Podcasts about Annie Laurie Gaylor

American atheism activist

  • 29PODCASTS
  • 210EPISODES
  • 50mAVG DURATION
  • 1WEEKLY EPISODE
  • May 29, 2025LATEST
Annie Laurie Gaylor

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Best podcasts about Annie Laurie Gaylor

Latest podcast episodes about Annie Laurie Gaylor

Freethought Radio
Religious Hit List

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 49:42


We announce two new lawsuits this week that FFRF is taking with a coalition of state/church groups. The first challenges the placement of statues of Catholic saints at the entrance of the public safety building in Quincy, Massachusetts. The second challenges a new Texas measure that mandates the placement of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. Then, we speak with Pulitzer Prize finalist Rollo Romig, author of the book I Am on the Hit List: A Journalist's Murder and the Rise of Autocracy in India.

Freethought Radio
Wild Faith

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2025 49:24


This week we honor the life and work of our friend, the Broadway composer Charles Strouse—who died last week at age 96—who wrote "Annie" and "Bye Bye Birdie" and many other musicals and songs, by hearing some of his music, including "Poor Little Me," which he co-wrote with FFRF Co-President Dan Barker. Then, we speak with journalist Talia Lavin, author of the book Wild Faith: How the Christian Right Is Taking Over America.

Freethought Radio
Strongly Stated

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 49:24


The new head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, has insulted "practical atheists," but it is really his own church that needs to apologize for bad behavior. After hearing Dan Barker's song "The Battle of Church and State," we speak with FFRF's Senior Policy Counsel Ryan Jayne and Regional Governmental Affairs Manager Mickey Dollens about the many "good, bad & ugly" state/church bills at the state level.

Freethought Radio
Day of Reason

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2025 49:42


We have some good state/church news to report out of Oklahoma and Arizona. Then, in response to Trump's remarks at the May 1 "National Day of Prayer," we celebrate the May 4 "National Day of Reason" by hearing impassioned and humorous remarks at the Second Annual "Reason Reception" in D.C., sponsored by FFRF, American Humanist Association and the Secular Coalition for America, for the Congressional Freethought Caucus. The "Very Funny Lady" comedian Leighann Lord kicked off the event, followed by U.S. Reps. Jared Huffman, Calif., Jamie Raskin, Md., Laura Friedman, Calif., and a poignant keynote by former Rep. Susan Wild, Pa.

Freethought Radio
The Flame of Reason

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 49:24


Mayday! Mayday! We listen to some of the oral arguments in a pivotal Supreme Court case heard Wednesday about whether a private Catholic charter school can be funded with public money. If allowed, this would deal a serious blow to public education. After reporting on state/church news in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas, and decrying Attorney General Pam Bondi's “Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias” Task Force, we talk with Swedish humanist Christer Sturmark, author of the book To Light the Flame of Reason: Clear Thinking for the Twenty-First Century.

Freethought Radio
Freethought in Nigeria

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 49:42


This week, we report that Christian nationalism is on full display at all levels of government. After covering national state/church news, FFRF Senior Policy Counsel Ryan Jayne tells us about the many bills, good and bad, that FFRF's Action Fund is tracking in the states (and Puerto Rico). Then, George Mbuagbaw, acting president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, tells us about the many nonbelievers in that part of West Africa.

Freethought Radio
"Witches" exonerated

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 49:44


FFRF's IT Director Scott Knickelbine gives us the inside scoop on the case by Catholic Charities in Wisconsin that is before the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to deny workers unemployment insurance based on religious privilege. Then, we talk with Maryland Delegate Heather Bagnall about the bill she introduced to exonerate people accused of witchcraft in 17th-century Maryland, including Moll Dyer, who froze to death after being driven from her home.

Freethought Radio
Decrying the dangers

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 49:25


Besides covering state/church issues in Kentucky, Wisconsin and Arizona, most of the news is out of Oklahoma, including the fact that Oklahoma's Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters is suing FFRF for allegedly interfering in the right of his office to promote religion in the public schools. FFRF Legal Director Patrick Elliott joins us to talk about that case, Walters v. FFRF. Three smart young people read their winning entries in FFRF's freethinking student essay contests. Then, we hear an excerpt of a speech by former New York Times columnist and MSNBC political analyst Charles Blow decrying the dangers of Christian nationalism.

