Intelligent Design the Future

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 1 June 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 30 May 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 27 May 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 25 May 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 22 May 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 20 May 2026

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! Source

Transcribed - Published: 18 May 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 15 May 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 13 May 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 12 May 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 9 May 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 7 May 2026

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." Source

Transcribed - Published: 4 May 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 1 May 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2026

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 › Source

Transcribed - Published: 27 April 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2026

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! Source

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2026

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! Source

Transcribed - Published: 20 April 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 18 April 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 16 April 2026

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 › Source

Transcribed - Published: 13 April 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 11 April 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 8 April 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 7 April 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 3 April 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 1 April 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 30 March 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 27 March 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 25 March 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 23 March 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 20 March 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 18 March 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 16 March 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 14 March 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 12 March 2026

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! Source

Transcribed - Published: 10 March 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 6 March 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 4 March 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 2 March 2026

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 › Source

Transcribed - Published: 27 February 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 25 February 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 23 February 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 20 February 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 18 February 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 16 February 2026

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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 13 February 2026

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! Source

Transcribed - Published: 11 February 2026

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. 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. Source

Transcribed - Published: 10 February 2026

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! Source

Transcribed - Published: 6 February 2026