Freethought Radio

"Christian nationalists are truly in la-la land," says Annie Laurie Gaylor. We cover state/church news in Tennessee, Arizona, Maine, Wisconsin and Louisiana. To honor Earth Day (April 22), after hearing satiric songwriter Roy Zimmerman perform his climate-change song "We Are The Worst," well-known Wisconsin TV meteorologist Bob Lindmeier tells us that "climate change is serious and solvable."

We talk about Charlie Chaplin, the “Lucy” fossil, the eclipse, and state/church issues in Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, Arizona, Utah, Louisiana and Uganda. Then, we speak with journalism Professor Diane Winston about her new book Righting the American Dream: How the Media Mainstreamed Reagan’s Evangelical Vision.

We talk about the eclipse, an intersex atheist, and a freethinking songwriter. We report on state/church complaints and victories. Then, we speak with Danielle Nagle, director of the Matilda Joslyn Gage Museum in upper New York state dedicated to the 19th-century feminist, abolitionist, author of the 1893 book Woman, Church and State, and advocate for secular government.

Abortion is in the news this week. FFRF attorneys analyze oral arguments in the mifepristone (abortion pill) case before the Supreme Court that was taken by religious-right groups. Then, we speak with U.K. journalist Siân Norris about her book Bodies Under Siege: How the Far-Right Attack on Reproductive Rights Went Global.

Many FFRF victories and legal complaints to talk about this week. Since today is "Pi Day," and π is irrational, we hear the irreverent Joe Hill song about the irrational belief of "pie in the sky" called "The Preacher and the Slave." Then we speak with Steven Emmert, Executive Director of the Secular Coalition for America, working to "protect the equal rights of nonreligious Americans."

After we report on state/church violations and victories in Illinois, California, Kentucky, Alabama, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, FFRF's Senior Policy Counsel Ryan Jayne tells us "everything you need to know about public school chaplain bills" that are being introduced in many states. Then, we speak with Wisconsin state Sen. Kelda Roys, an openly atheistic public official who is working to improve this world.

“Welcome to the end of democracy,” said a Christian nationalist leader. This week, we parse many of such anti-democratic comments made by evangelical leaders. After hearing a Spanish-language version of the love song “It's Only Natural,” we talk with Enrico Gnaulati, author of the book Flourishing Love: A Secular Guide to Lasting Intimate Relationships.

This week we talk about Christian nationalism, leaving the Mormon Church, and religion in the classroom. After listening to part of our TV interview with Rep. Jared Huffman about the theocratic Speaker of the House, we talk with historian Robin Vose, author of The Index of Prohibited Books: Four Centuries of Struggle Over Word and Image for the Greater Glory of God.

Emily Olson, a very brave member of the Owosso, Michigan city council, tells us what happened when she challenged prayer at board meetings. Then we speak with the founder and president of Atheists in Kenya Harrison Mumia about that group's successful lawsuit challenging government discrimination against atheists and their activities to promote human rights in a country drenched with religion.

We report on FFRF state/church victories and complaints and honor the 2023 "Secularist of the Year." After welcoming the New Year by hearing the sparkling performance of Godless Gospel, we speak with FFRF contributing writer Barbara Alvarez about the current state of abortion rights and the challenges we will face in 2024 as Christian nationalists continue to restrict women's healthcare.

On this important date, we remind listeners of the real reason for the season: the Winter Solstice. After reporting on FFRF’s Solstice and “Bill of Rights nativity” scenes erected on public property to counter religious displays, we hear from the justice correspondent for The Nation magazine, Elie Mystal, author of the book Allow Me To Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution.

Secularism is growing around the world, and in the United States resistance to Christian nationalism is increasing. FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence and FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line join us to talk about some of the encouraging state/church legal victories (in court and out of court) that the FFRF legal staff has been winning in recent weeks.