Skip to content
Log in Join free
Humanism Now cover art

Humanise Live

Humanism Now

A Philosophy , Society & Culture and Science podcast

#94 in Philosophy · 🇨🇦 #178 in Philosophy · 🇳🇬
Good podcast? Give it some love!

About the show

⁠⁠Support Humanism Now and join our community⁠⁠. Every episode, guest and transcript is at ⁠humanism.now⁠. Humanism Now is a weekly podcast for anyone curious about secular humanism and making the most of the one life we have. Host James Hodgson, founder of podcast studio Humanise Live, is joined by scientists, philosophers, campaigners, authors and everyday people who are building a fairer world, cultivating human flourishing and celebrating the joy of being human. Every episode is a long-form interview that takes one hard ethical question seriously, using reason and evidence rather than dogma, and always with compassion for the people involved. Recurring themes include: secular ethics and moral philosophy freedom of religion or belief and human rights Resisting nationalism and the future of democracy AI ethics, technology and what it means to stay human climate action, equality and social justice science, scepticism and critical thinking awe, meaning and our place in the cosmos You will come away with ideas you can actually use: better arguments, better questions, and practical ways to live an ethical, purpose-driven life while understanding more about yourself, other people and the universe. Whether you are a lifelong humanist or simply curious about a naturalistic worldview, hit follow and join a global community working towards a fairer, kinder and more rational world, for this generation and the next. Every episode, guest and transcript is at humanism.now. Support Humanism Now and join our community Follow @HumanismNowPod on YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X | Bluesky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live, a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies and individuals across the globe. To start your own podcast, visit humanise.live or email hello@humanise.live. Music credit: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible and should not be treated as a fully accurate record of the conversation.

Newest episodes

What Makes Us Human? Neanderthals, Denisovans and Our Origins | Oscar Lozada

1 hr 0 min

Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! What if our view of ourselves as a unique species is wrong? This week we are joined by Oscar Lozada, an archaeologist and biological anthropologist at the University of Cambridge, to explore the other ways of being human: the Neanderthals of Shanidar Cave, the Denisovans, and a growing cast of newly discovered human relatives. We dig into the "old man" of Shanidar, whose healed injuries hint that Neanderthals cared for their own; the long history of seeing these people as a mirror for our own prejudices; the explosion of new human species and the "ghost" lineages hiding in our DNA; why Homo sapiens ended up the sole survivors; and what deep history can teach us about climate change and extinction today. "Over the last 170 years, Neanderthals have been a mirror for how we view ourselves. We've projected onto them everything we don't want to be." — Oscar Lozada About the guest Oscar Lozada is a PhD researcher in archaeology and biological anthropology at the University of Cambridge, studying the palaeoecology of the Neanderthals of Shanidar Cave in Iraqi Kurdistan. A zoologist by training, he worked in rural development across sub-Saharan Africa before a master's in prehistoric archaeology at Oxford, and has excavated early human sites in Britain, Morocco and Iraq. He is also a science communicator, posting as "Oz of the Ancients." In this episode Shanidar Cave and the "old man" whose healed injuries suggest Neanderthals cared for one another, plus the famous flower-burial story and why it's now doubted A whistle-stop tour of human evolution: Homo erectus, Neanderthals, the Denisovans ("Dragon Man"), Homo floresiensis, Homo naledi, and the ghost lineages in our DNA Why Homo sapiens are the sole survivors, and what deep history teaches us about climate adaptation, extinction, and reading our own past in the world around us Links and references Oscar Lozada, University of Cambridge profile: https://www.arch.cam.a...

Katherine Stewart on Christian Nationalism, Trump and the Fight for Democracy

46 min

Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! www.humanism.now Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Two years ago, Katherine Stewart came on the show with a stark warning about the long campaign of Christian nationalism in the United States. A lot has happened since. As the US approaches the midterm elections, she returns to take stock: the changes, the corruption, the resistance, and what the next two years could bring, in America and well beyond it. James Hodgson and Katherine discuss presidential overreach and what she calls the most lawless administration in American history, how the movement long predated Trump and will outlast him, the "persecution narrative" used to justify stripping away others' rights, the erosion of the separation of church and state, parallels with Reform UK and the European far right, and where the pockets of pro-democracy resistance really are. "The aim is not about banning abortion. If they ban all abortions, they'll move on to the next thing. What they really want is to destroy democracy itself." — Katherine Stewart About the guest Katherine Stewart is an award-winning investigative journalist and author who has spent more than a decade reporting on the religious right and Christian nationalism. Her books are The Good News Club (2012), The Power Worshippers (2020), which inspired the documentary God & Country, and her latest, Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy (2025). In this episode Why Katherine calls this the most lawless administration in US history, and how the movement predates Trump and will outlast him The "persecution narrative": how claiming victimhood is used to shield abuses and justify stripping away the rights of others The international picture, from Viktor Orbán to Reform UK, the economics behind it, and where pro-democracy resistance is winning Links and references Katherine Stewart's website: https://katherinest...

Introducing: Humanism Ireland Podcast | James Hodgson on Humanism, Curiosity and the Story So Far | Bonus Crossover

29 min

Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! www.humanism.now Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky ******** "We are rationalising animals. We feel first, and then we look for reason — so you have to actively push against that all the time." Something a little different this week. James recently sat on the other side of the microphone as a guest on the Humanism Ireland podcast, the show from the Humanist Association of Ireland, hosted by Megan De Siún. We're sharing that conversation here as a bonus episode. About this episode This is a crossover with the Humanism Ireland podcast from the Humanist Association of Ireland (HAI), hosted by Megan De Siún, where it first appeared as a special crossover episode. If you enjoy it, please head over and subscribe to support another humanist and secular group. Humanism Now returns to its regular interviews next week. In this episode James's path to humanism: What 90+ episodes have taught him Where humanism goes next Links and references Humanism Ireland podcast (Humanist Association of Ireland): https://rss.com/podcasts/humanismireland Humanist Association of Ireland: https://www.humanism.ie Humanists International Freedom of Thought Report: https://fot.humanists.international Sikivu Hutchinson, author and humanist (Humanism Ireland relaunch episode): https://sikivuhutchinson.com ******** Contact Humanist Ireland Podcast https://media.rss.com/humanismireland/feed.xml ⁠Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.⁠ Join Megan for a chat with James Hodgson, host of Humanism Now podcast as they explore the world of humanist podcasting, and the wins and challenges along the way in this special crossover episode of Humanism Ireland Podcast. Want to get in touch, or share your feedback? Contact megan@humanism.ie ******** Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live, a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies,...

Similar podcasts

All episodes

What Makes Us Human? Neanderthals, Denisovans and Our Origins | Oscar Lozada

1 hr 0 min

Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! What if our view of ourselves as a unique species is wrong? This week we are joined by Oscar Lozada, an archaeologist and biological anthropologist at the University of Cambridge, to explore the other ways of being human: the Neanderthals of Shanidar Cave, the Denisovans, and a growing cast of newly discovered human relatives. We dig into the "old man" of Shanidar, whose healed injuries hint that Neanderthals cared for their own; the long history of seeing these people as a mirror for our own prejudices; the explosion of new human species and the "ghost" lineages hiding in our DNA; why Homo sapiens ended up the sole survivors; and what deep history can teach us about climate change and extinction today. "Over the last 170 years, Neanderthals have been a mirror for how we view ourselves. We've projected onto them everything we don't want to be." — Oscar Lozada About the guest Oscar Lozada is a PhD researcher in archaeology and biological anthropology at the University of Cambridge, studying the palaeoecology of the Neanderthals of Shanidar Cave in Iraqi Kurdistan. A zoologist by training, he worked in rural development across sub-Saharan Africa before a master's in prehistoric archaeology at Oxford, and has excavated early human sites in Britain, Morocco and Iraq. He is also a science communicator, posting as "Oz of the Ancients." In this episode Shanidar Cave and the "old man" whose healed injuries suggest Neanderthals cared for one another, plus the famous flower-burial story and why it's now doubted A whistle-stop tour of human evolution: Homo erectus, Neanderthals, the Denisovans ("Dragon Man"), Homo floresiensis, Homo naledi, and the ghost lineages in our DNA Why Homo sapiens are the sole survivors, and what deep history teaches us about climate adaptation, extinction, and reading our own past in the world around us Links and references Oscar Lozada, University of Cambridge profile: https://www.arch.cam.a...

Katherine Stewart on Christian Nationalism, Trump and the Fight for Democracy

46 min

Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! www.humanism.now Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Two years ago, Katherine Stewart came on the show with a stark warning about the long campaign of Christian nationalism in the United States. A lot has happened since. As the US approaches the midterm elections, she returns to take stock: the changes, the corruption, the resistance, and what the next two years could bring, in America and well beyond it. James Hodgson and Katherine discuss presidential overreach and what she calls the most lawless administration in American history, how the movement long predated Trump and will outlast him, the "persecution narrative" used to justify stripping away others' rights, the erosion of the separation of church and state, parallels with Reform UK and the European far right, and where the pockets of pro-democracy resistance really are. "The aim is not about banning abortion. If they ban all abortions, they'll move on to the next thing. What they really want is to destroy democracy itself." — Katherine Stewart About the guest Katherine Stewart is an award-winning investigative journalist and author who has spent more than a decade reporting on the religious right and Christian nationalism. Her books are The Good News Club (2012), The Power Worshippers (2020), which inspired the documentary God & Country, and her latest, Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy (2025). In this episode Why Katherine calls this the most lawless administration in US history, and how the movement predates Trump and will outlast him The "persecution narrative": how claiming victimhood is used to shield abuses and justify stripping away the rights of others The international picture, from Viktor Orbán to Reform UK, the economics behind it, and where pro-democracy resistance is winning Links and references Katherine Stewart's website: https://katherinest...