Freethought Radio
The Privateers

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 49:42


After a roundup of state/church news around the country, we celebrate the birthday of Eric Idle, 82, (who calls himself an "old agnostic") by listening to his irreverent song, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," from the movie "Monty Python's Life of Brian." Then, professor and author Josh Cowen tells us about his book The Privateers: How Billionaires Created a Culture War and Sold School Vouchers.

Freethought Radio
eXvangelical Journey

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 49:24


After reporting state-church news at the federal level, as well as in Massachusetts, Texas and Missouri, we hear riveting testimony from Georgia state Rep. Karen Lupton opposing a hateful Christian-nationalist anti-trans bill in that state. Then, former evangelical preacher Rob Haskell, author of God of the Mind: An eXvangelical Journey, tells us why he left the ministry and became an atheist.

Freethought Radio
Religion vs. Equality

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 49:42


We report on the threats and actual harm of Christian nationalism to the country, to the Department of Education and to Oklahoma, Kentucky, Texas, New Mexico and Wisconsin. After hearing the Yip Harburg song "One Sweet Morning," yearning for the end of winter and the end of war, we speak with attorney Kat Grant, a contributing FFRF writer and host of the "Transing Boundaries" blog, about the sharp increase in religiously motivated attacks on transgender rights.

Freethought Radio
Final Exit

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 49:43


This week, we track a tsunami of (mostly bad) bills in Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Texas, Iowa, West Virginia and North Dakota. After hearing sneak previews of some of FFRF's other shows — "Ask an Atheist," "Freethought Matters" and "We Dissent" — we talk with Brian Ruder, president of the board of the Final Exit Network, which offers people who are unbearably suffering an intractable medical condition the option to die legally and peacefully.

Freethought Radio
Morbidity and Mortality

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 49:44


We celebrate the fact that Pew reports 43 percent of young adults are nonreligious, and that overall the "Nones" (nonreligious) are larger than any religious denomination. Mandisa Thomas, founder and president of Black Nonbelievers, tells us about the upcoming Revival of Reason conference in Atlanta. Then, we speak with public-health expert Professor Patrick L. Remington, who is on the board of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly," about the dangers that religion and the right-wing administration pose to the work of the CDC.

Freethought Radio
Survivors Network

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 49:25


After discussing some of Trump's religiously motivated executive orders and appointments, we focus on some of the bad bills in the states, including Oklahoma, Idaho, Alabama, Kentucky, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin. Then we speak with David Clohessy, a survivor of childhood sexual molestation by clergy, who is the former director of SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. He outlines the severity of the problem and offers hope for dealing with the dangers of pedophilic priests and ministers.

Freethought Radio
Goodbye Religion

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 49:42


We announce the first atheist billboard in Africa! We report on a tsunami of Christian nationalist bills and executive orders at the federal and state levels, including Texas, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Iowa and Tennessee. In honor of Valentine's Day, we hear Dan Barker's secular love song "It's Only Natural." Then sociology Professor Ryan T. Cragun, author of Goodbye Religion: The Causes and Consequences of Secularization, shows us, with data, that religious people are not happier, healthier or more moral than nonreligious people.

Freethought Radio
Breaking the Shackles

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 49:24


The first half of our show this week deals with the many Christian nationalist executive orders and actions of the Trump administration. We hear part of the "Stop Project 2025" rally in Madison, Wis. Then, we listen to Black/Latino atheist actor Jon Huertas, best known for playing Miguel Rivas in NBC's "This is Us," as he spoke to FFRF's Denver convention about “True Freedom: Breaking The Shackles Of Religious Indoctrination.”

Freethought Radio
Making Good Trouble

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 49:25


We cover a range of state/church news on the federal and state levels. We announce FFRF's Scopes Trial Centennial celebration to be held in Tennessee in July. After hearing the irreverent Monty Python song, "Every Sperm is Sacred," we memorialize the life of former Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards, an ardent proponent of feminism and democracy and author of the book Make Trouble, by replaying our 2018 interview with her on Freethought Radio.

