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Freethought Radio

Freedom From Religion Foundationffrf.org
A weekly show, broadcast live from Madison, Wis., on 92.1 FM, Saturdays 11 a.m. to 12 noon. Hosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-presidents, Freedom From Religion Foundation. Slightly irreverent views, news, music and interviews.
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Episodes

Guest: Steven Uhl, author of "Out of God's Closet"

How can the US motto be "In God We Trust" when so many Americans are Out of the Closet atheists? We'll talk with one of those out of the closet atheists: a former Roman Catholic priest, Steven Uhl, author of "Out of God's Closet." His motto is "Atheists work to make this life heavenly."

Nov 21, 201142 min

Guest: Phil Zuckerman talks about his new book

It's only November, but already the war on atheists and state/church separation has begun! Tune in for news updates, then hear Prof. Phil Zuckerman of Claremount talk about his new book, "Faith No More," the first major sociological study in book form about why believers lose their faith!

Nov 14, 201141 min

Victories in the battle of state and church!

This week's show is devoted to FFRF state-church victories and complaints in South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Montana (with "hate mail" readings), and Colorado (a victory 3 years in the making). The show ends with Dan's song "The Stay Away Pope Polka" in commemoration of the planet's 7 billionth human inhabitant.

Nov 07, 201143 min

Special Halloween Episode!

Its time for trick or treats. this halloween weekend we'll talk about some scary theocratic tricks FFRF is combatting. The treat is novelist and Freethought Heroine Rebecca Newberger Goldstein talking about overcoming her Orthodox Jewish childhood.

Oct 31, 201143 min

"The rapture," plus student activists Jessica Ahlquist and Harrison Hopkins

Guest: High school state/church activists Jessica Ahlquist and Harrison Hopkins Atheists are not rapturous over the rapture, once again predicted by Harold Camping. Learn about FFRF's 40 billboards criticizing religion and the bible regarding Famly Radio's (once again) failed prediction that the world would end on October 21. We will also hear stories about what its like to be high school state/church activists from FFRF awardees Jessica Ahlquist and Harrison Hopkins.

Oct 24, 201142 min

Guest: FFRF attorney Alvin Harris

Are those of us who work for state/church separation Satanists? Terrorists? No, we're first amendment fundamentalists. We'll talk about FFRF's demand that a Tennessee town remove a lighted cross from its water tower. We discuss with our attorney, Alvin Harris, of Nashville.

Oct 17, 201142 min

Guest: Steven Pinker

FFRF's complaint removing a cross from a water tower in Tennessee is getting attention. And so is Steven Pinker's hot off the press new book released this week, The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence is in Decline . We will talk with Steven Pinker about why he thinks humanism is triumphing.

Oct 10, 201140 min

Guest: Atheist magician Penn Jillette

If you had a choice, would you choose jail or church. We'll talk about FFRF's latest legal complaint. Then we'll talk with Penn Jillete, the well-known Las Vegas entertainer and magician is also a well-known atheist. He'll discuss his new book God No! Signs You May Already Be an Atheist.

Oct 03, 201143 min

Guest: Staff attorney Stephanie Schmitt

This week's show will make you laugh and will make you groan over the many religious violations in public schools. We'll talk to FFRF staff attorney Stephanie Schmitt about how she is working hard to protect school children from illegal proselytizing.

Sep 26, 201143 min

Guest: Secular Studies expert Phil Zuckerman

Reading, writing, arithmetic and religion in public schools? Not if FFRF has its way. After updating you on legal skirmishes we'll catch up with secular studies expert Phil Zuckerman. He'll announce the very exciting updates in the first ever Secular Studies department. It's about time.

Sep 12, 201143 min

Guest: Former minister Jerry DeWitt

Are hurricanes and earthquakes really acts of god? Why worship such a diety? We'll talk about more state/church violations in public schools. We talk with a brand new atheist and ex-minister who just left a pentecostal church in Louisana. Jerry DeWitt talks about why life is better without god.

Sep 05, 201143 min

Guest: Atheist high school teacher James Corbett

Its our back to school special. We'll report on school/church entanglements that FFRF has already nipped in the bud. Then we will talk to atheist high school teacher, James Corbett, whose academic freedom was upheld this month by an appeals court.

Aug 29, 201143 min

Guest: Matt Douglas, ACLU attorney

Learn about FFRFs victory against CareNet in Wisconsin. Lead ACLU attorney Matt Douglas will talk about their victory stopping a scheme in Colorado to use public money for religious schools.

