American Freethought Podcast

John C. Snider

An atheist podcast hosted by John C. Snider.

#11 in the Top 100 skeptic All time chart

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Top 10 American Freethought Podcast Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best American Freethought Podcast episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to American Freethought Podcast for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite American Freethought Podcast episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

249 - The Faith of Christopher Hitchens

American Freethought Podcast

12/14/18 • 64 min

Original release May 25, 2016.

Encore release December 14, 2018.

Encore release September 6, 2017.

We discuss Larry Alex Taunton's new book The Faith of Christopher Hitchens: The Restless Soul of the World's Most Notorious Atheist (available in hardcover, as an audiobook, or for Kindle). In this memoir, Taunton (a Birmingham, Alabama based minister and founder of the Fixed Point Foundation) recounts the friendship that developed between himself and Christopher Hitchens. Considerable controversy has arisen over Taunton's insinuation that Hitchens, while he had no deathbed conversion, may have re-evaluated religion (if not Christianity) during his final months.

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296 - Atheism at First Baptist Church of Decatur

American Freethought Podcast

02/23/20 • 49 min

I recount my experience as one of two guest atheists at an adult education class at First Baptist Church of Decatur, moderated by Paul Wallace (who I interviewed in Episode 290 of this podcast). The congregation could not have been nicer, and made both me and Allison feel right at home. When audio of the conversation is available on the church website, I'll post a link.

Plus:

While Pete Buttigieg *probably* won't win the Democratic nomination, that hasn't stopped religious conservatives from attacking him for his "ungodly" gay lifestyle, or Trump surrogates like Rush Limbaugh from matter-of-factly pointing out how much fun the president would have with an opponent who kisses his husband on stage. It's just a taste of the vitriol we could expect if the first openly gay candidate for president were to win the nomination.

Boy Scouts of America has declared bankruptcy as a result of over 300 lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct on the part of scout leaders and other adult volunteers. Over the last six years, BSA has started allowing gay scouts, gay leaders, trans boys and even regular ol' girls to participate. The fact that the lawsuits cover acts committed well before the recent, inclusive policies hasn't stopped bigots from purposefully conflating homosexuality with pedophilia and blaming the liberalization of Scouting for its own downfall.

Facebook continues to be a mysterious and confounding place, where outright lies are never reigned in but good-faith users find themselves in "Facebook jail" for no disclosed reasons. I've landed in Facebook jail before (and never knew why), and now it's happened to Republican Atheists. (I don't agree with RA on much, but I respect their right to exist and freely express their views without being harassed by the world's most powerful social media platform. Their page was restored after about 10 days, with no explanation.)

Theme music courtesy of Body Found.

Follow American Freethought on the intertubes:

Website: AmericanFreethought.com

Twitter: @AMERFREETHOUGHT

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/21523473365/

Libsyn Classic Feed: https://americanfreethought.libsyn.com/rss

Contact: [email protected]

Support the Podcast: PayPal funds to [email protected]

331 - Benjamin Radford

American Freethought Podcast

06/27/21 • 84 min

I interview skeptical investigator, author, and podcaster Benjamin Radford. Our wide-ranging conversation covers various topics, including the Pentagon's pending release of a report on UFOs [latebreaking info: the nine-page report, titled "Preliminary Assessment: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena" was released on June 25, 2021 by the Director of National Intelligence, not the Pentagon], the "Havana Syndrome" (in which some allege that US embassy staff and others have been subjected to debilitating attacks by a mysterious directed-energy weapon), antivaxxer Dr. Sherri Tenpenny's astounding assertion that the COVID-19 vaccine is magnetizing some people, and the current state of skepticism in America.

Visit Ben's official website BenjaminRadford.com.

Listen to Ben's podcast Squaring the Strange (which he co-hosts with Pascual Romero and Celestia Ward).