The Divorcing Religion Podcast
Strong Women in Secular Spaces: Annie Laurie Gaylor - Religion is Killing American Women

The Divorcing Religion Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 48:00


Strong Women in Secular Spaces: Annie Laurie Gaylor - Religion is Killing American WomenAnnie Laurie Gaylor is co-founder and co-president of FFRF – the Freedom from Religion Foundation. In addition to being a long-time women's rights activist, Annie Laurie is an accomplished author.Her book, Woe to the Women: The Bible Tells Me So, was first published by FFRF in 1981, and is in its 4th printing. In 1988, FFRF published her second book Betrayal of Trust: Clergy Abuse of Children, the first book documenting widespread sexual abuse by clergy. Her 1997 anthology, Women Without Superstition: 'No Gods, No Masters,' is the first collection of the writings of historic and contemporary women freethinkers.Today, we discuss how religious beliefs are strangling the USA and harming women - and what we can do about it. If you care about the rights of women and non-christians in America, please become a member of FFRF today.RESOURCES:https://ffrf.org/The FFRF Action Fund, the c4 lobbying group, is: ffrfaction.orgJanice's Amazon Best-Seller Divorcing Religion: A Memoir and Survival Handbook is now available inUSA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DP78TZZF and CANADA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DP78TZZFEarly Bird tickets are now available for the Shameless Sexuality: Life After Purity Culture conference, happening LIVE in Seattle May 23-25, 2025! Get yours now: https://www.shamelesssexuality.org/Purity Culture Survivor Support Group is happening on Thursdays at 5pm Pacific. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with others for healing and support: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/servicesNeed help on your journey of healing from Religious Trauma? Book a free 20-minute consultation with Janice here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/servicesSupport this channel by becoming a Member of the Divorcing Religion YouTube channel! When you support this channel by joining our YouTube membership (starting as low as $3/month) you'll get early access to all of our new content, access to badges and special chat emojis, and more. Every dollar helps, so sign up to be a member today by clicking "Join" under the video.Subscribe to the audio-only version here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/religious-trauma-podcastFollow Janice and Divorcing Religion on Social Media: Mastodon: JaniceSelbie@mas.toThreads: Wisecounsellor@threads.netTwitter: https://twitter.com/divorcereligionTwitter: https://twitter.com/Wise_counsellorTwitter: https://twitter.com/ComeToCORTFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivorcingReligionTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@janiceselbieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wisecounsellor/The Divorcing Religion Podcast is for entertainment purposes only. If you need help with your mental health, please consult a qualified, secular, mental health clinician.Podcast by Porthos MediaCopyright 2025www.porthosmedia.netSupport the show

Freethought Radio
From Religion to Reason

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 49:44


Most of the news on this week's show centers on Trump's nominations, many of whom are blatant Christian nationalists. FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence describes our newest lawsuit, just filed this week, challenging unconstitutional tax exemption for religiously owned commercial rental properties in Madison, Wis. Then we talk with a former "church lady," Carolyn Shadle, who was the Director of Religious Education at a Presbyterian church before she abandoned her faith. Her new book is called From Religion to Reason: My Journey.

Freethought Radio

We celebrate the release from prison of Nigerian humanist Mubarak Bala who was convicted of the "crime" of blasphemy. FFRF Senior Litigation Counsel Sam Grover updates us on our lawsuit challenging the law requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in Louisiana public schools. Then, we hear some shocking stories about early Christianity from Catherine Nixey, author of the book Heretic: Jesus Christ and the Other Sons of God.

Freethought Radio
The Long Reach of Religion

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2025 49:24


We listen to Seth Andrews, host of “The Thinking Atheist” podcast, read Dan Barker's article “The Top 10 Absolute Worst Old Testament Verses.” Then, we hear Washington Post columnist Kate Cohen's entertaining and thought-provoking speech at FFRF's 2024 convention called “Tampon Tim and the Long Reach of Religion.”

The Daily Beans
Ketchup On The News (feat. Dave Aronberg)

