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How to Humanist

American Humanist Association

How to Humanist asks life’s questions big and small with the help of brilliant humans along the way.

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31 episodes
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Avg 52 min
English

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#19
June 22 · 57 min
#19 Fanta-sizing About a Big Gay World with Jack Harrison-Quintana
Jack Harrison-Quintana has spent his career doing work that has shaped LGBTQ lives in corners of the world most advocates never get to reach. He has shown up, in person, in over 76 countries, building real relationships with LGBTQ activists on the ground, helping communities collect their own data on discrimination when their governments wouldn't, and working to make sure that the most vulnerable queer people in the world had access to resources, safety, and each other. His resume reads like a life fully committed to the idea that no one should have to fight for their dignity alone. This conversation is a rare opportunity to hear someone who has seen the global state of LGBTQ rights up close and still chooses to believe in the direction we are heading. Jack is honest about how bad it is in too many places, and equally honest about why the backlash we are living through right now is not the whole story. If you have been trying to hold onto hope without looking away from the truth, this is the episode for that. ABOUT JACK HARRISON-QUINTANA Jack Harrison-Quintana, M.A., is a queer Latino activist, author, and researcher. His work at the intersection of digital advocacy and LGBTQ justice has earned him recognition as one of Foreign Policy magazine’s top geopolitical thinkers of 2016 as well as Fast Company’s most creative people in business. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-harrison-quintana-5002958b/ Kink for Dummies: https://bit.ly/kinkfordummies LEARN MORE For more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist
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#18
June 15 · 55 min
#18 The Process of Remembering with Amanda W. Timpson of Yesterqueers
As the founder of Yesterqueers, Amanda W. Timpson is doing the work of restoring what got left out of queer history, correcting narratives that were shaped by white supremacy and patriarchy, and sharing it in an accessible and entertaining way. This conversation goes beyond Stonewall and the names we think we already know. Amanda makes a case that history belongs to all of us. The diary you're not keeping, the photo albums sitting in a box, the family member you haven't interviewed yet -- these are all part of a record that is actively disappearing and worth saving, with help from all of us. ABOUT AMANDA W. TIMPSON Yesterqueers founder Amanda W. Timpson is a public historian, a former television executive, and a Carrie Fisher-inspired sass factory who is passionate about celebrating the broad expanse of queer history. As the descendent of a long line of writers and raconteurs, storytelling is part of Amanda’s DNA; she believes that restorative storytelling is our most powerful tool for connection, understanding, and change. Yesterqueers: https://yesterqueers.com Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson: https://bit.ly/marshabook LEARN MORE For more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist
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#17
June 8 · 1 hr 9 min
#17 How to Retraumatize Your Foster Kid with Shane Lukas
Shane Lukas runs an award-winning design agency, has a TEDx Talk dropping, and owns a record collection that is genuinely not fair. He also does respite foster care with his partner in North Carolina -- meaning when a kid comes into the system with nowhere to go, sometimes they land at Shane's house. It's a commitment, it's not always easy, and he's not here to make it sound like it is. What this conversation gets into is the full picture: the kids who are aging out of the age range that most foster parents are comfortable with, the religious institutions that have stepped in to fill a gap that nobody else showed up for, the queer kids who end up in homes that don't see them, and the systemic failures that make all of it so much harder than it needs to be. If you've ever thought about fostering, or wondered why humanists aren't more present in that space, or just wanted to understand what the foster care system actually looks like from the inside -- this is the episode. The need is urgent, it's everywhere, and most people have no idea how close it already is to them. ABOUT SHANE LUKAS Shane Lukas (he/him) leads A Great Idea—an award-winning agency delivering digital and print design and content solutions nationwide to grow, empower and activate brand advocates for purpose-driven companies and organizations. In addition to his 10 years of success leading AGI, he is a proud Humanist, lifelong harm reduction organizer, author, and public speaker named one of GDUSA’s “Designers for Good." A Great Idea: https://agreatidea.com Shane Lukas: https://shanelukas.com LEARN MORE For more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist
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#16
June 1 · 52 min
#16 Kentucky Fried Pride with Cain Culto
Shay has been known to keep her cool in interviews... until now. But it's Cain Culto, so... fair. Cain's music and striking visual artistry has been breaking people's brains since from the beginning, even while working at Sprouts and finding ways to build professional-grade visuals from scratch. He is, as Shay's sister Seren put it, a piece of art on two feet. Get ready for one of the most inspiring conversations this podcast has seen thus far. Cain talks about leaving the church, the shame he carried, the sisters he mourned, and the transmutation of all of it into something that sounds like nothing else on earth in the best way possible. His album drops in September, 2026, and we are vying for a sold out tour and an epic month of Pride performances. ABOUT CAIN CULTO Cain Culto is a former worship pastor turned queer renegade, blending left-field pop and hip-hop with global influences. Raised in a Colombian-Nicaraguan household, he grew up between Florida and Kentucky, absorbing salsa, bluegrass, and evangelical culture. After leaving his acclaimed Christian band Ecclesia in 2021, he reemerged as Cain Culto — an artist reclaiming his spirituality, sexuality, and cultural roots. A fearless DIY auteur, he crafts provocative music and visuals that challenge faith, politics, and capitalism, fusing protest, satire, and undeniable pop magic. Cain Culto Instagram: https://instagram.com/cainculto LEARN MORE For more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist
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#15
May 25 · 58 min
#15 God Bless This Humanist Friendship with Cheryl Anscombe
Shay has a bestie. Her bestie is a Christian named Cheryl. They have been besties since May 19th, 2009, and neither of them has tried to convert the other once. And yet they've both survived. It's a miracle. This episode is for everyone who has ever wondered whether an interfaith friendship can actually work, or whether you have to choose between your beliefs and the people you love. You don't. And if you listen closely, there are emotional intelligence cues in this conversation that could genuinely change how you show up for the people in your life — from how to create a protected space for honest conversation, to how to hold your tongue just long enough to actually hear someone. Also, but let's be real... the fact that these two aren't married and living on an island somewhere is honestly a pretty strong argument against the existence of a supernatural being, don't you think? ABOUT CHERYL ANSCOMBE Cheryl Anscombe is a Global Talent Development Specialist at NBCUniversal, a mom of two amazing girls, and a self-proclaimed plant mom who is always in the middle of some kind of creative project — whether that's putting together charcuterie boards, attempting a DIY home project she saw on TikTok, or creating digital designs. Lately she has been building fairy gardens with her daughters, and she also loves cooking and baking. A North Jersey native, she currently lives in the Philadelphia suburbs and on occasion, will charge her phone... but only partially. LEARN MORE For more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist
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#14
May 18 · 46 min
#14 Norway, She's So Humanist with Christian Lomsdalen
On our first international episide, we visit Bergen to talk to Christian Lomsdalen -- the president of the Norwegian Humanist Association, a high school teacher, a religious studies scientist at the University of Bergen, and a person who has gods tattooed on his back. Apparently this is completely normal in Norway. So is a state-funded humanist organization with 180,000 members, a confirmation ceremony that rivals a quinceañera, and a K-12 curriculum where humanism is just part of the lesson plan. The humanist world we are fighting for in the United States already exists there, and nobody has to explain it to the guy in the corner of the room. Can you imagine? This conversation will totally make you jealous and then it will (or at least should) make you want to get to work. ABOUT CHRISTIAN LOMSDALEN Norwegian educator, scholar of religion, and the current president of the Norwegian Humanist Association (Human-Etisk Forbund), a position he has held since his election in 2021. He is widely recognized in Norway as a prominent secular humanist leader, academic researcher, and educational podcaster Norwegian Humanist Association: https://human.no Confirmation Ceremony: https://fritanke.no/rekordpamelding-til-humanistisk-konfirmasjon-i-2018/19.10614 LEARN MORE For more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist
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#13
May 11 · 1 hr 3 min
#13 How Ruff Ryders Roll Even if it's Not to the Cookout with Dr. Monica Johnson
Dr. Monica Johnson is a licensed clinical psychologist, a self-proclaimed Swiss Army knife of a human being, and someone who will absolutely bring up DMX at exactly the right moment in a conversation about allyship. That's ok -- if you've been listening, you'll already know that Shay was ready with her jukebox trigger. "Flesh of my FLESH!", and all that. Anyway... This is one of those episodes where you come in thinking you're talking about race-based stress and ADHD, and somehow end up somewhere far more personal and far more honest than you expected, and by the end you're thinking about the reason you're doing this work to begin with. Take a listen. ABOUT DR. MONICA JOHNSON Monica Johnson is a licensed clinical psychologist, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, and founder of Kind Mind Psychology, a Black-owned virtual group practice serving clients across New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Delaware, and 40+ PSYPACT states. Kind Mind specializes in evidence-based treatment for ADHD, anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma, borderline personality disorder, and relationship issues using CBT, DBT, EMDR, IFS, and ERP. The practice is deeply affirming of BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and alternative lifestyle communities. Kind Mind also offers executive functioning and ADHD coaching nationwide. Johnson hosts ADHD & on Understood.org, exploring how ADHD intersects with relationships, identity, parenting, and daily life. She’s also a recurring guest expert on Understood.org’s Expert Answers, ADHD Aha!, and Sorry, I Missed This. Johnson is the author of Push Back: Assert Yourself in Relationships and co-author of Addressing Race-Based Stress in Therapy With Black Clients. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, British Vogue, SELF, the Associated Press, Ebony, and Them. Official Website: https://kindmindpsych.com/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/kindmindpsych LEARN MORE For more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist
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#12
May 4 · 51 min
#12 Little to No "God" at Your Wedding with Bethel Nathan
