Freethought Radio

Freethought Radio, from the secular point of view, broadcasts weekly and is hosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-presidents of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The show offers programming for nonreligious listeners, as well as countering the religious-right domination of our public airwaves. Freethought Radio features music and interviews with authors and activists. Check out Freethought Radio's illustrious list of guests, including Richard Dawkins, Julia Sweeney, Janeane Garafalo, Ron Reagan, Betty Rollins, Christopher Hitchens, Steven Pinker, Ursula K. Le Guin and so many other fascinating freethinkers, newsmakers and thinkers.

Earth Day 04/19/2024

Earth Day "Christian nationalists are truly in la-la land," says Annie Laurie Gaylor. We cover state/church news in Tennessee, Arizona, Maine, Wisconsin and Louisiana. To honor Earth Day (April 22), after hearing satiric songwriter Roy Zimmerman perform his climate-change song "We Are The Worst," well-known Wisconsin TV meteorologist Bob Lindmeier tells us that "climate change is serious and solvable." /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/30895028

Reagan and the Media 04/11/2024

Reagan and the Media We talk about Charlie Chaplin, the “Lucy” fossil, the eclipse, and state/church issues in Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, Arizona, Utah, Louisiana and Uganda. Then, we speak with journalism Professor Diane Winston about her new book Righting the American Dream: How the Media Mainstreamed Reagan’s Evangelical Vision. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/30786288

Woman, Church and State 04/04/2024

Woman, Church and State We talk about the eclipse, an intersex atheist, and a freethinking songwriter. We report on state/church complaints and victories. Then, we speak with Danielle Nagle, director of the Matilda Joslyn Gage Museum in upper New York state dedicated to the 19th-century feminist, abolitionist, author of the 1893 book Woman, Church and State, and advocate for secular government. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/30683963

Bodies Under Siege 03/28/2024

Bodies Under Siege Abortion is in the news this week. FFRF attorneys analyze oral arguments in the mifepristone (abortion pill) case before the Supreme Court that was taken by religious-right groups. Then, we speak with U.K. journalist Siân Norris about her book Bodies Under Siege: How the Far-Right Attack on Reproductive Rights Went Global. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/30584628

FFRF Action 03/21/2024

FFRF Action FFRF Senior Counsel Patrick Elliott tells us about FFRF's newest federal lawsuit challenging religious discrimination against the Satanic Temple's desire to host afterschool club meetings for children in Memphis, Tenn. Then, FFRF Director of Governmental Affairs Mark Dann and Senior Policy Counsel Ryan Jayne describe how the FFRF Action Fund (a 501(c)(4) nonprofit) is working to keep religion out of our laws and policies. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/30484783

A Secular Coalition 03/14/2024

A Secular Coalition Many FFRF victories and legal complaints to talk about this week. Since today is "Pi Day," and π is irrational, we hear the irreverent Joe Hill song about the irrational belief of "pie in the sky" called "The Preacher and the Slave." Then we speak with Steven Emmert, Executive Director of the Secular Coalition for America, working to "protect the equal rights of nonreligious Americans." /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/30377548

Atheist Public Official 03/07/2024

Atheist Public Official After we report on state/church violations and victories in Illinois, California, Kentucky, Alabama, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, FFRF's Senior Policy Counsel Ryan Jayne tells us "everything you need to know about public school chaplain bills" that are being introduced in many states. Then, we speak with Wisconsin state Sen. Kelda Roys, an openly atheistic public official who is working to improve this world. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/30275298

Flourishing Love 02/29/2024

Flourishing Love “Welcome to the end of democracy,” said a Christian nationalist leader. This week, we parse many of such anti-democratic comments made by evangelical leaders. After hearing a Spanish-language version of the love song “It's Only Natural,” we talk with Enrico Gnaulati, author of the book Flourishing Love: A Secular Guide to Lasting Intimate Relationships. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/30172668

God or Country? 02/22/2024

God or Country? FFRF's Equal Justice Works Legal Fellow Kat Grant describes the amicus (friend-of-the-court) brief they wrote for FFRF in a case involving an Oregonian Christian who is challenging the law prohibiting her from discriminating against LGBTQ+ children in the adoption process. Then, we talk about the new documentary film "God and Country,” produced by Rob Reiner, that warns against the looming threat of Christian nationalism. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/30069623

