Best Studio 1850 Podcasts (2024)

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Ep. 69: What is a Humanist Parent? – Alastair Lichten 1:24:36

11d ago1:24:36

1:24:36

In this episode, we are joined by Alastair Lichten, a humanist community builder with Humanists UK, and the author of the blog, Humanist Dad. Alastair has been using the blog to explore how his humanist worldview informs the challenging decisions he makes as a parent raising children in the UK. We talk about the ways humanist values are reflected i…

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Ep. 68: Why Do We Have a Bible? – Jacob L. Wright 1:32:43

4M ago1:32:43

1:32:43

In this episode, we’re joined by Jacob L. Wright, Professor of Hebrew Bible at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University, and the author of Why the Bible Began: An Alternative History of Scripture and its Origins. Jacob explains how the Old Testament used a mix of history, myth, and poetry to form a “peoplehood” in the absence of state insti…

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Ep. 67: Lessons from the Atheists of Interwar Canada – Elliot Hanowski 1:11:36

6M ago1:11:36

1:11:36

In this episode, we’re joined by Elliot Hanowski, a Canadian historian and author of Towards a Godless Dominion: Unbelief in Interwar Canada (McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2023). We discuss the small but vocal atheist and secular movement in 1920s and 1930s Canada. Elliot explains how this period represents an important link between the nineteen…

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Ep. 66: Heresy, Philosophy, and Hope – David Newheiser 1:16:39

1y ago1:16:39

1:16:39

In this episode, we’re joined by David Newheiser, a Senior Research Fellow in the Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry at Australian Catholic University, and the editor of the book, The Varieties of Atheism (2022). We learn about how David went through a heresy trial when he was a teenager and how this shaped his views of religion. We talk a…

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Ep. 65: When Clergy No Longer Believe – Alexandr Zamușinski 1:09:59

1y ago1:09:59

1:09:59

In this episode, we talk with Alex Zamușinski, a PhD Candidate at the University of California, Riverside. Alex stops by to tell us about his research on the Clergy Project, an organization which provides peer support for clergy members who have begun questioning their faith. In addition to the scope and scale of the project, Alex teaches us about …

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Ep. 64: What is a Humanist Chaplain? – Srishti Hukku 1:10:15

1+ y ago1:10:15

1:10:15

In this episode, we talk with Srishti Hukku, a humanist chaplain at the University of Ottawa (Canada). We learn about Srishti’s journey out of religion and her winding path to becoming a humanist chaplain. She explains what a chaplain does, why the military needs non-religious chaplains, and why it is important that these positions be filled with s…

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Ep. 63: The Persistence of Christian Privilege – Chrissy Stroop 1:32:03

1+ y ago1:32:03

1:32:03

In this episode, we talk with Chrissy Stroop, an ex-evangelical writer, speaker, and advocate. We talk about Chrissy’s journey out of evangelicalism, her creation of the hashtag #EmptyThePews, and her thoughts on Christian nationalism today. We also talk about Christian privilege and how it can be unwittingly maintained even by atheists. In the lig…

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Ep. 62: Recovering from Religious Trauma – Jeremy Schumacher 1:05:23

1+ y ago1:05:23

1:05:23

In this episode, we’re joined by Jeremy Schumacher, a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and former Evangelical Lutheran. We talk about Jeremy’s journey to atheism and how to recognize and treat religious trauma through therapy. Jeremy also explains how the male privilege and purity culture in religion often harms the mental well being of those i…

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Ep. 61: Why Aren’t There More Secular Politicians? – Juhem Navarro-Rivera 1:09:59

1+ y ago1:09:59

1:09:59

In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Juhem Navarro-Rivera, the Managing Partner and Research Director at Socioanalítica Research LLC, and the author of Secular Politics, a weekly newsletter exploring the role of secular people in American political life. We talk about Juhem’s recent work exploring secular legislators in the United States, at the na…

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Ep. 60: How Global is Your Humanism? – M L Clark 1:12:31

1+ y ago1:12:31

1:12:31

In this episode, we have a far-ranging talk with M L Clark, a writer of humanist essays and speculative fiction. We find out why M L moved from Canada to Colombia and how first-hand experience in a new culture shapes, informs, and models the actual practice of global humanism. Along the way, we talk about the political imagination, how to respond w…

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Ep. 59: What is a Graceful Atheist? – David Ames 1:02:10

1+ y ago1:02:10

1:02:10

In this episode, we’re joined by David Ames, the host of the Graceful Atheist podcast. David takes us through his own deconversion story and reveals the surprising fact that what led him out of the church was the same thing that led him to join in the first place. He also describes the intense personal feelings that accompany the steps deconverts o…

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Ep. 58: How “Amusing Jews” Shaped Pop Culture – Jonathan Friedmann 1:15:19

1+ y ago1:15:19

1:15:19

In this episode, we’re joined by Jonathan Friedmann, a professor, dean, community leader, and now the co-host of the Amusing Jews podcast from AU Studios. After learning about how the Jewish religion can be distinguished from Jewish culture and tradition, we talk about how the Jewish-American experience led to roles in entertainment and how so much…

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Ep. 57: Can Psychedelics Replace Religion? – Sharday Mosurinjohn 1:11:59

1+ y ago1:11:59

1:11:59

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Sharday Mosurinjohn, an Associate Professor in the School of Religion at Queen’s University in Canada. We learn about the current use of psychedelics as well as their links to religion in both the past and present. Sharday talks about the universal connections and spirituality found through mind-altering chemica…

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Ep. 56: 2022: The Year in Review 56:24

1+ y ago56:24

56:24

In this episode, Todd and Nathan reflect on the year that was. We talk about the most striking things we learned and the new questions they provoke. Along the way, we discuss atheist and nonreligious people’s growing power in society and how this is reflected in the voting booth, the continuing decline of religion globally and the reasons why, and …

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Ep. 55: What Really Happens When We Die? – Tom Clark 1:13:01

1+ y ago1:13:01

1:13:01

In this episode, we talk about death with Tom Clark, a philosopher and the creator of Naturalism.org. Without a heaven (or hell), is there just an empty void awaiting us after our deaths? This is a mistake, says Tom. Rather, using thought experiments about the nature of consciousness, Tom suggests there is just more experience after our own deaths,…

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Ep. 54: What Can We Learn from the Norwegian Humanists’ Success? – Christian Lomsdalen 1:25:04

1+ y ago1:25:04

1:25:04

In this episode, we’re joined by Christian Lomsdalen, the president of the Norwegian Humanist Association. We learn about the history of the organization and how it has grown to over 100,000 members (2% of Norway’s population). We talk about how the organization was organized around rituals and ceremonies and their plans to expand their outreach by…

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Ep. 53: Do Atheist Communities Need More Magic and Ritual? – Timothy Stacey 1:12:32

1+ y ago1:12:32

1:12:32

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Timothy Stacey, a researcher at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Past episodes of Beyond Atheism have examined the “secular paradox” and the isolation felt when people begin to challenge and lose their faith. In this episode we talk about creating and maintaining community using myth and magic (but they do…

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Ep. 52: Secular Politics in Nebraska – Rachele Walter 1:01:12

2y ago1:01:12

1:01:12

In this episode, we’re joined by Rachele Walter, the current Vice Chair of Secular Democrats of Nebraska and the President of Lincoln Atheists. We talk about the state of secularism in Nebraska and how secular activism and political activism can be both deeply intertwined and yet be kept separate. She also gives us an inside look at how the Secular…

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Ep. 51: How Do We Recover from Religion? — Gayle Jordan 1:09:00

2y ago1:09:00

1:09:00

In this episode, we’re joined by Gayle Jordan, the Executive Director of Recovering from Religion. We talk about how Gayle’s organization helps people through the pain and difficulty associated with leaving a faith. Additionally, we learn about many of the specific problems and traumas caused by religion through Gayle’s fascinating personal story o…

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Episode 50: Are you a Sentientist?, with Jamie Woodhouse 1:18:37

