• Psychedelics: a Christian Evaluation, with Phil Cotnoir
    Sep 18 2025

    Is this trend something to be happy about? Many are seeing psychedelics as an "on-ramp" to pagan spiritualism *and* to Christianity.

    Psychedelics include LSD, psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms), DMT (found in ayahuasca), and mescaline (found in Peyote and San Pedro cacti). While various ethical concerns may be noted, there are also some apparent medicinal benefits. Is there room for nuance here? Or should we, as Christians, reject psychedelics completely?

    Phil Cotnoir is a husband, a father of four, an avid reader, and a freelance writer and editor. He recently wrote:

    - The Coming Psychedelic Moment at Mere Orthodoxy


    Keywords: psychedelics, technology, spirituality, Christianity, mental health, conversion stories, tech culture, ethical research, medicinal use, recreational use. Thumbnail generated with the help of ChatGPT.

    To learn more about What Would Jesus Tech and to support the show visit whatwouldjesustech.com

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    58 mins
  • Demons Can Use AI, Within Limits
    Sep 10 2025

    Yes, there is talk of demons controlling AI. Why wouldn't they? Why wouldn't they use Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to influence humanity?

    And yet, we shouldn't go too far when thinking about their control. They are subordinated and limited by God. In this episode, we explore the intersection of spiritual warfare, demons, and artificial intelligence. We get into some personal experiences with demonic influences, and the theological framework needed when thinking about AI demons.

    00:00 Intro

    01:02 Yes, Demons in 2025

    03:06 Limits and Influence of Demons

    10:02 Physical Objects

    13:51 The Nature of Idols, Demons, and AI

    17:39 Cultural Phenomena and Spirituality

    23:29 Power and Providence

    35:33 Rebuking Demons

    Support the show at patreon.com/WWJT

    Please send your ideas and feedback to the cohosts, Andrew Noble, Austin Gravley, and Joel Jacob, at whatwouldjesustech@gmail.com. Thumbnail: original image created by Colton Sturgeon on Unsplash with edits made by ChatGPT. Original Music by Abigail Neale. To learn more about What Would Jesus Tech and to support the show visit whatwouldjesustech.com

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    43 mins
  • Learning and Building AI, with Daniel Manary
    Aug 20 2025

    Doing AI Right?

    Daniel Manary has held various roles in AI, including CTO of PlaySpace, CTO at Kenesense.AI, Machine Learning Engineer at ProNavigator, and CTO at SimulFit Technologies, among others. He is also the host of Artificial Insights, a podcast where he interviews AI Product Leaders to seperate hype from impact.

    In this episode, Andrew Noble sits down with Daniel Manary, host of Artificial Insights, for a conversation that blends faith, technology, and the future. Together, they explore the hidden motivations driving AI, the ethical questions we can’t afford to ignore, and the surprising ways AI might reshape human connection. From Daniel’s inside perspective in the AI industry to a distinctly Christian vision for technology, this episode asks: can AI be built with both brilliance and a moral compass?


    00:00 - Intro

    03:05 - Dan had a dream

    05:00 - How you build matters

    11:12 - What AI future should we care about most?

    17:33 - Optimistic about AI? Why?

    20:53 - Current AI Projects and Future Directions

    30:00 - Wrap Things Up


    Check out Dan's podcast: Artificial Insights: How To Do AI Right.

    Connect with Dan Manary on LinkedIn.

    Please send your ideas, questions, and feedback to the cohosts, Andrew Noble, Joel Jacob, and Austin Gravley, at whatwouldjesustech@gmail.com. Original Music by Abigail Neale.

    To learn more about What Would Jesus Tech and to support the show visit whatwouldjesustech.com

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    32 mins
  • You Have a Calling, with Karen Swallow Prior
    Aug 6 2025

    Our guest today explores what it means to be ourselves truthfully. That is, true to our calling - our true, good, and beautiful callings.

    In this episode of What Would Jesus Tech? we delve into the concept of vocation beyond traditional job roles with our esteemed guest, Dr. Karen Swallow Prior. An award-winning author and cultural commentator, Karen shares insights from her latest book, "You Have a Calling," exploring how vocation intertwines with truth, goodness, and beauty.

    We discuss the evolving nature of work, the impact of technology, and how to find purpose in a rapidly changing world.