Aug 22, 201143 min

Guest: State/church activist Kay Staley, author Frank Schaeffer

We'll talk about FFRF's suit against Texas Gov. Rick Perry with state/church activist Kay Staley. Then we'll talk with the fascinating Frank Schaeffer, the fallen son of the religious right icon Francis Schaeffer, who criticizes the bible and the religious right in his new book, Sex, Mom, and God: How the Bible's Strange Take on Sex Led to Crazy Politics

Aug 15, 201142 min

FFRF legal intern Arash ("Ash") & Khosrowshahi Student activist awardee Jessica Ahlquist

Ash, one of FFRF's outstanding summer legal interns, will talk about his work for FFRF, and how he became the atheist son of a Shiite father from Iraq and a Roman Catholic mom from Iowa! Brave Rhode Island high school student Jessica Ahlquist, 16, who will receive a $1,000 student activist award at FFRF's October national convention in Hartford, Conn., will talk about why she became a plaintiff in an ongoing federal lawsuit against a religious painting at her high school ... and how she lost a f...

Aug 08, 201144 min

Guest: Larry Beinhart

An update on FFRF vs. Gov. Rick Perry will air, along with an interview of Larry Beinhart, author of Salvation Boulevard, a mystery- turned-into-new-movie starring Pierce Brosman and Greg Kinnear, a study of faith vs. atheism wrapped inside a comic thriller.

Aug 01, 201143 min

Guest: Matthew Chapman

Hey Rick Perry! Get off your knees and get to work. After discussing FFRF v. Perry, FFRF's newest federal lawsuit, the hosts talk with Matthew Chapman, screenwriter and director of the new movie with an atheist protagonist, The Ledge. Chapman, an author, is the great-great grandson of Charles Darwin.

Jul 25, 201143 min

Guest: Skeptic author Michael Shermer

Scientific American columnist and author Michael Shermer discusses his new book, The Believing Brain: From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies -- How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them as Truths . The cohosts talk about the successful 2011 July gathering at Lake Hypatia, hosted by FFRF's chapter, the Alabama Freethought Association, and other FFRF news.

Jul 11, 201144 min

Guests: Author Sara Paretsky and Dylan Galos

Dylan Galos discusses his billboard that shocked a church so much, it had to be taken down. Sara Paretsky talks about her radical roots growing up in a godless household.

Jul 05, 2011

Guest: Former Church of Ireland priest

Evolution wins at the "Miss USA" pageant. Patrick Semple, former Church of Ireland (Anglican) clergyman explains why he is now an atheist, and why he was known as "the rector who wouldn't pray for rain."

Jun 27, 2011

Guest: "Chris," Southern Pastor/Nonbeliever

Topic: Atheists in the Pulpit Did you know there are atheists and agnostics in the pulpit? Freethought Radio will announce the new Clergy Project, promoted by Dawkins, Dennett, Barker and a contingent of former ministers who are now atheists, to help nonbelieving clergy leave the pulpit. We'll interview "Chris," a nontheist "in the closet" who is a senior pastor at a Southern evangelical church. Also featured: Too much religion in Minnesota politics, and a sneak preview of "Book of Mormon" music...

Jun 06, 2011

Guests:Damon Fowler, High school senior secular activist, Rhonda Dorle, Tulsa FFRF activist

Topic: Secular activism in the bible belt Damon Fowler talks about how things got ugly in his small Louisiana town and school when he courageously protested illegal graduation prayers last week. Oklahoma native and atheist Rhonda Dorle, local coordinator for FFRF's Tulsa "Out of the Closet" billboard campaign, talks about that exciting and positive new campaign.

May 31, 2011

Guest: Janet Heimlich, author of Breaking Their Will

Find out why Stephen Hawking and FFRF think the afterlife is a fairy tale. We talk with a brave high school student who wants to stop graduation prayers. Our guest is Janet Heimlich, author of Breaking Their Will, which looks at religious abuse and mistreatment of children.

May 23, 2011

Guest: Ayanna Watson, Founder, Black Atheists in America

If congress can make no law respecting the establishment of religion, then why has the US congress set a side the first Thursday in May as the National Day of Prayer. Ayanna Watson discusses bridging the gap between atheism and the black community.

May 09, 201144 min
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