Discovery Institute Podcast

Comedian Evan Sayet on the Failure of the Atheist Origin Myth

Discovery Institute — 13 June 2026, 5:41 am

On this classic ID The Future out of the vault, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes comedian and author Evan Sayet to the podcast to discuss the failure of the atheist origin myth, his journey from liberalism to conservatism, and the role of humor in the scientific debate. His latest book, Magic Soup, Typing Monkeys, and Horny Aliens From Outer Space, takes a cuttingly humorous approach to dismantling the origin myths promoted by atheists to explain away the evidence for design in life and the universe. Philosopher of science Dr. Stephen Meyer calls Sayet's book “a rambunctious romp...With his trademark humor, Sayet exposes the absurdities of the materialist superstition of our age.”

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How Muscle Function Demonstrates Nested Irreducible Complexity

Discovery Institute — 11 June 2026, 12:19 am

Today on ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his conversation with Dr. Robert Waltzer about the amazing molecular machinery and systems that allow muscles to generate force and movement. How do microscopic structures help us move large objects in real time? In Part 2, Dr. Waltzer explores the remarkable molecular engineering required for nanometer-scale molecules to move massive bodies. He explains that muscle function actually involves constant microscopic damage as tiny proteins are strained far beyond their physical capacities. To prevent total failure, Waltzer says muscles operate like a plane being fixed while it's flying, utilizing specialized detection and signaling systems to replace large proteins at an astonishing rate: sometimes as frequently as every 25 seconds! Waltzer unpacks key structures in muscle, including the intricate Z-disk that functions like a biological shock absorber or mattress box spring. Waltzer argues that the extreme order and nested irreducible complexity found in these systems defy unguided evolutionary explanations. Instead, the sophistication, coordination, and complexity of muscle function points to intelligent design as a more adequate explanation. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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The Genius-Level Engineering Solutions in Muscle

Discovery Institute — 8 June 2026, 10:22 pm

Every movement you make—walking across a room, lifting a cup of coffee, even blinking your eyes—depends on trillions of microscopic molecular machines working in remarkable coordination. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid begins exploring the hidden machinery of muscle with Dr. Robert Waltzer, professor of biology at Belhaven University and longtime researcher and lecturer on intelligent design. First, Dr. Waltzer takes us to right to the microscopic heart of muscle. Then he explains how muscle solves the formidable engineering challenge of repairing and replacing damaged muscle components in real time. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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Dr. Scott Minnich on the Real Science Behind E. coli “Evolution”

Discovery Institute — 6 June 2026, 12:53 am

Evolutionary biologist Richard Lenski hopes to demonstrate Darwinian evolution in action. But one humble scientist from Northern Idaho says not so fast! On this classic episode of ID The Future from the archive, host Eric Anderson concludes a conversation with microbiologist Dr. Scott Minnich. In Part 2, Dr. Minnich critiques Lenski's famous Long Term Evolutionary Experiments. Through experiments of his own, Minnich has shown how the practical results of Lenski's project on E. coli are easily repeatable under different conditions, and how some key changes to E. coli are even reversible, both of which speak more to an organism's pre-existing capabilities than to a Darwinian explanation. "Overall, [Lenski's] E. coli haven't generated anything new," observes Minnich. "They're getting rid of stuff they don't need...they have hyper mutational rates...but in the long run, that's not an advantage, because you're just going to acquire too many mutations, and that's the road to extinction."

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A Dose of Engineering Realism Over AI Hype

Discovery Institute — 4 June 2026, 3:45 am

ID The Future listeners now get to enjoy two episodes each month from our sister podcast Mind Matters News, a production of the Discovery Institute’s Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence. The Mind Matters News podcast brings you insight from computer scientists, engineers, inventors, neurosurgeons, and other experts who bring sanity to the conversation about natural and artificial intelligence, going beyond the hype to explore the undercurrents of these important ideas. And although the Mind Matters News podcast will not often explicitly discuss intelligent design, it regularly explores the nature of intelligence, the origin of information, and the things that make us uniquely human, all concepts that are central to the theory of intelligent design. Enjoy today’s offering of Mind Matters News! The hype around AI is reaching fever pitch these days. But never mind predictions of future AI potential. What can it actually do and not do today? On this episode of the Mind Matters News podcast, host Robert J. Marks welcomes Dr. Donald C. Wunsch II to the show for a long-form, wide-ranging conversation about what AI can actually do today—and the very real risks and responsibilities that come with it.

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Donald Wunsch on the Limits of AI and Why It Matters

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 4 June 2026, 3:32 am

The hype around AI is reaching fever pitch these days. But never mind predictions of future AI potential. What can it actually do and not do today? On this episode of the Mind Matters News podcast, host Robert J. Marks welcomes Dr. Donald C. Wunsch II to the show for a long-form, wide-ranging conversation about what AI can actually do today—and the very real risks and responsibilities that come with it.

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Aliens Would Only Strengthen the Case for Intelligent Design

Discovery Institute — 1 June 2026, 11:46 pm

Aliens are trending right now. At least the topic of alien life. It’s in the news, it’s in our movie theaters, and even the U.S. government is getting in on the action as it releases troves of documents related to unexplained phenomena and the search for extraterrestrial life. But here’s a question that isn’t getting explored as much as others: If we do find alien life, will that alien life support the case for intelligent design or an evolutionary origin of life? On this episode of ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes Dr. Casey Luskin to the show to discuss this intriguing topic and the implications for intelligent design and evolution.

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A Microbiologist’s Journey to Intelligent Design

Discovery Institute — 30 May 2026, 1:38 am

On this classic episode of ID The Future out of the vault, host Eric Anderson sits down with microbiologist Dr. Scott Minnich to discover what led him to microbiology and how he became an intelligent design researcher. In Part 1, Minnich shares how he first learned about intelligent design, met philosopher of science Dr. Stephen Meyer, and eventually became involved in the well-known documentary, Unlocking the Mystery of Life. Minnich also reflects on his childhood upbringing and his interest in the big questions even as a high school student. His plans for an eventual military career took a turn as a result of the Vietnam War, and he began studying history and sociology instead. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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Testing the Truth: Nancy Pearcey on Worldview and Reality

Discovery Institute — 27 May 2026, 10:02 pm

On today's episode of ID The Future, we’re sharing a conversation with author, speaker, and professor Nancy Pearcey that originally aired on the eX-skeptic Podcast. Before Pearcey became one of the leading Christian voices engaging questions about worldview, intelligent design, evolution, and scientific materialism, she walked away from Christianity altogether. In this candid interview, Pearcey reflects on her journey through atheism, relativism, and Eastern spirituality before ultimately rediscovering Christianity as a worldview capable of explaining both reality and human dignity.

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Why the Human Body Outperforms the Best Human Engineering

Discovery Institute — 25 May 2026, 1:15 pm

Designing an Olympic bicycle requires the very best materials and lubricants. And the smallest of engineering choices can make the difference between winning and losing the race. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid speaks with award-winning British engineer and designer Stuart Burgess. This time, the topic is his engineering work as lead transmission designer on the Olympic bikes used by Team Great Britain in the last three summer Olympic Games. Burgess reveals that the human body boasts a level of engineering that far surpasses the best things humans have been able to engineer. This optimal design in living things points to intelligent design instead of an evolutionary origin for life.

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The Story of a Self-Taught Maverick Scientist

Discovery Institute — 22 May 2026, 11:41 pm

Curiosity can lead to unexpected adventures. For self-taught scientist Forrest Mims, it inspired a successful career in science and technology that continues to this day. On this classic ID The Future out of the vault, host Andrew McDiarmid reads an exclusive excerpt from Mims’s memoir Maverick Scientist: My Adventures as an Amateur Scientist.

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Rebutting Multiverses, Meta Laws, and Other Materialist Answers to Fine-Tuning

Discovery Institute — 20 May 2026, 11:59 pm

If a friend, family member, or colleague lodges an objection to the fine-tuning argument for intelligent design, are you ready to respond? On this installment of ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his two-part conversation with philosopher and intelligent design scholar Peter S. Williams. Williams reviews the most common objections to the fine-tuning arguments for intelligent design and explains why each proposal falls short scientifically, logically, and philosophically. Who knew there were over 20 objections to fine-tuning? Even host McDiarmid admits he didn't know about all of them! The more well-versed you are in responding to objections, the better you'll be able to stand your ground and offer substantive arguments when you hear them pop up. In Part 1, Williams and McDiarmid reviewing two groups of objections: the "fine-tuning isn't real" set and the "fine-tuning is real but no big deal" group. Today, Williams unpacks several objections related to the multiverse and shows why each one fails to adequately explain the fine-tuning evidence. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Defending Fine-Tuning: How to Respond to Common Objections

Discovery Institute — 18 May 2026, 6:39 pm

By now, you may be familiar with the fine-tuning argument for intelligent design. Scientists have discovered a whole suite of parameters and initial conditions appear to be exquisitely tuned to allow for complex life to exist, and the argument is that intelligent design better explains that evidence than chance or necessity. But you may not know the most common objections to the fine-tuning argument, or how to respond to them. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes philosopher and intelligent design scholar Peter S. Williams to the show to equip us to answer the most common objections to the fine-tuning argument. Objections to fine-tuning typically fall into three categories: the "fine-tuning isn't real" bunch, the "fine-tuning is no big deal" group, and objections that posit a type of multiverse proposal. Over two episodes, Peter teaches us how to respond to almost 20 objections! So buckle up! This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation!

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Timothy S. Goeglein on Restoring a Legacy of Faith, Freedom, and Family

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 18 May 2026, 11:47 am

The United States is in a cultural crisis. Our young are experiencing unprecedented levels of mental illness. Family structures are crumbling with out-of-wedlock births increasing while, at the same time, the number of children being born is decreasing. Some worry about masculinity under attack while others believe that “toxic masculinity” is the cause of most problems. Many are even worried Read More ›

Strategic Design: A Fighter Pilot on Military Readiness and Excellence

Discovery Institute — 15 May 2026, 10:04 pm

Major General Bobby Hollingsworth had a distinguished 38-year career as a U.S. Marine fighter pilot and in leadership roles including commanding the Marine Corps Reserve Support Command and serving as vice commander of Marine forces in the Pacific. After retiring, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to lead the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. In this full-length interview with Mind Matters News host Robert J. Marks, Hollingsworth shares his life journey from dairy farm to fighter pilot, his perspective on the current state of U.S. military preparedness and leadership, and his insight into the evolution of military technology throughout his career.

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Peace Through Strength: A U.S. Marine Shares His Story

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 15 May 2026, 9:48 pm

Major General Bobby Hollingsworth had a distinguished 38-year career as a U.S. Marine fighter pilot and in leadership roles including commanding the Marine Corps Reserve Support Command and serving as vice commander of Marine forces in the Pacific. After retiring, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to lead the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. In this full-length interview with host Robert J. Marks, Hollingsworth shares his life journey from dairy farm to fighter pilot, his perspective on the current state of U.S. military preparedness and leadership, and his insight into the evolution of military technology throughout his career.

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How to Restore Sanity to Scientific Debates

Discovery Institute — 13 May 2026, 11:02 pm

Everywhere you turn, you’re likely to see evidence of error in thinking, and the realm of science is no exception. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his conversation with J. Budziszewski, a professor of government, philosophy, and civic leadership at the University of Texas at Austin and author of the new book Pandemic of Lunacy: How to Think Clearly When Everyone Around You Seems Crazy. In his book, Budziszewski identifies thirty irrational ideas that are prevalent in modern society. He argues that many people have abandoned common sense and objectivity, leading to a cloud of confusion regarding human nature, science, and morality. In Part 2, we jump into more lunacies relevant to the scientific debates around human beings, biological life, and design in nature.

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Reclaiming Common Sense in a Pandemic of Lunacy

Discovery Institute — 12 May 2026, 12:45 am

Bad ideas have consequences. We don't have to look far to see evidence of it. Every day the news headlines are filled with conflicting versions of the same story. Biological facts are treated as “opinions,” logic is labeled as “hate,” and to speak up for common sense is seen as a revolutionary act. We're seeing this in every area of life, including science. So what's going on? How can we get back to clear thinking and respectful discourse? Helping us answer those questions today is J. Budziszewski, a professor of government, philosophy, and civic leadership at the University of Texas at Austin and author of the new book Pandemic of Lunacy: How to Think Clearly When Everyone Around You Seems Crazy. In his book, Professor Budziszewski patiently explains 30 delusions that beset us in the modern age. Ranging over the topics of morality and happiness, politics and science, family and sexuality, the real and the unreal, and God and religion, Budziszewski makes the case for sanity in accessible, commonsense language. In Part 1 of the conversation, we start zooming into some of the bad ideas that are specifically relevant to science and the arguments for intelligent design. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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The Humble Origins of the Big Bang Theory

Discovery Institute — 9 May 2026, 12:29 am

The Big Bang theory changed how we understand our universe. But who do we have to thank for it? On this classic ID The Future out of our archive, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his conversation with esteemed cosmologist Jean-Pierre Luminet, who sets the record straight on the real heroes of the Big Bang Theory with his book The Big Bang Revolutionaries, available from Discovery Institute Press. In Part 2, Dr. Luminet begins by shedding more light on Georges Lemaitre, the Big Bang theory's chief architect. Lemaitre demonstrated a rare humility, concerned more with pursuing an accurate understanding of the universe than with who got credit for the theory. Luminet explains why it took so long for scientists to accept Lemaitre's theory over other competing theories of universal origins. Luminet also shares insight into two other architects of the Big Bang theory - Russian physicist Alexander Friedmann and Russian-American physicist and cosmologist George Gamow.

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How Changing Your Mind Can Physically Alter Your Brain

Discovery Institute — 7 May 2026, 6:11 am

Is it possible to personally alter the physical structure of your brain? Today’s episode of ID The Future comes to us from our sister podcast Mind Matters News. Host Dr. Michael Egnor sits down with fellow neurosurgeon and author Dr. Lee Warren to discuss his book The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery. Dr. Warren shares how his medical training and Christian faith collided after the tragic loss of his son. The experience helped him realize that the mind is more than just brain activity. Dr. Warren unpacks the main thrust of his book, describing self-brain surgery as the intentional practice of choosing different thoughts to physically change the brain’s structure and improve overall health. Dr. Warren has observed the effects of such self-driven change in real-time brain scans, which deliver positive results like reducing the body’s stress response and promoting healing.

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Change Your Mind, Restructure Your Brain

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 6 May 2026, 5:00 pm

Is it possible to personally alter the physical structure of your brain? On today's Mind Matters News, host Dr. Michael Egnor sits down with fellow neurosurgeon and author Dr. Lee Warren to discuss his book The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery. Dr. Warren shares how his medical training and Christian faith collided after the tragic loss of his son. The experience helped him realize that the mind is more than just brain activity. Dr. Warren unpacks the main thrust of his book, describing self-brain surgery as the intentional practice of choosing different thoughts to physically change the brain’s structure and improve overall health. Dr. Warren has observed the effects of such self-driven change in real-time brain scans, which deliver positive results like reducing the body's stress response and promoting healing. Learn how you can alter your brain and bring about lasting positive change in your life.

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Composing the Cosmos: Scoring The Story of Everything

Discovery Institute — 4 May 2026, 7:57 pm

One thing that makes the new documentary film The Story of Everything so stunning is the inspired musical score written for it. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes composer, producer, and arranger Hannah Parrott to discuss her experiencing of putting the cosmos to music, from the farthest galaxies to the inner recesses of the cell. The movie, showing in theaters for one week only (April 30 - May 6, 2026) is a cinematic exploration of the cosmos that unpacks three scientific discoveries of the last century that reveal mind and purpose behind the universe. In this conversation, Hannah explains why she loves the medium of film music and gives us a glimpse into her process of creating music for The Story of Everything. She says music can bypass analytical thinking to reach a viewer's emotional core. She also values that the music she writes is able to work together with the visuals to create a lasting impression: "And it's just this overload of experiencing the story on every visceral level you can," Hannah notes. "And I think music is a huge part of that and works in tandem as this choir of voices telling the same story."

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The Real Heroes of the Big Bang Revolution

Discovery Institute — 1 May 2026, 7:44 pm

The discovery that the universe had a beginning was one of the most remarkable scientific achievements of the last century, and that story is told cinematically in the new movie The Story of Everything. The developments sparked a cosmological paradigm shift and a radical new way to understand our world. But the three scientists most responsible for the big bang revolution are largely unknown to the public and underestimated by other scientists in their field. On this ID The Future out of the vault, host Andrew McDiarmid begins a conversation with esteemed cosmologist Jean-Pierre Luminet, who sets the record straight on the real heroes of the Big Bang Theory with his book The Big Bang Revolutionaries, published by Discovery Institute Press. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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Using the Logic of Surprise to Infer Cosmic Design

Discovery Institute — 30 April 2026, 12:14 am

On a hike, you stumble upon a seemingly abandoned cabin in the woods. When you walk in, you notice a steaming cup of tea sitting on the table. On the hypothesis that the cabin is deserted, the tea would be shockingly surprising. But on the hypothesis that the cabin is inhabited, not so much. How does this little story illuminate the case for intelligent design? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid speaks with Dr. Timothy McGrew, one of the experts featured in the new movie The Story of Everything. The movie is a cinematic exploration of the scientific evidence for a mind behind the universe. Based on Dr. Stephen Meyer’s 2021 book Return of the God Hypothesis, The Story of Everything brings the evidence for intelligent design to life through stunning footage, cutting-edge animation, and engaging interviews with over 20 scientists and scholars.

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Finding God Through Science: Astrophysicist Sarah Salviander

Discovery Institute — 27 April 2026, 10:02 pm

On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes astrophysicist Dr. Sarah Salviander, one of the experts featured in the new movie The Story of Everything. The movie, opening April 30, 2026 in theaters, is a cinematic exploration of the cosmos that traces the evidence for intelligent design from the precise laws that govern the stars to the intricate structures found in every living cell. Salviander recounts how her scientific research led her to question and eventually reject the atheism of her youth. She also details her experience being interviewed for the movie and reviews some of the evidence for intelligent design that she helps present in the film. Salviander was raised in a strictly secular home and had no Read More ›

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Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Sr. on His Life and the Importance of America’s Founding Principles

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 27 April 2026, 8:07 am

In our badly fractured society, can public servants and politicians act with decency and argue about policy with restraint and dignity? We believe the answer is yes, and so Wesley invited a man on the show who epitomizes such virtues to talk about his varied career and the importance of the nation’s founding principles. Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., MD, Read More ›

Michael Denton: How the Universe is Uniquely Fit for Life

Discovery Institute — 25 April 2026, 12:03 am

Did you know the ID The Future episode archive stretches back 20 years? Chances are, you've missed a few! So every Friday, we pull a gem out of the vault and air it anew. On this episode of ID the Future that first aired in 2012, Casey Luskin sits down with Dr. Michael Denton, a senior fellow of Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture who holds a PhD in biochemistry. Denton is the author of Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, which has been credited with influencing both Phillip Johnson and Michael Behe, as well as Nature's Destiny: How the Laws of Biology Reveal Purpose in the Universe, which elaborates on the evidence of design in nature. In this exchange, Luksin and Denton discuss the ways in which the universe is uniquely fit for carbon-based life, and perhaps even human life. Denton argues that when it comes to evidence of fine-tuning in the universe, the more you look, the more you find. Tune in to discover what he has found that has led him to the inference that our world is intelligently designed.

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Why Neo-Darwinism Can’t Take the Credit for Design of Life

Discovery Institute — 22 April 2026, 10:30 pm

If life is built on complex molecular machines and information that is both complex AND specified, can unguided evolution actually get the credit? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes a two-part conversation with molecular biologist Dr. Douglas Axe and biochemist Dr. Michael Behe, two experts featured in the new movie The Story of Everything. Over two episodes Axe and Behe are discussing their participation in the movie and unpacking some of the insights they share in it. And you'll enjoy more exclusive clips from the movie too!

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Biologists: Cell is Factory Complex of Engineered Design

Discovery Institute — 20 April 2026, 9:44 pm

You might find this hard to believe, but back in Charles Darwin’s day, the cell was thought of as little more than a piece of jelly. Thomas Henry Huxley called it a “simple, homogenous globule of undifferentiated protoplasm.” But today, thanks to discoveries in molecular biology, we’ve discovered the cell is something far more astonishing. And that begs a crucial question: if the cell is infinitely more than Darwin envisioned, can a Darwinian process really explain its origin, and how it came to produce the diversity we see in life? On today's ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid begins a two-part conversation with molecular biologist Dr. Douglas Axe and biochemist Dr. Michael Behe, two experts featured in the new movie The Story of Everything. Over two episodes they'll discuss their participation in the movie and unpack some of the insights they share in it. We're also sharing some exclusive clips from the movie!

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Mirror Neurons, Consciousness, and an Irreducible Self

Discovery Institute — 18 April 2026, 1:28 am

On this episode, Mind Matters News host Dr. Robert J. Marks welcomes Dr. Mihretu Guta to discuss one of his chapters in the volume Minding the Brain titled “Mirror Neurons, Consciousness, and the Bearer Question.” Dr. Guta discusses the concept of “mirror neurons” – a type of brain cell that fires when a person observes an action being performed, as well as when the person performs the same action themselves. The properties of these neurons suggest they may play a role in empathy and understanding others’ actions. Dr. Guta explores the implications of mirror neurons to the mind-brain debate and how further study could illuminate these fascinating neural components.

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Mirror Neurons and the Philosophy of Mind

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 18 April 2026, 1:02 am

On this bingecast episode of Mind Matters News, host Dr. Robert J. Marks welcomes to the podcast Dr. Mihretu Guta to discuss one of his chapters in the volume Minding the Brain titled “Mirror Neurons, Consciousness, and the Bearer Question.” Dr. Guta discusses the concept of “mirror neurons” – a type of brain cell that fires when a person observes an action being performed, as well as when the person performs the same action themselves. The properties of these neurons suggest they may play a role in empathy and understanding others’ actions. Dr. Guta explores the implications of mirror neurons to the mind-brain debate and how further study could illuminate these fascinating neural components.

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Physicist Brian Miller on The Story of Everything

Discovery Institute — 16 April 2026, 5:42 am

By now you might have heard about The Story of Everything, the new movie based on Dr. Stephen Meyer’s book Return of the God Hypothesis. It’s a cinematic exploration of the cosmos that reveals the hidden hand behind our universe. We’re pretty excited about it, and we want you to be able to share in the excitement too! On this ID The Future, CSC Education & Outreach Director Daniel Reeves chats with physicist Dr. Brian Miller about his participation in the movie and why the film is such a powerful presentation of the evidence for intelligent design.

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Eric Esau on Directing The Story of Everything

Discovery Institute — 13 April 2026, 7:46 pm

NASA’s recent Artemis II mission pushed the limits of human possibility with a record-breaking crewed trip to the moon. Movies like Project Hail Mary and Disclosure Day are exploring the intriguing idea of extraterrestrial life. The U.S. government promises to release a trove of UFO data in the near future. It’s a great time to be asking the big questions about the universe! On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes Eric Esau to the show to discuss his latest film, The Story of Everything, a cinematic exploration of the scientific evidence for a mind behind the universe. The film brings the arguments of Dr. Stephen Meyer’s book Return of the God Hypothesis to life through stunning footage and Read More ›

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Did First Life Come From Space? Not Likely, Says Astrobiologist

Discovery Institute — 11 April 2026, 12:32 am

On today’s classic ID the Future out of the vault, astrobiologist Guillermo Gonzalez and host Casey Luskin discuss the idea of undirected panspermia. Gonzalez explains the basic idea and what the best current evidence says about its plausibility. The occasion is his chapter on panspermia in the anthology The Comprehensive Guide to Science and Faith, co-edited by Casey Luskin, associate director of Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture. Undirected panspermia is the idea that the first life on our planet came from outer space, carried by chance processes from a faraway living planet on space dust, asteroids, or comets either from within our solar system, or from another star system to here. The idea of panspermia was inspired by the extreme difficulty of satisfactorily explaining the chance origin of life on planet Earth. Two of the idea’s earliest proponents, Gonzalez notes, were the scientists Lord Kelvin and Svante Arrhenius, each with a different take. Gonzalez argues that our increasing knowledge about the conditions of interstellar space renders the idea of life successfully hitchhiking around trillions of miles and millions of years from a faraway star system to our big blue marble unlikely in the extreme.

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Evolving Rights? Darwinism’s Impact on American Life and Government

Discovery Institute — 8 April 2026, 9:26 pm

The Declaration of Independence is our nation’s founding creed, reminding us time and again that “we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights.” But for too long now, science has been misused to overturn the ideas found in our nation’s founding principles. Is there hope for recovering these truths anew? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid is joined again by Dr. John West to conclude a discussion about West's latest book Endowed By Our Creator: The Bible, Science, and the Battle for America’s Soul. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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How Science Affirms America’s Founding Creed

Discovery Institute — 7 April 2026, 12:44 am

For generations, the hallowed words of the Declaration of Independence that we are endowed by a Creator with certain unalienable rights has inspired not only Americans, but millions around the globe. Yet today, many Americans are skeptical or confused about the Declaration’s key claims. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes Dr. John West to the podcast to begin a discussion about his latest book Endowed By Our Creator: The Bible, Science, and the Battle for America’s Soul. In Part 1, West reviews key words and phrases from the Declaration of Independence to reveal what the founders really meant by them and how they the words were shaped by the philosophical, theological, and scientific consensus of the day.

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Uncovering the Hidden Mathematical Structure of the Universe

Discovery Institute — 3 April 2026, 10:03 pm

Do humans project mathematical order onto nature? Or was it there all along? On this classic ID The Future from the vault, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his three-part conversation with Dr. Melissa Cain Travis about her book Thinking God’s Thoughts: Johannes Kepler and the Miracle of Cosmic Comprehensibility. In Part 3, we look at how Kepler's ideas and work can inform the scientific enterprise today. This is Part 3 of a 3-part discussion.

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Science, God, and Truth: Michael Shermer and Michael Egnor

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 2 April 2026, 12:31 am

On this episode of the Mind Matters News podcast, host and neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor welcomes Michael Shermer, historian of science and founder of Skeptic magazine, to discuss Shermer’s new book Truth: What It Is, How to Find It, and Why It Still Matters. The conversation quickly evolves into a deep philosophical debate between Egnor and Shermer over whether truths about morality and the universe are created by humans or discovered as objective features of reality.

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Egnor vs. Shermer: God, Science, and the Search for Truth

Discovery Institute — 1 April 2026, 8:14 pm

ID The Future listeners now get to enjoy two episode a month from our sister podcast Mind Matters News, a production of the Discovery Institute’s Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence. The Mind Matters News podcast features interviews from experts in computing, engineering, science, and philosophy who bring sanity to the conversation about natural and artificial intelligence. And although the Mind Matters News podcast will not often explicitly discuss intelligent design, it regularly explores the nature of intelligence, the origin of information, and the things that make us uniquely human, concepts that are central to the theory of intelligent design. On this episode of Mind Matters News, host and neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor welcomes Michael Shermer, historian of science and founder of Skeptic magazine, to discuss Shermer's new book Truth: What It Is, How to Find It, and Why It Still Matters. The conversation quickly evolves into a deep philosophical debate between Egnor and Shermer over whether truths about morality and the universe are created by humans or discovered as objective features of reality.

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The Cultural Mythology and Scientific Frailty of Darwinism

Discovery Institute — 30 March 2026, 8:07 pm

Why has Darwin’s theory of evolution succeeded so dramatically? The official story, of course, is that it provides a sweeping and complete explanation of the development of life on Earth, with the claim that it’s rock solid because it’s grounded in an abundance of evidence. But when we take a closer look at that official story, we see that it actually resembles more of a myth, a legendary origin story that has been championed and propped up successfully for over 160 years. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid treats you to a reading from False Messiah, a book by Neil Thomas recently published by Discovery Institute Press. The book provides valuable insight around the mythology of Darwinism as well as the mythical figure of Charles Darwin himself. To help us understand why Darwinism has persisted for so long, it’s helpful to take a closer look at the forces that moved it forward and upheld it, lest we be tempted to think it has succeed purely on the strength of its scientific arguments.

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Kepler’s Pursuit of a Mathematical Cosmology

Discovery Institute — 27 March 2026, 10:14 pm

Why is the cosmos intellectually accessible to us? On this classic ID The Future from vault, host Andrew McDiarmid continues his conversation with Dr. Melissa Cain Travis about her book Thinking God’s Thoughts: Johannes Kepler and the Miracle of Cosmic Comprehensibility. In Part 2, Travis illuminates Kepler's university years to show us how his study of mathematics and astronomy complemented his interest in theology. We learn about obstacles he overcame during his education and how an unexpected appointment to assist imperial mathematician Tycho Brahe jump-started his career as an astronomer and gave him the tools he needed to develop and advance his revolutionary ideas. Travis unpacks Kepler's major works, from Mysterium Cosmographicum to his magnum opus Harmonices Mundi. She also tracks for us the progression of Kepler's ideas to show us how he became a key figure in the transition from ancient astronomy to a true celestial physics. This is Part 2 of a 3-part discussion.

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Fossil Feuds and Scientific Secrecy

Discovery Institute — 25 March 2026, 6:41 pm

How do you separate the facts from the narrative? That can be challenging these days, and the realm of science is no exception. On this ID The Future, enjoy the second half of a conversation with Dr. Casey Luskin that originally aired on the Come Let Us Reason Together Podcast hosted by Lenny Esposito. Casey discusses the growing controversy surrounding Sahelanthropus tchadensis, a fossil often described as one of the earliest human ancestors. But what began as a celebrated evolutionary discovery has now sparked open disagreement among evolutionary scientists themselves. In this concluding segment, Casey will discuss the telling researcher-to-specimen imbalance in the field of paleoanthropology, the nuance between error and deception in human origins narratives, and the broader implications of the controversy around the Sahelanthropus fossil. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Missing Links or Media Hype? Navigating the Politics of Human Origins

Discovery Institute — 23 March 2026, 8:25 pm

Science is a very human enterprise, and very human problems can color scientific research as well as the narratives cast around findings and results. On this ID The Future, we’re bringing you the first half of a conversation with Dr. Casey Luskin that originally aired on the Come Let Us Reason Together Podcast hosted by Lenny Esposito. Casey discusses the growing controversy surrounding Sahelanthropus tchadensis, a fossil often described as one of the earliest human ancestors. But what began as a celebrated evolutionary discovery has now sparked open disagreement among evolutionary scientists themselves. In this segment, Casey reviews the history of paleoanthropology, what the field is trying to prove about human origins, and how language, bias, politics, prestige, and funding pressure all play a part in how discoveries are framed and evidence is weighed. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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Jan Jekielek on China’s Forced Organ Harvesting Atrocity

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 23 March 2026, 12:30 pm

In one of the great atrocities in human history, Chinese political prisoners are tissue-typed and later murdered and harvested to supply the country’s thriving organ transplant black market. How long have regime enemies been so targeted and how does the system work? For years, that has been difficult to discern fully. China is one of the world’s most secretive societies Read More ›

Why Logic and Cognition Set Us Apart from Machines

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 21 March 2026, 1:00 am

Is consciousness the exclusive domain of human beings? Proponents of a view known as integrative information theory argue that AI will eventually achieve that same level of consciousness as systems build up and integrate more knowledge in the future. On this archive episode of Mind Matters News, guest host Pat Flynn welcomes Dr. Selmer Bringsjord to discuss some of the flaws in this theory as well as a possible alternative.

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What Separates AI From the Qualities of the Human Mind

Discovery Institute — 20 March 2026, 9:38 pm

ID The Future listeners now get to enjoy a new episode each month (as well as a bingecast archive episode) from our sister podcast Mind Matters News, a production of the Discovery Institute’s Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence. The Mind Matters News podcast brings you interviews and insight from computer scientists, engineers, inventors, neurosurgeons, and other experts who bring sanity to the conversation about natural and artificial intelligence, going beyond the hype to explore the undercurrents of these important ideas. And although the Mind Matters News podcast will not often explicitly discuss intelligent design, it regularly explores the nature of intelligence, the origin of information, and the things that make us uniquely human, concepts that are central to the theory of intelligent design. Is consciousness the exclusive domain of human beings? Proponents of a view known as integrative information theory argue that AI will eventually achieve that same level of consciousness as systems build up and integrate more knowledge in the future. On this archive episode, Mind Matters guest host Pat Flynn welcomes Dr. Selmer Bringsjord to discuss some of the flaws in this theory as well as a possible alternative.