Introducing: Humanism Ireland Podcast | James Hodgson on Humanism, Curiosity and the Story So Far | Bonus Crossover

29 min

Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! www.humanism.now Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky ******** "We are rationalising animals. We feel first, and then we look for reason — so you have to actively push against that all the time." Something a little different this week. James recently sat on the other side of the microphone as a guest on the Humanism Ireland podcast, the show from the Humanist Association of Ireland, hosted by Megan De Siún. We're sharing that conversation here as a bonus episode. About this episode This is a crossover with the Humanism Ireland podcast from the Humanist Association of Ireland (HAI), hosted by Megan De Siún, where it first appeared as a special crossover episode. If you enjoy it, please head over and subscribe to support another humanist and secular group. Humanism Now returns to its regular interviews next week. In this episode James's path to humanism: What 90+ episodes have taught him Where humanism goes next Links and references Humanism Ireland podcast (Humanist Association of Ireland): https://rss.com/podcasts/humanismireland Humanist Association of Ireland: https://www.humanism.ie Humanists International Freedom of Thought Report: https://fot.humanists.international Sikivu Hutchinson, author and humanist (Humanism Ireland relaunch episode): https://sikivuhutchinson.com ******** Contact Humanist Ireland Podcast https://media.rss.com/humanismireland/feed.xml ⁠Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.⁠ Join Megan for a chat with James Hodgson, host of Humanism Now podcast as they explore the world of humanist podcasting, and the wins and challenges along the way in this special crossover episode of Humanism Ireland Podcast. Want to get in touch, or share your feedback? Contact megan@humanism.ie ******** Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live, a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies,...

Massimo Pigliucci on How to Be a Happy Skeptic | The Power & Joy of Doubt

47 min

"I'm a skeptic, which means I'm entitled to change my mind — and that's not a bug, it's a feature." — Massimo Pigliucci Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community!⁠ Check out our new website! www.humanism.now Skepticism has a reputation problem. To many it sounds like cynicism, a reflex of doubt that drains the colour out of the world. But what if doubt is actually a path to a richer, more honest, happier life? James Hodgson is joined by scientist-turned-philosopher Massimo Pigliucci to reclaim skepticism as a way of life, from its ancient Greek roots to the vaccine debates and demagogues of today. We trace the two great schools of ancient skepticism, explore why "skeptic" originally meant inquirer rather than denier, and get practical: how to judge expertise when you're not an expert, why changing your mind is a strength, and how doubt and happiness belong together. About the guest Massimo Pigliucci is the K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York, with doctorates in both evolutionary biology and philosophy. Best known for How to Be a Stoic and his work on philosophy as a way of life, his new book is How to Be a Happy Skeptic: The Power of Doubt in a Meaningful Life. In this episode Who the ancient Skeptics really were, from the Pyrrhonists to the Academic skeptics, and why "skeptic" means inquirer, not cynic Proportioning belief to evidence, how to judge expertise when you can't be an expert yourself, and why changing your mind is a feature, not a flaw Why doubt and happiness belong together: eudaimonia, "a life worth living," and the ethics of belief Links and references Massimo Pigliucci, How to Be a Happy Skeptic: The Power of Doubt in a Meaningful Life: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/806907/how-to-be-a-happy-skeptic-by-massimo-pigliucci/ Massimo Pigliucci, How to Be a Stoic: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35102306-how-to-be-a-stoic Massimo Pigliucci's writing, Figs in Winter: https://figsinwinter.mediu...

Janet Ellis on the Joy of this One Life | New President of Humanists UK

51 min

⁠Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community!⁠ Check out our new website! www.humanism.now "I genuinely find comfort in the fact that life is finite." — Janet Ellis She shaped the childhoods of millions on Blue Peter, and now she's making the case for living well without religion. Janet Ellis, broadcaster, actress, novelist and the new President of Humanists UK, joins James for a warm, wide-ranging conversation about how she came to humanism, what it offers in turbulent times, and why she finds genuine comfort in the idea that this life is the only one we get. We talk about her film All We Have Is Each Other, grief and mortality after the loss of her husband, finding joy without guilt, whether Blue Peter was quietly humanist, how to talk to children about belief without indoctrination, the joy of writing, and her hopes for her time as President. About the guest Janet Ellis MBE is a broadcaster, actress and novelist, known to generations for presenting Blue Peter and Jigsaw. She is the author of the novels The Butcher's Hook and How It Was, hosts the podcast Twice Upon a Time, and in 2026 became President of Humanists UK. Links and references All We Have Is Each Other, the Humanists UK film with Janet Ellis: https://humanists.uk/janetellisfilm/ Janet Ellis, Humanists UK profile: https://humanists.uk/about/our-people/patrons/janet-ellis/ Twice Upon a Time, Janet's podcast on favourite childhood books (@twiceuponapod): https://linktr.ee/twiceuponpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missjanetellis/ Substack: https://janetellis925764.substack.com/ Janet's novels: The Butcher's Hook (2016): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35407568 How It Was (2019): https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/45901019-how-it-was In this episode Her slow realisation of being a humanist, joining Humanists UK, and stepping up from patron to president Grief, mortality and the film All We Have Is Each Other: why she finds comfort, not fear, in a finite life Finding...

United by Hope: Live from the World Humanist Congress 2026 Part 2

45 min

Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Part two of our dispatches from the World Humanist Congress 2026 in Ottawa. On the second and final day, James Hodgson caught up with more attendees, from the humanist chaplains bringing secular pastoral care into the Canadian Armed Forces, to the local Ottawa organisers who hosted the event, an Icelandic politician on humanist values in turbulent times, and two returning Humanism Now guests reflecting on the movement's past and future. Across every conversation the theme of the Congress, humanism as resistance, keeps surfacing: resisting the erosion of truth, the normalisation of dehumanising rhetoric, and the complacency that assumes rights won can never be lost. "It just takes one person in a room to change a whole conversation and change the course of history." — Roslyn Mould Featured in this episode Silvana Morales-Boiardi, humanist chaplain with Humanist Canada, training as a military humanist chaplain in the Canadian Armed Forces Buela Nokutubo, member of Humanist Ottawa Dr Richard Thain, Humanist Ottawa, long-time humanist and recipient of a service award at the Congress Arndís Anna Kristínardóttir Gunnarsdóttir, President of Siðmennt (the Icelandic Humanist Association) and former member of Iceland's parliament Chris Cameron, historian and author, representing the Association of Black Humanists Roslyn Mould, of Accra Atheists and outgoing Vice President of Humanists International Highlights Building humanist chaplaincy in the Canadian Armed Forces, and how the first humanist military chaplain opened the door for the next generation Why local groups matter: Humanist Ottawa on community, and Dr Richard Thain on four decades in the movement Arndís Anna on resisting the normalisation of dehumanisation, and Roslyn Mould reflecting on stepping down after years of leadership at Humanists International CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:06 Silvana Morales-Boiardi, Humanist Canada, humanist chaplaincy in the...

Christian Nationalism, Free Speech and Gen Z | Tess Sumner

28 min

Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! "Evidence is most powerful when it's paired with empathy." What is it like to come of age when politics has never felt calm? Tess Sumner has spent her entire adolescence inside a permanent sense of political crisis, and she has turned that into advocacy. In this episode, James speaks with Tess Sumner, a Harvard student and humanist writer, about her article "When Christian Nationalism Becomes Public Policy" and what the fight over church and state looks like to the next generation. We discuss how student accountability gets reframed as "religious discrimination", why so many young people feel exhausted and cynical about democracy, how the threat of doxxing and backlash quietly polices free expression, and why Tess believes humanism has a genuinely hopeful offer for Gen Z. About the guest Tess Sumner is a student at Harvard University studying government and English, and a youth advocate from New Hampshire focused on child welfare policy and church-state separation. A former intern with the American Humanist Association, she wrote the widely shared article "When Christian Nationalism Becomes Public Policy" for The Humanist. In this episode What a University of Oklahoma essay controversy reveals about how accountability gets reframed as religious discrimination Coming of age in permanent political crisis: why many in Gen Z feel exhausted, cynical and unsure what a functioning democracy looks like How the threat of doxxing and backlash quietly polices free expression, and what humanism offers as a response Chapters 00:00 Introduction: meet Tess Sumner 01:32 The article, and the Oklahoma essay controversy 05:31 Coming of age in constant political crisis 07:21 Where a disillusioned generation turns 08:51 Christian nationalism and the threat to democracy 10:59 Young Christian influencers and who they represent 13:08 What humanism offers Gen Z 14:34 Making the humanist case better 15:34 Where humanism meets everyday...

Humanism as Resistance: Live from the World Humanist Congress 2026 Part 1

37 min

Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Something a little different this week. James Hodgson took Humanism Now on the road to the World Humanist Congress 2026 in Ottawa, hosted by Humanists International and Humanists Canada, where more than 500 attendees from over 60 countries gathered around a single theme: resistance. Between sessions, James grabbed five minutes each with fellow attendees, some returning guests and many new faces, to hear what brought them there and what they are building back home. The result is a whistle-stop tour of the global humanist movement: civic participation and chaplaincy, coalition-building between atheists and humanists, humanist confirmations and ceremonies, and a first look at where the next Congress will be held. "One of the ways we build power to ensure society better reflects our values is by coming together." — James Croft Featured in this episode Bob Reuter, president of the Alliance of Humanists, Atheists and Agnostics (AHA) Luxembourg and co-host of the radio show Iwwer Gott an d'Welt James Croft, humanist chaplain and lead faith advisor at the University of Sussex Nick Fish, president of American Atheists Urtė Žukauskaitė-Zabukė, founder of HERE (formerly Happy Human Lithuania) Christian Lomsdalen, president of the Norwegian Humanist Association Maggie Ardiente, president of Humanists International Highlights Why "humanism as resistance" is the theme for this moment, and Maggie Ardiente on a movement responding to authoritarianism worldwide (plus a first look at the next Congress) James Croft and Nick Fish on civic participation, building coalitions, and why atheists and humanists share the same fight How Norway's 75 years of humanist confirmations built a movement approaching 198,000 members, and Lithuania's drive to scale humanist ceremonies around the world Chapters 00:00 Introduction: live from the World Humanist Congress 2026 00:52 Bob Reuter, AHA Luxembourg 02:44 James Croft, humanist chap...

