Freethought Radio

Latest Episodes:

Ron Reagan on stemcell research Nov 25, 2006

Show notes

Features an interview with Ron Reagan, who will talk about what it is like to be the atheist son of Ronald Wilson Reagan, and about why he is working for stemcell research. The show will also give a nod to the recent atheist pronouncements of entertainer Elton John. (MP3, 50 min, 23 MB)

From priest to atheist Nov 20, 2006

Show notes

Features an interview with Tom Reed, formerly a Roman Catholic priest, now a longtime Freedom From Religion Foundation member and atheist. In his honor, the featured song will be Dan Barker's version of Tom Lehrer's "Vatican Rag." The November birthday anniversaries of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Robert Louis Stevenson will be celebrated in Freethinkers Almanac. (MP3, 47 min, 21 MB)

Physician-assisted suicide Nov 11, 2006

Show notes

Features a memorable interview with distinguished TV journalist and author, Betty Rollin. The award-winning former NBC correspondent is now a reporter for PBS' Religion and Ethics Newsweekly. Author of "First You Cry" and "Final Wishes," Ms. Rollin talks movingly about the need for physician-assisted suicide and the Oregon law. Phil Och's song "When I'm Gone" is performed by folksinger Kristin Lems, and famous freethinkers born this week are discussed along with a little referendum news. (MP3, 52 min, 24 MB)

Church referendum electioneering Nov 04, 2006

Show notes

Features an interview with Mike McCabe, Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, who has filed a complaint to the State Election Board about electioneering by Bishop Morlino, Madison (Wis.) diocese, among other church electioneering concerns about upcoming referenda. Discussed will be the Freedom From Religion Foundation's major victory last week ending a proposal to start "single faith" prison programs in federal penitentiaries. The show will also feature reaction to Chuck Colson's recent defamation of groups seeking to end public-funded ministries in prisons. (MP3, 50 min, 22.5 MB)

Author Ann Druyan talking about Carl Sagan and her views on religion Oct 28, 2006

Show notes

Features an interview with author and science popularizer Ann Druyan, who was married to Carl Sagan, and co-wrote and co-produced the movie, "Contact," based on Carl Sagan's novel. Ms. Druyan has written the foreward to a new book by Sagan appearing in November, The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God, based on the newly-discovered transcripts of his Gifford Lecture Series. The show will also include a little news, a little music (Lena Horne singing the irreverent "Ain't It the Truth," by atheist lyricist Yip Harburg), and sound bites from the recent FFRF convention by participants from around the country. Dan Barker's Pagan Pulpit will address The Golden Rule. (MP3, 51 min, 23 MB)

State/Church Entanglement Prevented and Secular Reasons Against the Death Penalty Oct 21, 2006

Show notes

Features two guests: FFRF Life Member Jean Gams, an 87-year-old atheist, who will discuss how she and the Foundation averted a proposed state/church violation in Oshkosh, Wis. this fall; and Arthur Thexton, with the Wisconsin Coalition for the Death Penalty, for a quick look at secular reasons against the death penalty. Also featured: snippets from the Colbert Report's interview with Richard Dawkins and The O'Reilly Factor's interview with George W. Bush, Theocracy Alert, freethought music, a disbelief pop quiz and other news. (MP3, 50 min, 23 MB)

Rescinding South Dakota's Abortion Ban Oct 14, 2006

Show notes

Features an interview with Jan Nikolay, spokeswoman and co-chair of the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families. Ms. Nikolay was in the South Dakota Legislature for many years and is a Republican who is part of the nonpartisan group. The Campaign is spearheading the referendum on Nov. 7 to overturn the draconian ban on abortion passed by the South Dakota legislature this spring at the behest of the religious right. The show will also feature secular news, Theocracy Alert, a pop disbelief quiz, and a song celebrating "grassroots fury" by the celebrated folksinger Malvina Reynolds. (MP3, 53 min, 24 MB)

Vashti McCollum: Champion of the First Amendment Oct 07, 2006

Show notes

Features an interview with attorney Jim McCollum, whose experiences as a 4th grader in his Champaign, Illinois, public classroom with illegal religious instruction caused his mother, Vashti Cromwell McCollum, to challenge the violation in court. The result? The landmark 1948 decision, McCollum v. Board of Education, which is prevailing precedent against religion in public schools. The show includes rare audio clips of Vashti McCollum talking about the case. Vashti died in August at age 93. The show includes a Theocracy Alert, news, a pop disbelief quiz, and music. (MP3, 54 min, 24.5 MB)

Rise of Christian Nationalism Sep 30, 2006

Show notes

Features an interview with Michelle Goldberg, the lively contributing writer of Salon.com, whose new book, Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism, covers the threat of the ascendancy of the religious right. The show also includes an audio excerpt from Dawkins' British TV documentary on religion, "The Root of All Evil?" (MP3, 52 min, 23.5 MB)

The God Delusion Sep 23, 2006

Show notes

Features an interview with distinguished British atheist and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, author of the just-released book, The God Delusion. Dawkins will talk about his theory of religion as a virus-like cultural "meme," why he wrote "The God Delusion" and current events. The show includes a brief audio excerpt from Dawkins' British TV documentary on religion, "The Root of All Evil?" (MP3, 48 min, 22 MB)

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