Friendly Atheist Podcast - podcast cover

Friendly Atheist Podcast

Friendly Atheist Podcastart19.com

Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke Greiff cover the latest news, politics, and pop culture with a focus on atheism and religion. This is the official podcast for FriendlyAtheist.com.

Episodes

569 - Pastor Fired Over Anti-Trump Sermon

Patreon supporters who give  $5 a month  will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our  private Facebook group  and  Discord server ! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Pastor fired from progressive church after preaching anti-Trump, pro-justice message. (1:32) — The New Orleans Saints helped Catholic Church leaders spin a sex abuse crisis . (21:45) — A proposed Texas law would let teachers "encourage" pray...

Feb 06, 20251 hr 5 min

568 - Should Confessional Booths Protect Predators?

Patreon supporters who give  $5 a month  will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our  private Facebook group  and  Discord server ! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — After "faith-healing" death of 8-year-old girl, 14 Christians found guilty of manslaughter . (1:55) — Montana Democrats want to require priests to report confessions of child abuse . (14:45) — Washington lawmaker defends bill making priests ...

Jan 30, 20251 hr 13 min

567 - Trump's "Christian" Inauguration

Patreon supporters who give  $5 a month  will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our  private Facebook group  and  Discord server ! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Trump’s inauguration happened. And Christian Nationalism came along for the ride. (0:21) — An Episcopal bishop asked Trump to follow Jesus . He took that as an insult. (15:25) — The Center For Inquiry's latest statement continues to push ant...

Jan 22, 20251 hr 23 min

566 - Church Publicly Shames Unwed Mother

Patreon supporters who give  $5 a month  will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our  private Facebook group  and  Discord server ! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Virginia church publicly shames unwed mother , then forbids her from having a baby shower. (0:30) — Most national atheist groups release pro-LGBTQ statement . (14:47) — Proposed North Dakota law would force students to say the Pledge of Alle...

Jan 16, 20251 hr 13 min

565 - The Religious Makeup of the New Congress

Patreon supporters who give  $5 a month  will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our  private Facebook group  and  Discord server ! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Why did an Ohio Catholic school get $5 million intended for water infrastructure in West Virginia? (0:45) — One new member of Congress is openly agnostic . Another's religion ? "None." (18:04) — Oklahoma lawmaker's "covenant marriage" bill w...

Jan 09, 20251 hr 22 min

564 - The "New Atheist" War on Trans People

Patreon supporters who give  $5 a month  will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our  private Facebook group  and  Discord server ! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — FFRF , Jerry Coyne , and why the “New Atheists” have waged war against trans people. (1:45) — Taxpayers funded this trashy, failing Mormon-based private school in Arizona. (46:45) — Oklahoma's new social studies standards go all in on Christ...

Jan 02, 20251 hr 17 min

563 - Garbage Year in Review

Patreon supporters who give  $5 a month  will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our  private Facebook group  and  Discord server ! Jessica and I recapped the past year in our extra-long year-end episode. — January (3:13) — February (16:00) — March (29:30) — April (33:12) — May (43:44) — June (1:09:04) — July (1:27:07) — August (1:44:40) — September (2:03:25) — October (2:21:34) — November (2:37:00) — December (2:45:49) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/priva...

Dec 27, 20243 hr 3 min

562 - Predictable Fury Over Satanic Displays

Patreon supporters who give  $5 a month  will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our  private Facebook group  and  Discord server ! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — After vandalism, a new Satanic display is up outside the New Hampshire Capitol. (0:28) — Iowa officials ban Satanic event over made-up claim that it'd be "harmful to minors." (5:52) — California Bible college vows to remain open after state ...

Dec 19, 20241 hr 23 min

561 - Who Wants to Buy Noah's Ark?

Patreon supporters who give  $5 a month  will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our  private Facebook group  and  Discord server ! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Satanic display was destroyed outside the New Hampshire Capitol. (0:33) — A Dutch-made Noah's Ark "replica" is being auctioned off to the highest bidder. (16:08) — A California public school district may put the Ten Commandments in classro...

