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Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe.

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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.

2026-03-22
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Podcasthon 2026 Special: How Freedom From Torture Helps Survivors Heal

"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

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.

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

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2026-03-19
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68. The Science Of Weird Stuff with Prof. Chris French

"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

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2026-03-15
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67. Meet the British Army's First Ever Humanist Chaplain with Padre Neil Weddel & Clare Elcombe Webber

?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 ChaplaincyWhy the Army?s first non-religious chaplain is such a landmark moment ?Presence?, confidentiality, and sitting outside the chain of commandStoicism, existentialism, and humanistic psychology as practical frameworks for moral and pastoral supportHow humanist chaplaincy strengthens, not replaces, religious chaplaincyWhere chaplaincy fits alongside welfare and medical support in a whole-person wellbeing systemCeremonies in military life: inclusive funerals, namings, and personal milestonesWhat 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

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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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2026-03-08
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Introducing Freedom of Thought by Humanists International

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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 InternationalOur member?led structure and global reachLived experience informing advocacyReflections on the 2026 IRF SummitFractures in human rights spaces and how to address themWhat happens inside the Human Rights Council Why start this podcast now and what comes nextWhy attend the World Humanist Congress 2026How 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

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2026-03-01
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66. Fish Stark on How The AHA Is Building a Humanist Revival In America

"If science tells you what's real and compassion tells you what's right, you're a humanist" - Fish Stark

Fish 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.comAHA Speakers Bureau LinkedIn

Topics we cover

Why Fish believes the moment is right for a ?humanist revival? in AmericaHumanism as identity, not just ideas: agency, responsibility, and moral confidenceWhat the AHA actually does: community-building, lobbying, legal action, and public narrativeWhy the real arena is online, and how the AHA is backing creators to meet people where they areChurch-state separation under pressure, and how coercion shows up in schools and public lifeHumanist chaplaincy and ?parallel place? legal recognition as a strategic advantageThe American Empathy Project and why mutual aid is humanism in practiceWhat 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-placePerson-centered therapy (Carl Rogers) overview ? NCBI Bookshelf / StatPearls (2023) ? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK589708/

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2026-02-22
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65. CampQuest UK Returns! How Kids Camps Build Confidence, Community, and Critical Thinking

?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 WebsiteFollow 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

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2026-02-15
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64. Empathy in Action: Wil Jeudy on Uniting Secular Politics

?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_jay3Secular Houston ? Coordinating local secular groups to amplify political impact: secularhouston.orgHouston Oasis ? A welcoming, community-focused secular gathering with talks and music: houstonoasis.orgSecular 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 separationDonate & Support the Secular Houston PAC

Amazon Guardian Bookshop Natural History Book Service

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2026-02-08
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63. Powering A Humane Future with Zion Lights

?I changed my mind because I cared about alleviating energy poverty.?

Order now: Energy is Life: Why Environmentalism Went Nuclear, by Zion Lights

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.ukNewsletter ?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 developmentSMRs, 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 DataWhat are the safest and cleanest sources of energy? ? Our World in Data

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2026-02-01
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62. From Commons Victory To Lords Gridlock: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Update with Nathan Stilwell, Humanists UK

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 documentsAsk the House of Lords to support assisted dying
? Humanists UK campaign tool for contacting peers26. 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.

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2026-01-27
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61. Empowering Leaders for Secular Groups that Thrive, with Darrel Ray

?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 practices

Register interest in the Secular Leadership Course here.

Dr. Ray's Organisations & Projects

Recovering from Religion ? international nonprofit supporting people leaving religionSecular Therapy Project ? connects secular clients with vetted secular therapistsInstitute 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 BronsteinThe Performance Culture: Maximizing the Power of Teams ? Darrel W. Ray & Howard Bronstein

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2026-01-19
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60. Dr Alfredo Carpineti on Invisible Rainbows, the Unseen Universe and Pride in STEM

"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-Rainbows
FacebookPride in STEM ? https://prideinstem.org/The Astroholic Explains Podcast ? https://open.spotify.com/show/6dbgVUYZDYQ95Uci2RlCFNIFLScience: The Big Questions Podcast ? https://iflsciencethebigquestions.podbean.com/

Meet Alfredo in London!

Space and Humanism in Fiction and Reality, with Dr Alfredo Carpineti
London Humanists | Wednesday, 28 Jan 2026 | 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM GMT | Old Diorama Arts Centre, NW1, London

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2026-01-11
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59. 2025 in Humanism - Deconstruction, Collaboration, Resistance & TikTok

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/followABH 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/

University of Kent profile Explaining Atheism Profile Explaining Atheism Project

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-12-31
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58. Dr. Lois Lee on the Magic of Santa, Secular Rituals and Why Christmas Still Matters

?[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

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 StrhanTowards a Sociology of Irreligion ? Colin Campbell (1971)A Christmas Carol ? Charles DickensA Visit from St. Nicholas (??Twas the Night Before Christmas?) The Snowman ? Raymond Briggs?Father Christmas Executed? ? Claude Lévi-Strauss

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-12-24
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57. Will Gervais on the Origins of Religion, Disbelief, and Morality

?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-gervaisResearchGate ? https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Will-M-Gervais-16312567Disbelief ? 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

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-12-14
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56. Indian Rationalism to Global Humanist Resistance - Alavari Jeevathol on Duty, Dialogue & Youth Power

?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.infoInstagram ? @alavarijFacebook ? @alavariX (Twitter) ? @alavarijLinkedIn ? 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 & talksHumanists UK Event: ?India?s Rationalist Heritage? CLH Discussions | Gaza: genocide, ceasefire, and future prospectsCLH Talk: Roots of Rationalism in India - Origins of Humanism SeriesHumanists International World Humanist Congress 2026

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-11-30
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55. Sarah Levin on Secular Strategies to Mobilise Coalitions Defending Church?State Separation

?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.comSecular Strategies: secularstrategies.comThe Secular Vote: hesecularvote.comX (Twitter): @SarahMLevinLinkedIn: 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.go

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-11-23
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54. Nursing the Nation Hosts on Why Nurses Belong At The Centre Of Public Debate About Health, Policy and Human Dignity

?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.comPodcast Links ? Nursing the NationInstagram ? @nursing.the.nationLinkedIn ? Melissa Anne DuboisResearch ? ORCID | ResearchGateWriting ? Writers Camp

Resources & further reading

Witches, Midwives & Nurses: A History of Women Healers ? Barbara Ehrenreich (1973)Ann Burgess ? pioneer of forensic nursing, WikipediaClara Barton & the Geneva Convention ? Library of Congress BlogFlorence Nightingale and Data Visualisation

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-11-15
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Introducing Sentientist Conversations: Jamie Woodhouse discusses Animal Morality with Frans de Waal

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.

Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Podcast Index Overcast Podcast Addict Goodpods All other directories & RSS Feed

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-11-08
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Introducing The Secular Sankofa Podcast - Reclaiming African Identity Through Secular Humanism

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!

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 Host

The 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-humanistFacebook: @AssociationBlackHumanistsInstagram: @abhumanistsX / Twitter: @abhumanistsYouTube: Association of Black HumanistsTikTok: @assoc_of_black_humanists

Learn more about our work and community at abhumanists.org

Music: Icy by Jeff Kaale

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-10-27
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53. David B McLaughlin on Five Humanistic Values for Living Well

?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.comNewsletter ? exploringhumanism.substack.comLinkedIn ? www.linkedin.com/in/davidbmc

Topics we cover

Dignity as a moral floor you can?t earn or revokeSpotting dehumanisation and resisting itThe Pillar Model of meaningRituals beyond religion: building habits that anchor valuesReason + compassion: escaping autopilot and widening concernJustice at work: equity, fair policies, and psychological safetySeeing hidden power: systemic awareness for better decisionsThe ?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/B0FNRP5GKRPendulum 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

X ? @MrMMarsh Skeptics with a K Podcast The Know Rogan podcast QED Conference

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-10-19
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52. Michael Marshall on Compassionate Skepticism: Empowering Critical Thinking, Beyond Being Right

?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

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/michaelWikipedia ? Michael Marshall (skeptic)Skeptical Inquirer interview: ?Marsh Interview?BBC News ? ?NHS homeopathy funding to end?: bbc.co.uk/news/health-43373817The Guardian ? ?The Universe is an Egg and the Moon Isn?t Real?: Read articlePBS Independent Lens ?

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-10-12
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51. Maggie Ardiente, President of Humanists International on Spreading Joy in the One Life We Have

"Another form of resistance is joy.?

Maggie Ardiente, newly elected President of Humanists International, joins Humanism Now to share how humanism grounded in curiosity, compassion, and community can meet today?s rising threats to democracy and science. From a Catholic upbringing to global leadership, Maggie lays out a practical, joyful vision: build resilient humanist networks and live our values in the one life we know we have.

Connect with Maggie:

Instagram ? https://www.instagram.com/maggieardiente/LinkedIn ? https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggieardiente/

Topics we cover

Building humanist community: from campus groups to a global movementWhy labels and groups matter for the non-religiousHumanism in public life: defending democracy, science, and human rightsJoy as resistance: living well as a humanist practicePractical ways to start or grow a local humanist groupMisconceptions about ?humanism? in the United StatesLeadership skills for secular nonprofits (fundraising, empathy, voice)Supporting humanists at risk?especially across the Global South

Resources & further reading

Humanists International ? Global federation advancing humanist values ? https://humanists.internationalAmerican Humanist Association ? US national org for humanists ? https://americanhumanist.orgSecular Coalition for America ? Policy advocacy for secular Americans ? https://secular.orgPhysicians for Social Responsibility ? Health professionals for climate solutions & a nuclear-free world ? https://www.psr.org

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-10-05
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50. Andrew Copson on Why Humanism Remains Essential in an Age of Extremism, 20 Years of Human Rights Campaigning

?No one ever said it was going to be easy. Humanists don?t think a better world is inevitable?we think a better world is possible, but we have to work for it.?

Andrew Copson OBE, Chief Executive of Humanists UK and former President of Humanists International, joins us for our 50th episode to reflect on two decades of humanist leadership. From growing up in a secular working-class community to championing global human rights, Andrew explains why humanism remains vital in a time of rising extremism, technological disruption, and political uncertainty.

Connect with Andrew

Website ? Humanists UKX (Twitter) ? @andrewcopsonLinkedIn ? Andrew CopsonFacebook - @mrandrewcopson

Topics we cover

?? Growing up secular in working-class Britain
?? Why humanist organizations matter: advocacy, representarion and care
?? Misconceptions about humanism today ? ?too anti-religious? vs. ?too pro-human?
?? The challenge of technology and the meaning of mortality
?? Strategic engagement: when to dialogue, and when not to
?? Transforming Humanists International into a diverse, global movement
?? The campaign to free Mubarak Bala
?? UK priorities ahead: assisted dying, curriculum reform, defending equality
?? Why embracing the identity of ?humanist? still matters

Resources & further reading

Secularism: Politics, Religion and Freedom ? Copson (2017)The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of Humanism ? Copson & Grayling (2015)The Little Book of Humanism Series ? Copson & RobertsWhat I Believe ? Copson (2025)What I Believe Podcast Andrew Copson?s Farewell Speech to the General Assembly, Humanists International 2025Mubarak

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-09-21
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49. Morgan DeNicola on the Philanthropy of Everyday Action & Dialogue Across Divides

?You don?t change the world. You change the way one person views the world?and then you?ve changed the world for that person.?

What if true strength lies not in certainty, but in listening with respect? In this episode, Morgan DeNicola, Executive Director of the DeNicola Family Foundation, shares how dialogue across divides, cultural diplomacy and everyday acts of humanity redefine what philanthropy can mean. From working with to fostering cross-cultural understanding worldwide, Morgan shows how compassion, curiosity and calm self-control can build bridges in even the most polarized spaces.

