Freethought Radio

IN THE NEWS: FFRF’s Raleigh conference on CNN Belief Blog; Ohio billboards; Iowa Christian park protested. Then hear Greece vs. Galloway plaintiff Linda Stephens respond to being labeled “demonic” by a politician for trying to stop city prayer.

Two Boston authors! First, we talk with Rebecca Newberger Goldstein about her new book, Plato At The GooglePlex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away. Then we interview Megan Marshall, author of the Pulitzer-Prize winning biography, Margaret Fuller: A New American Life.

IN THE NEWS: FFRF announces a national TV ad by Ron Reagan to air on Comedy Central. We talk with Marni Huebner-Tiborsky and Susan Woznicki of the Northeast Ohio FFRF chapter about the 11 "Out of the Closet" billboards they put up in the Cleveland-Akron area, then we speak with Susan Galloway, plaintiff in the Greece vs. Galloway Supreme Court case, about the May 5 decision expanding the right of...

IN THE NEWS: The Supreme Court wrongly expands government prayer; FFRF launches Out-Of-The-Closet billboards in northeast Ohio. Then we talk with "one of New York's 10 hottest comics," Leighann Lord , who is an atheist.

IN THE NEWS: FFRF stops a West Virginia high-school wrestling team from using a bible verse as their motto. After complaining about Hobby Lobby inserting a bible class into an Oklahoma high school, we celebrate the birthday of the freethinking composer Johannes Brahms. Then we hear the Oxford University debate about the existence of God, where Dan Barker and Peter Hitchens go head-to-head.

IN THE NEWS: Dan Barker and substitute co-host Andrew Seidel discuss FFRF's freethought display in Daley Plaza and proselytizing Clemson University coach Dabo Swinney. We announce a major FFRF legal victory stopping prayer at city council meetings in Pismo Beach, California. Then we talk with scientist and author Steven Pinker about why he has agreed to become FFRF's first Honorary President. IN T...

IN THE NEWS: FFRF complains about Clemson University's proselytizing football coach. Saudi Arabia declares "atheism = terrorism" and other countries threaten the death penalty for nonbelief. After hearing many freethought connections to Shakespeare and Prokofiev (born April 23), we talk with activist and philanthropist Todd Stiefel of the Stiefel Freethought Foundation.

IN THE NEWS:  We listen to Ayaan Hirsi Ali's response after she was disinvited to give the commencement at Brandeis University when they withdrew her honorary doctorate for her remarks critical of Islam. After celebrating the birthday of the freethinking Charlie Chaplin, we talk with Ellis Felker, owner of Red Oak Greeting Cards.

  After hearing (and analyzing) the oral arguments in the Supreme Court “Hobby Lobby” case, challenging the reproductive mandate of the Affordable Health Care Act on religious grounds, we celebrate Tom Lehrer’s birthday by listening to some of his songs, as well as Eric Idle’s “The Galaxy.” Then we speak with a modern Renaissance Woman, Indre Viskontas, an opera singer, scientist (Ph. D. in neuros...

freethinking lyricist Yip Harburg, who wrote “Over the Rainbow,” and many other songs. Listen to Yip himself singing “If I Only Had a Brain,” “Over the Rainbow,” “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” and “Last Night When We Were Young.” Then we interview Yip’s son, Ernie Harburg, also an atheist, a scientist who is director of the Yip Harburg Foundation, about his father’s artistic life and social acti...

In The News: "A Tale of Three Cities." FFRF complains about mixing religion and government in Green Bay (WI), Birmingham (AL), and Sand Point (ID). We welcome spring with music from Richard Rodgers and Yip Harburg, and celebrate the birthday of Elton John by hearing his freethought song "This Train Don't Stop Here Any More." Then we talk with prominent attorney Marci Hamilton, author of God vs. Th...

In The News: FFRF asks the Pope to "stay away from Green Bay"; tells a praying police chief in Birmingham to cease and desist; and chastises Florida schools for mingling with a local church. After hearing "The Stay Away Pope Polka" and "The Salt Lake City Blues," we talk with FFRF's 20,000th member, Ken Knighton, a former Mormon from Utah.

In The News: "Baby Messiah" judge censored; bibles finally removed from ISU hotels; Arizona atheist legislator offers another nonreligious "prayer" in the House; religious violence in Africa. We promote the premier of the new "Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey," and the Saudi movie Wadjda. Then we talk with Madison's own Bobby Hinds, 84, an FFRF Life Member who was just inducted into the National Fitne...

