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.

Congressional Reason! 08/06/2026

Congressional Reason! After reporting problems created by — as well as victories against — Christian nationalism, we hear the co-chairs of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, Reps. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., and Jamie Raskin, D-Md., speaking at the third annual Congressional Reason Reception in Washington, D.C., co-sponsored by FFRF. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/42348100

Uncommon Sense 07/30/2026

Uncommon Sense FFRF co-sponsored the Reason Reception in Washington, D.C., in honor of the Congressional Freethought Caucus. We hear remarks by Reps. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., Sean Casten, D-Ill., and Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., capped off by the guest of honor Mary Trump. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/42268800

“Intelligent Design” on Trial 07/23/2026

“Intelligent Design” on Trial This week on Freethought Radio, a look at how the Trump administration is whitewashing American history in Philadelphia. Then, federal Judge John E. Jones tells the behind-the-scenes story of the 2005 trial leading to his landmark decision barring so-called “intelligent design” from being taught in public school science classes. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/42197290

Astrology and Science 07/16/2026

Astrology and Science After reporting national Christian-nationalist news and local state/church victories in the schools, we talk with journalist Carlos Orsi, author of the new book, ”What Science Says About Astrology.” /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/42118495

State/Church Advocacy 07/09/2026

State/Church Advocacy After reporting a slew of Christian Nationalist nonsense from pastors, government officials and our President, FFRF Action Fund's Senior Policy Counsel Ryan Jayne and State Policy Manager Ryan Dudley describe a slew of good and bad state-church bills in state legislatures so far this year. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/42026540

Student Voices on Christian Nationalism 07/02/2026

Student Voices on Christian Nationalism We look at a new federal “religious liberty” report that could significantly reshape church-state separation in the United States, along with a Supreme Court ruling allowing states to ban transgender girls from school sports. We feature award-winning essays by three students – Gabrielle Williams, Jaianah Hightower and MeKah’E LeClair. We also hear Dan Barker’s opening statement from a recent debate on whether the God of the Bible exists. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/41940070

A Liberating Journey 06/25/2026

A Liberating Journey We first get the lowdown on the back and forth that Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., has gotten into with the Freedom From Religion Foundation regarding our objection to the Auburn University men's baseball program being suffused with religion. Then, we listen to writer Chrissy Stroop talk about her journey from evangelical schools to leading counternarratives about the Christian right. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/41807830

Brain Surgery 06/18/2026

Brain Surgery Neurosurgeon Dr. Vivekanand Palavali joins us to examine how science unravels near-death and out-of-body experiences. Then, we hear from members of the Congressional Freethought Caucus who are pushing back against Christian nationalism and the false claim that America was founded as a Christian nation. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/41693210

American Infidels 06/11/2026

American Infidels Historian Steven K. Green's new book, “American Infidelity: The Gilded Age Battle Over Freethought, Free Love and Feminism,” describes how 19th-century freethinkers fought religious laws such as the Comstock Act. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/41614715

Revival of Reason 06/04/2026

Revival of Reason Founder and President of Black Nonbelievers Mandisa Thomas tells us about the June 12–14 "Revival of Reason" in Atlanta, celebrating the lives and views of Black Americans who live without religion. We also talk about Ten Commandments monuments, FFRF victories removing religion from public schools, and public officials discussing "aliens and demons." /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/41540170

Religion on Campus 05/28/2026

Religion on Campus What to do about religion at graduation ceremonies? FFRF State Policy Manager Ryan Dudley gives a roundup of state legislative actions this past spring. Then, Harvard student Ash Bu talks about her op-ed in The Crimson newspaper asking, "Where Are All the Atheists Hiding?" /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/41455595

License to Discriminate 05/21/2026

License to Discriminate We report on Trump's Christian-nationalist "Rededicate 250" rally in Washington, D.C., last Sunday. Then, Hope Pisoni of Uncloseted Media and John Washington of Lookout tell us about their joint report, “Your License Plate Might Be Funding an Anti-LGBTQ Extremist Group.” /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/41381490

Killers of Roe 05/14/2026

Killers of Roe After reporting alarming Christian nationalist news, we talk with Amy Littlefield, author of "Killers of Roe: My Investigation into the Mysterious Death of Abortion Rights." /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/41298435

Buddhist nationalism 05/07/2026

Buddhist nationalism FFRF Director of Communications Amitabh Pal joins us as we interview journalist and author Sonia Faleiro about her book “The Robe and the Sword: How Buddhist Extremism is Shaping Modern Asia.” /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/41207990

Happy 20th Anniversary! 04/30/2026

Happy 20th Anniversary! We hear excerpts of some of our favorite shows from the past two decades, including Gore Vidal, Christopher Hitchens, Ron Reagan, Ursula K. Le Guin, Sara Paretsky, Julia Sweeney, Daniel C. Dennett, Anne Gaylor, Cecile Richards, Ernie Chambers, Steve Benson, Anthony Pinn, Brent Michael Davids, Janeane Garofalo, Leighann Lord, Ann Druyan and Donald C. Johanson. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/41078635

