believe on his Substack blog “The Road Home” and on his In No Hurry podcast.
Both Millennials with similar backgrounds, Cole and Liberty break down why the traditional American Dream isn’t panning out for many young adults who are still struggling to pay off college loans, buy a house, and start a family.
They also contrast the expectations Millennials and Gen Z grew up with—change the world, go far in life, do great things—with the realities of what makes life more fulfilling, like local connection and a slower pace of living.
In short: Millennials and Gen Z are steeped in what feels like a never-ending hustle culture due to economic pressures and a societal obsession with productivity. And it’s negatively affecting everything from our diets to our creativity to our families. 
If you’re a young adult wondering if you’re the only one struggling to feel successful in life, or if you’re a listener who wants to better understand the challenges facing Millennials and Gen Z, this episode is for you.
More Resources:
The Road Ahead (Cole’s Substack)
https://coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com/
In No Hurry (Cole’s podcast)
https://www.youtube.com/@innohurrypodcast
The Unplugged Hours: Cultivating a Life of Presence in a Digitally Connected World by Hannah Brencher
https://www.amazon.com/Unplugged-Hours-Cultivating-Digitally-Connected/dp/0310367700
Come Matter Here: Your Invitation to Be Here in a Getting There World by Hannah Brencher
https://www.amazon.com/Come-Matter-Here-Invitation-Getting/dp/0310350840
To Hell with the Hustle: Reclaiming Your Life in an Overworked, Overspent, and Overconnected World by Jefferson Bethke
https://www.amazon.com/Hell-Hustle-Reclaiming-Overworked-Overconnected/dp/0718039203
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World by John Mark Comer
https://www.amazon.com/Ruthless-Elimination-Hurry-Emotionally-Spiritually/dp/0525653090
Eddie LaRow on Substack
https://eddielarow.substack.com/?utm_source=global-search

First Lady Melania Trump recently asked Americans to imagine a humanoid robot tutor named "Plato." Meanwhile, many schools are already incorporating AI into the classroom, in some cases eliminating human teachers altogether. Can AI help solve America's education problems? Or should we draw a line and protect the classroom from AI encroachment?
In this episode, Liberty offers three reasons why AI doesn't belong in education. First, from a Christian perspective, education is discipleship, and AI can't disciple. Second, education requires relationship, which research confirms, and AI can't truly relate. Third, studies are already showing evidence of cognitive decline in AI users, and education technology has, in general, been a large failure.
Learn more about these arguments in the full episode, where Liberty also shares some practical tips for parents to make sure their kids are truly learning to think in the age of AI. Dig in deeper by checking out the resources below, cited in the episode.
More Resources:
Ed Tech is Profitable. It is Also Mostly Useless. (The Economist) https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/01/22/ed-tech-is-profitable-it-is-also-mostly-useless?utm_campaign=shared_article 
Investment in AI is Exploding (Reuters) https://www.reuters.com/graphics/USA-ECONOMY/AI-INVESTMENT/gkvlqbgxkpb/ 
There's a Good Reason You Can't Concentrate (The New York Times) https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/27/opinion/technology-mental-fitness-cognitive.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ZFA._SqR.AQ0f5SxBmABw&smid=url-shar 
Does AI Belong in the Classroom? Emily Harrison on the Know Why Podcast https://youtu.be/NbSWxQKU7RQ?si=dxhJsR3OAnfO81-k 
Dear Christian Parent (Emily Harrison on Substack) https://dearchristianparent.substack.com/?utm_source=global-search 
First Fish Chronicles (Emily Cherkin on Substack) https://firstfish.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips  
The Anxious Generation https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/