    Karen Swallow Prior is an award-winning author and cultural commentator who writes at the intersection of faith, literature, and public life.

    Buy her book! Link to Baker Publishing Group. Link to amazon.com.

    00:00 - Intro

    02:15 - Calling as Vocation

    10:30 - Calling vs Passion

    18:45 - AI and Job Shifts Due to Tech

    27:00 - Integrating Truth, Goodness, and Beauty in Our Work

    35:20 - Addressing Modern Challenges and Anxieties in Vocation

    Karen's Substack: https://karenswallowprior.substack.com/

    Thanks for listening. On behalf of me, Andrew Noble, and the rest of the team, we appreciate you taking the time to think more deeply about what it means to imitate Jesus in our technological age. You can support our podcast by sharing it with friends, writing a review, or going to our Patreon page and becoming a member. I do use Generative AI to help write the episode description and create the chapters. This last paragraph however, was written completely by me. Hence the unnecessary length, incomplete sentences, and abrupt ending.

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    51 mins
  • What Churches Need to Know About Smart Glasses
    Jul 14 2025

    Smart glasses are in your churches. What should you do?

    In this episode, we explore the evolution of smart glasses, the need for churches to have policies in place regarding their use, and the importance of balancing accessibility for individuals with visual impairments against the need for privacy and safety, especially for children. The conversation also touches on the cultural acceptance of smart glasses, the future of this technology, and the necessity for churches to prepare for potential risks associated with it.


    Chapters


    00:00 Introduction to Smart Glasses in Churches

    04:57 The Importance of Having a Plan

    08:47 Privacy Concerns and Policies

    16:04 Balancing Accessibility and Safety

    22:26 Preparing for the Unexpected

    26:00 Conclusion and Call to Action



    Images used in the thumbnail include:

    - https://www.ray-ban.com/


    Join us on Discord - https://discord.gg/P3pMnAkj


    Support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/WWJT

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    28 mins
  • A Gentle Singularity?
    Jun 23 2025

    Sam Altman, the founder of ChatGPT, believes we're past the event horizon. We're past the point of no return. The future is an AI future. And, well, Andrew Noble and Joel Jacob mostly agree. But with some important caveats related to AI safety, deterministic versus probabilistic coding, determinism philosophically, and agency amidst rapid technological advancements.


    Chapters

    00:00 Intro

    02:28 AI Defense and Security

    07:47 The Gentle Singularity

    13:43 The Deterministic vs. Instrumentalist View of Tech

    22:46 Probabilistic vs. Deterministic Coding in AI

    25:31 Evaluating AI's Performance, Ethics, and Impact

    31:34 Finding Hope in the AI Age


    Links

    - Sam Altman on A Gentle Singularity

    - Using GenAI helps consultants:

    - ChatGPT May Be Eroding Critical Thinking Skills, According to a New MIT Study


    Keywords: AI, Artificial Intelligence, OpenAI, Sam Altman, technology, singularity, ethics, job displacement, security, human values, deterministic, probabilistic

    Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/WWJT

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    41 mins
  • AI Shepherds and Electric Sheep, with Paul Hoffman
    Jun 5 2025

    "AI is a tool, not a partner."


    As more people use AI tools like ChatGPT, how should Christian leaders respond? On one hand, there are opportunities to leverage Artificial Intelligence as a tool for human flourishing. But we should also be cautious about its potential to diminish human connection and creativity. They discuss the need for engagement, the importance of community, and the role of the Christian faith despite the allure of transhumanism.


    Cohosts Andrew Noble (PhD Student Theology & Technology), Joel Jacob (Principle Product Manager at Splunk), and Austin Gravley (TGC Social Media Manager) discuss a new book by Sean O'Callaghan and Paul Hoffman: AI Shepherds and Electric Sheep: Leading and Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.


    Buy the book: AI Shepherds and Electric Sheep: Leading and Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence


    Chapters

    00:00 Intro

    02:35 The Journey to Writing the Book

    05:41 Engaging with AI as a Tool vs Partner

    17:10 Navigating AI in Ministry

    32:54 Understanding AI Limitations and Risks

    38:14 Reclaiming Our Humanity


    Join our discord.

    Support us on Patreon.


    Keywords: AI, technology, human flourishing, theology, ministry, relationships, creativity, community, digital age, Paul Hoffman

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    57 mins