Freethought Radio

Barbara G. Walker, author of "The Skeptical Feminist" and the landmark "Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets", talks about what turned her into a skeptic and nonbeliever. The show includes updates on the Foundation's newest faith-based challenges, including a federal lawsuit filed this week, and a "Pagan Pulpit" freethought sermon on the trinity by Dan Barker, a former minister. The show is hosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-presidents of the Freeom From Religion Foundation, which produces the weekly broadcast. (MP3, 48 min, 22 MB)

Veteran freethought activist Catherine Fahringer, a pithy interview, talks about being an atheist activist in Texas, her rejection of the "Big Spook in the Sky," and some recent Texas state/church violations. Tune in to hear how Charles Colson is defaming atheists these days with an except of his speech before the Southern Baptist Convention, as well as a segment from the Jon Stewart Show about Bush's meeting with the Pope that will make you smile. The show will be the broadcast debut of Dan Barker's "Lucifer's Lament," a song from the point of view of the devil, in the Locrian musical mode known as "the devil's mode." The show is hosted by Foundation co-presidents Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor and is produced by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. (MP3, 52 min, 23.7 MB)

Guest Michelle Goldberg, lively Salon.com journalist and author of Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism, returns for an encoure interview to talk about the new creation museum and the status of the religious right assault against secularism in America today. The show includes a clip of Bill O'Reilly attacking "secular progressives," and an indepth analysis of the CNN-TV presidential "forum on faith and values" (June 4), and the broader implications of a de facto religious test for public office being imposed by media. (MP3, 46 min, 21.3 MB)

Guest Hector Avalos, who went from Mexican child evangelist to an atheist and leading bible scholar, talks about his book, Fighting Words: The Origins of Religious Violence, as well as his academic activism at Iowa State University to counter creationism and a sports chaplaincy. For fun, a clip of Bill Maher as "meteroevangelist" plays. A dividend: an excerpt of Kingdom Coming author Michelle Goldberg's excellent speech to the 2007 FFRF convention, "The Rise of Christian Nationalism." The timely song: Philip Appleman's poignant "In a Dark Time," set to music by Dan Barker. The weekly show is hosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-presidents of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. (MP3, 53 min, 24.5 MB)

Special guest: atheist Janeane Garofalo, actress, comedian and former host of Majority Report in Air America. Also covered are some current state/church issues, Bill Maher's obit for Jerry Falwell, and an "Ask an Atheist" segment, as well as a little irreverent music. Hosts of the lively weekly program are Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-presidents of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. (MP3, 50 min, 23.1 MB)

Guest Dale McGowan speaks on secular parenting. The show also includes lively clips of Christopher Hitchens interviews and debates, a retrospective on the fundamentalist career of the late Jerry Falwell, the broadcast debut of Dan Barker's jazz ballad, "It's Only Natural" (dedicated to Richard Dawkins and sung by jazz singer Susan Hofer), and a celebration of the life of Lorraine Hansberry, including a dramatic clip from the movie version of her freethinking play, "A Raisin in the Sun." The weekly show is hosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-presidents of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. (MP3, 50 min, 22,8 MB)

Guest Sonia Johnson talks about how her activism for the Equal Rights Amendment got her excommunicated from the Mormon Church and turned her into a nonbeliever and a feminist activist. The lively show also features news clips by Marie Tillman and Bill Maher, as well as Katharine Hepburn (born on May 12) speaking in her own words about her disbelief. The weekly show is hosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-presidents of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. (MP3, 53 min, 24.7 MB)

Guest Ellory Schempp discusses how his complaints as a 16-year-old about devotional bible reading and prayer in his Pennsylvania public school turned into the landmark 1963 Supreme Court decision, Schempp v. Abington, ending such practices in the United States. The interview includes audio clips of his father, the late Ed Schempp, reminiscing about the lawsuit. The show includes a look at what's wrong with "The National Day of Prayer," music and Dan Barker's "Pagan Pulpit" on why nothing fails like prayer. The weekly show is hosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-presidents of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. (MP3, 44 min, 20.4 MB)

Freethought Radio's guest is Rob Boston of Americans United, discussing current state/church conflicts and myths, litigation and his books. "Eavesdrop" on what the Religious Right is saying about atheists and FFRF! Freethinkers Almanac pays homage to influential freethinkers, including Ulysses S. Grant and Mary Wollstonecraft. Freethought Radio is co-hosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor. (MP3, 47 min, 21.4 MB)

Tune in to hear Pulitizer Prize-winning journalist and author Edward Humes discuss his new book, "Monkey Girl," on Freethought Radio. The book chronicles the saga of the creationist trial in Dover, Penn., resulting in the recent landmark federal decision against "intelligent design" instruction in public schools. The show also includes discussion of timely state/church topics, including this week's antiabortion decision by the Catholic-dominated Supreme Court, and the efficacy of prayer in the face of gun violence. "Freethinkers Almanac" looks at the unorthodoxy of Shakespeare, born on April 23. Freethought Radio is co-hosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor. (MP3, 51 min, 23 MB)

David Randolph, famous conductor of the St. Cecilia Chorus (a secular, non-profit group), talks about his life and his nontheistic views. At age 92, Randolph has become the oldest person to conduct at Carnegie Hall, where he has performed for many decades, and where he will conduct Mendelssohnn and Orff next month. (MP3, 48 min, 22 MB)

