Talk Heathen

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Talk Heathen is a weekly call-in television show in Austin, Texas geared toward long-form and on-going dialogue with theists & atheists about religion, theism, & secularism. Call 1-512-686-0279 every Sunday from 1-2pm CDT. Talk Heathen is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin. The Atheist Com…

Atheist Community of Austin

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    • Jun 1, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 34m AVG DURATION
    • 388 EPISODES

    4.7 from 535 ratings Listeners of Talk Heathen that love the show mention: encouraging and friendly discourse, atheist experience, community of austin, heathens, aca, call in show, ae, fundamentalist, atheism, eric, rings, jamie, callers, found you guys, co hosts, beliefs, rational, religion, arguments, logical.


    Ivy Insights

    The Talk Heathen podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in philosophical tools and critical thinking. Hosted by Eric and Vi, this show encourages listeners and callers to question their beliefs using good philosophical tools. Whether you're an atheist or not, this podcast will challenge your thinking and help you examine your beliefs in new ways.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the calm and respectful approach taken by the hosts. Eric has a soothing voice that helps relax listeners, especially when they are feeling agitated or overwhelmed. Vi's kindness and understanding make her relatable to people from all walks of life. The hosts are great at listening to what people have to say, challenging their ideas, and engaging in thoughtful conversation. They create an open and welcoming environment for discussion, regardless of one's ideology.

    The worst aspects of this podcast are few and far between. Some listeners may find it less exciting or adversarial compared to other shows that tackle similar topics. While some may prefer a more confrontational style, Talk Heathen provides a refreshing change with its relaxed and compassionate approach.

    In conclusion, The Talk Heathen podcast is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in open-minded thinking, critical analysis of arguments, and questioning beliefs. The hosts' intelligence and empathy shine through as they engage with callers from various backgrounds. Whether you're a long-time atheist or just starting to question your own beliefs, this podcast will challenge you to think critically and expand your understanding of the world around you.



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    Latest episodes from Talk Heathen

    Talk Heathen 09.22 with Christy Powell and ObjectivelyDan

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2025 84:08


    Talk Heathen 09.21 with Doctor Ben and Scott Dickie

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2025 79:10


    Talk Heathen 09.20 with Christy Powell and Richard Gilliver

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2025 106:53


    Talk Heathen 09.19 with Richard Gilliver and Aaron

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 73:16


    Talk Heathen 09.18 with Christy Powell and Jimmy Jr

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2025 86:54


    talk heathen jimmy jr christy powell
    Talk Heathen 09.17 with Dr. Ben and Sofia Spina

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2025 84:59


    Show notes upon receipt.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

    Talk Heathen 09.16 with Christy Powell and Jamie the Blind Limey

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2025 70:42


    Show notes upon receipt.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

    Talk Heathen 09.15 with Dr. Ben and Scott Dickie

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2025 99:33


    Show notes upon receipt.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

    Talk Heathen 09.14 with Christy Powell and Sydney Davis Jr. Jr.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2025 87:49


    Show notes upon receipt. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

    jr jr talk heathen christy powell
    Talk Heathen 09.13 with Scott Dickie and Jimmy Jr

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2025 92:03


    Talk Heathen 09.12 with Sofia Spina and Holy Koolaid

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2025 89:28


    Talk Heathen 09.11 with Christy Powell and Richard Firth

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2025 81:41


    Show notes will be posted upon receipt.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

    Talk Heathen 09.10 with Richard Gilliver and Jamie The Blind Limey

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2025 90:27


    Show notes upon receipt. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

    Talk Heathen 09.09 with Jimmy Jr. and Dr. Ben

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2025 86:45


    Show notes upon reciept.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

    talk heathen jimmy jr
    Talk Heathen 09.08 with Sydney Davis Jr. Jr., Doctor Ben, and ObjectivelyDan

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2025 79:36


    Talk Heathen 09.07 with Scott Dickie and Richard Gilliver_rx7

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2025 100:40


    Talk Heathen 09.06 with Jimmy Jr. and Jamie the Blind Limey 2025-02-09

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2025 82:29


    Talk Heathen 09.05 with Sofia Spina and Christy Powell 2025-02-02

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2025 82:13


    Talk Heathen 09.04 with Sydney Davis Jr. Jr. and Scott Dickie 2025-01-26_rx7

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2025 87:16


    Talk Heathen 09.03 with ObjectivelyDan and Jamie the Blind Limey 2025-01-19

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2025 98:08


    Talk Heathen 09.02 with Jimmy Jr. and Sofia Spina

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2025 76:49


    Show notes upon receipt.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

    Talk Heathen 09.01 with Doctor Ben and Christy Powell

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2025 73:20


    Talk Heathen 08.50 with Richard Gilliver, Scott Dickie, and Doctor Ben 2024-12-15