The Edited Commandments 04/23/2026

The Edited Commandments FFRF Legal Director Patrick Elliott tells us about the disappointing 5th-Circuit appeals decision allowing Ten Commandments in Texas public schools. Then, author and columnist Kate Cohen tells us "Why Exodus Needs a Rewrite." /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/40994470

Texas Courage 04/16/2026

Texas Courage After offering a fresh perspective on President Trump masquerading as Jesus and other news of the week, we interview Johnnie Cotton, a Texas band director who resigned rather than put up a Ten Commandments poster in his classroom. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/40902710

First Amendment hero 04/09/2026

First Amendment hero Theocrats are active in our federal government and also from beyond the moon! After FFRF staff attorney Sammi Lawrence describes recent state/church victories, we honor the life, words and legacy of Ishmael Jaffree, whose 1985 Supreme Court victory removed prayer and bible reading from public schools. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/40793275

Conversion Therapy 04/02/2026

Conversion Therapy Attorney Sam Grover describes FFRF's court victory demanding the removal of the Ten Commandments from the Arkansas capitol. Then, activist Lucas F. W. Wilson, a survivor of “conversion therapy,” discusses his book “Shame-Sex Attraction: Survivors’ Stories of Conversion Therapy.” /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/40715445

Hi, I'm an Atheist! 03/26/2026

Hi, I'm an Atheist! After reporting on a deluge of Christian nationalist rhetoric from Congress, the White House and the Pentagon, we talk with David G. McAfee, author of the book “Hi, I'm an Atheist! What That Means and How to Talk About It with Others.” /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/40634020

Permanent Injunction 03/19/2026

Permanent Injunction After we cover state/church news in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Maryland, FFRF attorney Chris Line dissects the so-called "Religious Liberty Commission" and FFRF attorney Nancy Noet tells us about this week's decision by an Arkansas court permanently enjoining the state from displaying the Ten Commandments in public classrooms. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/40545985

Christian Nationalist Zionists 03/12/2026

Christian Nationalist Zionists We talk about the Iran war with Mother Jones national correspondent Kiera Butler, author of the article: "Trump’s Holy Warriors Finally Got the Apocalypse They’ve Prayed For." /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/40415935

Free Betty 03/05/2026

Free Betty Moroccan feminist/activist/freethinker Ibtissame ("Betty") Lachgar is in prison for wearing a T-shirt that insulted Islam. Hear about her harrowing story and about how you can help to free her. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/40333495

A Teacher's Dilemma 02/26/2026

A Teacher's Dilemma After reporting state/church news, we talk with Texas schoolteacher Gigi Cervantes who tells us why she quit her job rather than force the Ten Commandments on students. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/40244340

Black Secularism and the Scopes Trial: A Century of Freethought 02/19/2026

Black Secularism and the Scopes Trial: A Century of Freethought FFRF Communications Director Amit Pal and FFRF Multimedia Producer Leo Costello break down the latest state-church headlines, including troubling rhetoric at the National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance led by House Speaker Mike Johnson. Then, historian Chris Cameron explores the freethinkers of color who helped build a powerful tradition of Black secularism in America. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/40167470

The Future of the Freethought Caucus 02/12/2026

The Future of the Freethought Caucus FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence reports about a high school softball team in Missouri that had religion pushed on it, and how FFRF was able to put a stop to this. Then, U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman reviews this year's National Prayer Breakfast in D.C. and provides some insight into future plans for the Congressional Freethought Caucus. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/40091905

The Feminist Skeptic 02/05/2026

The Feminist Skeptic FFRF Legal Director Patrick Elliott reports on FFRF's exciting new legal developments to protect state/church separation. Then as a memorial tribute, we play an interview of Barbara G. Walker, a provocative bestselling skeptic and feminist who died recently. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/40011810

The end of a cult 01/29/2026

The end of a cult Peruvian journalist Paola Ugaz tells us how her investigation (with colleague Pedro Salinas) led to the downfall of the Sodalitium, a Catholic cult that was sexually, physically and psychologically abusing young people. /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/39927380

From Myths to Science 01/22/2026

From Myths to Science What is a “godman”? Tune in to find out. FFRF Senior Attorney Sam Grover gives an eyewitness account of oral arguments over Ten Commandments-in-schools court challenges. Next, Gauhar Raza, an Indian scientist, poet and social activist, tells us about his latest book, “From Myths to Science.” /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/39838200

The Soul Delusion 01/15/2026

The Soul Delusion Before talking with David P. Barash about his provocative new book, “The Soul Delusion,” Freethought Radio comments on timely national news and this week's major FFRF victories! /episode/index/show/ffrf/id/39749945

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