In this first episode of my podcast, I delve into the metaphor of living with the ego mind as a predatory hunter. Discover how the constant noise of the mind can overshadow our innate, wild, and free nature. I share a profound personal experience from my childhood, where I was gifted with out-of-body experiences that revealed the true essence of th…

After a short reflection on my own journey to embracing my aspec identity, this presentation will introduce the definition of Asexuality and several key terms. Asexuality will be discussed in the context of human diversity, amatonormativity, queer platonic and other “non-traditional” relationships, and various types of attraction. Emphasis will be …

What if the ballot initiative reinstating Roe doesn’t pass? What if it does? What will be different for people seeking abortion care in Missouri? What has changed in the past two years since Roe fell? Get an inside view of what’s going on and what you can do.

Hatred and bias against Jews as a people or ethnic group has existed for thousands of years. The Holocaust, in which the Nazis and their collaborators murdered six million Jews in Europe, was one of the worst examples. But antisemitism didn’t start or end with the Holocaust, and antisemitism in the modern world is both a prelude to, and inextricabl…

This is not “why are we here” in a “what is the meaning of life” kind of way, but -literally- why are we here together, on a Sunday, in this room? Why do we come here each week? What draws people to the Ethical Society and places like it? How can we maximize the potential for community-building and friendship here? What are the current needs of peo…

Seth Andrews is a broadcaster, storyteller, author, activist, and public speaker best known as host of the popular website, podcast, and online community, The Thinking Atheist.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community are frequently socialized in the context of “hard.” A copious amount of time is spent discussing how we face disproportionate levels of discrimination, higher rates of mental health challenges, and other hardships. However, we are more than the hurdles we face. Ky Miller will lead us through an exploratory celebratio…

Missouri, like most states in the center of the U.S., has no extant tribes like some other states have. Therefore, the knowledge of either the history of Natives or the experience of contemporary Native Americans is one step further removed from people’s consciousness. Using startling facts as stepping stones to fascinating and forgotten stories, t…

As an analogue to our special Mother’s Day Platform last month, please join us for a special Father’s Day Platform. We will engage with reflections on themes of “fatherhood,” both what it is and what it could be: protection, wisdom, tenderness, strength. Interim Director Amy L. Miller will present a short talk while our musical guest will reflect m…

Is Diet Culture actually a cult? And are most Americans signing on for an accidental membership in the cult? Is it possible that the majority of us have been indoctrinated with the powerful propaganda of this 90 billion dollar a year industry and we have little awareness that the same tactics used by high-control religious organizations and cults a…

This presentation is driven by the necessity to seize the moment. The formula for flight is speed + thrust + lift – drag = Flight! Our region will never reach its full capacity unless we can mitigate the economic drag that plagues our Black and brown communities. That economic drag was caused by generations of (conscious and unconscious) disinvestm…

Interim Director Amy L. Miller presents a special Platform honoring the values of unconditional positive regard, nurturing, love, and protection that are associated with the “mother,” (while leaving space for those who have complicated feelings about Mother’s Day).

Facts, myths, and opportunities related to Earth’s climate and our species include key concepts of weather and climate, greenhouse gases, carbon footprints and policy options. St. Louis enviro-educator Green Jean Ponzi weaves these threads with perspective on human patterns and impacts toward finding paths to just, responsible action. Local example…

Contrary to common belief, the conflict in Palestine is not ancient nor is it religious. Rather, it’s the result of Western empires intervening to facilitate a settler colonial project in the Holy Land over the last 100 years. This talk will discuss the history of settler colonialism, what it looks like, and why it’s relevant when discussing Palest…

An overview of psychedelic pharmacology and then a look into the clinical and neuroscientific data that have led to growing interest in psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapy.” Dr. Siegel will present the risks and challenges of psychedelics for treatment in mood and addiction disorders, and consider what impacts these treatments may have on…

This presentation will give a brief overview of the Missourians for Constitutional Freedom campaign. This campaign is to push a constitutional amendment that will end the cruel Missouri ban on abortion. Presentation attendees will hear more about the campaign, have an opportunity to sign the petition, and learn ways that they are able to plug in an…

Sixteen years ago, she was just a kid that didn’t want to live. Six years ago, she wasn’t sure if teaching was for her. 2023 Illinois Teacher of the Year Briana Morales shares candid moments from both personal life and a career dedicated to working with youth furthest from justice in an alternative setting to illustrate how the love and compassion …

The legal battle over abortion rights in Missouri underscores a fundamental clash between religious beliefs and constitutional principles. Laws such as H.B. 126, passed in 2019, impose severe restrictions on abortion access under the guise of religious conviction, disregarding the diverse religious perspectives within the state. This legislation, t…

Arts organizations such as St. Louis’ Prison Performing Arts have nearly eliminated recidivism for participants that continue after confinement in their Prison Performing Arts Alumni Theater Company. Through personal experience of going from nursing professor to drug addict, our speaker Julie Antonic will share how this arts organization transforme…

In a time of global strife, staying in touch with one’s own humanity and the humanity of others becomes ever more important. Join Interim Director Amy L. Miller to discuss healthy ways to communicate with each other, celebrate our differences, and be in community.

Recent research has shown that most stars have planetary systems, and that a non-negligible fraction of those planets are likely to be in the so-called “habitable zone,” where life may be possible. This makes the old question of “Are we alone?” more pressing: Does life exist elsewhere in the universe, and if so, is some of that life “intelligent” a…

Social media has become a large part of our everyday lives. As a society, we continue to devote an increasing amount of time to these online platforms, engaging with a wealth of information from our friends to celebrities, family members to politicians, cat videos to devastating world news. Increasing rates of social media use along with high rates…

The Pledge Campaign is the time of year when we dream about what the Ethical Society of St. Louis could be and do if we had all of our needs met, and strategize ways to meet those needs. We need strong roots to build a strong future. Now is the time to reinvest in the future of the Society and to imagine what we can create together. This Platform t…

Does the pursuit of morality come at a cost to personal well-being? Several conceptualizations of morality emphasize its role in regulating or sacrificing the pursuit of one’s own interests for the sake of others. This might imply that being and becoming more moral would be personally costly. In this talk, however, I present empirical evidence show…

What does it take to thrive in a world that is volatile and uncertain, unjust and unfair? How can you experience well-being in a world so full of suffering? Research in human development, potential, longevity, and learning indicate that thriving is a state of being that we can tap into throughout our day and across our lifetime — no matter what we …

The New Year is a time of celebration and renewal and optimism. What does it mean to have a fresh start? How do we reset our relationships when there has been damage to connections? How can we show up for each other and ourselves in a different and better way in the coming year? What are our hopes and dreams for the new year?…