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

BONUS - Interview with historian Nicole Hemmer

Nicole Hemmer is a political historian specializing in media, conservatism, and the presidency. Her scholarship and teaching focus on the interplay of social movements, electoral politics, and political culture in order to probe the complexities of political identity and practice in the 20th century United States. In this bonus episode, Jess and Dr. Hemmer discussed the rise of the Evangelical right, why Newt Gingrich was so effective at whipping the GOP into shape, and some fun J. Edgar Hoover ...

Aug 12, 20231 hr 28 min

BONUS - Interview with historian Nicole Hemmer

Nicole Hemmer is a political historian specializing in media, conservatism, and the presidency. Her scholarship and teaching focus on the interplay of social movements, electoral politics, and political culture in order to probe the complexities of political identity and practice in the 20th century United States. In this bonus episode, Jess and Dr. Hemmer discussed the rise of the Evangelical right, why Newt Gingrich was so effective at whipping the GOP into shape, and some fun J. Edgar Hoover ...

Aug 12, 20232 hr 32 min

Ep. 491 - A GOP Blunder Puts Atheists in Danger

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Evangelist Franklin Graham is glad the U.S. women's soccer team lost the World Cup. (1:08) — Desperate to show Democrats are "promoting atheism," Republicans divulged sensitive data. (16:36) — Texas judge: Airline must get religious freedom training from Christian hate gr...

Aug 10, 20231 hr 24 min

Ep. 491 - A GOP Blunder Puts Atheists in Danger

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast . Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Evangelist Franklin Graham is glad the U.S. women's soccer team lost the World Cup . (1:08) — Desperate to show Democrats are "promoting atheism," Republicans divulged sensitive data . (16:36) — Texas judge: Airline must get religious freedom training from Christian hate...

Aug 10, 20231 hr 20 min

Ep. 490 - Richard Dawkins Spreads More Transphobia

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Longtime atheist activist and mentor Woody Kaplan has died. (0:15) — The #1 Christian album in the country belongs to drag queen Flamy Grant. (4:00) — Richard Dawkins used his new podcast to promote more transphobic lies. (13:20) — A Catholic school expelled a boy to reta...

Aug 03, 20232 hr 30 min

Ep. 490 - Richard Dawkins Spreads More Transphobia

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast . Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Longtime atheist activist and mentor Woody Kaplan has died . (0:15) — The #1 Christian album in the country belongs to drag queen Flamy Grant . (4:00) — Richard Dawkins used his new podcast to promote more transphobic lies . (13:20) — A Catholic school expelled a boy to ...

Aug 03, 20231 hr 26 min

Ep. 489 - Vivek Ramaswamy's Hinduism vs. GOP voters

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — For absurd reasons, MAGA cultists think FOX News supports The Satanic Temple. (2:15) — Survey: Belief in God, Heaven, Hell, angels, and the devil is lower than ever before. (14:45) — Does Vivek Ramaswamy's Hinduism really matter to GOP voters? (25:55) — Texas atheists sue...

Jul 28, 20232 hr 36 min

Ep. 489 - Vivek Ramaswamy's Hinduism vs. GOP voters

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast . Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — For absurd reasons, MAGA cultists think FOX News supports The Satanic Temple . (2:15) — Survey: Belief in God, Heaven, Hell, angels, and the devil is lower than ever before . (14:45) — Does Vivek Ramaswamy 's Hinduism really matter to GOP voters? (25:55) — Texas atheists...

Jul 28, 20232 hr 32 min

Ep. 488 - Co-hosts of "Conspirituality," Julian Walker and Derek Beres

For a lot of listeners, I suspect conspiratorial thinking is something you connect with religion or right-wing politics. But of course it's also rampant in the world of New Age spirituality. Think Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Kennedy, Jr. They're not explicitly religious, but their fans are not exactly known for their critical thinking skills. My guests today have been dissecting that kind of BS for years. Julian Walker has written extensively on cults and gurus and New Age nonsense. Derek Beres i...

Jul 20, 20231 hr 3 min

Ep. 488 - Co-hosts of "Conspirituality," Julian Walker and Derek Beres

For a lot of listeners, I suspect conspiratorial thinking is something you connect with religion or right-wing politics. But of course it's also rampant in the world of New Age spirituality. Think Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Kennedy, Jr. They're not explicitly religious, but their fans are not exactly known for their critical thinking skills. My guests today have been dissecting that kind of BS for years. Julian Walker has written extensively on cults and gurus and New Age nonsense. Derek Beres i...

