How to Humanist

 ****This information isn’t a replacement for medical care, advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a healthcare professional, and it shouldn’t be considered legal advice. If you have questions about your health or a legal matter, we encourage you to speak with a qualified professional.****Humanism advocates for each of us to have the rights to our own bodily autonomy. And yet, for over half of the population -- depending on your location -- the "say" lies with men, policy holders, and even strangers, as to what someone with a uterus can do with their own body. On today's episode, we welcome Galina Varchena, Policy Manager at the Center For Freethought Equality who tells us more about what's at stake with abortion laws, as well as Nancy Cárdenas Peña, Campaign Director at Abortion On Our Own Terms. ABOUT NANCY CÁRDENAS PEÑA:Nancy was born and raised in the Texas border community of the Rio Grande Valley. Nancy worked at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice where she organized at the intersection of immigration and abortion care. Nancy also helps with rapid response networks on the border against immigration raids. Nancy served on the board of Reproaction, Frontera Fund, and is currently on the board of the Abortion Freedom Fund. Nancy is part of We Testify, an organization of abortion storytellersGet abortion resources: https://abortiononourownterms.orgLEARN MOREFor more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist

The fight against Christian Nationalism can leave us feeling powerless as we witness those in power trying to destroy our freedoms. But we refuse to let that threat come to fruition, and our Policy and Political Director, Rachel Deitch is here to tell us what we can do about it. If you're still left with any questions, reach out to our policy team at the email below, and we'll be happy to help.  ABOUT RACHEL DEITCH:Rachel Deitch (she/her) is the Policy and Political Director at the American Humanist Association and the Center for Freethought Equality, where she leads federal and state advocacy to advance secular and progressive values. In her first stint at AHA, she helped pass bipartisan legislation and testified before Congress. She also founded a 65-organization coalition during the mpox public health emergency. Rachel holds a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School and serves on the board of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.policy [ at ] americanhumanist [dot ] orgLEARN MOREFor more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist

If you're new to humanism, then you're probably also new to the American Humanist Association, a nonprofit that's been around for nearly 100 years. And we've been BUSY! In this episode you'll be inspired by the mentions of some important revolutionaries in our world's history, and then you'll learn about the ambitious and passionate work being done by the AHA with the help of supporters like you. There's way more to come!ABOUT FISH STARK:Fish Stark is an organizer, educator, social entrepreneur, and lifelong humanist. Prior to joining the AHA as Executive Director, Fish was the Head of Program + Curriculum at Legends, an educational technology startup helping children. Fish lives in Annapolis, Maryland, where he is President of the Speaker Mike Busch District 30 Democratic Club, is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis, and serves on several nonprofit boards. He moonlights as an award-winning stand-up comedian and has performed in 13 states. NEW HUMANIST MERCH:"Loving Truth" Unisex T-shirt: https://www.store.americanhumanist.org/shop/p/loving-truth-unisex-t-shirt (Use code: BLOCH25 for 25% off this shirt)"Loving Truth" Unisex long sleeve tee: https://www.store.americanhumanist.org/shop/p/loving-truth-unisex-long-sleeve-tee (Use code: MARCBLOCH25 for 25% off this shirt)LEARN MOREFor more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist

Today we return to the foundations, the brick laying of humanism, if you will. In this episode, Greg Epstein — Harvard and MIT's Humanist Chaplain and author of the NY Times bestseller Good Without God — joins us to break down what humanism actually is, where it came from, and why some of our biggest existential questions have been getting wrestled with for millennia, by regular people who just wanted to live a good life without being strong-armed into it. Welcome to humanism... we're glad to have you. ABOUT GREG EPSTEINGreg M. Epstein serves as Humanist Chaplain at Harvard & MIT, where he advises students, faculty, and staff members on ethical and existential concerns from a humanist perspective. TechCrunch's first “ethicist in residence,” he has been called “a symbol of the transition in how Americans relate to organized religion” (The Conversation). He is author of the New York Times-bestseller Good Without God, and the multi-award-winning Tech Agnostic, and has written for TIME, CNN, and The Boston Globe.Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregmepsteinGood Without God: https://bit.ly/goodwithoutgodbookTech Agnostic: https://bit.ly/techagnosticbookLEARN MOREFor more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist

We're chatting with actor, director, writer (and humanist) Jon Huertas today, traveling down the memory lane of his iconic roles and learning some of our favorite tidbits from his career. Jon also shares how humanism has impacted his career and just how cuddly cows are. Enjoy this conversation with Jon as we continue to honor Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month. #meetyourheroesABOUT JON HUERTASAgnostic Humanist. Air Force vet. Musical Theatre grad. 31 years in the game. Jon Huertas is Miguel on This Is Us, Esposito on Castle, and Poke in HBO's Generation Kill. Now he's calling the shots, directing The Rookie, Tracker, Ballard and more, prepping his feature debut Letters From Lebanon, and building series through his company WestSide Stories. Academy member. Lives on a horse ranch in Nevada City, California.Follow Jon on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jonhuertasLEARN MOREFor more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist

Why wait? We're still on a kick from celebrating AHA's 85th annual conference this past weekend which included honorees Jordan Klepper, Anthea Butler, and Hank Green. And although we sold out of tickets for it (not once, but) twice, we know that not everyone got a chance to attend all the wonderful sessions. So we figured, let's give the people what they want -- and what everyone wants -- is more Klepper.ABOUT JORDAN KLEPPERJordan Klepper, our Humanist of the Year Awardee is a three-time Emmy Award winner and co-host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central. He is also a recipient of the Peabody Award and the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Television Journalism for his work on The Daily Show, where he created and hosts the acclaimed Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse series, which has been viewed over 100 million times.Klepper has written essays and op-eds for CBS Mornings and The Boston Globe on politics and civic life. He is also a nationally touring performer whose show Suffering Fools has sold out theaters across the country, and he recently delivered a top-ranked TED Talk on democracy and public discourse that has been viewed by millions. LEARN MOREFor more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist

It's a humanist crossover episode!"I've never heard of humanism, but is this what I've been all along?" What happens when you discover the word for what you've believed your whole life? Shay Leonia came to humanism only recently, and rather than hide the learning curve, she has made it the heart of her work. In this episode, James Hodgson talks with Shay about her journey into humanism, the art of admitting what you don't know, and how to bring humanist values to people who have never heard the term.We discuss growing up with everyday kindness as a lived value, letting go of the supernatural without losing what matters, the AHA Creator Program and building coalitions beyond the secular space, and why humanism needs to become more accessible and more representative if it is going to grow.ABOUT SHAY LEONIAShay Leonia is the communications manager at the American Humanist Association (AHA), where she hosts the How to Humanist podcast and runs AHA's Creator Program, partnering with content creators to bring humanism to new audiences. A lifelong musician based in Philadelphia, she founded the media company 44th Minute Media and came to humanism recently, arriving, as she puts it, curious, a little confused, and glad she stayed.In this episodeHow Shay discovered humanism through a job posting and realised it named the values she'd held all alongLearning out loud: the "fourth wall break" behind How to Humanist, and why admitting what you don't know builds trustThe AHA Creator Program, giving people a "soft landing" into humanism, and why the movement must become more accessible and representativeLEARN MOREAHA Conference 2026: https://conference.americanhumanist.orgFor more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist

Have a question about Humanism that you'd like answered on an upcoming episode of How to Humanist? Great! We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions to ->-> podcast [at] americanhumanist.org for your chance to hear your question on a future episode!podcast [at] americanhumanist.orgLEARN MOREAHA Conference 2026: https://conference.americanhumanist.orgFor more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist

As humans, we can find comfort in the most uncomfortable environments as long as it means we don't have to face change and sacrifice the only life we've known. Well, not only did Rev. Leika Lewis take that brave step and live to tell the tale -- they did it twice! As a professional Change Management expert, who better to assist us than Rev. Lewis on the windy road that can be deconstructing our beliefs, and helping us to build something even better this time around. Something like... joy.ABOUT REV. LEIKA LEWISRev. Leika Lewis (they/she) is a secular minister, chaplain, coach, and consultant. After a career as a corporate change management expert, Leika turned their skills to guiding secular folx and seekers who want to map their own path post-deconstruction and beyond dogma. Leika is a past president of the UU Humanist Association; a queer, kinky, polyamorous poet; and an unabashed Trekkie and Rennie. Heretics are their favorite people.Leika Lewis Free Masterclass: https://masterclass.leikalewis.comLEARN MOREAHA Conference 2026: https://conference.americanhumanist.orgFor more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist

Where there's one of us, there's many. All around the country, people are searching for like-minded community, something AHA's 2025 Humanist Volunteer of the Year, Elizabeth Hegwood, knows very well. AHA has over 230 chapters and affiliates, but far more are needed to reach the communities that want them. That's why we're so grateful to have Elizabeth and Jake walk us through exactly how to start a humanist group near you. For any additional questions on starting a chapter, contact Jake at jake [at ] humanist [dot ] org.ABOUT ELIZABETH HEGWOODElizabeth Hegwood is the president of Gulf Coast Humanists as well as the Mississippi State Director for American Atheists. Gulf Coast Humanists: https://gulfcoasthumanists.orgGet in touch with Elizabeth: elizabeth.hegwood [at ] atheists [dot ]org LEARN MOREAHA Conference 2026: https://conference.americanhumanist.orgFor more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist