I Took A Gay Conversion Class for Christian Teens. It Was Awful. (Drew / Genetically Modified Skeptic)

“The Holy Sexuality Project” wants kids to stop being gay. Can they pull it off?

Dr. Christopher Yuan of Moody Bible Institute used to live as a gay man, but now no longer identifies as gay. He does not use the term ex-gay or ex-LGBT, but embraces what he calls Holy Sexuality. His curriculum for parents of LGBT kids explains why. Is this gay conversion therapy? How does gay conversion therapy work? Can you go from gay to straight? Can you stop being gay? Can Christians support LGBT people? Is being transgender anti-science? Here I answer all of those questions.

Interview: 

https://youtu.be/-QnyYMEy3HA?si=w3RQdzCwu7wkFIHJ

I Took a Gay Conversion Course for Christian 9-Year-Olds. (Drew McCoy/Genetically Modified Skeptic on YouTube)

Christopher Yuan is an Evangelical Christian who made a class called the Holy Sexuality Project. It's awful.

Interview: 

https://youtu.be/U6AAHG1TOZ0?si=lREi8UXuZCnYYbyi

The Cultural Marxism Conspiracy Theory (w/AJA Woods) (Conspirituality podcast Brief)

AJA Woods (The Cultural Marxism Conspiracy) joins Matthew to trace how "cultural Marxism" mutated from Nazi "cultural Bolshevism" and the British Union of Fascists' attacks on modernist art, through Lyndon LaRouche's CIA-brainwashing lore, into Paul Weyrich and William Lind's 1990s "political correctness" rebrand, Pat Buchanan and the Tea Party's free-floating panic, Andrew Breitbart's arugula jokes, before finally landing as Christopher Rufo's anti-CRT crusade and James Lindsay's "Race Marxism."

Woods argues the throughline isn't honest scholarship on the Frankfurt School but a recurring move: relabel any liberation struggle—civil rights, feminism, trans rights, climate action—as an elite conspiracy, so its gains can be revoked as "foreign" corruption. Should sane people keep participating in these "debates" or refuse the frame and point to material stakes instead?
Interview: 

https://www.conspirituality.net/episodes/brief-cultural-marxism-conspiracy-theory-aja-woods

Can White Evangelicals Be Defended? (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podcast #652)

— Bonnie Kristian’s “Defense of Evangelicalism” avoids the real problem. (0:17)

— Christian missionaries were not kicked out of Burning Man for preaching the Gospel. (38:04)

— The Supreme Court could let Catholic preschools discriminate on the taxpayers’ dime. (46:19)

— Here are the openly non-religious candidates for state/federal office in 2026. (56:30)
Interview: 

• Audio podcast: https://friendlyatheistpodcast.com/2026/09/09/can-white-evangelicals-be-defended/
• YouTube video with Jessica: https://www.youtube.com/live/Gs6JAyEf3e0?si=3eLLaOgLzcYBcXH3
• YouTube video without Jessica: https://www.youtube.com/live/Gs6JAyEf3e0?si=ADeNcI6xHDx3sskE

Justice Dept. Releases False "Anti-Catholic" Bias Report (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podcast #651)

— Justice Department “Weaponization” report falsely accuses FBI of anti-Catholic bias. (0:55)

— Maine Supreme Court says dad can block daughter from attending mom’s harmful church. (27:30)

— Texas evangelist raises flag lowered for Dolly Parton in anti-LGBTQ stunt. (46:17)

— Christian Nationalist preacher claims his ministry has raised “over 50 people” from the dead. (57:30)

— New Jersey didn’t ban prayer outside abortion clinics, but Christians are lying about it anyway. (1:06:20)
Interview: 

https://friendlyatheistpodcast.com/2026/09/02/justice-dept-releases-false-anti-catholic-bias-report/

Friendly Atheist News Roundup 8/13/2026 -- Christian Beauty Queen Loses Crown Over Racist Posts (VIDEO Podcast Ep. 648)

0:00 Intro
1:34 Miss North Carolina USA said she lost her crown due to her faith. Then the racist posts surfaced.
10:55 Virginia school district sued after repeatedly changing rules to block LGBTQ student club.
23:10 School officials face charges after trans wrestler controversy fueled by the religious right.
35:15 An anti-trans Christian activist is furious that a reporter quoted her accurately.
43:00 Trump is trying to change childhood vaccine recommendations.
54:30 Oklahoma candidate James Taylor has turned his classroom into a Christian campaign studio.
Interview: 

