Freethought Radio will play some coverage of FFRF's jolly new bus sign campaign in Seattle, play some coverage of its 32nd annual convention there and discuss how religious lobbies sabotaged the House health care reform bill over abortion. Shawn Francis Peters will talk about the Christian Science lobby's promotion of a "sham" repeal of faith exemption in the Wisconsin Legislature. The show will also tackle the federal lobbying by the Christian Science lobby to mandate coverage of prayer as "medicine" in the Senate health care reform proposal.

Direct download: FTradio_186_111409.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 4:26 PM

Editorial cartoonist Steve Benson unveils his brand-new Seattle bus sign that he designed for the foundation (HO! HO! HO!). Ernie Harburg, retired scientist and son of famous songwriter Yip Harburg will discuss the smash Broadway success of the revival of Finian's Rainbow and tell us about his new book.

Direct download: FTradio_185_110709.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 4:22 PM

Scary theocratic developments in the news, will be followed by an interview with one of America's scariest figures: an IRS tax auditor! Retired IRS auditor Robert Baty will expose the many tax privileges and benefits accruing "ministers of the gospel" in the IRS tax code, which are being challenged in a new federal lawsuit by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. An "ode" to John Keats, born on Halloween, and October's other famous freethinkers, will be featured.
Direct download: FTradio_184_103109.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 2:38 PM

Scientist and "Lucy" discoverer Donald C. Johanson will talk about his atheism, evolution and how he feels about "Ardi" displacing "Lucy." FFRF'er John Whiteside will talk about why he underwrote a billboard blitz in Las Vegas for the Foundation, featuring 10 billboards variously reading: "Imagine No Religion," "Beware of Dogma" and "Praise Darwin: Evolve Beyond Belief."
Direct download: FTradio_183_102409.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 1:31 PM

This weekend's show features a conversation with the legendary author Ursula K. Le Guin, winner of many literary awards and best-known for her classic science fiction and fantasy writing. Also: an interview with Grand Junction, Colo. activist and FFRF member Anne Landman about local attempts to protest public piety by politicians on government time, and timely updates.
Direct download: FTradio_182_101709.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 2:26 PM
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Topics: "Unabashed atheist" Ron Reagan, host of Air America's Ron Reagan Show, is back for a new interview as a preview to his appearance at FFRF's 32nd annual FFRF convention in Seattle in November. Also featured: an interview with Foundation member Karen Buchanan, the original complainant in FFRF's request to the city council of Lodi, Calif., to drop prayers. That request has set off months of controversy and Karen talks about her dismay at the Council's 5-0 vote in October to continue "uncensored prayer."
Direct download: FTradio_181_101009.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 5:48 PM
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An important interview with Rita Swan, director of Children's Healthcare is a Legal Duty, will focus on insidious amendments to healthcare reform bills that would force medical insurers to cover prayer as medicine. Local California atheist and Lifetime FFRF'er Sue Robinson will talk about why she testified against government prayer in Turlock, Calif., where there has been heated debate over an FFRF state/church complaint Bonus: news coverage of FFRF's mini-blitz of freethought billboards in Detroit.
Direct download: FTradio_180_100309.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 4:42 PM
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Freethought Radio will include timely updates on various state/church and freethought activism, including a segment about a state/church prayer controversy heating up in the Dallas, Texas area. In honor of the Sept. 26 anniversary of the birth of nontheist George Gershwin, the Foundation will air his irreverent classic, "It Ain't Necessarily So," and talk about other famous freethinkers born in the month of September. Washington State FFRF activist Darrell Barker will update listeners on the controversy over religion in the Capitol in Olympia, Wash., following a public hearing about it this week. (Note: announced guest Donald C Johanson, discoverer of Lucy, had to be rescheduled.)

Direct download: FTradio_179_092609.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 4:36 PM

Freethought Radio will discuss new billboards in Indianapolis, bus signs in San Francisco, and the furor Foundation complaints over government prayer is creating in Tehachapi, Calif. (a TV news clip will play on the controversy there). A teaser trailer for the new film, Creation, concentrating on Darwin's loss of faith and starring major actors, will play, with discussion about how the film so far has been rejected by film distributions in the United States, while it is being praised worldwide. The guest, Gregory S. Paul, a researcher, will talk about the correlation between lack of social safety nets (such as the timely topic of America's lack of health care for all) and religiosity. He will advance the notion that no "culture wars" were necessary in Europe in order for belief in religion to fade; "pie in the sky" is not necessary when needs are taken care of here on earth.

Direct download: FTradio_178_091909.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 3:42 PM

Freethought Radio will interview 2 timely guests: Foundation member Ed Hensley, who will talk about why he is 1 of 9 plaintiffs challenging an egregious Kentucky law requiring "dependence on God" by the state Department of Homeland Security, and bestselling atheist author and scientist Victor Stenger. Stenger will talk about his hot-off-the-press book, The New Atheists: Standing Up for Science & Reason. The show will include brief commentary on the prosecution of a Sudanese feminist for wearing slacks.