Is Humanism a Subculture? Rory Booth on Style, Space and Belonging

40 min

Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community!⁠ "It's harder for the mass market to hit a moving target." — Rory Booth Punks had the mohawk. Ravers had the warehouse. What does humanism have? Historian and filmmaker Rory Booth studies how subcultures form, thrive and die, from 19th century Parisian bohemians to the British rave scene of the 1990s. He is also a founding member of Leicester Humanists. In this episode, we ask whether humanism qualifies as a subculture, and what organisers can steal from scenes that got it right. Rory argues that the visual definition of subculture, all style and shock, has been overplayed. What actually holds a scene together is language, humour, and above all space: the shared understanding that in this room, with these people, you are allowed to be a slightly different version of yourself. That, he suggests, is exactly what a humanist group offers, and it is why the venue you pick matters far more than most organisers realise. We also get into the life cycle problem. A subculture dies the moment the mainstream understands it, or worse, misunderstands it. So is being small and slightly illegible an advantage? And has the internet, with its infinite choice and its everyone-is-a-creator economy, made real subcultures impossible? Rory Booth is a historian and filmmaker specialising in cultural and urban history, with a focus on 19th century bohemianism and the 1990s rave scene. He is a founding member of Leicester Humanists, where he leads on events and works on school speaking and interfaith engagement. He also plays in punk and noise rock bands. In this episode Definitions of subculture as style, and why Rory thinks the visual emphasis has been overdone Why a scene often dies the moment the mainstream can name it, and what that means for a movement trying to grow Frame analysis, and the practical reason your venue changes what people feel able to say Did the internet killed the subculture? Too much choice, no physical presen...

"Am I a Humanist?" Shay Leonia on Discovering Humanism in Public

36 min

"I've never heard of humanism, but is this what I've been all along?" What happens when you discover the word for what you've believed your whole life? Shay Leonia came to humanism only recently, and rather than hide the learning curve, she has made it the heart of her work. In this episode, James Hodgson talks with Shay about her journey into humanism, the art of admitting what you don't know, and how to bring humanist values to people who have never heard the term. We discuss growing up with everyday kindness as a lived value, letting go of the supernatural without losing what matters, the AHA Creator Program and building coalitions beyond the secular space, and why humanism needs to become more accessible and more representative if it is going to grow. About the guest Shay Leonia is the communications manager at the American Humanist Association (AHA), where she hosts the How to Humanist podcast and runs AHA's Creator Program, partnering with content creators to bring humanism to new audiences. A lifelong musician based in Philadelphia, she founded the media company 44th Minute Media and came to humanism recently, arriving, as she puts it, curious, a little confused, and glad she stayed. In this episode How Shay discovered humanism through a job posting and realised it named the values she'd held all along Learning out loud: the "fourth wall break" behind How to Humanist, and why admitting what you don't know builds trust The AHA Creator Program, giving people a "soft landing" into humanism, and why the movement must become more accessible and representative Chapters 00:00 Introduction: meet Shay Leonia 01:18 Growing up, and early humanist values 03:11 A reformed Jewish upbringing 04:01 Discovering humanism through a job posting 05:17 Learning humanism in public 06:00 Talking across belief systems, and reforming your own views 08:53 Letting go of the supernatural 10:05 Breaking the fourth wall on How to Humanist 14:39 The AHA Creator Program...

Leading Spinoza scholar on heresy, "God or nature", and why the great philosopher of toleration was an atheist after all

39 min

"If there's a theme that unites all of Spinoza's philosophical writings, it's freedom: both personal freedom, how we become liberated from irrational passions, and political and social freedom, freedom of expression, freedom of belief and freedom of association." — Steven Nadler Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community!⁠ Baruch Spinoza was excommunicated by his own community, condemned across Europe, and called the most dangerous philosopher of his age. Centuries later, scholars still argue over what he actually believed. In this episode, James Hodgson speaks with Steven Nadler, one of the world's foremost authorities on Spinoza, about the man, his radical ideas, and the case that Spinoza was, in the modern sense, a genuine atheist. We explore what "atheist" even meant in the 17th century, why "God or nature" is not the same as pantheism, how Spinoza's defence of democracy and free expression anticipated modern liberal values, and why Einstein said his God was Spinoza's God. About the guest Steven Nadler is a Vilas Research Professor and the William H. Hay II Professor of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and one of the world's leading authorities on Spinoza. A Pulitzer Prize finalist, his books include Spinoza: A Life and A Book Forged in Hell. His latest is Spinoza, Atheist. In this episode Who Spinoza was, his 1656 excommunication, and why his works were branded "soul-destroying" and "forged by the devil" What "atheist" meant in the 17th century, and how it differs from Spinoza's atheism in the modern sense Why "God or nature" (Deus sive natura) marks the line between the pantheist and the atheist Spinoza's timeless case for democracy, freedom of belief, and separating church from state Chapters 00:00 Introduction: who was Spinoza? 01:27 Excommunication and the major works 03:51 The Dutch Republic, Amsterdam and religious tolerance 06:23 What "atheist" meant in the 17th century 09:59 Adriaan Koerbagh and the Theological-Political...

How to Disagree Without Dehumanising | Sharon Booth, Solutions Not Sides

43 min

"Education shouldn't be about telling young people what to think. It should be telling them how they can think." — Sharon Booth How do you hold an honest conversation about one of the world's most divisive conflicts, in a school classroom, without it descending into a shouting match? This episode looks at peace education: the skills, the psychology and the facilitation that let people disagree deeply while still recognising each other's humanity. Our guest is Sharon Booth, founder and executive director of Solutions Not Sides (SNS), an educational charity that brings young Palestinian and Israeli peacebuilders into UK schools to share their stories and equip students to think for themselves. Sharon moderated the acclaimed "No Hope But Peace" dialogue at the Festival of Humanism in Bournemouth. In this conversation we cover: The SNS "PEACE" model and the three E's (exploration, empathy, empowerment), and why dialogue alone can do harm if it doesn't lead to change How social media and the "age of outrage" made people less willing to participate, and what Haidt's elephant and rider teaches us about why Creating "safe and brave" spaces, defusing in-group / out-group thinking, and the role Sharon believes humanists should play in peacebuilding Links: Solutions Not Sides: https://www.solutionsnotsides.co.uk No Hope But Peace (our earlier episode with Yaniv Aknin and Jasr Kawkby): https://humanismnow.buzzsprout.com Jonathan Haidt, The Righteous Mind: https://righteousmind.com Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: Sharon Booth and Solutions Not Sides 02:02 Founding SNS and what peace education means 04:15 The three E's: exploration, empathy, empowerment 06:09 A more divided society: social media, COVID and outrage 08:53 The PEACE model, step by step 15:24 What young people teach us, and Haidt's elephant and rider 19:20 Creating safe and brave spaces 23:15 The Bournemouth dialogue and facilitating hard questions 28:31 Two stories from the classroom 34:53 Re...

84. The Mattering Instinct with Rebecca Goldstein

49 min

Support Humanism Now and Join Our Community! — https://ko-fi.com/humanismnowpod "We are creatures of matter who long to matter — and one of the strongest manifestations of this is people who deny that we are matter." Professor Rebecca Newberger Goldstein is a philosopher, novelist, and MacArthur Fellow whose books include The Mind-Body Problem, Incompleteness, Betraying Spinoza, and 36 Arguments for the Existence of God (a work of fiction). In 2015 she was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Obama and has been named Humanist of the Year by the American Humanist Association. She joins us to discuss her latest book, The Mattering Instinct: How Our Deepest Longing Drives Us and Divides Us, and will be the keynote speaker at the World Humanist Congress in Ottawa this August. Topics we cover ✔︎ What the mattering instinct is, where it comes from, and why it may be the defining feature of our species ✔︎ The four locations on the mattering map — transcenders, communal materers, heroic strivers, and competitors — and what they reveal about human motivation ✔︎ Why public debates about religion so often fail — and what understanding mattering tells us about how to talk across belief divides Connect with Rebecca and find out more The Mattering Instinct: https://www.rebeccagoldstein.com/books/the-mattering-instinct Rebecca's website: https://www.rebeccagoldstein.com World Humanist Congress, Ottawa, August 2026: https://humanists.international/world-humanist-congress Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or om...

83. Seth Andrews, Host of 'The Thinking Atheist', on Leaving Faith, Finding Values, and Fighting Tribalism

51 min

Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! | https://ko-fi.com/humanismnowpod "I found atheism is not an inoculation against irrationality or awfulness." — Seth AndrewsSeth Andrews spent 14 years as a Christian radio host before becoming one of the most recognisable voices in atheist and humanist media as host of The Thinking Atheist Podcast. In this conversation, he traces his slow-burn deconstruction from devout evangelical broadcaster to skeptic, why he now leads with "humanist" rather than "atheist," and why leaving religion is no inoculation against tribalism, dogma, or bad ideas, on either side of the God question. Our guest is Seth Andrews, host of The Thinking Atheist podcast, YouTube channel and online community, and of the podcast True Stories with Seth Andrews. A former Christian radio broadcaster, he is the author of six books, including Deconverted: A Journey from Religion to Reason and his latest, Christianity Made Me Talk Like an Idiot. In this conversation we cover: His decades-long, slow-burn deconstruction from devout evangelical broadcaster to "The Thinking Atheist," and the fear that kept him anonymous for the show's first two years Why he leads with "humanist" rather than "atheist" today, and why disbelief in God guarantees nothing about a person's rationality or character How online tribalism and algorithm-driven echo chambers have reshaped debate on both sides of the God question, and why he's leaned harder into humanism and politics as a result LINKS & REFERENCES Seth Andrews Personal site: https://www.sethandrews.com The Thinking Atheist: https://www.thethinkingatheist.com True Stories with Seth Andrews: https://www.truestoriespodcast.com Books: https://www.sethandrews.com/books Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sethandrewstta/ X: https://x.com/SethAndrewsTTA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheThinkingAtheist Mentioned in this episode Seth Andrews, Christianity Made Me Talk Like an Idiot: https://www.amazon.com/dp/19772...

