In this month’s podcast, experience even more of the Reason Rally, the largest gathering of the secular movement in the world, with: British stand up comedian Eddie Izzard, youTube activist Cristina Rad, long time humanist activist and leader “the Amazing” James Randi, best-selling author Richard Dawkins, and our very own Todd Stiefel.

Segment 1: Eddie Izzard

Edward John “Eddie” Izzard is an English stand-up comedian and actor. His comedy style takes the form of rambling, whimsical monologue and self-referential pantomime. He had a starring role in the television series The Riches as Wayne Malloy and has appeared in many motion pictures such as Ocean’s Twelve, Ocean’s Thirteen, Mystery Men, Shadow of the Vampire, The Cat’s Meow, Across the Universe, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and Valkyrie. He is also the voice of Nigel in the 2006 animated film The Wild and Miles Axlerod in the 2011 Disney/Pixar animated film Cars 2.

Segment 2: Cristina Rad

Cristina Rad, cybername ZOMGitsCriss (pronounced “Zoh My God, it’s Criss!”), is a Romanian atheist vlogger. She joined YouTube on September 20, 2008 and currently has just shy of 85,000 subscribers.

Her videos mainly consist of discussions of atheism and critiques of creationism, notably in her video series “How to Be a Good Creationist.” She criticizes religion (particularly Christianity and Islam) and religious fundamentalists.

Rad gained a degree of attention for her response to Ray Comfort’s version of Darwin’s Origin of Species. On September 19, 2009, Rad posted a video on YouTube titled “Origin of Stupidity” that received over a million views, including, apparently, one by Comfort himself. Fellow YouTube user Thunderf00t posted a clip of Comfort briefly mentioning Rad’s video.

Segment 3: James Randi

James Randi is a Canadian-American stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a challenger of paranormal claims and pseudoscience. Randi is the founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF). Randi began his career as a magician named The Amazing Randi, but after retiring at age 60, he began investigating paranormal, occult, and supernatural claims, which he collectively calls “woo-woo”.

Although often referred to as a “debunker”, Randi rejects that title owing to its perceived bias, instead describing himself as an “investigator”. He has written about the paranormal, skepticism, and the history of magic. He was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and was occasionally featured on the television program Penn & Teller: Bullshit!. The JREF sponsors The One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge offering a prize of US $1,000,000 to eligible applicants who can demonstrate evidence of any paranormal, supernatural or occult power or event under test conditions agreed to by both parties.

Segment 4: Richard Dawkins

Richard Dawkins is the Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University, a position he has held since 1995. The Wall Street Journal said his “passion is supported by an awe-inspiring literary crafsmanship.” The New York Times Book Review has hailed him as a writer who “understands the issues so clearly that he forces his reader to understand them too.” Among his books are The Ancestor’s Tale, The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, Climbing Mount Improbable, Unweaving the Rainbow, A Devil’s Chaplain and The God Delusion.

Segment 5: Todd Stiefel

Todd Stiefel lives in Raleigh, NC. He is a secular humanist, an atheist and full-time freethought activist. Todd serves as an advisor to many of the top nontheistic organziations. He has given over $3.5 million dollars to charities in the Freethought Movement. This is highlighted by $2.5 million to found the Stiefel Freethought Foundation.

Links from this month’s episode:

Reason Rally

• Official Website: ReasonRally.org

American Humanist Association

• Join: AmericanHumanist.org
• Annual Conference: Conference.AmericanHumanist.org

Eddie Izzard

• Official Website: EddieIzzard.com

Cristina Rad

• youTube: youTube.com/user/zomgitscriss

James Randi

• Official Website: Randi.org

Richard Dawkins

• Official Website: RichardDawkins.net

Todd Stiefel

• Official Website: StiefelFreethoughtFoundation.org
• LLS Light the Night Walk: FoundationBeyondBelief.org

Upcoming Event links:

• AHA’s 71st Annual Conference: conference.AmericanHumanist.org

Music from this month’s episode (in order of appearance):

• Theme Song: “Sound Scientist” by Bill

In this month’s podcast, experience the Reason Rally, the largest gathering of the secular movement in the world: Author and blogger Greta Christina tells us why she is angry, Taslima Nasrin describes her experience of fighting for secularism in a country from which she has been exiled, Mythbuster Adam Savage describes his definition of reason, with Australian musicians Tim Minchin and Shelley Segal.

Segment 1: Thank You, from Roy Speckhardt, on behalf of the American Humanist Association

Roy Speckhardt considers the Reason Rally a “coming out” party for humanists and atheists.

Also, Roy was on Fox News to discuss the Reason Rally, as well as humanism and atheism. Watch the video below.

Segment 2: Saved by Shelley Segal

Shelley Segal is a singer-song writer from Melbourne, Australia. Growing up in a musical family, Shelley began singing at age three. She started writing songs and performing from the age of eleven.

Shelley plays guitar and piano. She teaches vocals, music theory and song-writing and has been performing live, around Melbourne and internationally, for the last ten years. She completed a Bachelor of Applied Music at the Box Hill Institute of Tafe in 2010. Shelley has recently written and recorded a song with DJ Carl Cox. The track, ‘Chemistry’ spent two weeks at #1 on the techno charts in November 2011.

Over the last few years, Shelley has become involved in the secular movement and it is a cause that she sees as indispensable. In response to her views, this year Shelley has recorded and released, ‘An Atheist Album.’ The seven songs on the album are her thoughts on religion and related themes, through the prism of her secular humanism.

Shelley’s musical style is influenced by commercial, folk, jazz, blues and rock genres. As a songwriter, Shelley’s music is often biographical and story-telling in nature.

