Know Why Podcast

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-Live-LAbri-Anniversary/dp/1581345364

Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1433502208/?bestFormat=true&k=total%20truth%20book&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-bk-v2_k0_1_12_de&crid=2XDVND7YFVESB&sprefix=total%20truth%20

Stand to Reason

https://www.str.org/home 

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 Program Director Matt Trayler talks about...

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

More Resources

https://cbmc.com/ 

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/ 

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: 

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: 

https://thatdougsmith.com/ 

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

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

https://youtu.be/kosxhlxC-WI?si=QJvsjc7rwO1Vh4HW

"Does AI 'Perfection' Harm Our Souls?" With Philip Bunn

https://youtu.be/Zp_fVegLcx0?si=qhxuawgVb4EkwrTO

"What Should Christians Think About the 'Charlie Kirk Effect?'"

https://youtu.be/LuZgzFwcLr8?si=nVX4IAFfRirFILJO

"Neither Trans nor Tradwife: Understanding True Femininity" with Rachel Schroder

https://youtu.be/eVuEz6KKLr8?si=NUAP9zw6sxruGtwK

"Is it Ok to be Mediocre?"

https://youtu.be/rQiFswisHIY?si=KxAamuuCU_ysECGI

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, let us know by emailing [email protected], and let us know what you'd like to see the Know Why Podcast cover in 2026.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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 avoid talking about sex?

Why is biblical marriage described as a covenant between one man and one woman?

What would happen 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

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) accounts for 2 percent of births in the United States, and that percentage is expected to grow. In the U.S., it’s a largely unregulated, multi-billion dollar industry which more and more families are utilizing to form their families.

But there are ethical questions that can’t be ignored, which Liberty explores in this episode, including…

Listen and decide whether you agree that the IVF process as it currently exists is unethical, and comment with your thoughts.

More Resources

The missing fine print on IVF (World Magazine)

https://wng.org/opinions/the-missing-fine-print-on-ivf-1761622557

Championing a little-known IVF alternative (World Magazine)

https://wng.org/roundups/championing-a-little-known-ivf-alternative-1759865267

What I Went Through to Meet My Daughter (The Free Press)

https://www.thefp.com/p/what-i-went-through-to-meet-my-daughter-ivf-fertility

The Next Parenting Trend Starts Before Conception (The New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/opinion/genetics-children-noor-siddiqui.html

Secular Pro-Life Resources on Personhood and IVF

https://secularprolife.org/index/#You_arent_a_person_until

Are All Pro-Lifers Religious? Know About Pro-Lifers (Interview With Monica Snyder, Part 1) (Know Why Podcast)

https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-g8t6t-14893e3

Are All Pro-Lifers Religious? Know About Pro-Lifers (interview With Monica Snyder, Part 2) (Know Why Podcast)

https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-m9ker-1491a02

"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)

Nadya Williams on Substack

The Gospel Comes With a House Key: Practicing Radical Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World by Rosaria Butterfield

Scruffy Hospitality — Google Search

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)

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