82. The Quiet Revival That Wasn't: David Voas on Faked Data and the Truth About Religion in Britain

42 min

Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! "I don't think that we have any solid evidence of a religious revival underway in England, or for that matter, anywhere else." — David Voas In April 2025, the Bible Society published a report claiming church attendance in England had surged by more than 50% since 2018, with young men's churchgoing up fivefold. It made national headlines. A year later, both YouGov and the Bible Society retracted it. This episode unpacks what actually went wrong: bots and bogus respondents in online survey panels, why the data never supported the story, and what decades of solid evidence tell us instead about religious decline in Britain. Our guest is Dr. David Voas, Emeritus Professor of Social Science at UCL, where he led the Social Research Institute from 2016 to 2020. A quantitative social scientist, he has spent his career studying religious change in modern societies, and his TEDx talk, "Why There Is No Way Back for Religion in the West," has been viewed nearly two million times. In this conversation we cover: How AI chatbots, survey farming and bogus respondents undermined the survey data, and why this is an industry-wide problem, not a one-off The three ways sociologists actually measure religiosity — identity, practice and belief — and why they don't always move together Why secularisation is a generational process that plays out over centuries, and what fills the space religion leaves behind LINKS & REFERENCES David Voas UCL profile: https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/56605-david-voas TEDx talk, "Why There Is No Way Back for Religion in the West": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtAR_OGzlcg "Why Humanism Is the Future" — Humanists UK Convention 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfI7VgkDFMg "Is there really a religious revival in England? Why I'm sceptical of a new report" (UCL News/The Conversation, 16 June 2025): https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/jun/comment-there-really-religious-revival-england-why-im-sceptical-new-report Bri...

81. The Re-emergence of Eugenics and How to Fight Back with Science, with Rebecca Sear

39 min

"I used to think eugenics had died out after the Second World War. I no longer believe that, unfortunately." — Rebecca SearMost of us think of eugenics as a horror confined to the past. It isn't. This episode examines the worrying re-emergence of eugenics and scientific racism, from discredited claims about race and intelligence to the far-right money funding them, and asks how we defend good science against bad-faith actors. Along the way, Rebecca overturns another myth, that the isolated nuclear family is "traditional", and explains why demographers are far calmer about falling birth rates than the headlines suggest. Our guest is Professor Rebecca Sear, an evolutionary behavioural scientist and demographer at Brunel University London, where she directs the Centre for Culture and Evolution. She is co-founder of the European Human Behaviour and Evolution Association and a Fellow of the British Academy. In this conversation we cover: The re-emergence of eugenics and biological essentialism, and how old ideas are being repackaged for a modern audience Richard Lynn's discredited national IQ database, the far-right money behind scientific racism, and how to spot bad-faith science Why cooperative childrearing is the human norm, and how "population panic" over falling fertility has been used to justify real human rights abuses In this conversation we cover: Why cooperative childrearing is the human norm, and what the "male breadwinner" nuclear family gets wrong Why demographers are not panicking about falling fertility, and how "population panic" has been used to justify real human rights abuses The modern resurgence of eugenics and scientific racism, from Richard Lynn's discredited national IQ database to how to spot bad-faith science LINKS & REFERENCES Rebecca Sear Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rebeccasear.bsky.social LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-sear-8183551 Sear, R. (2021) The male breadwinner nuclear family is not the 'traditional' hum...

80. Inside the Ex-Muslim Movement - Muhammad Syed on why leaving Islam Can Be Liberating, and Dangerous

45 min

 "One of the things I heard again and again was: I thought I was the only one." — Muhammad Syed Leaving religion can be one of the most liberating decisions of a person's life. For those leaving Islam, it can also be one of the most dangerous. This episode looks at why so many ex-Muslims stay hidden, how community breaks that isolation, and what the data really tells us about people leaving the faith worldwide. Our guest is Muhammad Syed, human rights activist, writer, and co-founder and president of Ex-Muslims of North America (EXMNA), the first ex-Muslim advocacy and community organisation in North America. In this conversation we cover: Why so many ex-Muslims believe they are "the only one", and how visibility and community change that What scripture, interpretation and culture each contribute to the risks ex-Muslims face, from loss of family to threats of violence The numbers behind a global trend, and how both the political left and right get the conversation wrong Links for support: Ex-Muslims of North America: https://exmuslims.org Faith to Faithless (UK support): https://www.humanists.uk/our-work/faith-to-faithless/ r/exmuslim global reddit community: https://www.reddit.com/r/exmuslim/ References: Pakistan college student lynched after discussing Adam and Eve/incest Nigeria college girl lynched over a WhatsApp class chat Ayan Hirsi Ali threatened, lost security/neighborhood in Netherlands, moved to U.S. Somali gay atheist kidnapped/taken to Kenya for “re-education” Canadian mother whose children were taken to Africa; hasn’t seen them in over a decade Ex-Muslim husband/wife/siblings chain deconversion story IIraq lowering age of consent/marriage age to nine -Pew: one in four U.S. Muslims raised Muslim have left Islam -Pew: among U.S. ex-Muslims, ~55% became nonbelievers and ~23% became Christian -Arab Barometer: younger people in parts of North Africa around 18% nonreligious/nonbelieving -Turkey survey showing rising nonbelief -Iran survey...

79. Meet strangeness with kindness - Kestral Gaian on the role of representation, community and politics in fiction

37 min

"It's really about what happens when kindness is the first response to strangeness." — Kestral Gaian What does it take to stay human in a world that often forgets what that means? This episode explores storytelling as an act of resistance: why humans need fiction, why representation matters, and how meeting difference with curiosity rather than judgement can ease the loneliness of modern life. Our guest is Kestral Gaian, an award-winning writer of fiction, theatre and poetry, whose debut young adult novel "The Boy From Elsewhere" is out now. In this conversation we cover: The origins of "The Boy From Elsewhere", born from a 26-hour charity writing livestream, and what tiredness taught Kestral about creativity and craft Why storytelling is fundamental to being human, and how representation shapes what young readers believe is possible Whether all art is political, the recent publishing pushback against LGBTQ+ fiction, and meeting strangeness with kindness Links: The Boy From Elsewhere: https://reconnectingrainbows.co.uk/book/tbfe/ Kestral Gaian's website: https://kestr.al Support Humanism Now: https://ko-fi.com/humanismnowpod Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

78. "No Hope But Peace and Justice" - An Israeli and a Palestinian in Dialogue

46 min

"Many in society saw the news and understood there's no hope for peace. But I understood there's no hope but peace." — Yaniv AkninWhat does humanism actually ask of us when we confront the Israel-Palestine conflict? In this episode we preview a special Festival of Humanism session, exploring how secular, rational and compassionate values can cut through motivated reasoning and moral blind spots to rebuild shared ground between Palestinians and Israelis. Our guests are Dr Jasr Kawkby, a British-Palestinian paediatrician raised in Gaza, and Yaniv Aknin, a British-Israeli software engineer and former soldier, who work together on peacebuilding, dialogue and nonviolent advocacy. In this conversation we cover: Their personal journeys from a Gaza refugee camp and a secular Zionist household in Tel Aviv to a shared humanist platform How humanist values (curiosity, rationality, secularism and the dignity of every life) can reframe history, accountability and the path forward Why both believe nonviolence and sustained dialogue, not force, are the only routes to peace, justice and equality Jasr and Yaniv host "No Hope But Peace: A Dialogue Between an Israeli and a Palestinian" at the Festival of Humanism in Bournemouth on 13–14 June. Links: Festival of Humanism 2026: https://humanists.uk/events/festival2026/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices....

77. Ethical Volunteering with Kimberly Haley-Coleman - Building Bridges Through Community Led Service

31 min

 "It's amazing how enduring humans can be with their willingness to look for good." Kimberly Haley-Coleman is the founder and executive director of GlobeAware, a nonprofit building ethical, community-led volunteer service programmes across more than 25 countries. With a background spanning international business, nonprofit leadership, and global partnership building, Kimberly has spent years thinking deeply about how service, cultural exchange, and shared work can bring people together with dignity, curiosity, and compassion. Topics we cover ✔︎ What ethical volunteering actually looks like — and why locally led, community-designed programmes are so different from voluntourism ✔︎ How shared work breaks down assumptions faster than almost anything else — and what that means for building genuine cross-cultural empathy ✔︎ How GlobeAware's programmes are responding to sweeping foreign aid cuts and what resilience looks like on the ground in 2026 Connect with Kimberly and Globe Aware Website www.globeaware.org Facebook https://www.facebook.com/globeaware Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyglobeaware/ Podcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/6n9cfb4QIVb2aqUD6XSttE Instagram https://www.instagram.com/globeaware/ Youtube: https://youtube.com/@globeaware X Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlobeAware Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/globe-aware/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@globe_aware Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globe_Aware Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/globeaware.bksy.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/globeaware/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic...