Connect with Morgan

Facebook ? Morgan DeNicolaInstagram ? @morgan.slikerdenicolaLinkedIn ? Morgan DeNicolaTikTok ? @morganslikerdenicola

Topics we cover

?? The 360-degree value of diverse viewpoints
?? Philanthropy as ?love of humanity? beyond financial giving
?? Finding common ground across ideological divides
?? Diplomacy as an everyday superpower of relationship-building
?? Practical mental health strategies for service-driven work
?? Why self-control and calm are ultimate strengths in dialogue
?? The four pillars of the DeNicola Family Foundation: conservation, world health, humanitarian recognition, cultural diplomacy

Resources & further reading

Humpty Dumpty Institute ? Fostering dialogue with Congress, UN and global partnersDeNicola Family Foundation ? Supporting world health, conservation, diplomacy and recognition initiativesAmitofo Care Centre ? Orphan and education programmes in AfricaAmerican Thoracic Society ? Global conference supporting medical research in lung healthElmwood Park Zoo - Inspiring appreciation for wildlife, the environment & active participation in conservationMorgan's "Six or Nine" Cartoon T-Shirt

Ubuntu and Personhood Ubuntu and the Everyday Ubuntu and the Reconstitution of Community

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-09-16
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James Ogude on Ubuntu's Ethical Framework - Personhood, Co-Agency & Justice (Global Origins of Humanism Series)

Ubuntu: I am because we are. ??

In this bonus episode of Humanism Now, we?re sharing the live recording of Professor James Ogude?s talk from the online event Understanding Ubuntu Traditions part of the Global Origins of Humanism series (co-hosted by Central London Humanists and the Association of Black Humanists).

Prof. Ogude is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria, and a leading authority on Ubuntu?the African ethical tradition of community, compassion and shared humanity.

About the series

The Global Origins of Humanism series is a new programme of online talks and discussions exploring philosophical traditions from around the world that have influenced modern humanist thought. At each event CLH & ABH welcome a leading scholar to introduce their area of expertise, followed by audience discussion.

These events are free to attend online and open to everyone.

Upcoming events (RSVP on Meetup to join live)

Roots of Rationalism in India with Alavari ?AJ? Jeevathol ? Wed 17 Sept 2025, 7pm UK In Search of Zera Yacob with Dr Jonathan Egid ? Wed 15 Oct 2025, 7pm UK

Prof. Ogude covers;

How personhood is earned through relationships and communityHow Ubuntu differs from Western individualismCo-agency: interconnectedness of human and non-human lifeUbuntu as an ecological ethic for climate and sustainability challengesThe material dimension of dignity: why justice must include economic needsArchbishop Tutu?s role in elevating Ubuntu to a universal framework for reconciliationUbuntu as a process of becoming, not a fixed identity

Selected Books by James Ogude

More about the organisers

Central London Humanist

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-09-10
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48. David Livingstone Smith on the Psychology of Dehumanization - Roots, Rhetoric, Myths and How to Resist It

?The arc of history bends towards justice only if you keep pushing it in that direction.?

David Livingstone-Smith, Ph.D., award-winning author, Professor of Philosophy at the University of New England and a leading authority on dehumanization joins us to unpack how ordinary people come to see others as ?less than human,? why that shift makes atrocities feel morally necessary, and what practical tools can help us resist it.

His books include Less Than Human (Anisfield-Wolf Award), On Inhumanity (OUP), and Making Monsters (HUP; Joseph B. Gittler Award; Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize shortlist).

Connect with David Livingstone-Smith

Website ? https://www.davidlivingstonesmith.comNewsletter ? https://davidlivingstonesmith.substack.com/University profile ? https://www.une.edu/people/david-livingstone-smithMedia ? https://www.davidlivingstonesmith.com/media

Topics we cover

What dehumanization is: conceiving others as subhuman creatures or monstersHow we hold contradictory beliefs (human and subhuman) at the same timeThe role of epistemic authority, leaders, ?experts? and propaganda, in spreading dehumanizationWhy racialization often precedes full dehumanizationMoral framing of mass violence as ?self-defence? against monstersEconomic insecurity and social fear as fertile ground for dehumanizing narrativesPsychological self-defense: recognizing our manipulabilityWhat actually helps: honest historical education, dismantling racial thinking, and a robust press

Resources & further reading

Less Than Human: Why We Demean, Enslave, and Exterminate Others (2011) ? https://www.davidlivingstonesmith.com/project-09On Inhumanity: Dehumanization and How to Resist It (2020) ? https://www.davidlivingstonesmith.com/on-inhumanityMaking Monsters: The Uncanny Power of Dehumanization (2021) ? https://www.davidlivingstonesm

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-09-07
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47. Victoria Mattingly on The Human Side of DEI: Transforming Workplaces Through Data-Driven Inclusion

?Inclusion is the behaviors that result in others feeling valued, respected, seen and heard.?

Dr. Victoria Mattingly (Dr. V)?industrial-organizational psychologist, CEO & founder of Mattingly Solutions, and co-author of Inclusalytics?joins us to show how rigorous data and deeply human connection can coexist. We unpack practical, measurable ways to build cultures of belonging?at work and in communities?where people can thrive as their authentic selves.

Connect with Dr. Victoria Mattingly

Website ? mattinglysolutions.comInstagram ? @drvictoriamattinglyLinkedIn ? /in/vpmattingly/Dr V.s Udemy Course: Ally Up: How to Build and Activate Ally PartnershipsDr V. on Google Scholar ? https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=L9cutXEAAAA

Topics we cover

?? Defining inclusion with outcomes: behaviours that make others feel valued, respected, seen, and heard
?? ?Inclusalytics?: merging workplace inclusion with analytics to measure belonging
?? Why the platinum rule (treat others as they want to be treated) surpasses the golden rule
?? The difference between mentorship and sponsorship?and why sponsors accelerate equity
?? How executive sponsors can empower ERGs without overstepping
?? Allyship as active behavior, not identity
?? Three characteristics of effective partners in allyship: self-awareness, trust, and action orientation
?? Capturing positive behaviors?why we should measure allyship, not just discrimination
?? Using AI and language data ethically to advance inclusion

Resources & further reading

Pre order: Act Like an Ally, Work With an Ally ? Victoria Mattingly ? Mattingly Solutions | KindleInclusalytics: How DEI Leaders Use Data to Drive Their Work ? Victoria Mattingly & Sertrice Grice ? Amazon |

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-08-31
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46. Bill Angus on Divorcing Jesus: Finding Authentic Community Beyond the Church

?If humanism is anything, it?s self-education. It?s progressing, becoming more educated, more enlightened.? - Dr Bill Angus

Dr Bill Angus takes us on a provocative journey through his transition from devout evangelical Christian to secular humanist in this candid, thought-provoking conversation. After 30 years of committed faith, Angus found himself re-examining the foundations of Christianity, leading to what he calls a ?divorce? from Jesus. With humour and clarity, he challenges us to rethink what religion offers ? and what humanism makes possible instead.

