Know Why Podcast

A weekly podcast for young adults seeking to go deeper on life’s biggest questions

Listen on:

  • Apple Podcasts
  • Podbean App
  • Spotify
  • Amazon Music
  • iHeartRadio
  • PlayerFM
  • Podchaser
  • BoomPlay

Episodes

Wednesday Sep 10, 2025

Young men on the far right and young women on the far left have little in common—except for their views on marriage. Leading voices in the “manosphere” argue that marriage is of no benefit to men, especially when it comes to finances. Many women believe the same lie.
According to a robust body of research compiled by Dr. Brad Wilcox in his book “Get Married,” men who get married experience a significant financial boost called the “marriage premium,” and women who get married are less likely to experience poverty.
While financial gain isn’t and shouldn’t be ultimate reason for marriage, it’s important to combat pervasive lies with facts.
Listen to for the specifics in this latest installment of Know Why’s “Know About Family Formation” series.
More Resources:
Get Married by Brad Wilcox
https://www.amazon.com/Get-Married-Americans-Families-Civilization/dp/0063210851
Why is Marriage Good? Interview with John Mancini
https://youtu.be/F7TCmdtHN-U?si=B_SXvjRdwe_O2dE8
Why Men (And All Humans) Need Sacrificial Relationships
https://youtu.be/Is6MldDYnFg?si=RYietztZO-Lre3bb
 

Wednesday Sep 03, 2025

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 

Wednesday Aug 27, 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
 

Wednesday Aug 20, 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

Wednesday Aug 13, 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)

Wednesday Jul 30, 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 

Wednesday Jul 23, 2025

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 of what makes someone “happy” could be all wrong.
Listen to find out what it really takes to flourish, and how this new evidence underscores what the Know Why Podcast has previously highlighted: namely, the importance of relationships, meaningful connection, and religious belonging.
 
More Resources:
Global Flourishing Study
The Happiest Country in the World Isn’t What You Think (NYT)
Why are the Wealthy So Unhappy? (World)
 

Wednesday Jul 16, 2025

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 accident, and actually a sacred design? What if marriage is more than a cultural construct that incentivizes paternal involvement, and actually a demonstration of the highest form of love? What if all of us—not just men—need to know that we are needed, and find our greatest fulfillment in sacrificial love over selfish pursuits?
Listen to know why, and don't forget to check out past series at KnowWhyPodcast.com.
More Resources:
Married Fatherhood Is the Key To Solving The Masculinity Crisis 
Is looking for a "best friend" getting in the way of building a village? 

Wednesday Jul 09, 2025

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, Liberty discusses why political polarization has worsened, why it's a problem, and how we can fix it.
More Resources:
You Don't Need the Same Politics to Surf Together
How Can I Keep Faith Above Partisanship? Interview With Chris Butler 
Them: Why We Hate Each Other—And How to Heal by Ben Sasse 

Wednesday Jul 02, 2025

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 episode! You'll hear short clips from Know Why's top five most popular episodes, which showcase the range of topics and perspectives featured on the podcast.
We don't want you to have takes, but ideas you can hold with confidence, which is why the Know Why Podcast started in the first place. Help us celebrate episode 100 by liking, commenting, subscribing, and sharing Know Why with a friend!
More Resources:
The Elite College Students Who Can't Read Books (The Atlantic)
KnowWhyPodcast.com
Why is Anger Unhealthy? Know About Jesus: Interview with Brant Hansen (Part 2) 
Is Social Media Robbing Me of a Richer Life? Know About Healthy Tech Habits: Interview With Dr. Brad East
Does Christmas Have Pagan Origins? Interview with Joshua Barnes 
Did Jesus Prescribe Gender Roles? Know About Jesus: Interview with Dr. Sandra Glahn (Part 2)
Are All Pro-Lifers Religious? Know About Pro-Lifers: Interview With Monica Snyder (Part 1) 

Why Know Why?

Maybe you were raised in church and want to know if there is a reason behind the things you were taught to believe. Maybe you aren’t religious at all, but you’re interested in different perspectives on morality.

No matter where you’re coming from, it’s not enough to know what people say about life’s most important questions. You also want to know why.

Each week, Know Why tackles tough questions on topics ranging from spirituality to current events, with special attention to the issues facing millennials and members of Gen Z.

While we approach these issues from a Christian perspective, we discuss diverse opinions and ultimately dive into what the research says.

The conversations on Know Why are frank and friendly, featuring brief but thorough interviews with a variety of subject-matter experts and interesting people. We hope you find these conversations enjoyable, informative, and relevant to your life.

This is the description area. You can write an introduction or add anything you want to tell your audience. This can help potential listeners better understand and become interested in your podcast. Think about what will motivate them to hit the play button. What is your podcast about? What makes it unique? This is your chance to introduce your podcast and grab their attention.

Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Version: 20241125