Also mentioned in the podcast:

Fulton v Philadelphia - The Supreme Court rules unanimously that Philadelphia officials unfairly ended their adoption contract with Catholic Social Services, a religiously affiliated agency that refuses to adopt to same-sex couples.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops authorize the drafting of a document that could lead to a rebuke (or worse) of politicians like President Joe Biden who take Communion but still support abortion rights, which is against Church teachings. [Latebreaking info: the USCCB now says "there will be no national policy on withholding Communion from politicians."]

JFK's famous 1960 speech on separation of church and state.

Mick West's Metabunk.org, an excellent skeptical resource that contains, among other things, information about the relatively recent UFO videos released by the US military.

James Randi debunks a "magnetic man" on live TV in South Korea. The video looks likely to be from the 1980s.

Theme music courtesy of Body Found.

Follow American Freethought on the intertubes:

Website: AmericanFreethought.com

Twitter: @AMERFREETHOUGHT

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/21523473365/

Libsyn Classic Feed: https://americanfreethought.libsyn.com/rss

Contact: [email protected]

Support the Podcast: PayPal funds to [email protected]

173 - Chip Walter (Last Ape Standing)

American Freethought Podcast

09/29/18 • 55 min

Original release March 14, 2013.

Encore release September 29, 2018.

Encore release June 22, 2017.

We interview Chip Walter, author of Last Ape Standing: The Seven Million Year Story of How and Why We Survived, an excellent new summation of the best current understanding of human evolution. It's available in hardcover and for Kindle. For more about Chip and his work, visit ChipWalter.com and AllThingsHuman.net.

Plus:

Oddsmakers are taking bets on who the new Pope will be (although after we recorded this the Cardinals inconveniently chose Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who has taken the name Pope Francis).

A Christian school in California fired a pregnant woman for breaking the school code by fornicating--then offered the job to her fiance (the man who got her pregnant)!

Muslim rioters in Pakistan burned 100 homes over rumors that a Christian garbageman made disparaging remarks about the Prophet Mohammed. Luckily, President Asif Zardari is "asking religious leaders for suggestions on how to prevent misuse of the blasphemy law." Problem solved.

The Baseball Bat of Doubt - By popular demand, we introduce a new, recurring segment in which listeners share the moment in which, for them, the cognitive dissonance of superstition was knocked aside by science, reason or logic.

And a reminder: Derek Colanduno of Skepticality, Blake Smith of Monster Talk, and John Snider of American Freethought will do a special presentation for the Atlanta Skeptics. It’s a fundraiser for the upcoming Atlanta Skepticamp. For more info visit meetup.com/atlantaskeptics.

132 - The Illogical Immortality of 9/11 Conspiracy Theories

American Freethought Podcast

08/19/18 • 63 min

Released September 11, 2011.

Encore release August 19, 2018.

Encore release May 12, 2017.

As the world observes the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, we talk to GA Tech professor Bob Blaskiewicz about the puzzling longevity of some of the conspiracy theories. Bob has spent considerable time delving into the nature and structure of conspiracy communities, and has just published an article with Skeptical Inquirer titled "You Can't Handle the Truthiness: A Night Out with the 9/11 Truth Community." Bob is active in the Atlanta Skeptics, and is the Chair of the Independent Investigations Group Atlanta (IIG-Atlanta), a research group and public resource for information about the paranormal and extraordinary. Bob is also co-editor of the blog Skeptical Humanities.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

David Driscoll's Secular World podcast(formerly Secular Nation podcast) continues.

CONTACT

Visit us online at AmericanFreethought.com.

Email us at [email protected] or [email protected]. (John and David are available, either together or separately, to speak in person to your group.)

If you like what you hear, take a moment and leave feedback on our iTunes page.

Join our communities at Facebook, Atheist Nexus, Think Atheist or Yahoo Groups.

Shop through us at Amazon.com or at CafePress.com.

If you'd like to donate to the operation of this podcast, you can contribute through PayPal to [email protected]. We promise not to spend it on beer.

September 11, 2011. Hosted by John C. Snider and David Driscoll.

