Serious Inquiries Only
758 episodes - English - Latest episode: 26 days ago - ★★★★★ - 978 ratingsJoin Thomas for some critical thinking on questions of science, philosophy, skepticism and politics. These serious topics are discussed with some serious guests, but in an entertaining and engaging way! This is not your typical interview podcast; it’s a friendly dialogue, conducted thoughtfully and with plenty of humor. It's Serious Inquiries Only; but like, not boring or anything.
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Episodes
AS158: “My Father’s Funeral Was Stopped By Gay Marriage”
July 30, 2015 05:46 - 42 minutes - 16.3 MBYeah, you heard that right. But first, it’s a continuation of Monday’s episode with Nathanael. He turned the interview back on me, and we continued the exchange. Overall I’m very happy to have talked with Nathanael and while I of course disagree with any supernatural claims, he’s a great guy who is doing a lot … Continue reading AS158: “My Father’s Funeral Was Stopped By Gay Marriage” → The post AS158: “My Father’s Funeral Was Stopped By Gay Marriage” appeared first on Atheistically Speak...
AS157: Dialogue With A Christian, Nathanael
July 27, 2015 04:44 - 44 minutes - 16.9 MBShow friend Tracey Moody connected today’s guest, Nathanael, and I. We ended up having a really cool discussion that I think was very positive and due to the miracles of modern science, was caught on tape! Here it is. You can find Nathanael at nathanaelvitkus.wordpress.com and his twitter @npvitkus The post AS157: Dialogue With A Christian, Nathanael appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS156: Cognitive Dissonance on Tim Hunt
July 23, 2015 06:52 - 1 hour - 25.8 MBAlright, Cognitive Dissonance, take 2! This time we’re here for real, and the topic at hand is the Tim Hunt controversy. Find out Tom and Cecil’s take on the matter, and see what their responses to some counter arguments are! The post AS156: Cognitive Dissonance on Tim Hunt appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS155: Cognitive Dissonance
July 20, 2015 06:09 - 43 minutes - 16.8 MBThe guys are back! Well, we intended to talk about the Tim Hunt stuff, and its implications on free expression, etc, BUT we got a little sidetracked. I thought the recording was comedy gold, but in case anyone disagrees, you get a 2 for 1 deal on Thursday, during which time we ACTUALLY talk about … Continue reading AS155: Cognitive Dissonance → The post AS155: Cognitive Dissonance appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS154: The Portable Atheist
July 16, 2015 05:55 - 46 minutes - 17.7 MBOk ok, a REAL one this time! This month’s reading is A Refutation of Deism by Percy Shelley. Lots of cool stuff to talk about in this reading. Shelley was a poet but honestly in my opinion, he could have been a philosopher! Also, did he predict evolution 50 years before Origin of Species? I … Continue reading AS154: The Portable Atheist → The post AS154: The Portable Atheist appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS153: An Atheist In A Catholic Church
July 13, 2015 05:04 - 43 minutes - 16.8 MB..plus Portable Atheist, kind of. You’ll see. This weekend I had the unique experience of attending a Catholic wedding. It has been a while since I’ve stepped foot in a Catholic Church and it certainly was fascinating. Also, we were set to do Portable Atheist but the selection was very short and not too amenable … Continue reading AS153: An Atheist In A Catholic Church → The post AS153: An Atheist In A Catholic Church appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS152: An Atheist In A Muslim Country, Part 2
July 09, 2015 05:30 - 41 minutes - 16.2 MBToday we continue the discussion with Adrian, an atheist who lives in a majority Muslim country. Lots more interesting stuff on part 2! Take a listen! The post AS152: An Atheist In A Muslim Country, Part 2 appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS151: An Atheist In A Muslim Country
July 06, 2015 05:14 - 42 minutes - 16.3 MBMy guest this week is Adrian, who has appeared on the show a few times before. This time might be the most interesting yet, however, because Adrian recently moved to Malaysia. So, that makes him an atheist living in a Muslim majority country. He has a lot of really interesting stories and observations about what … Continue reading AS151: An Atheist In A Muslim Country → The post AS151: An Atheist In A Muslim Country appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS150: Pale Blue Dot, Part 2
July 02, 2015 06:39 - 36 minutes - 14.2 MBWe round out our first book club book with a couple more interviews. Then, what better way to take us out than with the man himself, Carl Sagan, reading his most beautiful passage ever. The post AS150: Pale Blue Dot, Part 2 appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS149: Pale Blue Dot, Part 1
June 29, 2015 04:43 - 38 minutes - 14.9 MBYay the first book club book is done! This was so much fun, and thank you to all who participated! Make sure to read the next book and contact me to get on the show next time. The post AS149: Pale Blue Dot, Part 1 appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS148: Live Listener Feedback
