

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

Dec 18, 2020 • 1h 2min
Ep. 353 - Why Does Joel Osteen's Church Need PPP Loans?
Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Be sure to check out the Being Reasonable podcast if you enjoy street epistemology! — It's absurd that anyone is complaining about Jill Biden's Ph.D. (2:00) — A Denny's server quit after two Christians claimed religious exemptions to wearing face masks. (10:55) — Why does Pastor Joel Osteen‚Äòs megachurch need millions in PPP loans? (14:48) — And why did this preacher buy a private jet after receiving PPP money? (20:23) — At least 75 people caught the virus after a church held a Christmas concert earlier this month. (22:57) — Christian financial "guru" Dave Ramsey is holding a maskless Christmas party for hundreds of people. (27:27) — Christian singer Lauren Daigle was dropped from a New Year's Eve show because she appeared at a super-spreader event. (31:49) — A COVID-denying lawmaker caught COVID and is now on a ventilator. (39:37) — A very ignorant conservative writer says public schools are indoctrinating kids into atheism. (44:57) — There are dumb election conspiracy theories‚ and then there's this. (48:00) — A GOP congressman-elect says Rev. Raphael Warnock doesn't represent "real" Americans. So who does? (51:11) — The governors of Mississippi and Oklahoma are praying, instead of doing anything useful, in response to COVID. (57:24)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 11, 2020 • 1h 10min
Ep. 352 - Christian Writer Lashes Out At Elliott Page's Success
Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Be sure to check out the Being Reasonable podcast if you enjoy street epistemology! — Should pastors be blamed if their congregations are skeptical of the vaccine? (0:40) — A Christian hate-preacher doesn't know what a pandemic is, but he insists there isn't one right now. (12:35) — A Christian writer is furious that Hollywood embraces Elliot Page and not him. (17:45) — Conservative radio host Jesse Lee Peterson is angry that a lot of Republican women were elected to the House. (24:15) — Jerry Falwell, Jr. dropped his defamation lawsuit against Liberty University. (27:05) — Don't send Bible balloons to North Korea. (30:35) — Michele Bachmann says her vote was stolen by Satan. (36:05) — The Falkirk Center says the existence of successful Black people means systemic racism is a hoax. (40:02) — Sen. Kelly Loeffler gave her salary to organizations that hurt Americans. (45:10) — A West Virginia teacher hosted a Homecoming dance by calling it a religious "vow renewal." (53:50) — Ben Shapiro can't handle Kristen Stewart‚Äòs holiday rom-com movie Happiest Season. (57:50)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 4, 2020 • 1h 6min
Ep. 351 - An Anti-Gay Hungarian Lawmaker Got Caught in the Most Predictable Way
Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Be sure to check out the Being Reasonable podcast if you enjoy street epistemology! — A mysterious monolith in California was torn down and replaced with a Christian cross by a bunch of racists. (0:25) — Jehovah's Witnesses may lose their tax-exempt status in Australia. (7:35) — "Sky Daddy" went viral after a confrontation outside an abortion clinic. (19:25) — A pro-Trump lawyer said being called "crazy" isn't a problem since Jesus was called that too. (22:40) — An anti-LGBTQ lawmaker in Belgium was arrested after fleeing an all-male orgy. (33:21) — Oklahoma's governor called for a day of fasting and prayer for COVID victims, even though he won't actually help COVID victims. (39:35) — Insane Christians helped water down a mask mandate in South Dakota, one of the worst-hit COVID states. (43:30) — Atheists will convert after the election results are flipped, says preacher. (49:27) — Scotland is making period products free for everyone who needs them. (51:30) — Eric Metaxas wants to fake-die in a fake war for Trump. (55:00) — Jessica shares some personal news. (56:24)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 28, 2020 • 48min
Ep. 350 - The Supreme Court Gave a Gift to COVID-Denying Churches
Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The Supreme Court gave COVID-denying churches a gift, saying COVID restrictions in New York didn't apply to them. (1:08) — Thousands of Hasidic Jews crammed into one place for a wedding. This is why we can't have nice things. (14:04) — A Florida appeals court said bans on gay conversion torture for kids are unconstitutional. (18:27) — New York State is suing the Diocese of Buffalo for not protecting kids from abusive priests. (26:50) — Tennessee Republicans want to make sure COVID can still spread once we have the vaccine. (30:43) — A pastor who oversees an anti-mask daycare sent an insane letter to parents after the state shut the place down. (34:18) — A UK Court tossed out a paralyzed man's lawsuit to permit assisted death. (37:45)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 20, 2020 • 1h 7min
Ep. 349 - A Creationist's Misguided Guide to Nasal Bones
Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Creationist says we have nasal bones because God knew we'd have glasses. (0:50) — Is it weird that a GOP congressman bragged to a Jewish publication about his attempts to convert Jews? (4:50) — "FOX News Republicans" says white Christians have it worse than everyone else. (12:42) — A pastor says a COVID vaccine would remove God from your DNA. (22:05) — Should a pastor who avoided talking about Donald Trump get credit for it now? (26:20) — The West Virginia Supreme Court says it's okay for churches to lie about sexual predators. (34:51) — An anti-abortion activist wants people to defy lockdowns. Because irony is dead. (41:08) — Actress Melissa McCarthy gave a donation to a bigoted Christian group‚ then rescinded it after she learned better. (46:00) — A Tennessee mayor allegedly says he won't support a mask mandate unless God tells him it's okay. (51:30) — Hawaii eliminated Christian propaganda from its education curriculum. (1:01:46)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 13, 2020 • 1h 4min
Ep. 348 - Isn't President-Elect Joe Biden Part of God's Plan?
Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Republican atheist has been arrested for bribery‚ which is somehow not even close to surprising. (7:00) — One pastor congratulated Joe Biden‚ then quickly took it back‚ then quickly deleted his apology. (15:11) — Televangelist Kenneth Copeland just creepily laughed off a Biden presidency. (18:55) — Pastor Robert Jeffress can't accept a new president‚ even though he had no problem with it in 2016. (20:40) — Justice Samuel Alito denounced marriage equality, church/state separation, and more in a speech to the Federalist Society. (28:55) — An Arkansas police chief threatened Democrats on Parler. He has now resigned. (36:00) — This is the only good lawsuit involving Donald Trump. (42:01) — Should Jehovah's Witnesses be allowed to psychologically torture a little girl? That's a question currently being decided. (45:57) — A preacher who blamed COVID on premarital sex has died of COVID. (53:40) — "So help me God" will remain in the U.S. citizenship oath. (56:50)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 7, 2020 • 1h 9min
Ep. 347 - After Four Years, We Are So Close to Dumping Trump
Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The election. All of it. (0:30) — What did the exit polls show about white evangelicals? (11:34) — Religion makes the gender wage gap worse, say researchers. (34:49) — Should Latvia have to pay for Jehovah's Witnesses to travel abroad for a surgery? (39:39) — The Supreme Court just heard a case involving religious bigotry. (47:02) — Liberty University is still acting very Falwellian. (52:17) — Pastor Carl Lentz has been fired for "moral failures." (56:01)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 30, 2020 • 55min
Ep. 346 - Why Does Jerry Falwell, Jr. Want His Old Reputation Back?
Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Husbands, do you know how your wives are voting? WHY NOT?! (0:35) — A conservative Christian candidate for the U.S. House from North Carolina is getting pushback from conservative Christians. (10:33) — Jerry Falwell, Jr. is suing Liberty University for ruining a reputation he never had. (22:24) — A right-wing Christian group made a pro-Electoral College propaganda video for children. (26:16) — The babysitter in Borat 2, who was duped into participating in the film, says she had been praying for Borat's "daughter" for a year. (32:00) — Christian Nationalism is coming to a church near you. (37:55) — A Republican Christian candidate for the WV State House has a restraining order against him for stalking and harassing women. (40:40) — Apparently, every aborted fetus is a Donald Trump voter in waiting. (45:19) — Poland has effectively banned legal abortions and women are protesting. (49:35)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 23, 2020 • 1h 8min
Ep. 345 - Saying Goodbye to James Randi
Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — We lost a legend. Goodbye, James Randi. (0:22) — A COVID-denying church run by Pastor John MacArthur has a COVID outbreak. (14:35) — COVID spreader and Christian preacher Sean Feucht is hosting a massive event on the National Mall this weekend. (18:00) — Pope Francis is now a fan of civil unions. So‚ yay? (21:49) — A former editor for the Christian Post says he left when they went all in for Donald Trump. (30:29) — A Duggar daughter is breaking away from the family's conservative ways. (38:25) — If Joe Biden wins, the celebration will apparently involve cows. (42:20) — White evangelicals are completely out of touch with the country. (45:17) — Christian health insurance companies are lying to you. (57:08)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 16, 2020 • 1h 5min
Ep. 344 - Can the Supreme Court be Fixed?
Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please subscribe to my new Substack newsletter! — A whites-only church wants to set up shop in Minnesota. Locals aren't having it. (2:00) — Donald Trump fell for an article on a satirical conservative website. (6:25) — Trump needs to work on his pandering. He's now saying only Jesus is more famous than he is. (9:27) — Trump's support among white evangelicals is slipping. (15:37) — Anti-gay groups are already celebrating the eventual overturning of marriage equality. (26:46) — Two congressmen say interracial marriages are also on the chopping block. (33:00) — This could be a way to save the Court‚ but it's not pretty. (36:20) — Nashville authorities say they're investigating a super-spreader event hosted by Christian preacher Sean Feucht. (42:25) — Someone called the cops after seeing a sleeping homeless man on a bench. It was actually a statue of Jesus. (51:10) — Anti-abortion groups are defending Trump's use of a COVID treatment that wouldn't have been possible without an aborted fetus. (58:18)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.