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2024 89:08


    00:00 Intro10:34 Eduardo - (BR) | Spiritism Is Better Than Science Or Religion41:49 Robert - CA | Experience With The Holy Spirit1:01:42 SB - (IN) | Atheist Morality On Abortion1:24:13 Shaquille - (UK) | Why Would God Be Okay With Money?SHOW NOTESThanks for joining us for this episode of Talk Heathen! Today, Scott Dickie, Dr. Ben, and Richard Gilliver tackle spiritism, the experience of the holy spirit, and the morality of abortion.Eduardo in Brazil calls to say that spiritism offers the stability of religion and the openness of science and is a third option besides the two. He says that science is incomplete and is sold to people as a belief. But doesn't that mean that science isn't the problem, the people who represent it are? Eduardo has a hard time articulating what spiritism offers to get to the truth and what convinced him to believe the books he read about spiritism? Eduardo appeals to personal experiences, but says he knows that that's not a good reason to believe in something. The hosts urge Eduardo to sit down and really formulate his argument so that they can have a more productive call in the future.Robert in California says that the hosts put doubt about God in his heart, but God won and we all lost. What was the big thing that convinced him to stay a theist? On TikTok, Christians said that whatever questions you have about the bible, God will show you in heaven. The next day, he felt a renewed faith. He attributes this to an experience with the holy spirit. How did the holy spirit manifest itself? What was the sensory experience? How does he know that it was a certain god that did it? Robert continues to say that it was an experience that cannot be explained and you just have to believe that people who claim they have an experience with the holy spirit actually did so.SB is an atheist but is still torn on the morality of abortion. He understands the bodily autonomy argument, but isn't convinced. Doesn't the right to life apply to the autonomy of the baby? If the baby or parent is at risk of serious harm, then abortion is moral. It's not about the state of the fetus, it's about the state of the pregnant person. Is it other people's business what you're going through medically? The argument for bodily autonomy is that no one besides the pregnant person and the doctor should have a say on what medical steps are taken. Pregnancy is incredibly dangerous even with a normal pregnancy.Shaquille calls from England pondering why God would be okay with the concept of money at all if it's the root of all evil? When it comes down to it, money is something that's used in trade. Rather than trading goods, it acts as an intermediary. I don't see why a God wouldn't want to facilitate trade among the people. The “root of all evil” perspective may be similar to a concept in Buddhism where money and wealth becomes an attachment that prevents enlightenment. It could also be referring to the hoarding of wealth rather than simply the concept of money itself. Thanks for joining us this week! Talk Heathen to us in the comments: What is a smarmy reply to a cashier's indignant “Merry Christmas”?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

    Talk Heathen 08.49 with Christy Powell, Jamie the Blind Limey, and Richard Gilliver 2024-12-08 12-55-02

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2024 85:15


    Talk Heathen 08.48 with ObjectivelyDan, Sofia Spina and Jimmy Jr

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2024 99:46


    Talk Heathen 08.47 with Scott Dickie and Jamie the Blind Limey 2024-11-24

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2024 80:01


    Talk Heathen 08.46 with Richard Gilliver and @godlessengineer

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2024 106:45


    Show notes upon reciept.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

    Talk Heathen 08.45 with Jimmy Jr. and Seth Andrews

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2024 109:18


    Show notes will be posted upon receipt.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

    Talk Heathen 08.44 with ObjectivelyDan and Sofia Spina

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2024 98:15


    Show notes upon receipt.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

    Talk Heathen 08.43 with Scott Dickie and Sydney Davis Jr. Jr.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2024 82:15


    00:00 Intro13:04 Steven-NY | Magic Is Real For Things We Can't Explain33:40 Jackie-MS | Kurt Gödel's Ontological ArgumentSHOW NOTESIn today's episode of the Talk Heathen, Sydness Davis (Dracula) Jr. Jr. and Scott Dickie (Rob Boss), discuss magic of the gaps, and a version of the ontological argument before enticing a keyboard warrior to call in the show. Steven, a repeat caller  in NY says that magic could be real because we are unable to give a reason for things happening with naturalism. Why do you think that body healing itself can't be explained? We now have access to so many resources and can find the answers to a lot of these things. Why is magic being the answer so important to you?  If we provided proof to you, how would it impact your belief that magic is the reason?Jackie in MS summarizes Kurt GödelKurt Gödel ontological argument. Explain in your own words how this explains the existence of god. This may be an interesting thought, but how does one thing being true or untrue prove god's existence? Do the properties of an object not affect reality unless that thing exists? If god exists in one possible world then it must exist in multiple worlds? You need to first show that this god exists in at least one possible world. How do you know if this god exists in at least one possible world? If you can't put an argument in your own words, why would that not be an argument from authority?Richard Giilver joins to close out the show with some wise words for each of the callers before Dracula and Rob Boss bring us some love rings! Bruce, call in! Question of the week is: Why is god so jealous?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