Turns out you can have the chuppah, break the glass, do the hora, and still not have to mention God once. Or you can mention God exactly once, specifically for grandma, and everyone goes home happy. Humanist celebrant Bethel Nathan has been building ceremonies around real people and real love for 17 years, and her secret weapon is a questionnaire, a puzzle metaphor, and the radical idea that tradition should actually mean something to you personally. She will ask you things nobody else thought to ask, keep your answers a secret from your partner until the day of, and send you your vows every year on your anniversary just to remind you what you promised. If you are getting married and you want a ceremony that actually sounds like you, her information is below. ABOUT BETHEL NATHAN Successful business owner and award-winning Humanist Celebrant, Bethel Nathan of Ceremonies by Bethel knows how to build and run a successful wedding industry business. Combining her background in both very large companies (at two global investment banks in Tokyo, New York, and London) and small companies (including her family’s now-40-year-old business), Bethel found the right way to build a business that fit her. Focusing on her ideal couple and having a rave-worthy customer experience, as well as her strong support for marriage equality, Bethel has now married 1400 couples over the past 17 years and has built up more than 500 5-star reviews. Her couples come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but all are looking for a ceremony that is uniquely theirs, and that is personal, meaningful, fun, and non-traditional. So, Bethel enjoys getting to know her couples, becoming their voice in a meaningful moment, meant to celebrate what they share, all in a fitting and worthy way. Bethel's Official Site: www.ceremoniesbybethel.com Bethel's Instagram: www.instagram.com/bethelnathan LEARN MORE For more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist
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#11
April 27 · 55 min
#11 Prime Real Estate For Satanists with Taylor Leigh
Salem, Massachusetts. Austin, Texas. Kingston, Pennsylvania. Turns out if you know where to look, Satanists have been quietly securing the best real estate in America for decades. In this episode, Shay sits down with Taylor Leigh of The Antibot, a Satanist-humanist and former evangelical missionary kid who grew up in Indonesia, came back to the States, and somehow ended up with a pentagram necklace from an occult store in Cleveland. As one does. They cover the Satanic Temple, Baphomet, why most Satanists are not actually worshipping the devil, and why Taylor reclaimed a label that people were already throwing at them for having a septum ring. Shay learns a lot. Shay still knows very little. Both things continue to be true. ABOUT TAYLOR LEIGH Taylor Leigh runs the YouTube channel The Antibot. On her channel, she discusses life after leaving the Christian church and also provides commentary on the modern Evangelical movement from the perspective of a nontheistic Satanist. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theantibot LEARN MORE American Empathy Project: americanempathyproject.org For more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist
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#10
April 20 · 1 hr 8 min
#10 Liberty and Trauma For All with Dr. Lucas Wilson
A man chose Liberty University over the University of Toronto because it had a conversion therapy program. That man is now a postdoctoral fellow editing anthologies about surviving it. You really cannot make this stuff up, and Dr. Lucas Wilson does not have to. In this episode he and Shay talk evangelical fictions, weaponized women, the anti-trans argument and why it falls apart the second someone has to show their receipts, and the very real possibility that Dr. Dino, a creationist whose doctoral dissertation allegedly opened with "Hi, my name's Ken," is responsible for Luke's entire life trajectory. If you're queer, survived religious trauma, or went through something you didn't even have a name for until just now, Dr. Wilson is actively seeking submissions for his next anthology, Queer and Trembling: Stories of LGBTQ Religious Trauma. Contact email is below to learn more. ABOUT DR. LUCAS WILSON Wilson is a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Toronto Mississauga and was formerly the Justice, Equity, and Transformation Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Calgary. He’s also the editor of Shame-Sex Attraction: Survivors’ Stories of Conversion Therapy. Shame-Sex Attraction Book: https://us.jkp.com/products/shamesex-attraction Contact Lucas for submission details: anthology.submission2026@gmail.com LEARN MORE American Empathy Project: americanempathyproject.org For more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist
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#9
April 13 · 53 min
#9 What More is There Than Death & Ice Cream? with D.S. Moss
Shay & Devin decide to talk about the big D... Death. Together they cover grief that doesn't end, rituals humanists have yet to invent, what it means to chaplain someone on death row, and why America is, to put it diplomatically, absolutely cooked when it comes to dealing with mortality. But here's the thing about death: it will humble you, it will sit in your stomach like a brick, and at some point you're going to need a toffee caramel swirl to get through it. DS Moss said so first, and Shay had the receipts — or rather, the pints. Turns out the question isn't whether you're ready to talk about death. It's whether you've got enough ice cream on hand when you do. ABOUT D.S. MOSS Moss is a Humanist Chaplain and Webby/Signal/James Beard Award-winning storyteller unwavering in his pursuit to relate stories that connect us to our humanity. A natural explorer, he uses playful inquisition to examine the complexity of the human condition and the intrinsic meaning of life. Moss maintains an interdisciplinary practice of storytelling, street philosophy, and practical altruism. In 2015, Moss created The Adventures of Memento Mori podcast. D.S. Moss Website: https://dsmoss.com RESOURCES MENTIONED: Advanced Directive: https://freewill.com LEARN MORE American Empathy Project: https://americanempathyproject.org For more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist
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