Humanism Now
Humanise Live
Welcome to Humanism Now, the weekly podcast from Central London Humanists and Humanise Live. Tune in for the latest news, insightful worldwide guest interviews, and lively discussions on the most pressing questions of our time — all from a naturalistic, empathetic, and rationalist world view that marks out humanism. Join us as we explore ethical dilemmas, dissect current events, and engage in thoughtful conversations that matter.
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Top 10 Humanism Now Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Humanism Now episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Humanism Now 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 Humanism Now episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
12/03/23 • 84 min
“If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.”
― George Bernard Shaw
This week on Humanism Now, Nicole and AJ join James to discuss the relationship between comedy, freethought and humanism. We discuss the role of comedy in challenging authority and changing social norms, our personal comedy heroes and what should be off-limits to joke about?
Plus we're fortunate to present our interview with the incredibly talented London-based comedian, Lisa May. Lisa shares her personal transformation from entrepreneur to comedian and how curiosity, discomfort and connection, have shaped her outlook on life and laughter.
See Lisa May live alongside more top London standups at CLH's Xmas Party Comedy Night on 13 Dec 2023 - in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support.
Episode References:
- George Carlin - The Ten Commandments
- Eddie Izzard - Glorious
- Life Of Brian 1979 Debate
- Comedians in cars getting coffee
About Lisa May:
🔗 Lisa's Homepage
🎤 Standup Lols
📷 @standuplisamay
🐦 @standuplisamay
Lisa's references:
- Kintsugi - Japanese art of repair
- Jung and the value of humour
- The best of Mitch Hedberg
“Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light.” - Groucho Marx
Support us on Patreon
Click here to submit questions, nominate guest & topics or sponsor the show.
Follow Humanism Now @HumanismNowPodX.comYouTubeInstagramTikTok
Follow Central London Humanists @LondonHumanists
Centrallondonhumanists.org.ukMeetupFacebookX.comYouTube
CLH are an official partner group of Humanists UK and an associate member of Humanists International
03/03/24 • 91 min
"We should acknowledge that humanism is something that beats in the heart of every human being" Dr Leo Igwe
This week James, Lola & AJ are joined by legendary human rights activist, Leo Igwe. We discuss the merits of Darwin Day, Leo's decades of campaigning for freethought and against superstition and Leo's vision for a new future for atheism and humanism in Africa.
Episode references
- Guardian; How should we address Charles Darwin's complicated legacy?
- JC Candnedo; Tai Solarin Day
- HUK: Humanists highlight Rwanda bill flaws
- HUK: MPs raise Mubarak Bala case
- HI: Free Mubarak Bala Campaign
Leo Igwe
- @LeoIgwe
- Humanist Association of Nigeria
- Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW)
- critTHINK.africa
- TED; Why I Choose Humanism Over Faith
- FOTR: Nigeria
Upcoming events:
Support us on Patreon
Click here to submit questions, nominate guest & topics or sponsor the show.
Follow Humanism Now @HumanismNowPodX.comYouTubeInstagramTikTok
Follow Central London Humanists @LondonHumanists
Centrallondonhumanists.org.ukMeetupFacebookX.comYouTube
CLH are an official partner group of Humanists UK and an associate member of Humanists International
03/12/24 • 54 min
Welcome to Humanism Now's International Women's Day Special hosted by Audrey Simmons (Association of Black Humanists & CLH) and featuring Lola Tinubu (Assoc. Black Humanists & CLH), Katia Urquiza (Central London Humanists) & Nicole Shasha (Leicester Humanists and Young Humanists) who discuss;
- The importance of IWD today
- Does being humanist imply being a feminist?