Dec 12, 20241 hr 4 min

560 - Ron DeSantis' War on Christmas

Patreon supporters who give  $5 a month  will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our  private Facebook group  and  Discord server ! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Thanks to Christians, kids in Ohio can take classes in Satanism during school hours. (0:28) — Christian Nationalist GOP lawmaker calls for making " gay marriage illegal again ." (19:37) — Federal judge: Churches can receive " Historic Preser...

Dec 05, 20241 hr 19 min

559 - A Pagan Invocation in Tulsa

Patreon supporters who give  $5 a month  will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our  private Facebook group  and  Discord server ! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Oklahoma Republicans are flipping out over a Pagan invocation in Tulsa. (0:44) — Ryan Walters : We'll go after teachers who criticize the Bible in their classrooms. (22:17) — Scamvangelist Kenneth Copeland : Donald Trump's critics will spend...

Nov 27, 20241 hr 8 min

558 - Texas Wants Jesus in Elementary Schools

Patreon supporters who give  $5 a month  will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our  private Facebook group  and  Discord server ! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Texas is about to push Bible lessons in public elementary schools. (0:30) — Christian ministry scion accuses mother of covering up sexual abuse. (19:40) — Purity Culture hurts women even after they get married, say researchers. (40:31) — Okl...

Nov 21, 20242 hr 33 min

557 - How Non-Religious Candidates Fared in the Election

Patreon supporters who give  $5 a month  will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our  private Facebook group  and  Discord server ! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Oklahoma's Ryan Walters quietly cancels plan to buy Trump bibles with taxpayer dollars. (0:50) — How the 2024 elections went for openly non-religious candidates. (20:05) — Delusional Richard Dawkins thinks Elon Musk is a good guy . (38:27) —...

Nov 14, 20242 hr 30 min

556 - The Election Debacle

Patreon supporters who give  $5 a month  will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our  private Facebook group  and  Discord server ! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The country couldn’t be saved, and the consequences will be dire . (0:05) — The future of Project 2025. (20:50) — Project 2025 leader falsely claims Harris would end Christians' "ability to worship." (34:06) — At anti-abortion rally, Florida...

Nov 07, 20241 hr 19 min

Ep. 555 - An Anti-Abortion Influencer's High-Risk Pregnancy

Patreon supporters who give  $5 a month  will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our  private Facebook group  and  Discord server ! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Pastor: The Bible says  Harris can't be president  since her parents immigrated here. (2:00) — An anti-abortion influencer insists she'll continue her  high-risk ectopic pregnancy . (12:07) — A popular NYC theater is owned by ...

Oct 31, 20241 hr 24 min

Ep. 555 - An Anti-Abortion Influencer's High-Risk Pregnancy

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Pastor: The Bible says Harris can't be president since her parents immigrated here. (2:00) — An anti-abortion influencer insists she'll continue her high-risk ectopic pregnancy. (12:07) — A popular NYC theater is owned by the Catholic Church. Now it's being censored. (31:...

Oct 31, 20242 hr 31 min

Ep. 554 - Christmas Parade Chaos in Cookeville, TN

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server ! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Churches took over a Cookeville, TN Christmas parade. Then came the chaos. (0:44) — Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles settles sex abuse cases for $880 million. (14:00) — Florida Republican says opponent's Humanism " should disqualify her " from office. (23:48) — Pastor...

Oct 24, 20242 hr 32 min

Ep. 554 - Christmas Parade Chaos in Cookeville, TN

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Churches took over a Cookeville, TN Christmas parade. Then came the chaos. (0:44) — Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles settles sex abuse cases for $880 million. (14:00) — Florida Republican says opponent's Humanism "should disqualify her" from office. (23:48) — Pastor ru...

Oct 24, 20242 hr 39 min

Ep. 553 - Interview with April Ajoy, author of Star-Spangled Jesus

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! April Ajoy is a hilarious content creator and podcast host who shines a light on harmful, toxic, and sometimes just weird traits of American Evangelicalism. She grew up as an evangelist’s kid steeped in Christian Nationalism, and she worked in conservative Christian media. That's where she saw the harm of those ideologies firsthand. She's still a Christian today, bu...

Oct 17, 202458 min

Ep. 553 - Interview with April Ajoy, author of Star-Spangled Jesus

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server ! April Ajoy is a hilarious content creator and podcast host who shines a light on harmful, toxic, and sometimes just weird traits of American Evangelicalism. She grew up as an evangelist's kid steeped in Christian Nationalism, and she worked in conservative Christian media. That's where she saw the harm of those ideologies firsthand. She's still a Christian today, b...

