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What does it mean to be a person, and who gets to decide? This episode dives headfirst into one of the most deceptively simple—and quietly explosive—questions in ethics, theology, and science. Is personhood limited to humans, or does it extend to animals, artificial intelligence, corporations, or even extraterrestrial life? Along the way, we wrestle with why defining personhood by intelligence or capability quickly collapses under pressure, how beginning-of-life and end-of-life questions complicate any clean boundary, and why our answers carry real moral weight—whether we’re talking about dolphins, embryos, or AI that can talk back.

The conversation unfolds around the potluck table with a rich mix of voices. Physicist Todd Timberlake launches the discussion from his work teaching about extraterrestrial life and our moral obligations to the unknown. Biologist Caitlin Conn brings evolutionary clarity and caution, reminding us that life exists on a continuum that resists neat categories. Philosopher Michael Papazian adds historical and theological depth, showing how “person” and “human” have never been identical concepts. And former Pastor Dale tries to keep things moving—occasionally with humor, occasionally with a game-show twist—as we explore where Christian tradition helps, where it hesitates, and why this question refuses to stay theoretical.

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.