- Highlighting influential women's voices
- Talking more about women's health
Episode references:
- Anthony Doerr, All the Light We Cannot See
- Humanists UK: Human rights and equality
- Humanist Life: Why Humanism and feminism go hand in hand (2015)
- Minna Salami: The difference between feminism and humanism (2014)
- The Guardian: Margaret Atwood on feminism, culture wars and speaking her mind
- Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale
- Omolara Ogundipe-Leslie
- Wiki: Stiwanism
- Claudia Roden
- WHO: Women's Health Fact Sheet
Upcoming events:
Support us on Patreon
Click here to submit questions, nominate guest & topics or sponsor the show.
Follow Humanism Now @HumanismNowPodX.comYouTubeInstagramTikTok
Follow Central London Humanists @LondonHumanists
Centrallondonhumanists.org.ukMeetupFacebookX.comYouTube
CLH are an official partner group of Humanists UK and an associate member of Humanists International
6. Javan Lev Poblador, Young Humanists Special!
Humanism Now
11/05/23 • 72 min
On this episode of Humanism Now, we're exploring the inspiring world of young humanists. Our co-host AJ and new panellist Nicole, fellow coordinators of Young Humanist UK share what campaigns and activities motivate Humanists in the 18-35 age range.
Nicole also shares her experience of starting a new humanist group in Leicester and the joys of bringing humanist values to life through meaningful Humanists Ceremonies.
AJ & Nicole share how they became engaged with Humanism and offer advice for anyone looking to set up a new group or attract more young members. In discussing events and campaign that encourage greater engagement, we explore the alignment of humanism with climate and social justice activism.
In this week's guest interview , Javan Lev Poblador, International Coordinator for the Young Humanists International Group, provides insights in to the Global Young Humanist movement, describes the state of humanism in the Philippines and highlights some of the lesser known human impacts of the growing climate crisis.
Finally, in our mailbag section we discuss what events and campaign topics appeal most you Young Humanists.
Episode references:
- Leicester Humanists Launch Event, with Andrew Copson, 8 Nov 2023
- Young Humanists UK
- Young Humanists International
- HUK: Setting up a local group
About Javan Lev Poblador:
Support us on Patreon
Click here to submit questions, nominate guest & topics or sponsor the show.
Follow Humanism Now @HumanismNowPodX.comYouTubeInstagramTikTok
Follow Central London Humanists @LondonHumanists
Centrallondonhumanists.org.ukMeetupFacebookX.comYouTube
CLH are an official partner group of Humanists UK and an associate member of Humanists International
5. Emma Park, Editor of The Freethinker plus Humanism in Education & Science Communication
Humanism Now
10/22/23 • 77 min
This week on Humanism now, Mark & AJ join the panel to discuss the role of science communication & humanism in education, with insights gathered from the New Scientist Conference.
Dr. Emma Park, Editor of The Freethinker, provides a deep dive into the essence of freethought & the consequences of placing any views on an untouchable pedestal. Emma shares insights into the relationship between freethought & free speech, challenges to these freedoms & reviews the current status of non-religious movements.
We end with our listener question: 'Is humanism a religion?'
Episode references:
- Why Humanism is included in ‘Religious Education’ (‘RE’)
- How Humanist are you Quiz?
- UnderstandingHumanism.org.uk
- Humanist UK: Teachers Network
- Humanists UK: School Speakers
- Atheist Bus Campaign
About Dr. Emma Park:
🔗 Emma Park, Homepage
🐦 @DrEmmaPark on Twitter
📖 The Freethinker
📺 Pastafarianism: parody or religion? | Emma Park | CLH Talks
Emma's book references;
- The Battle for Thought - Freethinking in the Twenty-First Century, Simon McCarthy-Jones
- Freedom to Think - The Long Struggle to Liberate Our Minds, Susie Alegre
- Humanly Possible - Seven Hundred Years of Humanist Freethinking, Enquiry an
Support us on Patreon
Click here to submit questions, nominate guest & topics or sponsor the show.