In 2012, Shelley will be releasing two albums, touring Australia and will be performing in March at the Reason Rally, in April at the Global Atheist Convention and in June at the American Humanists Annual Conference.

Segment 3: Why is Greta Christina angry?

Greta Christina has been writing professionally since 1989, on topics including atheism, sexuality and sex-positivity, LGBT issues, politics, culture, and whatever crosses her mind. She is on the speakers’s bureaus of the Secular Student Alliance and the Center for Inquiry. She is editor of the “Best Erotic Comics” anthology series, and of “Paying For It: A Guide by Sex Workers for Their Clients.” Her writing has appeared in multiple magazines and newspapers, including Ms., Penthouse, Chicago Sun-Times, On Our Backs, and Skeptical Inquirer, and numerous anthologies, including “Everything You Know About God Is Wrong” and three volumes of “Best American Erotica.” She lives in San Francisco with her wife, Ingrid. You can email her at greta (at) gretachristina (dot) com, and follow her on Twitter at @GretaChristina .

Why are atheists angry?

Is it because they’re selfish, joyless, lacking in meaning, and alienated from God?

Or is it because they have legitimate reasons to be angry — and are ready to do something about it?

Armed with passionate outrage, absurdist humor, and calm intelligence, popular blogger Greta Christina makes a powerful case for outspoken atheist activism, and explains the empathy and justice that drive it.

This accessible, personal, down-to-earth book speaks not only to atheists, but to believers who want to understand the so-called “new atheism.” “Why Are You Atheists So Angry?” drops a bombshell on the destructive force of religious faith — and gives a voice to millions of angry atheists.

Segment 4: Freedom Fighter Taslima Nasrin

Taslima Nasreen, an award-wining writer, secular humanist and human rights activist, is known for her powerful writings on women oppression and unflinching criticism of religion, despite forced exile and multiple fatwa calling for her death.Not many have risked their life to tell the truth.In India, Bangladesh and abroad, Nasreen’s fiction, poetry and memoir have topped the best-seller’s list.

Taslima Nasreen was born in Mymensingh in Bangladesh in 1962. She started writing from the age of 13 and was acclaimed as a major writer in Dhaka in her late 20s. Her writings also won the hearts of people across the border and she landed with the prestigious literary award Ananda Award in 1992 and 2000.

Subsequently, Taslima was acclaimed as a writer in Europe and the USA. She won The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought from the European Parliament in 1994. She received the Kurt Tucholsky Literary Award in 1994 from Sweden and the Simone de Beauvoir Award and Human Rights Award from Government of France in 2008 and 1995 respectively. She got the UNESCO prize for Promotion of the Tolerance and Non-violence in 2005.

Bestowed with honorary doctorates from Gent University and UCL in Belgium, and American University of Paris and Paris University Diderot in France, she has addressed gatherings in major venues of the world like the European Parliament, National Assembly of France, Noble Institute in Norway, Universities of Sorbonne, Oxford, Harvard, Yale, etc.

She got fellowships as a research scholar of Harvard and New York Universities. And she was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow in the USA in 2009.

Taslima has written 35 books, which includes poetry, essays, novels and autobiography series. Her works have been translated in twenty Indian and European languages.

Some of her books are banned in Bangladesh. And she has been banned, blacklisted and banished from Bengal, both from Bangladesh and West Bengal part of India. She has been living in exile for more than 17 years.

Segment 5: Confessions by Tim Minchin

Tim Minchin is an Australian musician, composer, songwriter, actor, comedian and writer. He has been performing his unique brand of musical comedy in front of appropriately excitable and ever-growing audiences since starting out in South Melbourne’s Butterfly Club in 2005. He won the Directors’ Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for his break-out show Darkside, and followed this later the same year with one of the most successful debut acts ever at the Edinburgh Fringe – winning the Perrier Award for Best Newcomer. Many more awards followed over the years, and without wanting to go on and on about it, he’s done some pretty successful live shows since then too, often in Australia or the UK, but also on the North American continent (yes that includes you too Canada). But not you Guatemala. Maybe one day.

His current songs span various musical styles and topics such as environmentalism, rationalism, prejudice(ism), logical fallacies(ism) and his amour de fromage et de boobs(ism). In fact, it would hardly be over the top to say that his love of boobs would be up there in the back of Plato’s cave in the bit that’s carved out for the most perfect and complete example of the love of boobs. But not in a weird way. He plays the piano, always nicely and oftentimes uproariously and excitingly, whilst looking wonderfully athletic in a pair of delightfully uncomfortable skinny jeans. As well as his grand piano and apparel befitting a style guru, Tim is joined onstage by his iconic dance moves, wildly teased hair, gently calmed eyebrows, natural aplomb and his enormous… sense of occasion.

During 2009 and 2010, Tim wrote the music and lyrics for Matilda The Musical with the Royal Shakespeare Company. This adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic ran, from November 2010 until January 2011, in Stratford-upon-Avon and then transferred triumphantly to London’s West End, at the Cambridge Theatre in October 2011, winning great critical acclaim and a stack of awards. Tim embarked on his first Arena tour of the UK, joined by the 55-piece Heritage Orchestra and a band, in December 2010. He took the show to Australia in early 2011, performing with the state symphony orchestras all over the country, including four sold out dates with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House. The fourth of these shows was recorded and broadcast live on Australian TV by ABC2. He returned to the UK for some more arena dates with the Heritage Orchestra in April and May 2011, including two dates at The Royal Albert Hall. Tim Minchin And The Heritage Orchestra Live At The Royal Albert Hall was filmed for DVD. Tim had dates in various cities across the US in 2011 and he toured Australia in early 2012 with Tim Minchin vs The Orchestras – Round II. He performed at several festivals in the UK and the US in 2011 and will do so again in 2012.