• With Jessica: https://youtu.be/L7GKDL86puM?si=k9vVJvCIwkiNaC7-

• Without Jessica: https://www.youtube.com/live/W2DLFV6Zssc?si=vQKI4URGylAkDVHr

Friendly Atheist News Roundup 8/6/2026: Anti-LGBTQ Food Bank Leader Rejects Gay Food (VIDEO Podcast Ep. 647)

0:00 Intro
0:55 Annoying "Sky Evangelist" kicked off airline after scaring everyone with her preaching.
13:03 West Virginia pastor rejects food over LGBTQ support. Now his food bank is empty.
24:46 Missouri Republicans threaten to defund library over books about a rainbow dinosaur and a wig.
34:48 Florida AG threatens to defund Catholic schools unless they loosen vaccination rules.
46:20 Three Texas moms cite "religious freedom" to strike down state's Ten Commandments law.

Interview: 

• Without Jessica: https://www.youtube.com/live/jHndS3begSU?si=fpOLaZtWfmtQkhyx

• With Jessica: https://youtu.be/OhU8Gyz2fdE?si=6BWuqDsivi-OLYS8

Tribe Tells Pastor to Get Off Reservation (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podcast #645)

— Arapaho tribe tells pastor to leave reservation after she trashes their sacred traditions. (1:07)

— Mylie Biggs, who believes women shouldn’t vote, is now on the ballot to become an Arizona State Senator. (16:00)

— Hospital rejects Christian pregnancy center’s anti-LGBTQ doctor pledge. (23:12)

— Focus on the Family has advice for estranged parents. An apology isn’t part of it. (40:05)

— Arkansas won a fake “religious liberty” contest. Sarah Huckabee Sanders wants praise for it. (59:15)

— An LGBTQ arts venue opened in a former church in Australia. Christians shut it down. (1:11:25)
Interview: 

https://youtu.be/fCUH-xmCve8?si=kqEjWfo3tIFqdwH3

-- or -

https://www.youtube.com/live/hRp-CF8j024?si=ho5cZ07hX-Z_Yojm

Christian Momfluencer Wants White Babies (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podcast #644)

— Christian influencer brags that she had six kids to “help the white race.” (0:41)
— Lindsey Graham was an opponent of church/state separation. (16:28)
— Pastor files discrimination lawsuit after losing library job over pronouns. (21:51)
— A pro-Trump activist is raising money to install a giant Christian cross on the moon. (33:45)
— Indiana’s Lt. Gov. says Muslims shouldn’t be allowed to have “public calls to prayer.” (45:35)
— Evangelical GOP candidate Rod Joseph: “You cannot be born gay. That’s impossible.” (53:27)
— Tennessee gubernatorial candidate Monty Fritts is trying to out-Christian Marsha Blackburn. (1:03:59)
Interview: 

Without Jessica:

https://www.youtube.com/live/ZO2rlKtcpeU?si=ko8n7JZ9FF_XZjcM

With Jessica:

https://youtu.be/cAd-B4hMA3w?si=FnyCgStzi_-bNOqQ

Student Voices on Christian Nationalism (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)

We look at a new federal “religious liberty” report that could significantly reshape church-state separation in the United States, along with a Supreme Court ruling allowing states to ban transgender girls from school sports. We feature award-winning essays by three students – Gabrielle Williams, Jaianah Hightower and MeKah’E LeClair. 

We also hear Dan Barker’s opening statement from a recent debate on whether the God of the Bible exists.

Interview: 

https://ffrf.org/news/freethought-radio/freethought-today-july-2-2026/

VIDEO Podcast Ep. 641: The Downfall of Jackson Lahmeyer (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podast #641)

• 0:00 Intro
• 1:07 SCOTUS says Rastafarian can't sue prison guards who violated his faith and cut off his dreadlocks.
• 14:30 Trump-backed pastor Jackson Lahmeyer drops out of congressional race after sexting scandal.
• 34:50 MLB warns San Francisco Giants players after anti-LGBTQ protest on "Pride Night."
• 48:48 Conservatives claim a trans wrestler assaulted her opponent. The video tells a different story.
• 1:16:39 The Mormon Church is trying to sue a critic into silence. Now he's fighting back.
• 1:31:54 Christian adoption giant reverses course, shutting out prospective LGBTQ parents.