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The Low-Confidence Science Propping Up Neo-Darwinian Claims

Discovery Institute — 18 March 2026, 10:26 pm

In this episode of ID the Future, host Eric Anderson concludes his conversation with medical engineer and scientist Rob Stadler about the divide between high-confidence and low-confidence science. In this segment, Stadler explains how to apply a set of rigorous criteria to the claims of Neo-Darwinism to better evaluate its explanatory power. He argues that many cornerstone proofs for evolution, such as homology and the fossil record, actually represent low confidence science. Rather than providing direct, repeatable evidence of a causal event, these claims often rely on circular reasoning and unproven assumptions that extrapolate far beyond the actual data available. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Rob Stadler: Six Criteria for High-Confidence Science

Discovery Institute — 16 March 2026, 9:55 pm

In today's ID The Future, guest host Eric Anderson welcomes medical engineer and scientist Rob Stadler to begin a two-part discussion about the critical need for a new approach to evaluating the strength of evidence in science. Drawing from 30 years of experience in a field where lives depend on rigorous regulatory standards, Stadler explains how he developed six criteria to distinguish between high-confidence and low-confidence scientific claims. These criteria evaluate both the quality of the experiment and the quality of the scientist. This is Part 1 of a two-part discussion.

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Johannes Kepler and the Mathematical Rationality of the Cosmos

Discovery Institute — 14 March 2026, 2:43 am

On this classic ID The Future out of the vault, host Andrew McDiarmid kicks off a three-episode discussion with Dr. Melissa Cain Travis about her recent book Thinking God's Thoughts: Johannes Kepler and the Miracle of Cosmic Comprehensibility. A fellow at Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, Dr. Travis serves as Affiliate Faculty at Colorado Christian University's Lee Strobel Center for Evangelism and Applied Apologetics, where she teaches courses in the history and philosophy of science. In Part 1, learn why Kepler was instrumental in transforming classical astronomy into a true celestial physics. Like others before him, Kepler perceived a remarkable resonance between the rational order of the material world, mathematics, and the human mind. In response, he developed a three-part cosmic harmony of archetype, copy, and image to explain this unity. Travis unpacks his tripartite harmony for us. This is Part 1 of a 3-part discussion.

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Using Historical Reasoning to Navigate Today’s Scientific Debates

Discovery Institute — 12 March 2026, 12:00 am

The relationship between Christianity and science is much older and richer than you might think. What can we learn about today’s scientific debates by studying that history? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes a two-part conversation with software engineer and intelligent design researcher Winston Ewert about his new book The Heavens, The Waters, and the Partridge, an exploration of the interaction between Christianity and science before modern science. This half of the conversation dives into the rich history of how early Christian thinkers engaged with the scientific consensus of their time. By exploring historical case studies such as the supposed immutability of the heavens and the ancient belief that matter is eternally conserved, Ewert shows us how early Christian thinkers often pushed back against prevailing Greek philosophies to uphold biblical doctrines like creatio ex nihilo. The examples highlight that the dialogue between faith and science is a centuries-old tradition centered on understanding order, purpose, and the inherent limits of scientific inquiry. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Winston Ewert: The Ancient Roots of Modern Materialism and Scientism

Discovery Institute — 10 March 2026, 1:16 am

What can we learn about science and faith from those who lived before the rise of modern science? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes software engineer and intelligent design researcher Winston Ewert to the podcast to discuss his new book The Heavens, The Waters, and the Partridge, a closer look at the interaction between Christianity and science in the thousand years before modern science. Why pay attention to ancient scientific debates and specifically how early Christian thinkers responded to them? What could possibly be gained from going that far back? As Ewert points out, quite a lot. Tune in to learn more!

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The Trouble with Transhumanism: Wesley J. Smith’s Guest Appearance on Bioethics Babe

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 9 March 2026, 10:00 am

Turnabout is fair play, they say. So on this episode of Humanize, Wesley is the guest, interviewed by the “Bioethics Babe,” the podcast of Center on Human Exceptionalism Fellow Arina Grossu Agnew. Arina and Wesley discuss the nature of transhumanism, its philosophical, moral, and political implications, its role as a substitute for religion, its threat to human equality, and whether Read More ›

Blast from the Past: Jonathan Wells Gets Politically Incorrect About Darwinism

Discovery Institute — 6 March 2026, 11:06 pm

Perhaps no one in the intelligent design research community of recent decades was more qualified to tackle the debate over Darwinism and design than Dr. Jonathan Wells. We lost Dr. Wells in 2024, but his work lives on in his groundbreaking books, articles, interviews, and even a full-length online course. Today's ID The Future out of the vault takes us all the way back to the summer of 2006 when Discovery Institute's Director of Communications Rob Crowther interviewed Dr. Wells about his new book of the time, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Darwinism and Intelligent Design. Senior Italian geneticist Giuseppe Sermonti has called Darwinism the “'politically correct' of science,” — that is, something that is held not because it is true but rather because of peer-pressure. Thus, Dr. Wells’s book “The Politically Incorrect Guide to Darwinism and Intelligent Design” is aptly named because it ignores this peer-pressure to expose the weaknesses in the evidence for Darwinism with both humorous anecdotes and illuminating explanations of the most common sources of confusion.

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Irreducible Intelligence: Why AI Imitation is Not Functional Knowledge

Discovery Institute — 4 March 2026, 11:28 pm

Now, ID The Future listeners will get to enjoy a new episode each month (as well as a bingecast archive episode) from our sister podcast Mind Matters News, a production of the Discovery Institute’s Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence. The Mind Matters News podcast brings you interviews and insight from computer scientists, engineers, inventors, neurosurgeons, and other experts who bring sanity to the conversation about natural and artificial intelligence, going beyond the hype to explore the undercurrents of these important ideas. And although the Mind Matters News podcast will not often explicitly discuss intelligent design, it regularly explores the nature of intelligence, the origin of information, and the things that make us uniquely human, concepts that are central to the theory of intelligent design. On this episode, host Robert J. Marks sits down with Dr. Giorgios Mappouras for a deep dive into the philosophical and technical boundaries that define the gap between human minds and silicon machines. The pair look at why the classic Turing Test is no longer a sufficient measure of machine intelligence in the age of large language models. While modern AI can convincingly imitate human conversation, Mappouras argues that true intelligence requires the ability to do more than just mimic data; it must reach what he calls a General Intelligence Threshold. In this episode, they explore Giorgio's proposal for a Turing Test 2.0, a more rigorous framework that evaluates whether an AI can actually extract new, applicable knowledge—what Mappouras calls "functional information"—from the raw data it is given.

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Beyond Imitation: Testing for True Artificial General Intelligence

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 4 March 2026, 11:11 pm

On this episode of the Mind Matters News podcast, join host Robert J. Marks as he sits down with Dr. Giorgios Mappouras for a deep dive into the philosophical and technical boundaries that define the gap between human minds and silicon machines. The pair look at why the classic Turing Test is no longer a sufficient measure of machine intelligence in the age of large language models. They explore Giorgio's proposal for a more rigorous framework that can better evaluate AI's abilities.

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Discovering Interoception, The Body’s Internal Dialogue

Discovery Institute — 2 March 2026, 9:35 pm

On this episode of ID the Future, host Andrew McDiarmid sits down with freelance science reporter David Coppedge to explore the fascinating and emerging field of interoception. Unlike our five external senses or proprioception (the awareness of our limbs in space), interoception involves the constant internal communication between our organs and the brain. While much of this signaling happens unconsciously, it's vital in maintaining homeostasis, that dynamic equilibrium that allows our bodies to function under varying conditions. In this discussion, Coppedge delves into the intricate mechanics behind this internal dialogue, highlighting the role of Piezo proteins—receptors that translate physical pressure into electrical signals via calcium ions. As an example of interoception in action, Coppedge explains how the gut functions effectively as a "second brain," utilizing a massive network of neurons to decide between "attack mode" against pathogens and "repair mode" for healing. By viewing the body as a system of systems, says Coppedge, rather than a collection of isolated organs, researchers are able to uncover new details of the stunning layers of engineering in the human body.

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Jonathan Bartlett on the Growing Evidence of Designed Mutations

Discovery Institute — 27 February 2026, 11:04 pm

On a classic episode of ID the Future out of the vault, host and evolutionary biologist Jonathan McLatchie sits down with software R&D engineer Jonathan Bartlett to discuss Bartlett’s work on the question of when genetic mutations are random versus directed. Bartlett explains that the issue isn’t an all-or-nothing affair. Often a given biological system dramatically limits the search space of possible mutations in useful ways, and then within that much more limited set of possible mutations, random processes are at play. He gives the example of antibody mutations. He argues that many biological systems show considerable evidence of having been beneficially designed for directed mutations. Why, then, are many mutations deleterious? He also has an answer for that. Tune Read More ›

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Long Necks and Tall Tales: Why Samotherium Isn’t Missing Link

Discovery Institute — 25 February 2026, 10:31 pm

How did the giraffe get its long neck? It sounds like the beginning of a children’s bedtime story, and it certainly has been that. But it’s also a matter of serious scientific debate, and the debate continues today. On this installment of ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his two-part discussion correcting claims of giraffe evolution with retired geneticist Dr. Wolf-Ekkehard Lönnig. In Part 2, Dr. Lönnig challenges the prevailing narrative that the fossil Samotherium major serves as a transitional "missing link" in giraffe evolution. Lönnig argues that this evolutionary interpretation is contradicted by the facts. Instead, he identifies Samotherium as a "mosaic form," an organism possessing a combination of fully developed and basic traits that do not unequivocally connect it to the modern long-necked giraffe. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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On the Origin of “Tall Blondes”: Correcting the Record on Giraffe Evolution

Discovery Institute — 23 February 2026, 9:49 pm

We’ve all admired the long, majestic neck of the giraffe, and the question remains: how did the giraffe get its long neck? Is it a product of an evolutionary process? Or was a process of foresight and purpose involved? Helping us unpack this today is retired geneticist Dr. Wolf-Ekkehard Lönnig, who challenges the traditional narrative of giraffe evolution, noting a sharp disconnect between Darwinian predictions and the actual fossil record. While neo-Darwinism, by default, expects a gradual, step-by-step progression of slight variations leading to the modern giraffe, the geological evidence tells a different story. Learn how the twin problems of stasis in the fossil record and silos in the development of giraffes pose major problems for the standard just-so story of giraffes.

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Melissa Ortiz on the Disability Rights Movement

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 23 February 2026, 11:00 am

Disability rights is a global social and civil rights movement that advocates for equal opportunities, accessibility, and freedom from discrimination. The goal is to ensure that people with disabilities participate fully and equally in society free from barriers in employment, healthcare, architecture, and education. It has been more than thirty-five years since President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Read More ›

Dr. Mihretu Guta on The Nature of Consciousness

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 20 February 2026, 10:27 pm

On this archive "bingecast" episode of Mind Matters News, hosts Robert J. Marks and Angus Menuge welcome Dr. Mihretu Guta to discuss his contribution to the book Minding the Brain. The discussion covers a number of relevant topics, highlighting the profound and puzzling nature of consciousness and the importance of philosophical inquiry in grappling with this fundamental aspect of human experience.

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No Thinking Without a Thinker: Dr. Mihretu Guta on Consciousness

Discovery Institute — 20 February 2026, 10:07 pm

Starting this month, ID The Future listeners will get to enjoy a new episode each month (as well as a bingecast archive episode) from our sister podcast Mind Matters News, a production of the Discovery Institute’s Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence. The Mind Matters News podcast brings you interviews and insight from computer scientists, engineers, inventors, neurosurgeons, and other experts who bring sanity to the conversation about natural and artificial intelligence, going beyond the hype to explore the undercurrents of these important ideas. And although the Mind Matters News podcast will not often explicitly discuss intelligent design, it regularly explores the nature of intelligence, the origin of information, and the things that make us uniquely human, concepts that are central to the theory of intelligent design. On this archive "bingecast" episode, hosts Robert J. Marks and Angus Menuge welcome Dr. Mihretu Guta to discuss his contribution to the book Minding the Brain. Dr. Guta discusses the nature of consciousness and the challenges in understanding it from a philosophical perspective. He argues that consciousness is a unique property that is deeply subjective and personal, making it difficult to study scientifically. Guta contrasts first-order and second-order approaches to understanding consciousness, emphasizing the need to go beyond just the empirical observation of mental phenomena and examine the underlying metaphysical and ontological questions. The discussion covers a number of relevant topics, highlighting the profound and puzzling nature of consciousness and the importance of philosophical inquiry in grappling with this fundamental aspect of human experience.

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Bioengineer Stuart Burgess Reads From New Book Ultimate Engineering

Discovery Institute — 18 February 2026, 10:45 pm

A good way to evaluate scientific theories of origins is to ask what we’d expect to find if the given hypothesis were true and compare that to what we actually observe. Under a Darwinian explanation of life, we’d expect to see designs cobbled together by a blind, undirected process, substandard designs that work but that, in the words of one scientist, wouldn’t win any prizes at an engineering competition. But when we compare that expectation with the scientific evidence, they don’t match up at all. On today's ID The Future, award-winning British engineer and designer Stuart Burgess reads excerpts from his new book Ultimate Engineering. He’s going to share just enough with you today to whet your appetite for reading his book, which is chock full of evidence that humans and other organisms contain countless examples of not just so-so, not just good or very good, but optimal engineering in the design of systems and structures that keep living things alive.

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Rockets & Wristbones: Optimal Engineering in Biology

Discovery Institute — 16 February 2026, 9:59 pm

Is life the result of purposeful design or unintended evolutionary accidents? It’s an ongoing debate that’s about to be impacted by new scientific evidence that suggests living things are full of optimal engineering. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his conversation with award-winning British engineer and designer Stuart Burgess about his new book Ultimate Engineering. In it Burgess gathers together compelling examples of advanced structures and systems in the human body and other vertebrates that go far beyond what humans have produced and point to intelligent design, not the cobbled-together results of a blind, purposeless process. In Part 2, Burgess compares his professional work on European Space Agency satellites to the far more sophisticated systems found in biology. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Look for Part 1 in a separate conversation.

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Douglas Axe: Dragonflies, Cookies, and Our Built-In Design Intuition

Discovery Institute — 13 February 2026, 2:00 pm

This classic ID the Future out of the archive brings in protein scientist Douglas Axe to discuss his contribution to the book, The Comprehensive Guide to Science and Faith. Axe and host Casey Luskin discuss Axe’s thinking on the design intuition, the evidence that it’s triggered almost universally in small children when they observe things like dragonflies or fresh-baked cookies, and why he’s convinced that this intuition is a rational one rooted in our true sense of what sorts of things require know-how for their creation.

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Ultimate Engineering: An Interview with Bioengineer Stuart Burgess

Discovery Institute — 11 February 2026, 8:06 pm

Evolutionary theory predicts a living world crowded with substandard designs. But as today’s guest reveals, the latest science has discovered just the opposite—designs so advanced they are at the limit of the possible, precisely as proponents of the theory of intelligent design have anticipated. On this episode of ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes to the show award-winning British engineer and designer Stuart Burgess to begin a two-part conversation with me about the extraordinary engineering feats of the human body: ingenious systems and devices that demonstrate what Burgess calls Ultimate Engineering. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Look for Part 2 in a separate episode!

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The Accidental Inventor: An Interview with Hal Philipp

Discovery Institute — 10 February 2026, 12:12 am

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The Accidental Inventor: An Interview with Hal Philipp

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 9 February 2026, 6:48 pm

On this episode of Mind Matters News, host Robert J. Marks is joined by Bradley Norris as they welcome Hal Philipp, the man behind the modern touchscreen and a prolific inventor with an impressive 98 U.S. patents. Hal shares his story and some of the lessons he’s learned over a career in invention.

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Dr. Casey Luskin on the Genetic Differences Between Humans and Chimpanzees and Why They Matter

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 9 February 2026, 9:35 am

Chimpanzees, we are told, are the closest relatives to human beings. Indeed, for years scientists claimed that there is only about a one percent difference separating the human genome from that of chimps. Some advocates even claimed that means humans are mostly chimps, or that chimps are mostly human, eroding the principle of human exceptionalism. But research published last year Read More ›

How Life Leverages the Laws of Nature to Survive

Discovery Institute — 6 February 2026, 9:00 pm

Left to their own devices, the natural result of physics and chemistry is death, not life. So how are we still breathing? On this classic ID The Future from the archive, host Eric Anderson concludes his conversation with physician Howard Glicksman about some of the remarkable engineering challenges that have to be solved to produce and maintain living organisms such as ourselves. Glicksman is co-author with systems engineer Steve Laufmann of the book Your Designed Body, an exploration of the extraordinary system of systems that encompasses thousands of ingenious and interdependent engineering solutions to keep us alive and ticking. In the “just so” stories of the Darwinian narrative, these engineering solutions simply evolved. They emerged and got conserved. Voila! But it takes more than the laws of nature to keep us from dying. Tune in for the conclusion to this conversation!

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Mind and Soul at the Threshold of Death

Discovery Institute — 5 February 2026, 12:18 am

Does the brain explain the mind completely? And what can phenomena like terminal lucidity and near-death experiences reveal about the relationship between mind and brain? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his two-part conversation exploring those questions with neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor, co-author with Denyse O’Leary of the recent book The Immortal Mind: A Neurosurgeon’s Case for the Existence of the Soul, and Alexander Batthyany, a leading researcher on terminal lucidity and author of Threshold: Terminal Lucidity and the Border Between Life and Death. In the first half of the conversation, we defined terminal lucidity and explored why it’s so puzzling. Today, we look at how it relates to near-death experiences, and we ask a deeper question: what does this phenomenon suggest about the nature of the human mind? This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Terminal Lucidity: When the Mind Outlasts the Brain

Discovery Institute — 2 February 2026, 10:12 pm

Why would the human mind sometimes appear strongest when the brain is weakest? On today's ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes to the show neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor, co-author with Denyse O’Leary of the recent book The Immortal Mind: A Neurosurgeon’s Case for the Existence of the Soul, and Alexander Batthyany, a leading researcher on terminal lucidity and author of Threshold: Terminal Lucidity and the Border Between Life and Death. The trio begins a two-part conversation discussing the phenomenon of terminal lucidity: what it is, what the evidence shows, and how it relates to debates about consciousness, mind, and human identity. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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The Innovative Cellular Engineering That Keeps Us Alive

Discovery Institute — 30 January 2026, 10:56 pm

When left to their own devices, the laws of nature tend toward death, not life. So what does it take for life to exist? On this classic ID The Future out of the vault, host Eric Anderson begins a two-part conversation with physician Howard Glicksman about some of the remarkable engineering challenges that have to be solved to produce and maintain living organisms such as ourselves. Glicksman is co-author with systems engineer Steve Laufmann of the book Your Designed Body, an exploration of the extraordinary system of systems that encompasses thousands of ingenious and interdependent engineering solutions to keep us alive and ticking. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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The Importance of Human Wisdom in AI Policy

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 29 January 2026, 7:06 pm

On this episode of Mind Matters News, we’re wrapping up our conversation with Dr. Donald Wunsch on his experiences with AI in his recent article in the IEEE Computational Intelligence Magazine about artificial general intelligence. This is the sixth part of our conversation with Dr. Wunsch. If you’ve not listened to the earlier portions, you can do so at the Read More ›

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Irreducible Intelligence: The Ultimate Origin of Biological Information

Discovery Institute — 28 January 2026, 9:11 pm

What is the ultimate origin of the information that powers life and the universe? For materialists, matter and energy are the fundamental stuff of life, but an even more crucial element is missing from that equation: information. And as our parents likely reminded us, you don't get anything in this life for free. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his four-part conversation with mathematician and philosopher Dr. William Dembski about his work on the law of conservation of information and how it can help us critically evaluate scientific theories of origins. In this final segment, Dembski explains the ultimate origin of information: what he calls irreducible intelligence. Don't miss other segments of this conversation in separate episodes!

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Applying Information Conservation to Biological Origins

Discovery Institute — 26 January 2026, 11:54 pm

Nothing's free in life. It's a sobering reality we all come to realize in life. And this cold, hard truth also applies to the realm of biology. On today's ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid continues his four-part discussion with mathematician and philosopher Dr. William Dembski. The topic is Dembski's work on the law of conservation of information, a principle asserting that information within a search process is redistributed from pre-existing sources rather than materializing from nothing. In addition to being used in computer science and physics, the law can also be applied to theories of biological origins to evaluate which theory best comports with the reality that all information comes with a cost, and that cost must be adequately explained. This is Part 3 of a four-part conversation.

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Sex: A Masterpiece of Design

Discovery Institute — 23 January 2026, 8:09 pm

In his landmark book Darwin's Black Box, biochemist Michael Behe wrote that "to appreciate complexity, you have to experience it." On today's ID The Future out of the vault, we conclude a three-part series with Dr. Jonathan McLatchie that dives into the complexity and design of sexual reproduction. In Part 3, Dr. McLatchie explains the design features of erectile function, the ejaculatory reflex, sperm chemotaxis, and the female egg cell. McLatchie reminds listeners how all separate parts work together as an irreducibly complex whole system. Be sure to catch Parts 1 and 2 of this informative series!

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How to Navigate the Real and Immediate Risks of AI

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 22 January 2026, 4:00 pm

While the risk of AI becoming smarter than humans and taking over the world is often discussed, it can also distract us from a more pressing matter: the real-world, right-now risks of AI. On this episode of Mind Matters News, host Robert J. Marks continues his six-part conversation with Dr. Donald Wunsch about his expert insight into AI. In this Read More ›

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Why Intelligence is Necessary to Explain Nature’s Functional Information

Discovery Institute — 21 January 2026, 9:45 pm

We already have a well-established law that shows us how order can decrease in a physical system. But is there a law that explains an increase in order? Scientists have been looking for "nature's missing law" for a while, and while they might be asking the right questions, their training in a bottom-up reductionist framework is leading them to the wrong answers. On this ID The Future, mathematician and philosopher Dr. William Dembski continues a four-part conversation with host Andrew McDiarmid about his work on the law of conservation of information and its implications for theories that attempt to explain the origin of life and the universe. This is Part 2 of a four-part conversation.

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Bill Dembski Reveals the Hidden Cost of Information

Discovery Institute — 19 January 2026, 10:11 pm

Chances are you’re already familiar with specified complexity, one of the mathematical pillars of the theory of intelligent design. There’s another pillar that is much less well known but equally vital: the law of conservation of information. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid begins a four-part conversation with mathematician and philosopher Dr. William Dembski. The conversation unpacks Dembski’s work on the law of conservation of information and its implications for scientific theories like Darwinian evolution. In Part 1, Dr. Dembski begins by defining information fundamentally as the narrowing of possibilities, where specifying one outcome excludes others. Using his a simple analogy of location, he explains that identifying a specific place, like the town of Aubrey, Texas, provides more Read More ›

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Dr. Michael J. New on Abortion, the Dobbs Decision, Sidewalk Counseling, and the Annual March for Life

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 19 January 2026, 12:35 pm

The struggle over the legality of abortion has roiled the country for more than fifty years. On one side, the pro-life movement insists that innocent life must be protected by the government and in morality from conception to natural death. On the other, “pro-choice” advocates insist that abortion is medical care and that the decision of whether to terminate a Read More ›

Sexual Reproduction: Engineered for Success

Discovery Institute — 17 January 2026, 12:13 am

Sexual reproduction depends on an irreducibly complex core of components for its success. But can we really credit a gradual evolutionary process for this remarkable system? On this classic ID The Future from the archive, host Andrew McDiarmid continues his discussion with Dr. Jonathan McLatchie on why sex is the queen of problems for evolutionary theory and why instead it bears the hallmarks of a system governed by forethought and engineering. Dr. McLatchie covers two more components and explains why they are beyond the reach of a Darwinian process. This is Part 2 of a three-part conversation.

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Will AI Make the World Better or Worse?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 15 January 2026, 4:00 pm

If computers and AI took over the world, would we even notice? Today, host Robert J. Marks ponders this question as he continues his conversation with Dr. Donald Wunsch about his experiences with AI and his recent article in the IEEE Computational Intelligence Magazine on artificial general intelligence. In Part 4 of the discussion, Dr. Wunsch argues that computers have Read More ›

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Dr. Edward Peltzer: The Messy Reality of Prebiotic Chemistry

Discovery Institute — 14 January 2026, 10:23 pm

On today's ID the Future, host Casey Luskin continues a deep dive into the mounting hurdles facing origin of life (OOL) research with prebiotic synthesis expert Dr. Edward Peltzer. Peltzer, a seasoned ocean chemist and researcher, breaks down the critical flaws in the RNA world hypothesis, revealing that many successful lab experiments actually rely on investigator interference—intelligently designed interventions that researchers must make in experiments in order to yield results. But that's not how the prebiotic atmosphere would have worked, notes Peltzer: "Unless you've got graduate students and post-docs working on the early Earth to set up these conditions that were used in the experiments, it's not gonna happen." Peltzer also discusses how the goalposts of origin-of-life theory keep moving as our understanding of cellular complexity expands. And he shares a personal story of censorship as the discussion ends by exploring the risks faced by scientists who question the standard evolutionary paradigm. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Look for Part 1 in a separate episode.

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Expert: Without Intelligence, Organic Chemistry Leads to Degradation, Not Life

Discovery Institute — 12 January 2026, 11:32 pm

By now, you may have heard about some of the problems facing the field of origin-of-life research. Maybe you’ve come across Dr. James Tour making the argument that origin-of-life researchers are nowhere near their goal of creating life in a lab or proving a chemical evolutionary scenario for the origin of life. On today's ID The Future, we hear from another expert in origin-of-life chemistry and prebiotic synthesis: Dr. Edward Peltzer. Host Casey Luskin begins a conversation with Peltzer about the significant chemical hurdles facing origin-of-life research, specifically regarding the synthesis of biological building blocks. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Look for Part 2 in a separate episode.

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Sex: A Spicy Problem for Evolutionary Theory

Discovery Institute — 10 January 2026, 2:24 am

Sexual reproduction ought to be a recipe for evolutionary disaster. It's a waste of resources producing no short-term advantages. It demands an entirely different form of cell division and requires highly designed interconnected components to succeed. And yet, sex reigns supreme in the biological world. On this classic ID The Future episode, Dr. Jonathan McLatchie begins a series on why sex is the queen of problems for evolutionary theory and why instead it bears the hallmarks of a system governed by forethought and engineering. This is Part 1 of 3.

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Artificial Intelligence: Navigating the Hype, Limitations, and Ethics

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 8 January 2026, 4:00 pm

On this episode of Mind Matters News, our conversation continues with Dr. Donald Wunsch on his experiences with AI and his recent article in the IEEE Computational Intelligence Magazine about artificial general intelligence. He first reminds us why Artificial General Intelligence is a problematic term and why AGI is very unlikely to arrive by 2030, as some people estimate. Wunsch Read More ›

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20 Years After Dover: Steve Fuller on Science, Censorship, and the “Church of Darwin”

Discovery Institute — 7 January 2026, 9:37 pm

In this ID The Future, host Casey Luskin concludes a two-part conversation with University of Warwick professor and author Steve Fuller reflecting on the 20th anniversary of the Kitzmiller v. Dover trial, a case that examined the constitutionality of teaching intelligent design in public schools. Fuller discusses his experience serving as an expert witness for the defense. He defends his support of a policy that merely informed students of alternative theories to Darwinian evolution. He explains why high school is an ideal time to encourage an open mind toward science. Then he pivots to discuss the deeper issue of institutional censorship in science and how establishment science functions as a religion. He characterizes intelligent design as "anti-establishment" and suggests there's hope for a more pluralistic approach to science in the near future. This is Part 2 of a two-part interview.

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Professor Steve Fuller on the Rich Tradition of Intelligent Design

Discovery Institute — 5 January 2026, 9:29 pm

On this episode of ID the Future, host Casey Luskin begins a two-part conversation with University of Warwick professor Steve Fuller to reflect on the historical and philosophical foundations of intelligent design (ID) and the 20th anniversary of the Kitzmiller v. Dover trial. Fuller, an expert witness in the Dover trial and a scholar in the history and philosophy of science, challenges the popular "conflict thesis" that suggests that science and religion are perpetually at war. Instead, he describes a different historical understanding where modern science originated from a theological foundation, noting pioneers like Newton and Galileo, who viewed the universe as an intelligible machine designed by a divine mind. This tradition suggests that the very project of science was launched by the belief that human minds, created in the image and likeness of God, are capable of uncovering the logical laws governing reality. The conversation delves into why intelligent design should be viewed as a rich, interdisciplinary research tradition rather than a modern invention. Fuller explores the concept of biomimicry as a form of reverse engineering nature to uncover the hidden engineering elements within organisms. While Luskin notes that ID can be approached through purely scientific observations of intelligent agency, Fuller argues that theology remains a vital component because it explains why the designer uses "code" or the "logos"—be it in DNA or mathematical laws—as a creative medium. This insightful first part of a two-part series highlights how ID integrates biology, engineering, and information science to offer a comprehensive explanation for the complexity of the natural world.

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How Lightning and Water Make Life on Earth Possible

Discovery Institute — 2 January 2026, 10:56 pm

On this classic episode of ID The Future, we conclude a 2019 conversation between ID pioneer and biologist Dr. Jonathan Wells and distinguished Brazilian chemist Marcos Eberlin. The occasion for the chat was the publication of Dr. Eberlin’s book Foresight: How the Chemistry of Life Reveals Planning and Purpose. A member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, Eberlin is a world leader in the field of mass spectrometry. His book was endorsed by three Nobel laureates. In the second half of the conversation, Eberlin explains how chemistry reveals foresight in the design of molecules and chemical systems. To the untrained eye, water looks like a simple clear liquid. To the chemist, it has 74 unique, even “weird” properties essential for life. And lightning seems purely destructive, but it, too, is essential for life. As Eberlin argues, both of these suggest foresight in the design of life — foresight to solve problems necessary to make life on earth possible. This is Part 2 of a two-part discussion.

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The Ins and Outs of Scaling Up AI: Dr. Donald Wunsch

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 1 January 2026, 4:00 pm

On this episode of Mind Matters News, we’re continuing our conversation with Dr. Donald Wunsch on his experiences with AI and his recent article in the IEEE Computational Intelligence Magazine about artificial general intelligence. This is the second part of our conversation with Dr. Wunsch, so if you’ve not listened to the first part, we encourage you to do so. Read More ›

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Integrity in Science: More with Maverick Scientist Forrest Mims

Discovery Institute — 31 December 2025, 2:00 pm

Honesty, humility, respect. Just a few of the essential qualities scientists need to do good science. Today, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes a conversation with engineer, inventor, writer, and self-taught scientist Forrest Mims about the role of integrity and humility in science, as well as the importance of solid data and good old-fashioned persistence. Should scientists be required to hide their personal values or religious convictions or check them at the door before conducting research? Mims says no and explains. What about humility? McDiarmid quotes from an older edition of On Being a Scientist, an educational booklet for young researchers published by the National Academies of Science. Highlighting the importance of scientific humility, the publication acknowledges that "science offers only one window on human experience. While upholding the honor of their profession, scientists must seek to avoid putting scientific knowledge on a pedestal above knowledge obtained through other means.” Thirty years later, is the scientific enterprise still as humble? Mims shares his thoughts. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Forrest Mims: The Essential Role of Skepticism in Science

Discovery Institute — 29 December 2025, 10:57 pm

Science is a very human enterprise, so it can fall prey to very human problems. How a scientist conducts himself or herself professionally matters. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid begins a two-part conversation on the importance of skepticism and integrity in science with engineer, inventor, writer, and self-taught scientist Forrest Mims. How important is skepticism to scientific research? How can scientists collaborate respectfully? In what ways can scientists honor their profession while interacting honrably with the public? Forrest shares stories and examples from his decades-long career in science as he answers these and other questions. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Look for Part 2 in a separate episode.

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Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick on the Nature of Evil

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 29 December 2025, 12:29 pm

Is evil a metaphysical reality, or is it merely a word we use to describe intentionally destructive behavior or horribly painful outcomes? If evil is real, what is its nature? Can one believe in the existence of evil without having a religious understanding of reality? And if evil does exist, does that mean good must also? My guest today, a Read More ›

Marcos Eberlin and Jonathan Wells on Life’s Problem-Solving Engineering

Discovery Institute — 26 December 2025, 8:36 pm

On our latest visit into the ID The Future archive, we stumbled on this little gem: a 2019 conversation between ID pioneer and biologist Dr. Jonathan Wells and distinguished Brazilian chemist Marcos Eberlin. The occasion for the chat was the publication of Dr. Eberlin's book Foresight: How the Chemistry of Life Reveals Planning and Purpose. A member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, Eberlin is a world leader in the field of mass spectrometry. His book was endorsed by three Nobel laureates. In this first of two conversations, Eberlin speaks to the scientist’s duty to follow the evidence where it leads, and explains how the incredible problem-solving engineering involved in just one structure, the cell membrane, may lead one to the conclusion that a mind planned it in advance. It's nice to hear Dr. Wells's voice again. We lost our good friend and colleague in 2024 at the age of 82. In case you missed our series of interviews remembering Wells, find the links below. This is Part 1 of a two-part interview. Look for Part 2 in a separate episode.

