Humanism Now | Secular Ethics, Curiosity and Compassionate Change

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!Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubePodcast IndexOvercastPodcast AddictGoodpodsAll other directories & RSS FeedIf 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 HostThe 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_humanistsLearn more about our work and community at abhumanists.orgMusic: Icy by Jeff KaaleSend us a textSupport the showSupport Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live, making podcasting easy for charities and social causes. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: 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.

Join David B. McLaughlin, a leadership coach and author, as he shares insights from his book on humanism and its five values for living well. He emphasizes dignity as an ethical foundation that prevents dehumanization. Discover the PIDLA model of meaning, blending purpose, interconnection, and rituals to anchor secular values. McLaughlin explores how reason and compassion collaborate to promote awareness and justice, especially in workplace equity. He encourages taking tangible actions to foster humanism and leave a positive impact on the world.

“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 MichaelX – @MrMMarshSkeptics with a K PodcastThe Know Rogan podcastQED ConferenceTopics 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 reasonResources & further readingThe 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 – ExposingSend us a textSupport the showSupport Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live, making podcasting easy for charities and social causes. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: 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.

"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 coverBuilding 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 SouthResources & further readingHumanists 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.orgSend us a textSupport the showSupport Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live, making podcasting easy for charities and social causes. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: 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.

“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 AndrewWebsite – Humanists UKX (Twitter) – @andrewcopsonLinkedIn – Andrew CopsonFacebook - @mrandrewcopsonTopics 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 mattersResources & further readingSecularism: 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 PodcastAndrew Copson’s Farewell Speech to the General Assembly, Humanists International 2025Mubarak Bala case – Humanists InternatioSend us a textSupport the showSupport Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live, making podcasting easy for charities and social causes. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: 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.

“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 MorganFacebook – Morgan DeNicolaInstagram – @morgan.slikerdenicolaLinkedIn – Morgan DeNicolaTikTok – @morganslikerdenicolaTopics 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 diplomacyResources & further readingHumpty 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-ShirtSend us a textSupport the showSupport Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live, making podcasting easy for charities and social causes. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: 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.

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 seriesThe 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 UKProf. 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 identitySelected Books by James OgudeUbuntu and PersonhoodUbuntu and the EverydayUbuntu and the Reconstitution of Community More about the organisersCentral London Humanists: Send us a textSupport the showSupport Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live, making podcasting easy for charities and social causes. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: 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.

“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-SmithWebsite – https://www.davidlivingstonesmith.comNewsletter – https://davidlivingstonesmith.substack.com/University profile – https://www.une.edu/people/david-livingstone-smithMedia – https://www.davidlivingstonesmith.com/mediaTopics we coverWhat 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 pressResources & further readingLess 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.davidlivingstonesmith.com/making-monstersSend us a textSupport the showSupport Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live, making podcasting easy for charities and social causes. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: 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.

“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 MattinglyWebsite – 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=L9cutXEAAAATopics 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 inclusionResources & further readingPre 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 | GoodreadsSend us a textSupport the showSupport Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live, making podcasting easy for charities and social causes. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: 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.

“If humanism is anything, it’s self-education. It’s progressing, becoming more educated, more enlightened.” - Dr Bill AngusDr 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.nzTopics 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 religionSend us a textSupport the showSupport Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live, making podcasting easy for charities and social causes. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: 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.