Tim has made many TV appearances, the most recent of which include his first US TV appearances on Conan (11/10c on tbs) and The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS) in January 2011. In Australia, 2011, he was interviewed and performed a cover of the Crowded House classic ‘Better Be Home Soon’ on Adam Hills In Gordon St Tonight (ABC1), and he performed a new song ‘Lullaby’ with part of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on Ben Elton’s Live from Planet Earth (Channel 9). In the UK, in 2010, Tim joined Robert Llewelyn for Carpool, hosted an episode of Never Mind The Buzzcocks (BBC) and appeared on Genius (BBC) and 8 Out of 10 Cats (Channel 4). He’s also performed on radio; his most recent project being Strings, a brand new comedy sitcom pilot for BBC Radio 2, which he both wrote and starred in. He also joined the regulars for an episode of The Infinite Monkey Cage on BBC Radio 4 in 2010.

His acclaimed 9-minute beat poem, Storm, has been animated and previewed at TAM London in October 2010. It was made available to all on YouTube in 2011, following some film festival fun. He narrated Shaun Tan’s Oscar winning film The Lost Thing, an animated 15 minute short, based on the children’s book of the same name.

Tim, his wife and two young children now live in London.

Tim is an Ambassador for The Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts and ran a Half Marathon in 2010 on their behalf.

Segment 6: Adam Savage’s Reason

Adam Savage has spent his life gathering skills that allow him to take what’s in his brain and make it real. He’s built everything from ancient Buddhas to futuristic weapons, from spaceships to dancing vegetables, from fine art sculptures to animated chocolate — and just about anything else you can think of.

The son of a filmmaker/painter and a psychotherapist, Adam has been making his own toys since he was allowed to hold scissors. Having held positions as a projectionist, animator, graphic designer, carpenter, interior and stage designer, toy designer, welder, and scenic painter, he’s worked with every material and in every medium he could fathom — metal, paper, glass, plastic, rubber, foam, plaster, pneumatics, hydraulics, animatronics, neon, glassblowing, mold-making and injection molding to name just a few.

Since 1993, Adam was concentrated on the special effects industry, honing his skills through more than 100 television commercials and a dozen feature films, including Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Galaxy Quest, Terminator 3, A.I. and the Matrix sequels. He’s also designed props and sets for Coca-Cola, Hershey’s, Lexus and a host of New York and San Francisco theater companies.

Not only has he worked and consulted in the research and development division for toy companies and made several short films, but Adam has also acted in several films and
commercials — including a Charmin ad, in which he played Mr. Whipple’s stock boy, and a Billy Joel music video, “Second Wind,” in which he drowns.

Today, in addition to co-hosting MythBusters, Adam teaches, lectures and consults on a variety of topics to students, business folks and everyday Joes. Somehow he also finds time to devote to his own art — his SCULPTURES have been showcased in over 40 shows in San Francisco, New York and Charleston, West Virginia.

Links from this month’s episode:

Reason Rally

• Official Website: ReasonRally.org

American Humanist Association

• Join: AmericanHumanist.org
• Annual Conference: Conference.AmericanHumanist.org

Shelley Segal

• Official Website: ShelleySegal.com

Greta Christina

• Blog: FreethoughtBlogs.com

• Greta’s new book, Why Are You Atheists So Angry? 99 Thing That Piss Off the Godless, is for sale on Kindle and Nook

Taslima Nasrin

• Official Website: TaslimaNasrin.com

Tim Minchin

• Official Website: TimMinchin.com

Adam Savage

• Official Website: AdamSavage.com
• Mythbusters: Discovery.com

Upcoming Event links:

• AHA’s 71st Annual Conference: conference.AmericanHumanist.org
• Rock Beyond Belief: RockBeyondBelief.com

Music from this month’s episode (in order of appearance):

• Theme Song: “Sound Scientist” by Bill
• “Saved” by Shelley Segal
• “Confessions” by Tim Minchin
• “Thank You God” by Tim Minchin
• “My Morality” by Shelley Segal

In this month’s podcast, Jes Constantine heads to Cranston, RI to hear the local residents, students, and teachers voice their opinion about the Cranston High School West prayer banner. Also, listen to Ellery Schempp tell the story of his landmark US Supreme Court case from over 50 years ago, ruling government sanctioned prayer unconstitutional.

Segment 1: Light the Night Walk

We are incredibly excited to announce the launch of a project that, with your help, is going to have an enormous positive impact both on our movement and in the fight against cancer. Foundation Beyond Belief is now a “Special Friend” team partner with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) for their Light The Night Walks. Our goal is to unite the Freethought Movement around the world to raise one million U.S. Dollars in 2012. This would make us the first team in LLS history to bring in more than $1,000,000 in their first year!

Segment 2: On location in Cranston, RI

Humanists are applauding the 5-2 decision tonight by the Cranston School Committee in Rhode Island to not pursue an appeal of a federal judge’s ruling to immediately remove a prayer banner from the Cranston West High School auditorium wall.

“Given the strength of the ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Ronald R. Lagueux, it would have been tough for the school system to appeal,” said Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association. “We’re certainly glad that the committee decided to not waste any more time and money in pursuing one.”

The case has brought international attention to the school and to Jessica Ahlquist, the student who filed the suit. Because she has been the subject of harassment and ridicule due to the case, local police have increased attention on her and her family’s safety. The outlandish behavior has come from every corner, including lawmakers, students, parents, and business owners.

The committee meeting was attended by hundreds of people, many from out of the area who came to support Ahlquist in her fight to protect the separation of church and state, the constitutional principle that protects everyone’s religious freedoms.