Prohibited Books 02/15/2024

Prohibited Books This week we talk about Christian nationalism, leaving the Mormon Church, and religion in the classroom. After listening to part of our TV interview with Rep. Jared Huffman about the theocratic Speaker of the House, we talk with historian Robin Vose, author of The Index of Prohibited Books: Four Centuries of Struggle Over Word and Image for the Greater Glory of God. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/29974053

State-Church Watchdogs 02/08/2024

State-Church Watchdogs Prayer is the target of this week's show: the National Prayer Breakfast and school-board prayer. For Valentine's Day, we hear Susan Hofer sing Dan Barker's freethought love song, "It's Only Natural." Then, we speak with FFRF attorneys Sammi Lawrence and Chris Line about their watchdog letters of complaint to public officials who violate state/church separation and the legal friend-of-the-court briefs they have written to keep religion out of government. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/29862613

Tiny Titanic Acts 02/01/2024

Tiny Titanic Acts This week, we call out governmental prayer at the National Prayer Breakfast and an egregious Christian nationalist invocation before the House of Representatives. Then we hear Kate Cohen, Washington Post contributing columnist and author of the book We of Little Faith: Why I Stopped Pretending to Believe (and Maybe You Should Too), deliver her entertaining and riveting talk: "The Tiny Titanic Act of Telling the Truth." /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/29757073

An Atheist Chaplain 01/25/2024

An Atheist Chaplain FFRF Director of Communications Amit Pal describes how India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a Hindu temple on the site of a demolished mosque in a political effort to establish Hindu nationalism in that country. Then we speak with Devin Moss, the humanist chaplain who was called in to support an atheist death-row inmate executed in Oklahoma. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/29651413

Anti-Caste Activist 01/18/2024

Anti-Caste Activist Margaret Downey, president of the Thomas Paine Memorial Association, tells us about an exciting celebration of the birth of the “Forgotten Founder" Thomas Paine on his Jan. 29 birthday. Then, FFRF Director of Communications Amit Pal speaks with the actor, theater director and artist-in-residence at UW-Madison Vamsi Matta, a Dalit (the most oppressed in the Hindu caste hierarchy) who is fighting back against religious discrimination. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/29548963

Disobedient Women 01/11/2024

Disobedient Women After we hear from atheists Ron Reagan and Richard Dawkins, we listen to U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan greet attendees at FFRF's annual convention. Then we speak with author and essayist Sarah Stankorb about her new book, Disobedient Women: How a Small Group of Faithful Women Exposed Abuse, Brought Down Powerful Pastors, and Ignited an Evangelical Reckoning. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/29446758

Atheists in Africa 01/04/2024

Atheists in Africa Emily Olson, a very brave member of the Owosso, Michigan city council, tells us what happened when she challenged prayer at board meetings. Then we speak with the founder and president of Atheists in Kenya Harrison Mumia about that group's successful lawsuit challenging government discrimination against atheists and their activities to promote human rights in a country drenched with religion. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/29345853

Happy Secular New Year! 12/28/2023

Happy Secular New Year! We report on FFRF state/church victories and complaints and honor the 2023 "Secularist of the Year." After welcoming the New Year by hearing the sparkling performance of Godless Gospel, we speak with FFRF contributing writer Barbara Alvarez about the current state of abortion rights and the challenges we will face in 2024 as Christian nationalists continue to restrict women's healthcare. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/29262378

Reason's Greetings 12/21/2023

Reason's Greetings On this important date, we remind listeners of the real reason for the season: the Winter Solstice. After reporting on FFRF’s Solstice and “Bill of Rights nativity” scenes erected on public property to counter religious displays, we hear from the justice correspondent for The Nation magazine, Elie Mystal, author of the book Allow Me To Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/29189088

Secularism Is Growing 12/14/2023

Secularism Is Growing Secularism is growing around the world, and in the United States resistance to Christian nationalism is increasing. FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence and FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line join us to talk about some of the encouraging state/church legal victories (in court and out of court) that the FFRF legal staff has been winning in recent weeks. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/29085208

Making Activism Fun 12/07/2023

Making Activism Fun FFRF Co-President Dan Barker discusses his recent debate at Oxford University on the topic "Is God a Delusion?" Then we have some fun hearing comedian, activist and political satirist Lizz Winstead, co-founder of "The Daily Show" and founder of Abortion Access Front, tell us how "to bring joy and fun to expose hypocrisy and to have hope." /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/28974843

They Won't Back Down 11/30/2023

They Won't Back Down We are asking Oklahoma's Superintendent of Education to resign for pushing religion in the schools and for verbally attacking FFRF. After honoring the life of freethinking TV correspondent Betty Rollin, we hear from two brave students — Marcus Stovall and Bear Bright — who are suing West Texas A&M University for censoring their drag show fundraiser to prevent suicide among gay youth. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/28870883