76. Why Science Always Carries Human Values with Anjan Chakravartty

43 min

Support Humanism Now and Join Our Community!  "Dogmatism is the enemy of reason, after all." Dr Anjan Chakravartty is the Apignani Foundation Chair for the Study of Atheism, Humanism, and Secular Ethics at the University of Miami and a philosopher of science whose work explores the nature of knowledge and what science tells us about the world. His latest edited volume, Science and Humanism: Knowledge, Values, and the Common Good, brings together leading philosophers to examine the relationship between science and humanist values — historically deep and increasingly urgent. Topics we cover ✔︎ Why science is not a value-neutral tool — and why humanists need to think more carefully about what science is actually for  ✔︎ How disinformation campaigns exploit the language of science to manufacture doubt on climate, health, and more  ✔︎ What a genuinely humanistic science looks like in practice — from diversifying research communities to confronting scientism Connect with Dr Chakravartty and find out more University of Miami profile: https://people.miami.edu/profile/axc1256@miami.edu Science and Humanism: Knowledge, Values, and the Common Good: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/science-and-humanism/ Personal Website: https://anjanchakravartty.com/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

75. Taming Your Impostor Monster with Dr AJ Lauer

32 min

Support Humanism Now and Join Our Community! "Culture is a representation of what our habits are on a daily basis. If we drop the habit, we are not building the culture we're wanting to see." Dr AJ Lauer is a leadership and diversity educator, executive coach, and founder of Thriving IBIS Leadership Solutions. With two decades of experience across higher education, non-profit research, and STEM, she specialises in imposter syndrome, psychological safety, and helping organisations make more human-centred decisions. She is also the author of My Monster Mungo, an illustrated book for adults about the imposter phenomenon. Topics we cover ✔︎ What the imposter phenomenon actually is — and why 82% of people experience it  ✔︎ How to build psychologically safe, inclusive teams where dissent and creativity are welcomed  ✔︎ Why burnout and perfectionism are connected — and how leaders can interrupt the cycle Connect with Dr AJ Lauer Thriving IBIS Leadership Solutions: https://www.thrivingibis.com My Monster Mungo — illustrated book: https://www.thrivingibis.com/my-monster-mungo Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

74. TikTok Humanist TimTalks on Deconstructing Religion Out Loud

28 min

"You are unlocked to a whole new world... you're not alone, and it's that community that makes you reaffirming yourself" Timothy David, known as Tim Talks, is a UK-based content creator whose TikTok videos on humanism, faith deconstruction, and Black freethinking have racked up millions of views. Drawing on his own journey away from Pentecostal Christianity, Tim uses social media to spark honest conversations about belief, identity, inclusivity, and what it means to question everything. Topics we cover ✔︎ What deconstruction really means and why it is a lifelong process rather than a single moment  ✔︎ Why social media is a powerful tool for humanists — and why more of us should be using it  ✔︎ How to start questioning your own beliefs and build community on the other side of faith Connect with Timothy TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@_timtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_t1m24 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TimTalksUK Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

73. How Norwegian Humanists Changed a Nation | Tale Pleym on Ceremonies, Confirmation & European Secular Services

29 min

Support Humanism Now and Join Our Community!https://ko-fi.com/humanismnowpod "That's what humanism is about, isn't it? That we have the freedom to do whatever we feel is right for us." Tale Pleym is Chair of the European Humanist Professionals and Senior Ceremonial Advisor of the Norwegian Humanist Association, where she has been conducting humanist ceremonies for more than 15 years. She joins us to explore how humanist ceremonies and secular services are shared and strengthened across Europe, and what organised humanism can achieve when it grows deep roots in society. Topics we cover ✔︎ How the European Humanist Professionals network connects practitioners across borders through webinars, workshops, and conferences  ✔︎ How Norway's humanist confirmation became a genuine secular rite of passage that now outgrows the church in major cities  ✔︎ What other humanist organisations can learn from Norway — and what large organisations can learn from small ones Connect with Tale and find out more Norwegian Humanist Association: https://www.human.no/om-oss/norwegian-humanist-association Email: tale.pleym@human.no European Humanist Professionals: https://www.humanistprofessionals.eu Festival of Humanism, Bournemouth — Humanists UK: https://humanists.uk/events/festival2026/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Introducing: Unholy Histories The Humanist Heritage Podcast from Humanists UK

2 min

Subscribe to Unholy Histories wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unholy-histories-the-humanist-heritage-podcast-from/id1893320823 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3HrZ03nnR0IL6PewJUc9mr Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a72f5775-dd9b-4b6f-bd67-4df519ca5556/unholy-histories-the-humanist-heritage-podcast-from-humanists-uk YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuiqL_-wjBYa1Owup4iQlUD6TZ-IGjEHj Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/unholy-histories-the-humanist-heritage-podcast-from-humanists-uk/6544180 All other Podcast Directories: https://unholyhistories.humanists.uk/2489236/follow ******** Unholy Histories is the new Humanist Heritage Podcast from Humanists UK and inspired by the research of the Humanist Heritage Project. Join Andrew Copson and Madeleine Goodall as they uncover the rebels, reformers, and freethinkers who shaped a more open and compassionate Britain. The first episodes go live very soon. Subscribe now via your preferred podcast app to be notified the moment new episodes are released. Join Humanists UK: humanists.uk/join Discover more Humanist Heritage: heritage.humanists.uk Send us your questions or feedback to unholy@Humanise.Live Unholy Histories is produced by Humanise Live a production agency creating values-led podcast content. Start podcasting today at humanise.liveMusic: Small Things by Simon Folwar Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content mor...

72. From Fear To Freedom: Reclaiming “Apostate” In Life After High-Control Religion

34 min

Support Humanism Now and Join Our Community!  Micki McAllen, known online as Apostate Barbie, spent 30 years as a Jehovah's Witness before leaving in 2021. Now based in the UK, she uses social media to raise awareness of high control religious groups, support others navigating life beyond faith, and advocate for an end to mandated shunning. Topics we cover ✔︎ What life inside a high control group really looks like — and how coercive control works without physical force  ✔︎ The Norway Supreme Court case challenging government funding of the JWs over shunning practices  ✔︎ How to rebuild community, identity, and agency after leaving a high control religion Connect with Micki Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostatebarbie/ References and further reading JWFacts.com — ex-Witness resource recommended by Micki: https://www.jwfacts.com Faith to Faithless — UK support for those leaving high control religion: https://faithtofaithless.com Stop Mandated Shunning — organisation Micki volunteers with: https://www.stopmandatedshunning.org/ BITE Model of authoritarian control — Steven Hassan: https://www.bitemodel.com Decult Conference, New Zealand: https://www.decult.nz Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

71. Beyond Belief: Humanism From The Heart with Steve Ghikadis

27 min

Support Humanism Now and Join Our Community!   “Curiosity leads to fully understanding someone’s situation and being empathetic to that person.” Steve Ghikadis is a Humanist Officiant, author, and speaker who leads secular weddings, memorials, and other life-affirming ceremonies in Ontario. In this conversation, he explores street epistemology, interfaith family life, raising curious and compassionate children, and why humanism needs to lead with empathy as well as reason. Connect with Steve  steveghikadis.com  Humanist Canada Officiant Profile facebook.com/steve.ghikadis  instagram.com/steve.ghikadis/  tiktok.com/@humanismfromtheheart  Goodreads – Steve_Ghikadis Topics we cover Street epistemology in practice Disagreeing with kindness & curiosity Interfaith relationships  Raising curious, empathetic kids Humanist weddings in Canada Morality without religion Resources & further reading Humanism from the Heart: Building Bridges Beyond Belief – Steve Ghikadis (2024) Recovering from Religion Sunday Assembly Evidence and Understanding –The Humanist (2025) What the Heck Is That!?!” The Humanist (2024) Interfaith Family – Marriage and Parenting with Mutual Respect – Humanist Canada (2024)  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

70. Science, Trust, and the History of Quacks with Jenny Lange

36 min

Support Humanism Now and Join Our Community! - ko-fi.com/humanismnowpod "Science is not objective. It is subjective. And I think having conversations about it is very important." Dr Jenny Lange is a neuroscientist specialising in uncovering the mechanisms of rare neurological disorders. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London. Outside the lab, Dr Lange is a public speaker and writer on medical history, the intersection of science and literature, and scientific ethics. Things we discuss The history of quackery and why charlatans follow the same playbook Research abuses that have legitimately fueled mistrust in science How to practice healthy, proportional skepticism and spot the difference between real and pseudoscience References: William J. A. Bailey and Radithor: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J._A._Bailey The Tuskegee Syphilis Study: https://www.history.com/articles/the-infamous-40-year-tuskegee-study The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6493208-the-immortal-life-of-henrietta-lacks Andrew Wakefield and the discredited MMR-autism study: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Wakefield Paolo Macchiarini trachea implant scandal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paolo_Macchiarini Greenwich Skeptics in the Pub: https://www.meetup.com/greenwich-skeptics-in-the-pub/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be c...

69. New Report: How UK Asylum Process Fails Non-Religious Refugees with Dr Lucy Potter

16 min

"Home Office officials do not understand what apostasy is — and this affects how non-religious asylum seekers are recognised, questioned, and believed." Dr Lucy Potter returns to Humanism Now to share the findings of her landmark new report on non-religious asylum claims in the UK, produced in collaboration with Humanists UK. Drawing on three years of in-depth qualitative research, the report is the first study to analyse Home Office decision-making policies for those seeking asylum on the basis of leaving religion or non-religious identity. Things we discuss ✔︎ Why the Home Office misunderstands apostasy✔︎ Cultural bias in credibility assessments ✔︎ How interpretation errors can undermine asylum claims✔︎ Policy recommendations for fairer decision-making Read the report Available from Humanists UK (https://humanists.uk) from 24 March 2026. Attend the report launch 📍 Online 📆 Tuesday 24 March, 1.00–2.30pm GMT ➡️ Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/report-launch-non-religious-apostasy-asylum-claims-in-the-uk-tickets-1982976511125/ Event Speakers: Dr Lucy Potter, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of York https://humanismnow.buzzsprout.com/2246305/episodes/14031059/ Lizzie Collinge MP,  Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group https://humanismnow.buzzsprout.com/2246305/episodes/17588288/ Andrew Copson, Chief Executive, Humanists UKhttps://humanismnow.buzzsprout.com/2246305/episodes/17849032/ Jamie Bell, Solicitor, Public Law and Immigration, Duncan Lewis Connect with Dr Lucy Potter University of York profile: https://www.york.ac.uk/sociology/people/lucy-potter/ ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship profile: https://wrdtp.ac.uk/postdoctoral-fellows/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the...