Jul 20, 202359 min

Ep. 487 - Constitutional Law Professor Caroline Mala Corbin

Caroline Mala Corbin is a professor at the University of Miami School of Law. She teaches classes involving the U.S. Constitution, the First Amendment, the Religion Clauses, the Free Speech Clause, Feminism and the First Amendment, and Reproductive Rights. Her scholarship focuses on the First Amendment’s speech and religion clauses, particularly their intersection with equality issues. We spoke about the Supreme Court's recent decisions, the fear of the legal challenges that lie ahead, what coul...

Jul 13, 20231 hr 8 min

Ep. 487 - Constitutional Law Professor Caroline Mala Corbin

Caroline Mala Corbin is a professor at the University of Miami School of Law. She teaches classes involving the U.S. Constitution, the First Amendment, the Religion Clauses, the Free Speech Clause, Feminism and the First Amendment, and Reproductive Rights. Her scholarship focuses on the First Amendment's speech and religion clauses, particularly their intersection with equality issues. We spoke about the Supreme Court's recent decisions, the fear of the legal challenges that lie ahead, what coul...

Jul 13, 20231 hr 3 min

Ep. 486 - Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the Cross Drawing

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Pat Robertson is still dead. — Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders defends Cross drawing at Governor’s Mansion. (0:52) — Sen. Josh Hawley shared a fake Patrick Henry quotation to promote theocracy on Independence Day. (16:58) — Mormon parents sued a school district after their so...

Jul 07, 20232 hr 34 min

Ep. 486 - Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the Cross Drawing

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast . Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Pat Robertson is still dead. — Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders defends Cross drawing at Governor's Mansion. (0:52) — Sen. Josh Hawley shared a fake Patrick Henry quotation to promote theocracy on Independence Day. (16:58) — Mormon parents sued a school district after their s...

Jul 07, 20232 hr 30 min

Ep. 485 - This Preacher Praised Christian Slaveowners

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Pat Robertson is still dead. — What happened to that submersible? (0:20) — Josh Duggar's father-in-law delivered a racist sermon praising Christian slaveowners. (5:15) — Is the Supreme Court case involving a bigoted Christian web designer built on a lie? (32:40) — A GOP c...

Jun 30, 20232 hr 40 min

Ep. 485 - This Preacher Praised Christian Slaveowners

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast . Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Pat Robertson is still dead. — What happened to that submersible? (0:20) — Josh Duggar 's father-in-law delivered a racist sermon praising Christian slaveowners. (5:15) — Is the Supreme Court case involving a bigoted Christian web designer built on a lie ? (32:40) — A GO...

Jun 30, 20232 hr 35 min

Ep. 484 - The Disgraceful Life of Pat Robertson

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. ***CORRECTION***: The "He-Man Woman-Haters Club" is from the Little Rascals, not The Simpsons! Oops! — What we can learn from the disgraceful life of Pat Robertson. (0:22) — Stop overreacting about Jeopardy! players missing a clue about the Lord's Prayer. (10:47) — Most Chr...

Jun 20, 20231 hr 21 min

Ep. 484 - The Disgraceful Life of Pat Robertson

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast . Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. ***CORRECTION*** : The "He-Man Woman-Haters Club" is from the Little Rascals , not The Simpsons ! Oops! — What we can learn from the disgraceful life of Pat Robertson . (0:22) — Stop overreacting about Jeopardy! players missing a clue about the Lord's Prayer. (10:47) — Mos...

Jun 20, 20231 hr 16 min

Ep. 483 - Gloria Beth Amodeo: From Campus Crusade to God's Ex-Girlfriend

You may have already encountered Gloria Beth Amodeo's writing in places like Publishers Weekly, The Literary Review, and American Atheist magazine. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from The New School, and currently works at an advertising agency in New York City. She recently wrote a book called God's Ex-Girlfriend: A Memoir about Loving and Leaving the Evangelical Jesus (affiliate link), so you know I had to talk to her. We spoke about how Campus Crusade for Christ (now Cru) hurts peop...

