Glass City Humanist

In this episode, Douglas talks to science teacher and communicator Reggie Finley about the importance of science and critical thinking especially in this time of the pandemic. Reggie also discusses his personal journey from angry atheist and host of The Infidel Guy Show to a science educator reaching out and changing the lives of his students. Show Notes Subscribe to our free newsletter Donate to...

In this episode Douglas gives an update on upcoming activities of the Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie. Next he gives his thoughts about social justice, Humanism, and a new book about that very subject from Roy Speckhardt. Show Notes Subscribe to our free newsletter

In this episode, we talk to Pam Niese, a Registered Nurse from Glandorf, Ohio, who volunteers with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. Pam helps fundraise and lobby on issues important to cancer patients and survivors. We find out that Cancer sucks and is not political or religious in its destruction. She also lets us know what we can do to help including purchasing a "Lights of Hop...

In this episode, we find out why the next local battle over abortion takes place in an old parking lot. Next Douglas talks about plans for a post pandemic restriction time for our local group and finally he talks about how Humanists can respond to a recent religious freedom violation while still rejecting the religious beliefs being violated.  Show Notes Subscribe to our free newsletter Donat...

In this episode, Douglas talks about the large amount of hoaxes, conspiracy theories, and other magical thinking brought on by the response to the pandemic and what Humanists and others can do to get through the cloud of problem thinking. Show Notes Subscribe to our free newsletter Donate to the show

Richard Dawkins is a well known figure in the freethought community. His books have been best sellers and have helped lead many people to ditch religion. In recent years, Dawkins has not been a decent human being and on April 10th a transphobic tweet reminded us all we need to stop putting science communicators on a pedestal. The support Dawkins received for "Just Asking Questions" reminds us what...

In this episode Douglas goes through the process his Humanist group took to create a new tag line to help market the group to the public. When some groups are dropping the word Humanism from their name SHoWLE rejected that direction. Then Douglas talks about the new election laws being passed as a result of the massive turn out in the 2020 election and how these laws aren't reform but just Jim Cro...

Free speech doesn't mean free from consequences. Cancel culture is just the complaints about Political Correctness dressed in different clothes. Douglas gives a primer about what the 1st amendment really means and it doesn't cover using bigotry disguised as jokes on social media. Finally, we look at the need for transparency as the American Humanist Association looks for a new executive director....

Did you know you don't really need to spend years going to medical school to become a doctor in order to affect the health of people? All you need is to be elected to the state legislator. In this episode, Douglas will talk about the Ohio Legislature's arrogant push to override the public health orders made my Governor DeWine during our current pandemic. Finally, he will talk about a good proposed...

In this episode, Doug talks about the attempted coup that happen in Washington DC on January 6th and how that was balanced by the swearing in of a new President. What will this mean for secular people. Doug also gives an update on a Federal lawsuit by three Lucas county religious schools to subvert a public health order and finally Doug mentions a couple of articles he's read that deal with the me...

In this episode Douglas talks about the passage of House Resolution 512 that calls for the global repeal of blasphemy, heresy, and apostasy laws. Next he talks about two cases of schools trying to use religion to circumvent public health orders and finally in a new segment called Humanism 101 he looks at Global Awarness. Show Notes Subscribe to our free newsletter 00:45 Blasphemy Be Gone 08:34 Cov...

In this episode Douglas talks to artist and Humanist Martha Knox about her woodcut print art, her performance art called "Submit", the state of the art community during the pandemic, and why selling her art is not her goal. Martha, who had been very active in various freethought organizations including helping found the Secular Student Alliance 20 years ago, explains why disillusionment made her s...

In this episode, Douglas chats with August Brunsman, one of the founders and first paid executive director of the Secular Student Alliance which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. We talk about the heady days at the beginning of the group, the problems that come along with a college project like SSA, and his continuing work with Camp Quest - An educational adventure shaped by fun, friends and fr...

In this episode Douglas looks at Christian nationalists using Religious freedom as cover for their discrimination, why the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett for the US Supreme Court is a problem for all of us, and he introduces a new recurring segment where people share the story of their journey to Humanism. Show Notes Sign-up for the show newsletter 00:40 How To Use Religious Freedom for Bigotry 1...

In this episode, Douglas tries to find out what has happened to our empathy during the pandemic. He offers some tips on how to have a picnic during a virus outbreak. And finally Douglas reviews an essay from July that claims anti-racism training is racist. Show Notes Here Sign-up for the Newsletter 00:37 Where did our empathy go? 08:51 Our Pandemic Picnic 12:20 Is Talking About Anti-Racism Racist?

In this episode Douglas talks to Sam McGuire, the National Field Director for American Atheists. She explains what an affiliate is and how your secular group can become one. Douglas asks if atheist groups are that much different than Humanist groups and he and Sam dip their toes into some political questions of interest to secular people. Show Notes Subscribe to our newsletter 00:41 Affiliates &am...

In this episode, Douglas talks about the lack of heroes in the atheist movement and why that isn't a problem. Next he highlights an excellent TV program that explained why we teach US History all wrong, and finally Douglas revisits an essay he wrote about the 1st amendment violation having the Ohio state motto engraved on the grounds of the statehouse. Show Notes 02:45 An Atheist Hero Is A Social...

In this episode, Douglas tries to fill time without interviewing someone. We get some news from our group the Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie, give a humanist response to the murder of George Floyd, celebrate an unlikely court victory for the LGBTQ+ community, and dust off an old blog post about the words "Under God" in the pledge. Show Notes 00:48 SHoWLE News 05:28 A Humanist Response to t...

In this episode Douglas speaks with Derrick Strobl, an old friend from his days in Columbus with the Humanist Community of Central Ohio. They talk about his journey to Humanism coming from a religious conservative family, and Douglas discovers, to his shock that a college near his hometown was much more conservative than he ever imagined. Derrick also reveals what Humanist values are important to...

In this episode Douglas talks to Rev. Dr. TK Barger of the First Unitarian Church of Toledo about the historic ties between the UUs and Humanism. We also discuss how Unitarians have religious rituals that are not based in the supernatural and we talk about some of the differences between religious and secular humanism. Rev. Dr. TK Barger has been the called minister for First UU of Toledo since 20...

In this longer than usual episode Douglas talks with Nick Little, Vice President and General Counsel of the Center for Inquiry, about his group's effort to force big retailers to be honest about homeopathy products they sell. We discuss the group's current work to allow secular celebrants to solemnize marriages in all the states. Finally we look at the current status of church and state litigation...

In this episode we talk to Charles Hill, a facilitator for the Columbus Ohio chapter of Recovering from Religion. We talk about how some religious believers, even professional clergy, make the transition to being a non-believer, how important telling your story is to the process, and the start of efforts to form a Toledo chapter of the group. People transition to non-belief in multiple ways. Many...

In today's episode, we will talk to Emily Newman, Education Coordinator for the AHA's Center for Education. We will discuss the HERE for Climate project and how climate change will be the theme for this year's Secular Week of Action that takes place May 1st through the 10th and coincides with the National Day of Reason. Show Notes

School vouchers have been an end around the separation of church and state for decades. They allow a state to indirectly fund private schools and most of those private schools are operated by religious groups. Political conservatives also use vouchers to choke the funding of public schools with the goal for there to be no government-run common schools. Ohio has recently had a Confluence of these t...

In this episode we talk to secular activist Monette Richards. She is vice president of Secular Woman and former president of CFI NE Ohio. We talk about her journey to becoming an activist, the real scourge of leadership burn out, and if there is any hope for organized secular groups to effect real change as it seems our world is burning down around us. Our talk was a good time, really. Show Notes