Podcasthon 2026 Special: How Freedom From Torture Helps Survivors Heal

23 min

"An estimated one person in three seeking asylum in the UK has experienced torture in their home country." This is a bonus episode of Humanism Now, recorded as part of Podcasthon 2026: the global initiative uniting podcasters to raise awareness for charitable causes.  This year, we are supporting Freedom from Torture, a UK charity that has spent more than 40 years providing specialist therapeutic care, rehabilitation, and advocacy to survivors of torture. Their work centres on restoring dignity, safety, and hope to people who have endured unimaginable harm and campaigning to hold perpetrators accountable worldwide. We are delighted to be joined by Ann Salter, Head of Clinical Services Northwest at Freedom from Torture, who has worked clinically with survivors of torture for over 20 years. How to support Freedom from Torture Donate Get involved in their campaigns Refer yourself or someone else for support Things we discuss How Freedom from Torture has supported survivors for 40 years  The shocking scale of torture globally — and why it still demands our attention  The psychological impact of torture and what recovery really looks like  Why community belonging is central to rehabilitation  Freedom from Torture's role in the Pinochet case and blocking the Rwanda deportation scheme About Podcasthon Podcasthon is a global initiative uniting podcasters around the world to shine a light on the charities and causes that matter. If you host a podcast and want to get involved, find out more and register at podcasthon.org. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcr...

68. The Science Of Weird Stuff with Prof. Chris French

43 min

 "We're at a time when we need critical thinking more than ever, and sadly, I'm not really seeing it happening."  Professor Chris French is one of the world's leading researchers in anomalistic psychology and critical thinking. As former head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at Goldsmiths, University of London, author of The Science of Weird Sh*t, patron of Humanists UK, and former editor of The Skeptic magazine, Chris has spent decades investigating paranormal claims, debunking fraudsters, and exploring the psychology of belief.  In this conversation, he unpacks why the paranormal is worth taking seriously as a scientific and psychological subject, what his own near-miss with precognition research taught him, why deliberate con artists deserve far more condemnation than sincere believers, and why we urgently need better critical thinking in schools, in public life, and in our politics. Connect with Professor French Chris’s website Chris’s Guardian column Chris’s Skeptic column Chris’s profile page at Goldmiths Chris on Bluesky Chris being interviewed on the Plutopia podcast The Science of Weird Shit on Bookshop.org Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

67. Meet the British Army's First Ever Humanist Chaplain with Padre Neil Weddel & Clare Elcombe Webber

44 min

“Chaplaincy is defined by function, it’s not defined by belief.”Padre Dr Neil Weddell, the first ever non-religious pastoral carer (humanist chaplain) appointed in the British Army, joins Humanism Now alongside Clare Elcombe Webber, Director of Humanist Care at Humanists UK. We explore what chaplaincy really is, why this appointment is a historic shift for belief-diverse Armed Forces, and what humanist pastoral care looks like in practice for serving personnel and their families.  Topics we cover The evolving purpose of Chaplaincy Why the Army’s first non-religious chaplain is such a landmark moment  “Presence”, confidentiality, and sitting outside the chain of command Stoicism, existentialism, and humanistic psychology as practical frameworks for moral and pastoral support How humanist chaplaincy strengthens, not replaces, religious chaplaincy Where chaplaincy fits alongside welfare and medical support in a whole-person wellbeing system Ceremonies in military life: inclusive funerals, namings, and personal milestones What it takes to become a non-religious pastoral carer, and the pathway into the profession Resources & further reading Royal Army Chaplains’ Department: https://www.army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/about-the-army/corps-regiments-and-units/royal-army-chaplains-department/ Army Jobs -Chaplain role overview: https://jobs.army.mod.uk/roles/royal-army-chaplains-department/chaplain/ Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network (NRPSN): https://nrpsn.org.uk/ Humanists UK - First-ever humanist pastoral carer in the UK Armed Forces:  https://humanists.uk/2025/10/07/first-ever-humanist-pastoral-carer-in-the-uk-armed-forces-2/ Soldier Magazine - “New kinda padre in town”:  https://soldier.army.mod.uk/issues/november-2025/update/new-padre Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast...

Introducing Freedom of Thought by Humanists International

24 min

SUBSCRIBE TO FREEDOM OF THOUGHT: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music Podcast Addict YouTube All other podcast platforms ********Sign up for the Humanists International Newsletter Welcome to Freedom of Thought a new podcast series by Humanists International! In this first episode hosts Gary McLellend and Leon Langdon introduce Humanists International, the global representative body at the heart of the humanist movement, how a global humanist network works inside the UN system, and why universal rights need a louder defence right now.  We share the member‑led model, lessons from the IRF Summit, and what really happens inside the UN Human Rights Council.In this first episode we cover: The formation and ethos of Humanists International Our member‑led structure and global reach Lived experience informing advocacy Reflections on the 2026 IRF Summit Fractures in human rights spaces and how to address them What happens inside the Human Rights Council  Why start this podcast now and what comes next Why attend the World Humanist Congress 2026 How to shape the conversation, support us and follow Follow Humanist International Support Humanists International About - Humanists International Join us at the World Humanists Congress 2026 Freedom of Thought is produced by Humanise Live 🎶Music: Horizon by Simon Folwar Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about...

66. Fish Stark on How The AHA Is Building a Humanist Revival In America

52 min

"If science tells you what's real and compassion tells you what's right, you're a humanist" - Fish StarkFish Stark, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association (AHA), joins Humanism Now to unpack what a modern humanist revival could look like in the United States. From creator-led storytelling to legal strategy and mutual aid, Fish shares how the AHA is building power, community, and a clearer public-facing vision of humanism rooted in empathy, agency, and responsibility.Connect with Fish Stark Personal Website – fishstark.com AHA Speakers Bureau LinkedIn Topics we cover Why Fish believes the moment is right for a “humanist revival” in America Humanism as identity, not just ideas: agency, responsibility, and moral confidence What the AHA actually does: community-building, lobbying, legal action, and public narrative Why the real arena is online, and how the AHA is backing creators to meet people where they are Church-state separation under pressure, and how coercion shows up in schools and public life Humanist chaplaincy and “parallel place” legal recognition as a strategic advantage The American Empathy Project and why mutual aid is humanism in practice What comedy teaches about organising: pacing, attention, clarity, and joy Resources & further reading Humanist Manifesto I – American Humanist Association (1933) – https://americanhumanist.org/what-is-humanism/manifesto1/ Peace First – https://peacefirst.org/ Born This Way Foundation  – https://bornthisway.foundation/ The Good Place – https://www.nbc.com/the-good-place Person-centered therapy (Carl Rogers) overview – NCBI Bookshelf / StatPearls (2023) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK589708/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and i...

65. CampQuest UK Returns! How Kids Camps Build Confidence, Community, and Critical Thinking

33 min

“It was a very safe space to be able to say, I got that wrong.” CampQuest UK Programme Director Alistair Lichten (Humanist Dad) and camper-turned-volunteer Katy Pugh join Humanism Now to unpack why a secular camp matters, and how a weekend of outdoor adventure, hands-on science, and Philosophy for Children helps young people practise curiosity, confidence, and respectful disagreement. Discover CampQuest UK 2026 Family Camp – dates, location, pricing, booking– https://campquest.uk/2026-family-camp-pilot/ More info on Humanists UK Website Follow Alistair on the HumanistDad Blog Topics we cover  ✔︎ Why CampQuest began, and what a secular camp offers that most camps do not ✔︎ How outdoor challenge makes speaking up feel less scary ✔︎ The 2026 family camp, and what the weekend format looks like ✔︎ Philosophy for Children: stimulus, question-voting, and “speaking object” rules ✔︎ Encouraging values without dogma: standards of behaviour that protect freedom of thought ✔︎ What kids actually take home: reasoning, confidence, and not taking disagreement personally ✔︎ Alumni impact, volunteer growth, and rebuilding community year to year ✔︎ Practical booking and arrival expectations for the May bank holiday camp Resources & further reading Philosophy for Children (P4C): SAPERE / Thoughtful – training and overview of the method – https://www.sapere.org.uk/ and “What is P4C?”  The Ship of Theseus (identity over time): Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided...

64. Empathy in Action: Wil Jeudy on Uniting Secular Politics

30 min

“Humanism is increasing well-being and decreasing suffering for as many people as possible.”  - Wil Jeudy  In this episode, Wil Jeudy, a secular humanist and political organiser based in Texas, shares how empathy shaped his journey from disengaged voter to coalition-builder, why secular government protects believers and non-believers alike, and how coordinated local action can push back against Christian nationalism. Topics we cover  Humanism as empathy in action and a guide for political engagement  Why secular government safeguards freedom for everyone  Texas as a frontline in the rise of Christian nationalism  Building coalitions across secular and religious communities  Turning community into political influence without burnout Resources & further reading Follow Wil on Instagram: @wil_jay3 Secular Houston – Coordinating local secular groups to amplify political impact:  secularhouston.org Houston Oasis – A welcoming, community-focused secular gathering with talks and music: houstonoasis.org Secular Coalition for America – Coalition advocating for secular public policy at the federal level:  secular.org Secular Texas PAC Announcement  – State-level PAC supporting candidates who defend church–state separation Donate & Support the Secular Houston PAC Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

63. Powering A Humane Future with Zion Lights

46 min

“I changed my mind because I cared about alleviating energy poverty.” Order now: Energy is Life: Why Environmentalism Went Nuclear, by Zion Lights Amazon Guardian Bookshop Natural History Book Service Zion Lights is an award-winning science communicator and environmental advocate whose work sits at the intersection of energy, climate, and public understanding of science. In this conversation, Zion shares her journey from prominent renewable-only activism to evidence-led support for a broader clean energy mix, and why energy abundance matters for health, dignity, and human progress. Connect with Zion  Website – zionlights.co.uk Newsletter –substack.com/@zionlights1 Topics we cover How Zion’s views shifted after revisiting the evidence on nuclear risk, safety, and climate mitigation  Why “clean energy” beats “renewables-only,” and what grid reality means for net zero pathways  Energy poverty, global fairness, and what reliable power enables for health systems and development SMRs, fusion, and what is realistic now versus what is still “next decade” tech Resources & further reading “Could we even ‘just stop oil’?” – The Holyoake Lecture 2023, with Zion Lights (video) Global Warming of 1.5°C (SR15) – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2018) Death rates per unit of electricity production – Our World in Data What are the safest and cleanest sources of energy? – Our World in Data Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should no...