Secular lobbyist Lori Lipman Brown, director of the Secular Coalition of America, is interviewed about current issues and bills before Congress and how seculars can make a difference. Updates on FFRF lawsuits and the faith-based initiative are offered. Philip Appleman's song, "Fleas," a literary parody of Joyce Kilmer's "Trees," is performed by Dan Barker. Dan's Pagan Pulpit issues an "Easter Challenge." The broadcast is hosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-presidents of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. (MP3, 50 min, 22.7 MB)

Rita Swan, founder of Children's Healthcare Is a Legal Duty, grants a powerful interview about losing a baby to Christian Science anti-medicine tenets, and her subsequent activism to repeal religious exemptions in laws governing healthcare for children. Dan Barker's Pagan Pulpit addresses the biblical defamation of atheists as "fools." Song: "Sunday Morning Blues." Freethinkers Almanac looks at eminent freethinkers born in late March. (MP3, 51 min, 23 MB)

Most of this show is devoted to the timely topic of Roman Catholic crimes against children. Special guest is Joe McGee, a Colorado freethinker who will talk about what it has been like, after nearly 50 years, to go public with crimes committed against him as a child by his family's priest. The show also includes a relevant poem, "Exegesis," read by Philip Appleman, music and a Pagan Pulpit, "The Genuine Atheist," by Dan Barker. Freethought Radio is co-hosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor. (MP3, 48 min, 22 MB)

News of the week includes U.S. Rep. Pete Stark's recent announcement that he is nonreligious. Nobel Laureate Paul D. Boyer, a Lifetime Member of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, is interviewed, and he talks about the overwhelming disbelief of "elite" scientists. The show also includes a brief, pithy poetry reading by "freethought laureate" Philip Appleman, and a discussion on common myths about atheists. Featured song: "God's Grandeur," words by Philip Appleman, music by Dan Barker. Freethought Radio is co-hosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor. (MP3, 53 min, 23.9 MB)

Tune in to hear the audio of last Sunday's ABC Evening World News segment featuring FFRF co-presidents Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor. Then "eavesdrop" on comedian Julia Sweeney talking about atheism, "Letting Go of God" and the Freedom From Religion Foundation on a recent Stephanie Miller radio interview. Hear why bestselling atheist author Sam Harris thinks it's time for society to end faith. This week's show also includes a Pagan Pulpit freethought sermon by Dan Barker on the Jesus ossuary debacle, and a pithy poem, "A Simple Explanation for Everything," by Philip Appleman, read by Phil. Other state/church issues in the news are discussed. Freethought Radio is co-hosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor. (MP3, 52 min, 23.7 MB)

The first segment of the show involves a candid post-mortem by the co-hosts of what it was like to be taxpayer plaintiffs in a lawsuit heard by the U.S. Supreme Court this week! The pair give the inside scoop, discuss the astronomical growth of FFRF in the past week, and summarize media coverage, including an audio of last week's CBS Evening News coverage of FFRF and Hein v. FFRF. Interviewed is Dr. Bruce Flamm, whose expose of a fraudulent prayer study made international headlines. The show ends with something new--the poet Philip Appleman reading one of his newest poems over the air! As always, there is lively incidental music by Dan Barker, including the chorus from "Nothing Fails Like Prayer." The show is co-hosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, who direct the Freedom From Religion Foundation. (MP3, 50 min, 22.5 MB)

The phenomenon of "faith-based" national parks is the main topic of this week's Freethought Radio. The hosts interview attorney Jeffrey Ruch, whose group, PEER, is leading the protest against the sale of creationist books at the Grand Canyons. Plan to enjoy an insider look at what the Religious Right is saying about the Freedom From Religion Foundation and its upcoming appearance before the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the faith-based initiatives. Freethought Radio also contrasts Mormon candidate Mitt Romney with Catholic candidate John F. Kennedy, and plays a funny passage from the Stephen Colbert show. Freethought Radio is co-hosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, who direct the Foundation. Next week, Dan and Annie Laurie will be back from oral arguments in Washington, D.C., in their lawsuit so tune in for the scoop on what that was like on March 2! (MP3, 51 min, 23 MB)

Freethought Radio moves to an afternoon slot, 1-2 p.m. every Saturday. Tune in to hear attorney Pamela Sumners, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice in Missouri, talk about threats to the judiciary, and her experiences litigating state/church violations in Alabama. The show also includes a "Theocracy Alert," a "Freethinkers Almanac," and a timely encore of Philip Appleman's new song, "Intelligent? Design?" The weekly radio broadcast is cohosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, who jointly direct the Freedom From Religion Foundation. (MP3, 50 min, 22.6 MB)

Freethought Radio moves to an afternoon slot, 1-2 p.m. every Saturday. The show's guest is a 16-year-old state/church student activist, Matthew LaClair. Matthew has made the national news for protesting his history teacher's proselytizing remarks in an ongoing violation in his public school in Kearny, N.J. Matthew will be named "Thomas Jefferson Freethought Student Activist" at the 2007 FFRF convention in Madison next fall, and will receive a $1,000 scholarship for his activism, which has cost him friends and support in his community. The show includes some brief news updates, and an ode to Darwin's Day and Molly Ivins. The weekly radio broadcast is cohosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, who jointly direct the Freedom From Religion Foundation. (MP3, 49 min, 22.3 MB)