Jun 15, 20231 hr 9 min

Ep. 483 - Gloria Beth Amodeo: From Campus Crusade to God's Ex-Girlfriend

You may have already encountered Gloria Beth Amodeo 's writing in places like Publishers Weekly , The Literary Review , and American Atheist magazine. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from The New School, and currently works at an advertising agency in New York City. She recently wrote a book called God's Ex-Girlfriend: A Memoir about Loving and Leaving the Evangelical Jesus (affiliate link), so you know I had to talk to her. We spoke about how Campus Crusade for Christ (now Cru) hurts p...

Jun 15, 20231 hr 5 min

Ep. 482 - Shiny Happy People: The Duggar Docuseries

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — What we learned from watching “Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets.” (1:57) — Christians are furious over a tiny Pride flag on the set of “The Chosen,” a show about Jesus. (29:12) — Oklahoma just approved a taxpayer-funded Catholic charter school. (41:03) — The L.A....

Jun 08, 20232 hr 51 min

Ep. 482 - Shiny Happy People: The Duggar Docuseries

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast . Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — What we learned from watching "Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets." (1:57) — Christians are furious over a tiny Pride flag on the set of "The Chosen," a show about Jesus. (29:12) — Oklahoma just approved a taxpayer-funded Catholic charter school. (41:03) — The L.A...

Jun 08, 20232 hr 46 min

Ep. 481 - The Failure of Christian Home-Schooling

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. —SPONSOR: Visit BetterHelp.com/atheist today to get 10% off your first month. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. — The 3 lies that convinced two conservative Christians to stop home-schooling their kids. (2:20) — Catholics are flocking to Missouri to catch a glim...

Jun 01, 20231 hr 23 min

Ep. 481 - The Failure of Christian Home-Schooling

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast . Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — SPONSOR : Visit BetterHelp.com/atheist today to get 10% off your first month. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. — The 3 lies that convinced two conservative Christians to stop home-schooling their kids. (2:20) — Catholics are flocking to Missouri to catch a g...

Jun 01, 20231 hr 19 min

Ep. 480 - Loudspeaker Prayers at Florida Football Games

***An audio glitch in an earlier upload of this episode has been corrected. Apologies for the error!*** Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A new damning report examined sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in Illinois. (0:55) — Even the most dedicated Catholics are walking away from Church services. (21:23)...

May 26, 20232 hr 38 min

Ep. 480 - Loudspeaker Prayers at Florida Football Games

***An audio glitch in an earlier upload of this episode has been corrected. Apologies for the error!*** Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast . Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A new damning report examined sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in Illinois. (0:55) — Even the most dedicated Catholics are walking away from Church services. (21:23...

May 26, 20232 hr 34 min

Ep. 479 - The Mormon Church's Fiasco on 60 Minutes

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A 60 Minutes segment on the Mormon Church allegedly hoarding cash only made the religion look worse. (0:45) — Southern Baptists had the biggest drop in membership in over 100 years... AGAIN! (26:26) — A Christian "prophet" says climate change is God's way of pointing us t...

May 17, 20231 hr 15 min

Ep. 479 - The Mormon Church's Fiasco on 60 Minutes

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast . Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A 60 Minutes segment on the Mormon Church allegedly hoarding cash only made the religion look worse . (0:45) — Southern Baptists had the biggest drop in membership in over 100 years... AGAIN! (26:26) — A Christian "prophet" says climate change is God's way of pointing us...

May 17, 20231 hr 10 min

Ep. 478 - Bryan Slaton's Cruel Christian Hypocrisy

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Texas State Rep. Bryan Slaton confirmed the hypocrisy of Christian Nationalists. (0:59) — Three Texas churches gave $800 to a city council candidate. (35:05) — Mississippi’s new license plates get rid of “In God We Trust.” (43:33) — Why are Utah public schools taking part...

May 12, 20232 hr 49 min

Ep. 478 - Bryan Slaton's Cruel Christian Hypocrisy

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast . Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Texas State Rep. Bryan Slaton confirmed the hypocrisy of Christian Nationalists. (0:59) — Three Texas churches gave $800 to a city council candidate. (35:05) — Mississippi's new license plates get rid of "In God We Trust." (43:33) — Why are Utah public schools taking par...

May 12, 20232 hr 45 min