“Jessica Ahlquist has stood up against her most vehement and vile critics with class and style,” Speckhardt said. “Her example shows how a fight should be undertaken in favor of protecting the freedoms we are guaranteed by our constitution. Everyone should offer a healthy measure of gratitude to her and her family.”

The American Humanist Association is proud to play a role in Ahlquist’s future by working with Hemant Mehta, blogger for the popular website The Friendly Atheist, to manage an education trust fund to help pay for the cost of her future education.

Segment 3: Abington School District v. Schempp 50 Years Later

Fifty years ago a public school student named Ellery Schempp contacted the American Civil Liberties Union to help him protest public school sanctioned Bible readings. His lawsuit was eventually combined with a similar case by American Atheist Founder Madalyn Murray O’Hair. In 1963, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on their case, Abington School District v. Schempp , that public school-sanctioned Bible readings were unconstitutional. Matt Cherry, former executive director of the Institute for Humanist Studies, spoke to Schempp by phone.

Links from this month’s episode:

Light the Night Walk

• Learn More: FoundationBeyondBelief.org
• Register: FoundationBeyondBelief.org

Upcoming Event links:

• AHA’s 71st Annual Conference: conference.AmericanHumanist.org
• Reason Rally: ReasonRally.org

Music from this month’s episode (in order of appearance):

• Theme Song: “Sound Scientist” by Bill
• “Accidental Nomads” by Ambient Figures
• “Waiting for Rain” by SIRSY

In this month’s podcast, Jes Constantine and Todd Stiefel speak with Harvard University’s Humanist Chaplain, Greg Epstein, about the Humanist Community Project. Plus, hear a followup interview with Dr. Darrel Ray about his new book: Sex and God: How Religion Distorts Sexuality.

Segment 1: Nonbelievers Applaud Court Ruling to Remove Religious Banner from Rhode Island Public School

American Humanist Association leaders applauded the ruling issued last night by U.S. District Court Judge Ronald R. Lagueux ordering the immediate removal of a prayer banner in a Rhode Island high school. The suit was brought by student Jessica Ahlquist, and the ruling supports her claim that the banner violates church-state separation legal principles.

We are so proud of Jessica for fighting to protect church-state separation,” said American Humanist Association Executive Director Roy Speckhardt. “She recognized injustice, stood up for what is right, and persevered in the face of harassment. She fought for the rights of nonbelievers and religious minorities and is an example for everyone.” [ Read More ]

Show Jessica your support, leave her a message on our listener comment line: (202) 618-1371.

Please help JT Eberhard and Freethought Blogs in supporting the Jessica Ahlquist college fund! And thanks to Hemant Mehta of The Friendly Atheist for establishing the fund. Design your own custom Evil Little Thing shirt. Two type faces, multiple shirt colors, multiple print colors.

Segment 2: Humanist Community Project

The Humanist Community Project exists to develop opportunities for connection, ethical development, and the celebration of life based on human reason, compassion, and creativity, not religious dogma.

We organize, facilitate, promote, and/or study a wide range of educational programs, social meetings, service projects, human rights work, counseling, ceremonies, and contemplative practices that contribute to the growth of diverse and interconnected groups of Humanists, atheists, agnostics and the nonreligious. We seek to build strategic partnerships with other Humanist and Freethought organizations and with our religious neighbors to advance the greater good of humanity.

We are a laboratory for the study of how Humanism can be most effectively practiced in communities anywhere in the world, and an incubator of future humanist leadership and best practices anywhere in the world.

Built upon the foundation of the 35 year-old Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard (HCH), we are dedicated to serving the Harvard students, faculty, alumni, and surrounding community who gave us life, while expanding outward to help and work with freethinkers everywhere to build local communities that can be true homes for Humanism.

About Greg Epstein

Greg M. Epstein serves as the Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University, and is author of the New York Times Bestselling book, Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe. He sits on the executive committee of the 36-member corps Harvard Chaplains. In 2005 Greg received ordination as a Humanist Rabbi from the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism, where he studied in Jerusalem and Michigan for five years. He holds a BA (Religion and Chinese) and an MA (Judaic Studies) from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a Masters of Theological Studies from the Harvard Divinity School.

Greg began serving as Humanist Chaplain at Harvard in fall 2005, when the Humanist Chaplaincy’s total annual budget was $28,000. In the five and a half years since then, he has raised over $1 million in gifts and pledges to the organization, while organizing and launching a range of new programs and initiatives that have helped turn the concept of Humanist chaplaincy into a topic of national discussion. He now directs our latest initiative, the Humanist Community Project: a laboratory for the development of multicultural, multigenerational Humanist communities locally and nationwide.

Segment 3: Sex and God

How Religion Distorts Sexuality

Author Dr. Darrel Ray, Ed. D. talks about his new book: Sex and God: How Religion Distorts Sexuality. Sex and God is a ground breaking book that dares to examine the damage religion does to sexual relationships, sexuality, sexual expression and what you can do about it in your life. Released January 2012.

Links from this month’s episode:

THH (+HNN) Podcast Archives:

• The Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard: HNN#17
• Sex and Secularism: THH#63

Evil Little Thing:

• Get the Evil Little Shirt: EvilLittleShirts.com
• Freethought Blogs: FreethoughtBlogs.com

The Humanist Community Project

• Website:HarvardHumanist.org
• Harvard Humanist Chaplaincy on Facebook
• Humanist Society:HumanistSociety.org
• Humanist ChaplainciesHumanist Chaplaincies.org

Sex and God links:

• Website: ipcpress.com
• Purchase Sex and God: ipcpress.com

Upcoming Event links:

• AHA’s 71st Annual Conference: conference.AmericanHumanist.org
• Reason Rally: ReasonRally.org

Music from this month’s episode (in order of appearance):

• Theme Song: “Sound Scientist” by Bill
• “Farewell Shasha (Shanghai Restoration Project Remix)” by The Shanghai Restoration Project & Bai Hong

In this month’s podcast, Jes Constantine and Todd Stiefel interview satirical musician Roy Zimmerman, Australian freethought singer / songwriter Shelley Segal, and rational rocker Bruce Harris from Words Such As Burn, about their experience as atheist artists in the music industry.

Segment 1: Remembering Chirstopher Hitchens

Humanists and atheists are saddened by the death of the prolific writer and outspoken atheist Christopher Hitchens, who died Thursday, December 15 at the age of 62 after battling esophageal cancer.

“Humanity has lost a powerful stalwart for atheism,” said Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association. “Christopher Hitchens changed the discussion about religion and non-belief by championing public criticism of theology.” [ Read More ]

Segment 2: Humanists and Holiday Music

Todd and Jes share some of their winter holiday traditions and discuss (er, um, debate) their opinions on Holiday music. Tell us what you think! What / How do you celebrate for the winter holidays? Do you listen to holiday music? What kind?

Call our listener comment line: (202) 618-1371.

Segment 3: Roy Zimmerman

What’s funny about war, poverty, ignorance, bigotry, neo-conservatism, homophobia, greed, lust and fear? Ask Roy Zimmerman. He’s been writing satirical songs for twenty years.

Zimmerman has played clubs across the country, and shared the stage with George Carlin, Bill Maher, Kate Clinton, Dennis Miller, Sandra Tsing Loh, kd lang, Andy Borowitz and Paul Krassner. He’s done several shows with The Pixies’ Frank Black, swapping songs in a solo acoustic setting. His up-to-the-moment topical songs are featured on American Public Media’s syndicated broadcast “Weekend America” and Sirius Radio’s “West Coast Live.”

Zimmerman’s fourth CD is a Holiday offering called PeaceNick. It’s Lefty, Pacifist, Humanist satire celebrating the birth of the Prince of Peace in a time of pre-emptive war. The disc takes a snipe at militaristic merchandising with “Buy War Toys for Christmas,” and thumbs its nose at the War on Christmas – an absurd notion promoted by Bill O’Reilly and his ilk – with the Happy Holidays song “Christma-Hanu-Rama-Ka-Dona-Kwanzaa.” The Dylan-esque “Christmas is Pain,” another Zimmerman classic in the mold of another Zimmerman, receives wide airplay every Holiday Season.

Roy Zimmerman has made a “campaign promise” to perform in all fifty states before the election. He’s checked off fifteen states so far.

Segment 4: Shelley Segal

Shelley Segal is a singer-songwriter from Melbourne, Australia. Growing up in a musical family, Shelley began singing at age three. She started writing songs and performing from the age of eleven.

Shelley plays guitar and piano. She teaches vocals, music theory and song-writing and has been performing live, around Melbourne and internationally, for the last ten years. She completed a Bachelor of Applied Music at the Box Hill Institute of Tafe in 2010. Shelley has recently written and recorded a song with DJ Carl Cox. The track, ‘Chemistry’ spent two weeks at #1 on the techno charts in November 2011.

Over the last few years, Shelley has become involved in the secular movement and it is a cause that she sees as indispensable. In response to her views, this year Shelley has recorded and released, ‘An Atheist Album.’ The seven songs on the album are her thoughts on religion and related themes, through the prism of her secular humanism.

Shelley’s musical style is influenced by commercial, folk, jazz, blues and rock genres. As a songwriter, Shelley’s music is often biographical and story-telling in nature.

In 2012, Shelley will be releasing two albums, touring Australia and will be performing in April at the Global Atheist Convention and in June at the American Humanist Association’s Annual Conference.

Segment 5: Words Such as Burn

Words Such As Burn was born in Raleigh, NC when Bruce Harris said, “we have a gig in two weeks” and was met with the reply, “who is we?” Before these words, the future WSAB members had never played music together with just the five of them. What started as a rotating group of random friends jamming in a basement, became a band scrambling to put together a set. Nobody will ever know why a non-existant band was asked to perform live, but 14 days later, WSAB played their first show.

A year and a half later, Words Such As Burn continues with their original lineup of Bruce (vocals & bass), his brother Sammy Harris (drums & recording engineer), Chris Holcomb (lead guitar), and the father-son combo of Charles (keyboard) and Todd Stiefel (rhythm guitar). Their songs come from an eclectic mix of various rock genres ranging from blues, punk, hard, heavy, grunge, alterative, classic, and modern. Words Such As Burn simply loves rock-n-roll in all of its incarnations with inspirations ranging from The Ramones to The Strokes, and from The Animals to The Black Keys.

Their first single is “Flow”, a song about what religion costs us, believers and unbelievers alike, in terms of lost relationships. It speaks of the pain that can be brought by the divide between atheists and theists, while offering hope of what could be. In an effort “to let love flow,” all of the band’s proceeds from the song will be donated to charity and 40% of the net sales of all other songs will be donated as well.

Other available Words Such As Burn songs include originals “Fallacy One: Argument from Ignorance”, “Over You” and their cover of “I Got Mine”. Their music is the ultimate in modern DIY, with it all recorded, mixed and distributed from their homes.

Links from this month’s episode:

THH (+HNN) Podcast Archives:

• Christiphoer Hitchens on organized atheistm: HNN#24
• Jean Shephard reads from “In God We Trust (All Others Pay Cash)”: THH#57

Roy Zimmerman links

• Website:RoyZimmerman.com
• Roy’s Music Store:RoyZimmerman.com
• Roy’s Music on iTunes
• Roy Zimmerman on Facebook
• Roy Zimmerman on YouTube

Shelley Segal links:

• Website: ShelleySegal.com
• Purchase An Atheist Album: ShelleySegal.com
• Shelley’s music on iTunes
• Shelley Segal on Facebook
• Shelley Segal on YouTube

Words Such As Burn links:

• “Flow” and other songs by Words Such As Burn will be available for sale in early January 2012. Stay tune to the Words Such As Burn Facebook Page for details.
• See Roy Zimmermand and Words Such As Burn perform at Rock Beyond Belief: RockBeyondBelief.com

Music from this month’s episode (in order of appearance):

• Theme Song: “Sound Scientist” by Bill
• “Christma-Hanu-Rama-Ka-Dona-Kwanzaa” by Roy Zimmerman
• “I Want a Marriage Like They Had in the Bible” by Roy Zimmerman
• “Saved” by Shelley Segal
• “Eve” by Shelley Segal
• “Flow” by Words Such As Burn

In this month’s podcast, Jes Constantine and Todd Stiefel interview Rabbi Binyamin Biber about his services to the community as a Humanist Celebrant and Humanist Chaplain at American University. Also, we highlight the AHA’s recent “Naughty” Awareness Campaign, aimed to raise awareness of discrimination against nonbelievers in America.

Segment 1: Gratitude, Human Nature, and Motivation

Sparked by their Thanksgiving experiences, Jes and Todd discuss (read: debate) concepts of human nature and motivation. What motivates human behavior? Are humans inherently good/evil? Tell us what you think! Call our listener comment line: (202) 618-1371.

Segment 2: AHA’s “Naughty” Awareness Campaign

The American Humanist Association recently launched our holiday advertisement campaign aimed to raise awareness of discrimination against nonbelievers in America.

The billboards and full-page newspaper ads contain the message, “Bias Against Atheists is Naughty, Not Nice,” and features Santa Claus making up his “naughty” list. The ads are placed in cities across the United States where atheists have experienced discrimination due to their lack of belief in a traditional god.

For example, the AHA placed an ad in the Cranston Herald newspaper because a high school student, Jessica Ahlquist, endured harassment and threats—one even called her a “stupid atheist”—for objecting to the display of a religious prayer banner hanging in her public high school auditorium.

Another ad was placed in a newspaper near Bastrop, Louisiana, where a student named Damon Fowler was ostracized by his community—even his own parents kicked him out of his home—for objecting to a Christian prayer that would be held during his graduation ceremony.

To read more stories of atheist discrimination and see the full list of ‘naughty’ towns, visit AmericanHumanist.org.

Brian Magee is the communications association for the American Humanist Association. I hosted a one-hour weekly atheist radio program in Fargo, ND on KNDS which was rebroadcast on WPRR in Grand Rapids, MI. In the ’90s was the editor of the Maryland Coast-Dispatch in Ocean City, Md. and news director of two sets of radio stations in Southern Maryland, WMDM/WPTX and WSMD/WMOM.

Segment 3: Serving the Humanist Community

Chaplain Biber is an ordained Humanistic rabbi who has for a decade served a DC congregation called Machar,* the Washington Congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaism. He is also currently the President of the Association of Humanistic Rabbis – North America, a member of the Rabbinic Cabinet of J Street – working for a just peace between Israel and Palestine, and a board member of the Humanist Society, the professional organization of chaplains and officiants active within the American Humanist Association (AHA).

*”Machar” = “tomorrow” in Hebrew.

The Humanist Society

The Humanist Society applies Humanism to daily life through a unique celebrant program, education, and community involvement. Recognizing the important role life occasions play in individual and community life, the Humanist Society’s unique ministry prepares Humanist Celebrants to lead ceremonial observances across the nation and worldwide. Celebrants provide millions of Americans an alternative to traditional religious weddings, memorial services, and other life cycle events. Celebration of life is central to a meaningful Humanist philosophy, and Humanist Celebrants officiate significant celebrations vital to Humanist life.

Humanist Chaplaincies

Humanist chaplaincies provide consultation, preside over ceremonies, and offer opportunities for educational outreaches and community service projects to nonreligious students and members of the armed forces. Chaplaincies can provide a permanent humanist presence and can help student groups stay strong as their leadership changes with graduation.

Links from this month’s episode:

• AHA “Naughty” Awareness Campaign: AmericanHumanist.org
• Humanist Society: Humanist-Society.org
• Humanist Chaplaincies: HumanistChaplaincies.org
• THH (+HNN) Podcast Archives: theHumanistHour.org/archives

Music from this month’s episode (in order of appearance):

• Theme Song: “Sound Scientist” by Bill
• “Grateful” by Pete Philly + Perquisite
• “raw instrumental, pt. 1″ by Digi G’Alessio

In this month’s podcast, Jes Constantine and Todd Stiefel interview American Atheists’ president, David Silverman, about the largest secular event in world history-Reason Rally. Jes and Todd also discuss a listener comment about the proposed personhood amendment.

Segment 1: Personhood

A constitutional amendment facing voters in Mississippi on Nov. 8, and similar initiatives brewing in half a dozen other states including Florida and Ohio, would declare a fertilized human egg to be a legal person, effectively branding abortion and some forms of birth control as murder.