2y ago1:18:37

1:18:37

In this episode, we are joined today by Jamie Woodhouse, the host of the Sentientism Podcast and YouTube channel. We learn about “sentientism” – the idea that we should have moral concern for all sentient creatures – and what its ethical consequences are. We also find out, among other things, whether a “True Sentientist” can eat honey or own a pet.…

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Episode 49: The Nomadic Humanist, with Anya Overmann 1:21:25

2y ago1:21:25

1:21:25

In this episode, we’re joined by Anya Overmann, the host of The Nomadic Humanist podcast. We talk about how Anya’s humanist ideals developed and how they complement and complicate international travels, especially when she doesn’t have any set “home.” Through tales of her life as a digital nomad, she gives us her thoughts on other digital nomads, a…

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Episode 48: Black Freethinkers, with Dr. Christopher Cameron 1:13:45

2y ago1:13:45

1:13:45

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Christopher Cameron, a professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the author of Black Freethinkers: A History of African American Secularism. We talk about Chris’s own winding path to atheism before getting into the history. What do we know about the religion of enslaved people? We…

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Episode 47: What is “Theistnormativity”?, with Dr. Kristina Lee 1:09:09

2y ago1:09:09

1:09:09

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Kristina Lee, an assistant professor in Communication Studies at the University of South Dakota. We talk about the idea of “theistnormativity” – the way that Christianity and belief in God are subtly (or not!) privileged in the United States. This is seen in things like having “In God We Trust” on the money, the…

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Episode 46: Secular Activism in Texas, with Dr. Wil Jeudy 1:05:16

2y ago1:05:16

1:05:16

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Wil Jeudy, who was named Activist of the Year for 2022 by American Atheists. We talk with Wil about his experience as a secular activist in Texas, starting with a long journey to becoming an atheist and the desire for community. We learn about how Wil has moved from finding like-minded people in Houston to becoming…

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Episode 45: The Supreme Court and the Religious Right, with Rob Boston 1:06:39

2y ago1:06:39

1:06:39

In this episode, we’re joined by Rob Boston, Senior Adviser at Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, for a wide-ranging conversation on the work of Americans United and the religious right’s hold on the Supreme Court. In particular, we discuss the recent Kennedy v. Bremerton School District ruling, in which the court found that a…

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Episode 44: The Secular Paradox, with Dr. Joseph Blankholm 1:12:43

2y ago1:12:43

1:12:43

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Joseph Blankholm, an assistant professor in the Department of Religious Studies at University of California, Santa Barbara, and the author of the new book, The Secular Paradox: On the Religiosity of the Not Religious. We talk about his decade-long research project of attending secular events and interviewing se…

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Episode 43: Humanist Heritage, with Maddy Goodall 1:02:42

2y ago1:02:42

1:02:42

In this episode, we’re joined by Maddy Goodall, the Humanist Heritage Coordinator for Humanists UK. We talk about her current project outlining the century plus history of humanism in the UK. What follows is a surprising tale of political activism, liberation for women, and the unexpected humanist roots of everyday symbols and objects hiding in pla…

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Episode 42: Why is “God” in Canada’s Constitution? 51:22

2y ago51:22

51:22

In this episode, Todd and Nathan discuss the strange inclusion of “God” in Canada’s constitution. Follow along as Nathan walks through Canada’s history to reveal how and why the otherwise secular Charter of Rights and Freedoms came to recognize the “supremacy of God” in its 1982 preamble. Todd and Nathan consider the significance of these symbolic …

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Episode 41: The Psychology of Atheism and Religion, with Dr. Will Gervais 1:01:10

2+ y ago1:01:10

1:01:10

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Will Gervais, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Brunel University. We learn a bit about evolutionary psychology before finding out what it tells us about why people become atheists and the difference between the reported and observed power of rational thinking. Will also explains how his survey methodology reveal…

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Episode 40: Nonreligion in a Complex Future, with Dr. Lori Beaman 1:19:09

2+ y ago1:19:09

1:19:09

In this episode, we consider some of the ways the growing nonreligious population will shape future societies. To do so, we’re joined by Dr. Lori Beaman, the Principal Investigator of the Nonreligion in a Complex Future project. We talk about the numerous and sometimes unexpected effects and changes this project has been examining. Listen in to lea…

