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

Feb 23, 2023 · 49 min
Secular elected officials
After reporting state/church news in Ohio, North Carolina and Florida, we talk about the tragic religious persecution in Pakistan and Afghanistan. FFRF Senior Policy Counsel Ryan Jayne discusses the more than 1,000 state-level religiously based bills introduced in 2023 that we are monitoring and reports a "Health Care Sharing Ministry" victory in Missouri. Then we speak with Leonard Presberg, founder and president of the Association of Secular Elected Officials.
Feb 16, 2023 · 49 min
No more "thoughts & prayers"
Amy Hagstrom Miller, with Whole Woman's Health Alliance, tells us about the devastation to abortion access wrought by the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision. We hear jazz singer Tahira Clayton perform freethinking composer Jerome Kern's song "I'm Old Fashioned," and we cover many local, national and international stories about religion and government.
Feb 9, 2023 · 49 min
"The Family" Feud
A new PRRI study shows that Americans overwhelmingly reject Christian nationalism. FFRF Attorney Chris Line talks about this week's Wisconsin State Journal story, "The Running Man," that features his successful effort to lose more than 250 pounds. Then we speak with Jonathan Larsen, managing editor of The Young Turks, about his revealing investigation into the National Prayer Breakfast.
Feb 2, 2023 · 49 min
First Amendment champions
We have many state/church victories to report, including against the National Prayer Breakfast and proselytizing Colorado coach Deion Sanders. FFRF litigation counsel Sam Grover describes our newest federal court win against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who censored our display in the state Capitol. Then we hear Nebraska state Sen. Megan Hunt, an atheist working to keep religion and government separate, as she accepts FFRF's "Champion of the First Amendment" award.
Jan 26, 2023 · 49 min
The problem with prayer
After addressing the numerous problems with the National Prayer Breakfast, we speak with Central Florida Freethought Association director Joseph Richardson about how his secular invocation before a county board was "corrected" by a Christian prayer. Then we speak with Owosso, Mich., City Councilor Emily Olson, who received a death threat after she complained about prayers before council meetings.
Jan 19, 2023 · 49 min
Hindu Nationalism
After we report on national and local state/church news, FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heineman describes a disturbing case before the U.S. Supreme Court that will most certainly expand religious privilege. Then FFRF Co-President Dan Barker and Communication Director Amitabh Pal report on their trip to India this month to meet with brave rationalists who are battling superstition and Hindu nationalism.
Jan 12, 2023 · 49 min
Having fun fighting the gods
We celebrate Martin Luther King Jr Day and National Religious Freedom Day, "eulogize" Cardinal Pell via Tim Minchin's song, "Come Home Cardinal Pell," then hear irreverent Jim Hightower pillory religious entanglements in Texas.
Jan 5, 2023 · 49 min
Meeting of the Minds
We review secular highs and lows of the week. FFRF Legal Fellow Karen Heineman tells us why the Catholic Church cannot run public charter schools in Oklahoma. Then we hear the entertaining conversation between actress/comedian Julia Sweeney and Dan Barker at FFRF's 2022 convention.
Dec 28, 2022 · 49 min
Ringing in the New Year
After reporting on state/church issues in December, we listen to the freethinking Frank Loesser song "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" sung by Madison jazz vocalist Susan Hofer accompanied by Dan Barker on the piano. Then, FFRF Legal Director Rebecca Markert wraps up the year by telling us about FFRF's significant legal challenges and victories of 2022.
Dec 22, 2022 · 49 min
Bible Museum
Tidings of great joy: the bipartisan bill to approve a Thomas Paine memorial in DC is likely to pass this session. After hearing irreverent holiday music by Roy Zimmerman and Tom Lehrer, we talk with professor Cavan Concannon, co-author with Jill Hicks-Keeton of the new book Does Scripture Speak For Itself? The Museum of the Bible and the Politics of Interpretation.
