Archive for the ‘podcast’ Category
Monday, March 8th, 2010
John C. Snider with Christopher Hitchens, Emory University, February 26, 2010
American Atheists president Ed Buckner reports on the recent meeting between representatives of the Secular Coalition for America with White House officials.
Plus: We meet the Hitch! Allison joins us to talk about “The Only Subject Is Love,” a seminar we attended at Emory University featuring Salman Rushdie, Christopher Hitchens, and filmmaker Deepa Mehta (who is developing a film adaptation of Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children). The event celebrates the opening of Rushdie’s archives at Emory. Surprises included spontaneous recitations of poetry (Hitchens selecting the heartwrenching “Dulce et Decorum est,” Rushdie the humorous “The Walrus and the Carpenter.”) And…we learned that Hitchens’ memoir–Hitch 22–is due out in June!
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Podcast #83 - Secular Coalition at the White House [61:13m]:
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Tags: christopher hitchens, deepa mehta, ed buckner, emory university, salman rushdie, secular coalition for america, white house
Posted in arts, atheism, civil rights, interviews, podcast, politics, religion, religious rights | 1 Comment »
Friday, February 19th, 2010
Margaret Downey (former president of Atheist Alliance International, now a “freethought free agent”) announces the formation of the Unity 2013 Event Committee. What is Unity 2013? Nobody knows just yet, but what we do know is that it’ll be big, it has the blessing of such notables as Daniel Dennett, and it’ll involve many (if not most) of the major freethought-friendly organizations. To keep abreast of the details as they unfold, check out the Unity 2013 Facebook page.
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Podcast #81 - Announcing Unity 2013 [43:52m]:
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Tags: margaret downey, unity 2013
Posted in abortion, atheism, children, christianity, interviews, news, podcast, religion, women's rights | 1 Comment »
Monday, February 8th, 2010
We interview science journalist Simon Singh, co-author (with Dr. Edzard Ernst) of Trick or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine (which both John and David highly recommend). For more about Simon visit SimonSingh.net. Please also visit LibelReform.org, a website devoted to changing the United Kingdom’s disgraceful libel laws (Simon is currently in the midst of a court battle with the British Chiropractic Association over his reporting on chiropractic treatment of children in the UK’s Guardian newspaper.)
Trick or Treatment is available at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.
Continuing this episodes alternative medicine theme, we take a look at aromatherapy. Can smells trigger the body’s healing ability, or do they offer only a temporary placebo?
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Podcast #80 - Simon Singh [57:27m]:
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Tags: aromatherapy, british chiropractic association, edzard ernst, simon singh, trick or treatment
Posted in alternative medicine, books, medical research, news, podcast, science, skepticism | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Earthquake-devastated Haiti has become a magnet for kooky, misguided (but perhaps well-intentioned) religious groups. Scientologist John Travolta (disguised, apparently, as L. Ron Hubbard–see photo at right) has personally flown his private 707 to Haiti, delivering food, medical supplies, and “volunteer ministers” who claim the ability to heal through therapeutic touch. Meanwhile, a Christian group called Faith Comes By Hearing has sent 600 solar-powered audiobook Bibles. Finally, a group of Idaho Baptists were arrested trying to transport Haitian orphans (some of whom weren’t actually orphans) across the border into the Dominican Republic.
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Podcast #79 - E-meters for Haiti? [43:51m]:
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Tags: atsc, faith comes by hearing, gayest city in america, george tiller, haiti, jim mccormick, john travolta, proclaimer, scientology, scott roeder
Posted in children, christianity, civil rights, gay rights, humor, news, podcast, religion, skepticism | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
Or at least so says Christopher Hitchens, responding to Robertson’s claim that the devastating Haitian earthquake (which may have killed upwards of 200,000 innocent people) was the result of “a deal with the devil” made during the Haitian Revolution in 1791. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs called Robertson’s remarks “utterly stupid.” Barry Lynn of Americans United said they were callous and grotesquely insensitive. And Keith Olbermann says Robertson is full of “senile crap.”