    Talk Heathen 08.42 with Sofia Spina and Jamie the Blind Limey

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2024 83:54


    Show notes upon receipt.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

    Talk Heaten 08.41 WIth Christy Powell and Doctor Ben

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2024 68:02


    Talk Heathen 08.40 with Jimmy Jr., ObjectivelyDan and Forrest Valkai

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2024 98:26


    In today's episode of the Atheist Experience, Forrest Valkai and Doctor Ben tackle several fun issues. Jack in Canada asks the hosts about the problem of evil. If god made the rules, why would he choose to cause suffering when he is powerful enough not to? Why did god choose something that causes suffering? If your god is in charge of everything, why does he not fix childhood poverty? You are more moral than your god. Max in Russia wants to help but is unable to donate. Every action helps no matter how small and we appreciate you. Doctors without Borders must work legal negotiations before being able to enter a country. Mike in SC has a perception that atheists and theists are doing the same thing because atheists say god is evil, and theists say god is good. Is a bi-sexual trans man better off in hell? Why is it okay that someone is sent to Hell for being gay? What if another god says it is a sin to be heterosexual? Why is it okay for Christians to kick people out of their family for being queer? Imagine what it feels like to be told that because of this monster in the sky who treats you differently for being gay,  you deserve to be tortured forever. How is the lesson someone learns from the loss of the baby worth the baby's life? Is freewill more important to god than protecting children? Kelvin in FL asks if the existence of transgender people goes against the societal push of deconstructing gender norms. Dr. Ben explains that the trans community is not about adapting femininity or masculinity, and how the trans community leans into gender abolitionism. There is societal pressure put on trans people to perform to those stereotypes. Forrest discusses how sex and gender are different, and how things in the 1400s that were considered manly are not manly today. Vic in TX believes in a creator, but does not believe in the New Testament or Jesus. How is the Bible considered to be morally good? Is it morally good to stone your children if they disobey? Why should this be accepted as an instruction manual when it instructs how to own and beat slaves? Jackie in MS wants us to dig into a bunch of philosophers to promote Christian values. What do you have to say about these values being carcinogenic to human minds? How does the function of an idea speak to the morality of an idea? What is one example where consciousness is independent of matter?Nate in NY discusses his deconstruction before the last caller, Kevin in MA, brings the hosts into a discussion about sexual dimorphism. Thank you for calling in this week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

    Talk Heathen 08.39 09-29-2024 with Richard Gilliver and Aaron Jensen

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2024 88:30


    Show notes will be posted upon receipt.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

    Talk Heathen 08.38 with Doctor Ben and Scott Dickie

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2024 95:37


    In today's episode of the Talk Heathen, Doctor Ben and Scott Dickie take on a variety of callers with intriguing subjects!Ryan in MI wants to discuss OCD and religion, and explains how he has experienced people on the internet telling him his hobbies would send him to hell. How would you explain how this has affected you? How did this play into your way out of religion? Sometimes it can be good to put up some boundaries and take a step back from the internet. Jackie in MS argues that religion is accurate and inescapable because humans rely on storytelling and religions are stories. Do stories have to be religious, and is all storytelling inherently religious in nature? Why is whatever is at the top of the hierarchy divine? What makes this holy? Are you supporting religion as an institution or are you supporting the claims that people make about god? By what you are saying, any book in this reality is true. How do the Judeo-Christian documents reflect a true depiction of reality? Why are you excluding the claims of Eastern religions? Richard Gilliver joins in at this point and explains that we are not interested in gishy gallop, therefore god, we are interested in why you believe. What convinced you that the Western society has it right? They weren't founded on Christian principles anyway. Without quoting someone else, what value does religion add to your statements? Without redefining things, how would you convince us that religion needs this much attention? Benjamin in AL wants to talk about the fallacies of supernaturalism and that supernatural claims can't be justified through natural means. If you are claiming that something exists in our reality, you need to be able to demonstrate that. How would you go about justifying any supernatural claim and what are the reasons for believing in your god? How did you decide that you needed any religion at all? Why do you need a religion to tell you what to do and just have your own belief? What is keeping you in the church? Dr. Ben explains that being a patient of a code does not mean you have physically died. He explains that as you lose oxygen, you lose function, ability to ration, and things can be distorted. If you learned that these experiences had a natural explanation, would you still believe in a god? It is important to be critical of ourselves and our own beliefs. Malylun, a monk in FL is curious about people's opinions on monks, and describes some looks he gets in public with how he is dressed. A lot of the U.S. is not great with respecting culture. In many ways, it is just something that people are not used to and the brain is trying to categorize things that are new and novel. This could trigger a fear response and is why we see xenophobic things. Thank you for tuning in this week! Talk Heathen to me of the week is: Title a porn movie starting Jesus!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

    Talk Heathen 09-15-2024 08.37 with Sofia Spina and ObjectivelyDan

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2024 97:09


    Show notes will be posted upon receipt.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

    Talk Heathen 08.36 with Jimmy Jr. and Doctor Ben 2024-09-08

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2024 100:46


    Talk Heathen 08.35 with Christy Powell and Jamie the Blind Limey

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2024 82:20


    Show notes upon receipt.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

    Talk Heathen 08.34 Bat Cruise 2024 With Captain Christy Powell!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2024 89:56


    Show notes upon receipt.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

    Talk Heathen 08.33 with Richard Gilliver and Scott Dickie 2024-08-18

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2024 95:42


    Talk Heathen 08.32 with Richard Gilliver and The Cross Examiner @TheAtheistExperience 2024-08-11

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2024 100:10


    Talk Heathen 08.31 with Jamie the Blind Limey and Helen Greene @TheNonProphetsACA 2024-08-04

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2024 76:50


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