Connect with Bill & Resources:

? Divorcing Jesus: Atheism for Absolute Beginners ? Bill Angus (2024) ? Amazon
? Website ? billangus.com
? Bluesky ? @billangus.bsky.social
? Humanists New Zealand ? humanist.nz

Topics we cover

?? Why Bill felt ?divorcing Jesus? was the right metaphor for leaving faith
?? Jesus as historical figure vs. fictionalised character of modern Christianity
?? How religion can stunt personal growth through ?instant salvation?
?? Humanism as a practice of continuous learning and self-education
?? Rethinking forgiveness, love, and moral values outside divine command
?? Finding authentic community beyond the church
?? Building strength and integrity through secular humanism
?? The wide horizons of life after religion

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-08-24
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45. Richard Norman on What is Humanism For?

?It?s on the basis of our shared humanity that we need to try to understand the world and think about how to live in it.?

Professor Richard Norman, philosopher and author of What Is Humanism For?, joins us to explore the enduring question at the heart of secular ethics. From his journey out of Christianity to his role shaping humanist thought in the UK, Richard shares why humanism matters, how it offers a coherent framework for living well, and why it must evolve to address urgent global challenges like climate change and artificial intelligence.

Topics we cover

?? Defining humanism in plain language for all ages
?? Why naturalism underpins humanist philosophy
?? Core values, cooperation, compassion, justice, as products of our social nature
?? Erich Fromm?s ?frame of orientation and devotion? and its relevance today
?? How shared values are replacing religion as social glue
?? Climate change and AI as defining issues for future humanist engagement
?? The role of dialogue with religious communities in building understanding
?? Avoiding stereotypes while strengthening humanist identity
?? Inspiring curiosity and critical thinking through school talks

Resources & references

What Is Humanism For? ? Richard Norman (2025) On Humanism ? Richard Norman (2nd ed., 2012) Understanding Humanism ? Andrew Copson, Luke Donnellan & Richard Norman (2022) Humanist Climate Action ? https://humanists.uk/climate-action Humanists UK School Speakers Programme ? Humanists UK https://humanists.uk/community/school-speakersThe Sane Society ? Erich Fromm (1955)?Values are the New Religion? ? Linda Woodhead (Cadbury Lectures, University of Birmingham, 2021)

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-08-17
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44. Lizzi Collinge MP on Applying Humanist Values in British Politics

?I believe in autonomy, I believe in choice, I believe in human freedom, and I believe in having less suffering? all of which are fundamentally humanist values.? ? Lizzi Collinge MP

Lizzi Collinge?Labour MP for Morecambe & Lunesdale and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group?shares how openly declaring ?I am a humanist? now shapes her work on championing freedom, autonomy and human rights through cross-party collaboration at Westminster.

Lizzi Collinge MP

?? Parliament contact ?Lizzi Collinge MP ? Twitter ? @LizziCollinge? Instagram ? @lizzicollinge? Facebook ? @LizziCollinge

Topics we cover

?? Owning a humanist identity in Parliament
?? Lizzi?s life experiences, values & advice for future politicians
?? Putting values into action: autonomy, freedom, less suffering
?? Why transparency about values builds better policy
?? Assisted Dying Bill process & progress
?? APPGs as engines for cross-party problem-solving
?? Confronting illegal schools and protecting children?s education
?? Standing up for persecuted people worldwide

References

Highest number of MPs ever take secular affirmation ? Humanists UK Lizzi Collinge?s maiden speech (?I am a humanist?) - HansardTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill ? UK ParliamentAll-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group ? Humanists UKIllegal Faith Schools ? Humanists UK Mubarak Bala Update ? Humanists International

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-08-10
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43. Katherine Lacefield on Moving from Confrontation to Connection & Campaigning for Causes that Welcome Everyone

"Compassion has no borders" - Katherine Lacefield

Katherine Lacefield?founder of Just Be Cause Consulting?shares why swapping confrontational animal-rights tactics for compassion-first community building creates deeper, lasting change for animals, people and the planet.

Connect with Katherine

Website ? justbecause.consultingFacebook ? @JustBeCauseConsultingInstagram ? @just.because.consultingTikTok ? @justbecauseconsultingThreads ? @just.because.consultingLinkedIn ? /in/katherine-mac-donald

Topics we cover

?? From ?I hate people? to human-centred advocacy
?? Closing the values?action gap
?? Why confrontation backfires?and what works instead
?? One Health: linking human, animal & environmental wellbeing
?? Letting go of perfectionism in activism

Resources & further reading

Just Be Cause Consulting ? Fundraising & strategy for mission-driven orgs ? www.justbecause.consultingJust Be Cause PodcastPodcast (Apple) ? https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-just-be-cause-podcast/id1743692401Podcast (Spotify) ? https://open.spotify.com/show/3IKpckZtQIwrUrXL8i0IY0WHO ?One Health?- an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems.

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-08-04
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42. Peruvian Association of Atheist on How Humanist Weddings, Naming & Funerals are Driving Peru's Secular Revolution

?Rituals are in the roots of our humankind.? ? Iván Antezana

Adrián Núñez and Iván Antezana?leading organisers of the Peruvian Association of Atheists (APERAT)?reveal how their victory in the 2025 Humanist Accelerator Program is turning the dream of legally-recognised humanist ceremonies into a nationwide reality, challenging deep-rooted stigma and funding vital support for Peru?s growing secular community.

