Unbelievable?

Luke Martin is joined by Dr Sharon Dirckx, Cambridge-trained brain-imaging scientist and some time Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics speaker, for a wide-ranging conversation on the mind, meaning and what makes us human. Sharon reflects on her journey from biochemistry into fMRI research, including work on addiction, and explains why consciousness remains a “hard problem” for purely material accounts of the mind. They explore the language of “soul”, what Christians do (and don’t) mean by it, and why near-death experiences raise provocative questions about whether we are more than our brains. Sharon, author of Am I Just My Brain? also weighs the cultural shift away from hard reductionism, engages the promise and limits of AI, and argues for a wiser, more disciplined partnership with technology. Finally, the conversation turns to natural suffering and Sharon’s book Broken Planet, offering a grounded Christian framework for pain, hope and healing.

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Recorded at Aylesbury High School, Sam McKee hosts a lively Unbelievable? Podcast schools debate on one of life’s biggest questions: are we really free? Cambridge PhD researcher Matthew Su and Oxford philosopher of mind Amna Whiston go head-to-head on libertarian free will, determinism, and compatibilism and why it matters for moral responsibility, justice, and everyday choices. Can hunger, habit, upbringing, or neuroscience quietly steer our decisions? Are we “puppets” of biology, or genuinely authors of our actions? The conversation ranges from courtroom judgment and temptation to mental health, personhood, and whether AI and “philosophical zombies” help or hinder the case for human agency. Expect sharp definitions, real-world examples, and brilliant student questions starting @33:34 mins in.

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In February 2012 Sofia Europa sponsored a discussion between Richard Dawkins and Rowan Williams, the then-Archbishop of Canterbury, on the question of Human Nature and Our Ultimate Origins. The discussion was chaired by agnostic Prof Sir Anthony Kenny. It is broadcast here in full.

For the full discussion watch on YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bow4nnh1Wv0

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Why isn’t God more obvious? In this episode of Premier Unbelievable, host John Nelson is joined by Dan Paterson (Questioning Christianity) and Joe Schmid (agnostic philosopher; Princeton doctoral researcher and youtuber at Majesty of Reason) to tackle the argument from divine hiddenness. If a perfectly loving God exists, why are there sincere seekers who still can’t believe, and why does God sometimes feel silent in suffering? They unpack J.L. Schellenberg’s formulation, debate deductive vs evidential versions, and explore whether cultural demographics, religious diversity, and tragedy point towards naturalism or theism. Dan argues Christianity has ancient resources for hiddenness; Joe presses the evidential weight of silence. Listen for Pascal, conscience, and the cross, and share where you land in the comments.

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​Christianity is back in the conversation, and Dr Andrew Ollerton thinks it’s more than a moment. In this episode of Premier Unbelievable? The Interview, Luke Martin sits down with the Bible Society theologian, pastor, and creator of The Bible Course to explore the “Quiet Revival” and why Gen Z (and big-name podcasters) are re-opening the Bible.

Andrew introduces his new book, God’s Book: An Honest Look at the Bible , and tackles the seven toughest topics readers stumble over: credibility, Genesis and science, Old Testament violence, slavery, and alleged sexism. With clarity and warmth, he argues for reading Scripture “in context, in Christ, and in community” and why faith isn’t trust in a text alone, but in a person.

If you’re curious, sceptical, or stuck, this conversation will help you lean in, not shut the book.

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What does Christian political witness look like in a plural, polarized democracy and should Christians ever aim for a “Christian nation”?

In this episode of Premier Unbelievable?, John Nelson hosts a frank and high-stakes conversation on Christian nationalism, secularism, and the future of liberal democracy.

Doug Wilson, pastor of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, argues that nations are moral agents accountable to God, and defends a vision he calls “theocratic libertarianism”—limited government, but explicitly Christian moral foundations.

Dr. Michael Bird, biblical scholar and Anglican priest, agrees politics is never neutral—but warns that certain models of Christian nationalism risk disenfranchising minorities, repeating Europe’s religious conflicts, and undermining the freedom required for genuine faith.

From immigration and pluralism to abortion, marriage, and religious liberty, this conversation asks:

Can secularism actually protect Christian society?Who gets full civic rights in a “Christian republic”?Is Christian nationalism a renewal of moral order—or a road to coercion?How should Jesus’ model of leadership reshape political ambition?Join us as we dive into one of the most contested questions in public Christianity today.