Follow Humanism Now @HumanismNowPodX.comYouTubeInstagramTikTok
Follow Central London Humanists @LondonHumanists
Centrallondonhumanists.org.ukMeetupFacebookX.comYouTube
CLH are an official partner group of Humanists UK and an associate member of Humanists International
10/06/23 • 55 min
Mark Agathangelou, CLH Committee Member and active Event Organiser joins this week's panel to discuss finding Humanism through the One Life Course, hosing discussion groups and our recent 'What Humanism Means to Me' live open mic night.
Plus our interview with the multi-talented Alex Williams; a poet, teacher, playwright, and author, who will shed light on the power of community within humanism. With his unique perspective, we'll explore the unique role of arts in creating compelling communities, how Alex defines humanism and what inspires his Secular Verses.
Finally, we tackle our mailbag question this week: Why are there still Bishops in the UK's House of Lords, in what is an increasingly secular country.
Episode references:
CLH Once Life Course
Humanists UK Courses on Humanism
Video: What Humanism Means to Me
Humanists UK Campaign: Bishops in the House of Lords
More on Alex Williams;
Book recommendations from Alex Williams;
Alain de Botton, Religion for Atheists: A non-believer's guide to the uses of religion
Support us on Patreon
Click here to submit questions, nominate guest & topics or sponsor the show.
Follow Humanism Now @HumanismNowPodX.comYouTubeInstagramTikTok
Follow Central London Humanists @LondonHumanists
Centrallondonhumanists.org.ukMeetupFacebookX.comYouTube
CLH are an official partner group of Humanists UK and an associate member of Humanists International
12/10/23 • 83 min
"Conscious morality cannot exist in any being except so far as it can look behind, before, and around; and can remember, compare, and reason about right and wrong so as to choose for itself, and for those it can influence, a given course." - Zona Vallance
What does it mean to be a humanist in the modern world? Join James, Mark and new contributor Katia as we test the definition of humanism and assess how the term has evolved and what additions we'd like to see to reflect changing societal needs.
Plus our interview with the brilliant Maddy Goodall, co-ordinator of the Humanist Heritage project, which documents and preserves more than 125 years of rich humanist history.
Episode references:
- Life and Fate - Vasily Grossman
- The Social Instinct, What Nature Can Teach Us About Working Together - Nichola Raihani
- Humanism Now Episode 4 with Jamie Woodhouse on Sentientism
- René Descartes
- Peter Thatchell
About Maddy Goodall
🔗 Heritage humanists
📧 [email protected]
🐦 @maddyogoodall
Maddy's references:
- Zona Vallance (1860-1904)
- Lillie Boileau (1869-1930)
- Nellie Freeman (1863-1943)
- May Seaton-Tiedeman (1862-1948)
- The Humanist Movement in Modern Britain, Callum Brown, David Nash, Charlie Lynch
Upcoming events:
Support us on Patreon
Click here to submit questions, nominate guest & topics or sponsor the show.
Follow Humanism Now @HumanismNowPodX.comYouTubeInstagramTikTok
Follow Central London Humanists @LondonHumanists
Centrallondonhumanists.org.ukMeetupFacebookX.comYouTube
CLH are an official partner group of Humanists UK and an associate member of Humanists International
12/24/23 • 69 min
"I know so many people whose lives got better when they learned how to use a crock pot and make a decent chili"
Welcome back to Humanism Now. This week we are delighted to share an extended interview with Bart Campolo, host of the inspirational podcast, Humanize Me!
After decades as a Christian evangelist, Bart embraced humanism and now uses his platform to advocate for a more compassionate, curious and connected society. Together, we dissect the intricacies of growing a humanist community in a digital era, the place of AI in our emotional lives, and the transformative power of authentic, in-person connections.
AJ also joins the panel to share his reflections on 2023 and some exciting news for 2024!
About Bart Campolo:
🏠 bartcampolo.org/about
🎙️ Humanize Me! Podcast📷 @humanizemepodcast
🐦 @bartcampolo
Support us on Patreon
Click here to submit questions, nominate guest & topics or sponsor the show.