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Podcast #78 - Pat Robertson Is an Evil Moron [48:15m]:
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Tags: earthquake, ezekiel 25:17, haiti, pat robertson, pulp fiction, sonny chiba, trijicon
Posted in christianity, cults, history, movies, news, podcast, religion | No Comments »
Friday, January 15th, 2010
University of Texas quarterback Colt McCoy was sidelined with a shoulder injury early-on at college football’s 2010 Rose Bowl. McCoy had to watch from the bench as Texas lost the National Championship to Alabama. But that’s okay, ’cause it’s all part of God’s Plan.
Tiger Woods’ rumored infidelities have been all the rage with the tabloids, but who’da thunk Fox News pundit Brit Hume (not exactly an outspoken evangelical zealot) would make us forget all about it with his shoot-from-the-hip comparison of Buddhism and Christianity.
North Georgia parents Patty Jo Marsh and Jacob Bartels decided it was a good idea to give tattoos to six of their seven children. Themselves. With a homemade tattoo machine. Now they’re charged with illegal tattooing, reckless conduct, and more. Oh, did we mention the tattoos were of Christian crosses?
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Podcast #77 - Sports Losses and Southern Crosses [40:29m]:
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Tags: betty jo marsh, brit hume, colt mccoy, harold camping, jacob bartels, tattoo, tiger woods
Posted in buddhism, children, christianity, civil rights, podcast, religion, religious rights | 1 Comment »
Saturday, January 2nd, 2010
Happy New Year! We kick off 2010 by interviewing Stuart Bechman, president of Atheist Alliance International (AtheistAlliance.org). AAI is planning its first-ever Australian convention in Melbourne on March 12-14, 2010. For details visit AtheistConvention.org.au–tickets are going fast!
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Podcast #76 - Stuart Bechman (Pres. of Atheist Alliance Intl) [45:16m]:
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Tags: aai, atheist alliance international, mississippi, ratzinger, stuart bechman, umar farouk abdulmutallab
Posted in atheism, christianity, international freethought, interviews, news, podcast, religion | No Comments »
Monday, December 21st, 2009
Cecil Bothwell has just been elected to the city council of Asheville, North Carolina. He happens to be an atheist. The North Carolina state constitution bars atheists from holding elected office. (For what it’s worth, seven other states still have constitutional provisions that discriminate against non-believers.) Is this a case of continuing institutionalized bigotry, or just an amusingly unenforceable “quirk” left over from the 19th century? (For more on Mr. Bothwell visit cecilbothwell.wordpress.com)
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Podcast #75 - Can Atheists Hold Office in NC? [37:08m]:
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Tags: asheville, cecil bothwell, hr951, north carolina, same-sex marriage, war on christmas, washington dc
Posted in atheism, christianity, civil rights, cults, gay rights, podcast, politics, religion, religious rights | 1 Comment »
Monday, December 7th, 2009
We interview Margaret Downey, former Atheist Alliance International president and founder of the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia (FSGP.org), about her experiences coordinating the annual Tree of Knowledge in Chester County, Pennsylvania, which is intended to offer an alternative to the traditional Nativity scene displayed on public property. For more about Margaret visit secular-celebrations.com.
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Podcast #74 - Margaret Downey [47:17m]:
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Tags: atheists guide to christmas, margaret downey, oh my god, peter rodger, tree of knowledge
Posted in atheism, books, civil rights, interviews, movies, news, podcast, religion, religious rights | No Comments »
Podcast #82 – Creation
Friday, February 26th, 2010Thanks to the many fellow science fans who joined us for the Creation screening at Atlanta’s Landmark Midtown Art Cinema. And thanks to Royal Orchid Thai Cuisine for accommodating our unexpected horde.
Tags: annie's box, charles darwin, creation, david mcallister, evolution, jason bourque, jennifer connelly, paul bettany
Posted in atheism, books, buddhism, commentary, evolution, movies, news, podcast, religion, science | 5 Comments »