Dec 15, 2022 · 49 min
Beyond Belief
We have a news-packed show this week, with congressional testimony, lawsuit updates, and state/church complaints. We celebrate Bill of Rights Day (Dec. 15) and the Winter Solstice (Dec. 21) by reporting "solstice/bill of rights" displays being erected around the country, and by hearing Dan Barker's seasonal song "Solstice Tribute." Then we speak with Australian reporter Elle Hardy about her new book, Beyond Belief: How Pentecostal Christianity is Taking Over the World.
Dec 8, 2022 · 49 min
Evangelical Threat
Tis the season to report on state/church entanglements, as well as state/church victories. This week we listen to professor Anthea Butler, author of White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America and contributor to the 1619 Project, deliver her "Do Mess With Texas" speech at FFRF's 45th annual convention in San Antonio, warning us about religious threats to democracy.
Dec 1, 2022 · 49 min
Mark on the Hill
We honor Dr. Anthony Fauci, a secular humanist who is retiring at the end of this month as the Chief Medical Advisor for the President of the United States, by hearing Dan Barker's new song, "Thank you, Fauci." Then FFRF's Director of Governmental Affairs Mark Dann recaps our many successes fighting Christian nationalism in the 117th Congress and the challenges that await us in the upcoming 118th Congress in 2023–2024.
Nov 23, 2022 · 49 min
Let's All Give Thanks
On our Thanksgiving show, we give thanks where thanks is due. We hear the new song "Let's All Give Thanks," written by Dan Barker and sung by Tahira Clayton and the Godless Gospel singers. Then FFRF Senior Counsel Patrick Elliott talks about the amicus brief FFRF has filed in the "303 Creative" Supreme Court case about a Christian business owner who wants to discriminate against LGBTQ customers.
Nov 17, 2022 · 49 min
Phantom God
This week we talk about the novelist John Irving, Christian supremacy, and the Respect For Marriage Act. After hearing the debut of the Godless Gospel song "I Don't Need Jesus," we talk with scientist and author John C. Wathey about his new book, The Phantom God: What Neuroscience Reveals about the Compulsion to Believe.
Nov 10, 2022 · 49 min
The Unbelieving
After hearing the good news (and a little not-so-good-news) after the November election, we listen to the freethinking Irving Berlin song "Pack Up Your Sins (And Go To The Devil in Hades)" 100 years after its 1922 debut on Broadway. Then we speak with playwright Marin Gazzaniga and qualitative researcher Linda LaScola, producers of the new off-Broadway play "The Unbelieving," about clergy who no longer believe in God.
Nov 3, 2022 · 49 min
Unconventional Convention
We hit some of the highlights of FFRF's 45th annual convention in San Antonio, Texas, including welcoming remarks by U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman(CA) and Jamie Raskin(MD). Then we listen in to the live performance at that convention of the world premiere of the Godless Gospel musical group.
Oct 27, 2022 · 49 min
The Power of Protest
Iranian-born Maryam Namazie, with "Ex-Muslims of Britain," describes the dire situation in Iran where protesters of the patriarchal regime are being persecuted and killed. She also tells us how we can help. Then we speak with Harvard student Aidan Scully, who writes a secular column in the student newspaper The Harvard Crimson that combats Christian Nationalism and advocates for state/church separation.
Oct 20, 2022 · 49 min
Secular Legislators
We hear a sneak preview of the Godless Gospel song "You Don't Need to Be Ashamed," written by Andre Forbes, soloists DeAngela Morant and Rogiérs Fibby, with Godless Gospel singers in the chorus. Then we speak with New Hampshire state Representative Sherry Dutzy, who formed the Secular Values Legislative Caucus in her state and who is on the board of the new national Association of Secular Elected Officials.
Oct 13, 2022 · 48 min
Secular Government
Guest: Minnesota state Rep. Mike Freiberg. After hearing the late Loretta Lynn sing the feminist song "The Pill," we hear freethinkers Joni Mitchell and James Taylor perform "Circle of Time." Then we speak with Minnesota state Representative Mike Freiberg about the new Secular Government Caucus he co-founded in the state legislature with the purpose of "resisting Christian nationalism and defending state/church separation."