Give thanks . . . where it is due. 11/22/2023

Give thanks . . . where it is due. Our Thanksgiving 2023 show features Godless Gospel performing “Let’s All Give Thanks,” interviews FFRF Counsel Sam Grover on FFRF’s new brief against religious censorship of drag shows, and features law Professor Mary Ziegler warning about the anti-abortion movement’s goal of fetal personhood. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/28761973

Freedom From Fundamentalism 11/16/2023

Freedom From Fundamentalism This week we announce a Triumphant Trifecta of legal victories, ending high-school proselytizing in West Virginia, eliminating a religious test for public office in New Jersey, and stopping $1.5 million of South Carolina state funds from going to a religious school. Then we hear Jen Castle, the national Director of Abortion Services for Planned Parenthood, deliver an impassioned speech in acceptance of FFRF's "Freedom From Religious Fundamentalism" award. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/28677698

How Fascism and Nazism Influenced Hindu Nationalism 11/09/2023

How Fascism and Nazism Influenced Hindu Nationalism Guest host FFRF Communications Director Amitabh Pal first recounts the state/church watchdog's achievements over the past few days — and the resulting media coverage. Then, he talks with University of Turin Professor Marzia Casolari about her groundbreaking book, “In the Shadow of the Swastika,” spotlighting the influence of Italian fascism and Nazism on the Hindu nationalist movement currently governing India. And interspersed throughout the show is the music of freethinker Aaron Copeland, whose birth anniversary we are observing this week. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/28572898

Students Win in West Virginia 11/02/2023

Students Win in West Virginia FFRF Legal Director Rebecca Markert and FFRF Attorney Liz Cavell fill in as guest hosts this week. They discuss the alarming election of a Christian nationalism devotee to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. FFRF Senior Counsel Patrick Elliott joins to share an exciting update in one of FFRF's lawsuits on behalf of West Virginia public school students. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/28500296

For Heaven's Sake 10/26/2023

For Heaven's Sake For a special themed show, FFRF co-presidents Annie Laurie Gaylor and Dan Barker discuss the harm of belief in heaven and hell. Songs include "Heaven" by Rupert Brooke, "Pack Up Your Sins (and Go to the Devil in Hades)" by Irving Berlin, "Declaration of the Free" by Robert Ingersoll, "Preacher & the Slave" by Joe Hill, "Spooky Mormon Hell" from The Book of Mormon, "This World" by Malvina Reynolds, "Reincarnation" by Wallace D. McRae, "Joy To The World" by Godless Gospel, and "None of the Above" by Dan Barker. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/28431539

We Won't Back Down 10/19/2023

We Won't Back Down Oklahoma's Superintendent of Public Education Ryan Walters is going after FFRF for complaining about that state's creation of a "public" religious charter school. FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence tells us about the new amicus brief we filed in favor of Southwest Airlines enforcing their policy against religious harassment. Then we hear from three eloquent 18-year-old college students who read their winning essays at FFRF's annual convention: Luci Green, Skylar Blumenauer, and Michelle Liao. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/28369475

What’s Wrong With the Ten Commandments? 10/12/2023

What’s Wrong With the Ten Commandments? FFRF Co-Presidents Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor energetically demolish the Ten Commandments, both as moral guides and as an influence on U.S. law. After hearing the Philip Appleman poem "Noah," read by Phil and his wife Marjorie, we listen to Dan’s song "Lucifer's Lament," about how Satan gets none of the credit for God’s destructive punishments. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/28301846

We Of Little Faith 10/06/2023

We Of Little Faith FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence describes FFRF’s newest lawsuit challenging a religious test for public office in New Jersey. FFRF’s Equal Justice Works Fellow Kat Grant tells us about the testimony she gave at the Wisconsin capitol in opposition to a religiously motivated bill that would prohibit gender-affirming care for minors. Then we speak with Washington Post contributing columnist Kate Cohen about her new book We Of Little Faith: Why I Stopped Pretending To Believe (And Maybe You Should Too). /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/28244696

A Wall of Separation 09/28/2023

A Wall of Separation Find out why Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and Texas Senator Ted Cruz are dissing the Freedom From Religion Foundation. After hearing Dan Barker's song "The Battle of Church and State," we talk with the distinguished scholar Steven K. Green about his book Separating Church and State: A History. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/28171403

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