Chris Worfolk's Podcast

The institution of marriage is in a hell hole, according to some fundamental Christians at any rate. In this episode we look at gay marriage, humanist marriage and what is even the point of marriage from an atheist perspective?

Is ignorance bliss? In this episode we look at whether being religious could actually make you happier, even if it isn't true.

It turns out that the US government is spying on everyone - should we be surprised? In this episode we discuss PRISM, Edward Snowdon the information analyst who leaked the information to the press and is now on the run, and the recent connections to Wikileaks and Julian Assange, as well as looking at balancing privacy with state security.

Discrimination is a big issue at the moment - especially when it comes to men and women being discriminated against in the workplace and at university. What about so called "positive" discrimination? Is all discrimination just discrimination?

Yes, we're talking about freedom of expression once again because it's always a hot topic. Should you be allowed to joke about blowing up airports on Twitter? Of course you should!

Sam Harris recently suggested that we should only target people who look like they might be terrorists (young men, including himself), as every minute spent searching a child or an infirm senior citizen is a minute wasted by airport security. But would this approach work? No. But it's not quite as simple as no; the answer will take 26 minutes to fully explain.

Are religions currently experiencing a rapid rate of change or have they been changing at this pace throughout history?

With the Pope recently having visited the UK, Chris is joined by Norman and George to discuss it (though most of the discussion focuses on their recent trip to Europe given they were out of the country when the Pope actually visited).

Come on, it was bound to happen eventually. Which was the greatest series? Who was the best captain? (You don't even need to listen to find out who that is, because it's obviously Picard of course). All these questions and more will be answered.

With the recent controversy over Leeds University Union banning the Atheist Society's screening of Fitna, the guests discuss the film and the wider implications for freedom of speech.

One of the great things about the podcast is that it covers wide ranging topics that everyone can relate to - such as travel. It's not like it was just us sat round discussing holiday plans. Now in double the bit rate too!

Healthcare is a major voting issue in elections and has produced some interesting results in recent times and people standing up for the NHS.

The right wing have made significant ground in recent times with the BNP gaining two seats in the European Parliament. Is this a fleeting trend or something bigger? Are the left wing any better?

We discuss what we have been up to during the shows nine month hiatus.

In an effort to improve interfaith relations, Chris invents a new holiday.

With the press launch of the National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies arriving next Thursday, we sit down to talk a bit about what the organisation is and what it does.

With Darwin Day being next Thursday the guest discuss Charles Darwin's contribution to the world, namely having such an awesome beard.

With the British economy now officially in a recession, major banks and businesses failing around the world and millions out of work, the show asks the all important question. But we're not going to tell you what the question is ;).

Having banned Christmas the evil atheists plot what else can be outlawed as not being politically correct.

Chris and guest discuss Rationalist Week 2009, the biggest free thinking student event of it's kind in the UK, possibly the world. The 2009 event is set to be better than ever and in between the inane banter there are occasionally bits of information about it.

Chris and guests look bad at the good times and the bad times, the big events and the little events of 2008.

The guests discuss what a load of crap the idea of new year's resolutions are - and then make some.

This was going to be an episode dedicated to discussing the origins and current state of Christmas and how it really isn't a Christian holiday. However because of certain events the show was instead dedicated to the recent Leeds University Union proposed motion to stop stocking Halal and Kosher meat because of the ethical considerations of religious slaughter.

When Dr. Moz notes that the Christian Union run an event named Jazz Cafe, the guests begin considering what alternative events Leeds Atheist Society could host.

A strongly contested issue, some consider Humanism just to be another religion others say it contains none of the BS of a religion. The discussion also covers whether we would want Humanism to be a religion or not.

Sorry about the awful, awful sound levels. We tried to fix it in post production but it's very hard to record a live show when you don't have a mixing deck or a decent microphone. Anyway, this show was recorded live at Weekend Away 2008 in London and features many contributors from Leeds Atheist Society.

With the recent LUU referendum motion to remove Halal and Kosher meat for ethical reasons, the show discusses both religious and secular slaughter of animals for food.

This episode was specially recorded at the November 2008 conference of the National Union of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies which is why there are a lot of random people in it. And why the audio levels suck. But it's entertaining none the less.

The world economy seems to be disappearing down the toilet, banks are going bust, prices are going up and everyone is panicing. But has the slide towards recession really altered our lifestyles?

Vegetarianism is a big issue in the free thinking community. With Chris and Gijsbert both being vegetarians it made for some interesting debate with Nicola the kebab fiend.

With today being Halloween we decided to talk about ghosts, hauntings, evil spirits and other such things.

With the upcoming US presidential election and the UK general election only a year or two away, upcoming elections is tonight's topic of discussion. Also we have our first correction. During the recording of the show I suggested Rudy Giuliani ran of Democratic nomination which soon after I realised was incorrect, he ran for Republican nomination. I don't care, it's not my country, but you have been warned ;).

This week we decided to get a debate going - the topic was abortion. Liz argues for the pro choice side while Nicola argues the case against abortion.

Sex. It's everywhere and it's perfectly natural. Yet it tends to be a dirty world in many world religions. Given Norm's recent revelation that he has had sex with a another man we decided that sex should be the topic of the show.

Given we didn't manage to stay on topic at all in the first show about secularism, it became a two parter. Will we have any more luck this week?

Why is it important to have a separation of church and state? Find out in this two part discussion. And by find out, we mean listen to amusing but off topic banter for half an hour.

Why are atheists good? Why is anyone good? If there is no god, why don't we go around eating babies?

Having just watched a documentary that claims one of our guests is a paodophile, we ask some hard questions.

In the first episode of the podcast we start off with a rough topic of religion and just kind of go all over.