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Dr. Michael Shermer is the founding publisher of Skeptic Magazine and author of several books, including "The Moral Arc: How Science and Reason Lead Humanity Toward Truth, Justice and Freedom," and "Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition and Other Confusions of our Time."  

In this conversation with Seth Andrews, Dr. Shermer addresses some of the recent (and alarming) statements made by educated and (it would seem) very intelligent public figures, and we explore the relationship between the intelligent and the irrational brain.

Video of the interview with Michael Shermer:  https://youtu.be/jLEQCipy6NM

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This podcast is a digression from our usual subject matter...a romp through the interesting explanations of random sayings, occurrences, facts and traditions.  What makes a cat purr?  Why do weddings have a "best man?"  Why do tennis scores use "love" instead of "zero?"  Why do people choose chopsticks over the fork?  Why is it "soccer" in America and "football" in Europe?  Can a human live for any length of time exposed in space?  Etc.

We won't change the world with this show, but as seekers of knowledge (even trivial knowledge), we'll learn some interesting stuff, and we'll have some fun together.  Enjoy

OATMEAL article "Who VS Whom:"  http://theoatmeal.com/comics/who_vs_whom

 

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Another year closes its doors, and we look forward to 2016.  In advance of the New Year holiday, we take a look back at many of the people and events that defined the past twelve months. 

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David Silverman is a self-proclaimed "atheist billboard" and "firebrand atheist."  As President of American Atheists, he has been at the point position on many controversial issues (and the occasional lawsuit), and he has just released a new book called, "Fighting God: An Atheist Manifesto for a Religious World."

David spoke with Seth Andrews about the book, the lightning rod of David's particular brand of activism, and the rise of non-belief in America.  

This conversation can also be seen on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/9aSyjQjC2yo

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This will be the last radio podcast until the Christmas holiday.  It's a romp around the globe, as we explore some Christmas traditions beyond Santa, Frosty the Snowman, holiday ham, and the baby Jesus. 


Get ready for Christmas witches, fried chicken feasts, Festivus ("for the rest of us"), the Spanish pooper, and of course, the Krampus.

Seth writes about the Krampus (and many other things) in his book, "Sacred Cows: a Lighthearted Look at Belief and Tradition Around the World."

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This is a 30-minute conversation between Seth Andrews and YouTube activist Steve Shives, recorded recently at the Pennsylvania Atheist/Humanist Conference in Harrisburg, PA.  

Video of this conversation can be seen here:  https://youtu.be/2Q4Yv3rgv-0

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"War On Christmas" has been used so much in the media, it has become a parody of itself.  And yet many still hold to the belief that the baby Jesus is under attack by atheists and secular humanists, and the protests sound at full volume every December.

In this broadcast, we talk about some of the noise out there, and we speak to Andrew Seidel of the Freedom From Religion Foundation about the holiday, church/state separation, lawsuits over nativity scenes, atheist holiday celebrations and more.

Andrew Siedel on
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Andrew-L-Seidel-750945458347916/?fref=ts
Twitter:  @AndrewLSeidel

CHRISTMAS: BEHIND THE CURTAIN:
YouTube:  https://youtu.be/kenbgMjRvlY
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/seth.andrews.31/videos/vb.100001992705053/931270510282697/?type=2&theater

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From time to time, we do an unscripted broadcast where the listeners provide the theme and content.  This is one of those shows.  Lots of random stuff in here.  Enjoy.

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This podcast features the audio from Seth Andrews' presentation at FreeFlo 2015, the Freethought Florida Conference in Orlando.  The speech is an often lighthearted (but occasionally alarming) exploration of "sacred" ideas and practices in the 21st century, and it explores the merits of retiring damaging rituals in favor of better ones.

SPEECH VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/biBULlkmBFE

VIDEO WITH NATHAN PHELPS "Something Beautiful":  https://youtu.be/L6IPFyHEv3o  

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Religious parents and institutions know the importance of a child's developmental years, and how difficult it is to tell/sell supernatural claims once the child reaches his or her teen years.  

In this podcast, Seth Andrews explores the "programming" of young minds, and explores the difference between education and indoctrination.  Capping the show is the personal story of a young woman named Kaitlyn, whose apostasy prompted her devout Mormon parents to kick her out of her home.

The Tiny Thinkers project:  https://www.gofundme.com/tinythinkers

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