Defending Democracy

Defending Democracy

Author: Freedom From Religion Foundation November 14, 2025 Duration: 49:25

New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie tells us how we can defend democracy against the threat of Christian nationalism.


Tune in to Freethought Radio, a weekly hour-long conversation from the heart of Madison, Wisconsin, hosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, who lead the Freedom From Religion Foundation. This podcast offers a direct line to their live Saturday broadcast, bringing you a mix of candid discussion, current events analysis, and the occasional musical interlude, all from a distinctly secular perspective. Each episode delves into the intersection of reason, politics, and culture, challenging religious privilege while advocating for the separation of church and state. You’ll hear interviews with authors, activists, and thinkers, alongside the hosts' own commentary, which is often insightful and deliberately irreverent. It’s a program for anyone questioning dogma, valuing scientific inquiry, or simply curious about life outside traditional faith structures. The tone is more like a spirited coffee shop debate than a lecture, making complex issues around belief and disbelief accessible and engaging. Listening to this podcast feels like joining a long-running, principled discussion that’s both timely and timeless, grounded in the ongoing work of one of the nation’s most prominent organizations advocating for freethinkers.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Freethought Radio
Podcast Episodes
Guns and Poetry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:42
Journalist William J. Kole tells us about his book, "In Guns We Trust: The Unholy Trinity of White Evangelicals, Politics, and Firearms." Then, we speak with historian and poet Jennifer Michael Hecht, author of "The Wond…
Fighting Authoritarianism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:43
U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., explains how California's Proposition 50 is trying to fight religious-right authoritarianism. Legal Fellow Kyle Steinberg describes FFRF's new federal lawsuit challenging a religious oath…
Unforgiven [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:43
After reporting on state/church news, we hear the song "Friendly Atheist T-shirt" by the Freethought Band of Humanists of Minnesota. Then, we speak with University of Toronto Professor of Religion Kevin Lewis O'Neill abo…
Creationism on Trial [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:24
After covering state/church news, we report on the "war-mongering" Christian nationalist rhetoric at Charlie Kirk's memorial. Then, we hear distinguished attorney Richard Katskee speaking at the Scopes Trial Centennial c…
"Western Christian values" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:24
Christian nationalists in government are ramping up the rhetoric. We report how FFRF is protesting the White House "America Prays" initiative and a bill to put "In God We Trust" on federal buildings. Then, we speak with…
The "Trial of the Century" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:43
We report on state/church victories and challenges in Arkansas, South Carolina, Texas, Morocco, Minnesota and Florida. Then, we hear Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Ed Larson (Summer for the Gods) tell us the story of t…
Star-Spangled Jesus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:24
We are not retreating from our lawsuit challenging the Ten Commandments in Texas public schools, in spite of the Texas attorney general's warning that he won't back down from posting them. After covering state/church new…
Medicine River [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:43
After we cover state/church news around the country, FFRF Senior Litigation Counsel Sam Grover recounts FFRF's recent victory stopping the Ten Commandments from being posted in Texas public schools. Then, journalist Mary…
Confronting Christian nationalism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:43
FFRF Legal Director Patrick Elliott tells us some breaking good news about a Christian nationalist legal attack against FFRF by Oklahoma state Superintendent Ryan Walters. Then, we'll hear a chilling warning about encroa…