Interview: 

https://youtu.be/eEPfUrXj8Ik?si=RCWGY8u8dpd7hOQg

Weekly Roundup: From Neo-Nazi Remigration to Military Christian Nationalism (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast)

 This week on Straight White American Jesus, Brad and Dan trace the connections between Trump-era immigration policy, rising far-right extremism, and a growing international movement built around the idea of "remigration." Beginning with unrest at New Jersey's Delaney Hall detention center, they examine former ICE official Greg Bovino's appearance at a European far-right conference and discuss how anti-immigrant rhetoric, Christian nationalism, and white identity politics are increasingly intertwined on both sides of the Atlantic. 

The conversation explores how language, policy, and political movements reinforce one another—and what it means when American officials and European extremists are drawing inspiration from the same playbook. 

 The episode also dives into new Gallup polling showing declining support for LGBTQ+ rights after decades of gains, particularly among Republicans, and considers how coordinated religious and political campaigns have reshaped public opinion. Brad and Dan connect these trends to battles over schools, charter education, and public funding, while also unpacking Pete Hegseth's efforts to narrow religious representation in the military chaplaincy. 

They close with a discussion of free speech, the courts' response to the "8647" controversy, and several signs of hope—including a federal court ruling protecting transgender service members and the ongoing celebration of Pride Month. 

Along the way, they share exciting news about the next chapter of Axis Mundi Media, including new live programming, The Daily Brief, and plans to expand independent coverage of religion, democracy, and power. Axis Mundi is becoming more than a podcast network. We are building the essential newsroom for understanding religion, democracy, extremism, and power in America today. And with your support, we can build it together. Direct support: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Tax-deductible donations through our partnering 501c3: https://www.irmce.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Interview: 

• Audio only: https://www.straightwhiteamericanjesus.com/episodes/weekly-roundup-from-neo-nazi-remigration-to-military-christian-nationalism?hsLang=en
• YouTube video: https://youtu.be/Vm2xgKpod4Q?si=xvejWrbZOGQM31Im

License to Discriminate (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)

We report on Trump’s Christian-nationalist “Rededicate 250″ rally in Washington, D.C., last Sunday. Then, Hope Pisoni of Uncloseted Media and John Washington of Lookout tell us about their joint report, “Your License Plate Might Be Funding an Anti-LGBTQ Extremist Group.”

Interview: 

https://ffrf.org/news/freethought-radio/freethought-today-may-21-2026/

Transformative Immunity (Andrew McCabe and Allison Gill; Unjustified podcast)

On Wednesday, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the District of Columbia Bar over its efforts to discipline Trump Administration lawyers.

Kash Patel was caught falsifying Bureau statistics to boost his record of arrests in the face of congressional criticism for his alleged drinking habit.

New York’s Attorney Grievance Committee found “sufficient basis for a finding of professional misconduct” against disqualified US Attorney John Sarcone III.

A Trump appointed judge has accused the Justice Department of appalling and unsettling behavior in a case over subpoenas for patient information regarding gender affirming care.

Plus listener questions.
Interview: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unjustified/id1317481380?i=1000768234692

Weekly Roundup: No Catholics at the Pentagon, Trump as Jesus + the Conversion Therapy Court Case (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast)

In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, hosts Brad Onishi and Dan Miller unpack a chaotic and revealing week at the intersection of politics, religion, and power. As Donald Trump once again compares himself to Jesus during the lead-up to Easter, the hosts explore what they see as a deepening pattern of religious distortion within MAGA Christianity—where theological consistency gives way to political loyalty. The conversation situates Trump’s rhetoric alongside broader trends, including a controversial decision tied to U.S. Supreme Court on conversion therapy laws and mounting concerns over religious favoritism within the Pentagon under Pete Hegseth. Together, these developments paint a picture of a movement increasingly defined by power, hierarchy, and ideological purity rather than coherent moral or theological principles.

The episode also dives into the implications of an 8–1 Supreme Court ruling that weakens state-level bans on conversion therapy, raising urgent questions about free speech, medical ethics, and the vulnerability of LGBTQ+ individuals. Onishi and Miller highlight the emotional and political weight of the decision, especially amid rising hostility toward queer and trans communities. 