Topics we cover

?? Founding APERAT and its legal battles for recognition
?? Why ?the atheist closet? remains so deep in Peru
?? Lessons from the Humanist Ceremonies Accelerator
?? Designing inclusive, inter-faith-friendly ceremonies
?? Building a social enterprise to fund legal and social aid
?? Partnering with wedding planners and funeral homes
?? Strategies for nurturing a visible humanist community

The Peruvian Atheist Association (APERAT) continues to work toward a freer, more rational, and truly secular Peru. In a context of growing authoritarianism, censorship, and setbacks in fundamental rights, secular activism is more urgent than ever. APERAT invite individuals, collectives, and organizations who share these values to get in touch and, if possible, offer financial support to sustain public campaigns, events, and advocacy efforts in defence of freedom of conscience and the separation of church and state.

Connect with APERAT

Website ? aperat.org.peCeremonies ? ceremoniaslaicas.latEmail ? [email protected]Adrián Núñez, Instagram ? @sobranmagufosIván Antezana Quiroz, Instagram ? @iaq66

Episode References & Resources

?Les Couleurs de l?Humanisme ? Cloutier (2009)

? Humanist Ceremonies Accelerator Finale ? from Happy Human (Lithuania), Humanists International & Humanise Live

? What is a Humanist Ceremony? ?Stephen Fry & Humanists UK

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-07-27
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41. Bridget Shirvell on Parenting in a Climate Crisis: Teaching Kids Curiosity, Resilience & Hope

?Research has found that the amount of questions kids ask dramatically decreases once they start formalized education.? ? Bridget Shirvell

Journalist and climate-communicator Bridget Shirvell joins Humanism Now to share a four-part roadmap?feel, love, build, act?for raising climate-resilient kids. Drawing on her new book Parenting in a Climate Crisis, she explains how families can turn eco-anxiety into everyday action, nurture curiosity, and help children transform concern into hope.
Hachette Book Group

Connect with Bridget

Website ? https://breeshirvell.com Newsletter ? Raising Climate Resilient Kids -Substack Instagram? @breeshirvellLinkedIn ? /in/breeshirvell

Topics we cover

?? Bridget?s feel-love-build-act framework for climate-conscious parenting
?? Turning daily habits?into social tipping points
?? Teaching stewardship through family pets without gender stereotypes
?? Countering the curiosity slump that formal schooling often creates
?? Balancing individual choices with systemic change & local activism
?? Practical ways to ease eco-anxiety while fostering genuine hope
?? Food, waste-reduction and other low-lift actions kids can lead

Resources & further reading

Parenting in a Climate Crisis ? Bridget Shirvell (2025) Tipping point for large-scale social change ? Science (2018) Parenting and the climate crisis ?The Ecologist (2025)

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-07-20
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40. Nick Cooney on Going Beyond Good Intentions & the Ethical Impact of What We Leave Undone

?Focusing on the positive outcomes gives you agency; you can literally see the progress happening and that keeps you moving forward.? - Nick Cooney

Nick Cooney is a social entrepreneur, alternative?protein investor, and author. He joins Humanism Now to discuss to unpack the hidden moral cost of doing nothing. Drawing on insights from his new book What We Don?t Do, Nick explains why inaction outweighs mis?action, how to count the suffering we can prevent, and why business, capital and compassion must pull in the same direction.

Topics we cover

?? The four?quadrant framework of action vs inaction
?? Measuring impact: turning empathy into numbers
?? Beating overwhelm with data?driven altruism
?? Alternative proteins and the end of factory farming
?? Lever VC?s investment thesis & the business case for good
?? Animal suffering as a neglected moral emergency
?? Effective altruism, long?termism and their critiques
?? Habits that keep the ?do?more? muscle strong

Connect with Nick

Website ? nickcooney.com LinkedIn Instagram Medium ResearchGate

Resources

What We Don?t Do ? Nick Cooney (2025)Nick Cooney BooksChange of HeartVeganomicsHow to Be Great at Doing GoodLever VC ? global VC fund for sustainable food innovationLever Foundation ? non?profit accelerating humane food systemsThe Humane League ? farm?animal advocacy organisationGood Food Institute ? think?tank for alt?protein R&D and policy

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-07-13
Link to episode

39. Dr Bo Bennett on Sharpening Critical Thinking, Logical Fallacies & Persuasive Dialogue

?We need to care more about believing what is true than being right and being proved right.? - Bo Bennet

With outrage-bait, memes and ?gotcha? clips swarming every feed, being able to think about our thinking is no longer optional. Social psychologist, entrepreneur and Positive Humanism author Dr Bo Bennett joins host James Hodgson to show why critical thinking is a life skill for everyone, not a luxury for academics. Drawing on decades spent dissecting logical fallacies (plus a generous dose of humour), Bo maps out how we can swap combativeness for curiosity?and outrage for evidence?in our daily conversations.

In this episode

System 1 vs System 2: knowing when to hit the cognitive brakes25 ?greatest-hits? fallacies?from appeal to authority to the straw manAristotle?s trio of logic, emotion & character (and why emotion is only fallacious when it replaces reason)The Socratic method for lowering defences and dodging the back-fire effect?You need to care more about believing what is true than being right and being proved right.? ?BoExpertise-transfer traps: why even humanists can slip up on politics or scienceHandling contrarian takes on settled research: focus on the scientific processA practical habit: run emotional posts through AI for a fast, source-linked fact-check before you hit share

Follow Dr Bo Bennett

Website & books: bobennett.comLogical fallacy database: https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertsbennett/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bobennett7750

Resources

Logically Fallacious ? Dr Bo BennettThinking, Fast and Slow ? Daniel Kahneman

Enjoying the show? Please rate, review and subscribe so you never miss a conversation that moves humanism forward.

? @juliephamphd on Instagram? @juliephamphd on TikTok? @curiositybased on Instagram? @curiositybased on TikTok? CuriosityBased Facebook

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-07-08
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38. Julie Pham on Mastering Curiosity as a Practice

?Curiosity isn?t a trait ? it?s a practice. And like any practice, we have to keep doing it even when it?s hard.? ? Dr. Julie Pham

In this episode of Humanism Now, we explore curiosity as a practice. Dr. Julie Pham ? social scientist, community builder, and author of the bestselling 7 Forms of Respect® ? joins us to unpack how curiosity, respect, and communication transform not just workplaces, but our relationships and communities.