310 - The Arrest of Nigerian Humanist Mubarak Bala

American Freethought Podcast

09/06/20 • 57 min

Mubarak Bala, president of the Nigerian Humanist Association, was arrested in April 2020, allegedly for a Facebook post that blasphemed against Islam. Since his arrest, no one--not even his lawyer--has seen or heard from Bala. His whereabouts are uncertain, and no one knows if he is alive or dead. I talk with Leo Igwe, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Humanist Association, about Bala's plight, and what secularists around the world can do to help.

For more about Mubarak Bala's situation click here.

To listen to our previous conversation with Leo from 2013, click here.

Plus:

Trump continues to drive the crazy train over a cliff. Now he's spinning elaborate stories--without a shred of evidence--about black-uniformed thugs packing a plane bound for DC, intending to disrupt the Republican National Convention. He also indulged in a whiny rant about how cans of soup are the weapon of choice for anarchists and Antifa disruptors. That he has ANY followers remaining is dismaying, but it's a sure bet that this election will be won or lost on the margins and not by a landslide. In other words, Trump is a symptom and not the disease.

Jerry Falwell, Jr. is out (permanently, it seems) at Liberty University, over reports that not only did his wife have a long-term affair with a former pool-boy named Giancarlo Granda, but that Falwell liked to sit in the corner and watch.

Former American Atheists president David Silverman continues his downward spiral, it seems. He recently appeared on the David C. Smalley podcast and claimed to be so disaffected from left-wing politics that he's considering voting for Trump. He also asserts that institutional racism is no longer a "thing" in America, that felons who have run-ins with the police have it coming, and that crime and poverty in the African-American community are mostly the result of internal culture and not centuries of oppression. To hear my interview with Silverman from December 2019, click here.

Theme music courtesy of Body Found.

Follow American Freethought on the intertubes:

Website: AmericanFreethought.com

Twitter: @AMERFREETHOUGHT

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/21523473365/

Libsyn Classic Feed: https://americanfreethought.libsyn.com/rss

Contact: [email protected]

Support the Podcast: PayPal funds to [email protected]

196 - The False War to Protect Religious Freedom

American Freethought Podcast

10/22/18 • 49 min

Original release March 1, 2014.

Encore release October 22, 2018.

Encore release July 15, 2017.

We look at the recent rash of legislation (either proposed or actually passed) in several states that try to protect anti-gay discrimination under the banner of religious freedom. Briefly, these broadly-worded bills require the state to show that there is a compelling state interest and no practical alternative when infringing on the religious freedom of citizens. That's all fine and dandy, but what it's really sets out to do is allow discrimination against homosexuals, among other things.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer just vetoed one such bill, arguing (correctly, but much to her chagrin, we are sure) that she could not find "one example in Arizona where a business owner’s religious liberty has been violated."

Plus:

(Another) snake-handling preacher dies handling a snake.

Herbert and Catherine Schiable have just been sentenced to no more than seven years in prison for allowing their infant son to die of pneumonia without medical attention because they believed in the power of prayer. Even more outrageous is the fact that another son--two years old--died a few years ago under similar circumstances.

Americans are stunningly ignorant of basic science facts. 26% of those surveyed said the sun orbits the earth, while 48% did not know (although we suspect they "know" but simply "deny") that humans developed from earlier species. If it's any consolation, Europeans didn't do much better in the same survey.

We're excited about the upcoming revival of COSMOS, a continuation of Carl Sagan's classic documentary miniseries. The new COSMOS, hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson, premieres on FOX TV, Sunday, March 9th, 9pm Eastern.

We're less excited about the new feature films Son of God (February 28th, nothing more than an edited version of the Jesusy episodes from the recent television miniseries The Bible) and Heaven Is for Real (April 16th, based on the "non-fiction" baloney-fest book in which preacher Todd Burpo claims his son Colton had a near-death experience and saw Jesus riding a rainbow pony).

All is not lost at the cinema, however: Darren Aronofsky's Noah comes out March 28th, and it's already pissing off religious types because it promises NOT to be a straight-up Old Testament documentary.

Finally, the American Freethought podcast is now on Stitcher!

