TheThinkingAtheist

Ron Miscavige is father of David Miscavige, leader of the Church of Scientology.  Ron tells the story of his son, Scientology, and his escape from the church's controlling grasp. Ron's book, "Ruthless:"   https://www.amazon.com/Ruthless-Scientology-Son-David-Miscavige/dp/1250096936/ref =sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487075049&sr=8-1&keywords=ron+miscavige SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: The Great Courses Plus:   http:...

How reliable is our memory? Can fake memories be planted through suggestion? Cognitive psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Loftus is an expert on memory who has served as an expert witness or consultant in hundreds of memory-related cases, including the famous McMartin preschool trial, the Rodney King trial, litigation involving Michael Jackson, Martha Stewart and others.  She joins Seth Andrews for an exp...

On the date which would traditionally see the U.S. President's annual State of the Union speech, Seth Andrews gives his own secular State of the Union address...a look at America through the eyes of a private citizen, and an examination of patriotism, protest, the presidency, and the world stage on which this nation stands. Transcript of the speech:   http://www.thethinkingatheist.com/blog/123/A-S...

Apologist Ken Ham and others have declared Donald Trump's presidency a divine appointment.  But is Trump a true representative of the divine, or of the (secular) U.S. Constitution? This broadcast is the first of a two-part series relating to Trump's America.  Today's show features: Steven Newton: geologist and rep for the National Center for Science Education Larry Decker:  Executive Director - Se...

Bart Campolo is son of famous Christian evangelist Tony Campolo.  Bart is the humanist chaplain at the University of Southern California, a community builder, and host of the bi-weekly podcast "Humanize Me." In this candid conversation with Seth Andrews, Bart discusses his former faith, his father, religion, humanism, and his post-Christian "Life Beyond Belief." BART'S WEBSITE:   http://bartcampol...

This broadcast is about atheists and skeptics, and how they deal with the often conditional love on a religious family tree. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: The Great Courses Plus:   http://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/seth Stamps.com:   http://www.stamps.com (code sethandrews) Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support .

David "Avocado" Wolfe is a wellness celebrity with a huge following.  But do his claims pass the science test?  What explains his rising popularity?  And what damage might result from the tips, tricks, advise and "wisdom" Wolfe is spreading to the eager masses? Yvette d'Entremont, the SciBabe, is a former analytical chemist, science blogger and activist.  She joins Seth Andrews for a spirited (and...

How often is the military colored by religious language and superstitious thinking?  And is a taxpayer-funded military supposed to be promoting God?  This show explores the issue with the perspectives of many listeners, and an interview with Michael L. "Mikey" Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: NatureBox http://www.naturebox.com/thinkingatheist S...

How do religious teachings damage our ideas about sexuality, intimacy, worth, shame, partnership and pleasure?  This show explores the dark side of religious sex education. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: The Great Courses Plus   http://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/seth Stamps.com   http://www.stamps .com (promo code sethandrews) Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkin...

Why do our eyes get puffy when we're sleepy?  Does premium gasoline actually give us better gas mileage?  Why do dogs stink after a bath?  Why are alcoholic beverages called "spirits?"  Why does it hurt so bad to get kicked in the testicles? Once again, Seth Andrews uses Google (and other resources), seeking answers to the common - and uncommon - questions that so often vex us.   SUPPORT OUR SPONS...

Are trigger warnings a helpful tool for avoiding potentially harmful distress, or the enabling of hypersensitivity and a victim culture?  We discuss trigger warnings and "safe spaces" in this (inevitably controversial) broadcast.  Guests include a few activists in the freethought movement, and psychologists Dr. Caleb Lack and Dr. Valerie Tarico. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: The Great Courses Plus   http:...

Maine-based Christian podcast Cell 53 Radio asked Seth Andrews to join them on-air for a discussion about atheism, God, Christianity, belief, and Truth.  This is the audio of that exchange. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: Hello Fresh http://www.hellofresh.com (promo code sethandrews) Stamps.com http://www.stamps.com (promo code sethandrews) Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcas...

Join Seth Andrews as he recaps the best (and worst) of 2016...from the election to entertainment to sports to pop culture, it's the Year in Review.  Enjoy. SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:   http://www.stamps .com (promo code: sethandrews)   Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support .

