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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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1049Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Religion & SpiritualityReligion

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Artwork for Freethought Radio

Latest Episodes

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

After reporting alarming Christian nationalist news, we talk with Amy Littlefield, author of "Killers of Roe: My Investigation into the Mysterious Death of Abortion Rights."

FFRF Director of Communications Amitabh Pal joins us as we interview journalist and author Sonia Faleiro about her book "The Robe and the Sword: How Buddhist Extremism is Shaping Modern Asia."

We hear excerpts of some of our favorite shows from the past two decades, including Gore Vidal, Christopher Hitchens, Ron Reagan, Ursula K. Le Guin, Sara Paretsky, Julia Sweeney, Daniel C. Dennett, Anne Gaylor, Cecile Richards, Ernie Chambers, Steve ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

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!
Janeane Garofalo
Comedian and actress, recorded a radio spot for FFRF
Actor/Comedian
Episode: Happy 20th Anniversary!

Hosts

Dan Barker
Co-host and co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation; prolific speaker and musician with a focus on secularism and church-state separation.
Annie Laurie Gaylor
Co-host and co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation; prominent feminist skeptic and author with a long-running role in freethought advocacy.

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 States6 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.

Listeners praise timely, informative coverage of church-state issues and the engaging, respectful guest interviews.
Fans appreciate practical calls to action and updates on FFRF initiatives and legal milestones.
Some critique the music breaks as heavy or lengthy, but overall audience sentiment remains highly positive toward advocacy and clarity of messaging.
Many value the mix of legal updates, activism, and music, noting it as both educational and entertaining.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
First Amendment hero
Q: Can you briefly describe what was happening with your children in the schools during the early 1980s?
Ishmael Jaffree explains that his children were exposed to prayer and Bible reading at school, which led him to file a lawsuit to challenge state sponsorship of religion in public education, ultimately resulting in the landmark Supreme Court decision.
Conversion Therapy
Q: What is the status of conversion therapy laws in Canada compared to the United States?
Canada has a nationwide ban on conversion therapy covering all ages, implemented after survivor advocacy; in the United States, the legal landscape is mixed and contentious, with ongoing court cases and differing state approaches, as illustrated by the Colorado Supreme Court case and related federal issues discussed in the episode.
Conversion Therapy
Q: What happened in Lucas Wilson's book and how does it relate to the broader discussion on conversion therapy?
Lucas Wilson discusses the two main forms of conversion therapy he experienced—individual talk therapy and group sessions—plus the role of scripture, coercion, and societal pressure in pushing someone to change their sexual orientation, which illustrates the harms he details in Shame-Sex Attraction.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Freethought Radio

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

The show centers on church-state separation, secularism, and civil rights, blending news updates with interviews and activist storytelling. Episodes frequently cover legal battles around the First Amendment, religious influence in public life, and spotlighted activists, educators, and scholars who argue for secular governance and humanist values. Music and commentary provide a distinctive, approachable rhythm to complex topics, and the format often weaves in calls to action, promoting legal advocacy and community involvement. A noteworthy aspect is the consistent emphasis on real-world impact through case updates, high-profile interviews, and behind-the-scenes looks at organizing within a national freethought movement.

Where can I find podcast stats for Freethought Radio?

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How many listeners does Freethought Radio get?

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How many subscribers and views does Freethought Radio have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Freethought Radio has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Freethought Radio?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Freethought Radio:

1. TheThinkingAtheist
2. Friendly Atheist Podcast
3. The Scathing Atheist
4. Thank God I'm Atheist
5. The Hartmann Report

How many episodes of Freethought Radio are there?

Freethought Radio launched 20 years ago and published 1049 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Freethought Radio?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Freethought Radio?

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What guests have appeared on Freethought Radio?

Recent guests on Freethought Radio include:

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

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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