Further Reading:

• NPR interview with Keith Mason (Personhood USA), Alexa Kolbi-Molinas (an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s Reproductive Freedom Project), and Dan Grossman (an obstetrician/gynecologist at the University of California, San Francisco).
• Rationally Speaking, A monthly e-column by Massimo Pigliucci: Abortion, a philosophical approach
• Ask Richard, the atheist advice columnist. Send your questions for Richard to . Richard says: Please keep your letters concise. They may be edited. There is a very large number of letters, so Richard apologizes if he is unable to respond in a timely manner.

Segment 2: Reason Rally

The Reason Rally is an event sponsored by many of the country’s largest and most influential secular organizations. It will be free to attend and will take place in Washington, D.C. on March 24^th, 2012 from 10:00AM – 4:00PM at the National Mall. There will be music, comedy, speakers, and so much more. We hope you can join us!

 Speakers include:

	Richard Dawkins Author of The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, The God Delusion, The Greatest Show on Earth, and more;  Founder of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science.
	PZ Myers Blogger at Pharyngula; Professor of Biology at the University of Minnesota Morris.
	Taslima Nasrin Author of more than thirty books, including Lajja (“Shame”); Prolific activist for gender equality, free thought, and human rights.
	James Randi Founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation; Creator of The One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge; Magician (known as “The Amazing Randi”).
	Bad Religion Legendary rock band fronted by singer/songwriter Greg Graffin.

David Silverman

David Silverman is President of American Atheists has been an atheist since he was 6 years old. Dave became an activist in 1996, and soon became [American Atheists] NJ State Director. He also founded the Alliance of Lucent and AT&T Atheists and Secularists, the first employee club of its kind. He was tapped to be the National Spokesperson in 2004, and then was named Vice President in 2008. The Board of Directors elected Dave as President in September of 2010.

David has appeared on most major news programs including The O’Reilly Factor, Scarborough Country, The Situation with Wolf Blitzer, CNN’ Paula Zahn NOW, Nick News, Hannity and Colmes, Fox and Friends, CN8′s It’s Your Call, and NPR’s All Things Considered. David runs the NoGodBlog and hosts the Atheist Viewpoint TV show.

Links from this month’s episode:

• Reason Rally: ReasonRally.org
• American Atheists: atheists.org
• THH (+HNN) Podcast Archives: theHumanistHour.org/archives

Music from this month’s episode (in order of appearance):

• Theme Song: “Sound Scientist” by Bill
• “Angelica” by Lamb

In this month’s podcast, Todd Stiefel interviews Apple’s Co-Founder, author, and the 2011 recipient of the American Humanist Association’s Isaac Asimov Science award, Steve Wozniak about the importance of skepticism in today’s youth. Also, hear about the experience of two American teenagers who are out as atheists.

Segment 1: American teenage atheists

What happens when a secular student high school group volunteers to recite the pledge of allegiance before the morning announcements? Marshall Lynn, of Carrboro High School knows! Marshall is a member of the Carrboro High School Student Alliance of Rational Thinkers (START) which is part of the Secular Student Alliance.

Also, listen to the perspective of an atheist college student. Julie Mankowski shares her experience of growing up as an atheist and how that has affected her throughout her life. Attention Washington DC area freethinkers: help Julie reach her goal of starting an atheist student group at her school, George Washington University!

If you are a secular student who is looking to either join or start a student group at your school, contact the Secular Student Alliance.

Segment 2: Steve Wozniak aka “The Woz”

A Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist for more than thirty years, Steve Wozniak has helped shape the computing industry with his design of Apple’s first line of products the Apple I and II and influenced the popular Macintosh. In 1976, Wozniak and Steve Jobs founded Apple Computer Inc. with Wozniak’s Apple I personal computer. The following year, he introduced his Apple II personal computer, featuring a central processing unit, a keyboard, color graphics, and a floppy disk drive. The Apple II was integral in launching the personal computer industry.

In 1981, he went back to UC Berkeley and finished his degree in electrical engineering/computer science. For his achievements at Apple Computer, Wozniak was awarded the National Medal of Technology by the President of the United States in 1985, the highest honor bestowed on America’s leading innovators.

Through the years, Wozniak has been involved in various business and philanthropic ventures, focusing primarily on computer capabilities in schools and stressing hands-on learning and encouraging creativity for students. Making significant investments of both his time and resources in education, he adopted the Los Gatos School District, providing students and teachers with hands-on teaching and donations of state-of-the-art technology equipment. He founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and was the founding sponsor of the Tech Museum, Silicon Valley Ballet and Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose.

Wozniak currently serves as Chief Scientist for Fusion-IO and is a published author with the release of his New York Times best selling autobiography, iWoz: From Computer Geek to Cult Icon, in September 2006 by Norton Publishing. His television appearances include reality shows Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and The Big Bang Theory.

Links from this month’s episode:

• Reason Rally: ReasonRally.org
• Listen to our archived episode, featuring Bad Religion singer, Greg Graffin: HNN #30
• Secular Student Alliance: secularstudents.org
• Charrboro High School Student Alliance of Rational Thinkers (START): facebook.com
• Steve Wozniak: woz.org
• Purchase iWoz: on Amazon.com

Music from this month’s episode (in order of appearance):

• Theme Song: “Sound Scientist” by Bill
• “raw instrumental, pt. 1″ by Digi G’Alessio

In this month’s podcast, Jes Constantine and Todd Stiefel talk to Hemant Mehta, the Friendly Atheist, about his activism in the freethought movement. Hemant also gives Jes and Todd a brief public speaking lesson and pop quiz. Plus, learn about the latest news with Rock Beyond Belief and the Reason Rally!

Next Month: Calling all secular teenagers! We want to know what it’s like to be growing up in America as a freethinking teen. Call our listener comment line ( 202.618.1371 ) and tell us why we should interview YOU.

Segment 1: Good News!