The Daily Beans

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2024 58:13


Monday, December 30th, 2024Today, Florida authorities say there'll be no criminal charges against Matt Gaetz for statutory rape because the statute of limitations has expired; the Freedom From Religion Foundation published an anti-trans blog post and received swift backlash; former head of the FBI and CIA has penned a letter to senators asking them to block the nominations of Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel; low income Trump voters are worried they'll lose their benefits; President Biden has commuted almost all of the sentences of death row inmates; Elon Musk praises a far right neo-Nazi party in Germany as Twitter falls apart over his position on H1B visas; Biden is considering publishing the ERA as he wipes out more student debt and breaks Trump's record for appointing judges; Maryland Governor Wes Moore receives his Bronze Star; a Republican Congresswoman has been found in a memory care facility; an HIV/AIDS camp for kids in Minnesota is closing its doors; and Allison delivers your Good News.Thank You To AG1 AG1 is offering new subscribers a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You'll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. So make sure to check out DrinkAG1.com/dailybeans.Stories:Former FBI and CIA head prods Senate to reject Patel, Gabbard (Kierra Frazier | Politico)Elon Musk praises far-right German AfD party (Bryan Pietsch and Trisha Thadani | The Washington Post)After backing Trump, low-income voters hope he doesn't slash their benefits (Tim Craig | The Washington Post)https://www.startribune.com/closure-of-northern-minnesota-camp-is-the-greatest-story-heres-why/601199362Guest: Dave AronbergBlue Sky - @davearonbergYouTube - @TrueCrimeMTNHave some good news; a confession; or a correction to share?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/From The Good NewsInstagram - @henrikittytravelsAffordable Care Act (ACA) (healthcare.gov) Check out other MSW Media podcastshttps://mswmedia.com/shows/Subscribe for free to MuellerSheWrote on Substackhttps://muellershewrote.substack.comFollow AG and Dana on Social MediaDr. Allison Gill Substack|Muellershewrote, Twitter|@MuellerSheWrote, Threads|@muellershewrote, TikTok|@muellershewrote, IG|muellershewrote, BlueSky|@muellershewroteDana GoldbergTwitter|@DGComedy, IG|dgcomedy, facebook|dgcomedy, IG|dgcomedy, danagoldberg.com, BlueSky|@dgcomedyHave some good news; a confession; or a correction to share?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/ Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:The Daily Beans on Apple PodcastsWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?Supercasthttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/Patreon https://patreon.com/thedailybeansOr subscribe on Apple Podcasts with our affiliate linkThe Daily Beans on Apple Podcasts

Freethought Radio
For Auld Lang Syne

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2024 49:24


After reporting on state/church news in Iowa, California, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Texas and Washington state, we listen to jazz vocalist Susan Hofer sing "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" accompanied by Dan Barker on the piano. Then, we hear Brandon Wolf, a survivor of the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting, as he accepted FFRF's $50,000 Henry Zumach "Freedom From Religious Fundamentalism" award on behalf of the Human Rights Campaign.

Freethought Radio
Happy Winter Solstice

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 49:43


The Winter Solstice (December 21 this year) is the real reason for the season. We celebrate this festive time of year with music and freethought humor, including songs and performances by Kristin Lems, Dan Barker, Tim Minchin, Roy Zimmerman, Irving Berlin, Trey Parker, Tom Lehrer, the London Humanist Choir, Ken Lonnquist and Brent Michael Davids.

Freethought Radio
Violence and the Bible

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 49:44


After covering state/church news in Illinois, Wisconsin, California, West Virginia and Minnesota, we celebrate "Bill of Rights Day" (Dec. 15) by hearing Dan Barker's song "The Battle of Church and State." Then, we speak with renowned biblical scholar John J. Collins of Yale Divinity School about his book, Does the Bible Justify Violence?

Freethought Radio
Kingdom Coming

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2024 49:24


After criticizing some of Trump's Christian-nationalist departmental and cabinet picks, we speak with FFRF Deputy Legal Director Liz Cavell about this week's oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in a case dealing with Tennessee's law (based on religious doctrine) banning medical care for transgender minors. Then, we hear New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg, author of the book Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism, accepting FFRF's Clarence Darrow Award, where she describes the history and present dangers of Christian nationalism.

Freethought Radio
Into the Unknown

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 49:43


This Thanksgiving, we give thanks not to a deity, but to real people. After reporting state/church news and victories, we hear Tahira Clayton and the Godless Gospel group perform Dan Barker's song "Let's All Give Thanks." Then, we talk about the "fine-tuning" argument with astronomer Kelsey Johnson, author of the new book, Into the Unknown: The Quest to Understand the Mysteries of the Cosmos.

Freethought Radio
Feminism and Religion

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2024 49:41


We talk about Trump's cabinet picks and report on state/church news around the country. FFRF's Senior Litigation Counsel Sam Grover joins us to talk about our recent complaint over Oklahoma Superintendent of Education Ryan Walters pushing religion in public schools. Then, we hear Annie Laurie Gaylor and Maryam Namazie (Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain) debate the topic "Feminism and Religion are Incompatible" at Cambridge University last week.

Freethought Radio
The Growing Threat of Christian Nationalism

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 49:26


As we prepare for President-elect Donald Trump's second term, we hear a speech from Bradley Onishi, author of Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism -- And What Comes Next, about the growing threat of Christian nationalism.

Freethought Radio
Lessons in Chemistry

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2024 49:43


After the election results, FFRF is determined to keep fighting. We hear the song "Keep Marching On" from the Broadway musical "Suffs." Then, Bonnie Garmus, author of the award-winning best-selling feminist/freethought novel Lessons in Chemistry, tells the charming and funny story about how she lost her faith as a teenager in the Presbyterian Church.