Follow Humanism Now @HumanismNowPodX.comYouTubeInstagramTikTok
Follow Central London Humanists @LondonHumanists
Centrallondonhumanists.org.ukMeetupFacebookX.comYouTube
CLH are an official partner group of Humanists UK and an associate member of Humanists International
15. Scott Jacobsen on the Importance of Journalism plus Navigating Global Conflicts with Humanistic Values
Humanism Now
01/21/24 • 84 min
"Peace is more than just the absence of war. Peace requires respect for the worth and dignity of our fellow human beings, tolerance among individuals, and harmony within each person." Humanist International's Oslo Declaration on Peace
This week, AJ and Mark tackle Humanist perspectives on global conflicts such as the current Israel-Palestine crisis and the role of religion in exacerbating or potentially resolving this deep-seated conflict.
Our interview with journalist Scott Jacobson, whose boots on the ground in Ukraine bring a raw, provided an evidence-based angle to our discourse and demonstrates the critical role of informed journalism in shaping societal discourse.
Join us on this exploration, amplify the conversation, and help shape a more humane approach to the global stage.
Episode References:
- HUK: Statement on the Middle East
- Humanist International Statement on Russian Invasion of Ukraine
About Scott Douglas Jacobsen:
🔗In-Sight Publishing
M️Follow Scott on Medium
📖Interview Series at Good Men Project
📧 [email protected]
Scott's references:
- Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
- Model UN
- tiktok: Scott Jacobsen in Mykolaiv, Ukraine via @remuscerneaofficial
- United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)
Support us on Patreon
Click here to submit questions, nominate guest & topics or sponsor the show.
Follow Humanism Now @HumanismNowPodX.comYouTubeInstagramTikTok
Follow Central London Humanists @LondonHumanists
Centrallondonhumanists.org.ukMeetupFacebookX.comYouTube
CLH are an official partner group of Humanists UK and an associate member of Humanists International
01/07/24 • 61 min
Join us as we review the 2023 year in Humanism and preview the events for 2024 with our regular panellists, Mark, Nicole & Katia.
Together with host James, they discuss; insights from 2023 meetups and conventions, inspiring personal experiences, a varied events calendar and the important role of humanist voices in 2024's major democratic elections.
Finally we pay a special thanks to our Producer Rob, who is moving on to bigger things in 2024!
This week's panel only discussion is themed around the values of hope, wonder and collaborative achievement - thank you for joining us the debut year of Humanism Now.
Episode References:
- Video playlist: talks from Humanists UK 2023 Convention
- Leicester Humanists Launch Event
- Humanistically Speaking: A memorable humanist trip to the Large Hadron Collider
- Understating Humanism Wonder: A Humanist Perspective
- HUK ‘Democracy is a humanist value’, affirms 2023 World Humanist Congress
- The Guardian 40 elections that will shape global politics in 2024
- HUK Bishops in the House of Lords Campaign
- HUK Assisted Dying Campaign
Support us on Patreon
Click here to submit questions, nominate guest & topics or sponsor the show.
Follow Humanism Now @HumanismNowPodX.comYouTubeInstagramTikTok
Follow Central London Humanists @LondonHumanists
Centrallondonhumanists.org.ukMeetupFacebookX.comYouTube
CLH are an official partner group of Humanists UK and an associate member of Humanists International
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FAQ
How many episodes does Humanism Now have?
Humanism Now currently has 26 episodes available.
What topics does Humanism Now cover?
The podcast is about Society & Culture, Atheism, Religion & Spirituality, Podcasts, Science, Philosophy and Ethics.
What is the most popular episode on Humanism Now?
The episode title '9. Lucy Potter on Non-Religious Asylum Claims plus Tackling Misconceptions about Humanists' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Humanism Now?
The average episode length on Humanism Now is 71 minutes.
How often are episodes of Humanism Now released?
Episodes of Humanism Now are typically released every 9 days, 7 hours.
When was the first episode of Humanism Now?
The first episode of Humanism Now was released on Sep 12, 2023.
Show more FAQ
Show more FAQ