As the founder and CEO of CuriosityBased, Dr. Pham teaches leaders and teams how to embed curiosity into daily practice ? through self-awareness, relationship-building, and clear communication. Drawing from her personal story and professional insight, Julie shares how our assumptions about listening, respect, and disagreement shape the way we connect and collaborate.

In this episode:

Why curiosity is a skill, not a trait ? and how to develop itHow to approach difficult conversations using the CAFA method (Context, Action, Feeling, Ask)The difference between hearing and believing ? and why it mattersRespect is relative: how upbringing and culture shape our communicationHow curiosity bridges differences ? even across generational, cultural, and political dividesWhen not to have the conversation: the two questions to ask before engaging

Featured Resources:

? 7 Forms of Respect: www.formsofrespect.com? CuriosityBased: www.curiositybased.com? TEDx TalkCuriosity as a Practice: Watch here? Curiosity at Work podcast: Listen here

Follow Dr. Julie Pham:

BBC Panorama The Guardian The Londoner

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-06-29
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37. Rachael Reign on Coercive Control Beyond the Home: Protecting Cult Survivors

?Surviving isn?t just about leaving ? it?s about learning to trust yourself again after someone else?s voice has lived in your head for years.? ? Rachael Reign

In this powerful episode of Humanism Now, Rachael Reign, survivor and founder of Surviving Universal UK, shares her deeply personal story of escaping spiritual abuse and coercive control and her ongoing campaign to protect others.

As founder of Surviving Universal UK, Rachael supports other survivors of high-control groups and leads a growing campaign to amend Section 76 of the UK Serious Crime Act.

In this episode

Rachael's journey into, and out of, UCKGWhat draws vulnerable young people into high-control groupsHow unpaid labour and spiritual obedience become normalisedWhat led Rachael to walk away and how she supports other survivorsThe warning signs of cultic or coercively controlling groupsWhere UK law falls short in protecting against coercive control outside domestic settingsHow we can hold abusive systems accountableThe role the public and policymakers can play in driving survivor-led legal reform

Surviving Universal UK

?Surviving Universal UK
? [email protected]
? @survivinguniversaluk
? @survivinguniversaluk

Contact Rachael

?linktr.ee
?Speaker bookings - Rachael Reign
? @Msrachaelreign

Resources

Need support?
If you or someone you know has been affected by the topics discussed in this episode, Faith to Faithless are here to help.

Faith to Faithless Helpline (UK): 0800 448 0748
Email:

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-06-22
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36. JC Candanedo on Art as Activism for Solidarity, Identity and Representation

"Inclusion isn?t about ticking boxes. It?s about creating a space where people feel safe enough to stay." - JC Candanedo

Artist, activist, and humanist JC Candanedo shares his journey from a Catholic school in Panama to the art studios of London. His work weaves together identity, displacement, and community action, exploring how creativity can challenge injustice and build inclusive, compassionate societies.

In this epsiode, JC reflects on growing up atheist in a deeply religious culture, navigating migration and marginalisation, and why the arts are one of the most powerful tools we have for social transformation. JC shares the challenges of creating welcoming spaces within the humanist community, and how diversity and solidarity must be more than just aspirations?they must be action.

Key Topics Covered

How JC?s atheist upbringing in Catholic Panama shaped his identity and activismArt as language: using creativity to open space for difficult but vital conversationsWhy Latin American and Arab/North African diasporas are "invisibilized" in UK systemsThe work of the Noria Collective in building solidarity among Global Majority communitiesHow JC discovered humanism later in life?and how it changed his view of religionPractical advice for humanist groups on inclusion, outreach, and community care

Follow JC

? JC?s Work: jccandanedo.com? Noria Collective: wearenoria.com / ? @we.are.noria? Axis: axisweb.org? Campaign: banconversiontherapy.com? Instagram: @jccandanedo? LinkedIn: jccandanedo

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-06-15
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35. Lindsay de Wal on Redefining Chaplaincy & the Rise of non-religious Pastoral Care in the NHS

"Transcendence is the connection with something wider; the world, the cosmos, nature, other fellow human beings, and doing good in this life"? Dr Lindsay De Wal

When Dr Lindsay De Wal became the first non-religious head of chaplaincy in the NHS, she redefined what spiritual support can look like in modern healthcare. From sceptical colleagues to international media headlines, her appointment marked a turning point for inclusive pastoral care.

In this powerful and personal conversation, Lindsay shares how she built a humanist framework for care grounded in deep listening, horizontal transcendence and unwavering compassion.

In This Episode

Why only 4% of hospital chaplaincy visits serve non-religious patientsHow the Netherlands became a global leader in humanist pastoral care
What ?horizontal transcendence? means?and why it matters in non-religious careThe art of active listening and the power of silence in emotional supportHow to become a humanist pastoral carer?and why demand is growing fastThe rise of the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network across the NHS

Follow Dr. Lindsay de Wal

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Dr.LdW UK Non?religious Pastoral Support Network

Episode References:

Become a Pastoral Carer, UK Non-Religious Pastoral Support NetworkThe Development of Non-Religious Pastoral Support in the UK, Dr David Savage History of The Netherlands Humanists Association, Humanistisch VerbondInterview with Lindsay de Wal: UK?s First Humanist NHS Chaplain on Non-Religious Pastoral Care, The Humanist

? Interview with In-sight Publishing

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-06-08
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34. Michael Bauer on Community Services Without Religion: Practical Humanism for a Secular Future

?The highest value, the most precious value we have is not peace?it?s freedom.? ? Michael Bauer

This week on Humanism Now, we?re joined by Michael Bauer, CEO of Germany?s Humanistische Vereinigung?a 175-year-old humanist organisation offering professional community services without religion, grounded in ethics, dignity, and freedom.

From ceremony to solidarity, Bauer shows how organised humanism is more than a philosophy?it?s a movement of services, institutions, and action. Discover how practical humanism is creating a visible, inclusive, and values-driven future.