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Exploring the Immaterial Mind: Insights from Neuroscience and Thomistic Philosophy

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 25 December 2025, 4:00 pm

Debate continues on the nature of the mind. Are our minds purely material and comprised only of our physical brains? Does idealism ring true with its views of physical experiences arising solely from a non-physical mind? Or is a dualist position with aspects of both an accurate view? Joining us today to talk about this and his contribution to the Read More ›

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Casey Luskin on the Rising Tide of Intelligent Design Research

Discovery Institute — 24 December 2025, 2:00 pm

Any scientific theory for the origin of life and the universe is only as strong as its research program. For intelligent design, this is good news. On today's ID The Future, Dr. Casey Luskin describes the current growth and scientific maturity of the Intelligent Design (ID) movement. Luskin describes the progress of ID across three main areas: successful scientific predictions, the unresolved failures of Neo-Darwinism to account for life, and the growth of the ID community as well as scientists outside ID who are looking for alternatives to modern evolutionary proposals. Dr. Luskin compares the growth of the ID research program to a snowball; it started small and faced early setbacks, but it is now rapidly picking up size, speed, and scientific weight as it rolls forward.

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Creepy Crawly Complexity: The Intelligent Design of Insects

Discovery Institute — 22 December 2025, 9:29 pm

Bugs. Some of them we enjoy more than others! But there’s no denying they’re a part of life. And though they’re small, they’re examples of big engineering and design. Today, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes Discovery Institute staffer Kate Kavanaugh to discuss ID Education Days, whole-day experiences hosted by the Center for Science and Culture and geared specifically for middle and high school students in home or private school settings. Lately, the theme of these events has focused on the creepy crawly complexity found within the world of insects and invertebrates. Far from being mere nuisances, these creatures function as tiny engineers that elegantly solve complex problems to sustain global ecosystems. Kavanaugh highlights insights from recent ID Education Day events and explains the importance of studying even tiny examples of intelligent design in nature.

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Nancy Pearcey: How Darwinism Fueled a Toxic War on Masculinity

Discovery Institute — 19 December 2025, 11:40 pm

Today’s ID the Future out of our archive spotlights the book The Toxic War on Masculinity, by author and scholar Nancy Pearcey, professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. In her conversation with host Andrew McDiarmid, Pearcey argues against the current fashion of seeing masculinity as inherently toxic. She traces the tendency back to Darwinism and explains how the industrial revolution, working hand in glove with secularism, fueled toxic masculinity at the expense of virtuous masculinity.

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Dr. Donald C. Wunsch: A Level-Headed Approach to AI’s Promise and Peril

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 18 December 2025, 4:00 pm

In today’s episode, host Robert J. Marks begins a multi-episode conversation with Dr. Donald C. Wunsch II, endowed professor of electrical and computer engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology and director of the Kummer Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems. Dr. Wunsch has spent decades working on the intersection of engineering AI and real world systems with Read More ›

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Casey Luskin: How the ID Movement Has Flourished Since the Dover Trial

Discovery Institute — 18 December 2025, 12:23 am

Was the modern intelligent design (ID) movement "over after Dover," as many ID critics hoped it would be? Quite the opposite. In the last two decades ID has flourished as a scientific research program and continues to gain momentum in both academia and the public square. On today's ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his conversation with geologist, legal scholar, and Dover trial expert Dr. Casey Luskin. In this segment, marking the 20th anniversary of the Kitzmiller vs. Dover trial of 2005, the pair examine the outcome of the Dover trial, in which a judge ruled that intelligent design was a religious viewpoint, not science, and therefore unconstitutional to teach in public schools. Luskin explains why the Dover ruling was highly flawed and unreliable and how it misrepresented the definition of science and the arguments of ID proponents. Luskin also reveals how the ID movement has flourished in the twenty years since Dover. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Casey Luskin: ID Over After Dover? Not Even Close

Discovery Institute — 16 December 2025, 12:52 am

Over After Dover. That was the hopeful mantra of many critics of intelligent design (ID) after the Kitzmiller vs. Dover trial in 2005. They were hoping a federal judge could issue a decree from on high that would stop the ID movement cold in its tracks and neo-Darwinism could go back to being unquestioned, unchallenged orthodoxy. But was it over after Dover? Not even close. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid marks the 20th anniversary of the Dover trial by beginning a two-part conversation with geologist, legal scholar, and Dover trial expert Dr. Casey Luskin. Luskin takes us back to 2005 to give us his unique perspective on the events that led to the Dover trial, his own personal experiences of the case, and the position the Discovery Institute's Center for Science & Culture held on the issues at stake. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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Eric Hedin on Free Will and Morality in a Designed World

Discovery Institute — 12 December 2025, 7:46 pm

Are we responsible for our choices? What can the laws of nature teach us about morality? On this classic episode of ID The Future from the archive, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes back Dr. Eric Hedin, Professor Emeritus of Physics and Astronomy at Ball State University, to conclude a discussion about his two recent articles on suffering, free will, and morality in a designed world. Some scientists continue to argue that human free will is an illusion and that we have no more control over our choices than the decision to breathe. But this idea, known as determinism, flies in the face of our human experience. Dr. Hedin explains that far from being slaves to external forces, humans have a great latitude of freedom in the universe. In other words, the ball is in our court. This is Part 2 of a two-part discussion.

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Robert J. Marks Remembers Tech Pioneer Walter Bradley

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 11 December 2025, 5:20 pm

On today’s episode of Mind Matters News, Dr. Robert J. Marks joins Andrew McDiarmid, host of the ID The Future podcast, to share some of his personal anecdotes and professional insights about Dr. Walter Bradley, a scientist, humanitarian, and trailblazer in the world of intelligent design who passed away this year at the age of 81. As Marks explains, one way Read More ›

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When Engineering Meets Biology: More From Our Scientist Roundtable

Discovery Institute — 10 December 2025, 10:17 pm

A Quick Message From Host Andrew McDiarmid: Hey thanks for joining me! Did you know that although ID The Future is free content, it’s not free to produce? If you’re enjoying the interviews, commentaries, and readings you hear on the podcast, would you consider partnering with me to create more new content next year? Support the CSC today to help me generate another amazing lineup of interviews with ID scientists and scholars. Thanks for your support! When biologists use principles of engineering to study living systems, they can gain a richer, deeper understanding of how and why life works. But most biologists are trained to view design as the product of a blind, purposeless, gradual evolutionary process. Today on ID Read More ›

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Scientist Roundtable: Examples of Intelligent Design in the Human Body

Discovery Institute — 8 December 2025, 11:52 pm

It's easy to be blown away by the examples of engineering prowess in the human body. But it can be challenging to turn that evidence into a robust argument for intelligent design you can share with skeptical friends and colleagues. To help you learn to do that, host Andrew McDiarmid begins a roundtable discussion with not one, not two, not three, but four guests to the podcast, all part of our team of resident scientists at Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture: geologist and lawyer Casey Luskin, biochemist and metabolic nutritionist Emily Reeves, biologist Jonathan McLatchie, and physicist Brian Miller. The first half of the discussion kicks off with a review of the basics of design detection, including various methods for empirically detecting the hallmarks of design in nature. After that, these four experts take turns diving into examples of extraordinary design in the human body. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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Robert P. George on the Reality and Importance of Human Exceptionalism

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 8 December 2025, 12:07 pm

Whether or not human beings are exceptional is one of the most important questions of our age. Either we have unique value and moral responsibilities, or we are just another animal in the forest, and if that is how we perceive ourselves, it is precisely how we will act. Most contemporary commentary about this crucial issue deny our exceptionalism. But Read More ›

Eric Hedin on Suffering in a Designed World

Discovery Institute — 6 December 2025, 1:56 am

Is natural evil an argument against intelligent design? And is human evil more consistent with naturalism or theism? On this classic ID The Future episode, host Andrew McDiarmid speaks with Dr. Eric Hedin about his article "Thoughts of Evil in a Designed World." First, Dr. Hedin discusses the problem of natural evils like earthquakes, hurricanes, droughts, and other natural disasters. He reports that in the last century, the human death toll from such tragedies has dropped as we have learned to mitigate the effects of these natural forces in our lives. Hedin also discusses the impact of sickness on our bodies. "Any complex system can break down," Hedin reminds us, "because we do live in a world where the second law of thermodynamics applies not just to stars and mountainsides and physical systems but also to our own bodies." But suffering, tragic as it can be for all of us to endure, is not inconsistent with design. Then there's the other major cause of suffering in life: human evil. If humans are products of an evolutionary process, we'd expect human evil to more or less match what we see in the animal world. But as recent attacks on the people of Israel starkly demonstrate, that is not the case. We are capable of much worse, as well as much better. Dr. Hedin explains that humans have the gift of rational override, something determinists tend to forget. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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Exploring Consciousness in Human and Artificial Intelligence

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 4 December 2025, 4:00 pm

Today on Mind Matters News, hosts Robert J. Marks and Brian Krouse conclude their four-part conversation with Dr. Joseph Green on the limitations of modern neuroscience. Green is author of a chapter in the volume Minding the Brain called “On the Limitations of Cutting-Edge Neuroscience.” In today’s final segment, the discussion centers on comparing different models of consciousness, including panpsychism and Read More ›

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Why Intelligent Design Best Explains the Laws of Nature

Discovery Institute — 3 December 2025, 9:25 pm

On today’s ID The Future, host Brian Miller concludes a two-part conversation with physicist Aaron Zimmer and mathematician Ellie Feder, hosts of the Physics to God podcast, as they critique current explanations for the laws of nature and argue for an intelligent cause of the rules that govern the universe. This half of the conversation tackles the attempts made by scientists to explain these life-friendly laws as the result of chance, not design. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Beyond Fine-Tuning: Why the Laws of Nature Indicate Design

Discovery Institute — 1 December 2025, 11:21 pm

You might already have heard that the laws that govern our universe are finely tuned to allow for our existence. But beneath the special numbers of the universe lies an even deeper mystery: the laws of nature themselves. On today's ID The Future, join host Brian Miller as he begins a two-part conversation with physicist Aaron Zimmer and mathematician Ellie Feder, hosts of the Physics to God podcast, as they discuss their new work arguing for an intelligent cause based on the qualitative structure of reality's rules. The dream of finding a unique, logically necessary "theory of everything" has failed, which leaves an intriguing question: Why these specific laws? Zimmer and Feder explain why fundamental forces like gravity and complex systems like quantum mechanics are uniquely designed to produce a complex universe featuring atoms, molecules, stars, and life. The new argument focuses on the fundamental qualitative structure of the laws of nature, rather than the finely tuned quantities. Zimmer and Feder argue that these laws are not logically necessary, debunking the idea that a unique "theory of everything" could explain them. Instead, the laws are uniquely designed to produce a complex universe. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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Thus Saith the Science: C.S. Lewis on the Dangers of Scientism

Discovery Institute — 28 November 2025, 9:04 pm

Progress is an appealing idea, but what happens when we do not all desire the same things? On this ID The Future, we mark the 60th anniversary of the death of British writer C. S. Lewis as host Andrew McDiarmid concludes a conversation with Dr. John West about Lewis's prophetic warnings to us about science and scientism. Dr. West explains how scientism harms real scientific progress and leads to moral relativism. And he discusses how we can bring science back into alignment with older, deeper human truths. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Doug Smith: A Critical Look at Apple’s Virtual Reality Headset

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 27 November 2025, 4:00 pm

What happens when you let Big Tech control how you see the world? Apple recently released a new model of the Apple Vision Pro headset. Although it can provide immersive experiences, what are the potential downsides to furthering our connection to the digital realm? On this episode of Mind Matters News out of the vault, host Robert J. Marks welcomes Read More ›

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Get to Know This Mathematician’s Simple, Profound Arguments for Intelligent Design

Discovery Institute — 26 November 2025, 2:00 pm

No amount of small, blind, and gradual changes to the steam engine could ever have produced the internal combustion engine. To get to that fundamentally new type of engine, an infusion of new information was required. That analogy can be applied to the origin of biological life too. The spectacular order, complexity, and design we see in life could not have been achieved gradually by a process that lacked foresight. On today's ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes mathematician Granville Sewell to the podcast to share some of his compelling arguments for intelligent design. We might think that mathematicians are focused on incredibly complex ideas and equations, way above the everyday thoughts of the rest of us. But as Sewell points out, mathematicians are trained to value simplicity, and complex problems can often be solved in simple ways. Sewell's straightforward, yet profound arguments for intelligent design are worth memorizing and sharing with your friends, family, and associates.

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Michael Behe: Why Darwinism Will Eventually Collapse

Discovery Institute — 24 November 2025, 9:23 pm

Failed ideas tend to eventually crumble under the weight of contrary evidence. Is modern evolutionary theory heading for the same fate? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid speaks to biochemist Michael J. Behe about his core arguments for intelligent design and his recent experience sharing them at an Ivy League school. Behe, a professor of biochemistry at Lehigh University and author of Darwin's Black Box, recently presented some of his ID arguments to faculty, students, and post-docs at Cornell University. Behe reveals how his talk was received and shares some of his key insights highlighting the problems with Darwinian evolution.

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Aaron Kheriaty, MD, on How to Heal Modern Medicine

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 24 November 2025, 12:42 pm

Something has gone terribly wrong with American medicine. The COVID pandemic broke the back of trust in our public health officials. There is an affordability crisis. Medical ethics have degraded to the point that doctors no longer take the Hippocratic Oath. Chronic diseases are on the rise, particularly in children. It has all become such a mess. But what should Read More ›

C. S. Lewis’s Prophetic Legacy on Scientism

Discovery Institute — 22 November 2025, 12:01 am

What happens when science leaves human values behind? Or when governments become beholden to scientists? On this classic ID The Future out of the vault, we mark the 60th anniversary of the death of British writer C. S. Lewis as host Andrew McDiarmid begins a conversation with Dr. John West about Lewis's prophetic warnings to us about science and scientism. Dr. West discusses what scientism is, what happens when science neglects deeper human truths, and how Lewis warned against the rise of technocracies. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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How Neuroscience and Philosophy Combine to Illuminate the Nature of Consciousness

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 20 November 2025, 4:00 pm

Today on Mind Matters News, hosts Robert J. Marks and Brian Krouse continues their conversation with Dr. Joseph Green on how we can bridge the gap between cutting-edge neuroscience and philosophy of mind. Green is author of a chapter in the volume Minding the Brain called “On the Limitations of Cutting-Edge Neuroscience.” In today’s installment, the discussion first touches on the concept Read More ›

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Casey Luskin: Theistic Evolution and the Limits of Neo-Darwinism

Discovery Institute — 19 November 2025, 11:35 pm

Did God use evolution to create life? On this ID The Future, we’re sharing the second half of a recent conversation with Dr. Casey Luskin that originally aired on the Truthful Hope podcast. Casey is critiquing theistic evolution, the view that God used evolutionary mechanisms to create life. In today's episode, he continues by next addressing the inadequacy of natural selection and random mutation to generate biological complexity. Luskin also points out that even non-ID scientists have expressed skepticism about the explanatory power of neo-Darwinism. All this makes it very hard to justify the position of theistic evolutionists, who claim God uses evolution to create life. In reality, the more we learn about the complexity and design of life, the less adequate neo-Darwinism is as an explanation. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Did God Use Evolution to Produce Life? Why Theistic Evolution Fails

Discovery Institute — 17 November 2025, 8:35 pm

Some people attempt to reconcile belief in God with the standard evolutionary account of life's origins by combining the two. Theistic evolution is the view that God used evolutionary mechanisms to create life. But does this view stand up to scrutiny? Today, Dr. Casey Luskin critiques this perspective in the first half of a conversation that originally aired on the Truthful Hope podcast. The conversation kicks off with some clarity over terms, including what is meant by “evolution.” The theistic evolution perspective, also sometimes called evolutionary creation, accepts the standard scientific evolutionary account—the same view held by atheists—and simply adds the theological claim, "but this is how God did it". Critically, these proponents reject the idea that design can be empirically or scientifically detected in nature. As Luskin highlights, the central scientific problem with theistic evolution is that it inherits all the numerous scientific problems associated with the standard evolutionary account. This first half of the conversation rounds out with examples of those problems, specifically from the issue of the origin of life. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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Bayesian Probability and Intelligent Design: A Beginner’s Guide

Discovery Institute — 14 November 2025, 11:58 pm

If the phrase "Bayesian calculus" makes you run for the hills, you're not alone! Bayesian logic can sound intimidating at first, but if you give it a little time, you'll understand how useful it can be to evaluate the evidence for design in the natural world. On this ID The Future, Dr. Jonathan McLatchie gives us a beginner's guide to Bayesian thinking and teaches us how it can be used to build a strong cumulative case for intelligent design, as well as how we can use it in our everyday lives. Enjoying the podcast? Leave a written review at Apple Podcasts to help new listeners find the show!

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Bridging the Gap Between Neuroscience and Philosophy of Mind

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 13 November 2025, 5:41 pm

On this episode of Mind Matters News, hosts Robert J. Marks and Brian Krouse continue their conversation with Dr. Joseph Green on the limitations of cutting-edge neuroscience. In this segment, the focus turns to the philosophical questions involved. As Dr. Green explains, neuroscience is limited in its ability to answer philosophical questions about the nature of the mind and its Read More ›

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Life’s Informational Discontinuities: Where Unintelligent Processes Fail

Discovery Institute — 12 November 2025, 2:00 pm

Here's an experienced scientist who thinks YOU should have the power to settle the question of design in nature, not the scientific experts. Why? Because the majority of scientific authorities are committed scientific materialists, a view that hinders unbiased scientific inquiry by forbidding explanations outside the material realm. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his conversation with recently retired bio-scientist Dr. Michael Kent. In Part 2, Dr. Kent continues to unpack the scientific discoveries of the last century that have changed the debate over design in nature and made materialism an increasingly irrational view of the history of life and the universe. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Don’t Let Scientific Elites Settle the Question of Design in Nature For You.

Discovery Institute — 10 November 2025, 10:07 pm

What you believe about the origin of life and the universe affects everything you do. So it's crucial that you decide for yourself whether the design that's evident in nature is the product of a designer or the outcome of a blind, unguided process. Today on ID The Future, retired bioscientist Dr. Michael Kent explains how we can take back important scientific decisions that belong to us and not to a scientific elite largely guided by materialist assumptions. Kent also reviews some of the top evidence for intelligent design, including the revolutionary discoveries that the universe had a beginning and is finely tuned for human life. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Look for Part 2 in a separate episode.

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Olivier Bonnassies and Brian Miller on the Scientific Evidence for God

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 10 November 2025, 1:24 pm

The Epistle to the Hebrews tells us that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” That isn’t science. It is religion, and these days, many have come to believe that never the twain shall meet. But what if the reality of God could be demonstrated scientifically? What evidence would it take? What would Read More ›

Why Scientific Materialism is No Match for Truth, Beauty, and Goodness

Discovery Institute — 7 November 2025, 10:02 pm

Is the world a good place? Is truth relative? Can beauty be defined? On this episode of ID the Future from the archive, host David Klinghoffer speaks with Dr. Ann Gauger, Director of Science Communication and a Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, about her article “The Transcendental Treasury of Truth, Beauty, and Goodness” at Science & Culture Today. These abstract concepts don’t derive from the material world, yet we feel impoverished without them; they’re foundations of a life worth living. Materialistic evolutionary explanations for truth, beauty, and goodness are out there, but they fall flat upon closer inspection. Some of them even reduce these qualities to mere illusion. Gauger holds that truth, beauty, and goodness are hallmarks of a designed world. Meditating on them can promote a spirit of gratitude, an important part of a healthy, happy life.

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How Humility and Curiosity Can Help Neuroscience Mature

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 6 November 2025, 4:00 pm

Modern neuroscience has made some truly amazing advances in recent decades. But even though we can record, map, and even manipulate brain activity in ways that once seemed impossible, we still don’t really understand how the brain actually works. This gap in understanding has led to a kind of overconfidence, and sometimes even over-claiming by scientists. So how do we Read More ›

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Robert Marks Remembers ID and Tech Pioneer Walter Bradley

Discovery Institute — 5 November 2025, 2:00 pm

In 1984, three scientists dared to probe the mystery of life's origin by putting the prevailing theories of prebiotic and chemical evolution to the test. One of those men was engineer Walter Bradley. Today, Dr. Robert J. Marks joins host Andrew McDiarmid to share some of his personal anecdotes and professional insights about Dr. Bradley, a scientist, humanitarian, and trailblazer in the world of intelligent design who passed away this summer at the age of 81. A Distinguished Fellow of the Discovery Institute, Bradley taught mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University, Baylor University, and the Colorado School of Mines. His book, co-authored with chemist Charles Thaxton and geochemist Roger Olsen, deeply influenced prominent figures in the intelligent design research community like Stephen Meyer, Douglas Axe, and Jay Richards and helped to catalyze a new generation of inquiry into life’s beginnings. The Mystery of Life's Origin was re-released in 2020 as a new, expanded second edition.

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Engineering on Steroids: The Incredible Design of the Human Body

Discovery Institute — 3 November 2025, 10:09 pm

Every day your body must solve hundreds of hard engineering problems simultaneously, or else you’ll die. These problems involve multiple coordinated, integrated systems that have to come online, not gradually, but all at once and at just the right time and place. Can an evolutionary process explain the development of these systems? You be the judge. On today's ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes Steve Laufmann, co-author with Dr. Howard Glicksman of the new book Your Amazing Body, a fresh, abridged version of their previous book Your Designed Body. In this discussion, Laufmann brings his engineering background to bear on the marvels of human anatomy, showing us how the human body is not just functional but brilliantly designed. We’ll explore how engineering intersects with biology, how an engineer and a physician worked together to lay out this evidence, and what the new streamlined book can offer readers.

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Frightening Abuses of Science with Wesley J. Smith

Discovery Institute — 31 October 2025, 7:29 pm

Experiments on the living unborn. Organ harvesting. Reckless biotech. Radical environmentalism. These are not horror stories playing at your local movie theater. They're playing out in labs, hospitals, and institutes across America. On this episode of ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid speaks with bioethicist Wesley J. Smith about frightening abuses of science being done in the name of progress. In this unnerving exchange, Smith discusses examples of biotechnology that are advancing faster than our ethical considerations, including synthetic human embryos, genetic engineering, and fetal farming. He unpacks recent attempts by environmental activists to give rights to non-living things like rivers and oceans. He explains the difference between animal rights and animal welfare, while exposing the animal rights campaign as an anti-human movement that inhibits human flourishing. Smith also discusses the latest fronts in the gender ideology crusade, and how the rush to affirm gender dysphoria in children is causing tremendous harm to our society. And before the nightmare ends, Smith explains the pernicious push from evidence-based medicine to "science-based medicine," a strategy that encourages censorship and totalitarian governance of the scientific enterprise.

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Integrating Personal Identity Into Scientific Discovery and Reasoning

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 30 October 2025, 3:00 pm

The scientific method has undoubtedly provided great insight into the impersonal mechanics of the world around us throughout human history. However, the scientific method itself is put into practice by very personal human beings. How should our understanding of ourselves and our personal identities interact with what we learn through science? Today, hosts Robert J. Marks and Angus Menuge speak Read More ›

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Neil Thomas: “This Darwinism Business, It’s Rubbish, Isn’t It?”

Discovery Institute — 29 October 2025, 10:33 pm

For decades, British professor and author Neil Thomas was a card-carrying Darwinist. It wasn't until after he retired from academia that he had the repose to think about things objectively. Then one day, in a scientific flash of inspiration, he came to the conclusion that the standard Darwinian story was "rubbish." In the second half of a conversation with Andrew McDiarmid, Thomas continues to explain why Darwinism fails as an adequate explanation for the history of life as he discusses his new book False Messiah: Darwinism As the God That Failed. Over two episodes, Thomas reveals the conceptual flaws and historical roots of the theory, the responses of major early dissenters of the theory, and how modern science is undermining the Enlightenment worldview upon which Darwinism relies. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Neil Thomas on the Internal Flaws & Historical Roots of Darwinism

Discovery Institute — 27 October 2025, 9:26 pm

It might surprise you to learn that Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection did not triumph on purely scientific grounds. There are other reasons beyond empirical science that gave it broad acceptance and enduring popularity. On today's ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid unpacks those reasons as he begins a conversation with professor emeritus and author Neil Thomas about his new book False Messiah: Darwinism As the God That Failed. Over two episodes, Thomas discusses the conceptual flaws and historical roots of the theory, the responses of major early dissenters of the theory, and how modern science is undermining the Enlightenment worldview upon which Darwinism relies. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Look for Part 2 in a separate episode.

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Michael Grunwald on How Factory Farms Can Save the Planet

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 27 October 2025, 12:00 pm

Mark Twain is generally credited with the quip, “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” The same can’t be said about climate change, which has become one of our most contentious and complicated public policy controversies. It’s also divisive. According to a recent Gallup Poll, sixty-two percent of those polled worry about climate change a great Read More ›

Live Not By Lies: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and Intelligent Design

Discovery Institute — 24 October 2025, 7:49 pm

When one person stands up to lies or oppression, others can become emboldened to do the same. On this classic episode of ID the Future, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor discusses his article about Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Solzhenitsyn, the great Soviet dissident and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature, penned the short essay "Live Not By Lies" in 1974, just before he was arrested and exiled from Russia. It was his advice, or even strategy, for living under totalitarianism. Solzhenitsyn’s basic advice is simply not to participate with lies, and to refuse to speak what one does not believe. It’s unnervingly relevant counsel to us in America today, where “cancel culture” and other silencing tactics, long foreshadowed in the intelligent design debate, are spreading to the broader culture. As Egnor relates, sometimes it takes a single person to stand firm before others will do the same. "There are orders of magnitude more of us than of them," Egnor says. "That is people who feel as we do: who support academic freedom, who support human dignity, who support freedom of speech and freedom of religion...the only way they control us, the only way they oppress us, is with our cooperation."

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Recognizing the Divine in Others: More with Dr. Stephen Post

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 23 October 2025, 3:00 pm

If many of us began to practice honoring others in our interactions with them, what change would we see in society? Is it possible to recognize the divine in everyone we meet? On this episode, host Dr. Michael Egnor concludes his conversation with Dr. Stephen Post, author of the new book Pure Unlimited Love: Science and the Seven Paths to Inner Read More ›

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The Death of Materialism: Michel Bolloré on the Evidence for God in Science

Discovery Institute — 22 October 2025, 1:00 pm

What can science tell us about the existence of God? A lot more than you may think! Since the 16th century, a scientific worldview has been brewing called materialism that sought to explain all of life and the universe through unguided chance processes, and in doing so, ridding humanity of any need for God. But the worldview of materialism is increasingly at odds with the latest scientific discoveries of the last hundred years. On today's episode, join host Andrew McDiarmid as he continues his conversation with engineer Michel Bollore, co-author with Olivier Bonnassies of the book God: The Science, The Evidence, now available in a new English translation. Published in French in 2021, the book is a #1 bestseller in France, Spain, and Italy and has sold over 400k copies. The book presents a wide-ranging case for the existence of God by drawing on discoveries across physics, cosmology, biology, and human consciousness. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Editor’s note: This interview is sponsored by Palomar Editions, publisher of God, the Science, the Evidence. However, Discovery Institute staff were responsible for the editorial content of this posting.

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The Scientific Discoveries That Make Materialism an Irrational Belief

Discovery Institute — 20 October 2025, 8:27 pm

Does God exist…or not? It’s a simple, compelling question. What can science tell us that would help us get an answer? For the last 150 years, many have assumed science has ejected God from the picture, a quaint relic of a less enlightened past. But what if that view has become a relic itself? Scientific discoveries of the last hundred years suggest there is bountiful evidence of intelligent design in nature, from the simplest living cells to distant galaxies. On today's ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid begins a conversation with computer engineer and businessman Michel-Yves Bolloré, who is co-author with Olivier Bonnassies of the book God: The Science, The Evidence. In Part 1, Michel explains how this materialistic worldview developed and how it gave the illusion of challenging the foundations of belief in God. Michel also discusses the difference between evidence and proof, and discusses how his book builds a strong case for theistic belief by presenting numerous, converging, and independent lines of evidence. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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Can Genesis and Science Agree? A Classic Conversation with John Lennox

Discovery Institute — 18 October 2025, 1:29 am

What happens when a world-class mathematician and Christian thinker takes on one of the most hotly debated questions of our time—can the book of Genesis be reconciled with modern science? In this episode of ID the Future out of our vault, host Jay Richards welcomes Oxford University’s Dr. John Lennox to discuss his book Seven Days That Divide the World. Lennox argues that science and faith are not enemies but allies in our quest for truth. He offers a careful reading of the Genesis creation account, showing that it need not be in conflict with what we learn from physics, cosmology, and biology. With wit, humility, and clarity, Lennox challenges both materialist skepticism and overly rigid interpretations of Scripture, urging listeners toward a view of reality that can honor Scripture as well as the findings of science.

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Restoring Love and Community in a Divided World: A Conversation with Dr. Stephen Post

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 16 October 2025, 3:00 pm

Most of us would agree that in recent years, our society has grown more acrimonious, reactive, and violent. What role does technology play in this trajectory? And what can be done about it? On this episode, host Dr. Michael Egnor speaks to Dr. Stephen Post, author of the new book Pure Unlimited Love: Science and the Seven Paths to Inner Peace. Read More ›

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Dr. Howard Glicksman: Why Evolution Fails to Explain Life’s Design

Discovery Institute — 15 October 2025, 1:00 pm

In a universe of non-living space and matter, life is incredibly rare. And in order to stay alive, humans and other organisms have to overcome a myriad of engineering challenges. Just how is this done? And more to the point, is an evolutionary process capable of producing the solutions to these many challenges? On today's episode, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his conversation with Dr. Howard Glicksman, co-author with engineer Steve Laufmann of the new book Your Amazing Body. The book explores some of your body’s greatest marvels, including how your hearing and vision work, how you coordinate your movements, and — perhaps the greatest miracle of them all — how you developed from a single cell at conception. In Part 2, Dr. Glicksman dives into some examples of the countless challenges life must overcome. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Michael Egnor M.D. and Denyse O’Leary on Evidence for the Existence of the Soul

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 14 October 2025, 6:27 pm

The existence of the human soul is usually described as a matter of faith unprovable by science. But is that true? What if evidence exists that we each do indeed have souls and even, that life continues after death? Whether we have souls and what happens to us after death — obliteration, reincarnation, heaven, hell — is a question about Read More ›

Do or Die: How Life’s Engineering Keeps Us Alive

Discovery Institute — 13 October 2025, 9:29 pm

Is the human body a cosmic accident, or is it the handiwork of a master engineer? Today on ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid begins a two-part conversation with physician Dr. Howard Glicksman, co-author with engineer Steve Laufmann of the new book Your Amazing Body, a fresh, abridged version of their previous book Your Designed Body. In Part 1 of the conversation, Dr. Glicksman begins by contrasting unguided material causes (Darwinism) with intentional intelligent causes, emphasizing that intelligent design better explains the intricate, interdependent coherence found within the human body. He argues that Darwinian evolution only describes how life looks, failing to explain the complex functional capacity, control systems, and engineering principles required for life to actually work and survive. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Look for Part 2 in a separate episode. Visit www.idthefuture.com for more episodes!

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How Faith Can Improve Rigor and Creativity in Scientific Research

Discovery Institute — 10 October 2025, 10:51 pm

On this episode of ID The Future out of our archive, plant geneticist Richard Buggs speaks to the hosts of the Table Talk podcast about the long-standing claim that science and religion are at odds. The myth that science and religion are incompatible, also known as the warfare myth, was conjured by materialists bent on propagating a Darwinian view of life. But in reality, many of the giants of the scientific revolution, including Newton, Kepler, Boyle, and others, were inspired to do great science because of their faith, not in spite of it. The faith Dr. Buggs examples turns out to be a science starter, not a science stopper.

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Love, Lies, and Algorithms: The Dangers of Relational AI

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 9 October 2025, 3:00 pm

Today, we hear from Discovery Institute Senior Fellow, podcaster, and writer Andrew McDiarmid as he chats with In The Market radio host Janet Parshall about the dangers associated with humans having relationships with AI. The discussion focuses on what McDiarmid calls “relational AI” – AI chatbots and assistants that aim to mimic human interactions and relationships. McDiarmid discusses how relational AI can Read More ›

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Attorney Barry Arrington on Materialism, Morality, and Objective Rights

Discovery Institute — 8 October 2025, 8:50 pm

How is the job of a scientist similar to the job of an attorney? And how do you define evidence? On this ID The Future, host Casey Luskin continues his conversation with attorney and former Colorado House of Representatives member Barry Arrington about the arguments for intelligent design marshaled in Arrington’s book Unforgetting God. In this concluding segment, Arrington and Luskin review common objections to intelligent design and discuss the larger philosophical, cultural, and legal implications of the debate over intelligent design and materialism.

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An Experienced Attorney Evaluates the Evidence for Intelligent Design

Discovery Institute — 6 October 2025, 11:18 pm

Attorneys are skilled in evaluating evidence for claims and making complex ideas easier to understand, two skills that come in handy when assessing scientific theories as well. Today, Dr. Casey Luskin begins a conversation with attorney and former Colorado House of Representatives member Barry Arrington to discuss the evidence for intelligent design and his new book Unforgetting God. In Part 1 of the conversation, Arrington lays out several key arguments for intelligent design and assesses their evidential strength. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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Douglas Axe: We Have an Eye For Detecting Design

Discovery Institute — 3 October 2025, 10:05 pm

On this classic episode of ID the Future, host Eric Metaxas continues his conversation with biologist and professor Dr. Douglas Axe. The subject is Axe’s book Undeniable: How Biology Confirms Our Intuition That Life is Designed and his account of how he lost his position at a Cambridge research lab because of the implications of his research findings. Axe discusses the polarized atmosphere in science today, driven by an unreasonable commitment to materialism. Axe also talks about the reliability of our built-in design intuition and the implications of living in a designed universe. This is Part 2 of a two-episode interview.

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The Challenge of Definitively Proving Creativity in AI

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 2 October 2025, 3:00 pm

On this episode, host Robert J. Marks concludes his conversation with Dr. Georgios Mappouras about his new and interesting paper “Turing Test 2.0: The General Intelligence Threshold.” Here, Mappouras contrasts his newly proposed Turing test with the Lovelace Test, proposed by Selmer Bringsjord of Rensselaer Polytechnic, which says that “Computers will be creative if and when their output is beyond Read More ›

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How to Train Up a New Generation of James Clerk Maxwells

Discovery Institute — 1 October 2025, 1:00 pm

Is it possible to produce mathematicians today of the same caliber as greats like Sir Isaac Newton and James Clerk Maxwell? How can we help young people develop a genuine interest in mathematics, including its history, applications, and philosophy? Today on ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his conversation with mathematics educator, curriculum designer, and medical physicist Amos Tarfa. In Part 1, Amos profiled 19th century Scottish mathematician and physicist James Clerk Maxwell to help us better understand the great scientist’s contributions and how they relate to today’s debate over evolution and intelligent design. Here in Part 2, Amos tells us more about his vision for math education and how we can train up the next generation of James Clerk Maxwells.

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Faith and Reason: A Profile of Mathematician James Clerk Maxwell

Discovery Institute — 29 September 2025, 8:12 pm

He's one of the most significant scientists of the 19th century, and his work laid the foundation for modern physics, quantum mechanics, and relativity. Scottish physicist and mathematician James Clerk Maxwell is a pivotal figure in the history of modern science, and his scientific study was inspired by the belief that the works of nature reflect the work of a designing intelligence. Today, my guest is mathematics educator, curriculum designer, and medical physicist Amos Tarfa, who helps us profile Maxwell to better understand the great scientist’s contributions and lasting influence. Tarfa also unpacks how Maxwell harmonized his faith in God with his scientific reasoning, and gives examples of how his discoveries point toward deeper questions about order, design, and meaning in the universe. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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Megan Basham on Faith, a Cancer Diagnosis, and the Assassination of Charlie Kirk

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 29 September 2025, 10:35 am

It is a hard fact of life that — if we live long enough — we or those we love will receive a devastating medical diagnosis. How we cope in such difficult circumstances can both impact the course of our personal recovery and, in some cases, uplift the human condition. Christian apologist and journalist Megan Basham has walked this difficult Read More ›

Douglas Axe on the Human Element in Science

Discovery Institute — 26 September 2025, 9:52 pm

On this episode of ID the Future selected out of our vault, host Eric Metaxas begins a conversation with biologist and professor Dr. Douglas Axe on The Eric Metaxas show. Axe is the Maxwell Professor of Molecular Biology at Biola University, the founding Director of Biologic Institute, the founding Editor of BIO-Complexity, and the author of Undeniable: How Biology Confirms Our Intuition That Life is Designed. In Part 1, Dr. Axe shares how he lost his research position in Cambridge during a season of political controversy over Darwinian evolution in the UK. He also shares what he learned from his experiments in protein evolution that cast doubt on the neo-Darwinian explanation for life. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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Dr. Eric Jones: The Case for a Relational View of Personhood

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 25 September 2025, 3:00 pm

“No man is an island,” wrote poet John Donne in the 1600s, and these words still ring true today. However, much of our modern analysis and study of ourselves is turned entirely within. We focus on our needs, wants, and abilities rather than how we interact with others. How much does this individualistic view limit our ability to understand ourselves Read More ›

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Irreducible Complexity: Michael Behe Breaks Down a Key ID Concept

Discovery Institute — 24 September 2025, 4:15 pm

Could you explain irreducible complexity to a friend? How about firing off three reasons you believe it to be true? You never know when you'll be asked to explain your scientific worldview to a family member, friend, or associate. The real question: are you ready? On this ID The Future, we get another chance to learn from biochemist Dr. Michael Behe. Here, Dr. Behe discusses his journey into the field of biochemistry, his key concept of irreducible complexity, and the distinctions between intelligent design and creationism. The conversation also explores scientific and philosophical objections to intelligent design, the implications of Darwinian evolution, and the significance of recent scientific advancements in understanding life's complexity. This interview originally aired on the Truthful Hope podcast.

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Evolution News Evolves: Introducing Science and Culture Today

Discovery Institute — 22 September 2025, 9:44 pm

For over 20 years, Evolution News has offered readers exclusive daily news and commentary on the evidence for intelligent design and the debate over evolution. Now, with a fresh design, a broader vision, and new name, Evolution News has become Science and Culture Today. On this episode of ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid discusses the rebrand with two key architects of the new website, Discovery Institute's Director of Communications Rob Crowther and our Director of Media & Brand Nathan Jacobson. Discussion covers the history of the site from its beginnings in 2004 to the rationale and features of the new site, along with the importance of scientific discernment. Visit the new site at www.scienceandculture.com.

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How Modern Physics Reveals Purpose in the Universe

Discovery Institute — 19 September 2025, 7:38 pm

Scientists agree that our universe is finely tuned for the existence of life. But is the fine-tuning a happy accident or the result of foresight? On this ID The Future, host Brian Miller continues his conversation with Rabbi Elie Feder and Rabbi Aaron Zimmer, hosts of the Physics to God podcast. In the conclusion to their discussion, Feder and Zimmer explain why the cosmological constant is one of their favorite examples of fine-tuning. They also share the importance of exploring the teleological causes, or purposes, of natural phenomena. Using modern physics, say Feder and Zimmer, an objective justification for the purpose of the universe can be made. Enjoy this provocative and illuminating discussion! This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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A New Test to Measure Understanding in AI Models

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 18 September 2025, 3:00 pm

On this episode of Mind Matters News, host Robert J. Marks continues his conversation with Dr. Georgios Mappouras about his new and interesting paper “Turing Test 2.0: The General Intelligence Threshold.” The idea is whether or not AI is intelligent, and the classical definitions of this come from the Turing Test. In Part 1 of this conversation, Dr. Mappouras explained Read More ›

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Why Evolutionary Psychology Can’t Explain Heroism

Discovery Institute — 17 September 2025, 1:00 pm

If evolutionary psychology explains every complex human behavior as well as its opposite, does it really explain anything? Today, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his conversation with geologist and attorney Dr. Casey Luskin about which scientific theory of origins best explains human altruism, cooperation, and morality. McDiarmid recently engaged in some lively discussion under his recent article exploring scientific worldview in the Marvel universe. Specifically, some readers claimed evolution can explain human kindness, heroism, and teamwork. So McDiarmid turned to Luskin, who has spent time researching human origins as well as attempts to explain the origin of human behaviors. Here in Part 2, the pair zoom into altruism to see if evolution can adequately explain it. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Which Origins Theory Better Explains Altruism and Morality?

Discovery Institute — 15 September 2025, 10:26 pm

Do evolutionary models adequately account for the reality of human altruism, moral conviction, and cooperation? Does intelligent design offer a better explanation? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid begins discussing these questions and more with geologist and attorney Casey Luskin. McDiarmid's recent article exploring scientific worldview in the Marvel universe generated some lively back-and-forth in the comments section, particularly about whether evolutionary processes could account for humans looking out for other humans. Luskin tackles the question head-on, putting it in the larger context of evolutionary psychology's penchant for explaining every possible human behavior through the lens of a Darwinian past. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Look for Part 2 in a separate episode.

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Sam Brownback on the Urgency of Religious Freedom

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 15 September 2025, 11:10 am

Religious freedom — the ability to live and act according to one’s faith — is one of our most fundamental human rights. But as Western society has secularized, the importance of religious freedom seems to have been eclipsed by other concerns. Indeed, freedom of religion is too often devalued in the public square, and in some places in the world, Read More ›

Physics to God: Rational Arguments for Design in the Universe

Discovery Institute — 12 September 2025, 11:29 pm

Do you recognize the number 1/137.035999206? It might seem arbitrary, but if the fine structure constant were any higher or lower than it is, you might not exist! On this episode of ID The Future, host Brian Miller kicks off an engaging conversation with Rabbi Elie Feder and Rabbi Aaron Zimmer, hosts of the Physics to God podcast. Feder has a PhD in mathematics and has published articles on graph theory. Zimmer has training in physics, and has studied mathematics, philosophy, and psychology. In Part 1 of a two-part discussion, Feder and Zimmer share their background and the inspiration for their podcast. They also explain their focus on the constants of physics and what they mean. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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Turing Test 2.0: A Better Way to Test Machine Intelligence?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 11 September 2025, 4:46 pm

On this episode of Mind Matters News, host Robert J. Marks speaks with Dr. Georgios Mappouras about his proposal for a more rigorous test for measuring artificial intelligence. Mappouras argues that the original Turing Test is not enough to determine true intelligence in AI systems, as it focuses too much on simulating human-like conversation rather than demonstrating genuine understanding and problem-solving Read More ›

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Evolution’s Stubborn Icons: Peppered Moths and Miller-Urey Still Shambling Along

Discovery Institute — 10 September 2025, 7:21 pm

By now, you might think that the icons of evolution that Dr. Jonathan Wells wrote about 24 years ago have been put out of our misery. And indeed, much has changed, and these icons have even less ground to stand on than they did back then. But they don’t call them icons for nothing! Whatever else they are, they’re stubborn, and it’s not uncommon to see evidence of them still popping up in popular science articles, cartoons, movies, and even scientific journals. On this episode of ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes back freelance science reporter David Coppedge to give us a few recent examples of the icons of evolution that keep shambling along, including recent sightings of the peppered moth myth and the Miller-Urey experiments.

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Evaluating Evolutionary Claims By Thinking Like a Scientist

Discovery Institute — 8 September 2025, 11:21 pm

To critically evaluate scientific claims, we must think like a scientist. But what are the qualities of a good scientist? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes molecular biologist and research scientist Dr. Marci Reeves to the show to remind us how to think like a scientist to properly assess the claims of important scientific theories, including the neo-Darwinian account of life and the universe.Key principles discussed include following the evidence where it leads, distinguishing raw data from interpretation, defining terms clearly, acknowledging that invention requires information, and more.

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Brian Miller on the Return of Natural Theology

Discovery Institute — 5 September 2025, 10:18 pm

Influenced by a long line of materialist thinkers, Charles Darwin proposed the mechanism of natural selection as a substitute for God. But how does his theory’s explanatory power measure up to recent scientific discoveries? On this ID The Future selected out of the archive, physicist Brian Miller discusses the resurgence of natural theology in modern science with Pat Flynn, co-host of the Philosophy for the People podcast. Natural theology advances arguments for God based on reason and the discoveries of science. It’s an ancient pursuit that fell out of favor in the 19th century as a materialist account of life’s origins took center stage. But scientific findings of the last century point to mind, not a mindless process, as the likeliest explanation for a life-friendly universe. As a result, the pendulum is swinging back to teleology, ushering in a new heyday for natural theology. This is Part 1 of a 2-part discussion.

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Journey to Longevity: Insights From Inventor Hal Philipp

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 4 September 2025, 3:00 pm

Today, hosts Robert J. Marks and Bradley Norris speak again with Hal Philipp, inventor of the modern touchscreen, about his entrepreneurial work in health and nutrition. After selling his technology company, Hal turned his focus to personal health, particularly nutrition. Here, he discusses his unique philosophy on wellness. Philipp touches on the dangers of processed foods, the importance of eating Read More ›

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How to Respond to Common Criticisms of Intelligent Design

Discovery Institute — 3 September 2025, 1:00 pm

God of the gaps. Lucy as human ancestor. Co-option to explain away irreducible complexity. Perhaps you've heard some of the most common objections to intelligent design, but do you know how to adequately respond to them? On today's ID The Future, geologist and lawyer Casey Luskin explains how to refute these and other objections to intelligent design as he concludes a conversation with host Jacob Vasquez that originally aired on the Truthful Hope podcast. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Casey Luskin on the Core Concepts of Intelligent Design

Discovery Institute — 1 September 2025, 6:58 pm

Sometimes, it’s good to go back to the basics. Whether you’re brand new to intelligent design or you’re looking for a way to share the basics with a friend or family member, we’ve got you covered today. On this ID The Future, enjoy the first half of a discussion with geologist and attorney Dr. Casey Luskin on the basics of intelligent design that originally aired on the Truthful Hope podcast hosted by Jacob Vasquez. Here, Dr. Luskin unpacks two core concepts of intelligent design: specified complexity and irreducible complexity. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Share this podcast with a friend and start a conversation!

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David Berlinski on the Immaterial, Alan Turing, and the Mystery of Life Itself

Discovery Institute — 30 August 2025, 2:19 am

Today's episode of ID The Future again spotlights the book Science After Babel. Author, philosopher, and mathematician David Berlinski and host Andrew McDiarmid conclude a three-part conversation teasing out various elements of the work. The pair discuss the puzzling relationship between purely immaterial mathematical concepts and the material world; World War II codebreaker and computing pioneer Alan Turing, depicted in the 2014 film The Imitation Game; and the sense that the field of physics, once seemingly on the cusp of a theory of everything, finds itself at an impasse. Then there is the mystery of life itself. If scientists thought that its origin and nature would soon yield to scientific reductionism, they have been disappointed. This is Part 3 of a three-part conversation.

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Beyond Materialism: Bruce Gordon on the Compelling Case for Idealism

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 28 August 2025, 3:00 pm

Over the years, multiple explanations for the nature of reality have been proposed. Physicalists will claim that the only things that exist are physical matter. However, others in the dualist camp maintain that there are non-physical aspects of reality, such as immaterial concepts like numbers, logic, or a person’s mental state. Finally, we have idealists, who hold that the fundamental Read More ›

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What Cancer Reveals About the Limits of Darwinian Evolutionary Processes

Discovery Institute — 27 August 2025, 4:52 pm

We all know people who have suffered with cancer. It's a major affliction of our modern world and many scientists are studying it closely to find a cure. Karl Krueger is one such scientist who has spent much of his career in cancer research. Today, host Casey Luskin speaks with Krueger about his work and what cancer can teach us about the limits of Darwinian processes. In his tenure at the National Cancer Institute, Krueger had a front-row seat to cancer research progress. After reviewing countless research projects and mountains of data, Krueger learned that cancer doesn't create new features at the molecular leveI, it degrades them. And breakage of aboriginal design is a hallmark of Darwinian processes. Krueger explains in this illuminating discussion.

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From Fantastic Four to First Causes: Why Science Has Eclipsed Darwin

Discovery Institute — 25 August 2025, 3:41 pm

If you noticed a copy of Charles Darwin’s famous nineteenth-century volume On The Origin of Species in someone's house, what would you think? Perhaps they’re committed materialists. Perhaps they simply admire Darwin’s work as a naturalist. Or perhaps they keep it around as a cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific hubris. Either way, you’d want to consider whether their experiences of the world around them matched their scientific worldview. Today on ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid explores the tenets of scientific materialism to see if they match our observations of the world around us. McDiarmid also shares a clip from Dr. Stephen Meyer as he highlights just one of the scientific discoveries of the last century showing that the 19th century science that produced today's scientific atheism has been eclipsed.

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David Berlinski Challenges Prevailing Beliefs in Modern Biology and Physics

Discovery Institute — 22 August 2025, 5:24 pm

On today’s ID the Future, Science After Babel author David Berlinski continues discussing his newly released book from Discovery Institute Press. In this conversation with host Andrew McDiarmid, Berlinski explores a chicken-and-egg problem facing origin-of-life research, a blindness afflicting some evolutionists focused on human origins, and the mystery of why science almost flowered in ancient Greece, early Medieval China, and in the Muslim-Arab Medieval Empire, but did not, having to await the scientific revolution that swept through Europe beginning in the sixteenth century. Check out the endorsements and get your copy, paperback or e-book, at scienceafterbabel.com.

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Hal Philipp on The Perils and Profits of Invention

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 21 August 2025, 3:00 pm

On this episode, hosts Robert J. Marks and Bradley Norris conclude a three-part interview with Hal Philipp, inventor of the modern touchscreen. In the previous two segments, Philipp discusses the inventions that culminated in his revolutionary touchscreen as well as its aftermath. This week coves some of the lessons Hal has learned over his career, with some questions from a Read More ›

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In a Universe of Non-Living Matter, Communication Sets Us Apart

Discovery Institute — 20 August 2025, 1:00 pm

Meaningful communication is found across all life forms, from the signals sent by trees through fungal networks to the deep conversations we can have with each other. It's one feature that makes life uniquely different from a vast universe of non-living matter. But where does our ability to communicate come from? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid continues his conversation with physicist and author Dr. Eric Hedin about the remarkable features that separate living systems from non-life. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Look for Part 1 in a separate episode.

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Physicist Eric Hedin: Information Processing as a Hallmark of Life

Discovery Institute — 18 August 2025, 7:39 pm

What if life isn’t just a collection of molecules bumping around? What if every living thing, from a single cell to a human being, is doing something much more surprising—processing information and communicating in complex, purposeful ways? On this episode of ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid begins a two-part conversation with Dr. Eric Hedin, a physicist and author who’s been asking bold questions about the hidden patterns of life. He’s argued recently that the way living systems handle information—and communicate—is more likely evidence of intelligent design, not blind, undirected processes. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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How Modern Materialistic Science Resembles a Tower of Babel

Discovery Institute — 15 August 2025, 11:09 pm

On today’s ID the Future out of the vault, host Andrew McDiarmid rings up author and philosopher David Berlinski in Paris to discuss his book Science After Babel. Berlinski is at his cultivated best as the two discuss everything from the biblical Tower of Babel as a metaphor for modern materialistic science, to his friendship with the brilliant and colorful French intellectual Marcel Schützenberger, a world-class mathematician who was self-taught and, as we learn here, came within a hair’s breadth of being swept up in the Chinese Revolution. Berlinski also reflects on the seminal 1966 WISTAR symposium, which laid out some mathematical challenges to Darwinism, challenges that Berlinski says remain unanswered to this day. At the same time, Berlinski gives Read More ›

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Defending a Patent: Lessons from Hal Philipp’s Entrepreneurial Journey

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 14 August 2025, 3:00 pm

Today Robert J. Marks and Bradley Norris continue their conversation with Hal Philipp, inventor of the modern touchscreen. In Part 1, we covered several of Hal’s earlier inventions, including the creation of the charge transfer sensor. Today, we’ll be hearing about how the sensor led to touchscreens as we know them today and what happened in their aftermath. Philipp also Read More ›

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On Suffering, Intelligent Design Provides a Better Lens Than Darwinism

Discovery Institute — 13 August 2025, 4:58 pm

The presence of evil and suffering calls for justification. But which scientific view of life is better placed to help us address these issues? Today, host Andrew McDiarmid speaks with Tova Forman about her recent article tackling the profound question of suffering and the problem of evil. Tova argues that intelligent design (ID) proponents are better equipped to answer this challenge than those who adhere to neo-Darwinism or a materialistic view of life. Learn why in this stimulating discussion.

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Casey Luskin Calls on the Smithsonian to Get It Right on Human Origins

Discovery Institute — 11 August 2025, 8:52 pm

The Smithsonian Institution has recently been called out by the Trump Administration for pushing "one-sided, divisive political narratives." But American history isn’t the only domain in which the Smithsonian is advancing misinformation. The National Museum of Natural History’s Hall of Human Origins vastly distorts the scientific evidence on human evolution, seeking to convince visitors that there’s nothing special about us as human beings. On today's ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid talks to attorney and geologist Dr. Casey Luskin to dissect his explosive new editorial in the New York Post calling on the Smithsonian Museum to stop "miseducating the public" on the history of human beings.

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Listen to the Prologue to Stephen Meyer’s Darwin’s Doubt

Discovery Institute — 8 August 2025, 7:20 pm

On today's episode out of the archive, host Andrew McDiarmid narrates the prologue to Stephen Meyer's New York Times bestselling book Darwin's Doubt: The Explosion of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design. Whether you're new to Meyer's book or read it years ago, you're likely to hear something new as you listen. Learn more at www.darwinsdoubt.com.

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The Accidental Inventor: An Interview with Hal Philipp

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 7 August 2025, 4:24 pm

On this episode, hosts Robert J. Marks and Bradley Norris begin a conversation with Hal Philipp, the man behind the modern touchscreen and a prolific inventor with an impressive 98 U.S. patents. Hal shares his story and some of the lessons he’s learned over a career in invention. Hal’s journey began with a stint at the National Bureau of Standards Read More ›

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From Dead Ends to Design: Meyer & Tour on Life’s Information Code

Discovery Institute — 6 August 2025, 1:00 pm

On today's episode, enjoy the second half of a discussion between philosopher of science Dr. Steven Meyer and synthetic organic chemist Dr. James Tour about the origin of life and the explanatory power of intelligent design. The conversation, hosted by Peter Robinson, transitions from the "dead end" of current origin of life research to the crucial concept of information. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Look for Part 1 in a separate episode. We’re grateful to the producers of Uncommon Knowledge for permission to share this conversation here. Uncommon Knowledge is a production of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.

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The Unsolved Mystery of Life’s Origin: Stephen Meyer & James Tour

Discovery Institute — 4 August 2025, 9:29 pm

How did life originate? Does Darwin’s theory of evolution have an answer for the origin of life? On this ID The Future, enjoy the first half of an insightful conversation between philosopher of science Dr. Stephen Meyer and synthetic organic chemist Dr. James Tour as they unravel important issues around the origin of life. Dr. Tour is a professor at Rice University, renowned for his work in nanotechnology and his skepticism toward the current scientific models explaining the origin of life. Dr. Meyer is author of Darwin’s Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design. The pair are interviewed by Peter Robinson, host of Uncommon Knowledge. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Look for Part 2 in a separate episode.

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We are Children of Light and Water: Dr. Michael Denton

Discovery Institute — 1 August 2025, 10:37 pm

On this episode of ID the Future from the vault, biochemist and medical doctor Michael Denton continues his conversation with host Sarah Chaffee about his book Children of Light: The Astonishing Properties of Sunlight That Make Life Possible, part of his Privileged Species book series that also includes The Miracle of Man, The Miracle of the Cell, The Wonder of Water, and Fire-Maker. Here, Dr. Denton speaks of the properties of both light and water. From photosynthesis to metabolism to circulation, and even from plate tectonics to the hydrologic cycle, both have exactly what it takes — in “amazingly fortuitous” ways — to make complex organic life possible. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Exploring the Immaterial Aspects of Thought and Understanding

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 31 July 2025, 4:00 pm

Today, Dr. Selmer Bringsjord joins guest host Pat Flynn to discuss a compelling argument for the immateriality of mathematical objects and the human person. It’s an argument Bringsjord develops in his chapter “Mathematical Objects Are Non-Physical, So We Are Too” in the book Minding the Brain. Building on the work of philosophers like James Ross and John Searle, the argument suggests Read More ›

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Bill Dembski: Pursuing Truth and Trust in AI and LLMs

Discovery Institute — 30 July 2025, 8:03 pm

How does AI stack up when it comes to accurately representing the theory of intelligent design? Today, host Andrew McDiarmid speaks with mathematician and philosopher Dr. William Dembski about the reliability and accuracy of large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and Bard, particularly concerning intelligent design. This second half of the conversation highlights the importance of independent verification when using AI, as LLMs can “hallucinate” or generate false or biased information. Dembski advises an approach of verify, then trust, turning the old Russian proverb on its head. McDiarmid and Dembski also explore the potential for AI to enhance human capabilities and education if used judiciously, rather than becoming a crutch that erodes critical thinking. But that will require that we Read More ›

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Can AI Accurately Portray Intelligent Design?

Discovery Institute — 28 July 2025, 8:48 pm

How accurately do AI models like ChatGPT, Grok, and Bard portray the theory of intelligent design? Can large language models rise above the biases of sources like Wikipedia to help level the playing field for intelligent design? Today, host Andrew McDiarmid begins a conversation with mathematician and philosopher Dr. William Dembski to address the relationship between AI and ID. In recent years, Dr. Dembski has been putting LLMs through their paces to see if they can accurately and fairly discuss and portray intelligent design arguments and concepts. Here, Dembski discusses what he discovered as he used various methods to interrogate these complex algorithms. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Look for Part 2 in a separate episode.

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Michael Denton Explains How Light Sustains Human Life

Discovery Institute — 25 July 2025, 7:28 pm

On this episode of ID the Future from the archive, biochemist and medical doctor Michael Denton explores a “miraculous convergence of properties” for life. The topic is Denton's book Children of Light: The Astonishing Properties of Sunlight That Make Us Possible, part of his Privileged Species book series that also includes The Miracle of Man, The Miracle of the Cell, The Wonder of Water, and Fire-Maker. Here, Denton lets his astonishment flow freely in an interview with host Sarah Chaffee, with topics ranging from the light of the sun to key chemicals here on earth. "The atmosphere lets through just the light we need," says Denton, "and the sun puts out just the light we need. It's a remarkable coincidence...The atmosphere does just what is needed for life on earth." Taken together, it’s an astonishing array of evidence showing how finely tuned Earth is for human life. And the common-sense conclusion, Denton says, is that a designing intelligence is the most adequate explanation for the properties on our planet that make life like us possible. This is Part 1 of a two-part discussion.

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Dr. Michael Egnor Reads From His New Book The Immortal Mind

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 24 July 2025, 3:00 pm

On today’s episode, Dr. Michael Egnor reads the Introduction to his new book, co-authored with Denyse O’Leary, The Immortal Mind: A Neurosurgeon’s Case for the Existence of the Soul, now available from Worthy Books. In this reading, Dr. Egnor shares his journey from being a medical student who believed science could explain everything, including how consciousness emerges from the brain and Read More ›

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Exploring Intelligent Design: A Conversation with Casey Luskin and Kristin Marais

Discovery Institute — 23 July 2025, 1:00 pm

Does intelligent design have a better answer for the origin of the universe and the origin of life than the standard neo-Darwinian explanation? Today, we’ll enjoy the second half of a conversation about the scientific theory of intelligent design with geologist and attorney Dr. Casey Luskin and his wife, chemistry teacher Kristin Marais. In Part 2, Casey and Kristin discuss why intelligent design can offer a more satisfying explanation for the origin of the universe than competing theories. Casey also reviews the evidence for the fine-tuning of the laws and constants of the universe to allow for life, and the argument for design evidenced in the natural world. Kristin provides more detail about an important resource offered at Discovery Institute: her online high school chemistry course, and what students will get out of it. And if you have an interest in engaging in the debate over evolution and the origin of life and the universe, Kristin and Casey have tips and advice on what to study and how to foster dialogue on these important topics.

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Losing the Plot: How Materialism Can Blind Scientists to Purpose

Discovery Institute — 21 July 2025, 10:40 pm

Is intelligent design a viable scientific theory? Why do some still insist on calling it pseudoscience? Maybe you’re wondering these things yourself, or have a friend, family member, or co-worker who has these types of questions. On this ID The Future, scientist and attorney Dr. Casey Luskin and his wife, chemistry teacher Kristin Marais, explain how a materialistic worldview causes many scientists and science communicators to lose the plot and forget what science is all about. This is the first half of a conversation with host Daniel Ray on the Apologetics Profile podcast. Look for Part 2 in a separate episode.

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Walter Bradley: The Origin Story of an Intelligent Design Classic

Discovery Institute — 19 July 2025, 12:45 am

We are grieving the recent loss of Walter Bradley, a longtime Fellow of the Center for Science and Culture at Discovery Institute and namesake of the Institute’s Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence. Today, we bring you the second half of Robert J. Marks’s 2020 interview with Walter Bradley, co-author of the seminal 1984 intelligent design book The Mystery of Life’s Origin. In this half of the conversation, Bradley and Marks discuss the book’s first release, including the cultural context that made finding a non-religious publisher an uphill battle, and discussion of some of the endorsements and early reviews, including responses from distinguished scientists Robert Jastrow, Dean Kenyon, Robert Shapiro, and Fritz Schaefer. Bradley and Marks also discuss some scholars who more recently have testified to how the book, and Bradley, dramatically influenced their intellectual careers.

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Closing Arguments: J.P. Moreland’s Case for the Soul

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 17 July 2025, 3:00 pm

Today, guest host Pat Flynn concludes his conversation with Dr. J.P. Moreland discussing arguments for the existence of the soul. Moreland argues that a strong, cummulative case can be made for the soul, and on this segment he reviews some of his top arguments. First, the existence of conscious states that have a “what it’s like” quality cannot be fully Read More ›

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A Tale of Two Doctors: Finding Purpose in Medicine and Science

Discovery Institute — 16 July 2025, 4:06 pm

On this episode, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes Dr. Stephen Iacoboni, an award-winning cancer researcher and medical oncologist with 40 years of experience, to discuss the undeniable element of purpose in all living things. The conversation dives deep into the question of whether this purpose can be explained purely by the physical world, or if it points to a source beyond nature and science. Dr. Iacoboni shares his unique reconciliation between faith and science, as explored in his latest book, Telos: The Scientific Basis for a Life of Purpose. He recounts his personal journey and profound divergence from the "mechanistic consensus" prevalent during his medical school years in the 1960s and 70s, which viewed organisms, including humans, as "biologic machines without souls, products of an unguided process."

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How Evolutionary Thinking Delayed a Nobel Prize Discovery

Discovery Institute — 14 July 2025, 5:48 pm

For decades, evolutionary biologists considered non-coding regions of DNA as evolutionary junk, a paradigm that long dissuaded researchers from studying these little-understood portions of the genome. But a series of discoveries starting in 2008 has forced a major change in thinking about so-called "junk" DNA. Many examples of function have since been identified for the non-coding regions of DNA, and more are being uncovered each year. On this ID The Future, Dr. Casey Luskin reports on a pair of American biologists who were recently awarded the Nobel Prize for their discovery of function in what was previously considered junk DNA.

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Walter Bradley on The Mystery of Life’s Origin

Discovery Institute — 12 July 2025, 12:08 am

We are grieving the recent loss of Walter Bradley, a longtime Fellow of the Center for Science and Culture at Discovery Institute and namesake of the Institute’s Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence. So today, out of our archive, we bring you the first half of Robert J. Marks's 2020 interview with Walter Bradley, co-author of the seminal 1984 intelligent design book The Mystery of Life’s Origin. The book is now available in a revised and expanded edition with updates from multiple contributors discussing the progress (or lack of it) in origins science in the 35 years since the book’s original publication. In this first of two podcasts, Bradley discusses the history of the attempts to explain life’s origin naturalistically, and how the three authors of the 1984 book came together to shake up the world of origin-of-life science. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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Which Theory of Mind Best Explains Reality? More with Dr. J.P. Moreland

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 10 July 2025, 3:00 pm

Is reality merely the sum of our primitive parts? Or is there something greater that informs and unifies us? On today’s episode, guest host Pat Flynn continues a conversation with Dr. J.P. Moreland to discuss the implications of competing metaphysical theories of the mind and which theory best accounts for the existence of the soul. In this segment, Moreland and Read More ›

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“Do You Believe in Evolution?” Stephen Meyer Responds to Joe Rogan

Discovery Institute — 9 July 2025, 4:12 pm

Do you believe in evolution? That’s a good question that could start a very productive conversation about the origin and development of life on Earth. But the first steps are clarifying what the word “evolution” actually means and why unguided evolutionary processes are limited in power and scope. Today, host Andrew McDiarmid invites you to revisit a segment from Dr. Stephen Meyer's 2023 interview with Joe Rogan. Meyer answers Rogan's probing question comprehensively. Yes, he tells Rogan, he believes in “real evolutionary processes,” but he also believes in the limitation of those evolutionary processes, and he takes several minutes to unpack and explain some of the challenges the standard neo-Darwinian account of life faces today. McDiarmid follows up by summarizing Meyer's response and sharing excerpts from Meyer's book Darwin's Doubt to explain the importance of Meyer's arguments to the debate over evolution.