133 - Shocking Abuse of Teens in Christian Homes

American Freethought Podcast

08/20/18 • 69 min

Original release October 6, 2011.

Encore release August 20, 2018.

Encore release May 13, 2017.

We interview journalist Kathryn Joyce, author of the new Mother Jones article "Horror Stories from Tough-Love Teen Homes," a disturbing exposé of just how bad it can get when homes for troubled kids go unregulated simply because they've slapped a religious label on themselves. Kathryn is also the author of the bookQuiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement.

Jesus or Jail! If you're a first-time non-violent offender, the town of Bay Minette, Alabama has a deal for you: attend one of the local churches for 52 straight weeks, or serve your time and pay your fine. Several secular watchdogs are filing suit.

Galileo was a douchebag. Here John's response to a Catholic priest's claim that "The Galileo Affair was not so much about religion versus superstition as it was about Galileo being kind of a doucebag." (That's a quote.)

Death of an Atheist. You here a lot from religious folk about how there are no atheists in foxholes and that in the face of death nonbelievers cry for help from the Almighty. Don't believe it. Atheists can (and do) die with dignity and can even do good after they're gone.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

John will present "20th Century Twain: Mark Twain's Final Years and Freethought Legacy" to the Alabama Freethought Association, Sunday, October 16th. Join us on the shores of beautiful Lake Hypatia! Social hour starts at 11AM Central, followed by a potluck lunch at noon, and the presentation at 1PM.

CONTACT

Visit us online at AmericanFreethought.com.

Email us at [email protected] or [email protected]. (John and David are available, either together or separately, to speak in person to your group.)

If you like what you hear, take a moment and leave feedback on our iTunes page.

Join our communities at Facebook, Atheist Nexus, Think Atheist or Yahoo Groups.

Shop through us at Amazon.com or at CafePress.com.

If you'd like to donate to the operation of this podcast, you can contribute through PayPal to [email protected]. We promise not to spend it on beer.

October 6, 2011. Hosted by John C. Snider and David Driscoll.

134 - The Atheist's Guide to Reality

American Freethought Podcast

08/21/18 • 59 min

Encore release August 21, 2018.

Encore release May 14, 2017.

We interview philosopher Alex Rosenberg, author of The Atheist's Guide to Reality: Enjoying Life without Illusions, an examination of the philosophical, ethical and social consequences of a clear understanding of scientific reality. For more about Alex visit his official website duke.edu/~alexrose.

And in local (for David Driscoll) news, an early volley has been fired in the annual War on Christmas. The Leesburg, Virginia city council has voted 6-to-1 to rename the Holiday Parade the Christmas and Holiday Parade. That'll show those pesky non-Christians.

CONTACT

Visit us online at AmericanFreethought.com.

Email us at [email protected] or [email protected]. (John and David are available, either together or separately, to speak in person to your group.)

If you like what you hear, take a moment and leave feedback on our iTunes page.

Join our communities at Facebook, Atheist Nexus, Think Atheist or Yahoo Groups.

Shop through us at Amazon.com or at CafePress.com.

If you'd like to donate to the operation of this podcast, you can contribute through PayPal to [email protected]. We promise not to spend it on beer.

October 17, 2011. Hosted by John C. Snider and David Driscoll.

305 - Khyati Joshi (White Christian Privilege)

American Freethought Podcast

06/28/20 • 59 min

I interview Dr. Khyati Joshi, author of White Christian Privilege: The Illusion of Religious Equality in America.

For more about Khyati and her work visit KhyatiJoshi.com. You can buy her book here.

Plus: A win for civil rights! The Supreme Court ruled in Bostock v Clayton County, GA that employers may not discriminate against gay or transgender employees. Full stop.

Theme music courtesy of Body Found.

Follow American Freethought on the intertubes:

Website: AmericanFreethought.com

Twitter: @AMERFREETHOUGHT

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/21523473365/

Libsyn Classic Feed: https://americanfreethought.libsyn.com/rss

Contact: [email protected]

Support the Podcast: PayPal funds to [email protected]

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