62. From Commons Victory To Lords Gridlock: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Update with Nathan Stilwell, Humanists UK

20 min

In this short update epsiode, we are pleased to welcome back Nathan Stilwell, Humanists UK's Assisted dying Campaign Coordinator, Campaigns and Communications Manager at My Death My Decision and a member of The Assisted Dying Coalition Secretariat.Nathan explains what has happened since the Assisted Dying Bill passed the House of Commons, why it now risks falling in the House of Lords, and what supporters can do to help ensure it becomes law. This episode follows Nathan’s first appearance on Humanism Now in November 2024 and offers a timely update on one of the most significant ethical debates in UK politics. References & further reading Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – Publications  – UK Parliament, bill text, amendments, and parliamentary documents Ask the House of Lords to support assisted dying – Humanists UK campaign tool for contacting peers 26. Nathan Stilwell on the Need for Compassionate Assisted Dying Legislation & End of Life Care – Humanism Now, November 2024. MPs back proposals to legalise assisted dying – BBC News, 29 November 2024. What has happened to the assisted dying bill? – BBC News, 12 December 2025. Assisted dying bill ‘near impossible’ to pass House of Lords, say supporters – The Guardian, 22 January 2026. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

61. Empowering Leaders for Secular Groups that Thrive, with Darrel Ray

44 min

 “Most people want community, and yet these communities keep disappearing.” Dr. Darrel Ray is a psychologist, author, and organizational leader who has spent decades helping individuals leave religious belief systems and supporting secular communities around the world. He founded Recovering from Religion and the Secular Therapy Project, wrote influential books such as The God Virus, and recently launched the Institute for Secular Leadership to strengthen secular and humanist organisations through better leadership practicesRegister interest in the Secular Leadership Course here. Dr. Ray's Organisations & Projects Recovering from Religion – international nonprofit supporting people leaving religion Secular Therapy Project – connects secular clients with vetted secular therapists Institute for Secular Leadership – newly launched leadership training for secular organisations  Books by Dr. Ray The God Virus: How Religion Infects Our Lives and Culture – Darrel Ray (2009)  Sex and God: How Religion Distorts Sexuality – Darrel Ray (2012) Teaming Up: Making the Transition to a Self-Directed, Team-Based Organization – Darrel W. Ray & Howard Bronstein The Performance Culture: Maximizing the Power of Teams – Darrel W. Ray & Howard Bronstein Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

60. Dr Alfredo Carpineti on Invisible Rainbows, the Unseen Universe and Pride in STEM

45 min

"I blame dinosaurs, and I blame London."  Astrophysicist and science communicator Dr Alfredo Carpineti (IFLScience, The Big Questions; creator of The Astroholic Explains; founder and chair of Pride in STEM) joins Humanism Now  to explore why the cosmos still sparks childlike wonder, how great science communication balances accuracy with storytelling, and why his upcoming book Invisible Rainbows pairs “unseen light” with the human stories too often left out.  Connect with Alfredo Carpineti Website – https://www.theastroholic.co.uk/ X (Twitter) – @DrCarpineti  LinkedIn – Alfredo-Carpineti Resources & Further Reading Book (Invisible Rainbows) – https://www.rarewaves.com/products/9781806770441-Invisible-RainbowsFacebook Pride in STEM – https://prideinstem.org/ The Astroholic Explains Podcast – https://open.spotify.com/show/6dbgVUYZDYQ95Uci2RlCFN IFLScience: The Big Questions Podcast – https://iflsciencethebigquestions.podbean.com/ Meet Alfredo in London! Space and Humanism in Fiction and Reality, with Dr Alfredo CarpinetiLondon Humanists | Wednesday, 28 Jan 2026 | 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM GMT | Old Diorama Arts Centre, NW1, London Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

59. 2025 in Humanism - Deconstruction, Collaboration, Resistance & TikTok

42 min

As Humanism Now wraps up 2025, host James Hodgson is joined by familiar voices from across the UK humanist movement to reflect on the year just gone and look ahead to 2026. Together, they explore community-building, youth engagement, activism, collaboration, and why humanism continues to resonate in uncertain times. Guests & Links Lola Tinubu – Association of Black Humanists (ABH) Association of Black Humanists – https://www.meetup.com/association-of-black-humanists/ Festival of Freethinking 2025 – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/festival-of-freethinking-2025-tickets-1755211267149/ Secular Sankofa podcast – https://secularsankofa.buzzsprout.com/2532796/follow ABH on TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@assoc_of_black_humanists Mark Agathangelou – Central London Humanists (CLH) Central London Humanists – https://www.centrallondonhumanists.org.uk/ CLH on Meetup – https://www.meetup.com/central-london-humanists/ What Humanism Means To Me Event - https://www.meetup.com/central-london-humanists/events/310597525/ Nicole Shashar – Leicester Humanists & Young Humanists Leicester Humanists – https://humanists.uk/local-group/leicester/ Young Humanists – https://humanists.uk/community/young-humanists Looking Ahead: Major 2026 Events Humanists UK Convention & Festival 2026 – https://humanists.uk/events/festival2026/ World Humanist Congress 2026 – https://humanists.international/event/world-humanist-congress-2026/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, bu...

58. Dr. Lois Lee on the Magic of Santa, Secular Rituals and Why Christmas Still Matters

52 min

“[Magical beliefs in childhood] serve an important function.”  - Dr Lois Lee For our festive special, Dr. Lois Lee, Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Kent and one of the world’s leading scholars of non-belief, joins Humanism Now to explore why atheism spreads culturally and what Christmas reveals about humanist meaning in everyday life. Connect with Dr. Lee University of Kent profile Explaining Atheism Profile Explaining Atheism Project Topics we cover  ✔︎ Why atheism still needs explaining in the 21st century ✔︎ Why socialisation and cultural visibility matter more than intelligence or education ✔︎ What children’s belief in Santa reveals about evidence, reason, and doubt ✔︎ Magical belief as a bridge between childhood and adult worldviews ✔︎ Christmas as a modern, child-centred ritual with humanist ethics ✔︎ Ritual, meaning, and non-religious culture ✔︎ Humanist privilege, school Christmas, and questions of inclusion Resources & further reading Becoming Non-Believers (childhood research) – Dr. Lee & Dr. Anna Strhan Towards a Sociology of Irreligion – Colin Campbell (1971) A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens A Visit from St. Nicholas (“’Twas the Night Before Christmas”)  The Snowman –  Raymond Briggs “Father Christmas Executed” – Claude Lévi-Strauss Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...

57. Will Gervais on the Origins of Religion, Disbelief, and Morality

43 min

“Humans didn’t evolve to believe in gods — we evolved to learn from culture, and sometimes culture points away from gods.” Dr Will M. Gervais, psychologist and author of Disbelief, joins Humanism Now to examine one of the most persistent puzzles in the study of religion: why a species capable of deep religiosity also produces millions of convinced non-believers. Drawing on cultural evolution, cognitive science, and cross-cultural data, Will shows why belief and disbelief are shaped less by raw rationality than by social signals, security, and learning environments. Contact & resources; Website – http://willgervais.com/ University profile – https://www.brunel.ac.uk/people/will-gervais ResearchGate – https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Will-M-Gervais-16312567 Disbelief – Gervais (2023) – https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Disbelief-by-Will-M-Gervais/9781633889248 Topics we cover • Why humans evolved a capacity for religion, not a destiny to believe • The twin puzzles of belief and disbelief explained scientifically • Why comfort-based and “God-spot” theories fall short • Cultural signals, credible displays, and how communities transmit belief • Why atheism often emerges where signals are mixed or muted • Weak and fragile links between analytic thinking and non-belief • Moral distrust of atheists — and what behavioural data actually show • Differences in moral style rather than moral behaviour • Agnosticism as a distinct epistemic position, not a midpoint • Existential security and why stable societies secularise • Cultural evolution and the “big gods” hypothesis • Why scientific self-correction matters more than tribal loyalty Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the glo...

