Freethought Radio
927 episodes - English - Latest episode: 16 days ago - ★★★★★ - 524 ratingsA weekly show, broadcast live from Madison, Wis., on 92.1 FM, Saturdays 11 a.m. to 12 noon. Hosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-presidents, Freedom From Religion Foundation. Slightly irreverent views, news, music and interviews.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Freedom Dues
April 15, 2021 18:37 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBAnnie Laurie Gaylor reveals that the governors who resist pandemic science are white Christian nationalists. FFRF Director of Strategic Response Andrew Seidel tells us how the new congressional Supreme Court expansion bill, introduced today, will affect state/church separation. Then, Mexican-American actor, author, activist and atheist Indra Zuno describes her new book about white indentured servitude in early colonial America, Freedom Dues: A Novel.
Unabashed Atheist
April 08, 2021 18:34 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBMajor court win! FFRF attorney Liz Cavell joins us to talk about FFRF's successful lawsuit blocking the state of Alabama from requiring the religious "So Help Me, God" oath on voter registration forms, a victory for state/church separation as well as voting rights. After listening to freethinker Yip Harburg sing "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?", we hear Ron Reagan, son of president Ronald and Nancy Reagan, tell us why he is a life-long "unabashed atheist" who is "not afraid of burning in hel...
If I Only Had a Brain
April 01, 2021 18:41 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBWe celebrate the fact that U.S. church membership is now below 50 percent, complain about voter suppression by evangelicals, and announce a historic endowment for Secular Studies. After hearing the Dan Barker/Charles Strouse song "Poor Little Me," we talk with neuroscientist and freethinker (and creator of the Palm Pilot) Jeff Hawkins about his new groundbreaking book, A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence.
Leaving God
March 25, 2021 19:36 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MB"Thoughts and prayers" are not enough. Violence — often prompted or exacerbated by religion — must be addressed with meaningful legislation. We encourage people this week to take action to protect state/church separation in Arizona, Delaware and Tennessee. After hearing Dan Barker's song "Get Off Your Knees (And Get To Work)," we talk with former Madison Avenue adman John Follis about his award-winning documentary film, "Leaving God: Why I left God and why so many others are too."
Thoughts and Prayers
March 18, 2021 18:40 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBHappy spring! FFRF attorney Maddy Zeigler reports legal victories in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Michigan. A year into the pandemic, we see that "thoughts and prayers" are no match for science and action. We hear Roy Zimmerman sing "To The Victims of This Tragedy." Then we ask: Is atheism good for your health? We speak with Professor David Speed of the University of New Brunswick, author of a new study about religion and health with some surprising findings.
Wayward
March 11, 2021 19:25 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBWe report that atheists are more likely to be vaccinated than any other group. FFRF staff attorney Patrick Elliott explains a Supreme Court decision that is helpful to state/church lawsuits. FFRF Director of Strategic Response Andrew Seidel tells us why Congress' HR1 "For The People Act" voting-rights bill is good for seculars. Then we talk with the actor and author Alice Greczyn about her new fundamentalist-to-atheist book, Wayward: A Memoir of Spiritual Warfare and Sexual Purity
Nine Decades of Progress
March 04, 2021 20:15 - 49 minutes - 90.6 MBWe celebrate Women's History Month by cheering New Mexico's law overturning the ban on abortion. The Do No Harm Act passed the House of Representatives. FFRF reports a state/church victory in Alabama and a legal complaint over a North Carolina public school entangling with a local church. After hearing the feminist anthem "Bread and Roses," we talk with James Haught, 89, author and editor emeritus of the West Virginia Charleston Gazette, about "Nine Decades of Progress."
Ideas & ideologies
February 25, 2021 20:27 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBColorado is getting tough on molesting clergy, Congress is passing the Equality Act to protect the LGBTQ community against Christian nationalists, and taxes are being appropriated to pay for a Kentucky church. FFRF intern and blogger Barbara Alvarez tells us about the bad South Carolina abortion law and about how members of Congress are being shunned by their evangelical families for voting to certify the President. Then we talk with Professor James Lull about his book Evolutionary Communica...
Anointed With Oil
February 18, 2021 19:52 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBFrom Black History to Black Gold. We listen to the voice of the freethinking NAACP founder W.E.B. Du Bois and the music of nonreligious African-American composers. After we hear Lena Horne sing the irreverent Yip Harburg song "Ain't It The Truth?", FFRF's Director of Communications Amit Pal joins as a co-host to interview Professor Darren Dochuk, author of the illuminating book, Anointed With Oil: How Christianity and Crude Made Modern America.
