Freethought Radio

Dan and Annie Laurie play sound bites from GOP candidates genuflecting before the Religious Right. They also discuss the monopolization of words like "morality" and "values" by the Christian right with nonbeliever Eric Zorn, columnist for the Chicago Tribune.

Irreverent Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Steve Benson of the Arizona Republic, who is the grandson of Ezra Taft Benson, the late president of the Mormon church, talks about why he left that church in a highly-publicized break and is now an atheist. Also, attorney Robert R. Teirnan talks about FFRF's newest federal lawsuit, challenging the promotion of churchgoing by a school district in Colorado. Photo by Brent Nicastro.

In honor of "Nobel Week," Freethought Radio talks with Paul D. Boyer, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, 1997, about why he is an atheist, as well as discussing statistics revealing that the overwhelming number of elite scientists are nonbelievers. Prof. Boyer also talks about his support of death with dignity in the face of church opposition to physician-assisted suicide. Photo by Brent Nicastro. (MP3, 38 min, 34.7 MB)

An interview with Ron Reagan about his atheism. Reagan, a radio host and TV commentator, is the son of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Also featuring 17 year old Emma Martens, a high school senior who is leading a walkout of students in Boulder, Colo., to protest "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. And a discussion about the Freethought Renaissance--how unbelief and atheism are increasing in the United States and its popular culture. (MP3, 37 min, 33.8 MB)

Freethought Radio's featured guest is Christopher Hitchens, author of the bestselling "God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything." Freethought Radio is the first nationally-broadcast radio show from the secular point of view! Freethought Radio broadcasts weekly. The show offers programming for nonreligious listeners, as well as countering the religious-right domination of our public airwaves. Freethought Radio features a regular "Theocracy Alert," Dan's "Pagan Pulpit," "Freethinkers Almanac," music and interviews with authors and activists. (MP3, 38 min, 34.7 MB)

Debra Sweet, whose statement to Pres. Nixon as a 19-year-old made international headlines, talks about her continuing activism with the groups Refuse & Resist, and World Can't Wait, both of which are concerned with attacks on the separation between church and state. The show also marks the birthdate of celebrated composer George Gershwin, and airs a current "Theocracy Alert." (MP3, 50 min, 45.7 MB)

Two timely guests: Nebraska State Senator Ernie Chambers talks about his slightly tongue-in-cheek lawsuit, Chambers v. God, commanding headlines this week! And schoolteacher Alan Ginsberg, who teaches third grade in Madison, Wis., talks about the complaint he and the Freedom From Religion Foundation have launched over the distribution of "Jesus Flyers" in Madison public schools. (MP3, 44 min, 40.8 MB)

Jim Haught, author of Holy Hatred, Holy Horror, Honest Doubt: Essays on Atheist and editor in chief of the Charleston Gazette, W.Va., is the guest. There is an important announcement about Freethought Radio going national, and a clip of comedian Kathy Griffin, whose irreverent remarks were censored at some of the Emmy awards. The show also features Irving Berlin's revue song from the 1920s, "Pack Up Your Bags and Go to the Devil in Hades." (MP3, 55 min, 50.3 MB)

Freethought Radio interviews Mikey Weinstein, the retired Air Force attorney who has formed the Military Religious Freedom Foundation to fight high-ranking evangelism in the military. The show covers recent exposes his group has uncovered, including the filming of a video for the Christian Embassy at the Pentagon, "soul saving" by a ministry group in a Pentagon commons, and halting a Pentagon plan to help distribute the "Left Behind" videogame to all soldiers in Iraq. The show also marsk the birthdate of H.L. Mencken, and broadcast "Reincarnation," words by cowboy poet Wallace D. MacRae, music by Dan Barker. (MP3, 47 min, 42.9 MB)

Freethought Radio features veteran investigative reporter Michael Reynolds, author of "Abstinence Gluttons," The Nation Magazine, June 2007. The show also features some timely news updates and commentary. (MP3, 49 min, 22.4 MB)