56. Indian Rationalism to Global Humanist Resistance - Alavari Jeevathol on Duty, Dialogue & Youth Power

54 min

 “Activism is the rent we pay to live on this world.”  Alavari Jeevathol AJ  board member of Humanists International, founding trustee of the National Multifaith Youth Centre, and National Coordinator of Young Humanists UK — returns to Humanism Now to explore a humanism shaped by South Indian pluralism, UK youth organising, and a lifelong commitment to duty, solidarity, and awe. This conversation traces India’s rationalist heritage, the case for humanistic spirituality, and why resistance must be global, hopeful, and rooted in material realities. Connect with AJ Website – alavari.info Instagram – @alavarij Facebook – @alavari X (Twitter) – @alavarij LinkedIn – in/alavari/ TikTok – @alavarij Young Humanists UK National Multifaith Youth Centre  Resources & further reading Disenchanting India: Rationalist Criticism and Cultural Politics – Quack (2012)  Humanist Society Scotland  Statement on Palestine & Israel (2023)  AJ's events & talks Humanists UK Event: “India’s Rationalist Heritage”  CLH Discussions | Gaza: genocide, ceasefire, and future prospects CLH Talk:  Roots of Rationalism in India - Origins of Humanism Series Humanists International World Humanist Congress 2026  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

55. Sarah Levin on Secular Strategies to Mobilise Coalitions Defending Church–State Separation

56 min

 “We will lose a lot before we win — that’s just the reality of starting the race 50 years behind.” — Sarah M. Levin Sarah M. Levin - strategist, lobbyist, founder of Secular Strategies and co-founder of The Secular Vote, joins us to explore how secular voters are reshaping U.S. politics. She breaks down the real demographics behind the “nones,” why neutrality protects both believers and non-believers, and how church–state separation is at the heart of today’s fights over rights, democracy, and pluralism. Connect with Sarah: Website: sarahmlevin.com Secular Strategies: secularstrategies.com The Secular Vote: hesecularvote.com X (Twitter): @SarahMLevin LinkedIn: sarahmlevin Topics we cover  ✔︎ Why Secular Strategies exists ✔︎ “Unaffiliated” vs “atheist”: what the data really shows ✔︎ Secularism in law and public life ✔︎ Media myths about religious “revivals” ✔︎ Connecting secular voters with messages that resonate (one life, one world) ✔︎ How Christian nationalism drives today’s policy rollbacks ✔︎ Relationship-led coalition building across deep differences ✔︎ Inside The Secular Vote: correcting media blind spots ✔︎ Debunking the “anti-Christian bias” narrative ✔︎ State-level wins: transparency for healthcare sharing ministries ✔︎ Practical ways to get involved for the long term Resources & further reading “Religious ‘Nones’ in America: Who They Are and What They Believe,” Pew Research Center (2024) – https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2024/01/24/religious-nones-in-america-who-they-are-and-what-they-believe/ Presidential Action on “Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias” – The White House (2025) – https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/eradicating-anti-christian-bias/ Religious Liberty Commission – U.S. Department of Justice – https://www.justice.gov/religious-liberty-commission Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky...

54. Nursing the Nation Hosts on Why Nurses Belong At The Centre Of Public Debate About Health, Policy and Human Dignity

47 min

“Nursing is the most humanistic of professions — it operationalises the philosophical groundings of humanism.” — Jamie Bourgeois  “Nurses have 24/7 eyes on the human experience — we see how policy shows up in real people’s lives.” — Melissa Anne DuBois Jamie Bourgeois and Melissa Anne DuBois are the co-hosts of Nursing the Nation — a podcast giving nurses a national voice in debates that shape health, policy, and our daily lives. Together they explore how an ethic of evidence and empathy can challenge wellness hype, inform better policy, and centre human dignity in every decision that touches a patient’s life. In this episode Melissa & Jamie discuss the historical erasure of women healers to today’s media blind spots — and what happens when they’re finally heard. They reveal how nursing science quietly powers trauma-informed practice, safer hospitals, and better education.  Join us to hear how nurses bridge the gap between policy and people and why the world’s most trusted profession must lead public conversations. Connect with Jamie Bourgeois & Melissa Anne Dubois Blog – nursingthenation.substack.com Podcast Links – Nursing the Nation Instagram – @nursing.the.nation LinkedIn – Melissa Anne Dubois Research – ORCID | ResearchGate Writing – Writers Camp Resources & further reading Witches, Midwives & Nurses: A History of Women Healers – Barbara Ehrenreich (1973) Ann Burgess – pioneer of forensic nursing, Wikipedia Clara Barton & the Geneva Convention – Library of Congress Blog Florence Nightingale and Data Visualisation – Scientific American Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom b...

Introducing Sentientist Conversations: Jamie Woodhouse discusses Animal Morality with Frans de Waal

57 min

This week we bring we are delighted to share the a guest episode from Sentientist Conversations, a podcast hosted by Jamie Woodhouse (Humanism Now Episode 4). In this episode, Jamie speaks with legendary primatologist Frans de Waal. Follow Sentientism Sentientism.info Apple Spotify YouTube “You cannot go wrong with compassion” – primatologist Frans de Waal – Sentientist Conversations Frans (fransdewaal.com) is a primatologist & ethologist. He is Professor of Primate Behavior at Emory University, director of the Living Links Center at Emory & the author of many books including “Chimpanzee Politics”, “Our Inner Ape” & “The Bonobo & the Atheist”. He has featured in TV/radio productions & TED talks viewed by tens of millions of people. His research centers on primate social behavior, including conflict resolution, cooperation, inequity aversion, & food-sharing. He is a member of the United States National Academy of Sciences & the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts & Sciences. In Sentientist Conversations we talk about the two most important questions: “what’s real?” & “what matters?” Sentientism is “evidence, reason & compassion for all sentient beings.” The audio is on our Podcast here on Apple and here on the other platforms. ​​​​ You can watch the video here. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Introducing The Secular Sankofa Podcast - Reclaiming African Identity Through Secular Humanism

34 min

This week we bring we are delighted to share the first episode of The Secular Sankofa Podcast, from the Association of Black Humanists.  Subscribe to The Secular Sankofa wherever you get your podcasts! Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Podcast Index Overcast Podcast Addict Goodpods All other directories & RSS Feed If you enjoy the show, please follow, rate, and review.  ***** "We believe in people, not prophets, we believe in freedom, not fear, and we believe in integrity, not doctrine" - Audrey Simmons, Podcast HostThe Secular Sankofa podcast is a platform for Black humanists to reconnect with African identity and heritage through a secular lens. The hosts introduce the Association of Black Humanists, its mission, and vision for creating a space where Black people can explore humanism without religious dogma. Stay connected with the Association of Black Humanists: Meetup: association-of-black-humanist Facebook: @AssociationBlackHumanists Instagram: @abhumanists X / Twitter: @abhumanists YouTube: Association of Black Humanists TikTok: @assoc_of_black_humanists Learn more about our work and community at abhumanists.orgMusic: Icy by Jeff Kaale Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

53. David B McLaughlin on Five Humanistic Values for Living Well

37 min

“Human dignity is really the foundation for reasoned morality — there’s nothing we can do to increase it or decrease it. Even the worst people still deserve it simply because they’re human.”  - David B. McLaughlin David B. McLaughlin, leadership coach and author of Humanism: Five Values for Living Well, joins us to map a practical, hopeful framework for meaning without dogma. From life in the U.S. Bible Belt to boardrooms wrestling with equity, we explore how meaning, dignity, reason, compassion, and justice work together to guide everyday choices and systemic change. Connect with David B. McLaughlin Website – pendulumcoaching.com Newsletter – exploringhumanism.substack.com LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/in/davidbmc Topics we cover Dignity as a moral floor you can’t earn or revoke Spotting dehumanisation and resisting it The Pillar Model of meaning Rituals beyond religion: building habits that anchor values Reason + compassion: escaping autopilot and widening concern Justice at work: equity, fair policies, and psychological safety Seeing hidden power: systemic awareness for better decisions The “reverse wager of humanism”: urgency to do tangible good now Resources & further reading Humanism: Five Values for Living Well – David B. McLaughlin  – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Humanism-Five-Values-Living-Well/dp/B0FNRP5GKR Pendulum Coaching Podcast – Conversations on modern leadership – https://www.pendulumcoaching.com/podcast “Pale Blue Dot,” Voyager 1 image & essay – background on Sagan’s perspective – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale_Blue_Dot Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom...

52. Michael Marshall on Compassionate Skepticism: Empowering Critical Thinking, Beyond Being Right

48 min

“Being a skeptic doesn’t make me smarter or infallible—it just means I’m trying to fail slightly less often.” Michael Marshall has spent more than 15 years investigating pseudoscience, conspiracy theories and the psychology that sustains them. As Project Director of the Good Thinking Society, President of the Merseyside Skeptics Society and Editor of The Skeptic, Marsh has gone undercover at flat-earth conventions, exposed fake psychics, and campaigned successfully to end NHS funding for homeopathy. In this conversation, he explores how “compassionate skepticism”, leading with empathy and curiosity rather than confrontation can help us counter misinformation and connect more deeply with one another. Connect with Michael X – @MrMMarsh Skeptics with a K Podcast The Know Rogan podcast QED Conference Topics we cover  ✔︎ Skepticism as practice, not a badge of superiority ✔︎ The ethics of “compassionate skepticism” ✔︎ How pseudoscience harms—and why empathy works better than ridicule ✔︎ What Flat Earth believers reveal about human psychology ✔︎ The legacy of QED and building communities grounded in reason Resources & further reading The Skeptic – Marshall’s author archive: skeptic.org.uk/author/michael Wikipedia – Michael Marshall (skeptic) Skeptical Inquirer interview: “Marsh Interview” BBC News – “NHS homeopathy funding to end”: bbc.co.uk/news/health-43373817 The Guardian – “The Universe is an Egg and the Moon Isn’t Real”: Read article PBS Independent Lens – Exposing Peter Popoff (James Randi Investigation) Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts ar...

See all 102 episodes

–

0 ratings from members

5
4
3
2
1

Rate this podcast

Log in to rate and review the shows you listen to.

No reviews yet — be the first member to rate "Humanism Now".

This podcast, its content and its artwork are not owned by, affiliated with, or endorsed by Castquire.

Keep listening

Discover more podcasts like this.

Browse podcasts See the charts

Up next

  1. Nothing queued. Use + Queue on any episode to line it up.

0:00 0:00

Cookies

We set only what the site needs to sign you in and remember your theme. No advertising, no analytics. Read more.