We discuss:

How the Humanist Association of Germany began in the 1848 and how it survived twice being bannedThe importance of physical infrastructure and visible presence for secular communitiesHow humanism serves as an ethical alternative providing meaning, guidance, and community?without supernatural beliefWhy inclusive, values-led services matter in a plural society, and how secular support systems can serve everyoneThe Humanists Shelter Program and the three-year diplomatic effort to bring humanist Mubarak Bala to safetyThe need for political engagement, funding, and infrastructure to build influence and lasting changeA powerful personal reflection on defending humanist values in times of crisis

About Michael Bauer

? michaelbauer.info

Connect with Humanistische Vereinigung
? humanistische-vereinigung.de

? @humanistischevereinigung
? @HV_Presse
? Linktree: humanistischevereinigung

References:

Humanists Shelter Program, Humanistische VereinigungCause for celebration: Mubarak Bala arrives in Germany, Humanists International

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-06-01
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33. Audrey Simmons & Lola Tinubu on Keeping the Faith Out of the Classroom: Smart Move or Overreach?

This episode was originally recorded in May 2024.

"What we have in common is what is taking us forward." ? Lola Tinubu

In May 2024, the High Court ruled that Michaela Community School?s ?prayer ban? did not unlawfully interfere with students? rights to religious freedom. This landmark decision reaffirmed the importance of secular education in promoting social cohesion ? and raised questions about how schools should handle religion in increasingly diverse societies.

In this episode, Audrey Simmons and Lola Tinubu ? co-leaders of the Association of Black Humanists and long-time Central London Humanists members ? apply their legal and education expertise to unpack the implications of the case for humanists, educators, and advocates of a secular society.

Key Topics Covered

The background of Michaela Community School and its secular ethosWhy the court upheld the school?s ban under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human RightsThe tension between parental influence, religious identity, and student rightsWhy secular school environments can better accommodate diversity within religionsHow education must focus on shared humanity to address collective global challengesWhy this ruling gives schools confidence to protect inclusive and evidence-based education

Episode resources:

BBC News: Michaela School: Muslim student loses prayer ban challenge
Humanists UK: Humanists UK respond to Michaela School ?prayer ban? ruling

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-05-26
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32. Alan Palmer on Finding Common Ground Through Faith Dialogues

?If we focus so much on the 5% that divides us, we miss the 95% we already share.? ? Alan Palmer

Alan Palmer is the former Chair of Central London Humanists, a trustee of Humanists UK, and a long-time NHS Trust Director. With over 17 years of experience in grassroots organising, Alan shares how London?s most active humanist group grew from pub chats to public campaigns, and how dialogue, ethics, and diversity remain central to its mission.

In This Episode

How Central London Humanists became the UK?s largest humanist groupWhy participation is harder in a more secular, but less mobilised, societyLessons from pioneering Catholic-Humanist and Muslim-Humanist dialogueThe power of repeating others? views honestly in effective dialogueWorking on COVID-19 triage ethics as an NHS Trust DirectorWhy diversity, campaigning, and neutrality all matter in modern humanismReflections on political inclusivity and unity across difference

? Learn more or join a CLH event
www.centrallondonhumanists.org.uk

? Learn more or join The Blackham Society
https://humanists.uk/join-the-blackham-society/

This episode was originally recorded in January 2024.

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-05-18
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31. Katherine Stewart on Money, Lies & God: How Billionaires Weaponised Religion to Undermine Democracy

The pro-life religion we see today is a modern creation. It was created for political purposes." ? Katherine Stewart

Katherine Stewart is an award-winning journalist and author, who has investigated the rise of religious nationalism and its impact on democracy for over 15 years. Her work appears in The New York Times and The New Republic. She is the author of The Good News Club, The Power Worshippers, and the new release Money, Lies, and God.

Key Topics Covered

How the "Good News Club" exposed the stealth strategies of religious nationalists.The roots of Christian nationalism and its alliance with billionaires.Why abortion became a political weapon, not a religious crusade.How authoritarian leaders use religion to shield power globally.What gives hope ? and how to fight back against democratic erosion.

Follow Katherine Stewart

Website The Power Worshippers The Good News Club Money, Lies, and God (Pre-order now)Bluesky Social Twitter/X

Resources Mentioned

Christians Against Christian Nationalism Vote Common Good God & Country documentary (based on The Power Worshippers)

? Support Humanism Now!
Love what we do? Become a sponsor or supporter via Patreon and help us keep bringing thoughtful conversations to life. Every pledge helps.

? A History of Black Freethought (Humanists UK Convention 2023)

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-05-07
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30. S.I. Martin on Uncovering Britain's Hidden Histories & the Power of Storytelling

"Isn't it true that we are the stories we tell ourselves?" ? S.I. Martin

This week on Humanism Now, we?re joined by S.I. Martin?historian, author, and patron of Humanists UK?whose work has reshaped how we understand Black British history and the power of storytelling.

From his upbringing in a religious family in Bedford to decades spent uncovering erased narratives, Steve shares how early exposure to music, books, and doubt led him to scepticism and ultimately humanism.

We discuss:

The importance of embedding Black British history into everyday landscapes and classroomsRobert Wedderburn, revolutionary preacher and free thinkerUnique challenges faced by Black atheists in religious communitiesHow historical fiction can reshape cultural imagination and offer new identitiesWhy humanist groups must evolve to become more inclusive, especially for younger generationsThe hidden social history of Black-owned pubs in 18th- and 19th-century London

Explore S.I. Martin?s work:

?simartin.org.uk

? Books by S.I. Martin

? @simartin on X

? The Beliefs of Black Georgians (Humanist Heritage)

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-04-13
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29. Faith to Faithless on Finding Community after Leaving High-Control Groups (part of Podcastathon 2025)

This special episode of Humanism Now is released as part of Podcastathon 2025, the world?s largest podcast charity initiative. We?re proud to dedicate this episode to Faith to Faithless, a programme by Humanists UK supporting those leaving high-control religious groups.

Three incredible guests?George, Leena, and Sarah?share raw, courageous accounts of their journeys out of fundamentalist religions and the new communities they're helping to build.

Faith to Faithless is proudly marking its 10th anniversary in 2025, celebrating a decade of support, solidarity, and advocacy for apostates.