Freethought Radio
Keep Freedom Alive

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 49:43


It's a scary show this week. We report on our Denver billboard saying: "Keep Freedom Alive: Stop Project 2025." Dan Barker talks about his trip to Nigeria to visit humanists and freethinkers combating superstition in that country. Annie Laurie Gaylor describes the danger to women's rights in the current election. Then, we talk with Alex Aronson, founder and president of Court Accountability, who describes the scary details of Project 2025.

The John Fugelsang Podcast
Special Weekend Interviews: Annie Laurie Gaylor and Jim Doyle

The John Fugelsang Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2024 45:51


John interviews Jim Doyle - President at Business Forward which is an independent research and education organization that makes the business case for climate action, affordable healthcare, immigration reform, infrastructure investment, sensible tax policy, new trade deals, and other pro-growth reforms. Then he interviews Annie Laurie Gaylor, Co-President and Co-Founder of Freedom From Religion Foundation, in Madison, Wisconsin. They discuss Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters who is now being sued after trying to spend taxpayer money to buy Trump's bible for every classroom in the state. Annie Laurie is the author of Woe to "Women: The Bible Tells Me So, Betrayal of Trust: Clergy Abuse of Children, and Women Without Superstition: No Gods – No Masters”.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Freethought Radio
Dangers of Religious Nationalism

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 49:43


After reporting on state/church news and victories in Florida, California, and North Carolina, FFRF Legal Director Patrick Elliott describes FFRF's new lawsuit challenging proposed bible distribution in Oklahoma public schools. Then, we hear author and journalist Katherine Stewart accepting FFRF's "Freethought Heroine" award, warning of the dangers of religious nationalism.

Freethought Radio
Bad Faith

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 49:25


We announce FFRF's new lawsuit against bible-toting Oklahoma state Superintendent Ryan Walters. Producer Leo Costello interviews "Democracy in Chains" author Nancy MacLean, who is touring with "Bad Faith" documentary screenings. And veteran reporter Linda Greenhouse tells us how some justices are engaging in "grievance Christianity."

Freethought Radio
Combating Authoritarianism

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 49:42


After reporting state/church news in Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Alaska, we devote a segment to the dangers of the proposed Christian-right authoritarian "Project 2025." Then, we hear the engaging speech by Ron Reagan (son of the former president) given at FFRF's annual convention last month, where he tells us about the authoritarian threats to our planet and to democracy -- and what we can do about those threats.

Freethought Radio
Take Action

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 49:24


Coach Deion Sanders is at it again, and FFRF is again complaining to the University of Colorado about his mixing religion and government. We report state/church complaints and victories in Mississippi, Missouri and Texas. After hearing Roy Zimmerman's hilarious satirical song, “I Want a Marriage Like They Had in the Bible,” FFRF Senior Policy Counsel Ryan Jayne and State Advocacy Specialist Ryan Dudley tell us about the FFRF Action Fund's work tracking and influencing legislation affecting the rights of nonbelievers, and how you can make a difference in your community.

Freethought Radio
Charismatic Violence

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2024 49:25


Annie Laurie reports on religiously motivated abortion referenda in seven states around the country, as well as the repressive 19th-century Comstock Act that is still invoked today to limit women's rights as it did with Margaret Sanger. We hear Dan Barker's tribute song to Margaret Sanger called "No Gods, No Masters." Then we speak with scholar Matthew D. Taylor about his new book about the January 6 insurrection, The Violent Take it By Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy.

Freethought Radio
Well-Trained Wife

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 49:42


After reporting state/church news in New York, Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri and Virginia, we hear Dan Barker's song "Life is Good!" performed by Tahira Clayton and the Godless Gospel singers. Then, we speak with Tia Levings, author of the bestselling book A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy.

Freethought Radio
The Case Against School Vouchers

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2024 49:42


FFRF Legal Director Patrick Elliot and FFRF Legal Fellow Hirsh Joshi join us to talk about state-church developments in Utah, Alabama, Colorado, Missouri, Tennessee and Minnesota. Then, we speak with Michigan State University Professor Josh Cowen about his new book, The Privateers: How Billionaires Created a Culture War and Sold School Vouchers.

Freethought Radio
What's a 'contraduction'?

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2024 49:25


After news updates, the hosts recap the "Celebrate Dissent" conference in Oslo about ex-Muslims. Annie Laurie Gaylor then interviews co-host Dan Barker about Contraduction, his new book on "the death of the Design Argument."

