The latest Gallup polling shows that rates of patriotism in the United States are at an all time low. Why does that matter? Ahead of America’s 250th anniversary celebration, Liberty argues why you should be patriotic—and what that actually means. Included in this episode: What does patriotism actually mean? Can Christians be patriotic? Should they be? What about when I disapprove of my country or government? The episode ends with a couple of challenges you can implement this weekend as you reflect on the nation’s history this Independence Day. More Resources: American Pride Falls to 25-Year Record Low https://news.gallup.com/poll/711938/american-pride-falls-year-record-low.aspx Bible Verses Mentioned: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A20&version=ESV https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+3%3A17%3B+Proverbs+31%3A9%3B++Proverbs+22%3A22-23%3B+Proverbs+19%3A17%3B+Isaiah+58%3A6-11%3B+Luke+6%3A20-21%3B+Luke+14%3A13-14&version=ESV https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+1%3A17%3B+Psalm+106%3A3%3B+Zechariah+7%3A9%3B+Deuteronomy+16%3A20%3B+Proverbs+29%3A7%3B+&version=ESV Frederick Douglass on American Slavery: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/american-slavery/ Does God Have a Political Party? Interview With Justin Giboney https://knowwhypodcast.com/2023/06/does-god-have-a-political-party/  When Despair Becomes Self-Indulgent (Christianity Today) https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/06/when-despair-becomes-self-indulgent-politics-perspective/

Can Gen Z be effectively evangelized through social media, religious apps, and digital media? In this episode of the Know Why Podcast, Liberty reacts to a recent article by Gen Z writer Freya India on “The Commodification of Christianity.” When using digital tools like short-form videos and apps to reach young adults, Christians should be mindful of how those mediums might be changing the message—and how those on the receiving ends of evangelistic efforts are being formed. In the end, where’s the line between planting a seed to draw someone from social media into a physical church…and planting an obstacle to them ever leaving the internet? More Resources: The Commodification of Christianity https://www.freyaindia.co.uk/p/the-commodification-of-christianity Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business https://www.amazon.com/Amusing-Ourselves-Death-Discourse-Business/dp/014303653X

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