Free Betty

Free Betty

Author: Freedom From Religion Foundation March 5, 2026 Duration: 49:43

Moroccan feminist/activist/freethinker Ibtissame ("Betty") Lachgar is in prison for wearing a T-shirt that insulted Islam. Hear about her harrowing story and about how you can help to free her.


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
Heretic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:24
We celebrate the release from prison of Nigerian humanist Mubarak Bala who was convicted of the "crime" of blasphemy. FFRF Senior Litigation Counsel Sam Grover updates us on our lawsuit challenging the law requiring the…
The Long Reach of Religion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:24
We listen to Seth Andrews, host of "The Thinking Atheist" podcast, read Dan Barker's article "The Top 10 Absolute Worst Old Testament Verses." Then, we hear Washington Post columnist Kate Cohen's entertaining and thought…
For Auld Lang Syne [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:24
After reporting on state/church news in Iowa, California, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Texas and Washington state, we listen to jazz vocalist Susan Hofer sing "What Are You Doing New Year's…
Happy Winter Solstice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:43
The Winter Solstice (December 21 this year) is the real reason for the season. We celebrate this festive time of year with music and freethought humor, including songs and performances by Kristin Lems, Dan Barker, Tim Mi…
Violence and the Bible [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:44
After covering state/church news in Illinois, Wisconsin, California, West Virginia and Minnesota, we celebrate "Bill of Rights Day" (Dec. 15) by hearing Dan Barker's song "The Battle of Church and State." Then, we speak…
Kingdom Coming [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:24
After criticizing some of Trump's Christian-nationalist departmental and cabinet picks, we speak with FFRF Deputy Legal Director Liz Cavell about this week's oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in a case dealing…
Into the Unknown [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:43
This Thanksgiving, we give thanks not to a deity, but to real people. After reporting state/church news and victories, we hear Tahira Clayton and the Godless Gospel group perform Dan Barker's song "Let's All Give Thanks.…
Feminism and Religion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:41
We talk about Trump's cabinet picks and report on state/church news around the country. FFRF's Senior Litigation Counsel Sam Grover joins us to talk about our recent complaint over Oklahoma Superintendent of Education Ry…
The Growing Threat of Christian Nationalism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:26
As we prepare for President-elect Donald Trump's second term, we hear a speech from Bradley Onishi, author of Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism -- And What Comes Next, about the grow…
Lessons in Chemistry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:43
After the election results, FFRF is determined to keep fighting. We hear the song "Keep Marching On" from the Broadway musical "Suffs." Then, Bonnie Garmus, author of the award-winning best-selling feminist/freethought n…