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From the Archives: How should Christians understand the Adam & Eve story in Genesis? Is it scientifically plausible that humanity can be traced back to a first human couple? What does it mean for the concept of ‘Original Sin’?

These and more questions are discussed by Christian philosopher William Lane Craig, author of the new book ‘In Quest of the Historical Adam’, and computational biologist Joshua Swamidass, author of ‘The Genealogical Adam & Eve’.

At the end of the show, Ruth Jackson talks to Tim Moyler about the evangelistic resource ‘Living & Telling’.

First Aired: 13 August 2021

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Daily Wire co-founder Jeremy Boreing joins John Nelson for a wide-ranging conversation about media, power and faith in a post-Christian West. Boreing describes how Hollywood sharpened his convictions and why The Daily Wire was designed as a digital counterweight to legacy media. They unpack how culture shapes belief beneath the level of argument, and why entertainment can move public morality faster than politics. Boreing addresses the seductions of influence, the “grift” economy, and the danger of Christianity being reduced to a tribal marker in the culture wars. The discussion ranges from Trump and evangelicalism to conspiracy thinking, antisemitism, and the rise of illiberal “Christ is King” rhetoric. Finally, Boreing explains why he stepped back from leadership and reveals his passion project: Rise of the Merlin an ambitious adaptation of Lawhead’s Pendragon Cycle

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What if the biggest debates about marriage, gender, and family have been framed around the wrong people?

In this eye-opening conversation, Luke Martin is joined by Katy Faust, Founder and President of Them Before Us, a global movement arguing that children not adults should be at the centre of family policy and cultural change. Katy challenges some of the most deeply held assumptions of modern life, asking what happens when adult fulfilment is prioritised over the rights and needs of the young.

The show explores the differences between men and women, why mothers and fathers matter in distinct ways, and how feminism, divorce, and church leadership shape children’s lives. Luke and Katy do not shy away here from today’s most controversial issues - gay marriage, surrogacy, IVF, sperm and egg donation, and the claim that “love makes a family.” Drawing on natural law, social science, and lived experience, Katy makes a powerful case that marriage and family are first matters of justice for children. Her book Them Before Us: Why We Need a Global Children’s Rights Movement (Post Hill Press, 2021), co-authored with Stacy Manning, expands this argument in depth.

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Premier Unbelievable host John Nelson gathers a lively roundtable to ask a timely question: what’s the current state of Christian apologetics—and where should it go next? Scientist and historian of science Sam McKee (University of Reading / Manchester Metropolitan) argues that apologetics often lags decades behind today’s life sciences, too easily dominated by creationist “marketing machines”, and too quick to platform non-experts as authorities.

Joining him are Northern Irish apologist and civil servant Gareth Black, OCCA speaker and war studies postgraduate Sara Stevenson, and US-based YouTuber Mike Jones (Inspiring Philosophy). Together they wrestle with expertise, overreach, and epistemic humility—alongside the promise of friendship, local church discipleship, and better science communication.

Is the “conflict” narrative between science and faith finally fading? And what might a more relational, Bible-shaped apologetics look like in 2026?

0:00 – Apologetics After New Atheism

0:46 – Meet the Panel (Science + Faith)

4:06 – Science Problem in Christian Apologetics

5:12 – Genetics & Biology Revolution (CRISPR, AlphaFold)

7:43 – Creationism vs Science: Why It Hurts Faith

8:33 – Why Students Leave Church (Science vs Faith)

9:44 – Faraday Institute: Elite Christian Scientists

11:10 – Stop Platforming Non-Experts

13:16 – Genesis 1: Literalism vs Context

15:47 – Science vs Religion “War” Myth

18:45 – Social Media Apologetics: Pros & Cons

21:18 – Flat Earth Theology & Conspiracy Drift

28:02 – C.S. Lewis: “Christianity Latent”

31:06 – Apologetics Echo Chamber (Same Arguments)

35:41 – Elite Apologists vs Everyday Christians

39:49 – Christianity Built Civilization (Sociology)

46:40 – Friendship Model Apologetics (Community)

52:54 – Debates, Revival & Future Strategy

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