In The News: Arizona Governor Jan Brewer vetoes the controversial bill denying service to gays. We educate the bible-illiterate Tony Perkins, of the Family Research Council, about why the Christian scriptures are insulting. We talk about the movie Philomena, and about Ricky Gervais's view on "something to live for." Then we talk with Rob Boston, of Americans United For Separation of Church and Sta...

In The News: FFRF removes bibles from another state-owned hotel room; and successful student activists in North Carolina. Hear Annie Laurie interviewed by Sean Hannity about the Iowa State victory. Celebrate the birthdays of Victor Hugo and W.E.B. Dubois. Then we talk with executive editor of MS Magazine, Katherine Spillar, about the religious war against women.

Radio Valentine to Susan B., Darwin "Celebrating Darwin, exposing the creationists" In the news:  Annie Laurie and Andrew discuss FFRF’s new creationism law FAQ, Andrew’s complaint to New York officials over infant endangerment, deaths from ultra-Orthodox circumcision ritual.  Birthdates  honored: Charles Darwin, Galileo, Jeremy Bentham and Susan B. Anthony.  Song:  “It’s Only Natural,” Dan’s jazz...

In the News:  Freethought Radio comments on international blasphemy prosecutions, UN committee evaluation of Vatican failings, and asks you to do your bit and buy Girl Scout cookies! (Antiabortionists have called boycott.)  Birthdates  honored: Charles Darwin, Philip Appleman and Phyllis Rose.  Song:  God’s Grandeur, words by Phil Appleman, music by Dan Barker.  Guest:  Patrick Elliott talks about...

IN THE NEWS: FFRF files an amicus brief in the Hobby Lobby Supreme Court lawsuit challenging the Affordable Healthcare Act, and the government appeals FFRF’s federal court “Parish Exemption” victory to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. We honor the life of folksinger Pete Seeger, and then talk with artist and filmmaker Scott Burdick about his new film, “In Reason We Trust.” N THE NEWS: FFRF files...

In The News: public vouchers to religious schools, and revelations of hundreds of priests defrocked for raping children. We hear some of the music of nonbelieving composer Jerome Kern, then we talk with Valerie Tarico about her book Trusting Doubt: A Former Evangelical Looks at Old Beliefs in a New Light.

What do "Winnie the Pooh" and the movie "Saving Mr. Banks" have to do with freethought? We will give you two different reasons. Then we talk with New York filmmaker and photographer Chris Johnson about his new gorgeous book of photography, A Better Life: 100 Atheists Speak Out on Joy & Meaning in a World Without God.

Find out which famous singer/entertainer you may not have known is an atheist, and also which rock band leader you may not have known is an atheist. This week we talk about the religious war against women, and then interview science blogger and professor PZ Myers about his new book,  The Happy Atheist.

Baby, it’s cold outside! For the first show of the year, we talk about ObamaCare and religion, Justice Sotomayor and the nuns, vandalism of freethought solstice displays, and the freethinking views of author Zora Neale Hurston. After hearing the song “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” composed by freethinking songwriter Frank Loesser, we talk with Florida freethought activist Gary Whittenberger about his...

 Happy 2014! We stop and rest at the end of the year, and listen to our selection of favorite freethought music, including Yip Harburg, Burton Lane, Tom Lehrer, Kristen Lems, George and Ira Gershwin, Joe Hill, Philip Appleman, Cole Porter, and Frank Loesser. We end with a Scottish version of freethinker Robert Burns' "Auld Lang Syne."

Away With The Manger! The Winter Solstice is the reason for the season. After hearing news about FFRF's seasonal displays, countering nativity scenes and religious messages on public property, we devote the show to our favorite freethought seasonal music, including Tim Minchin, Tom Lehrer, Roy Zimmerman, South Park's "Merry Frickin Christmas," FFRF's musical albums, and, of course, the agnostic Tc...

It’s that time of year -- for nativity scene violations! We report on a couple of FFRF creche complaints (out of 60+ so far this year), then then we talk with Tom Cara, director of FFRF’s Metropolitan Chicago chapter, about the large atheist ‘A’ and the “nativity of the Bill of Rights” his group erected in downtown Daley Plaza. On the second half of the show, we interview Linda LaScola, one of the...