Natural Born Rebel
February 11, 2021 19:36 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBChristian nationalism and Roman Catholic greed are the themes for the first half of the show. We talk about Jeep's religiously divisive Super Bowl ad and the impeachment trial of Donald Trump, accused of inciting Christian Nationalists to carry out the Jan. 6 insurrection. We hear talk show host Bill Maher's takedown of the religious extremists who stormed the Capitol. Then we speak with British author Rachel Holmes about her new biography of the early 20th-century feminist, atheist, activis...
Investigate the Church
February 04, 2021 19:18 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBWe call on the Wisconsin attorney general to launch an investigation into the widespread sexual abuse of children by the Catholic Church. FFRF attorney Ryan Jayne tells us the tragic story of an abuse victim who recently committed suicide when the church abandoned him. Then we hear the humorous and irreverent "Noah" by poet and Darwin scholar Philip Appleman, read by Philip and his wife Marjorie.
Secular Rituals
January 28, 2021 19:46 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBChristian Nationalists were among the insurrectionists on Jan. 6, but they were also among dozens of members of Congress who voted against certification. Mandisa Thomas of Black Nonbelievers tells us why her group is opposing Rep. James Clyburn's proposal for a National Hymn. Then we speak with Sasha Sagan, daughter of Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan, about her book For Small Creatures Such As We: Rituals For Finding Meaning in Our Unlikely World.
This Land Is Our Land
January 21, 2021 19:46 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBWe talk about the three "I" words in the news: insurrection, impeachment and inauguration. We hear part of Amanda Gorman's inaugural poem, "The Hill I Climb," freethinker John Legend's Inauguration-Day performance of "Feeling Good," and Sharon Jones' rendition of "This Land Is Your Land." FFRF attorney Patrick Elliott describes our newest lawsuit challenging a discriminatory Trump administration regulation. Then U.S. Representative Jared Huffman, co-founder of the Congressional Freethought C...
Humanism for Kids
January 14, 2021 19:36 - 49 minutes - 67.9 MBReligion played a huge part in the Jan. 6 insurrection at our national Capitol. We denounce Christian Nationalist members of government who participated in the riot, and hear Congressional Freethought Caucus Reps. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., and Jared Huffman, D-Calif., give impassioned remarks at the impeachment hearings. Then we speak with 10-yr-old Elle Harris, author of the charming new book, Elle The Humanist.
Optimism for 2021
January 07, 2021 19:41 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBAfter discussing the Christian Nationalist roots of the insurrection at the national Capitol on Jan. 6, and calling for President Trump's impeachment, we listen to Rep. Jamie Raskin's eloquent plea for the passage of Resolution 512 calling for an end to blasphemy laws. Then we speak with FFRF's Director of Governmental Affairs Mark Dann, who explains why there is optimism for the freethought, science, equality and state/church agendas with the incoming administration and new Congress.
Happy 2021!
December 30, 2020 19:26 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBWe celebrate the new year by saying farewell to the disastrous 2020. We play some comfort music and protest music by freethinking songwriters, performed (mostly) by freethinking singers. We hear Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Yip Harburg, Jerome Kern, Stephen Sondheim, and more — performed by Tom Lehrer, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, Pete Seeger, Nina Simone, Elton John, James Taylor, Cher, Dan Barker and Shelley Segal.
Solstice Cheer
December 23, 2020 22:21 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBThis week we present a musical medley of irreverent and celebratory secular holiday songs by Tom Lehrer, Tim Minchin, Roy Zimmerman, Dan Barker, Tahira Clayton, Addison Frei, Brent Michael Davids, Steven Phelps, Ken Lonnquist, and the London Humanist Choir; and we hear agnostic orator Robert Ingersoll's 1897 recitation of "What I Want For Christmas."
Winter Solstice 2020
December 17, 2020 19:59 - 49 minutes - 67.9 MBFFRF attorney Liz Cavell describes FFRF's alarming new report: "Religious Liberty Under Threat: The Christian Nationalist Capture of the Federal Judiciary." After hearing Kristin Lems' seasonal song "Solstice Time" and Dan Barker's ballad "Solstice Tribute," Michigan activist Doug Marshall tells us about the equal-time "Keep Saturn in Saturnalia" banner in Warren, Michigan, that was vandalized and stolen.
Grievance Conservatives
December 10, 2020 19:43 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBWe talk about Beethoven's 250th, nonbelieving legislators, blasphemy and December displays. After hearing Roy Zimmerman's irreverent seasonal song "Christma-Hanu-Rama-Ka-Dona-Kwanzaa,” New York Times Supreme Court columnist and Yale scholar Linda Greenhouse describes what she calls “grievance conservatism” in her recent article, "Justice Amy Coney Barrett's Choice."