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Examples of Recurring Design Logic in Living Systems

Discovery Institute — 8 July 2025, 12:12 am

Architects, painters, musicians, and other creators apply recognizable patterns of thinking to their craft, resulting in a trademark style that sets them apart from others. Can recognizable patterns of thinking also be found in nature's design? On this episode of ID the Future, Dr. Jonathan McLatchie, a resident biologist and fellow at Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, dives into the microscopic world to explore examples of what he calls recurring design logic in living systems. These recurring themes and logic are widespread in diverse, often unrelated biological systems. On the perspective of intelligent design, they'd be expected. But an unguided evolutionary perspective would have difficulty explaining this compelling line of evidence.

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Dis-Inherit the Wind: Film Debunks Hollywood’s Icon of Evolution

Discovery Institute — 4 July 2025, 3:00 pm

On this ID The Future from the vault, host David Boze interviews filmmaker Fred Foote, writer and producer of the feature-length drama Alleged, which seeks to tell the real story behind the infamous 1925 Scopes Trial in Dayton, Tennessee, which pitched Darwinian evolution against belief in God. Through his own research, Foote discovered that Inherit the Wind was "almost exactly wrong" on many crucial points. Foote discusses how his movie strives to present both sides in the famous trial as fairly as possible.

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Foundations of the Soul: A Conversation with J.P. Moreland

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 3 July 2025, 4:48 pm

Today, guest host Pat Flynn welcomes Dr. J.P. Moreland to the Mind Matters News podcast to discuss which of the main metaphysical theories can best account for the existence of the soul. Moreland argues that the soul is a real, non-physical entity that has consciousness and exists separately from the physical brain. He presents three empirically equivalent theories – strict Read More ›

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How Intelligent Design Has Flourished In Spite of the Scopes Effect

Discovery Institute — 2 July 2025, 1:00 pm

The Scopes "Monkey" trial of 1925 has cast a long shadow over the evolution debate in the last century, thanks in large part to the Hollywood film Inherit the Wind, which caricatured the trial and promoted stereotypes that still persist today. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid continues a conversation with Dr. Casey Luskin about the long history of the Scopes effect in science and how intelligent design has managed to flourish in spite of it. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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A Century Later, the Spirit of Scopes is Alive and Well

Discovery Institute — 30 June 2025, 8:30 pm

The Scopes “Monkey” Trial Turns 100 this year. According to secularist legend, the Scopes trial represented a great showdown between ignorant, fundamentalist religion and enlightened, scientific progress. But what really went down in 1925? And a hundred years later, is science still suffering from the Scopes effect? On this episode of ID The Future, Dr. Casey Luskin begins a conversation with host Andrew McDiarmid about the famous trial, the play and movie based on it that reinforced unrealistic stereotypes, and some of the flashpoints in science since the trial that have fanned the flames of the debate over evolution. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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Meyer, Behe, and Lennox on Science, God, and Darwin’s Other Doubt

Discovery Institute — 27 June 2025, 8:37 pm

Every Friday we pull a gem out of our archive for those who may not have enjoyed it yet. On today’s ID the Future out of the vault, Oxford’s John Lennox, Lehigh University’s Michael Behe, and Darwin’s Doubt author Stephen Meyer continue a probing conversation with host Peter Robinson on what they see as the growing evidence for intelligent design and the scientific and philosophical problems with Darwinian materialism. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. This interview appears on ID The Future with the kind permission of Peter Robinson and the Hoover Institution.

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A Liberating Alternative to Methodological Naturalism in Science

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 26 June 2025, 3:00 pm

Today, hosts Robert J. Marks and Angus Menuge welcome Dr. Robert Larmer to discuss methodological naturalism, the topic of his chapter in Minding the Brain, a recent anthology exploring the mind-body debate. Methodological naturalism is the view that science should only appeal to natural causes and never to supernatural or non-physical causes, even if they exist. Dr. Larmer argues that methodological Read More ›

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Artist Jody Sjogren on How Intelligent Agents Bring Ideas to Life

Discovery Institute — 25 June 2025, 3:47 pm

How does an intelligent agent go from idea to artifact? What can the process of art teach us about the evidence of design in the natural world? Today, medical illustrator and artist Jody Sjogren joins host Andrew McDiarmid to discuss the similarities between machines and living organisms and the insights art can give us about the mind of intelligent designers. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Artist Jody Sjogren on Illustrating the Icons of Evolution

Discovery Institute — 23 June 2025, 9:25 pm

Artistic license has been used to promote Darwinian evolution since the late nineteenth century. Icons of evolution have appeared in textbooks, journals, magazines, and other visual media to promote a materialist worldview that is light on evidence and weighty on assumption. But in 2000, a book came along – Icons of Evolution – that finally exposed the myths, exaggerations, and outright fakery behind ten of the most infamous icons of Darwin’s theory. Today, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes the illustrator of that ground-breaking book, medical illustrator and artist Jody Sjogren, to discuss her experience of bringing these famous icons to life and working with author Dr. Jonathan Wells on the project. Jody also shares some of her memories of Dr. Wells, Read More ›

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Behe, Meyer, & Lennox: The Evidence for Design is Growing

Discovery Institute — 20 June 2025, 8:59 pm

On today’s ID the Future out of the vault, Uncommon Knowledge’s Peter Robinson sits down with Michael Behe, John Lennox, and Stephen Meyer, three of the leading voices in science and academia on the case for an intelligent designer of life and the universe. In the first half of a wide-ranging conversation in Fiesole, Italy, they explore the growing problems with modern evolutionary theory and the increasing amount of evidence, uncovered by a rigorous application of the scientific method, that points to intentional design of the physical world. The conversation appears here with the generous permission of Peter Robinson and the Hoover Institution. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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A Neurosurgeon Weighs in On Near-Death Experiences

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 19 June 2025, 3:00 pm

On this episode of Mind Matters News, host Robert J. Marks concludes his four-part conversation with neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor about his new book The Immortal Mind. In this final segment, the evidence for the reality of near-death experiences (NDEs) is examined, including well-documented cases such as that of Pam Reynolds, whose NDE occurred during a highly-monitored neurosurgical procedure. Marks Read More ›

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Brian Miller on Advancing Biology Through an Engineering Lens

Discovery Institute — 18 June 2025, 1:59 pm

Can viewing life as designed enhance scientific research? Today, host Andrew McDiarmid speaks with physicist Dr. Brian Miller about the fruitful research that can result when engineering principles are applied to the study of biological systems. Dr. Miller is part of a group that brings together engineers, scientists, and scholars to demonstrate how engineering principles, patterns, and tools can deepen the understanding of biology. The group hosts an annual Conference on Engineering in Living Systems, hosted by Discovery Institute, that highlights new insights and research projects in this bold new approach to the study of life. Here Dr. Miller gives the lowdown on current research as well as this year's conference.

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Denyse O’Leary: Why Materialism Can’t Explain the Mind

Discovery Institute — 16 June 2025, 11:50 pm

Is the soul a myth? Does your mind really just boil down to brain function? On today's ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid speaks with journalist Denyse O'Leary about surprising findings out of neuroscience that shatter materialist assumptions. O'Leary is co-author with Dr. Michael Egnor of The Immortal Mind: A Neurosurgeon's Case for the Existence of the Soul. In this conversation, O'Leary reports on recent findings about the origin of consciousness, the challenge that near-death experiences present to materialism, and why the only way to move past materialism is to reject it fully as a model.

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Stephen Meyer: God Behind the Birth of Science and the Cosmos

Discovery Institute — 13 June 2025, 9:27 pm

Do we have to choose between science and God? Absolutely not, says philosopher of science Dr. Stephen Meyer. In fact, theistic ideas about nature actually inspired the rise of modern science. On today’s ID the Future from the archive, Return of the God Hypothesis author Stephen Meyer and radio host Michael Medved discuss the arguments presented in a series of short videos featuring Dr. Meyer that explore the increasingly strong scientific case for intelligent design and for the idea that the universe is the product of a transcendent mind.

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Neuroscience, Free Will, and the Soul

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 12 June 2025, 4:33 pm

Join host Dr. Robert J. Marks for the third segment of his conversation with neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor about evidence he presents in his new book The Immortal Mind: A Neurosurgeon’s Case for the Existence of the Soul. Today’s discussion tackles three profound questions. Number one, do I have free will? Number two, can consciousness be duplicated? And number three, what Read More ›

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Michael Egnor Reads From His New Book The Immortal Mind

Discovery Institute — 11 June 2025, 1:00 pm

On this ID The Future, Dr. Michael Egnor reads the Introduction to his new book The Immortal Mind: A Neurosurgeon's Case for the Existence of the Soul, now available from Worthy Books. In this reading, Dr. Egnor shares his journey from being a medical student who believed science could explain everything, including how consciousness emerges from the brain and whether we have a soul, to a neurosurgeon who questioned the conventional materialist view. He discusses how years of operating on and examining patients with brain damage led him to wonder how large parts of the brain could be removed without affecting a person's mind or their ability to think, reason, believe, and desire. His personal story, including a profound experience in a hospital chapel during a family crisis, became a turning point that challenged his atheism and led him to believe that the immaterial aspects of our minds are real and that nature is an open system, not a closed one.

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Jay Richards on the “Ground Clearing” Work of Jonathan Wells

Discovery Institute — 9 June 2025, 7:23 pm

Before the positive case for intelligent design can be received effectively, the case against the Darwinian evolutionary mechanism must be clearly laid out. One man who was instrumental in this initial "ground clearing operation" was biologist Dr. Jonathan Wells, our friend and colleague who passed away in 2024. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes Dr. Jay Richards back to the podcast to share his memories of Dr. Wells and discuss the significance of Wells's life and work.

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Alex Schadenberg and Roger Foley on the Cruelty of Canada’s Euthanasia Regime

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 9 June 2025, 5:27 am

Euthanasia is bad medicine and even worse public policy. Once a society accepts the principle that killing is a splendid answer to suffering, the kinds and extent of suffering that come to be seen as appropriate reasons to cause death expands continually. Often, this suicide agenda — let’s call it — advances so slowly that, over time, people become acclimated Read More ›

Engineered Complexity in the Microbial World

Discovery Institute — 6 June 2025, 10:18 pm

On this ID the Future from the archive, host Jonathan Witt speaks to molecular biologist and professor Dustin Van Hofwegen about his research into the engineered complexity in microbial life. Hofwegen shares his research on the famous decades-long E. coli evolution experiment conducted by Richard Lenski, which showed the sudden appearance of an ability to utilize citrate after many generations. However, Van Hofwegen's own experiments demonstrated that this "evolutionary innovation" actually points to the intelligent design built into living systems instead of an undirected process like natural selection.

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From Operating Room to Chapel: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey to Faith

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 5 June 2025, 4:54 pm

Today, host Dr. Robert J. Marks continues his conversation with neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor about his new book The Immortal Mind: A Neurosurgeon’s Case for the Existence of the Soul. In this segment, Dr. Egnor describes how a crisis involving his infant son’s potential autism led him to have a profound spiritual experience in a hospital chapel, causing him to embrace Read More ›

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Physicist Brian Miller: The Non-Algorithmic Nature of Life

Discovery Institute — 4 June 2025, 9:41 pm

For decades, we’ve thought the control center of life lies in DNA. But a new scientific framework is emerging that challenges that idea, and suggests that vast portions of the genome are immaterial and lie outside the physical world. Today, physicist Dr. Brian Miller shares his perspective on the cutting-edge, potentially revolutionary research of mathematical biologist Dr. Richard Sternberg on the immaterial aspects of the genome. In this exchange, Dr. Miller shares several examples of the immaterial nature of life. These ideas point towards the earliest stages of the next great scientific revolution and have significant implications for the intelligent design debate.

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A Neurosurgeon Pulls Back the Curtain on the Soul

Discovery Institute — 2 June 2025, 11:04 pm

On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid is thrilled to welcome back renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor to continue discussing his new book The Immortal Mind: A Neurosurgeon's Case for the Existence of the Soul. The book tackles provocative ideas, making a case that the human soul exists and that the mind is immortal. In this compelling conversation, we unpack some of the powerful arguments and evidence Dr. Egnor has marshaled. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Michael Denton on the Primal Patterns That Govern Living Systems

Discovery Institute — 30 May 2025, 10:24 pm

On this classic ID The Future out of the vault, biochemist Dr. Michael Denton discusses the implications of recurring animal body plans, arguing that they are predetermined types that point away from purely mechanistic processes. He observes that structures like the insect body plan were fixed long ago and haven't changed. He argues they are better understood as instances of predetermined type rather than collections of historical adaptations. This predetermination, he suggests, is the product of laws of form, which he finds inexplicable on a mechanistic view of nature.

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Bill Dembski: The Power of Information and the Limits of AI

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 29 May 2025, 3:00 pm

If you’re going to binge anyone, it might as well be Bill Dembski. On this episode of Mind Matters News, get your fill of insight and wisdom from Dr. Dembski, a senior fellow at Discovery Institute and a Distinguished Fellow with the Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence. Here, he is interviewed by neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor. The Read More ›

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George Gilder on Artificial Intelligence, Economic Innovation, and the Promise of Cryptocurrency

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 28 May 2025, 4:25 pm

We live in an era of cultural whiplash. Never has the potential for technological advances been more pronounced, and at the same time, the potential for wrenching societal dislocations so threatening. What are we to make of such times as these? Should we be excited or fearful, optimistic or quaking in our boots? For answers, Wesley turned to George Gilder, Read More ›

Can Evolutionary Processes Explain Human Creativity?

Discovery Institute — 28 May 2025, 1:00 pm

On this ID The Future, we're sharing a conversation that first aired on Mind Matters News, another podcast from Discovery Institute that focuses on the intersection of artificial and natural intelligence. In this episode, guest host Pat Flynn welcomes engineer Dr. Eric Holloway and professor Robert J. Marks to discuss the information cost of creativity. The conversation is based on a chapter in the recent volume Minding the Brain, authored by Dr. Holloway and Marks. This conversation originally aired on the Mind Matters News podcast. Visit mindmatters.ai/podcast for more.

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Why Life Is the Most Unnatural Thing in the Universe

Discovery Institute — 26 May 2025, 10:01 pm

We usually think of life as the most natural thing there is – blooming plants, flowing water, the cycles of nature. But what if that perspective is fundamentally challenged by the very laws of physics that govern our universe? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes physicist Dr. Eric Hedin to the podcast to discuss the compelling idea that life is the most "unnatural" thing in the universe. Dr. Hedin contends that the complex, organized nature of life defies the natural tendency of matter and energy towards disorder and equilibrium, suggesting that life requires something only an intelligent designer could provide.

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New Study Shatters the 1% Human-Chimp Difference Myth

Discovery Institute — 23 May 2025, 7:42 pm

When scientists originally studied the chimp genome, they used the human genome as a template. This scaffolding technique gave birth to the popular claim that chimp and human genomes are only 1% different. But new research has now blown the 1% myth out of the water. On today's ID The Future, geologist Dr. Casey Luskin speaks with host Dr. Emily Reeves about this explosive new finding and what it means for the debate over evolution.

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The Immortal Mind: An Interview with Neurosurgeon Dr. Michael

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 22 May 2025, 3:00 pm

Is the mind more than the brain? Is there a scientific case for the existence of the soul? On this episode, host Dr. Robert J. Marks speaks with neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor about his new book The Immortal Mind: A Neurosurgeon’s Case for the Existence of the Soul. Dr. Egnor is an experienced brain surgeon who previously held materialist views but Read More ›

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Register Now: HS Biology and Chemistry With Intelligent Design Integration

Discovery Institute — 21 May 2025, 6:58 pm

On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes Kristin Marais and Summer Lile, two passionate instructors from Discovery Institute Academy, to discuss their high school biology and chemistry courses, uniquely taught from the perspective that nature reflects intelligent design. These courses offer a complete, sequenced curriculum and include readings, handouts, videos, pre-recorded instructor lectures, and hands-on wet labs designed to be done at home. Live classes and one-on-one teacher drop-in sessions are also available. In this exchange, both teachers discuss what students will learn in their class and how intelligent design concepts are integrated throughout course content. Learn more and register at discoveryinstitute.academy.

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The Immortal Mind: How Neuroscience Points Beyond Materialism

Discovery Institute — 19 May 2025, 9:09 pm

Is your mind more than just your brain? Does the soul actually exist? These questions have been pondered for millennia. What does the latest scientific research suggest? On this ID The Future, renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor begins a conversation with host Andrew McDiarmid about his new book The Immortal Mind: A Neurosurgeon's Case for the Existence of the Soul. Egnor makes a powerful case that our capacity for thought, reason, and free will points to something beyond mere brain function. After defining important terms, Egnor begins exploring the compelling evidence he has gathered across four decades of practice in neurosurgery. Along the way, Dr. Egnor also boldly challenges the Darwinian view of the mind's evolution, arguing that abstract thought and free will are immaterial and could not have arisen through natural selection. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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Johannes Kepler, the Book of Nature, and the Language of Mathematics

Discovery Institute — 16 May 2025, 3:00 pm

On this episode of ID the Future from the archive, Andrew McDiarmid talks with science historian Michael Keas about pioneering mathematical astronomer Johannes Kepler, based on Keas’s book Unbelievable: 7 Myths About the History and Future of Science and Religion. Kepler studied theology before turning to math and science, and it was his belief in God that guided his extraordinary discoveries. Kepler is one of several great scientists of early modern science whose convictions about God's nature inspired their groundbreaking investigations.

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Why Our Minds Are More Than “Meat Computers”

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 15 May 2025, 3:00 pm

Some scientists and philosophers hold the view that our brains are basically brains made of meat. Today, Dr. Eric Holloway and Dr. Robert J. Marks explain what’s wrong with this idea in the concluding segment of their conversation with guest host Patrick Flynn. For starters, the computational theory of mind may be incompatible with materialism or physicalism, as formal, abstract Read More ›

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Stephen Meyer: There’s a “Powerful Signal of Design” in Nature

Discovery Institute — 14 May 2025, 3:00 pm

On this ID The Future, enjoy the concluding half of a remarkable and candid discussion on the limits of Darwinian evolution and the arguments for intelligent design. The conversation, recorded in 2019, is hosted by Peter Robinson for his program Uncommon Knowledge, and features philosopher of science Dr. Stephen Meyer, mathematician and author Dr. David Berlinski, and Yale Professor of Computer Science Dr. David Gelernter. In Part 2, Stephen Meyer argues there's a "powerful signal of design" in nature. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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The Mathematical Case Against Darwinian Evolution

Discovery Institute — 12 May 2025, 3:00 pm

Does the math behind Darwinian evolution add up? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid invites you to enjoy the first half of a remarkable and candid discussion about the limits of Darwinian evolution and the arguments for intelligent design. The conversation, originally recorded in 2019, is hosted by Peter Robinson for Uncommon Knowledge, and features philosopher of science Dr. Stephen Meyer, mathematician and author Dr. David Berlinski, and Yale Professor of Computer Science Dr. David Gelernter. In Part 1, the trio engage in an honest conversation about Darwin, his “brilliant and beautiful” theory, and why it’s time to move past it. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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Andrew V. Abela on the “Super Habits” That Make for a Successful Life

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 12 May 2025, 3:30 am

These days, hedonism strikes a beat in society. We have long been told that if it feels good, if it is what we want, so long as we aren’t hurting others, then, we should do it. But does that kind of self-indulgence really lead to a successful and satisfying life? Wesley’s guest on this episode of Humanize, Dr. Andrew V. Read More ›

Lost In (Search) Space: Why Randomness Challenges Neo-Darwinian Theory

Discovery Institute — 9 May 2025, 3:00 pm

On this episode of ID the Future from our archive, Dr. Paul Nelson talks with Dr. Wolf-Ekkehard Lönnig, retired geneticist at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Germany, about randomness in natural selection and why randomness is such a controversial topic.

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AI Language Models: Real Intelligence Or Creative Thievery?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 8 May 2025, 3:00 pm

Are AI language models like ChatGPT, Grok, and Perplexity actually intelligent? Or are they getting away with a creative kind of thievery? Welcome to the Mind Matters News podcast, your source for discussions on all things philosophy of mind and artificial intelligence. Today, guest host Patrick Flynn continues his conversation with Dr. Eric Holloway and Dr. Robert J. Marks. The Read More ›

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More Than a Thumb: Integrated Design in the Giant Panda

Discovery Institute — 7 May 2025, 4:01 pm

Is the famous “panda’s thumb” evidence of unguided evolutionary processes, or is it a masterpiece of engineering and the result of intelligent design? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his conversation with retired geneticist, Dr. Wolf-Eckehard Lönnig, an intelligent design pioneer who has been offering robust criticism of Darwinian theory and advocating for intelligent design for over 50 years. The topic is Dr. Lönnig's new paper reviewing the debate over the panda’s thumb. Giant pandas have an extra digit, an elongated wrist bone, that aids the animal in walking and manipulating bamboo with great dexterity. Some claim it's a clumsy structure produced by evolutionary processes. It wouldn't win any design awards, but it gets the job done. Others call it one of the most extraordinary manipulation systems in the mammalian world and clear evidence of purposeful engineering. So which is it? Dr. Lönnig helps us answer that question. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Evolved or Engineered? A Geneticist Evaluates the Panda’s Thumb

Discovery Institute — 5 May 2025, 8:54 pm

In 1980, influential paleontologist and evolutionary biologist Stephen Jay Gould wrote that “we can know that evolution has happened by the imperfections and oddities that life shows.” But is that true? And what if we take a closer look at those assumed evolutionary oddities and see instead evidence of engineered elegance? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes retired geneticist Dr. Wolf-Ekkehard Lönnig to the podcast to discuss his new paper reviewing the debate over the panda’s thumb. Giant pandas have an elongated wrist bone, the radial sesamoid, that allows them to handle and eat bamboo with great dexterity. Some claim it’s an imperfectly and inefficiently formed structure that is clear evidence of evolutionary processes at work. Others Read More ›

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How Darwinism Has Corroded Western Culture

Discovery Institute — 2 May 2025, 9:40 pm

On this ID the Future from the archive, hear the second half of Discovery Institute’s John West’s talk given at the 2020 Dallas Conference on Science and Faith, on how Darwinism has corroded Western culture. In this portion he examines the morally poisoning effects of Darwinism on marriage, sexual ethics, and religion, such that virtually anything can be defended as OK, and no particular culture’s ethic is to be preferred over another. Humankind’s spiritual purpose has likewise been eroded. Yet West closes with hope: science in our generation is discovering more and more signs of intelligent design and purpose in nature, and young researchers are learning that materialism shouldn’t be the foregone conclusion of contemporary science. This is Part 2 Read More ›

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Can Evolutionary Processes Take Credit for Human Creativity?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 1 May 2025, 3:00 pm

On today’s episode, guest host Pat Flynn welcomes Dr. Eric Holloway and Professor Robert J. Marks to the podcast to discuss the information cost of creativity. Today’s conversation is based on a chapter in the book Minding the Brain authored by Dr. Holloway and Marks. Essentially, they are addressing the following question: Can the marvels of human creativity, like novels, speeches, and Read More ›

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David Klinghoffer Reads From His New Book Plato’s Revenge

Discovery Institute — 30 April 2025, 1:00 pm

On this ID The Future, science writer David Klinghoffer reads from his new book Plato’s Revenge: The New Science of the Immaterial Genome, now available from Discovery Institute Press. This is a compact book, but it’s the story of a very big idea, and one that has the potential to usher in the next great revolution in biology.

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Plato’s Revenge: An Interview with David Klinghoffer

Discovery Institute — 28 April 2025, 8:55 pm

You're likely familiar with the genetic revolution — the discovery that physical structures in the cell, including DNA and RNA, shape every organism. But we are now overdue for another and more profound revolution in science, one you've likely heard very little about. Recent findings reveal that genetic and even epigenetic sources alone cannot account for the rich dynamism of life — not even close. Some other informational source is required. On this ID The Future, science writer and Discovery Institute Senior Fellow David Klinghoffer speaks with host Andrew McDiarmid about his new book Plato's Revenge: The New Science of the Immaterial Genome. It's a little book about a very big idea. It also tells the story of the scientist, Dr. Richard Sternberg, who has spent the last two decades bringing together cutting-edge molecular biology, higher mathematics, and commonsense reasoning to flesh out this potentially revolutionary new idea.

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Marvin Olasky on the Humanity of Homeless Persons

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 28 April 2025, 3:07 am

Homelessness has become a crisis in the United States. We live in the richest country in the world, and yet one can drive down main thoroughfares of our most prosperous cities and be confronted with tent encampments lining streets, squalor, open-air drug markets, and destitute people begging. The crisis is multifaceted as it is seemingly intractable. What is the role Read More ›

John West on Darwin’s Culturally Corrosive Idea

Discovery Institute — 25 April 2025, 7:29 pm

On this ID the Future from the vault, catch the first half of a public talk by political scientist John West on how Darwinism has poisoned Western culture. In the lecture, delivered at the Dallas Conference on Science & Faith, West explores how Darwin’s purely materialistic theory of evolution has drained meaning from nature, undercut the idea of inherent human dignity, and fueled the rise of scientific racism in the twentieth century. West is author of Darwin Day in America: How Our Politics and Culture Have Been Dehumanized in the Name of Science. This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Look for Part 2 in a separate episode.

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Is There a Mind Behind the Math Behind the Material World?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 24 April 2025, 3:00 pm

What does it mean for something to exist? Today, we’re joined by Doug Axe to talk about idealism and what it means for understanding the world around us. Idealism is the belief that reality exists exclusively of minds and their ideas, rather than a physical, material world. This contrasts with physicalism/materialism which views the physical world as the only true Read More ›

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Larry Sanger on Wikipedia, AI, and Preserving Human Knowledge

Discovery Institute — 23 April 2025, 4:02 pm

On this episode of ID The Future, hosts Andrew McDiarmid and Nathan Jacobson continue their conversation with Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger. In this segment, Sanger explains how his philosophy to decentralize the world's knowledge plays into science and truth-seeking in the age of AI. He talks about the shortcomings of large language models and why humans are irreplaceable and essential to increasing our understanding of the world. Sanger also discusses the challenges that online encyclopedias like Wikipedia have faced in accurately and fairly reflecting controversial or important topics. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Check out Part 1 in a separate episode!

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Skeptic to Believer: Wikipedia Co-Founder Larry Sanger’s Intellectual Journey

Discovery Institute — 21 April 2025, 11:56 pm

On this ID The Future, Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger joins hosts Andrew McDiarmid and Nathan Jacobson to delve into his personal evolution from longtime skeptical philosopher to belief in God. After falling out of faith in his teens, Sanger became a committed skeptic and agnostic, adhering to the principle of methodological skepticism for decades as he evaluated traditional arguments for the existence of God and found them wanting. And while Sanger was unconvinced by the claims of "new atheists" like Richard Dawkins and Daniel Dennett, he found himself drawn to the arguments of intelligent design scientists like Stephen Meyer, Michael Behe, and William Dembski. In this first half of a conversation, Sanger recounts his fascinating intellectual journey while unpacking the intelligent design arguments he found most convincing along his journey. This is Part 1 of a two-part interview. Look for Part 2 in a separate episode.

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Louis Pasteur: A Man of Science and Faith

Discovery Institute — 18 April 2025, 10:23 pm

On this episode of ID the Future out of the archive, biologist Ann Gauger walks listeners through the triumphs, flaws, and tragedies of Louis Pasteur, the French scientist whose scientific breakthroughs have saved millions of lives, and whose work on microbes sounded the death knell of the idea of spontaneous generation. Dr. Gauger also discusses his pioneering and life-saving work on vaccines, the Christian faith that saw him through the death of his three of his children, and more.

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The Unique Properties of the Human Mind

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 17 April 2025, 3:00 pm

Today’s episode is a special rebroadcast of an episode of Humanize, a Discovery Institute podcast that discusses the issues that impact human personhood and to defend the unique and intrinsic moral worth of human life. Here, Humanize host Wesley J. Smith speaks to three contributors of the recent volume Minding the Brain to explore from both philosophical and scientific viewpoints why the Read More ›

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Why the “Universe From Nothing” Model Points to Intelligent Design

Discovery Institute — 16 April 2025, 1:00 pm

Did our universe come from nothing, as some physicists have proposed? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid critiques the audacious claim that our universe popped into existence out of nothing. What is nothing? What isn’t nothing? And how does the universe from nothing claim actually imply intelligent design? McDiarmid shares audio from the Science Uprising video series, as well a portion of an interview with Dr. Stephen Meyer, to help answer these questions.

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Brian Miller on Circular Reasoning in Origin of Life Theories

Discovery Institute — 15 April 2025, 12:03 am

Is origin of life research going round in circles? This is ID the Future, a podcast that isn't afraid to tackle the big questions about evolution and intelligent design. Today, host Eric Anderson chats with physicist Dr. Brian Miller about circular reasoning and other problems in origin of life research. They discuss the work of Stephen Meyer and James Tour, highlighting the information problem and the difficulties in natural chemical synthesis of life's building blocks. Miller analyzes a new paper on the supposed order of amino acid recruitment into the genetic code, critiquing its underlying circular reasoning. Dr. Miller also explains the concept of causal circularity in biological systems and reveals why intelligent design provides a better explanation for the origin of life than an unguided evolutionary scenario.

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Robert Shedinger: Darwin’s Sacred Cause is “Historical Fiction”

Discovery Institute — 11 April 2025, 7:55 pm

On today’s ID the Future from our archive, historian of science Michael Keas concludes a two-part conversation with science-and-religion scholar Robert Shedinger about his research into the writing and work of 19th century naturalist Charles Darwin. In this segment, Shedinger makes the case that a well-known biography of Charles Darwin, Darwin’s Sacred Cause, is deeply misleading. The book tries to make Darwin seem like a saintly abolitionist. Instead, argues Shedinger, it's closer to historical fiction than the truth. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Visit idthefuture.com for more.

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The Ship of Theseus and the Philosophy of Identity

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 10 April 2025, 3:00 pm

Host Robert J. Marks welcomes back Walter Myers to discuss the philosophical concept of the Ship of Theseus, a paradox about whether an object remains the same after all of its original components have been gradually replaced. Myers explains the history and origins of the paradox and explores how it relates to questions of personal identity, the mind-body problem, and Read More ›

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Casey Luskin on Intelligent Design, Evolution, and the Fossil Record

Discovery Institute — 9 April 2025, 1:00 pm

On this episode, Dr. Casey Luskin concludes his conversation about the basics of intelligent design with Sam Kleckley, host of the Live Life in Motion podcast. You'll find this interview (including Part 1) particularly helpful if you are new to the science of intelligent design yourself, or you have friends or family who are open to learning more. In Part 2, Dr. Luskin begins by discussing the fossil record and the abrupt appearance of new life forms. He also tackles the often-debated question of the intelligent agent behind the design found in nature. Finally, in the realm of education, he addresses the controversy surrounding teaching evolution and intelligent design in schools. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Unpacking Intelligent Design: A Beginner’s Guide with Casey Luskin

Discovery Institute — 7 April 2025, 8:56 pm

How would you explain intelligent design to someone who has just recently begun looking into it? Perhaps you are new to it yourself, or you have a friend or family member who is curious. Today, Dr. Casey Luskin begins a two-part discussion of the basics of intelligent design with Sam Kleckley, host of the Live Life in Motion podcast. Part 1 presents a nice overview of where and when intelligent design began, how it developed, and why it is such a compelling idea for so many. Luskin also discusses some key lines of evidence for intelligent design, including the complexity of living things at the cellular level and the evidence for the fine-tuning of the universe. This is Part 1 of a two-part discussion.

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Katy Faust on Putting Children First

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 7 April 2025, 4:05 pm

Childhood in America today is often troubled. Children are experiencing mental health crises, suicidal ideation, educational underperformance, social discord, sexualization at young ages, and unprecedented social challenges. What to do? Wesley’s guest on this episode of Humanize, Katy Faust, has invested years of her life to solving the crisis of contemporary childhood. Faust believes the time has come to put Read More ›

Rescuing Evolutionary Theory from Darwinian Mythology

Discovery Institute — 4 April 2025, 4:57 pm

Does the public promotion of Darwin's theory of natural selection match Darwin's own private view of his theory? On this episode of ID the Future out of the archive, historian of science Michael Keas begins a two-part conversation with Robert Shedinger, the Wilford A. Johnson Chair of Biblical Studies and Professor of Religion at Luther College and author most recently of The Mystery of Evolutionary Mechanisms: Darwinian Biology's Grand Narrative of Triumph and the Subversion of Religion. Shedinger reports on the contrast between Darwin's private view of his theory of natural selection and the public view as detailed in his published work. Shedinger also notes the deficiency in evidence for Darwin's proposal, despite claims to the contrary from his followers and evangelizers today.