Godless bus ads will now roll in Little Rock. On Thursday, Federal Judge Susan Webber Wright ruled in favor of the United Coalition of Reason (UnitedCoR), and against the Central Arkansas Transit Authority (CATA) and its advertising agent, On the Move Advertising (OTM), for declining to run $5,260.00 worth of bus ads aimed at attracting local atheists and agnostics in Central Arkansas. The queen-sized ads, that were to be placed on the sides of 18 buses serving Little Rock’s Riverfest, would have said: “Are you good without God? Millions are.” A blue sky with clouds was to be the background behind the words. [Read More]

Rock Beyond Belief’s earliest attempts were not taken seriously by Fort Bragg, as visitors may remember. However, the situation has changed drastically in the months since our first approach fell through. Fort Bragg’s Garrison Commander, Colonel Sicinski has made the right call, and has now approved our event with the full government support that was promised. [ Read More ]

The Reason Rally is a movement-wide event sponsored by the country’s major secular organizations. The intent is to unify, energize, and embolden secular people nationwide, while dispelling the negative opinions held by so much of American Society… and having a damn good time doing it!

On March 24, 2012, nontheists from all corners of the nation will descend on Washington, D.C. en masse to deliver the good news: “We’re huge, we’re everywhere, and we’re growing.” It will be the largest secular event in world history. There will be music, comedy, great speakers, and lots of fun… and it’s free!

Segment 2: Hemant Mehta, the Friendly Atheist

Hemant Mehta graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with degrees in Mathematics and Biology. While there, he also helped establish their first secular student group, Students WithOut Religious Dogma (SWORD). He earned his Masters in Math Education at DePaul University and currently teaches high school math in the suburbs of Chicago.

He has worked with the Center for Inquiry and the Secular Coalition for America, received scholarships from American Atheists and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and now serves on the board of directors for Foundation Beyond Belief (a charity organization targeting non-theistic donors) and is the former chair of the board of the Secular Student Alliance (which creates and supports college atheist groups nationwide).

Hemant appeared on the front page of the Wall Street Journal and his book, I Sold My Soul on eBay (WaterBrook Press), was released in 2007.

His blog, the winner of the 2011 Bloggie award for Best Weblog About Religion, can be read at Patheos.com.

Links from this month’s episode:

• United CoR (Central Arkansas): UnitedCoR.org/central-arkansas/page/home
• Rock Beyond Belief: RockBeyondBelief.com
• Reason Rally: RecoveringReligionists.com
• The Friendly Atheist: Patheos.com/blogs/FriendlyAtheist/
• Like the Humanist Hour Podcast on Facebook: facebook.com

Music from this month’s episode (in order of appearance):

• Theme Song: “Sound Scientist” by Bill
• “Feeling Good, Getting Nowhere” by LeeDM101

In this month’s  podcast, Jes Constantine and Todd Stiefel interview writer, director, and producer, Matthew Chapman about the release of his film, The Ledge and also Science Debate 2012.

Matthew Chapman

Matthew Chapman was born in Cambridge, England. He came to America in the 80s and has lived here ever since, first in Los Angeles, then, for the last ten years, in New York. He writes screenplays and non-fiction books and has written for Harpers Magazine.

His latest book is “40 Days and 40 Nights – Darwin, Intelligent Design, God, OxyContin, and Other Oddities On Trial in Pennsylvania”. Published by Harper/Collins, it tells the story of a small town ripped apart when fundamentalism and science came in conflict.

He also wrote “Trials Of The Monkey – An Accidental Memoir”. Published by Picador, it is an account of the Scopes Trial told in the form of a road trip Chapman took to the town where the trial took place, along with a memoir of his childhood growing up as a descendant of Charles Darwin.

The Ledge

The Ledge is the first drama in Hollywood history to feature an openly atheist hero in a story about religious conflict. Nominated for Best US Drama at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, the new thriller is available now On Demand.

The Ledge is the first film in Hollywood history that puts an atheist into the hero role in a production that features A-list stars. It is written and directed by Matthew Chapman, the great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin, the scientist who discovered evolution, the biggest challenge to religion since Gallileo. The film was nominated for Best US Drama at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and stars Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy), Liv Tyler (Lord of the Rings, Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe nominee), Patrick Wilson (Watchmen), and Oscar nominee Terrence Howard (Crash, Iron Man).

On the rooftop of a city skyscraper, Detective Hollis (Terrence Howard) pleads with Gavin (Charlie Hunnam) not to jump. What he does not know is that Gavin, an atheist, is involved in a deadly feud with Joe (Patrick Wilson), a Christian extremist. Joe’s wife, Shana, (Liv Tyler) is caught in the middle as Joe seeks to test Gavin’s faith or lack of it. Cutting between the present and the past, tension escalates as verbal shots give way to deadly threats in a race against time that neither God nor the police can stop. Along the way, the film provocatively explores the intellectual and emotional conflicts between religion and atheism.

Science Debate 2012

Science Debate does this by hosting nonpartisan science policy debates between candidates for office, educational events featuring science and technology topics for policymakers and the public, media education efforts to improve science and technology policy coverage, and other civic and community engagement activities.

Our efforts lie at the intersection of science, policymakers and candidates for office, the media, and the public.

Links from this month’s episode:

• The Ledge official website: LedgeMovie.com
• How to Help The Ledge film: LedgeMovie.com/how_to_help/
• Science Debate 2012: ScienceDebate.org
• Matthew Chapman: MatthewChapman.us
• Like the Humanist Hour Podcast on Facebook: facebook.com/theHumanistHour

Music from this month’s episode (in order of appearance):

• Theme Song: “Sound Scientist” by Bill