They close with a discussion of the scandal surrounding Kristi Noem and her husband, using it as a lens to push hypocrisy, gender norms, and the authoritarian logic of “order” that underpins Christian nationalism. Despite the heaviness of the topics, the hosts end with cautious optimism, pointing to signs of political pushback and everyday acts of resistance as reasons for hope.
Interview: 

https://www.podbean.com/ew/dir-58usk-2c85e08a

Conversion Therapy (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)

Attorney Sam Grover describes FFRF’s court victory demanding the removal of the Ten Commandments from the Arkansas capitol. Then, activist Lucas F. W. Wilson, a survivor of “conversion therapy,” discusses his book Shame-Sex Attraction: Survivors’ Stories of Conversion Therapy.

Interview: 

https://ffrf.org/news/freethought-radio/freethought-today-april-2-2026/

SCOTUS Turns US Teachers Into Religious Police (Andrew Seidel; One Nation, Indivisible podcast Episode #054)

Noem is out; Markwayne Mullin is in. There are reasons to criticize him, but January 6th is not one. 

The Supreme Court issues another shadow docket decision that targets LGBTQ kids and grants absurd power to religious parents. Schools may not be the same. 

Did commanders really tell soldiers we were going to war with Iran to bring on Armageddon? There’s really good reasons to be skeptical. 

Plus, Talarico wins and says God is nonbinary, WaPo thinks we need evangelicals on the Supreme Court, and those evangelicals lay hands on and pray over Trump in the Oval Office. Ick.  

• Mirabelli v. Bonta decision 
• Ian Milhiser for Vox on the Mirabelli decision  
• “Before you share that story about how troops were told the Iran War is for ‘Armageddon,’ read this” AND YOU NEED TO READ IT.

Interview: 

https://www.podbean.com/ew/dir-yixy3-2bd35eed

"Ex-Gay" Christian Was Taught to Hate Himself Over Vibes | Justin DZ & Sara LeavingFaith (YouTube)

Luke from Minnesota calls in to defend Christianity using intuition and Romans 1, claiming everyone knows God exists but suppresses it. When Justin and Sara challenge his evidence, Luke admits he relies on feelings and that creation "just obviously" points to God. 

The conversation takes a darker turn when Luke reveals he's a former gay man who abandoned homosexuality through Christianity. The hosts express compassion while pointing out Luke has been taught to hate himself. 

As the discussion continues, Luke admits uncertainty about biblical authority and his pastor's teachings, yet lives by rigid rules based on "Holy Spirit guidance" which Justin dismisses as "just vibes." Sara confronts Luke with characteristics of cult behavior that match his church experience, including claims of special knowledge and distrust of outside information. 

The call ends with Sara offering resources for leaving high-control religion and both hosts expressing heartbreak that Luke has been programmed to hate who he is. Throughout, the hosts use Socratic questioning to expose contradictions in Luke's epistemology.

Interview: 

https://youtu.be/7KzLQoOWPPY?si=ttGunT_t3RNANCBQ

Texas Conservatives Are Scared of James Talarico (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podast #621)

— The “Greater Than” campaign claims loving gay parents are the real threat to kids. (2:18)

— Republicans are panicking because James Talarico wants people to act more like Jesus. (31:25)

— New Hampshire Republicans want to change their constitution so it favors Christianity. (48:50)

— The Texas Board of Education plans to force kids to read the Bible in public schools. (1:00:40)

— Church/state groups file motion to help block proposed Christian charter school in Tennessee. (1:13:20)
Interview: 

https://friendlyatheistpodcast.com/2026/02/05/texas-conservatives-are-scared-of-james-talarico/

Weekly Roundup: Cruelty as Policy, From Healthcare to Trans Panic (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast)

Dan Miller unpacks how Republican policy and ideology are converging around harm rather than governance. He begins with healthcare, breaking down how congressional action allowed Affordable Care Act subsidies to lapse and what that means for millions of Americans who rely on them. Rather than offering alternatives, the GOP continues to frame healthcare through an ideological lens that treats public support as illegitimate, even when the human cost is clear.

From there, Dan traces the familiar shift from policy failure to moral panic, focusing on the escalating attacks on trans youth. He examines the House passage of Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Protect Children’s Innocence Act, the Trump administration’s push to ban gender affirming care for minors, and recent FDA actions targeting breast binders. Dan connects these moves to a broader right wing strategy that defines itself through opposition to marginalized groups, warning that restrictions justified in the name of protecting children and morality often pave the way for wider government overreach. He closes by looking at Pete Hegseth’s influence inside the military and the dangers of folding Christian nationalism into institutions meant to serve a pluralistic society.
Interview: 

https://www.podbean.com/ew/dir-w8in9-29ab3733