Oct 17, 202452 min

BONUS - Drs. Kellie Carter Jackson and Niki Hemmer

Jess sat down with historians Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson and Dr. Nicole Hemmer for a fun evening of pop history, including discussions about favorite gaffes (featuring the worst moment of Jess's life), presidential thirst traps, and the worst SCOTUS term in U.S. history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 14, 20242 hr 30 min

BONUS - Drs. Kellie Carter Jackson and Niki Hemmer

Jess sat down with historians Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson and Dr. Nicole Hemmer for a fun evening of pop history, including discussions about favorite gaffes (featuring the worst moment of Jess's life), presidential thirst traps, and the worst SCOTUS term in U.S. history. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....

Oct 14, 20241 hr 24 min

Ep. 552 - Is Bluey's Dad Unbiblical?

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Humanists for Harris! (0:50) — Ryan Walters (barely) revises proposal to spend taxpayer money on Trump Bibles. (3:33) — Bluey's dad adores his kids. A conservative writer says that's unbiblical. (17:30) — Christian TradWife Lori Alexander's idea of a happy marriage is hor...

Oct 10, 20242 hr 31 min

Ep. 552 - Is Bluey's Dad Unbiblical?

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server ! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Humanists for Harris! (0:50) — Ryan Walters (barely) revises proposal to spend taxpayer money on Trump Bibles. (3:33) — Bluey's dad adores his kids. A conservative writer says that's unbiblical . (17:30) — Christian TradWife Lori Alexander's idea of a happy marriage is h...

Oct 10, 20241 hr 25 min

BONUS - The Wisconsin Democrats, with John Bluemke and Ty Laurie

Jess sat down with her dad, John Bluemke (on his 75th birthday!), and Ty Laurie, a Wisconsin resident who is putting his money where his mouth is by raising more than $100,000 for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and is still working. They discussed how both men went from Republican to Democrat, how Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez is a rising political star, and how boots on the ground around Wisconsin could swing the entire 2024 election. DONATE TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WISCONSIN: https://secure.act...

Oct 04, 202438 min

BONUS - The Wisconsin Democrats, with John Bluemke and Ty Laurie

Jess sat down with her dad, John Bluemke (on his 75th birthday!), and Ty Laurie, a Wisconsin resident who is putting his money where his mouth is by raising more than $100,000 for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and is still working. They discussed how both men went from Republican to Democrat, how Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez is a rising political star, and how boots on the ground around Wisconsin could swing the entire 2024 election. DONATE TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WISCONSIN: https://secure.act...

Oct 04, 202432 min

Ep. 551 - Oklahoma's $6 Million Request for Public School Bibles

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server ! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Not every public mention of religion is " creeping Christian nationalism ." (0:51) — California sues Catholic hospital for not providing emergency care to woman in peril. (13:00) — Colorado will now make Catholic hospitals say what services they won't provide. (26:03) — ...

Oct 03, 20242 hr 32 min

Ep. 551 - Oklahoma's $6 Million Request for Public School Bibles

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Not every public mention of religion is "creeping Christian nationalism." (0:51) — California sues Catholic hospital for not providing emergency care to woman in peril. (13:00) — Colorado will now make Catholic hospitals say what services they won't provide. (26:03) — Rya...

Oct 03, 20242 hr 39 min

Ep. 550 - Denver Churches Battle Free Pre-K Program

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Denver churches, prioritizing bigotry, continue lawsuit over free pre-K program. (1:15) — Iowa taxpayers challenged a pastor's unfair tax exemptions. A new law got in their way. (18:45) — After Satanic event at Iowa courthouse, local leaders want to change the rules (agai...

Sep 26, 20241 hr 13 min

Ep. 550 - Denver Churches Battle Free Pre-K Program

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server ! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Denver churches, prioritizing bigotry, continue lawsuit over free pre-K program. (1:15) — Iowa taxpayers challenged a pastor's unfair tax exemptions. A new law got in their way . (18:45) — After Satanic event at Iowa courthouse, local leaders want to change the rules (ag...

Sep 26, 20241 hr 7 min