Direct download: FTradio_177_091209.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 10:11 AM

Energetic state/church actions by the Foundation will be featured. Staff attorney Rebecca Kratz will also talk about the Foundation's unique amicus brief in the upcoming Mohave "veteran monument" cross case before the U.S. Supreme Court, written in part on behalf of FFRF's "atheist in foxhole" veteran members. Tune in also for some commentary on Rev Steve Anderson's sermon bragging about how he prays for the death of President Barack Obama, and a short state/church quiz! Test yourself on just how much you know about the constitutional principle.
Direct download: FTradio_176_090509.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 4:24 PM

Topics: Jazz as "Religion", FFRF Legal Victory in Denver Schools
A unique legal victory for the Freedom From Religion Foundation, ending a religious endorsement by Cherry Creek Public Schools in Denver, Colo., will be discussed by the always-interesting guest, Robert R. Tiernan, the attorney who brought the case. And jazz legend/great Ben Sidran will join the cohosts in studio for a conversation about music, irreverence and lots of jazz music.
Direct download: FTradio_175_082909.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 11:00 AM

Co-host Dan Barker will talk about recently experiencing the bizarre creationism museum in Kentucky. Brad Pitt's nonreligion and new Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayer's request for "divine guidance" will get some play. Interviewed will be linguist and Daniel Everett, author of Don't Sleep, There are Snakes: Life and Language in the Amazonian Jungle (2008). In an amazing adventure, Everett--a missionary to the Pirahas dedicated to learning their language in order to proselytize them--left the Amazon free of religion.

Direct download: FTradio_174_082209.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 11:04 AM

David Diskin will talk about the hullabaloo over the Freedom From Religion Foundation's request to the City Council in Lodi, Calif., that it drop prayers to open the meetings. David was one of the organizers of a rally on Aug. 5 to counter religious zealots who descended on the town. And Jeff Sharlet will be a returning guest. The author of the timely book exposing the nefarious fundamentalist group at the heart of power in Washington, D.C., The Family, will discuss The Family's relationship with born-again politicians in the news for adultery, including Gov. Mark Sanford, U.S. Sen. John Ensign, and former U.S. Rep. Charles "Chip" Pickering.
Direct download: FTradio_173_081509.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 5:41 PM

After news--the huge coverage of FFRF's complaint about city prayers in Lodi, Calif., and the conviction of a parent for letting his daughter die of untreated diabetes for religious reasons--Wisconsin folksingers Lou and Peter Berryman perform in the studio. They will perform their favorite songs touching on religion, including the song that inspired FFRF to name its crime blotter, 'Black Collar Crime.' Tune in for a fun show!
Direct download: FTradio_172_080809.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 6:00 PM

Irreverent thoughts and thinkers will be featured this week. The August Freethinkers Almanac will highlight the contributions of famous unbelievers born in the month of August, many of whom are quoted in award-winning journalist Joan Konner's charming book, "The Atheist Bible: An Illustrious Collection of Irreverent Thoughts." Konner is dean emerita of the Columbia Gradutate school of Journalism and will also explain why she felt "inspired" to compile this collection of provocative, sage and humorous quotations.
Direct download: FTradio_171_080109.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 11:27 AM

Chris Mooney, author of the new book, Unscientific America as well as The Republican War on Science, will be the guest. The hosts will also talk about all the attention the Foundation's newest federal lawsuit--challenging a move to engrave religious mottos prominently at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center--is receiving, and provide a brief "Freethinkers Almanac" about famous freethinkers born in July.
Direct download: FTradio_170_072509.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 12:44 PM

The interview will feature distinguished and very charming science fiction and nonfiction author, the much-honored Ben Bova, an unbeliever. The hosts talk about FFRF's exciting new lawsuit filed this week, challenging Congressional mandates to engrave "In God We Trust" and the religious Pledge of Allegiance at the new Capitol Visitor's Center (through which everyone visiting the Capitol or their members of Congress must pass). They also talk about the Christian fundamentalist prayer delivered on behalf of the United States at the D-Day commemoration last month in France, and complaints made to Secretary of Defense Gates and President Obama.
Direct download: FTradio_162_053009.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 11:06 AM

Subject: Escape from Polygamy

Freethought Radio will talk about some theocratic incursions, including a recent "morality" proclamation by an Oklahoma representative, and will play CNN TV coverage of FFRF's complaint over a prayer station in Warren, Mich. Interviewed will be Foundation member Ellie Strote, who will talk about growing up in a polygamous FLDS community, getting married an 15 and making her escape at age 18.
Direct download: FTradio_168_071109.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 11:53 AM

Tune in for timely commentary on secularism and patriotism, Gov. Mark Sanford's religious pronouncements, mews coverage of FFRF's first billboard in Alabama, and of FFRF's complaint about unlawful prayer by the city council in Lodi, Calif. The guest, a distinguished professor of history at Wayne State, will talk about the secular movement, Obama's faith-based partnership and living well without God.
Direct download: FTradio_167_070409.mp3
Category: podcasts -- posted at: 12:54 PM



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