Public Places
December 03, 2020 20:26 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBThis week we talk about SCOTUS, churches and COVID-19; Kansas schools and proselytizing Franklin Graham; praying Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and non-praying Hollywood celebrity John Davidson. Then we talk with former church music director Steven Phelps who is now an atheist songwriter and performer in Nashville. We hear his moving ballad "After The Last Amen" and his state/church song "Public Places."
A Year of Challenge
November 24, 2020 21:33 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBHappy Thanksgiving! Co-presidents Annie Laurie Gaylor and Dan Barker host a series of exciting 2020 reports from FFRF staff led by Legal Director Rebecca Markert and Director of Strategic Response Andrew Seidel. Actor Ed Asner accepts FFRF's "Clarence Darrow Award," activist Ben Hart accepts FFRF's "Freethinker of the Year" award . . . and more from a very busy staff!
They are here to stay
November 19, 2020 20:05 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBFFRF's Director of Strategic Response Andrew Seidel dissects the shocking speech U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito delivered to the Religious Right Federalist Society last week. Then journalist Katherine Stewart, author of The Power Worshippers, talks about her recent New York Times article, "Trump or no Trump, religious authoritarianism is here to stay."
Reality Denial
November 12, 2020 22:29 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBMany Christian Nationalists are denying the reality of the U.S. election results. FFRF Legal Fellow Brendan Johnson describes the amicus brief we filed with the Wisconsin Supreme Court regarding religious groups challenging COVID-19 school closure orders. Then we speak with Nandini Archer of Open Democracy about the group's report, “Revealed: $280 million of ‘dark money’ spent by US Christian Right groups globally,” implicating Trump attorney Jay Sekulow.
Power to the People
November 05, 2020 20:01 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBWe start this election week with John Lennon's "Power to the People." FFRF attorney Sam Grover describes two state/church amicus briefs FFRF has filed in federal court: one in Maine (a victory), and another in Pennsylvania (currently before the U.S. Supreme Court). After hearing Dan's song "We, The People," we talk with historian Kimberly A. Hamlin about her new book that focuses on the woman most responsible for ushering in the 19th Amendment giving "power to women voters": Free Thinker: Se...
Humanists in the Hood
October 29, 2020 19:47 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBThis Halloween week, it is a scary time for state/church separation, women's rights, and public health. FFRF Legal Fellow Joseph McDonald explains how we got a Missouri public high-school coach to stop leading students in prayer. Then author, educator and activist Sikivu Hutchinson tells us about the challenges facing nontheistic African-American women, explained in her book Humanists in the Hood: Unapologetically Black, Feminist, and Heretical.
Disenfranchised
October 22, 2020 18:30 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBWe honor the life and legacy of "The Amazing" James Randi, who died this week at age 92, by listening to his entertaining 2008 interview on Freethought Radio. Then we speak with assistant professor of economics Randall Cragun, the lead plaintiff in FFRF's newest lawsuit challenging the disenfranchisement of atheists in Alabama. When Cragun was trying to register to vote, he could not sign the form containing the oath "so help me, God" because he does not believe in God.
Black Freethinkers
October 15, 2020 19:01 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBThe Senate hearings for the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court is the topic of the first half of the show. We discuss why her views on state and church and her membership in a patriarchal cult are alarming. Then we talk with professor Christopher Cameron about his book Black Freethinkers: A History of African American Secularism.
Acts Against God
October 08, 2020 19:02 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBA new national survey of 12,000 nonreligious individuals conducted by FFRF reveals that secular voters are "values voters." After describing the new state/church billboard in Knoxville, Tenn. that was erected by FFRF and its East Tennessee chapter, we announce the winners of the first essay contest for secular students in Puerto Rico. Then we speak with Oxford professor David Nash about his new book, Acts Against God: A Brief History of Blasphemy.
Dogmatic Justice
October 01, 2020 19:15 - 49 minutes - 67.8 MBFFRF's Senior Staff Attorney Patrick Elliott tells us about the lawsuit we filed today challenging the required "So help me, God" oath on Alabama's voter registration forms. Then author, scholar and essayist Susan Jacoby joins us to explain the dangerous religiously dogmatic views of Amy Coney Barrett, the nominee to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Fighting Ruthlessly
September 24, 2020 20:10 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBWe memorialize the life of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a champion of equality and state/church separation. FFRF attorney Andrew Seidel explains how we can fight for what is at stake. The Director of Black Nonbelievers of DC, Rogiérs, talks about how he went from worship leader to atheist activist and explains the speaker series "Legacy: The Story of Dissent Through the Years," acknowledging the contribution of black freethinkers. Then Margaret Downey, founder and president of the Freethough...