? Episode Highlights

Life inside high-control religious groupsThe emotional toll of shunning and "thought crimes"How Faith to Faithless supports apostates across the UKStarting new peer groups and reclaiming lost experiencesWhy public services and mental health professionals must understand apostasy better

? Introducing Faith to Faithless | Helping people leaving high-control religious groups (2 mins)

Need support?
If you or someone you know has been affected by the topics discussed in this episode, Faith to Faithless are here to help.

Faith to Faithless Helpline (UK): 0800 448 0748
?Opening hours (Wed 10am?1pm, Thu 4pm?7pm, Fri 8am?11am)

? Email: [email protected]
? More info: www.faithtofaithless.com

********

Also mentioned in this episode:

Recovering from Religion offers peer and professional support offering hope, healing, and support to those struggling with issues of doubt and non-belief. Contact RFR here.

********
Podcastathon is the world?s largest podcast charity initiative ? a global wave of inspiring episodes released simultaneously by podcasters everywhere, all in support of causes they care about.

The aim? To raise awareness for hundreds of charities by uniting storytellers in one powerful, coordinated moment each March.

? Be part of the movement: podcasthon.org/register

Let?s amplify stories that matter.

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-03-30
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28. Susie Alegre on the Algorithmic Assault on Human Rights: How AI Threatens Our Core Freedoms

AI technologies pose significant threats to fundamental human rights, reinforcing historical biases and power imbalances. This week, we are joined by Susie Alegre, international human rights lawyer and author, to explore the impact of generative AI on gender and racial equality, labour markets, and information ecosystems.

Susie has worked for international NGOs like Amnesty International and organisations including the UN, the EU and the Council of Europe.

Susie has published two books covering the critical issue or technology's impact on human rights; ?Freedom to Think? (2022) was a Financial Times Technology Book of the Year 2022 and shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature Christopher Bland Prize 2023 and ?Human Rights, Robot Wrongs: Being Human in the Age of AI? published in 2024.

The episode covers;

How AI systems, like ChatGPT, perpetuate gender and racial biasesThe "Pygmalion" pattern in AI designPotential longterm effects on skills, education and social interactionsThe rise of "ultra-processed information" and its consequences for the internetLegal risks and the role of effective regulationEnforcement in addressing AI's human rights risksWhen AI applications may be valuable?and when they are not

? To learn more about Susie Alegre?s work, visit:
? susiealegre.com
? alegre.ai
? CIGI Profile

? [email protected]
? @susiealegre
? Linkedin: Susie Alegre

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-03-09
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27. Happy Human Lithuania on the Magic of Humanist Ceremonies & Growing Social Enterprises

Humanist ceremonies?weddings, namings, and funerals?are growing rapidly worldwide, offering non-religious, deeply personal ways to mark life?s most significant moments. Laimingas ?mogus (Happy Human) is a social enterprise based in Lithuania, dedicated to making these ceremonies accessible and meaningful.

This week we are delighted to be joined by Urt? ?ukauskait?-Zabuk?, Founder and CEO, and Gerda Surgautait?, Co-Founder of Laimingas ?mogus to share insights into establishing meaningful non-religious ceremonies that resonate with diverse populations and the launch of the Humanist Ceremonies Accelerator, a pioneering initiative designed to help humanist organisations around the world establish sustainable social enterprises through humanist ceremonies.

The episode covers;
- The rapid growth of humanist ceremonies globally
- Introduction of the Humanist Ceremonies Accelerator programme
- Addressing the unique challenges to secularism in Lithuania
- Inspiring stories of uniquely tailored ceremonies
- Practical advice for starting humanist social enterprises

If you?re interested in the Humanist Ceremonies Accelerator, visit the Humanist International webpage for details about participation.

Apply here by 14th March 2025: https://humanists.international/blog/join-the-humanist-ceremonies-accelerator/

Follow Laimingas ?mogus (Happy Human Lithunia)

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2025-03-02
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26. Nathan Stilwell on the Need for Compassionate Assisted Dying Legislation & End of Life Care

Welcome back to Humanism Now for a special episode coinciding with the critical upcoming UK Parliament vote on assisted dying ? a pivotal moment we've long campaigned for and debated. In this episode we hear how what the bill entails, why it matters and how safe assisted dying aligns with values of compassion and autonomy.

Joining us is 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 joins us to discuss the context of this crucial vote, why Humanists UK champions this cause, and why now is the right time for change. We also address key societal concerns and shares how you can get involved to promote this cause and other important humanist issues.

SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN - WRITE TO YOUR MP

Contact & follow Nathan Stilwell

? [email protected] ?? Humanists UK Assisted Dying Campaign?? Twitter

Episode References:

MPs to get first vote on assisted dying for nine years, BBCHumanists UK Statement on scope of the Assisted Dying Bill (22 Oct 2024)Former archbishop of Canterbury urges bishops in Lords to back assisted dying bill, The GuardianMedic MPs urge support for assisted dying bill, BBC
BBC: Right-to-die man Tony Nicklinson dead after refusing food, BBC (2013)

Atheism Plus Gro Harlem Brundtland Niels Bohr Fridtjof Nansen & the Nansen Passport Hans Rosling TED Talks Moral (Self) Licensing Arab Spring'Clicktivism'

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 [email protected]

Music: 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.

2024-11-03
Link to episode

25. Paul Harrison on Humanists in Business, plus Approaches to Activism Discussion

"It's difficult to think of an area of work life that isn't connected to humanistic thought. If you start with ideas around the dignity of each human, compassion, kindness, ambitions, ways to behave, being evidence-based and being equitable, fair and not biased wherever possible, you start to understand that those are the foundational concepts of humanism" - Paul Harrison, Humanists in Business Network

This week on Humanism Now, new panellist Christian joins AJ to discuss activism and campaigning; what makes an activist, why is it important to humanism and how has activism changed in the digital age? Plus we introduce CLH's new campaigns initiative.

Our guest interview is with Paul Harrison, Coordinator of the Humanists in Business Network, part of Humanists UK, Co-Founder of the UK chapter of the Humanistic Management Network & Partner at KPMG UK.

Panel references:

About Paul Harrison & the HiB Network

KPMG Profile Humanists in Business Network LinkedIn Page Humanists in Business LinkedIn Group Humanists UK Professional Networks Humanistic Management Network