Sean visited the Reason Rally in Washington DC on June 4, 2016, and Mark was one of several CVAAS members who hosted a table at the Skeptical Conference in Oakland, CA on May 15, 2016.
Sean and Mark discuss these events, the people they met, and what they learned.
As a bonus, singer and bassist Joey Fabian has provided the podcast music for this episode!  If you like Joey’s music, check him out on iTunes.  You can also find him on Facebook, and at his website.

Rational Horizon 05 – Sean and Mark talk about being at the Reason Rally and SkeptiCal conference

The Central Valley Alliance of Atheists and Skeptics hosts two different podcast series.  "The CVAAS Lecture Series", where guest speakers, lecturers, and CVAAS members speak or debate in public.  And the podcast "Rational Horizon", where CVAAS members interview interesting people, discuss skepticism, religious apologetics, and events that impact secular and skeptical people in the San Joaquin Valley.

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9th Annual Heretic’s Barbecue
In this edition of Rational Horizon, Mark Boyd interviews Jess and Jordan Fitzpatrick, and their friend Rain Chamberlain about issues important to the Transgender and Transsexual community.
Jess and Jordan are speakers at this year’s 9th Annual Heretic’s Barbecue.  You can find their printed biography on the event web page.
In this episode of Rational Horizon, Jess, Jordan and Rain help Mark understand some of the more pressing problems that are faced by people who are changing their gender.  While the gay and lesbian community have made great strides in acceptance and legal equality, the trans community is lagging far behind, for several reasons.
Mark learns about these reasons, which include attacks against trans people through conservative-sponsored legislation, through social and workplace discrimination, through violence, and through mindless computerized bureaucracy.  
We also discuss what the Fresno trans community is doing to assist transgender and transsexual people in need, and what they are doing in order to raise visibility and awareness of trans people with other Central Valley organizations.
This podcast was produced from the interview audio.  The original audio is available to listen to in its entirety in the Members drop-down menu.  Only paid members of CVAAS can access this audio.  If you would like to become a member, check our our store.  Members also receive a $5.00 discount from Heretic’s Barbecue tickets.


Rational Horizon 06 – The “T” in LGBT – Transgender & Transsexual issues.  Justice for All!

In this podcast CVAAS presents Brian Dunning at the 5th Annual Heretic’s Barbecue, held October 7th, 2012. 
Mr. Dunning gives his skeptical presentation of 5 different miracles or miraculous events.  These events include: 

The Incorruptible Monk – a monk who died in 1927, and whose body has never degraded.

The Angels of Mons – a group of angels who are said to have protected the British Army from the Germans in the Battle of Mons in World War I.

The Miracle of Calanda – a farmer’s amputated leg is miraculously restored.

John Frum and the Cargo Cults of Vanuatu – The mythology and religion of cargo cults.

The Virgin of Guadalupe – The miraculous appearance of the Virgin Mary before Juan Diego.

Apologies for the poor recording.  There was a lot of ambient noise, and a lot of cleaning up and removing some very intrusive noises.  
Since 2012 CVAAS has been working toward making better quality recordings, and we will bring better podcasts to you in the future.  
You can hear more of Brian Dunning on his own podcast, from the “Skeptoid” podcast website.
The CVAAS Heretic’s Barbecue is an annual event that happens every year in late October.  This event has been increasing in size since it started, and is always a great time to get together and celebrate with other secular and skeptical people and their supporters.  
We have a great lunch, some excellent presentations, and crafts and activities.  In the past we have created our own UFOs, made pottery on a real potter’s wheel, made T-shirt art, traveled through “bad luck” gauntlets, committed homeopathic “suicide” and even walked on water!
What is coming up in future Heretic’s Barbecues?  Check out cvaas.org and find out!  And instead of hearing our speakers in a podcast, you can hear them while having some delicious barbecue among secular and skeptical friends.


CVAAS Lecture Series – 03 – Brian Dunning – “Five Miracles”

In April 2008, the New Covenant Church of Fresno held a debate and symposium they called, “In Defense of Faith”.  This program was created by New Covenant in order to help its membership, “Explore (religious and secular) issues in depth and gain valuable skills in defending your faith in God and His plan for salvation.”
On April 18th, 2008, the New Covenant Church hosted a debate on the question of God.  This debate took place between Dinesh D’Souza and Michael Shermer.  On April 19th, New Covenant hosted a “Defense of Faith Symposium” which included Dinesh D’Souza as their keynote speaker, and included five “breakout sessions”.  
This recording is the result of one of those sessions, labeled in the schedule as, “A Conversation: Views on Christianity & Atheism”.  This was a moderated table discussion presented for “students only” and took place in the New Covenant Student Ministries building.
The participants of this discussion included – 
Theists:

Loren Pancratz – college minister at New Covenant 
Dr. Avak Albert Howsepian – Psychiatrist, and member of the 1st Armenian Presbyterian Church

Atheists:

Mark Boyd – Cofounder & President of CVAAS – electronic engineer
Richard Moore – Cofounder & Vice President of CVAAS – software engineer

Moderator:

Scott Hatfield – high school science teacher and evolutionary biologist.  Methodist. 

This was originally produced to be part of the CVAAS monthly podcast series, and the introduction reflects this.  The audio is of good quality, and is due to New Covenant allowing CVAAS to connect our recording equipment directly to their sound system.  CVAAS was granted permission to publish this audio, and it was active on our older website.  Please be aware that due to the date of this recording, some references are no longer timely.
CVAAS is bringing this audio back online for everyone to hear. 
 

Moderated table discussion between CVAAS and New Covenant church at the “Defense of Faith” symposium

Christianity in the California Central Valley gets a lot of attention.  In this August 2009 program Terry Phillips interviews guests with different perspectives.  
These guests include Reverend Kurt Rye of the Fresno Buddhist Temple; Amanda Peterson, President, Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno; and Mark Boyd, President & Co/Founder of the Central Valley Alliance of Atheists and Skeptics.
During Mark’s interview, Terry asks what is an atheist and what is a skeptic.  And Mark explains the beginnings of the atheist visibility movement, and why the motto “In God We Trust” is exclusive of some citizens, while the motto “E pluribus unum” is inclusive of all Americans.
Terry Phillips is no longer with Valley Public Radio, and his show, “Quality of Life” is off the air.  However, you can listen to archived shows of “Quality of Life” through the Internet Archive.  

Link to Internet Archive “Quality of Life” episode, “Religious Philosophy”.
Link to “Quality of Life” show on the Internet Archive.
Link to Wikipedia article on Terry Phillips.

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“Religious Philosophy” Mark Boyd interviewed on KVPR

Central Valley Alliance of Atheists and Skeptics

Rational Horizon 05 – Sean and Mark talk about being at the Reason Rally and SkeptiCal conference

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