June 25, 2015 04:40 - 44 minutes - 17 MBToday I have two listeners on as guests to provide some feedback on the recent Elijiah T episodes. Some of my listeners reacted a bit negatively to Elijiah and I’m curious to find out why. Let’s see if I can find some answers! The post AS148: Live Listener Feedback appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS147: Tommentary
June 22, 2015 06:21 - 38 minutes - 15 MBIt’s with a heavy heart that I have to launch on another Tommentary. Pretty much every time there’s a horrible massacre, there are a number of things to react to. Here’s an article I talked about toward the end that was very interesting: http://aeon.co/magazine/philosophy/people-do-violence-because-their-moral-codes-demand-it/ The post AS147: Tommentary appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS146: Ex-Mormon, Rondale Part 2
June 18, 2015 05:46 - 39 minutes - 15.3 MBMore discussion with Rondale. In part 2 we talk a bit more about being an atheist in the black community. The post AS146: Ex-Mormon, Rondale Part 2 appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS145: Ex-Mormon, Rondale
June 15, 2015 07:02 - 38 minutes - 15 MBThis week’s guest is another ex-Mormon, but coming with yet another unique perspective. I’ll give you a hint, he wouldn’t have been allowed in the church before 1978. The post AS145: Ex-Mormon, Rondale appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS144: Atheists Say the Darnedest Things, Part 2
June 11, 2015 03:51 - 51 minutes - 19.6 MBHere’s the second half with Elijiah T! I’m liking the response to this. Keep those comments coming. The post AS144: Atheists Say the Darnedest Things, Part 2 appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS143: Atheists Say the Darnedest Things, with Elijiah T.
June 08, 2015 06:50 - 43 minutes - 16.8 MBElijiah was a guest about a year ago, and now he’s back for another round! This time, we’re going to discuss what Elijiah alleges are bad arguments atheists make. It’s a really cool discussion and I had a great time. 2 episodes, filled to the brim! The post AS143: Atheists Say the Darnedest Things, with Elijiah T. appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS142: Armed Peaceful Protests, with Jake Farr-Wharton
June 04, 2015 05:54 - 48 minutes - 18.4 MBContinuing the discussion from Monday, Jake and I go on to react to the CNN Anderson Cooper interview with the organizer of the obnoxious event. Also, I read most of this really well written response to the event: To the Bikers Who Plan to Protest in Arizona The post AS142: Armed Peaceful Protests, with Jake Farr-Wharton appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS141: Real Islamophobia, with Jake Farr-Wharton
June 01, 2015 05:12 - 37 minutes - 14.6 MBThis week I have Jake on to discuss what is an actual case of Islamophobia. That is, the biker “protest” outside of an Arizona mosque where members wore t-shirts saying “F*** Islam” and carried weapons. The post AS141: Real Islamophobia, with Jake Farr-Wharton appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS140: At Long Last, Listener Comments
May 28, 2015 04:19 - 46 minutes - 17.8 MBBut not just any comments, really good comments! I go back over the Louis CK stuff from Monday in light of a few comments, and then I finally comment back at a comment on Christina Hoff Sommers. The post AS140: At Long Last, Listener Comments appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS139: Louis CK, Filters, Mad Max, MRAs…
May 25, 2015 06:57 - 38 minutes - 15.1 MBIt’s a bit of a potpourri for today’s episode! What did Louis CK’s SNL monologue from the other week have to do with free will and determinism? Also, I saw Mad Max and felt the need to talk a bit about it and the intersection with feminism. The post AS139: Louis CK, Filters, Mad Max, MRAs… appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS138: David Hume, Of Miracles Part 2
May 21, 2015 04:56 - 42 minutes - 16.5 MBContinuing from Monday, we’re finishing up Of Miracles by Hume. It’s quite an important piece in skeptic history, and seeks to provide an argument against miracle testimony of many kinds. The post AS138: David Hume, Of Miracles Part 2 appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS137: David Hume, Of Miracles
May 18, 2015 06:58 - 38 minutes - 14.9 MBThe Portable Atheist, part 6! Rather than claim I will come back to the Portable Atheist in a month and then wait like 4 months as I have previously, I decided to be proactive and get right to it! This time, it’s “Of Miracles” by David Hume, very important work for skepticism. This will be … Continue reading AS137: David Hume, Of Miracles → The post AS137: David Hume, Of Miracles appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS136: Being Raised A Mormon Girl, Part 2
May 14, 2015 03:05 - 1 hour - 24.4 MBMegan is back for part 2 about being raised as a female Mormon. It’s quite a bit different than as a male.. Also, NCMOs are real! Here’s some of the resources/links Megan mentioned: http://www.colleenkellypoplin.com/home/faith-the-privileges-and-responsibilities-of-sisters http://www.lds-mormon.com/poelman.shtml http://whitefieldseducational.org/ Also if you’d like to contact Megan, she was kind enough to offer her email at [email protected] Thanks for listening! The post AS136: Being ...