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Episode 39: Should Atheists Fear Death? 48:21

2+ y ago48:21

48:21

In this episode, Todd and Nathan get personal about death. Atheists still fear death, but don’t have the comfort provided by a belief in an afterlife. They discuss how rational their own fears of death are, how technology might allow us to deny death, and the importance of accepting death as a prerequisite for giving meaning to life. This deep, far…

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Episode 38: Street Epistemology, with Mark Solomon 1:29:01

2+ y ago1:29:01

1:29:01

In this episode, we are joined by Mark Solomon, host of the Being Reasonable podcast. We talk to Mark about “street epistemology”: having conversations with people to find out why they believe what they believe. We learn how Mark gets people to question the foundations of their knowledge, and we discuss how this can challenge deeply held (but untru…

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Episode 37: Building Atheist Communities, with Evan Clark 1:20:07

2+ y ago1:20:07

1:20:07

Ahoy, godless Street Pirates! In this episode we are joined by Evan Clark, the executive director of Atheists United, a growing organization in California. He tells us about how the organization has been changing to meet the needs of the atheist community, including through its innovative Atheist Street Pirates program. It is a great how-to on gett…

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Episode 36: The Freethinker, with Dr. Emma Park 1:15:15

2+ y ago1:15:15

1:15:15

In this episode, our guest is Emma Park, the new editor of the Freethinker magazine. Join us as we discuss the magazine’s incredible history and its impact on creating a secular society in Britain. Emma talks about the paradox of Britain’s growing nonreligious population and the stubborn persistence of institutions like the monarchy and religious p…

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Episode 35: A Religious History of American Secularism, with Dr. Leigh Eric Schmidt 1:12:09

2+ y ago1:12:09

1:12:09

In this episode, we are joined by Leigh Eric Schmidt, the Edward C. Mallinckrodt Distinguished University Professor in the Humanities at Washington University in St. Louis, and the author of a new book, The Church of Saint Thomas Paine: A Religious History of American Secularism. In a far ranging discussion we learn why after his death the eighteen…

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Episode 34: Mobilizing Atheists, with Sam McGuire 1:02:46

2+ y ago1:02:46

1:02:46

In this episode, we are joined by Sam McGuire, the National Field Director of American Atheists. She imparts wisdom on how atheists can organize as well as offers resources and opportunities for groups and individuals. We learn a lot about organizing as we talk about her experience with the Southern Maryland Chapter of the Washington Area Secular H…

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Episode 33: Ex-Muslims, New Atheists, and the Far Right, with Eiynah Mohammed-Smith 1:12:53

2+ y ago1:12:53

1:12:53

In this episode, we are joined by Eiynah Mohammed-Smith, an author, illustrator and the host of the Polite Conversations podcast. We talk about her time growing up in Saudi Arabia, her break with Islam, her involvement in New Atheism, and her subsequent disillusionment with that movement. Along the way, we talk about Sam Harris, ex-Muslims, hijabs,…

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Episode 32: The State of Atheists in America, with Alison Gill 1:00:27

2+ y ago1:00:27

1:00:27

In this episode, we are joined by Alison Gill, the Vice President for Legal and Policy with American Atheists. We talk with Alison about her recent work charting the challenges and priorities of nonreligious people in the US today. We find out why she has said that “2021 was the worst state legislative session for civil rights in more than a decade…

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Episode 31: Ten Things We’ve Learned So Far 54:58

2+ y ago54:58

54:58

After almost a year of Beyond Atheism, it is time to take a brief look back to take stock of what we’ve learned so far. In this episode, Nathan and Todd talk about their 10 main takeaways from the podcast, ranging from politics to activism to history. Stick around to hear their reflections on what true atheists can and cannot do. In the bonus conte…

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Episode 30: The Basics of Secularism, with Dr. Jacques Berlinerblau 1:23:44

2+ y ago1:23:44

1:23:44

As societies become more and more religiously diverse, and more and more nonreligious, secularism takes on greater importance. But what is secularism? In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jacques Berlinerblau, Professor of Jewish Civilization in the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, and the author of the new book, Secularis…