How do atheists handle religious holidays (and religious families) every year, and how do many atheists mark an occasion with Christ in the title?  This show features the perspectives of our listeners, advice on how skeptics can (if they choose) enjoy the holiday season and navigate the often turbulent waters stirred by fundamentalist families, and a few holiday anecdotes. SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:   h...

It's surprising to many, but a lot of atheists and non-Christians enjoy Christmas music...even the tunes that talk about angels singing and the Bethlehem star.  We speak about this (supposed) contradiction, and several special guests join host Seth Andrews for a casual round of holiday songs around the hearth.  This show is glad to welcome: The Fab Four (The Beatles Tribute Band) http://ww.thefabf...

The original U.S. Pledge of Allegiance calls the USA, "one nation...indivisible."  Yet it remains a nation splintered and divided, with many of those divisions fueled by religious ideas.  This broadcast welcomes several special guests to talk about America, the rise of secularism, the influence of the Religious Right, and the future of a country that seems unable to agree about anything. Our guest...

The hosts of God Awful Movies join Seth Andrews for a review of Ray Comfort's new film, "The Atheist Delusion."  They watched the movie...so you don't have to.  Enjoy! God Awful Movies:   https://www.patreon.com/GodAwful VIDEO of this podcast:   https://youtu.be/a62l6jGHAiU           Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support .

This very special 300th broadcast was recorded in Dallas, Texas on November 19th in front of a live audience at the DoubleTree by Hilton Dallas-Richardson.  Special guests include: Matt Dillahunty:   https://www.youtube.com/user/SansDeity Sarah Haider of Ex-Muslims of North America:   http://www.exmna.org David Smalley of Dogma Debate:  http://dogmadebate.com Aron Ra:   https://www.youtube.com/use...

In the spring of 2016, Seth Andrews received a strange letter in the mail...a letter which has roots dating back over three decades.  In September of 2016, he told his entertaining story about "The Mystery Letter" to a live audience in Riverside, California.  This is the audio of that presentation. VIDEO of the speech:   https://youtu.be/xWovupLjz7w SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:   http://www.casper.com/set...

If you enjoy audiobooks, and if you enjoy didactic fiction, you'll like this show. Author Lee Burvine speaks with host Seth Andrews about his sci-fi novel with religious (some would say sacreligious) themes, and Seth plays the first five chapters of the audiobook - read by Seth Andrews in their entirety - on this broadcast. THE KAFIR PROJECT WEBSITE:   http://www.kafirproject.com/ Amazon/Audible l...

It's an annual Halloween tradition, as we gather around the virtual campfire, suspend our disbelief in ghosts and spirits, and enjoy some delightful frights together.  Seth Andrews shares various ghost stories, and once again, he finishes the broadcast with an original production that will (hopefully) provide some October thrills and chills. Enjoy! SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR.  Your first month free!    h...

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR.  Your first month free!    http://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/sethandrews How do we separate "nutrition" from "woo-trition?"  This show is about the science (and pseudoscience) of food.   We also spend time on nutrition celebrity "The Food Babe," Vani Hari, a best-selling author and activist named by Time Magazine as one of the 30 most influential people on the internet, despi...

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR.  Your first month free!    http://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/sethandrews Is Buddhism a religion?  A philosophy?  Both?  Something else?  Many Buddhist organizations - physical and online - promote it as a way of "finding peace within oneself.   What about atheists who are Buddhists?  Is this a spiritual journey, or a method for framing a physical one? LINKS: David G. McAfee o...

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:   http://www.casper.com /sethandrews  ($50 off any mattress purchase with promo code seth andrews) Aron Ra has a new book based on his popular YouTube video series, "Foundational Falsehoods of Creationism."  We talk to Aron about these falsehoods, and the new book. VIDEO of this discussion:   https://youtu.be/9bToIwtUQCA Amazon link for FFoC book:   https://www.amazon.com/Foun...

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR.  Your first month free!    http://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/sethandrews Summer has come and gone, but for many of us, our memories of summer camp remain fresh in our minds, partially because those camps were more interested in Christ than they were in campfires, swimming holes, nature hikes, team sports, friendships and fun. In this broadcast, we share some stories from our...