Freethought Radio

Freedom From Religion Foundation

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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1,059 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes1059

Newest first

Thursday · 49 min
Uncommon Sense
FFRF co-sponsored the Reason Reception in Washington, D.C., in honor of the Congressional Freethought Caucus. We hear remarks by Reps. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., Sean Casten, D-Ill., and Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., capped off by the guest of honor Mary Trump.
July 23 · 49 min
"Intelligent Design" on Trial
This week on Freethought Radio, a look at how the Trump administration is whitewashing American history in Philadelphia. Then, federal Judge John E. Jones tells the behind-the-scenes story of the 2005 trial leading to his landmark decision barring so-called "intelligent design" from being taught in public school science classes.
July 16 · 49 min
Astrology and Science
After reporting national Christian-nationalist news and local state/church victories in the schools, we talk with journalist Carlos Orsi, author of the new book, "What Science Says About Astrology."
July 9 · 49 min
State/Church Advocacy
After reporting a slew of Christian Nationalist nonsense from pastors, government officials and our President, FFRF Action Fund's Senior Policy Counsel Ryan Jayne and State Policy Manager Ryan Dudley describe a slew of good and bad state-church bills in state legislatures so far this year.
July 2 · 49 min
Student Voices on Christian Nationalism
We look at a new federal "religious liberty" report that could significantly reshape church-state separation in the United States, along with a Supreme Court ruling allowing states to ban transgender girls from school sports. We feature award-winning essays by three students – Gabrielle Williams, Jaianah Hightower and MeKah'E LeClair. We also hear Dan Barker's opening statement from a recent debate on whether the God of the Bible exists.
June 25 · 49 min
A Liberating Journey
We first get the lowdown on the back and forth that Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., has gotten into with the Freedom From Religion Foundation regarding our objection to the Auburn University men's baseball program being suffused with religion. Then, we listen to writer Chrissy Stroop talk about her journey from evangelical schools to leading counternarratives about the Christian right.
June 18 · 49 min
Brain Surgery
Neurosurgeon Dr. Vivekanand Palavali joins us to examine how science unravels near-death and out-of-body experiences. Then, we hear from members of the Congressional Freethought Caucus who are pushing back against Christian nationalism and the false claim that America was founded as a Christian nation.
June 11 · 49 min
American Infidels
Historian Steven K. Green's new book, "American Infidelity: The Gilded Age Battle Over Freethought, Free Love and Feminism," describes how 19th-century freethinkers fought religious laws such as the Comstock Act.
June 4 · 49 min
Revival of Reason
Founder and President of Black Nonbelievers Mandisa Thomas tells us about the June 12–14 "Revival of Reason" in Atlanta, celebrating the lives and views of Black Americans who live without religion. We also talk about Ten Commandments monuments, FFRF victories removing religion from public schools, and public officials discussing "aliens and demons."
May 28 · 49 min
Religion on Campus
What to do about religion at graduation ceremonies? FFRF State Policy Manager Ryan Dudley gives a roundup of state legislative actions this past spring. Then, Harvard student Ash Bu talks about her op-ed in The Crimson newspaper asking, "Where Are All the Atheists Hiding?"
May 21 · 49 min
License to Discriminate
We report on Trump's Christian-nationalist "Rededicate 250" rally in Washington, D.C., last Sunday. Then, Hope Pisoni of Uncloseted Media and John Washington of Lookout tell us about their joint report, "Your License Plate Might Be Funding an Anti-LGBTQ Extremist Group."
May 14 · 49 min
Killers of Roe
After reporting alarming Christian nationalist news, we talk with Amy Littlefield, author of "Killers of Roe: My Investigation into the Mysterious Death of Abortion Rights."
May 7 · 49 min
Buddhist nationalism
FFRF Director of Communications Amitabh Pal joins us as we interview journalist and author Sonia Faleiro about her book "The Robe and the Sword: How Buddhist Extremism is Shaping Modern Asia."
April 30 · 49 min
Happy 20th Anniversary!
We hear excerpts of some of our favorite shows from the past two decades, including Gore Vidal, Christopher Hitchens, Ron Reagan, Ursula K. Le Guin, Sara Paretsky, Julia Sweeney, Daniel C. Dennett, Anne Gaylor, Cecile Richards, Ernie Chambers, Steve Benson, Anthony Pinn, Brent Michael Davids, Janeane Garofalo, Leighann Lord, Ann Druyan and Donald C. Johanson.
April 23 · 49 min
The Edited Commandments
FFRF Legal Director Patrick Elliott tells us about the disappointing 5th-Circuit appeals decision allowing Ten Commandments in Texas public schools. Then, author and columnist Kate Cohen tells us "Why Exodus Needs a Rewrite."
April 16 · 49 min
Texas Courage
After offering a fresh perspective on President Trump masquerading as Jesus and other news of the week, we interview Johnnie Cotton, a Texas band director who resigned rather than put up a Ten Commandments poster in his classroom.
April 9 · 49 min
First Amendment hero
Theocrats are active in our federal government and also from beyond the moon! After FFRF staff attorney Sammi Lawrence describes recent state/church victories, we honor the life, words and legacy of Ishmael Jaffree, whose 1985 Supreme Court victory removed prayer and bible reading from public schools.
April 2 · 49 min
Conversion Therapy
Attorney Sam Grover describes FFRF's court victory demanding the removal of the Ten Commandments from the Arkansas capitol. Then, activist Lucas F. W. Wilson, a survivor of "conversion therapy," discusses his book "Shame-Sex Attraction: Survivors' Stories of Conversion Therapy."
March 26 · 49 min
Hi, I'm an Atheist!
After reporting on a deluge of Christian nationalist rhetoric from Congress, the White House and the Pentagon, we talk with David G. McAfee, author of the book "Hi, I'm an Atheist! What That Means and How to Talk About It with Others."
March 19 · 49 min
Permanent Injunction
After we cover state/church news in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Maryland, FFRF attorney Chris Line dissects the so-called "Religious Liberty Commission" and FFRF attorney Nancy Noet tells us about this week's decision by an Arkansas court permanently enjoining the state from displaying the Ten Commandments in public classrooms.