Freethought Poet Laureate
September 17, 2020 20:45 - 49 minutes - 45.7 MBWe protest the imprisonment of a 13-yr-old Nigerian for blasphemy. We explain why we reported a priest, bishop and archbishop to the IRS for unconstitutional politicking. Then we honor the life and legacy of the distinguished freethinking humanist poet, scholar and author Philip Appleman who died this year at 94 years of age, by hearing his poignant interview on PBS' "Bill Moyers Journal."
Act Like an Atheist
September 09, 2020 19:06 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBWe hear from recipients of the Forward Freethought Scholarships for Black Skeptics, then we complain about a politicking priest saying "You cannot be a Catholic and vote Democratic." After listening to Tom Lehrer's "pandemic" song "I Got It From Agnes," we talk with the actor, singer, game-show host and TV personality John Davidson about his long career in show business and about why he is an outspoken atheist.
White Too Long
September 03, 2020 19:05 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBAfter we announce a major state/church victory in Puerto Rico, described by Eva Quiñones, Nigerian activist Leo Igwe tells us about the alarming arrest of humanist leader Mubarak Bala, allegedly for blasphemy. FFRF Legal Fellow Brendan Johnson describes state/church victories in Tennessee and Texas (one involving a school "prayer locker"). Then we talk with the founder and CEO of Public Religion Research Institute Robert P. Jones about his new book: White Too Long: The Legacy of White Suprem...
Excellent Adventures
August 27, 2020 18:31 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBFor Women's Equality Day, we talk with author and feminist activist Coline Jenkins, great-great-granddaughter of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, about the new women's statue she helped create and install in Central Park this week. Then we chat with author and screenwriter Chris Matheson, who co-wrote the movie "Bill and Ted Face The Music" which is released this week, and about his new irreverent book The Buddha's Story.
COVID and Christian Nationalism
August 13, 2020 19:09 - 49 minutes - 67.9 MBDallas megapastor Robert Jeffress attacks FFRF on Fox. Nancy Pelosi calls for prayer. Ventura, Calif., proposes removing religious bigot Junipero Serra from its seal. After hearing James Taylor's freethinking song "Up From Your Life," we talk with Andrew Whitehead, co-author of the book (with Samuel Perry) Taking America Back For God, about how Christian Nationalists react differently to the coronavirus pandemic.
Fighting Religious Nationalism
August 06, 2020 19:16 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBFFRF's Director of Communications Amit Pal updates us on President Modi's attempt to turn secular India into a Hindu nation. After hearing the "comfort music" song "Don't Fence Me In," by atheist songwriter Cole Porter, we talk with FFRF's Director of Governmental Affairs Mark Dann about what it's like to be a DC lobbyist during the pandemic, and what accomplishments FFRF has garnered on Capitol Hill with the Congressional Freethought Caucus and the Leadership Conference For Civil and Human ...
Fundamentalist Pandemics
July 30, 2020 19:38 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBDallas megapastor Robert Jeffress improperly politicked from the pulpit on "Freedom Sunday." After hearing the parody "Hang On, Ruthie" (about Ruth Bader Ginsburg), we talk with Skyler Hutto, the South Carolina attorney who is suing his governor for distributing millions of dollars of COVID relief to private (mostly religious) schools. Then we chat with historian, author and commentator Juan Cole about his article, "Fundamentalist pandemics: What Evangelicals could learn from the Rubáiyát of...
Unalienable Rights
July 23, 2020 19:19 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBReligion is a major cause of the spread of COVID. The NO BAN Act passed the U.S. House this week, undoing President Trump’s restrictions on travel and immigration from several Muslim countries. FFRF Staff Attorney Patrick Elliott tells us about a church-owned property that will now have to pay taxes. We protest an evangelical-owned coffeeshop for violating mask regulations and condemn the South Carolina governor for diverting tax money to religious schools. Then we talk with U.S. Representat...
The Quiet Demise
July 16, 2020 19:58 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBThe Catholic Church lobbies for special treatment to gain billions of PPP dollars. FFRF attorney Ryan Jayne tells us about the secret phone calls between the White House and religious groups to funnel money to Trump's preachers. Then law professors Nelson Tebbe and Micah Schwartzman discuss their powerful New York Times article, "The quiet demise of the separation of church and state."
White Christian Privilege
July 09, 2020 18:51 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBFFRF Legal Director Rebecca Markert explains what was so bad about two Supreme Court decisions this week dealing with religion, civil rights and women's health. FFRF's Director of Strategic Response Andrew Seidel tells us about the billions of dollars flowing to churches (many that are evangelical favorites of President Trump) under the Paycheck Protection Program. Then we talk with professor Khyati Y. Joshi about her new book, White Christian Privilege: The Illusion of Religious Equality in...
