

Friendly Atheist Podcast
Friendly Atheist Podcast
Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke Greiff cover the latest news, politics, and pop culture with a focus on atheism and religion. This is the official podcast for FriendlyAtheist.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 2, 2025 • 1h 44min
603 - Goodbye and Good Riddance to Ryan Walters
Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Ryan Walters is resigning, ending his disastrous reign over Oklahoma's public schools. (1:20)— A Minnesota youth hockey league wanted to clear the ice after games. Christians flipped out. (24:50)— Liberty Counsel manufactured panic over "Witchy Wednesday" at a Florida high school. (36:00)— Texas Board of Education brings on Christian liar David Barton to rewrite Social Studies standards. (53:40)— A junior high basketball coach bragged at church about pushing the Bible on a kid. (1:07:35)— Trump's Justice Dept. drops probe into Hindu sect that paid workers $1.20/hr to build temple. (1:14:23)— West Virginia gave $5 million to a Catholic school in Ohio. A judge just blessed the deal. (1:25:58)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 25, 2025 • 1h 30min
602 - Marked Safe from the Rapture (Again)
Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— The Rapture didn’t happen (again). Why do some people keep falling for it? (1:20)— Jesus Jerseys spark uproar in Virginia youth soccer league. (29:16)— Hawai’i Supreme Court defends secularism in blistering rebuke of John Roberts' SCOTUS (49:35)— Texas school districts defy court, face new lawsuit over Ten Commandments posters. (1:10:00)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 18, 2025 • 1h 26min
601 - The Christian Right's Anti-Woke SAT Alternative
Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— TN high school football coach suspended after pushing religion on kids during game. (4:13)— Appeals Court says Vermont public league must reinstate anti-trans Christian school. (22:06)— U.S. military academies plan to accept the Christian Right’s inferior alternative to the SAT. (41:42)— Colorado pastor and wife ordered to repay $3.4M to victims of their crypto scam. (1:00:30)—- Oklahoma's Supreme Court blocks Ryan Walters' Bible-heavy Social Studies standards. (1:10:16)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 11, 2025 • 1h 58min
600 - Carlo Acutis, the First Millennial Saint
Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— We’re having an in-person celebration in Naperville, IL to mark our 600th episode (and other pleasant things)! Details are here. Hope you can join us on September 13! — The Catholic Church has a millennial saint, Carlo Acutis. Is that because of miracles or marketing? (1:40)— The initial report from Trump’s "Anti-Christian Bias" task force reveals... nothing. (18:30)— Quebec's proposed public prayer ban is a blunt attack on religious freedom. (48:45)— Christian parents let their baby die while awaiting a miracle. They'll be in jail for a month. (1:21:15)— Lawrence Krauss' "The War on Science" is a gift to science's real enemies. (1:33:15)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 3, 2025 • 1h 31min
599 - Oklahoma’s Scammy PragerU Teacher "Test"
Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— We’re having an in-person celebration in Naperville, IL to mark our 600th episode (and other pleasant things)! Details are here. Hope you can join us on September 13! — Oklahoma's meaningless "America First" teacher test is just a PragerU ad campaign. (1:45)— New Jersey town sues mall for ignoring Blue Laws and selling merch on Sundays. (34:49)— Mormon columnist who preached "traditional values" busted for alleged child exploitation. (48:55)— Judge orders Arkansas school district to remove illegal Ten Commandments posters. (1:02:15)— 25% of Texas districts are using Bible-heavy reading lessons in public elementary schools. (1:11:20)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 28, 2025 • 1h 36min
598 - James Dobson Is Finally Dead
Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— We’re having an in-person celebration in Naperville, IL to mark our 600th episode (and other pleasant things)! Details are here. Hope you can join us on September 13! — James Dobson, an architect of evangelical Christian cruelty, is finally dead at 89. (1:50)— The Jehovah's Witnesses now say college is OK... after decades of saying the opposite. (31:10)— Republican congressional candidate torches Qur’an in hate-fueled campaign ad. (49:00)— Federal judge strikes down Minnesota's sensible "faith statement" ban for PSEO schools. (1:00:49)— Federal judge dismantles Ryan Walters' frivolous lawsuit against atheist group. (1:17:35)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 21, 2025 • 1h 46min
597 - This Candidate for Office Opposes Women in Office
Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— We’re having an in-person celebration in Naperville, IL to mark our 600th episode (and other pleasant things)! Details are here. Hope you can join us on September 13! — Federal judge blocks Texas law forcing the Ten Commandments in schools from taking full effect. (1:50)— He's a priest. She was a 17-year-old dancer. He paid her to stay quiet. She refused. (31:13)— Christian pastors in Kentucky urge theft of LGBTQ books from Shelbyville public library. (43:55)— Faith, power, and abuse: The scandal rocking Truett McConnell University. (1:01:25)— Mylie Biggs, who believes women shouldn't run for office, is running for office. (1:24:35)— Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick demands citizens stand for Christian prayers—or else. (1:37:12)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 14, 2025 • 1h 29min
596 - Kim Davis Asks SCOTUS to End Marriage Equality
Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.-– We’re having an in-person celebration in Naperville, IL to mark our 600th episode (and other pleasant things)! Details are here. Hope you can join us on September 13! — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praises pastor who thinks women shouldn't have the right to vote. (1:45)— Pennsylvania priest accused of rigging church's Corvette raffle. (18:20)— Once again, Kim Davis wants the Supreme Court to destroy marriage equality. (33:10)— The "ministerial exception" is rapidly becoming a civil rights nightmare. (58:00)— Despite legal rulings, California school district tries to revive Christian prayers at meetings. (1:12:43)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

5 snips
Aug 7, 2025 • 1h 32min
595 - Southern Baptist Ethics Leader Resigns
A Southern Baptist ethics leader resigns under pressure from extreme factions, revealing hypocrisy within the church. Legal battles unfold over child abuse cover-ups involving the Mormon Church, raising questions about religious privilege. A federal judge blocks a law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in schools, emphasizing the separation of church and state. Meanwhile, West Point's decision to rebrand bibles introduces tension between faith and military inclusivity. Join in on a rollercoaster of religious and political controversies!

4 snips
Jul 31, 2025 • 1h 36min
594 - Ryan Walters' Naughty, Naughty Computer
This week, the hosts tackle a scandal involving Ryan Walters' computer mishap, turning a serious incident into a comedic commentary on political accountability. They dive into the ethical issues surrounding a church sending kids on mission trips to homeless encampments. A controversial memo allowing religious expression in workplaces raises concerns about coercion against non-Christian employees. Plus, a pastor's crypto scheme swindles millions, highlighting deceit in faith communities, while discussions about abortion laws reveal dire implications for victims of assault.