AS135: Being Raised A Mormon Girl, with Megan
May 11, 2015 05:06 - 50 minutes - 19 MBSome time ago I had two ex-Mormons, Bill and Gerald, on to discuss their experience with the church. After hearing that, Megan sent me a message asking if I wanted to get the female perspective on the Mormon experience. I said absolutely! So Megan is here to give us another side of the story. With … Continue reading AS135: Being Raised A Mormon Girl, with Megan → The post AS135: Being Raised A Mormon Girl, with Megan appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS134: Moral Arguments, with Jeffery Jay Lowder, Part 2
May 07, 2015 04:25 - 1 hour - 23 MBMuch more with Jeffrey Jay Lowder! This time we get even deeper into the arguments, and I get to try out a couple of thoughts I’ve been having on Jeff. It was a real treat to have an expert on to be able to bounce some ideas off of. This is of course in addition … Continue reading AS134: Moral Arguments, with Jeffery Jay Lowder, Part 2 → The post AS134: Moral Arguments, with Jeffery Jay Lowder, Part 2 appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS133: Moral Arguments, with Jeffery Jay Lowder
May 04, 2015 06:20 - 49 minutes - 18.8 MBI’m very pleased to have a special guest this week, Jeffery Jay Lowder! Jeff is one of the founders of Internet Infidels and the Secular Outpost. He’s also someone with a vast knowledge of apologetics and counter-apologetics, having studied at a christian university. One thing about Jeff Lowder though is that he’s very fair and … Continue reading AS133: Moral Arguments, with Jeffery Jay Lowder → The post AS133: Moral Arguments, with Jeffery Jay Lowder appeared first on Atheistically Speak...
AS132: The Portable Atheist, Part 5
April 30, 2015 06:20 - 36 minutes - 14.4 MBLots of great comments on my last episode to discuss, but ALAS! There’s no time! We’re on to the Portable Atheist 5! I cannot believe how long it has been since I did this last. This edition is David Hume’s “The Natural History of Religion.” I promise to find a time to address these really … Continue reading AS132: The Portable Atheist, Part 5 → The post AS132: The Portable Atheist, Part 5 appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS131: Hiding From Ideas
April 27, 2015 04:28 - 41 minutes - 15.9 MBThis week I want to take a break from interviews. I’ve absolutely loved the interviews I’ve been doing lately, but I recognize that some people come to my podcast for some commentary, or Tommentary, so today I’d like to do that. SO, I picked a doozy of a topic, which is Christina Hoff Sommers. She … Continue reading AS131: Hiding From Ideas → The post AS131: Hiding From Ideas appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS130: Reddit Toxicity, with Ben Bell, part 2
April 23, 2015 04:26 - 43 minutes - 16.6 MBPart 2 with Ben Bell. For a description and if you haven’t heard part one, refer here: http://atheisticallyspeaking.com/as129-reddit-toxicity/ The post AS130: Reddit Toxicity, with Ben Bell, part 2 appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS129: Reddit Toxicity, with Idibon’s Ben Bell
April 20, 2015 06:18 - 34 minutes - 13.7 MBAtheism’s Reddit Toxicity The company Idibon recently conducted a Reddit toxicity that made a lot of headlines. The study can be found here. Many subreddits reposted the study and reacted to their position. In a finding that might be relevant to the atheism community, r/atheism was found to be among the top in the Reddit … Continue reading AS129: Reddit Toxicity, with Idibon’s Ben Bell → The post AS129: Reddit Toxicity, with Idibon’s Ben Bell appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS128: Ex-Witnesses Kenny and Harley, Part 2
April 16, 2015 06:03 - 43 minutes - 16.6 MBIn part 2 we get to hear @secularlad Harley’s update and story. Then we get into some general stuff about Jehova’s Witnesses with Kenny Wyland. He can be found on twitter @kennywyland or at the awesome url of http://www.liberalgeek.com ! The post AS128: Ex-Witnesses Kenny and Harley, Part 2 appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS127: Ex-Witnesses Kenny and Harley