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Piloting the Cloud: A Technical Tour with Walter Myers III

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 3 April 2025, 3:00 pm

Like many, you may be storing important files and photos in the cloud. But just where is this magical cloud? How is it powered? Is it safe? To answer these questions and more, host Robert J. Marks is joined by Walter Myers III, a principal engineering manager for Microsoft’s Azure Cloud and a Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute. Their conversation Read More ›

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A Celebrated Life: Colleagues Remember Dr. Jonathan Wells

Discovery Institute — 2 April 2025, 9:22 pm

On this ID The Future, we bring you excerpts from a recent gathering to celebrate the life of biologist Dr. Jonathan Wells, who passed away in September 2024 at the age of 82. Dr. Wells was one of the first fellows of Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture. In 2000, Wells took the science world by storm with Icons of Evolution, a book showing how biology textbooks routinely promote Darwinism using bogus evidence — icons of evolution like Ernst Haeckel’s faked embryo drawings and peppered moths glued to tree trunks. Dr. Wells's achievements in the field of biology are notable. In this episode you’ll get a glimpse into Dr. Wells’s life and character as well as his relentless search for scientific truth. This episode includes eulogies from Dr. John West, Dr. Paul Nelson, Dr. Richard Sternberg, and Dr. Casey Luskin. Learn more about Jonathan Wells at www.jonathanwells.org.

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How to Study Biology with Systems Engineering Principles

Discovery Institute — 31 March 2025, 8:11 pm

Traditional methods in biology have proven insufficient for understanding and accurately predicting complex biological systems. Why? The great majority of biologists are trained to study life from the bottom up, as the result of unguided evolutionary processes. It turns out there are better ways to observe, question, hypothesize, experiment, and analyze a complex system. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes biochemist and metabolic nutritionist Dr. Emily Reeves to the podcast to discuss her co-authored paper on how biologists can apply principles from systems engineering to biology to better approach the study of complex living systems. Dr. Reeves explains how the new methodology works and how it can produce fruitful scientific research.

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Puncturing the Science-Faith Warfare Myth

Discovery Institute — 28 March 2025, 7:18 pm

On today’s ID the Future out of the vault, join host and geologist Casey Luskin and historian of science Michael Keas for a lively conversation puncturing a series of anti-Christian myths about the history of science, including the Dark Ages myth, the flat-earth myth, the myth that humanity was rendered insignificant by the discovery of the size of the universe, and the simplistic revisionist history of Galileo and the Inquisition. What about the claim in the recent Cosmos TV series reboot that in abandoning his traditional Jewish faith, seventeenth-century philosopher Baruch Spinoza was able to provide an improved framework for doing science? As Keas argues, the truth is just the opposite. Spinoza, he says, abandoned a key tenet of Judeo-Christian theology that had proven vital to the birth of science.

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Soul Searching: The History and Motivations of Substance Dualism

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 27 March 2025, 3:00 pm

Guest host Pat Flynn welcomes Stewart Goetz and Charles Taliaferro to discuss substance dualism as an explanation for the nature of the human soul. The conversation draws from their contributions to the recent volume Minding the Brain. After a brief history of how the concept of the soul has been understood, Goetz and Taliaferro explain the main motivations for substance dualism: Read More ›

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Missiles & Jackhammers: How Plants Spread Themselves Far and Wide

Discovery Institute — 26 March 2025, 1:00 pm

Host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes science reporter David Coppedge to the show to explore some fascinating examples of intelligent design in the plant world. They look so helpless tied to the soil, but plants and fungi have perfected technologies for spreading themselves far and wide. Coppedge and McDiarmid unpack the ingenious methods plants and fungi use to disperse their spores. The conversation also touches on the engineering principles behind plant root systems, and how studying these natural designs can inspire advancements in human technology through biomimetics.

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Brian Miller: Transforming Lives Through the Summer Seminar

Discovery Institute — 24 March 2025, 8:24 pm

On this episode of ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid interviews Dr. Brian Miller about Discovery Institute's Summer Seminar Program, which offers a unique opportunity for students and professionals to explore intelligent design across various scientific disciplines. Dr. Miller shares his personal journey from participant to teacher, highlighting the program's impact on his career and the transformative experiences of other past graduates. Miller and McDiarmid also review frequently asked questions about the program, including who is eligible to apply, the costs associated with the program, the focus of the curriculum, and more.

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A Privileged Place for Life and Discovery

Discovery Institute — 21 March 2025, 6:15 pm

On this ID the Future out of the vault, host and geologist Casey Luskin continues his conversation with astrobiologist Guillermo Gonzalez about the many ways Earth’s place in the cosmos is finely tuned for life. In this second half of their conversation, Gonzalez zooms out to discuss the galactic habitable zone and the cosmic habitable age. Luskin says that the combination of exquisite cosmic and local fine tuning strongly suggests intelligent design, but he asks Gonzalez whether he thinks these telltale clues favor theism over deism? That is, does any of the evidence suggest a cosmic designer who is more than just the clock maker God of the deists who, in the words of Stephen Dedalus, “remains within or behind Read More ›

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Transforming Industries with AI: Insights from Entrepreneur David Copps

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 20 March 2025, 3:00 pm

On this episode, host Robert J. Marks concludes a three-part conversation with entrepreneur, technologist, and thought leader David Copps. Copps has over two decades of experience pioneering advancements in artificial intelligence and other technologies. In this final segment, Copps discusses how his companies have harnessed emerging AI technologies. He discusses Brainspace, a company Copps founded that created one of the Read More ›

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Humility and Humor: Richard Sternberg Remembers Jonathan Wells

Discovery Institute — 19 March 2025, 1:00 pm

On this episode of ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid continues a series of interviews celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Jonathan Wells, our close colleague and friend who passed away in 2024 at the age of 82 years old. Dr. Wells was one of the first fellows of Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture and made significant contributions to science and to the arguments for intelligent design. Today, evolutionary biologist Dr. Richard Sternberg shares personal anecdotes and insights into Dr. Wells's character, his contributions to biology and epigenetics, and the profound impact he had on those around him.

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How Jonathan Wells Dismantled the Icons of Evolution

Discovery Institute — 17 March 2025, 9:19 pm

On this episode of ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid invites Dr. Casey Luskin to share some of his memories of our longtime colleague Dr. Jonathan Wells, who recently passed away at 82 years old. Dr. Wells was one of the first fellows at Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture. In a career spanning three decades, Wells made significant contributions to our understanding of the limits of evolutionary processes and the evidence for intelligent design. In this interview, Dr. Luskin describes the powerful impact Jonathan's work had on him and how it led to meaningful reform in textbooks and classrooms. He also identifies the character traits he most admired in Dr. Wells.

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Bobby Schindler on the 20th Anniversary of the Death of Terri Schiavo

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 17 March 2025, 4:48 am

For those who may not remember, Terri Schiavo was a profoundly cognitively disabled woman who became the subject of a legal and cultural battle that made international headlines. The case became a bitter and protracted conflict between Michael Schiavo, Terri’s husband who wanted to pull her feeding tube, and the Schindler family that fought to save their child and sister’s Read More ›

Guillermo Gonzalez on Growing Evidence of Earth’s Privilege

Discovery Institute — 14 March 2025, 6:46 pm

On today’s ID the Future out of the archive, astrobiologist Guillermo Gonzalez, co-author of The Privileged Planet, begins a two-part conversation with host Casey Luskin by providing a rapid survey of some of the growing evidence that Earth is finely tuned in numerous ways to allow for life. He draws a helpful distinction between local fine tuning and universal fine tuning. And he tells us about the many extra-solar planets astronomers have discovered in recent years and how all that new data continues to undermine the misguided assumption (encouraged by the misnamed “Copernican Principle”) that Earth is just a humdrum planet. Far from it, Gonzalez argues. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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How to Build a Successful Startup in the Age of AI

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 13 March 2025, 3:00 pm

Artificial intelligence is changing how businesses operate. But some best practices remain, no matter what the technology landscape looks like. On this episode, host Robert J. Marks continues his conversation with renowned entrepreneur, technologist, and thought leader David Copps. Copps has over two decades of experience pioneering advancements in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. In this segment, Copps advises Read More ›

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“The Ultimate Gentleman”: Tom Woodward Remembers Jonathan Wells

Discovery Institute — 12 March 2025, 4:10 pm

On this ID The Future, Dr. Tom Woodward shares more memories of our longtime colleague Dr. Jonathan Wells, who recently passed away at 82 years old. Dr. Wells was one of the first fellows at Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, and his contributions over the last quarter century to the intelligent design movement have been formidable. In Part 2, Dr. Woodward kicks off by describing Dr. Wells's skills as a communicator. He also discusses Dr. Wells's mind-boggling insights on the design beyond DNA in every nook and cranny of the cell, layers of information that Wells knew only strengthen the case for intelligent design at the heart of biological life. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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Tom Woodward on the Impact of Icons of Evolution

Discovery Institute — 10 March 2025, 6:05 pm

On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes Dr. Tom Woodward to the podcast to share some of his memories of our longtime colleague Dr. Jonathan Wells, who recently passed away at 82 years old. In Part 1, Dr. Woodward tells the story of Jonathan’s efforts to fight the battle over textbook misinformation with his 2000 book Icons of Evolution. When the book first came out, National Center for Science Education director Eugenie Scott said that Icons of Evolution would be a “royal pain in the fanny” for the evolutionist community. She was not wrong! Woodward talks about the reverberations caused by the book's release and the waves of textbook reform it has brought about. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

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Richard Sternberg on the Information Beyond the Genome

Discovery Institute — 7 March 2025, 8:18 pm

On this episode of ID the Future out of our archive, evolutionary biologist Dr. Richard Sternberg, a research fellow at the Biologic Institute and a senior fellow at Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, speaks about his mathematical and logical work showing the difficulty of identifying genes purely with material phenomena. It turns out DNA doesn’t have all that’s needed to direct the development of organisms. In recent decades, evidence of a vast richness of information beyond DNA has been discovered, revealing new layers of information density and irreducible complexity not known about before.

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Perspectives of a Different Kind of AI Entrepreneur

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 6 March 2025, 4:00 pm

How can entrepreneurs incorporate the benefits of AI while maintaining their dedication to serving fellow human beings? On this episode of Mind Matters News, host Robert J. Marks welcomes David Copps, a renowned entrepreneur, technologist, and thought leader with over two decades of experience pioneering advancements in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. He’s the founder and CEO of a Read More ›

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Gutsy and Loyal: The Qualities of My Friend Jonathan Wells

Discovery Institute — 5 March 2025, 2:00 pm

On this episode of ID The Future, philosopher of biology Paul Nelson continues to share his remembrances of our longtime colleague Dr. Jonathan Wells, who passed away in 2024 at 82 years old. Dr. Wells was one of the first fellows at Discovery Institute’s Center for Science & Culture, and his contributions to the intelligent design movement over the last quarter century have been monumental. In Part 2 of the conversation, Dr. Nelson shares another adventure he had with Jonathan, this time at the University of Chicago in the early 2000s. He also discusses the qualities that made Wells such a remarkable man, including his bravery and loyalty. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

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David V. Hicks on the Myths We Live By

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 3 March 2025, 4:58 am

We live in an increasingly secular age in which religious believers — particularly Christians — are accused of believing in myths, meaning false stories. But are religious myths really false? Moreover, do modernists have their own myths by which they live? And why do humans create myths and what societal purposes do they serve, anyway? The classical educator and Orthodox Read More ›

Rethinking the Relationship Between Mind and Brain: Dr. Angus Menuge

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 27 February 2025, 4:00 pm

On this episode of Mind Matters News, host Dr. Michael Egnor speaks with Dr. Angus Menuge to discuss the mind-brain problem and his work on the recent volume exploring this topic, Minding the Brain. Egnor and Menuge explore various perspectives on the relationship between the mental and the physical. They cover the problems with materialist and physicalist views, which seek Read More ›

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Dr. Winston Ewert: The Limits of Artificial Intelligence

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 20 February 2025, 4:00 pm

On this episode of Mind Matters News, guest host Pat Flynn concludes a conversation with Dr. Winston Ewert about his contribution to the recent volume Minding the Brain. This segment explores the implications of the view that human cognition can be reduced to a sophisticated algorithm, as Ewert argues. Ewert contends that an algorithm can only construct an algorithm less sophisticated than Read More ›

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Dr. Winston Ewert: The Human Mind’s Sophisticated Algorithm And Its Implications

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 13 February 2025, 4:00 pm

On this episode of Mind Matters News, guest host Pat Flynn begins a conversation with Dr. Winston Ewert about Ewert’s chapter in the recent volume Minding the Brain. In his contribution, titled “The Human Mind’s Sophisticated Algorithm and Its Implications,” Dr. Ewert argues that the human mind’s problem-solving cognition can be modeled as a sophisticated algorithm. Ewert explains that any cognitive task Read More ›

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Ira Byock, M.D., on the Crisis in Hospice Care

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 10 February 2025, 12:26 pm

The creation of the modern hospice movement was a major advance in the care for people with terminal illnesses. Alas, in recent years, hospice has entered something of a crisis, with too many facilities offering inadequate care and some patients receiving short shrift of services to which they are entitled. To get to the bottom of the problem, Wesley invited Read More ›

How AI Can Complement Human Capabilities: More with Dr. Joe McDonald

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 6 February 2025, 4:00 pm

On this episode, host Robert J. Marks concludes a conversation with psychologist Dr. Joe McDonald exploring the relationship between cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence (AI). The age of AI is upon us and is already changing the way we conduct our lives. What is the optimal division of tasks between humans and machines? In Part 2 of this interview, Dr. Read More ›

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Beyond the Physical: A Panel Discussion on the Nature of the Mind

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 30 January 2025, 4:00 pm

Many proponents of artificial intelligence operate from an assumption that our own minds and conscious experience can be solely attributed to our physical brains. But is this assumption true? This question is the key focus of the book Minding the Brain, edited by our guests: Angus Menuge, Brian Krouse, and Robert J. Marks. Joining them to discuss this volume is today’s Read More ›

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Former CDC Director Robert R. Redfield on Viruses, Vaccines, the COVID Epidemic, and Distrust in Public Health

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 27 January 2025, 5:21 am

The public health sector has been roiled by controversy and political turmoil in the last few years, what with the COVID pandemic, the fight over vaccine mandates, and questions about politicization of the sector. Beyond that, viruses make the news like never before. So, Wesley turned to an expert in both fields to learn more about virology, the government’s response Read More ›

Cognitive Psychology and the Limits of AI: An Interview with Dr. Joe McDonald

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 23 January 2025, 4:00 pm

On this episode, host Robert J. Marks begins a conversation with Dr. Joe McDonald exploring the relationship between cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence (AI). Dr. Joe McDonald is an expert in cognitive psychology and human factors research. He is the CEO and Principal at Jumpseat Research, a firm that applies cognitive science principles to improve technology design and user experiences. Read More ›

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The Hype and Limitations of Generative AI

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 16 January 2025, 4:00 pm

On this episode, host Robert J. Marks concludes his conversation with economics professor and author Gary Smith about the hype and limitations of generative AI. Smith is the Fletcher Jones Professor of Economics at Ponoma College and a frequent contributor to Mind Matters News. In this portion of the conversation, Smith and Marks explore the hype around artificial general intelligence Read More ›

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Is There a Difference Between “Mind” and “Brain”?

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 13 January 2025, 5:12 am

What is the “mind”? Is it a pure product of raw brain activity? Or, is it something “other” — that can be experienced, but not measured, observed but not fully defined? Does free will exist? Are our brains just so many meat computers? A new anthology, Minding the Brain, explores these and related issues in depth — both from philosophical Read More ›

The AI Bubble: Lessons from Past Financial Bubbles

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 9 January 2025, 4:00 pm

In this installment of the Mind Matters News podcast, host Robert J. Marks begins a conversation with economics professor and author Gary Smith about the hype of generative AI and its impact on the market. Smith is the Fletcher Jones Professor of Economics at Ponoma College and a frequent contributor to Mind Matters News. Smith argues that generative AI, embodied Read More ›

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Semper Fi: A Marine’s Perspective on Faith, Duty, and Service

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 2 January 2025, 4:00 pm

In this episode, host Robert J. Marks continues his conversation with retired major general Bobby Hollingsworth about his experiences in the U.S. Marines and his work advocating for reservists at the Pentagon. Hollingsworth unpacks the meaning of “Semper Fi” in the Marine Corps and the importance of supporting his fellow marines as riflemen on the pointed end of the spear. Read More ›

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The Radio Frequency Spectrum as a Finite Natural Resource

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 26 December 2024, 4:00 pm

On this episode of Mind Matters News from the archive, hosts Robert J. Marks and Austin Egbert welcome Andrew Clegg to the show to discuss the radio spectrum as a finite natural resource and how to best manage it. The conversation kicks off with an overview of the electromagnetic spectrum and the different frequency bands used for various wireless technologies. Read More ›

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From Dairy Farm to Fighter Pilot: More With Veteran Bobby Hollingsworth

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 19 December 2024, 4:00 pm

Major General Bobby Hollingsworth discusses his life journey from growing up on a dairy farm to becoming a fighter pilot in the U.S. Marines. He describes how he was inspired to pursue aviation from a young age after seeing his uncle, a WWII Hellcat pilot. Hollingsworth discusses the discipline and work ethic he developed from growing up on a farm, Read More ›

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Dr. Kristin M. Collier on the Importance of Recognizing the Patient as a “Person”

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 16 December 2024, 4:32 am

Medicine and healthcare have become one of the most contentious sectors of modern society. Doctors have greater scientific knowledge with which to help patients than at any time in history. But at the same time, the field seems to be heading in a more crassly technocratic direction, in which the human being seeking care may become lost in the attempt Read More ›

Military Preparedness and the Path to Peace: An Interview with Veteran Bobby Hollingsworth

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 12 December 2024, 4:00 pm

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Flashes of Genius: An Interview with Touch Screen Inventor Hal Philipp

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 5 December 2024, 9:50 pm

On this episode of Mind Matters News out of the archive, we share a memorable conversation with Hal Philipp, an inventor and entrepreneur who pioneered the capacitive touch screen technology that is now used in billions of devices worldwide. Philipp shares the story of his early work on optical sensors for automatic doors and faucets and how it led to Read More ›

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Nina Shea on the Persecution of the Catholic Church in China

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 2 December 2024, 5:34 am

Religious persecution continues to afflict the world. Anti-Semitism abounds. Certain Islamic countries suppress minority faiths while Muslims face persecution in countries like India. Non-Orthodox Christians are persecuted in Russia, while some American Christians claim that they are discriminated against because of living out their faith precepts. In this episode of Humanize, Wesley focuses on the suppression of the Catholic Church Read More ›

A Case for the Soul: An Interview with Joshua Farris

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 28 November 2024, 4:00 pm

Is the mind the same thing as the brain? Recently, we’ve been tackling this question known as the mind-brain problem with several of the contributing authors to our recent book Minding the Brain. In a similar fashion, we can also ask if there’s more to the human person than just our bodies. This week we have neurosurgeon Michael Egnor talking about Read More ›

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The Significance of Mirror Neurons: More With Dr. Mihretu Guta

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 21 November 2024, 4:00 pm

On this episode, host Dr. Robert J. Marks continues his chat with Dr. Mihretu Guta about exploring the philosophical challenges surrounding the neuroscientific research on mirror neurons. What the heck is a mirror neuron you ask? As described in Part 1, it’s a type of brain cell that fires when a person observes an action being performed, as well as Read More ›

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Mirror Neurons, Consciousness, and the Bearer Question

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 14 November 2024, 4:41 pm

For the last several months, we’ve been interviewing authors featured in the recent Bradley Center volume Minding the Brain: Models of the Mind, Information, and Empirical Science. The book delves into the age-old question: is the mind more than the brain? What was once solely a philosophical and metaphysical discussion has attracted the attention of science and is a much more Read More ›

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Daniel Carcillo on Psychedelics as a Treatment for Depression and Traumatic Brain Injury

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 11 November 2024, 5:35 am

People with serious mental health issues often face years, if not a lifetime, of debilitating symptoms. These traumas can sometimes be difficult to treat, much less cure. And that has some people looking for new avenues of care beyond standard medicines, including — controversially — psychedelic substances such as Psilocybin, LSD, and the like. Enthusiasts believe that these substances offer Read More ›

Consciousness, Materialism, and the Limits of Reductionism

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 7 November 2024, 4:00 pm

On this episode, host Pat Flynn concludes a three-part conversation with Dr. Selmer Bringsjord about all things related to AI, consciousness, and rationality. In Part 3, Flynn and Bringsjord summarize their points about integrated information theory and an alternative view, cognitive consciousness. The discussion explores the challenges of explaining consciousness from a materialist or physicalist perspective, noting the apparent qualitative Read More ›

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How Human Trafficking Flourishes in the Age of Social Media and How We Can Push Back

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 31 October 2024, 3:00 pm

It’s tempting to think that human trafficking is a problem in a far-away land. Unfortunately, it’s much closer. Like in our back yard closer. On this episode, host Robert J. Marks speaks with Charlie Crockett, head educational trainer with Unbound Now, an organization that works to combat human trafficking through education, training, victim services, and partnerships with law enforcement. The Read More ›

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Dr. Keri D. Ingraham on the Most Important Issues in American K-12 Education

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 28 October 2024, 4:35 pm

It’s no secret that American education is experiencing a profound crisis. Many of our children can’t read, do mathematics, or learn basic life skills. At the same time, many accuse the education establishment of imposing radical ideological views on children such as gender ideology and anti-Americanism. The good news is that concerted efforts are underway to reform education to better Read More ›

Consciousness Conundrum: Integrated Information Theory vs. Cognitive Consciousness

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 24 October 2024, 3:00 pm

On this episode, host Pat Flynn continues a three-part conversation with Dr. Selmer Bringsjord about all things related to AI, consciousness, and rationality. In Part 2, the discussion turns to Integrated Information Theory (IIT) and its claims about consciousness. IIT proposes that consciousness arises from the degree of informational integration in a system, so more integrated systems would have higher Read More ›

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Exploring the Capabilities and Limitations of AI with Dr. Selmer Bringsjord

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 17 October 2024, 3:00 pm

On this episode, host Pat Flynn begins a three-part conversation with Dr. Selmer Bringsjord about all things related to AI, consciousness, and rationality. Dr. Bringsjord has been studying and debating issues related to AI and the nature of consciousness for decades, and he shares his predictions about the capabilities and limitations of AI systems. He believes that while AI systems Read More ›

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Timothy S. Goeglein on the Dangers of Utopianism

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 14 October 2024, 2:44 am

American institutions are less trusted than ever before, our society is deeply divided, and much of the world is in turmoil. The problem isn’t religion, atheism, or ideology, per se. Rather, the real culprit — and one that receives far too little attention in public discourse — is the widespread embrace by social activists of utopianism, a zealous belief in Read More ›

The Unique Relationship Between Consciousness and Its Bearer

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 10 October 2024, 3:00 pm

What kind of being must exist for consciousness to exist? On this episode, hosts Robert J. Marks and Angus Menuge conclude their discussion with Dr. Mihretu Guta about his contribution to the recent volume Minding the Brain. The first half of this conversation centered on the amazing nature of consciousness and how it really doesn’t reduce to anything physical. In Part Read More ›

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In What Sense is Consciousness a Property?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 3 October 2024, 3:00 pm

On this episode, hosts Robert J. Marks and Angus Menuge welcome Dr. Mihretu Guta to discuss his contribution to the recent volume Minding the Brain. Dr. Guta discusses the nature of consciousness and the challenges in understanding it from a philosophical perspective. He argues that consciousness is a unique property that is deeply subjective and personal, making it difficult to study Read More ›

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Richard Weikart on Medicine’s Descent from Healing to Killing

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 30 September 2024, 4:41 am

Whether to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia is one of the most culturally contentious — and important — public policy debates of our time. Supporters of legalization call it a compassionate “last resort” means of preventing unnecessary suffering and promoting autonomy. Opponents see the intentional ending of the lives of the ill as a profound abandonment and a path to Read More ›

The Impact of Descartes on the Philosophy of Mind

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 26 September 2024, 3:00 pm

On this episode out of the vault, neuroscientist Dr. Michael Egnor welcomes Dr. Joshua Farris for a discussion about his recent published paper “Descartes’ New Clothes: Cartesian Thought in Philosophy, Neuroscience and Theism.” Descartes is famous for his dictum “I think, therefore I am.” Farris and Egnor discuss this statement and its implications for the mind-body debate. They also talk Read More ›

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Dr. Robert J. Marks Reads From Minding the Brain

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 19 September 2024, 4:57 pm

Is your mind the same thing as your brain? Or are there aspects of mind that are external to the biology of the brain? This is the mind-body problem, and it has captivated curious minds since the dawn of human contemplation. Today many insist that the mind is completely reducible to the brain. But is that claim justified? On this Read More ›

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Sam Brownback on the Connection Between Religious Freedom and Human Rights

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 16 September 2024, 4:09 am

In the modern era, religious freedom — the ability to live and act according to one's faith — has been seen as a profoundly important human right. To a disturbing degree, that is no longer true. No one has put more thought into this urgent matter of human freedom than my guest today, Sam Brownback.

AI’s Boundaries and Human Creativity: A Conversation with Dr. Robert J. Marks

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 12 September 2024, 9:15 pm

In this recent radio interview, prefaced by a brief introduction from Discovery Institute representative Dr. Tom Winkler, host Mark Davis speaks with Dr. Robert Marks, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Baylor University and director of Discovery Institute’s Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence. Marks discusses his book Non-Computable You: What You Do That Artificial Intelligence Never Read More ›

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The Rational Soul: Rethinking Materialism with Neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 5 September 2024, 9:00 pm

In this episode, Pat Flynn and Dr. Michael Egnor conclude their discussion of Dr. Egnor’s contribution to the recent volume Minding the Brain. Flynn and Dr. Egnor discuss Thomistic dualism and its relation to neuroscience and the soul. Thomistic dualism is the belief that the soul is a separate entity from the body and that the rational aspects of the soul, Read More ›

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Richard Stevens on All Things AI and Law

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 29 August 2024, 3:00 pm

In this episode, lawyer and Mind Matters News contributor Richard W. Stevens is on the show to discuss the legal issues and challenges around copyright, fair use, and the use of copyrighted material by AI systems. They discuss the implications of a recent Supreme Court case, Warhol vs. Goldsmith, that tackles the legal concepts of “derivative work” and “transformative work.” Read More ›

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Dr. Michael Egnor: Neuroscience, the Soul, and the Limits of Materialism

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 22 August 2024, 3:00 pm

In this episode, Pat Flynn and Dr. Michael Egnor continue their discussion of Dr. Egnor’s contribution to the recent volume Minding the Brain. Flynn and Egnor discuss various criticisms of materialism in neuroscience. They touch on topics such as near-death experiences, the limitations of the computational theory of mind, and the nature of artificial intelligence. Dr. Egnor also addresses common questions Read More ›

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The Science of Mind: Debunking Materialism, with Dr. Michael Egnor

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 15 August 2024, 3:00 pm

On this episode, host Pat Flynn begins a wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Michael Egnor about topics such as mind, brain, dualism, the nature of the human person, neuroscience, and the soul. Dr. Egnor argues for dualism, stating that there are aspects of the mind that are not generated by the brain. They also discuss research on split-brain patients and its Read More ›

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How to Rise Above Addictive Technologies to Find Real Freedom

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 8 August 2024, 3:00 pm

On this episode, software engineer and author Doug Smith concludes his conversation with host Robert Marks about the false promises of technologies like VR (virtual reality) and AI. Smith and Marks discuss the Apple Vision Pro VR headset and the promotion of spirituality in its marketing. They explore the idea of AI spirituality and the belief in the singularity. The Read More ›

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Doug Smith on The Pitfalls of Virtual Reality (VR)

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 1 August 2024, 3:00 pm

On this episode, software engineer and author Doug Smith discusses the growing problem of virtual reality (VR) pornography and its negative effects. He also talks about Apple’s new VR headset, Vision Pro, and raises concerns about its potential impact on users. Smith criticizes Apple’s marketing of Vision Pro, highlighting the false vision, false connection, and false control it promotes. He Read More ›

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Caring for the Deeply Forgetful: An Interview with Dr. Stephen Post

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 25 July 2024, 7:00 pm

How can we best compassionately relate to those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease? Is there more to the mind than just the brain? On this episode of Mind Matters News, neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor interviews Dr. Stephen Post. They discuss topics such as memory, consciousness, medical ethics, and the care of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Post emphasizes the importance of Read More ›

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Robert Marks & Zoltan Istvan Debate AI and Transhumanism

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 18 July 2024, 3:00 pm

Are we on the verge of an era of incalculable human progress because of the power of AI, or are we threatened with being made obsolete and perhaps extinguished in an age of intelligent machines? In this episode, Robert J. Marks and author Zoltan Istvan debate secular transhumanism and artificial intelligence (AI). Marks argues that AI can never be creative Read More ›

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Exploring Personal Identity: More from Dr. Jonathan Loose

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 11 July 2024, 3:00 pm

In this episode of Mind Matters News, hosts Robert J. Marks and Angus Menuge continue their discussion with Dr. Jonathan J. Loose, author of the chapter “The Simple Theory of Personal Identity and the Life Scientific” in the book Minding the Brain. They explore thought experiments that challenge the idea that personal identity is solely determined by physical and psychological continuity. Read More ›

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Dr. Jonathan Loose on Personal Identity and the Life Scientific

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 4 July 2024, 3:00 pm

In this episode of Mind Matters News, co-hosts Robert J Marks and Angus Menuge interview Dr. Jonathan Loose, another featured author included in the recent volume Minding the Brain. The book delves into the age-old question is the mind more than the brain? Loose’s chapter is titled “The Simple Theory of Personal Identity and The Life Scientific.” The trio discuss the Read More ›

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Trail Life: An Antidote for Digital Addiction in Boys

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 27 June 2024, 3:00 pm

Are there any trusted organizations today that can help boys avoid the pitfalls of digital technologies while encouraging them to develop positive character traits? On this double episode from the archive, host Robert Marks speaks to former Eagle Scout and businessman Kent Marks about the problems facing young men today and the organization he co-founded to help remedy those problems. Read More ›

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A Case for the Relational Person: More From Dr. Eric Jones

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 20 June 2024, 3:00 pm

In this episode, Dr. Eric Jones, a professor of psychology at Regent University, concludes his discussion of the concept of the relational person and its implications for psychology. He explains that the traditional materialistic and atomistic view of the individual is insufficient to explain social thought and behavior. Instead, he argues for a relational model that emphasizes the interconnectedness of Read More ›

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Steven J. Buri on the Pro-Human Mission of Discovery Institute

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 17 June 2024, 5:51 am

For the last Humanize episode of the season, I thought it would be edifying to explore how Discovery Institute's institutional programs dovetail with the work of the Center on Human Exceptionalism. Who better to ask than our intrepid president, Steven J. Buri?