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Episode 29: Why is Sweden So Secular?, with Dr. Anton Jansson 1:04:30

2+ y ago1:04:30

1:04:30

Sweden is one of the most secular countries in the world. Around half of the population claims to be non-believers; one survey even found that only 18% of Swedes believed in God. But why is this the case? How does Sweden’s history explain its secular nature? To talk about these questions and more, we are joined by Dr. Anton Jansson, an associate pr…

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Episode 28: Morality without God, with Aaron Rabinowitz 1:16:13

2+ y ago1:16:13

1:16:13

Without a God to author morality, does this leave atheists adrift? What is morality, are there absolute moral truths, and how can we know about them? To examine these questions, we are joined by Aaron Rabinowitz, a PhD student in the Rutgers Graduate School of Education, and the host of two podcasts, Embrace the Void and Philosophers in Space. Aaro…

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Episode 27: Secularism and (Non)Human Rights, with Monica Miller 1:08:49

2+ y ago1:08:49

1:08:49

Effective secular activism takes on a number of forms and issues, and builds connections across many different – and often unexpected – groups of like-minded people. In this episode, we talk with Monica Miller, the Legal Director and Senior Counsel for the American Humanist Association and an attorney with the Nonhuman Rights Project, and learn how…

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Episode 26: Atheist Churches?, with Dr. Jacqui Frost 1:07:49

3y ago1:07:49

1:07:49

In this episode we are joined by Dr. Jacqui Frost, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Rice University, to discuss the atheist practice of the Sunday Assembly. Although this burgeoning movement is sometimes referred to as an “Atheist Church,” we learn about what makes these communities different from religious practices. In a wide-ranging conversatio…

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Episode 25: The Legacy of Christopher Hitchens, with Dr. Ben Burgis 1:07:05

3y ago1:07:05

1:07:05

Christopher Hitchens was perhaps the wittiest and most vibrant of the atheist “Four Horsemen” until his passing in 2011. In addition to religious criticism, over his long career as a writer and journalist, “Hitch” turned his critical pen against many figures, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, Henry Kissinger, and even Mother Teresa. But his caree…

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Episode 24: Atheist Overreach? 1:05:52

3y ago1:05:52

1:05:52

In the past, critics contended that atheists were simply wrong. Now, however, we have found a critique saying that atheists have overreached in their claims. So says the Notre Dame professor Christian Smith in his new book, Atheist Overreach: What Atheism Can’t Deliver. In this episode, Todd and Nathan respond to the arguments made in Smith’s book …

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Episode 23: Morality and the Decline of Religion, with Dr. Phil Zuckerman 56:30

3y ago56:30

56:30

This week’s guest drops some shocking information: not only is religion declining around the globe, but atheists are proving to be more moral than fundamentalist Christians. To discuss how this came to be, we’re joined by Phil Zuckerman, a professor of sociology at Pitzer College in Claremont, California, and the author of several books, including …

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Episode 22: What’s in a Name? Debating Nonreligious Labels 59:06

3y ago59:06

59:06

In this episode, Todd and Nathan talk about the different labels we use to describe ourselves as nonreligious people. Terms like atheist, agnostic, secularist, freethinker, and bright all have specific definitions – but they are also loaded with connotations and carry different social stigmas. What do these terms mean and how should they be underst…

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Episode 21: Religious Naturalism, with Dr. Carol Wayne White 1:00:54

3y ago1:00:54

1:00:54

Atheism, narrowly defined, is only concerned with the absence of gods. To build a foundation that grounds ethics and morality we need a positive worldview free from dogma and the supernatural. In this episode, we examine one worldview that goes “beyond atheism”: namely, religious naturalism. To discuss this idea, we are joined by Carol Wayne White,…

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Episode 20: Secular Strategies, with Sarah Levin 1:02:45

3y ago1:02:45

1:02:45

In this episode, we talk with Sarah Levin, the founder of Secular Strategies, a political consulting firm that works with policymakers, lawmakers, and non-profit organizations to be effective champions of secularism in the United States. We discuss her political work – from the grassroots to lobbying to serving on the Democratic National Committee’…

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