April 13, 2015 06:06 - 39 minutes - 15.4 MBContinuing a bit of a series on ex-religion, I have two ex-witnesses this week! You’ve heard @secularlad Harley before, but now we’ve got a brand new guest in Kenny Wyland! He can be found on twitter @kennywyland or at the awesome url of http://www.liberalgeek.com ! The post AS127: Ex-Witnesses Kenny and Harley appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS126: Women in Bags, with Eiynah Nice Mangos
April 09, 2015 05:55 - 41 minutes - 15.9 MBIn part two of our discussion, Eiynah breaks down the recent situation in Canada where a woman wants to be able to wear a niqab during the citizenship oath. Is it basic religious freedom to allow this? Or is it just as ridiculous as allowing a KKK mask during the oath? Thanks so much to … Continue reading AS126: Women in Bags, with Eiynah Nice Mangos → The post AS126: Women in Bags, with Eiynah Nice Mangos appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS125: Eiynah Nice Mangos
April 06, 2015 03:39 - 44 minutes - 17.2 MBThis week I’m joined by Pakistani-Canadian illustrator/blogger Eiynah! If you’re wondering, that’s not her real name. Why would she need to be anonymous? Well she used to be a Muslim, I wonder if that has anything to do with it… Anyway, in this first part, Eiynah talks about her background growing up in Saudi Arabia and … Continue reading AS125: Eiynah Nice Mangos → The post AS125: Eiynah Nice Mangos appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS124: Our Secular Wedding, with Lydia
April 02, 2015 06:26 - 41 minutes - 15.9 MBBack by popular demand is my alarmingly attractive fiance Lydia! In a follow up to the Jake and Marilee episode on secular weddings, we discuss our experiences planning a wedding. Well… Lydia’s experience planning a wedding. Lydia also has some unintentionally hilarious examples of religious wedding vows! It’s a raucous time. The post AS124: Our Secular Wedding, with Lydia appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS123: Religion and Music with Ruby Rose Fox
March 30, 2015 05:06 - 41 minutes - 16.2 MBHere’s the much anticipated interview with Ruby Rose Fox! Ruby is a really unique and talented musician who also happens to be an atheist. We discuss the role religion played in her life and still plays in her music. Also, we get an EXCLUSIVE look at two brand new songs not heard anywhere else! Check … Continue reading AS123: Religion and Music with Ruby Rose Fox → The post AS123: Religion and Music with Ruby Rose Fox appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS122: Secular Weddings, with Jake and Marilee
March 26, 2015 07:48 - 49 minutes - 18.6 MBIn today’s episode I’m joined by Jake Farr-Wharton and Marilee to discuss secular wedding ceremonies! They can be a challenge, since religion has had a monopoly on weddings and other special occasions. Our guests have some insights on what go into a secular wedding! Catch Jake on the Imaginary Friends Show and of course on … Continue reading AS122: Secular Weddings, with Jake and Marilee → The post AS122: Secular Weddings, with Jake and Marilee appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS121: Leaving Scientology, with Chris Shelton
March 23, 2015 06:45 - 45 minutes - 17.3 MBWe have the thrilling conclusion of our Chris Shelton trilogy! Today we find out what led Chris out of the cult of Scientology, and how he dealt with leaving the religion that was his life for 27 years. Thanks again to Chris and check him out at http://mncriticalthinker.com The post AS121: Leaving Scientology, with Chris Shelton appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS120: 27 Years In Scientology, with Chris Shelton
March 19, 2015 05:22 - 41 minutes - 16.2 MBPrior to the scientology segment, I briefly discuss some rather odd things Patton Oswalt had to say of atheism in this article: http://www.salon.com/2015/03/11/salons_patton_oswalt_peace_summit/ With that brief aside, aside, though, we move onto part 2/3 with Chris Shelton and his life inside the cult of Scientology. This time we learn where and how all that 27 years … Continue reading AS120: 27 Years In Scientology, with Chris Shelton → The post AS120: 27 Years In Scientology, with Chris...
AS119: Guide to Scientology, with Chris Shelton
March 16, 2015 07:22 - 50 minutes - 19.2 MBHello Thetans! In this episode we’ll be learning a ton about Scientology. Chris Shelton is an ex-Scientologist who will be taking us through the basics. I would go on more about Chris, but I actually don’t want to spoil any of his story because we are going to learn all about it in the next … Continue reading AS119: Guide to Scientology, with Chris Shelton → The post AS119: Guide to Scientology, with Chris Shelton appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS118: Two Ex-Mormon Stories, Part 2
March 12, 2015 05:44 - 49 minutes - 18.8 MBWe continue the very fascinating conversation with Bill and Gerald. Find out how their stories continued and how they got to where they are today! The post AS118: Two Ex-Mormon Stories, Part 2 appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS117: Two Ex-Mormon Stories, Part 1
March 09, 2015 05:18 - 53 minutes - 20.2 MBThis week I’m very pleased to be joined by two ex-Mormons, Bill and Gerald. Their stories are similar in many ways, but also diverge at a few key points. Get a glimpse into what it’s like to grow up as a Mormon; the missions, the creepy corporate feel of the church, the very firm expectations. … Continue reading AS117: Two Ex-Mormon Stories, Part 1 → The post AS117: Two Ex-Mormon Stories, Part 1 appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS116: Politics With The Skepticrat, Part 2
March 05, 2015 06:27 - 38 minutes - 14.9 MBWe continue our discussion with Noah and Heath. https://www.facebook.com/skepticrat The post AS116: Politics With The Skepticrat, Part 2 appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS115: Politics, With The Skepticrat
March 02, 2015 06:24 - 43 minutes - 16.7 MBWe’re joined by none other than Noah Lugeons and Heath Enwright! After becoming famous for being Scathing Atheists, the guys are now branching out to politics with their new podcast, The Skepticrat! It’s taking the iTunes by storm, peaking at #51 of all podcasts ever, in any category. Quite impressive! Check out the show by … Continue reading AS115: Politics, With The Skepticrat → The post AS115: Politics, With The Skepticrat appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS114: Hate Speech Laws, with Michael
February 26, 2015 05:07 - 51 minutes - 19.4 MBPrevious guest and awesome Patron Michael, AKA Bangs Naughty Bits, joins me to talk about free speech. In particular, we’re discussing a very interesting article which I read aloud on the show: http://reason.com/archives/2015/02/18/after-copenhagen-the-myth-of-civilized-c Are hate speech laws on the same spectrum as shooting people for drawing Mohammed? That is the allegation of the author, and it’s … Continue reading AS114: Hate Speech Laws, with Michael → The post AS114: Hate Speech Laws...
AS113: Intellectual Honesty Is Important
February 24, 2015 05:23 - 39 minutes - 15.3 MB… And CJ Werleman doesn’t have it. In this 24 hours late episode, my voice is still sounding a little rough, but better than it did. I had a few interactions with the infamous CJ Werleman, and it has now hit a critical mass with me. In this episode I identify 3 times that CJ … Continue reading AS113: Intellectual Honesty Is Important → The post AS113: Intellectual Honesty Is Important appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS112: Justin Schieber Returns, Part 2!
February 19, 2015 06:57 - 39 minutes - 15.4 MBIt’s Justin Schieber, part 2! Justin Schieber is back for a discussion on apologetics! Justin is an accomplished debater, and a refreshingly clear thinker regarding apologetics. Justin gives the arguments a very fair shake, and avoids straw men like the plague. Great qualities for an Atheistically Speaking guest! Check out his site http://www.justinsweh.com/ for his upcoming … Continue reading AS112: Justin Schieber Returns, Part 2! → The post AS112: Justin Schieber Returns, Part 2! appea...
AS111: Justin Schieber Returns!
February 16, 2015 05:21 - 44 minutes - 17.2 MBJustin Schieber is back for a discussion on apologetics! Justin is an accomplished debater, and a refreshingly clear thinker regarding apologetics. Justin gives the arguments a very fair shake, and avoids straw men like the plague. Great qualities for an Atheistically Speaking guest! Check out his site http://www.justinsweh.com/ for his upcoming debates! Find him on Twitter … Continue reading AS111: Justin Schieber Returns! → The post AS111: Justin Schieber Returns! appeared first on Athei...
AS110: Chapel Hill Shootings
February 12, 2015 07:02 - 39 minutes - 15.5 MBI finish up the Spinoza reading from the Portable Atheist, and then I talk about the awful shooting deaths of three Muslims in Chapel Hill. Is atheism to blame? The post AS110: Chapel Hill Shootings appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.
AS109: Portable Atheist 4
February 09, 2015 07:40 - 40 minutes - 15.5 MBIt’s finally time for another edition of the Portable Atheist! This time it’s Benedict de Spinoza! The post AS109: Portable Atheist 4 appeared first on Atheistically Speaking.