The Atomistic vs. Relational Model of Personhood

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 13 June 2024, 3:00 pm

In this episode, host Robert J. Marks and guest Dr. Eric Jones continue to discuss the concept of the relational person and its implications for psychology research. They explore two competing models of the person: the atomistic, egoistic model and the relational model. Dr. Jones highlights examples of researchers who approach psychology research from an atomistic, egoistic perspective, rooted in Read More ›

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The Relational Person: Challenging the Dominant Model in Psychology

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 6 June 2024, 3:00 pm

On this episode of Mind Matters News, host Robert J. Marks interviews Dr. Eric Jones, a professor of psychology at Regent University, about the concept of the relational person. Jones contributed a chapter on the topic to the recent volume Minding the Brain. Jones explains that the dominant view in psychology is the atomistic individual, which sees individuals as self-contained entities Read More ›

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The Limits and Possibilities of Artificial Intelligence

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 30 May 2024, 3:00 pm

In this panel discussion from the COSM technology conference, the panelists address the limits and possibilities of artificial intelligence (AI). George Montañez, an Assistant Professor of Computer Science, discusses generative AI models and how they work by encoding relations between text and images. He also mentions the phenomenon of model collapse, where AI systems degenerate when trained on their own Read More ›

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Bruce Gordon: Idealism, Quantum Mechanics, and the Fundamentality of Mind

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 23 May 2024, 3:00 pm

Does quantum mechanics, properly understood, point to the fundamentality of mind in the universe? In this episode, Michael Egnor concludes a conversation with philosopher of physics Bruce Gordon about the relationship between idealism and quantum mechanics. Gordon argues that quantum mechanics points to mind as the fundamental unit of the universe, as it is irreducibly probabilistic and exhibits non-local phenomena. He Read More ›

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Mind Over Matter: Dualism vs. Idealism

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 16 May 2024, 3:00 pm

On this episode, host Dr. Michael Egnor continues his conversation with Dr. Bruce Gordon about a chapter he wrote in the recent volume Minding the Brain titled “Mind Over Matter: Idealism Ascendant.” In Part 2 of the conversation, Dr. Gordon reviews the strengths and weaknesses of dualism and its relationship to idealism. Different categories of dualism are evaluated, as well as challenges and Read More ›

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Mind Over Matter: The Case for Idealism

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 9 May 2024, 3:00 pm

On this episode, host Dr. Michael Egnor begins a conversation with Dr. Bruce Gordon about a chapter he wrote in the recent volume Minding the Brain titled “Mind Over Matter: Idealism Ascendant.” Dr. Gordon makes a case for idealism, a philosophy of mind positing that all of reality is, in some sense, mental. Egnor and Gordon discuss the plausibility of idealism Read More ›

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Robert J. Marks II and Zoltan Istvan on the Promise — or Threat — of Artificial Intelligence

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 6 May 2024, 11:21 pm

In this episode of Humanize, Wesley focuses on AI — artificial intelligence. Are we on the verge of an era if incalculable human progress because of the power of AI? Or are we threatened with being made obsolete and perhaps extinguished in an age of intelligent machines? Or, perhaps, a combination of both? The program features two experts who have Read More ›

From Math to Mind: Uncovering the Immaterial Nature of Reality

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 2 May 2024, 3:00 pm

If mathematical objects are immaterial, does that mean aspects of human beings are too? On this episode, host Pat Flynn concludes his three-part discussion with Dr. Selmer Bringsjord about his provocative chapter in the recent volume Minding the Brain titled “Mathematical Objects are Non-Physical, so we are too.” They summarize the argument that formal thinking is non-physical and extend this reasoning to Read More ›

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Talk More, Tech Less: Digital Wellness Tips From Dawn Wible

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 25 April 2024, 3:00 pm

On this episode, host Robert J. Marks welcomes Dawn Wible, founder of the digital wellness organization Talk More. Tech Less., to discuss the impact of digital media on mental health and well-being. Wible emphasizes the need to be intentional about technology use and offers strategies for mitigating the negative effects of excessive screen time. Wible highlights five areas of life Read More ›

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Thomas Linzey on the Nature Rights Movement

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 22 April 2024, 2:18 pm

Most people support responsible environmental policies but may be unaware of how radical the leading edge of the movement has become as an increasing number of activists support granting personhood rights to nature. Is nature rights a subversive threat to human exceptionalism and our thriving or is it the next necessary step in society’s moral growth and key to preventing Read More ›

The Non-Physical Nature of Being: More with Dr. Selmer Bringsjord

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 18 April 2024, 7:02 pm

On this episode, host Pat Flynn continues his conversation with Dr. Selmer Bringsjord about his chapter in the recent volume Minding the Brain, titled “Mathematical Objects Are Non-Physical, so We Are Too.” The discussion focuses on the first part of the argument, which asserts that mathematical objects are non-physical. Bringsjord explains that formal thinking, such as understanding algorithms, cannot be fully determined Read More ›

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Exploring the Immaterial: A Conversation with Dr. Selmer Bringsjord

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 11 April 2024, 3:00 pm

On this episode, host Pat Flynn is joined by Dr. Selmer Bringsjord, author of a fascinating and provocative chapter in the recent volume Minding the Brain. Dr. Bringsjord argues for the immateriality of mathematical objects as well as the immateriality of the human person. The argument challenges physicalism and raises questions about the nature of consciousness and the human person. The Read More ›

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Mark Davis Pickup on Living with Intense Suffering and Experiencing a Miraculous Healing

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 8 April 2024, 4:08 am

We live in a time in which eliminating suffering is considered by many to be society’s ultimate purpose. Too often, this leads to policies that eliminate suffering by eliminating the sufferer. Still, for those not experiencing intense pain or anguish, arguing for improved care instead of increased access to assisted suicide or euthanasia can seem like a blithe platitude. “If Read More ›

Is Methodological Naturalism Necessary for Scientific Progress?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 4 April 2024, 5:33 pm

In this episode, hosts Angus Menuge and Robert J. Marks conclude their three-part discussion with Dr. Robert Larmer about his chapter on methodological naturalism in the recent volume Minding the Brain. The trio argue that methodological naturalism is not the only viable approach in scientific inquiry and that it can be an obstruction to discovering the truth. They suggest that explanations Read More ›

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The State of Innovation and the Impact of AI

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 28 March 2024, 6:46 pm

In this episode, host Robert J. Marks discusses the state of innovation and the impact of AI with guest Jeffrey Funk, author of the book Technology Change and the Rise of New Industries. They discuss the hype around AI, the limitations of large language models like GPT-3, the slowing rate of innovation, the impact of Goodhart’s Law on academia, and the Read More ›

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Consciousness and Agency: A Critique of Methodological Naturalism

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 21 March 2024, 3:00 pm

In this episode, host Angus Menuge continues a discussion with Dr. Robert Larmer about his chapter on methodological naturalism in the recent volume Minding the Brain. In this segment of the conversation, Menuge and Larmer examine the justifications for methodological naturalism and critique some of the common arguments. They discuss the claim that non-natural causes are unknowable by scientific inquiry and Read More ›

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Methodological Naturalism: Neutral Principle or Self-Refuting Philosophy?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 14 March 2024, 3:00 pm

In this episode, hosts Robert J. Marks and Angus Menuge interview Dr. Robert Larmer about his chapter on methodological naturalism in the recently published volume Minding the Brain. Larmer explains that methodological naturalism is the assumption that when pursuing knowledge, one must always posit a physical cause and never appeal to a non-physical cause. Larmer argues that methodological naturalism is not Read More ›

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Dr. Charles Camosy on Current Trends in Bioethics

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 11 March 2024, 5:56 am

To say the least, bioethics is controversial. Many in the mainstream movement reject the sanctity and equal dignity of human life around issues such as abortion, assisted suicide, and biotechnology. But there is a robust pushback against such approaches—a human dignity bioethics, if you will—that promotes medical ethics and public health policies that align with the “do no harm” ethic Read More ›

Debunking the Hype of Artificial General Intelligence

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 7 March 2024, 4:00 pm

In this episode, host Michael Egnor speaks with Dr. William Dembski, a senior fellow at Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, about his essay titled “Artificial General Intelligence as an Idol for Destruction.” Dembski argues that the belief in the imminent arrival of artificial general intelligence (AGI) is unachievable and destructive. He points out that while AI has made Read More ›

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Can AI Ever Be Sentient? A Conversation with Blake Lemoine

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 29 February 2024, 4:00 pm

AI can mimic sentience, but can it ever be sentient? On this episode, we return to our conversation with former Google engineer Blake Lemoine. Host Robert J. Marks has a lively back and forth with Lemoine, who made national headlines when, as an employee of Google, he claimed that Google’s AI software, dubbed LaMDA, might be sentient. Lemoine recounts his experience at Google and Read More ›

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Stephen C. Meyer on the Crisis of Trust in Science

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 26 February 2024, 4:33 am

It is no secret that most of society’s critical institutions are suffering from a crisis of trust. One of these is science, which heretofore enjoyed the confidence of the vast majority of the American people. To learn, what happened, whether the loss of confidence is deserved, and what can be done about it, Wesley asked the Director of Discovery Institute’s Read More ›

The Primacy of Information Over Matter

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 22 February 2024, 5:59 pm

In this episode, host Michael Egnor continues a conversation with Dr. William Dembski, a senior fellow at Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, about the relationship between the mind and the body. Dembski argues that if information is considered fundamental rather than matter, it dissolves the mind-body problem. He suggests that information is not constrained by the speed of Read More ›

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William Dembski on Information and the Mind-Body Relationship

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 15 February 2024, 10:37 pm

On this episode, host Michael Egnor speaks with Bill Dembski about the concept of information and its role in understanding the mind-body relationship. Dembski explains that information is a verb, representing the narrowing of possibilities and the constraining of contingency. He discusses how information can be understood in different contexts and how it relates to concepts such as meaning and communication. Read More ›

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The Rev. Dr. Arthur Cribbs, Jr. on His Book HollyWatts: From the Promised Land to Purgatory and the Crisis in Race Relations

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 12 February 2024, 4:34 am

Racism has been America’s lingering cancer. There is no question that great strides have been made in eradicating this evil from our culture since the bad old days of slavery and Jim Crow. But alas, the urgent task is not completed, and as a result, a great divide still lingers among too many Americans based on superficial and irrelevant differences Read More ›

Beyond the Physical: Embracing an Idealistic Worldview

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 8 February 2024, 7:49 pm

In this episode of the Mind Matters Podcast, Hosts Robert J. Marks and Brian Krouse conclude their discussion with Dr. Doug Axe about idealism. They explore the question of where the mind exists in an idealistic worldview and how it differs from physicalism and substance dualism. They also discuss the implications of idealism for various scientific fields, such as neuroscience Read More ›

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From Material to Mind: Understanding Idealism

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 1 February 2024, 4:00 pm

In this episode of the Mind Matters News podcast, host Robert J. Marks and co-host Brian Krouse continue their discussion of idealism with Dr. Doug Axe. In his chapter on the topic for the recent volume Minding the Brain, Axe presents four conundrums that support the move away from physicalism and dualism towards idealism. Axe discusses these conundrums with Marks and Krouse. The Read More ›

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Jennifer Lahl Her Newest Film, ‘The Lost Boys: Searching for Manhood’

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 29 January 2024, 1:14 pm

We are in the midst of a transgender moral panic. Where only recently, very few people sought what used to be called a sex change, today the numbers of people seeking to “transition” to the other gender—particularly among children and teenagers—is becoming a flood. Much of the American medical establishment and the Biden administration claim that immediately yielding to children’s Read More ›

Healing the Brain: Insights from a Neurologist

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 25 January 2024, 6:01 pm

Our brains are amazingly complex systems! But like most complex systems, there are lots of ways things can go wrong. But our brain is also adaptive, able to cope with or heal from some issues, either on its own over time or with medical intervention. On today’s episode, neurologist Dr. Andrew Knox discusses some of what can go wrong and Read More ›

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Unpacking Idealism: Animals and Consciousness

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 18 January 2024, 6:11 pm

In this episode, co-hosts Robert J. Marks and Brian R. Krouse continue to discuss the concept of idealism with guest Dr. Doug Axe. The topic this time is idealism and its implications for animals and quantum mechanics. Idealism suggests that reality consists of thinkers and their thoughts, with physical objects perhaps being the thoughts of God. When it comes to Read More ›

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A Commonsense Defense of Idealism

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 11 January 2024, 4:00 pm

In this episode, co-hosts Robert J. Marks and Brian R. Krouse discuss the concept of idealism with guest Dr. Doug Axe. Idealism is the belief that reality exists exclusively in the minds and ideas of individuals. Dr. Axe explains that idealism suggests that the physical world is a product of divine thoughts, and that everything that exists is made up Read More ›

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Mark Krikorian on the Southern Border Crisis

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 8 January 2024, 3:09 pm

The southern border of the United States is in chaos. Millions of people from all over the world are flooding here each year, mostly illegally, but still allowed to remain in — and be transported free — throughout the country. Matters are quickly coming to a head. The crisis has strained our infrastructures, exacerbated our bitter political divisions, and called Read More ›

Science of The Soul: Evaluating Dualism and Naturalism

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 4 January 2024, 4:00 pm

In this episode of Mind Matters, host Pat Flynn concludes his discussion about substance dualism with experts Dr. Stewart Goetz and Dr. Charles Taliaferro. Goetz and Taliaferro discuss the nature of the soul and some of the tenets of substance dualism. They explore the motivations behind naturalism and scientism and the challenges faced by these worldviews in explaining consciousness and mental Read More ›

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Can Artificial Intelligence Hold Copyright or Patents?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 28 December 2023, 4:00 pm

Should AI get legal credit for what it generates? On this episode of Mind Matters from the archive, host Robert J. Marks welcomes attorney and author Richard Stevens to discuss the concept of legal neutrality for artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications for copyright and patent law. Stevens explains that AI is a tool created and controlled by humans, and therefore should Read More ›

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The Self and the Body: Substance Dualism Explored

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 21 December 2023, 4:00 pm

In this episode of Mind Matters, host Pat Flynn continues his discussion about substance dualism with experts Dr. Stewart Goetz and Dr. Charles Taliaferro. They explore arguments in favor of substance dualism, focusing on the primacy of self-awareness and the first-person point of view. They argue that our sense of self as substantial beings over time is more convincing than the Read More ›

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A Brief History of the Soul

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 14 December 2023, 4:00 pm

In this episode of Mind Matters, host Pat Flynn begins a discussion about substance dualism with experts Dr. Stewart Goetz and Dr. Charles Taliaferro. They provide a brief history of the soul, explaining that the concept of the soul is universal and not limited to Greek philosophy. They discuss how Plato and Descartes contributed to the understanding of the soul, with Read More ›

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Gary Habermas on the Scientific Evidence for Near-Death Experiences

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 7 December 2023, 4:00 pm

Is there strong scientific evidence for near-death experiences? On this episode of Mind Matters, we’re happy to share host Andrew McDiarmid’s recent ID The Future conversation with Dr. Gary Habermas about his chapter evaluating the evidence for near-death experiences in the recent book Minding the Brain. As Dr. Habermas explains, most near-death accounts contain both objective and subjective elements. While personal testimony about other Read More ›

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Hope & Energy: Empowering Haiti Through Appropriate Technology

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 30 November 2023, 4:00 pm

In the fall of 2022, the country of Haiti was facing a fuel and energy crisis, and in the intervening months, the situation has unfortunately not improved. In this episode of Mind Matters from the archive, host Robert J. Marks interviews Brian Thomas and Kayla Garrett from JustEnergy, a nonprofit organization that works in Haiti to provide solar energy systems Read More ›

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Evaluating Popular Theories of the Mind-Brain Relationship

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 23 November 2023, 4:00 pm

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the most common mind-brain theories? On today’s episode, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor concludes his conversation with Dr. Angus Menuge about the mind-brain relationship and the popular dualistic theories of Cartesian dualism and Thomistic dualism. Cartesian dualism posits that the mind and body are fundamentally different substances, with the mind being immaterial and the body Read More ›

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Clarke Forsythe on the History and Future of the Pro-Life Movement

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 20 November 2023, 4:05 am

When the Supreme Court ruled that abortion was a constitutional right in Roe v. Wade in 1973, it not only throttled an important ongoing democratic debate in the country about legalizing abortion, but it tore this country’s culture apart. In the next fifty years, dedicated pro-life activists committed themselves to democratic engagement and advocacy to reverse Roe and return the Read More ›

From Physicalism to Idealism: Challenging Assumptions about Reality

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 16 November 2023, 6:31 pm

Can the mind be understood independently of physical matter? On today’s episode, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor continues his conversation with Dr. Angus Menuge, Chair of Philosophy at Concordia University, about his book Minding the Brain: Models of the Mind, Information, and Empirical Science. They discuss various models of the mind-brain problem, including idealism, which posits that matter does not exist and that Read More ›

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Exploring the Mind-Brain Relationship and Challenging Materialism

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 9 November 2023, 6:01 pm

Can the mind be explained in purely physical terms? Or is it something else entirely? In this interview, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor kicks off a three-part discussion with Dr. Angus Menuge about his book Minding the Brain: Models of the Mind, Information, and Empirical Science. The book brings together contributors from various academic disciplines to challenge the dominant materialist paradigm in the Read More ›

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Jonathan Choe on the Crisis of our City Streets

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 6 November 2023, 1:03 pm

The homelessness and addiction catastrophes on our city streets seem intractable. Unhygienic squatter tent cities. Human waste on our sidewalks. Used needles littering our parks. Crime. Collapsing commercial districts. It’s enough to make one turn away in despair and allow areas of our once most beautiful cities to become no-go zones. But some refuse to yield. One is veteran independent Read More ›

Philosophies of Mind: Jim Madden on Hylomorphism and Neuroscience

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 2 November 2023, 3:00 pm

Is matter governed by an immaterial form, as Aristotle once argued? Or is the physical world all there is? On today’s episode, guest host Pat Flynn interviews philosopher Jim Madden, author of a chapter in the new book Minding the Brain. Madden discusses his involvement in the book project and his contribution to the volume. He explains the concept of hylomorphism, Read More ›

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After You Die: Near-Death Experiences With Glimpses of Heaven and Hell

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 26 October 2023, 4:58 pm

Can near-death experiences provide evidence that the mind is greater than the brain? On today’s episode from the archive, host Robert J. Marks interviews Walter Bradley about near-death experiences. Dr. Bradley discusses the mind-body problem and delves into near-death experiences, including common threads, stand-out examples, and even some discussion of near-death experiences in the ancient world. Near-death experiences have gained Read More ›

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Henry Olsen on the Crisis in American Politics

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 23 October 2023, 3:48 am

It is no secret that American politics are in crisis. Polls show that Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives are increasingly estranged from each other, conservative red states and progressive blue states are enacting public policies that are dramatically dichotomous, and millions of people no longer trust the integrity of our electoral system. As this program is being recorded, there Read More ›

Body & Soul: Joshua Farris and The Creation of Self

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 19 October 2023, 3:00 pm

How does the body contribute to the soul? On today’s episode, host Michael Egnor and theologian Dr. Joshua Farris discuss the implications of a neo-Cartesian understanding of the human soul on divisive cultural issues such as transgenderism and abortion. Farris, author of the recent book The Creation of Self: A Case for the Soul, argues that the body supplies certain controls and Read More ›

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Minding the Brain: Unraveling the Mystery of Consciousness

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 12 October 2023, 3:00 pm

Are the mind and brain distinct? What is the connection between our physical brain and our mental thinking? On today’s episode, podcaster Pat Flynn concludes his conversation with the editors of the new book Minding the Brain: Models of the Mind, Information, and Empirical Science. After discussing an overview of the philosophy of mind and the range of physicalist perspectives in previous Read More ›

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Dr. Keri D. Ingraham on the Crisis in American Education

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 9 October 2023, 2:45 am

It’s no secret that American education is in a profound crisis. From dismal academic performance, to bitter contention over gender ideology taught in elementary school, the damage caused by COVID school lockdowns, a collapse in discipline, and fear of violence, “school days” have become much more complicated than reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Minding the Brain: Why Science and Philosophy Need Each Other

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 5 October 2023, 3:00 pm

Does science have to stay within a materialistic framework? It turns out, materialism itself isn’t science — it’s philosophy. In this episode, Pat Flynn interviews Brian Krouse, Angus Menuge, and Robert J. Marks about alternatives to materialism and how scientific exploration leads us to deeper questions that science alone can never answer. Additional Resources

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Minding the Brain: Discussing the Groundbreaking New Book on the Mind-Brain Problem

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 28 September 2023, 8:36 pm

Is the mind more than the brain? If so, what’s the difference? In today’s episode, Pat Flynn interviews the editors of the brand-new book Minding the Brain: Models of the Mind, Information, and Empirical Science. Together, they discuss different perspectives on the mind-brain problem, consciousness, and the limits of materialism. Additional Resources

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Alice Stewart on the Crisis of Trust in the American Media

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 25 September 2023, 1:44 am

A vibrant and engaged media is essential to protecting American liberty—which is why the First Amendment provides such a strong protection for freedom of the press. If the media are to carry out their societal responsibilities, journalists must have the trust of news consumers. But these days, trust is in low supply. An October 2022 Gallup Poll found that only Read More ›

What Makes Humans Unique?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 21 September 2023, 3:00 pm

What makes humans unique compared to the rest of the natural world? Can strict materialists answer that question? In today’s podcast episode, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor speaks with Dr. Joshua Farris on the idea that human beings are made in God’s image, the mystery of consciousness, and panpsychism. Additional Resources

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The Person as “Immaterial Substance”

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 14 September 2023, 3:00 pm

Is there substantial evidence that we are more than our bodies? And does that point to the existence of God? Theological anthropologist Dr. Joshua Farris thinks so. In this podcast episode, Farris speaks with host and neurosurgeon Michael Egnor to talk about materialism, mind, and theism, as well as Farris’ new book: The Creation of Self. Additional Resources

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Sam Brownback on the Importance of Religious Freedom to World Peace and Prosperity

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 11 September 2023, 11:28 am

Supreme Court Justice Frank Murphy once opined that freedom of religion has “a double aspect—freedom of thought and action.” In other words, to be truly religiously free, one must not only be at liberty to believe, but act consistently with those beliefs. This concept of religious freedom—the right to live and act according to one’s faith—has historically been assaulted by totalitarian government Read More ›

When the Government Controls the Spectrum

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 7 September 2023, 3:00 pm

The federal government determines how the radio spectrum is used and who can use it. Turns out, renting out the spectrum to private companies is a billion-dollar business. The spectrum business goes to the highest bidder. But what problems does that pose in the long run? Google engineer Andrew Clegg discusses this and more with Dr. Robert J. Marks and Read More ›

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Why You Are Non-Computable

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 31 August 2023, 3:00 pm

Usually Robert Marks does the interviewing, but today, the script is flipped. In this episode, we revisit the press tour Dr. Marks went on to promote the seminal ideas of his 2022 book Non-Computable You: What You Do That Artificial Intelligence Never Will, which is about artificial intelligence and the non-computable traits (like creativity and emotional sentience) that make human beings unique. Additional Read More ›

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Can the Radio Spectrum Ever “Fill Up”?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 24 August 2023, 3:00 pm

Right now, there are electromagnetic signals bouncing off and passing through you. But what happens when the radio spectrum gets overused and starts filling up? That’s the question addressed in today’s episode with Robert J. Marks, research scientist Austin Egbert, and special guest, Google engineer Andrew Clegg. Resources

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Defining and Discussing the Radio Spectrum

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 17 August 2023, 3:00 pm

So much of our modern technology depends on wireless “frequencies.” But how do electromagnetic frequencies actually work and how did engineers implement them into electronic devices? In this episode, Robert J. Marks and podcast director Austin Egbert talk with Google Engineer Andrew Clegg about the radio spectrum, how it has led to technological development, and the challenges of having too Read More ›

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Can AI Mimic Spontaneous Jazz and the Blues?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 10 August 2023, 3:00 pm

AI is getting better at imitating music and complex audio. But what are the limits, and what makes music like jazz and “the blues” unique? In this episode, Robert J. Marks sits down with musician James Hirsen to talk about AI deep fakes, its impact on the arts, and the personal aspect of music that makes it so special. Additional Read More ›

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Discussing the Cartesian Error

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 3 August 2023, 3:00 pm

What impact did the ideas of the philosopher René Descartes have on our modern conception of the mind/body problem? In today’s episode, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor digs deeper into his conversation with Dr. Joshua Farris, discussing Thomistic dualism, materialistic explanations for consciousness, and the inevitability of metaphysics. Additional Resources

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The Sound of Freedom: How Human Trafficking and Porn Compromises National Security

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 27 July 2023, 3:00 pm

Robert J. Marks and Charlie Crockett discuss how the normalization of online pornography is connected with sex trafficking and abuse. In fact, the two industries are inextricably linked. They also discuss how military communications are affected by the widespread use of porn because of the high demand for spectrum (a limited resource). Additional Resources

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The Sound of Freedom: Social Media and Human Trafficking

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 20 July 2023, 3:00 pm

Robert J. Marks and Charlie Crockett continue their conversation on the sad reality of human trafficking. In this episode, they focus particularly on how social media has become a place where predators will search and highlight children’s vulnerabilities — which so many young people share online. Marks and Crockett encourage parents to develop relationships of trust with their children and Read More ›

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The Sound of Freedom: Human Trafficking In your Own Back Yard

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 13 July 2023, 3:00 pm

Robert Marks speaks on the difficult topic of human trafficking with his guest Charlie Crockett, who works with the anti-trafficking advocacy organization Unbound Now. Human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world and goes undetected all over the U.S. Marks and Crockett talk about the scope of the problem, common misconceptions about trafficking, and how to help victims in need. Read More ›

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Neuroscience, the Mind, and Theism

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 6 July 2023, 3:00 pm

What can modern neuroscience teach us about the immaterial mind? Can we ever know anything for certain? In this episode, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor talks with anthropologist Dr. Joshua Farris. They discuss the brain, Descartes, and the theological implications of the various philosophies of mind. Additional Resources

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What is the Future of the Internet?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 29 June 2023, 3:00 pm

In the age of data harvesting and Big Tech monopolies, what will the Internet look like in a decade? In today’s episode, Robert J. Marks speaks with computer engineer Adam Goad about “Web 3.0,” decentralization, cryptocurrency, and the future of the blockchain. Additional Resources

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Can Lawyer Robots Solve Complex Legal Cases?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 22 June 2023, 3:00 pm

A lawyer recently used ChatGPT in a court case, but it generated false citations. Can AI be trusted at all in the courtroom? Lawyer Richard Stevens explains how in legal cases, meaning, context, and nuance are essential, and can’t be “computed” by artificial intelligence. Additional Resources

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AI Libel and Responsibility

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 15 June 2023, 3:00 pm

What happens when ChatGPT doesn’t just generate false information but also slanderous and potentially harmful responses? And in legal matters, who is responsible for AI? Robert J. Marks and legal expert Richard W. Stevens discuss these topics and more in this week’s podcast episode. Additional Resources

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AI and Intellectual Property

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 8 June 2023, 3:00 pm

The question of copyright and “fair use” is a contentious debate in the age of AI. Is AI-generated art a kind of theft? What about artists’ rights? Attorney and Bradley Center Senior Fellow Richard Stevens discusses the legalities of copyright and the challenge of artificial intelligence in today’s increasingly complicated world. Additional Resources

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Dr. Jay Bhattacharya on the Need for a COVID Response Truth Commission

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 5 June 2023, 4:41 am

The COVID pandemic has been one of the most politically and culturally divisive events in American history. Adding to our woes, the proper approach to scientific inquiry and policy makers’ relationship with the expert class became badly skewed. Once an orthodoxy was declared by the World Health Organization or the Center for Disease Control, government leaders, the mainstream media, and Read More ›

Alzheimer’s, Medical Ethics, and Choosing Life

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 1 June 2023, 3:00 pm

From preemptive assisted suicide to selective abortions, the medical field suffers a host of ethical dilemmas. In today’s podcast episode, memory-loss expert Stephen Post joins neurosurgeon Michael Egnor to discuss Alzheimer’s, bioethics, and the intrinsic dignity of human beings. Additional Resources

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AI: Is it Good or Bad for Society?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 25 May 2023, 3:00 pm

Artificial intelligence already surrounds us and has made inroads into banking, accounting, and digital technology. It’s ubiquitous. In today’s episode, Robert J. Marks reminds us that AI is like fire: its benefits and value depend on how wisely (or foolishly) we use it. Additional Resources

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Stephen B. Levine M.D. on the Science of Gender-Affirming Care

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 22 May 2023, 4:51 am

The United States has become the world’s most adamant promoter of what is now called “gender-affirming care” for children and adolescents who identify as being other than their born sex. This approach ranges from “social affirmation”—the use of preferred pronouns, for example—to “medical affirmation,” such as puberty blocking, to radical “surgical affirmation,” meaning mastectomies, facial feminization or masculinization cosmetic procedures, Read More ›

Caring for the Deeply Forgetful

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 18 May 2023, 3:00 pm

How can we compassionately relate to those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease? Is the mind more than the brain? Dr. Stephen Post, an expert in the field and author of Dignity for Deeply Forgetful People, speaks with neurosurgeon Michael Egnor on memory, consciousness, and whether the mind could have arisen from matter. Additional Resources

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An Antidote for Digital Addiction

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 11 May 2023, 3:00 pm

With the advent of social media, rates of teenage depression, suicides, and body image problems have skyrocketed. These are symptoms of digital addiction. How can we combat digital addiction and promote digital wellness especially in youth? Kent Marks talks about his departure from Boy Scouts and his transition to Trail Life USA, which seeks to offer an antidote to digital Read More ›

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Dr. Gale L. Pooley on the Ideology of Scarcity and the Potential to Achieve “Super Abundance”

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 8 May 2023, 4:00 pm

In his first term as California’s governor, Jerry Brown famously said back in 1975, “There is no free lunch. This is an era of limits and we all had better get used to it. Small is beautiful.” Was Brown right? These days, it seems that establishment thinking and most of the content on mainstream media believes it is so. Threats Read More ›

Medicine for Digitally Addicted Boys

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 4 May 2023, 3:00 pm

The Boy Scouts of America used to enjoy a booming membership. But after some significant policy changes and a giant lawsuit, the organization is rapidly declining. In this episode, Robert Marks speaks with former Boy Scout leader Kent Marks on his experience in the organization and the enduring need to help boys navigate life in the digital age. Additional Resources

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Oxford Mathematician John Lennox on AI

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 27 April 2023, 3:00 pm

Will AI take us over? Will we ever reach a point where humans and machines will completely merge? In this episode, world-renowned Oxford mathematician John Lennox answers questions about artificial intelligence and the transhumanist claim that AI will turn humans into gods. Additional Resources

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Working Towards Digital Flourishing

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 20 April 2023, 3:00 pm

Dawn Wible, the founder of Talk More Tech Less, continues her conversation with Robert J. Marks on digital tech. How can we healthily use technology instead of being manipulated by Big Tech? In this episode, she lays out practical steps people can take to reclaim their time, relationships, and mental health. Additional Resources

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Talk More, Tech Less

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 13 April 2023, 3:00 pm

Dawn Wible, founder of the digital wellness organization “Talk More Tech Less,” talks with Robert J. Marks about her advocacy for healthy screen time among children and young adults. Phone usage has dramatically increased in the last decade, especially during COVID-19. How can we be healthy and whole in a society so saturated with digital media? Additional Resources

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Todd Myers on Democratizing Environmentalism by ‘Thinking Small’

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 10 April 2023, 4:21 am

The environmental movement is growing ever-more extreme. Radical ideas such as granting rights to nature—including geological features like rivers, lakes, and glaciers—are gaining popularity as a means of “saving the planet.” But is there another way? Can we fulfill our human duty to be good stewards of the environment without undermining human exceptionalism and impeding our thriving? According to my Read More ›

The Value and Drawbacks of ChatGPT

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 6 April 2023, 3:00 pm

In this week’s episode, Robert Marks resumes his conversation with tech consultant and expert Jeffrey Funk. They focus on ChatGPT, its value and limits, and the hype that often accompanies new developments in AI. Additional Resources

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Navigating the Technological Age

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 30 March 2023, 3:00 pm

Humans have created technology for centuries. But what happens when we stop using tech and tech starts using us? In this episode, Discovery Institute Senior Fellow Andrew McDiarmid sits down with Robert J. Marks to talk about the root meaning of technology, how it has developed, and the ways we can healthily navigate our highly technologized world. Additional Resources

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Where Does Innovation Come From?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 23 March 2023, 3:00 pm

In a continuation of last week’s conversation, technology experts Jeffrey Funk and Robert J. Marks explore the question of where today’s technological innovation is fostered. Academia? Private corporations? The military? Since many universities now prize publication over innovation, much of the real progress is being made elsewhere. Additional Resources

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Jeffrey Funk on AI, Startups, and Big Tech

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 16 March 2023, 3:00 pm

In this podcast episode, technology consultant and author Jeffrey Funk joins Robert J. Marks to talk about the artificial intelligence industry, how it’s used by Big Tech, and AI’s exaggerated hype. How do we respond to AI when technology is changing every year? Additional Resources

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Rod Dreher on the Crisis of Western Civilization

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 13 March 2023, 4:26 am

Western Civilization is in crisis. It is becoming unmoored from its Judeo-Christian roots and the belief in the unique dignity of every human life, leading to destructive progressive social policies that some believe threaten us with a form of therapeutic authoritarianism. One such commentator is my guest today on Humanize. Rod Dreher is an American journalist and best-selling author. He Read More ›

Blake Lemoine and the LaMDA Question

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 9 March 2023, 4:00 pm

In this continuation of last week’s conversation, ex-Googler Blake Lemoine tells Robert J. Marks what originally got him interested in AI: reading the science fiction of Isaac Asimov as a boy in rural Louisiana. The two go on to discuss and debate sentience in AI, non-computable traits of human beings, and the question of the soul. Additional Resources

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A Chat with Blake Lemoine on Google and AI Sentience

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 2 March 2023, 4:00 pm

Former Google employee Blake Lemoine claimed that the Large Language Model LaMDA was a sentient being. The claim got him fired. In this episode, Lemoine sits down with Robert J. Marks to discuss AI, what he was doing at Google, and why he believes artificial intelligence can be sentient. Additional Resources

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Winning and Losing Strategies for Casino Gambling

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 23 February 2023, 4:00 pm

Can you beat casinos at their own game? Sometimes. Don Johnson beat Atlantic City casinos for over $15 million during a six-month period in 2011. Find out the ins and outs of casino gambling and card counting as Robert J. Marks interviews gambling expert Sal Cordova. In this intriguing podcast, you will discover how artificial intelligence plays poker, the strategies Read More ›

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Alex Schadenberg on the Canadian Euthanasia Epidemic

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 20 February 2023, 4:41 am

No modern society has embraced lethal injection euthanasia with the enthusiasm of Canada, where not only the terminally ill can be killed by doctors but also people with chronic conditions and disabilities. Soon, people with mental illnesses will qualify for a doctor-hastened death. In 2021, more than 10,000 Canadians were euthanized by doctors or nurse practitioners. As recently as 2014, Read More ›

More Porn = More Trafficking

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 16 February 2023, 4:00 pm

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Social Media’s Role in Human Trafficking

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 9 February 2023, 4:00 pm

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Tim Goeglein on the Case for Teaching the Great American Story

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 6 February 2023, 4:11 am

Abraham Lincoln famously called the United States of America, “the last best Hope on earth.” Throughout our history, most Americans believed that. So did countless people from other countries who left their homes behind to come here in pursuit of the American dream — including my grandmother who immigrated from Italy in 1910 as a 16 year-old to help free Read More ›

Human Trafficking In Your Own Backyard

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 2 February 2023, 4:00 pm

Robert Marks speaks on the difficult topic of human trafficking with his guest Charles Crockett, who works with the anti-trafficking advocacy organization Unbound Now. Human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world and goes undetected all over the U.S. Marks and Crockett talk about the scope of the problem, common misconceptions about trafficking, and how to help victims in need. Read More ›

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Is the Human Brain Just GPT-3 Made of Meat?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 26 January 2023, 4:00 pm

In this episode, Robert J. Marks talks with Pat Flynn on the Philosophy for the People podcast. Together they discuss the benefits and limits of the GPT-3, the mind-body problem, and the unique, “non-computable” qualities of the human person.

