Student Essay Award Winners (video from the 2026 National Convention of the Freedom From Religion Foundation)

This video captures the voices of three outstanding students who have won essay and activism competitions hosted by FFRF. 

• Isaiah Lopez Ruiz, a first-generation student from Paradise Valley Community College, discusses how white supremacy and Christian nationalism intersect and threaten the principles of a secular democracy. 
• Nyla Woods, a visual communications student from the University of Kansas, explores the historical use of Christianity to uphold white supremacy and the ongoing impact on American democracy. 
• Ash Bu, a Harvard sophomore, shares her efforts to promote atheist visibility on campus and the importance of creating affinity groups for non-religious students to explore their beliefs and values openly. 

Interview: 

https://freethought-tv.maz.tv/apps/846/3135159-3236191?mode=details#3135159-3236191/f7e90d9405c12540676b2c5b4657399f-3386461-3488138/59877387c271d941cb09635a08420c06-4532882-4651579

No Prophets: A Chat with Reps. Jared Huffman and Mark Pocan (video from the 2026 National Convention of the Freedom From Religion Foundation)

In this discussion, Jared Huffman shares his insights on Christian nationalism, its implications on American politics, and the role of secularism in countering these movements. The conversation delves into the theological underpinnings of Christian nationalism, its factions, and how it influenced events like January 6th.

Interview: 

https://freethought-tv.maz.tv/apps/846/3135159-3236191/f7e90d9405c12540676b2c5b4657399f-3386461-3488138/59877387c271d941cb09635a08420c06-4529874-4648558?

Free Betty (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)

After announcing the “Secularist of the Week” and the “Theocrat of the Week,” we speak with Maryam Namazie, president of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Great Britain, about the campaign to release Ibtissame Betty Lachgar from a Moroccan prison for the “crime” of wearing a T-shirt that insults Islam.

Interview: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/free-betty/id152788201?i=1000792626840

The Best Argument for Secularism | Christopher Hitchens #secularism

 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ojJomMU2Ndw

 

Secularism: Defending the US Constitution #shorts #shortsfeed

 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jf0FVSRYHog

 

Weekly Wrap: Debating God, clergy abuse, the Iran conflict and shenanigans in Africa

Our work at the Freedom From Religion Foundation seems to be catching the attention of our adversaries and allies alike...

https://mailchi.mp/ffrf/weekly-wrap-march-6-2026 

Rod Dreher Thinks the Enlightenment Was a Mistake - The Atlantic

The influential author derides secularism and the modern world. Conservatives—including the vice president—are joining him on a march back to the Middle Ages…

 https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/03/rod-dreher-religious-conservativism-jd-vance/685732/

 

The Long Reach of Religion (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)

We listen to Seth Andrews, host of “The Thinking Atheist” podcast, read Dan Barker’s article “The Top 10 Absolute Worst Old Testament Verses.” Then, we hear Washington Post columnist Kate Cohen’s entertaining and thought-provoking speech at FFRF’s 2024 convention called “Tampon Tim and the Long Reach of Religion.”

Interview: 

https://ffrf.org/news/freethought-radio/freethought-today-january-2-2025/

The Science of Sagan (Seth Andrews; The Thinking Atheist podcast)

We lost the great cosmologist and science educator Carl Sagan in the month of December...way back in 1996. His words resonate and inspire as much as ever.

Interview: 

https://www.thethinkingatheist.com/podcast-1/episode/77bc9f1e/the-science-of-sagan

Seth Andrews VS. God: Who is the Better Intelligent Designer?

It is often claimed that the living world MUST have been fine-tuned by a divine master designer. Seth Andrews thinks humans could do better.

Interview: 

https://youtu.be/8iGbOIBDOlk?si=_0a92rkTGv4q8c0y

First Mover Backed By Science? (Atheist Experience call-in show)

Caller thinks he can prove the existence of God to a scientist, a software engineer, and a lawyer, by resorting to the "first mover" argument.  The program's hosts don't agree, and they show him the flaws in his reasoning.

Interview: 

https://youtu.be/uqVhZCTuit8?si=07i43kX78TywIPUD

Happy Winter Solstice (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)

The Winter Solstice (December 21 this year) is the real reason for the season. 