SCOTUS Right and Wrong
July 02, 2020 19:16 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBThe Mississippi flag swaps one exclusion (Confederate symbol) for another ("In God We Trust"). FFRF Senior Counsel Patrick Elliott explains our amicus brief supporting California's social-distancing requirement for churches and tells us what was wrong with the Supreme Court's Espinoza pro-voucher decision. Then FFRF's "Anne Nicol Gaylor Reproductive Rights Intern" Barbara Alvarez tells us what was right about the Supreme Court's June Medical decision about abortion.
The Best Medicine
June 25, 2020 19:01 - 49 minutes - 90.6 MBFor our first broadcast of the summer, we hear actor John de Lancie (who played Q on "Star Trek: The Next Generation") deliver a very moving virtual commencement address to graduating seniors in the Secular Student Alliance. Then we speak with award-winning NYC stand-up comedian and author Leighann Lord, who comments on the bird-watching incident in Central Park, and about her thoughts on Father's Day in her "People With Parents" podcast.
Freedom To Be Yourself
June 18, 2020 19:34 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBWe celebrate this week's Supreme Court Bostock decision affirming civil-rights protections to the LGBTQ community. FFRF attorney Patrick Elliott explains how that case relates to religious liberty. After hearing the song "Freedom From Religion," we talk with Jon Steingard, the former lead singer of the Christian rock band Hawk Nelson, who just announced on Instagram that he no longer believes in God.
Supreme Court in the Balance
June 11, 2020 20:12 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBThe Texas lieutenant governor and a Texas mayor are improperly mixing religion and government. We ask the Pennsylvania governor not to hand state money to churches. After hearing the freethinker Nina Simone's 1964 civil-rights protest song "Mississippi Goddam," we talk with eminent Chicago Law School professor Geoffrey R. Stone about the Supreme Court's upcoming decisions about abortion and state/church separation.
Religion and Racism
June 04, 2020 19:06 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBThe President of the United States terrorizes fellow Americans in order to stage a Christian Nationalist photo-op. After hearing the protest song "No More" by Broadway composer Charles Strouse, we talk with author and filmmaker Jeremiah Camara about his movie Holy Hierarchy: The Religious Roots of Racism in America and about how we can address oppression and inequality in our country.
Pandemic Pandering
May 28, 2020 18:51 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBPresident Trump and public officials continue to pander to the Religious Right during the pandemic. FFRF legal fellow Dante Harootunian announces a state/church victory removing a Christian cross from a city mural in Illinois. After hearing the freethinking song "Let The Mystery Be" by Iris Dement, we talk with The Nation columnist Katha Pollitt about her recent column "Why Did the ERA Die? FX's 'Mrs. America' Has Some Answers."
Coronavirus Conspiracies
May 21, 2020 19:41 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBChurches or churchgoers in at least 19 states are hypocritically suing the government for shutting down public worship services. After hearing the Stephen Foster "comfort music" song "Hard Times Come Again No More," performed remotely by Rufus Wainwright and friends, we talk with Michael Shermer, editor of Skeptic magazine and author of the new book Giving the Devil His Due, about "COVID-19 Conspiracists and Their Discontents."
Think!
May 14, 2020 19:25 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBThe virus of religion is worsening the pandemic. We talk about religious favoritism at the national and local levels, from the U.S. Supreme Court to states and counties that put ideology over science. Then we speak with Bonya Ahmed and Imtiaz Shams, founders of the new THINK project that is producing quality videos about science, reason and humanism in many languages for countries (including Bangladesh) with little access to such information.
Neighborhood Atheism
May 07, 2020 19:14 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBGuess what well-known person is a humanist? Today we talk about U.S. representatives calling for a National Day of Reason (not Prayer), FFRF's full-page ad in the New York Times, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's remarks on access to contraception, and a U.S. mosque broadcasting calls to prayer. Then we speak with atheist rapper Baba Brinkman and hear his songs "Stay Home!" and "Neighborhood Atheism."
Eradicate Superstition
April 30, 2020 18:57 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBAre clergy "essential" workers? FFRF is complaining about favoritism to religion during the coronavirus pandemic. Our comfort music this week is "Smile," written by the freethinking Charlie Chaplin. FFRF Director of Communications Amit Pal joins us as we talk by phone from locked-down India with Avinash Patil, the courageous executive president of the Organization to Eradicate Superstition in Maharashtra, India, whose founding president Narendra Dabholkar was murdered by religious fanatics.