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Dr. Peggy Hartshorn on Heartbeat International, Pregnancy Resource Centers, and Abortion Pill Reversal

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 23 January 2023, 4:08 am

A continual criticism of the pro-life movement is that adherents only care about children before they are born. But is that true? The proliferation of Pregnancy Help Centers throughout the country and the many outreach efforts of the pro-life movement to help women and babies after birth testifies to the lie of the accusation. Wesley’s guest today has been immersed Read More ›

Is The Mind an Illusion?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 19 January 2023, 4:00 pm

Perhaps you’ve heard of the “mind-body problem,” but what about the relationship between the mind and the brain? Is the mind just an illusion produced by the brain or is it something totally separate? Robert Marks talks with neurologist Andrew Knox on these topics and more in this week’s Mind Matters podcast episode. Additional Resources

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Ways the Brain Can Heal

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 12 January 2023, 4:00 pm

Robert Marks and Andrew Knox continue their conversation on neurology, epilepsy, and mental illness. In this episode, they focus on the medications and practices that can help restore proper brain function, from antidepressants to forms of surgery to Elon Musk’s potential “Neuralink.” Additional Resources

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Steve Laufmann and Howard Glicksman on the Design of the Human Body

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 9 January 2023, 2:11 am

In this episode of the Humanize podcast we will explore the human body. Is your body “engineered” or did it evolve through impersonal and random processes over countless millions of years of natural selection? And what difference does the answer to that question make? Wesley’s guests are the authors of Your Designed Body, a new book that explores the complexity Read More ›

Ways the Brain Can Break

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 5 January 2023, 4:00 pm

The brain is a marvelous organ still not understood. Artificial neural networks are supposed to be a simulation of the human brain. But comparing the brain to an artificial neural network is like comparing the human heart to a pump handle. Dr. Andrew Knox and Dr. Robert J. Marks discuss the brain, aging, and neurology. Additional Resources

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The Practice of Medicine and Ongoing Issues with Opioid Addiction

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 29 December 2022, 4:00 pm

How does our brain chemistry affect addiction? How has artificial intelligence changed medicine? Anesthesiologist Dr. Richard Hurley discusses opioid addiction from a medical perspective with host Dr. Robert J. Marks. Then, an anonymous guest details their own experience with opioids. Finally, Dr. Hurley discusses how computer algorithms have both improved and stifled the proper practice of medicine. Additional Resources

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Dr. Jay Bhattacharya on COVID-19 as One of the Most Divisive Events in American History

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 26 December 2022, 4:02 am

The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the most politically and culturally divisive events in American history. Which seems odd. Usually, a universal external threat unites societies and rallies populations to focus on the common foe. Instead, American society fractured into different tribes, which often coincided with our preexisting political factionalism. Adding to our woes, the proper approach to scientific Read More ›

What AI Machines Won’t Be Able to Achieve

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 22 December 2022, 4:00 pm

Computer scientist and AI expert Selmer Bringsjord provides a wide-ranging discussion of artificial intelligence (AI) and its capabilities. Bringsjord, a professor at Rensselaer, addresses three features humans possess that AI machines won’t be able to duplicate in his view: consciousness, cognition, and genuine creativity. Additional Resources

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Defining the Role of AI in Patents

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 15 December 2022, 4:00 pm

Recently, a piece of art called “Théâtre D’opéra Spatial” took home the first-place prize at the Colorado State Fair’s fine art competition in the category of digital arts/digitally manipulated photography. The art was generated using AI. Can AI hold a copyright? Can a human hold a copyright for a piece of artwork that they used AI to generate? Robert J. Read More ›

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Chen Guangcheng on the Current Tyranny in the People’s Republic of China

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 12 December 2022, 4:52 am

In the current episode of Humanize, Wesley interviews Chen Guangcheng, an authentic human rights hero and adamant opponent of Chinese Communist Party tyranny that rules the People’s Republic of China. Known internationally as “the barefoot lawyer,” Chen is a renowned human rights activist who fearlessly advocated for the welfare and rights of women, the disabled, and the poor while in Read More ›

Can AI Be Issued Patents?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 8 December 2022, 4:00 pm

Should a computer program ever be listed as an inventor of a patent? Would AI have any right to sue for patent infringement? The US Patent Office has ruled that only “natural persons” can own patents, not machines, but should that change? Robert J. Marks discusses patent law and artificial intelligence with attorney and author, Richard W. Stevens. Additional Resources Read More ›

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Patents and the Creativity Requirement

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 1 December 2022, 4:00 pm

A new invention has to produce unexpected or surprising new results that were not anticipated by existing technology in order to be patented. Can computers generate something outside the explanation or expectation of the programmer? Robert J. Marks discusses patent law, creativity, and artificial intelligence with attorney and author, Richard W. Stevens. Additional Resources

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Dr. Jay Wesley Richards on What Every Parent Should Know About Gender Ideology and Gender-Affirming Care

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 28 November 2022, 6:53 am

In a previous episode of Humanize, Wesley interviewed Jennifer Lahl, director of The Detransition Diaries, which documents the stories of three young women who received what is called “gender-affirming care”—including a mastectomy in one case—and later realized that they were indeed the female sex they were born. That discussion focused mostly on the radical body-altering interventions that children who question Read More ›

Getting Intentional About Your Screens

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 24 November 2022, 4:00 pm

Our obsession today with screens is, often unintentionally, taking us to places we regret. We use these windows into the world for hours every day, often unaware how intentional content creators and app designers are in shaping our decisions and forming harmful habits.

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Patents: A License To Sue

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 17 November 2022, 4:00 pm

What is the criteria for being granted a US patent? US Citizenship? Scrutiny? How long does a patent last?

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Can a Computer Be a Person?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 10 November 2022, 4:00 pm

Are we on the verge of the era of machines? Is AI destined to supplant most human endeavors and activities? Can a computer be deemed a person? And if so, should that computer be granted rights as part of the moral community? Will we ever attain immortality by uploading our minds into computers as transhumanists predict? And what the heck Read More ›

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Jennifer Lahl on ‘The Detransition Diaries: Saving our Sisters’

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 7 November 2022, 3:35 am

We are in the midst of a transgender moral panic. Where only a decade ago, very few people sought what used to be called a sex change, today the numbers of people seeking to “transition” is becoming a flood. It is one thing when adults decide to radically alter their bodies. But it is quite another to promote these radical Read More ›

An Excerpt from Chapter Two of Non-Computable You

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 3 November 2022, 3:30 pm

What You Do That Artificial Intelligence Never Will by Mind Matters podcast host Robert J. Marks is now available in audiobook form. Listen now to an excerpt from the second chapter as read by Larry Nobles. Will machines someday replace attorneys, physicians, computer programmers, and world leaders? What about composers, painters, and novelists? Will tomorrow’s supercomputers duplicate and exceed humans? Read More ›

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Hinduism, Philosophy, and the Mind

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 27 October 2022, 3:30 pm

Arjuna Gallagher is the host of the YouTube Channel called Theology Unleashed and a Hindu. He discusses Hinduism’s unique perspective regarding subjects such as metaphysics, evil, and free will with Dr. Michael Egnor. They also address creation, social ethics, and the relationship of the mind and the body. Additional Resources Dr. Michael Egnor Follow Arjuna Gallagher on Facebook Subscribe to Read More ›

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Ward Connerly on Racism, Critical Race Theory, and Individual Rights

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 24 October 2022, 5:04 am

Racism is profoundly evil and a clear violation of human exceptionalism by treating inherent equals unequally. Indeed, if we are to become a truly just society, racism must be countered by people of good will whenever it is expressed. At the same time, slavery is long gone and Jim Crow is dead, never to be mourned. So, the question must Read More ›

Appropriate Technology: Solar Powering Hospitals, Orphanages & Schools

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 20 October 2022, 5:15 pm

Under normal conditions only about 30% of the entire country of Haiti has physical connection or access to the electricity grid. Electrical engineer Brian Thomas and environmental engineer Kayla Garrett work for a small nonprofit called JustEnergy, which works in northern Haiti creating solar energy systems to power hospitals, clinics, schools, and orphanages to combat this lack of access to Read More ›

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Appropriate Technology: The Haitian Energy Problem

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 13 October 2022, 3:30 pm

Not all countries need the latest technologies. Those in developing countries don’t need high powered computers or the latest car from Tesla. They have more fundamental concerns like how do I feed my family tomorrow? Where do I get clean water? And where can I get power and energy? This effort of supplying needed technology is referred to as appropriate Read More ›

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Robert J. Marks II on Artificial Intelligence, Transhumanism, and Whether Computers Will Ever Be More Than ‘Human’

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 10 October 2022, 3:25 am

In this episode of Humanize, Wesley focuses on the emerging computer technology known as artificial intelligence. Are we on the verge of the era of machines? Is AI destined to supplant most human endeavors and activities? Can a computer be deemed a “person” and should it be granted rights as part of the moral community. Will we ever attain immortality Read More ›

Get a Sneak Peek of the New Non-Computable You Audiobook

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 6 October 2022, 4:33 pm

Will machines someday replace attorneys, physicians, computer programmers, and world leaders? What about composers, painters, and novelists? Will tomorrow’s supercomputers duplicate and exceed humans? Are we just wetware, natural computers doomed to obsolescence by tomorrow’s ultra-powerful artificial intelligence? Non-Computable You: What You Do That Artificial Intelligence Never Will by Mind Matters podcast host Robert J. Marks is now available in Read More ›

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The Nature of Mind, Body, and Soul

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 29 September 2022, 3:30 pm

How do the mind, the body, and the soul interact? After years of studying the brain, there are still many questions. Dr. Joshua Farris discusses free will, consciousness, and philosophy on this bingecast with Dr. Michael Egnor. Additional Resources Dr. Joshua Farris Dr. Michael Egnor Buy Dr. Joshua R. Farris’ Book: The Soul of Theological Anthropology Cartesian Exploration What is Read More ›

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Ambassador Sam Brownback on the Threat to Religious Freedom in America

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 26 September 2022, 5:25 am

With Western society becoming morally polyglot and secular, religious freedom is becoming a major political clash point, and in the United States, a central front in what is sometimes called the culture war. Proponents of robust religious freedom protections see the “free exercise” of religion guaranteed in the Constitution as the “First Liberty.” But others view the same issue as Read More ›

School Shooters, the AI Church, and Patents

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 22 September 2022, 6:20 pm

Walter Bradley Center Director and Mind Matters podcast host Robert J. Marks discusses artificial intelligence and predicting school shootings with John Catsimatidis on The Cats Roundtable. He talks about religions based on artificial intelligence and artificial general intelligence with David Krieger on The Power Hour. Finally, he examines the idea of issuing patents to AI with Pastor Greg Young on Read More ›

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Top Gun, HAL 9000 and Jobs of the Future

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 15 September 2022, 4:45 pm

Walter Bradley Center Director and Mind Matters podcast host Robert J. Marks continues the press tour for his book Non-Computable You: What You Do That Artificial Intelligence Never Will. He discusses artificial intelligence, drone technology, and the movie Top Gun: Maverick with Michael Medved on his nationally syndicated talk show. Then, he talks about the job market and intelligent computers Read More ›

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Dean Koontz on His Vocation as an Author, Art and Meaning in Life, and Human Exceptionalism

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 12 September 2022, 1:16 pm

In episode one of the second season of Humanize, Wesley J. Smith’s guest is the internationally famous novelist Dean Koontz. Dean and Wesley discuss how he came to be an author, how life is filled with meaning, his art, the importance of human exceptionalism, the problem with transhumanism, and how Dean uses humor to further his plots and character development. Read More ›

Staking and Liquidity on Web3

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 8 September 2022, 3:30 pm

Like gold, cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin is mined. Gold becomes harder and harder to find as it is mined. In the same way, as the supply of a cryptocurrency increases, computers have to solve harder and harder problems to be awarded cryptocurrency. Staking is a is a new approach that replaces mining and reduce costs. How does it work? Adam Read More ›

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What Is Decentralized Finance?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 1 September 2022, 3:30 pm

When you pay Uber for a ride, or anybody else, you use a bank or a third party like PayPal. What if you could pay the Uber driver directly? Decentralized finance uses blockchain to establish trust and security without government regulations. Is decentralized finance the way of the future? Adam Goad, Dr. Austin Egbert, and Dr. Robert J. Marks discuss Read More ›

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Animal Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 25 August 2022, 3:30 pm

Did you know that animals have built-in algorithms? Some of these amazing algorithms allow animals to migrate to new places and navigate back to previous locations. Insects also have a wide variety of fascinating social behaviors. Where did they come from? Eric Cassell, author of Animal Algorithms, discusses animal algorithms, artificial intelligence, instincts, and irreducible complexity with Robert J. Marks. Read More ›

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The NFT Anti-Bubble

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 18 August 2022, 3:30 pm

When new technology is introduced, there is often a buildup of incredible hype. But eventually, people are going to recognize the limitations of the new technology and it can become irrelevant. Where are NFTs on this “hype curve” and will they continue to exist? Adam Goad, Dr. Austin Egbert, and Dr. Robert J. Marks discuss non-fungible tokens, the economy, and Read More ›

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What Are NFTs?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 11 August 2022, 3:30 pm

What’s the big deal with non-fungible tokens (NFTs)? Is it worth it to invest in NFTs? How does copyright work with NFTs? Adam Goad, Dr. Austin Egbert, and Dr. Robert J. Marks discuss non-fungible tokens, blockchain, and cryptocurrency. Additional Resources Adam Goad at IEEE Xplore Dr. Austin Egbert at IEEE Xplore ”Just As Cryptocurrencies Went Mainstream — a Huge Collapse!” Read More ›

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Web3: The Next Generation of the Internet

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 4 August 2022, 3:50 pm

Futurist George Gilder forecasts that decentralization of the web is going to be the future of the internet. Data will become more personalized and stored on your local computer instead of in the cloud and companies like Google will have to figure out some way to adjust. Adam Goad and Dr. Austin Egbert discuss blockchain, Web3, decentralization, and the metaverse Read More ›

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Mysteries of the Mind

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 28 July 2022, 4:00 pm

It’s hard to know where the brain ends and the mind begins. How can studying our brains give us insight into our minds? Neuroscientist Andrew Newberg and neurosurgeon Michael Egnor sit down for a chat about all things brain related including neurotheology, methods of studying the brain, and other mind/brain phenomena. Additional Resources Andrew Newberg’s Website Michael Egnor at Discovery.org Read More ›

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Who Controls the Tech?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 21 July 2022, 4:07 pm

Technology companies spend a lot of money trying to determine the best way to hook customers on their products. They have tremendous influence, but you have the final say. Andrew McDiarmid discusses technology, influence, and how to reset your technology use with Robert J. Marks. Additional Resources Andrew McDiarmid’s website Andrew McDiarmid at Discovery.org How to Glorify God with Your Read More ›

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Weaving the Technology of Our Lives

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 14 July 2022, 4:00 pm

We have the ability to choose how to weave technology into our lives. How can we use technology in a healthy way? What are the consequences of being always connected and having everything available instantaneously? Andrew McDiarmid discusses technology, digital wellness, and freedom with Robert J. Marks. Additional Resources Andrew McDiarmid’s website Andrew McDiarmid at Discovery.org How to Glorify God Read More ›

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Why Computers Will Never Understand What They are Doing

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 7 July 2022, 4:05 pm

Can computers be sentient? Are there things which humans can do that computers can’t? Is artificial intelligence really creative? Robert J. Marks talks about his new book Non-Computable You: What You Do That Artificial Intelligence Never Will with talk show host Bill Meyer. Additional Resources Hear Bill’s podcasts at www.BillMeyerShow.com (broadcast from KMED / KCMD, Medford, OR). Purchase Robert J. Marks’ Read More ›

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AI: The Potential and the Problems

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 30 June 2022, 5:00 pm

Despite the hype regarding the seemingly infinite possibilities surrounding AI technology, artificial intelligence still has a number of humbling hurtles to overcome. Justin Bui and Samuel Haug join Robert J. Marks to discuss the latest developments in artificial intelligence. Show Notes 00:00:56 | The Homunculus 00:04:09 | Introducing Justin Bui 00:06:54 | Fast AI 00:13:45 | Deepfake Technology 00:21:40 | Read More ›

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Catherine Glenn Foster on Abortion and the Dawning of a Post-Roe America

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 28 June 2022, 12:46 pm

In 1973, nearly 50 years ago, the United States Supreme Court conjured a right to abortion in the Constitution, short-circuiting the democratic debate then ongoing in the states about whether to legalize pregnancy terminations, and if so, under what circumstances. Roe v Wade tore the country apart, launching the pro-life movement into national prominence, resulting in decades of committed democratic Read More ›

Card Counting Strategies and Dangers

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 23 June 2022, 5:00 pm

Some of the most successful card counting strategies include working with others as a team. Of course, casinos aren’t happy about successful card counters, so you might run into some trouble. Robert J. Marks and Sal Cordova discuss card counting, statistics, and gambling. Show Notes 00:07 | Introducing Sal Cordova 00:23 | Team Play 09:47 | The Big Player Model Read More ›

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Can A Good Hustler Count Cards Like A Computer?

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 16 June 2022, 8:37 pm

Do you have to be a genius to count cards? What are the skills needed to learn this algorithmic art? And what happens if you get caught? Robert J. Marks and Sal Cordova discuss the ins and outs of card counting. Show Notes 00:06 | Introducing Sal Cordova 00:36 | What Does It Take to be a Good Hustler? 01:45 Read More ›

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When The House Can’t Win The Game, It Will Change The Rules

Discovery Institute Center on Natural and Artificial Intelligence — 9 June 2022, 5:00 pm

Intelligent gamblers can try and beat the house, but the house will fight back. Casinos protect their investment in a variety of ways including surveillance, banning players, and even changing the game rules. Robert J. Marks and Sal Cordova discuss gambling, casino oversight, and “advantage players.” Show Notes 00:31 | Recapping How Don Johnson Cleaned Out Atlantic City 02:48 | Read More ›

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Robert Marbut on America’s Homelessness Crisis, Strategies for Uplifting the Homeless, and Effective Government Policies

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 23 May 2022, 5:50 am

Homelessness has reached crisis proportions. Few issues of human dignity are as heart wrenching as the wretched scenes in our most prosperous cities — San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle — where one can drive down main thoroughfares and be confronted with tent encampments lining streets that provide scant shelter for thousands of destitute people. The crisis is as Read More ›

Joseph Bottum on Cyber Ethics, Poetry, Culture, and Community

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 9 May 2022, 5:24 am

In this episode of Humanize, Wesley has a wide-ranging a conversation with his close friend Joseph Bottum, one of our most well read and original thinkers, a true intellectual in the best sense of that term. Their conversation ranges from the new field of cyber-ethics, to poetry, to the importance of cemeteries in maintaining human community, to how the laughter Read More ›

O. Carter Snead on Bioethics, ‘What It Means to Be Human,’ and the Pro-Life Movement After Dobbs

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 25 April 2022, 6:24 am

Perhaps no field in society has the naked power, as does bioethics, to impact our individual lives and those of the ones we love. Bioethics focuses on the challenges of mortality, how we care for the ill and vulnerable, and the rights and responsibilities that flow from being a member of the human family. The problem is that there is Read More ›

Lynn Vincent on ‘Lawless,’ the Truth About the Terri Schiavo Case, and Why Terri Still Matters

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 11 April 2022, 4:51 am

When Terri Schiavo collapsed with a cardiac arrest in 1990, she could have had no idea that 32 years later people all over the world would know her name and care very much about the manner in which she died. What began as a private family tragedy ultimately exploded into an international cultural conflagration and what was perhaps the most Read More ›

Roger Severino on Human Rights, Civil Rights, and Conscience Rights in a Divided America

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 28 March 2022, 5:33 am

It is no secret that our country is badly divided and riven by profound moral, religious, and political differences about what constitutes the good, the best means of promoting human flourishing, and even the proper meaning of the term, “civil rights.” The question thus becomes: How do we maintain mutual respect and comity, and retain sufficient cohesion to be considered a true society?

Emily Cook on Texas Right to Life, the Texas Heartbeat Act, and Futile Care Protocols

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 14 March 2022, 5:40 am

The usual canard about the pro-life movement goes something like this: “Pro-lifers care so much about babies before they are born, but not much after. The thing about canards is that, by definition, they are not true. Pro-lifers also work hard to protect the lives of born people—often in coalition with activists and organizations that do not oppose abortion–ranging from Read More ›

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya on COVID-19, Authentic Public Health, and the Biosecurity State

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 28 February 2022, 5:17 am

The COVID pandemic has been one of the most politically and culturally divisive events in American history. Which seems odd. Usually, a universal external threat unite societies and rallies populations to focus on the common foe. Instead, American society fractured into different tribes, which often coincided with our preexisting political factionalism. Adding to our woes, the proper approach to scientific Read More ›

Ryan Hanlon on Adoption, the National Council for Adoption, and the Importance of Families

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 21 February 2022, 5:33 am

Adoption didn’t used to be a matter of significant controversy. Public and private adoption agencies worked diligently to place children needing families with those who wanted to love them. Private adoptions often happened without a hitch. These days, adoption has been caught up, at least to some degree, in the culture wars surrounding abortion and gay rights. Adoption of children Read More ›

David Berlinski on Architectural Nihilism, Human Nature and the Holocaust, and Emotivism

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 14 February 2022, 5:48 am

We live in intellectually mediocre times, when commitment to true debate as a means of ascertaining truth — and the understanding that reasonable people can have different opinions — has been replaced by a desire among the culturally powerful to stifle heterodox thought and punish unapproved opinions. Wesley’s guest on this episode of Humanize refuses to yield to such intellectual Read More ›

Pat Nolan on Criminal Justice Reform, Chuck Colson’s Prison Fellowship, and the First Step Act

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 7 February 2022, 7:27 pm

Is criminal justice a “human dignity issue?” Wesley’s guest, Pat Nolan makes a compelling case that it is and for improving the manner in which—and attention we pay to—the care and rehabilitation of incarcerated people. In their conversation, Nolan discusses his upbringing in a tough Los Angeles neighborhood and how that led him to a career got in politics as Read More ›

Robert P. George on teaching and free thought, defending Peter Singer, and natural law

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 24 January 2022, 2:45 pm

People of true principle are rare commodities in this age of bitter political divisions and cultural discord. What matters exclusively for too many, is winning. Indeed, we live in such strident times that some find it difficult to be friends with people with whom they disagree. In this sense, we have lost the crucial understanding to living in mutual comity, Read More ›

Alveda King on the American Civil Rights Movement, Critical Race Theory, and the American Dream

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 17 January 2022, 6:42 am

Since the murder of George Floyd, the nation has been embroiled in racial unrest of a kind not seen in decades. It is a disturbing time. Is racism best struggled against through the colorblind approach of the Reverend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., or a newer strategy—summarized by the term “critical race theory”—that sees race as the central fact of Read More ›

Kathryn Jean Lopez on Truth, Dorothy Day, and ‘A Year With the Mystics’

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 10 January 2022, 7:51 am

“What is truth?” Pontius Pilate famously asked Jesus. That is a most human question, because of all the known species in the universe, only we even understand the concept of Truth with a capital T. As moral beings, most of us, at least to some extent, seek to live out our lives in ways that we conceive of as Truth. Read More ›

Nina Shea on the Chinese Communist Party, Minority Rights, and Religious Freedom

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 3 January 2022, 8:39 pm

Since the Holocaust, we have agreed to the idealistic vision of “Never Again,” that is, the kind of evil perpetrated by the Third Reich against Jews and others can never be allowed to be repeated. But do we mean it? Today, the Chinese Communist Party is carrying out what can only be described as “Fourth Reich” policies to suppress religion Read More ›

Zoltan Istvan on Transhumanism, ‘Good Eugenics,’ and Immortality

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 20 December 2021, 6:31 am

Every now and then, our electoral system produces one of those quintessentially American characters who coopts the energy of the presidential voting cycle to become a national celebrity and elevate an obscure social movement into greater popular visibility. In 2016 that person was Wesley’s guest Zoltan Istvan, who propelled himself and transhumanism into international notoriety by touring the United States as Read More ›

Dr. J. Benjamin Hurlbut on science, restoring public trust, and transcending ideology

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 13 December 2021, 7:21 am

There was a time when the fields of “science” and “public health” were not controversial. There were good reasons for that widespread public trust. Because of advances in fighting infectious disease, life expectancy materially increased. The scourge of smallpox was eradicated and the polio vaccine brought the crippling disease under substantial international control. Those days are long gone. We live Read More ›

Rebecca Friedrichs on exposing the sexualizing of children in schools and ‘For Kids and Country’

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 6 December 2021, 7:41 am

In a previous program with Donna Rice Hughes, Wesley discussed how children are victimized by commercial sources of pornography and obscene Internet content. It was an important conversation, and if you missed it, you can listen to it here: Donna Rice Hughes of ‘Enough Is Enough’ on Porn, Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), and Healing Our Culture | Humanize Unfortunately, Read More ›

Joni Eareckson Tada on embracing life, disability rights, and choosing solidarity and hope

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 29 November 2021, 7:04 am

In this edition of Humanize, Wesley hosts one of the people he most admires in the public sphere. Joni Eareckson Tada is an artist, an international humanitarian, a disability rights activist, a Christian evangelist, and a defender of the sanctity and equality of human life — not just in the comfort of the United States but around the world, including Read More ›

Dr. Stephen C. Meyer on the ‘God Hypothesis’ and the materialists’ increasingly fringe rationales for life and the universe

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 22 November 2021, 7:09 am

In this episode of the Humanize podcast, Wesley interviews Stephen C. Meyer, Director of Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, about his new book The Return of the God Hypothesis: Three Scientific Discoveries that Reveal the Mind Behind the Universe.

Dr. David Prentice on the Ethics of Science, Stem Cell Therapies, and Biotechnology

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 15 November 2021, 6:46 am

It has been said that the 21st Century is the century of biotechnology. And that has certainly proved to be true. From embryonic stem cell research, human cloning, adult stem cell therapies, gene editing of babies, and research that blends human and animal DNA into a single organism, biotechnology offers both hope of great scientific advances to alleviate human diseases—and distinct ethical perils that would treat nascent human life as a thing to be molded like a clay pot.

Dr. Aaron Kheriaty on COVID vaccine mandates, conscience rights, and medical ethics

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 8 November 2021, 3:06 am

We live in a time in which coercion in public health policy threatens to corrupt medical ethics. Efforts to combat the pandemic acerbated this trend — for example, vaccine mandates — but it did not start with COVID. For years, the medical establishment has been at war with “medical conscience,” that is, pushing polices that would force doctors to participate Read More ›

Jim Palmer of the Orange County Rescue Mission on causes and cures for America’s homelessness crisis

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 1 November 2021, 7:05 am

In this episode of Humanize, Wesley J. Smith speaks with Jim Palmer, the president of the Orange County Rescue Mission about the many causes and potential cures of America’s seemingly intractable homeless crisis. It is a crucial, if disturbing, conversation that touches upon the most existential needs of people and our mutual responsibilities to each other. Homelessness has reached crisis Read More ›

Dr. Ira Byock on Living Well, Dying Well, and Proper Care Throughout Life

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 25 October 2021, 7:15 am

Dr. Ira Byock, Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, joins Wesley J. Smith on Humanize. Dr. Byock is a leading palliative care physician, author, and public advocate for improving care through the end of life. Dr. Byock is an acknowledged visionary and pioneer in palliative care who has made important contributions as a clinician, author and Read More ›

Gary Francione on Animal Rights, Veganism, Abortion, and the Future

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 18 October 2021, 7:06 am

Is animal rights a subversive threat to human exceptionalism, or is it the next necessary step in society’s moral growth — as its adherents claim? Today’s episode of Humanize features a respectful conversation between Wesley and the animal rights philosopher Gary Francione, the leader of what is known as the “Abolitionist Movement,” that seeks to end all instrumental use of Read More ›

Donna Rice Hughes of ‘Enough Is Enough’ on Porn, Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), and Healing Our Culture

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 11 October 2021, 6:57 am

Pornography has become a scourge in the United States. Today on Humanize, Wesley J. Smith speaks with internet safety and anti-obscenity activist Donna Rice Hughes. Donna and Wesley have a mature discussion about one of the great affronts to human dignity, which is pornography. Donna discusses the impact porn has on children—both as victims of child pornographers and as consumers Read More ›

Bobby Schindler on Terri Schiavo, protecting at-risk persons, and true healthcare

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 4 October 2021, 7:38 am

This week on Humanize, Wesley interviews Bobby Schindler. Schindler came to international prominence when he and his family launched a multi-year legal and public campaign to save his sister, Terri Schiavo’s, life. After her death by court-ordered dehydration, the family launched the Terri Schiavo Life and Hope Network that advocates for the medically vulnerable, which Bobby currently leads. Wesley and Read More ›

Jennifer Lahl on ‘Breeders,’ ‘Trans Mission,’ and the ethical and human rights threats promoted in our culture

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 27 September 2021, 7:12 am

Jennifer Lahl joins Wesley J. Smith to speak on her work with The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network and her films including “Breeders: A Subclass of Women?” and “Trans Mission: What’s the Rush to Reassign Gender?” as well as other ethical and human rights threats promoted in our culture. In this week’s episode, Jennifer describes what she learned as Read More ›

Dr. Charles Camosy on Dignity, Fundamental Human Equality, and Secular Medicine

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 20 September 2021, 7:22 am

Wesley J. Smith speaks with Dr. Charles Camosy, associate professor of theological and social ethics at Fordham University and author of “Losing Our Dignity: How Secularized Medicine is Undermining Fundamental Human Equality” on fundamental human equality and the threats of secularized medicine. Camosy has vigorously entered the public square in word and electronic media appearances to defend the equal dignity Read More ›

Ambassador Sam Brownback on Human Rights and Religious Freedom

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 13 September 2021, 6:24 am

Wesley J. Smith talks with Senator Sam Brownback, who served as Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom and as governor of Kansas from 2011 to 2018. Religious freedom is a crucial aspect of human exceptionalism because it is a fundamental human rights issue. Smith and Brownback discuss COVID, free exercise versus the freedom to worship, issues in China, India, Read More ›

Trailer

Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism — 5 August 2021, 11:36 am

Introducing “Humanize with Wesley J. Smith” from Discovery Institute’s Center on Human Exceptionalism, where human rights meet human responsibilities. Wesley J. Smith speaks with writers, thinkers, and newsmakers on the controversial issues of human life and human thriving that impact our daily lives.