We celebrate this festive time of year with music and freethought humor, including songs and performances by Kristin Lems, Dan Barker, Tim Minchin, Roy Zimmerman, Irving Berlin, Trey Parker, Tom Lehrer, the London Humanist Choir, Ken Lonnquist and Brent Michael Davids.

Interview: 

https://ffrf.org/news/freethought-radio/freethought-today-december-19-2024/

Kate Cohen We of Little Faith - rebalancing (Phil Ferguson Show podcast, episode #506)

1.  Rebalancing investments.

2.  Interview with Kate Cohen. She is the author of We of Little Faith - Why I stopped Pretending to Believe (And Maybe You Should Too).

Interview: 

https://www.podbean.com/ew/dir-c3vxw-21ba0956

As war and religion rages, Israel’s secular elite contemplate a ‘silent departure’

Fears grow of a brain drain that could undermine country's hi-tech economy as liberal families conclude social contract has been broken

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/06/as-war-and-religion-rages-israels-secular-elite-contemplate-a-silent-departure

The Real Reasons Why People Become Atheists (ReligionForBreakfast)

Scholars have identified the primary reason why theists become atheists: Credibility Enhancing Displays, or CREDs for short. CREDs are behaviors that people use to demonstrate their genuine commitment to a belief, value, or principle. These displays make the beliefs seem more credible and trustworthy to others, thereby enhancing the likelihood that observers will adopt similar beliefs or practices. Basically, if your co-religionists are not "practicing what they preach," there is a higher likelihood a theist will become an atheist.

This video was made possible through the support of Grant 61928 from the John Templeton Foundation managed by The Queen’s University of Belfast. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation or The Queen’s University of Belfast.
Interview: 

https://youtu.be/rX4I_WaxDoU?si=R_HAk1E_AIMGEXG8

00:00 Is rationality a cause of atheism?
4:06 The Three Other Pathways to Atheism
4:51 Mentalizing
6:39 Motivation / Apatheism
8:29 inCREDulous Atheism

Secularism and Hindu Nationalism in the World's Largest Secular Democracy (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)

After summarizing secular activism and victories around the country, we talk about secularism and Hindu nationalism in India (the world’s largest secular democracy) with our two guests: activist Shabnam Hashmi from India and Professor Barry A. Kosmin from here in the United States. Interspersed through the show is the music of freethinking jazz legend Charlie “Bird” Parker, whose birth anniversary we celebrate today.

Interview: 

https://ffrf.org/news/freethought-radio/freethought-today-august-29-2024/

Why Religion is Collapsing in Modern Societies | Ryan Cragun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m6EQLc-7ek

Disbelief: The Origins of Atheism in a Religious Species (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)

Project 2025 and “divine intervention” are discussed, as well as state/church complaints and victories in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Illinois, New Jersey and Tennessee. 

FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence joins us to talk about our legal victory allowing a nonreligious after-school group to meet on campus alongside the religious Good News Club in Memphis, Tenn. 

Then, we talk with evolutionary psychologist Will M. Gervais about his new book Disbelief: The Origins of Atheism in a Religious Species.

Interview: 

https://ffrf.org/news/freethought-radio/freethought-today-july-25-2024/

Writer Shalom Auslander catalogs his lifelong battle with self-contempt in 'Feh' (Tonya Mosley; Fresh Air podcast)

The story of "Feh" is just the first story in a long book of similar stories, the collection of which is a book called "You Suck." The first part of "You Suck" is known as the Old Testament. Spoiler alert - Moses, the main character, dies before reaching his goal. Why? Because he was feh. The second part of "You Suck" is known as the New Testament. Spoiler alert - it ends with God making a huge wine press, filling it with millions of people, and crushing them to death. Why? Guess. Most people who read the Old Testament don't read the New. Most people who read the New Testament don't read the Old. They don't have to. They're the same story - feh.

Interview: 

https://www.npr.org/2024/07/18/g-s1-11890/writer-shalom-auslander-catalogs-his-lifelong-battle-with-self-contempt-in-feh

 

Rethinking Islam: with Adam Elmasri (The Thinking Atheist podcast)

Egypt-born Adam Elmasri is a human rights activist educating people about the (many) problems with fundamentalist religions...including and especially Islam.

Interview: 

https://youtu.be/fMSVNPBl7Jg?si=QHjKrpmscdlr1j_B