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Artwork for Freethought Radio
Freedom From Religion Foundation
Christian Nationalism
Separation Of Church and State
Abortion Rights
Ten Commandments
Atheism
Secularism
Scopes Trial
Donald Trump
LGBTQ Rights
First Amendment
Project 2025
Democracy
Public Education
Hindu Nationalism
Supreme Court
Religion
Transgender Rights
Christianity
Censorship

A weekly show, broadcast live from Madison, Wis., on 92.1 FM, Saturdays 11 a.m. to 12 noon. Hosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-presidents, Freedom From Religion Foundation. Slightly irreverent views, news, music and interviews.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1052Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ReligionReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for Freethought Radio

Latest Episodes

Historian Steven K. Green's new book, "American Infidelity: The Gilded Age Battle Over Freethought, Free Love and Feminism," describes how 19th-century freethinkers fought religious laws such as the Comstock Act.

Founder and President of Black Nonbelievers Mandisa Thomas tells us about the June 12–14 "Revival of Reason" in Atlanta, celebrating the lives and views of Black Americans who live without religion. We also talk about Ten Commandments monuments, FFRF... more

What to do about religion at graduation ceremonies? FFRF State Policy Manager Ryan Dudley gives a roundup of state legislative actions this past spring. Then, Harvard student Ash Bu talks about her op-ed in The Crimson newspaper asking, "Where Are Al... more

We report on Trump's Christian-nationalist "Rededicate 250" rally in Washington, D.C., last Sunday. Then, Hope Pisoni of Uncloseted Media and John Washington of Lookout tell us about their joint report, "Your License Plate Might Be Funding an Anti-LG... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Ash Bu
Harvard College student, mathematics major, The Harvard Crimson columnist
Harvard College, The Harvard Crimson
Episode: Religion on Campus
Hope Pisoni
Investigative reporter at Uncloseted Media
Uncloseted Media
Episode: License to Discriminate
John Washington
Staff reporter at Lookout
Lookout
Episode: License to Discriminate
Janine Garofalo
Comedian and activist
FFRF (appearing as guest advocate)
Episode: License to Discriminate
Amy Littlefield
Abortion access correspondent for The Nation, author of Killers of Roe
The Nation
Episode: Killers of Roe
Sonia Faleiro
Author of The Robe and the Sword, How Buddhist Extremism is Shaping Modern Asia
Columbia Global Reports (publisher of her books)
Episode: Buddhist nationalism
Gore Vidal
Writer, political commentator, humanist, former interviewee on Freethought Radio
Independent, author
Episode: Happy 20th Anniversary!
Ursula K. Le Guin
Pioneering science fiction author and frequent Freethought Radio guest
Author
Episode: Happy 20th Anniversary!
Christopher Hitchens
Author and commentator; discussed in retrospective clips
Author/Commentator
Episode: Happy 20th Anniversary!

Hosts

Dan Barker
Co-host of Freethought Radio; Co-president of Freedom From Religion Foundation
Annie Laurie Gaylor
Co-host of Freethought Radio; Co-president of Freedom From Religion Foundation

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 682 ratings
  • Awesome!

    And thanks for honoring my favorite journalist- Jamelle Bouie!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    herbify
    United States7 months ago
  • Thank you

    Thank you for your weekly program & all your hard work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CB098765555
    United States7 months ago
  • Woe to the Women

    I’m a 70- year-old woman who has just become a feminist freethinker. I’m reading all I can. Annie Laurie talked about how religions persecute women. That is where I am in my journey to understand misogyny. I ordered your book, Woe to the Women. Hope to learn more.

    Your podcast is my go-to for hope! Thanks

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cherifire
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great info & important support

    This pod is more important than ever! Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Skleban
    United Statesa year ago
  • Fantastic organization

    They do valuable work

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Diego Pakman
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many appreciate the thoughtful guest lineups and advocacy-oriented discussions.
Some listeners note a preference for more interview content and less musical interludes.
Listeners praise the program for informing on church-state issues and legal battles.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Religion on Campus
Q: What is the current mood among Harvard students regarding voting and activism given a large number of 'nuns' in the class?
There is growing political activism, with galvanized student engagement, but religion takes a secondary place in the activism as students focus on broader issues such as immigration and democracy, while maintaining secular concerns.
Revival of Reason
Q: What can attendees expect at Revival of Reason?
Expect a weekend of education, music, speeches, and workshops, with both in-person and online options, highlighting Black nonreligious voices and coalition-building with FFRF.
Revival of Reason
Q: What is Black Nonbelievers and why was it started?
Mandisa explains BN was founded to unite Black atheists, humanists, and agnostics in Atlanta, addressing underrepresentation and promoting in-person community-building while advocating for secular values.
Killers of Roe
Q: Amy, what can you tell us about the Hyde Amendment and why it matters today?
The Hyde Amendment banned federal funding for abortion through Medicaid, effectively denying coverage to the poorest Americans and creating a long-term fiscal barrier that shaped who could access abortion and how, which helps explain persistent disparities in abortion access.
First Amendment hero
Q: What was the key outcome of the Wallace v. Jaffree case, and how did the courts justify it?
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Jaffree, finding that the state-sponsored silent prayer statute violated the Establishment Clause by appearing to endorse religion in public schools; the decision emphasized neutrality and non-coercion in public education.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Freethought Radio

What is Freethought Radio about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly program blending news, interviews, and musical interludes focused on church-state separation, secularism, and civil liberties. Episodes commonly cover legal battles surrounding public displays of religion, abortion rights, Christian nationalism, and related policy shifts, often weaving investigative reporting with advocacy and guest discussions from journalists, activists, and scholars. A notable strength is the steady mix of rigorous legal analysis, human-interest survivor perspectives, and timely political commentary, which can help listeners understand how secular principles intersect with current events. The show frequently features prominent activists and experts who illuminate the practical implications of court decisions and... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Freethought Radio?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Freethought Radio:

1. TheThinkingAtheist
2. The Atheist Experience
3. Friendly Atheist Podcast
4. Thank God I'm Atheist
5. The MeidasTouch Podcast

How many episodes of Freethought Radio are there?

Freethought Radio launched 20 years ago and published 1052 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Freethought Radio?

Recent guests on Freethought Radio include:

1. Ash Bu
2. Hope Pisoni
3. John Washington
4. Janine Garofalo
5. Amy Littlefield
6. Sonia Faleiro
7. Gore Vidal
8. Ursula K. Le Guin

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