“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.com
Newsletter – exploringhumanism.substack.com
LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/in/davidbmc

Topics we cover

Dignity as a moral floor you can’t earn or revoke
Spotting dehumanisation and resisting it
The Pillar Model of meaning
Rituals beyond religion: building habits that anchor values
Reason + compassion: escaping autopilot and widening concern
Justice at work: equity, fair policies, and psychological safety
Seeing hidden power: systemic awareness for better decisions
The “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/B0FNRP5GKR
Pendulum 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

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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.

Humanism, Five Values for Living Well

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