Freethought Radio
Secularism and Hindu Nationalism in the World's Largest Secular Democracy

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 49:43


After summarizing secular activism and victories around the country, we talk about secularism and Hindu nationalism in India (the world's largest secular democracy) with our two guests: activist Shabnam Hashmi from India and Professor Barry A. Kosmin from here in the United States. Interspersed through the show is the music of freethinking jazz legend Charlie "Bird" Parker, whose birth anniversary we celebrate today.

Freethought Radio
How to talk to Christians

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2024 49:24


After reporting on efforts to keep state and church separate in Tennessee, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Florida, we get acquainted with FFRF's new multimedia producer Leo Costello. Then, South Carolina humanist and atheist debater Herb Silverman, founder and president emeritus of the Secular Coalition for America, tells us "How to talk to Christians."

Freethought Radio
Schools Under Attack

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 49:25


We describe our legal efforts to gain information about the attempt by the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Education to put the bible into every classroom, and similar attempts in Tennessee to inject religion into government. We hear Rupert Brooke's poem "Heaven" (from the point of view of a fish) set to music by Dan Barker. Then we talk with Cara Fitzpatrick, author of the new book, The Death of Public School: How Conservatives Won the War Over Education in America.

Freethought Radio
Christian Patriarchy

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 49:24


Christian nationalist rhetoric is heating up, especially regarding the assassination attempt of Donald Trump. We report on a state/church victory in Tennessee and state/church complaints in New Mexico, Texas, Missouri, Kentucky and Indiana. After hearing a hilarious take on the bible by comedian Robin Williams, we speak with Cait West, author of the new book RIFT: A Memoir of Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy.

Freethought Radio
Keeping Theocrats in Check

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2024 49:42


We report on FFRF's efforts to keep Christian nationalists in check around the country. Honoring the anniversary of the birth of the anti-fascist singer/songwriter Woody Guthrie, we hear the funk/soul version of "This Land is Your Land" performed by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. Then, FFRF's Legal Director Patrick Elliott describes our lawsuit challenging the Louisiana law requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in all public-school classrooms and our efforts to rein in Oklahoma's Christian nationalist State Superintendent of Public Education.

Freethought Radio
"The theater is my religion.”

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2024 49:44


We announce state/church victories and complaints in Louisiana, Idaho, North Carolina, Texas and Mississippi. FFRF Senior Counsel Sam Grover tells us about the lawsuit FFRF has filed this week with a coalition challenging Louisiana's new law requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms. Then, Tony-nominated Broadway producer, director and theater owner Eric Krebs tells us why the theater is his religion.

Freethought Radio
Japan's Holocaust

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2024 49:24


We announce plans to sue the state of Louisiana over their new law requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms. We hear Congressman Jared Huffman and comedian John Oliver describe the Christian nationalist dangers of Project 2025. Then historian Bryan Mark Rigg tells us about the religious nationalism undergirding the atrocities of the Japanese military (30 million deaths) under the Shinto emperor Hirohito as described in his book Japan's Holocaust: History of Imperial Japan's Mass Murder and Rape During World War II.

Freethought Radio
Black Disbelief

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2024 49:43


We celebrate the 96th birthday of the Broadway composer Charles Strouse, a lifelong atheist, by hearing the protest song he wrote for the musical "Golden Boy," "No More," sung by Sammy Davis Jr. We also reprise part of our 2009 interview with Strouse. Then we speak with Professor Anthony B. Pinn about his new book, The Black Practice of Disbelief: An Introduction to the Principles, History, and Communities of Black Nonbelievers.

Freethought Radio
The Comstock Act

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2024 49:44


A judge ruled that our lawsuit challenging an Oklahoma religious charter school can continue. FFRF Director of Communications Amitabh Pal tells us about the national election results in India, which have weakened the threat of Hindu nationalism. Then we speak with novelist Amy Sohn about her book on Anthony Comstock, The Man Who Hated Women: Sex, Censorship, and Civil Liberties in the Gilded Age.

Freethought Radio
Culture Wars

Freethought Radio

Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2024 49:44


We call on Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to resign, after revelations that political and Christian nationalist flags have flown outside his homes. Deputy Legal Director Liz Cavell prognosticates over SCOTUS's upcoming mifepristone decision and Social Works Fellow Kat Grant discusses the religious war against the LGBTQAI-plus community from a personal and professional perspective.