Humanism Now | Secular Ethics, Curios...
Humanism Now is the weekly podcast for everyone curious, interested or actively engaged in secular humanism. Each Sunday, host James Hodgson—founder of Humanise Live—welcomes scientists, philosophers, activists, authors, entrepreneurs and community leaders who are challenging the status quo and building a fairer, kinder world.
Together we unpack today’s toughest ethical questions—using reason and compassion instead of dogma—and champion universal human rights and flourishing. Expect in-depth interviews on today's pressing issues, from climate action, protecting freedoms, equality & justice to AI ethics and cosmic wonder. Every episode delivers practical take-aways for living an ethical, purpose-driven life while discovering more about ourselves, others and the universe.
Whether you’re a lifelong secular humanist or simply curious about a naturalistic worldview, hit follow for insight-packed conversations that challenge ideas, celebrate human potential and inspire positive change. Join our global community working toward a fairer, kinder and more rational world—for this generation and the next.
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84. The Mattering Instinct with Rebecca Goldstein
Support Humanism Now and Join Our Community! — https://ko-fi.com/humanismnowpod "We are creatures of matter who long to matter — and one of the strongest manifestations of this is people who deny that we are matter." Professor Rebecca Newberger Goldstein is a philosopher, novelist, and MacArthur Fellow whose books include The Mind-Body Problem, Incompleteness, Betraying Spinoza, and 36 Arguments for the Existence of God (a work of fiction). In 2015 she was awarded the National Humanities Meda...
45 min
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83. Seth Andrews, Host of 'The Thinking Atheist...
Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! | https://ko-fi.com/humanismnowpod "I found atheism is not an inoculation against irrationality or awfulness." — Seth Andrews Seth Andrews spent 14 years as a Christian radio host before becoming one of the most recognisable voices in atheist and humanist media as host of The Thinking Atheist Podcast. In this conversation, he traces his slow-burn deconstruction from devout evangelical broadcaster to skeptic, why he now leads with "humanist" rathe...
48 min
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82. The Quiet Revival That Wasn't: David Voas o...
Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! "I don't think that we have any solid evidence of a religious revival underway in England, or for that matter, anywhere else." — David Voas In April 2025, the Bible Society published a report claiming church attendance in England had surged by more than 50% since 2018, with young men's churchgoing up fivefold. It made national headlines. A year later, both YouGov and the Bible Society retracted it. This episode unpacks what actually went wrong...
38 min
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81. The Re-emergence of Eugenics and How to Fig...
"I used to think eugenics had died out after the Second World War. I no longer believe that, unfortunately." — Rebecca Sear Most of us think of eugenics as a horror confined to the past. It isn't. This episode examines the worrying re-emergence of eugenics and scientific racism, from discredited claims about race and intelligence to the far-right money funding them, and asks how we defend good science against bad-faith actors. Along the way, Rebecca overturns another myth, that the isolated n...
35 min
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80. Inside the Ex-Muslim Movement - Muhammad Sy...
"One of the things I heard again and again was: I thought I was the only one." — Muhammad Syed Leaving religion can be one of the most liberating decisions of a person's life. For those leaving Islam, it can also be one of the most dangerous. This episode looks at why so many ex-Muslims stay hidden, how community breaks that isolation, and what the data really tells us about people leaving the faith worldwide. Our guest is Muhammad Syed, human rights activist, writer, and co-foun...
42 min
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79. Meet strangeness with kindness - Kestral Ga...
"It's really about what happens when kindness is the first response to strangeness." — Kestral Gaian What does it take to stay human in a world that often forgets what that means? This episode explores storytelling as an act of resistance: why humans need fiction, why representation matters, and how meeting difference with curiosity rather than judgement can ease the loneliness of modern life. Our guest is Kestral Gaian, an award-winning writer of fiction, theatre and poetry, whose debut you...
33 min
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78. "No Hope But Peace and Justice" - An Israel...
"Many in society saw the news and understood there's no hope for peace. But I understood there's no hope but peace." — Yaniv Aknin What does humanism actually ask of us when we confront the Israel-Palestine conflict? In this episode we preview a special Festival of Humanism session, exploring how secular, rational and compassionate values can cut through motivated reasoning and moral blind spots to rebuild shared ground between Palestinians and Israelis. Our guests are Dr Jasr Kawkby, a Briti...
43 min
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77. Ethical Volunteering with Kimberly Haley-Co...
"It's amazing how enduring humans can be with their willingness to look for good." Kimberly Haley-Coleman is the founder and executive director of GlobeAware, a nonprofit building ethical, community-led volunteer service programmes across more than 25 countries. With a background spanning international business, nonprofit leadership, and global partnership building, Kimberly has spent years thinking deeply about how service, cultural exchange, and shared work can bring people together...
27 min
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76. Why Science Always Carries Human Values wit...
Support Humanism Now and Join Our Community! "Dogmatism is the enemy of reason, after all." Dr Anjan Chakravartty is the Apignani Foundation Chair for the Study of Atheism, Humanism, and Secular Ethics at the University of Miami and a philosopher of science whose work explores the nature of knowledge and what science tells us about the world. His latest edited volume, Science and Humanism: Knowledge, Values, and the Common Good, brings together leading philosophers to examine the relati...
40 min
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75. Taming Your Impostor Monster with Dr AJ Lauer
Support Humanism Now and Join Our Community! "Culture is a representation of what our habits are on a daily basis. If we drop the habit, we are not building the culture we're wanting to see." Dr AJ Lauer is a leadership and diversity educator, executive coach, and founder of Thriving IBIS Leadership Solutions. With two decades of experience across higher education, non-profit research, and STEM, she specialises in imposter syndrome, psychological safety, and helping organisations make more hu...
28 min
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74. TikTok Humanist TimTalks on Deconstructing ...
"You are unlocked to a whole new world... you're not alone, and it's that community that makes you reaffirming yourself" Timothy David, known as Tim Talks, is a UK-based content creator whose TikTok videos on humanism, faith deconstruction, and Black freethinking have racked up millions of views. Drawing on his own journey away from Pentecostal Christianity, Tim uses social media to spark honest conversations about belief, identity, inclusivity, and what it means to question everything. Topic...
25 min
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73. How Norwegian Humanists Changed a Nation | ...
Support Humanism Now and Join Our Community! https://ko-fi.com/humanismnowpod "That's what humanism is about, isn't it? That we have the freedom to do whatever we feel is right for us." Tale Pleym is Chair of the European Humanist Professionals and Senior Ceremonial Advisor of the Norwegian Humanist Association, where she has been conducting humanist ceremonies for more than 15 years. She joins us to explore how humanist ceremonies and secular services are shared and strengthened across Europ...
25 min
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Introducing: Unholy Histories The Humanist Heri...
Subscribe to Unholy Histories wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unholy-histories-the-humanist-heritage-podcast-from/id1893320823Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3HrZ03nnR0IL6PewJUc9mrAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a72f5775-dd9b-4b6f-bd67-4df519ca5556/unholy-histories-the-humanist-heritage-podcast-from-humanists-ukYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuiqL_-wjBYa1Owup4iQlUD6TZ-IGjEHjPodcast Addict: https://po...
2 min
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72. From Fear To Freedom: Reclaiming “Apostate”...
Support Humanism Now and Join Our Community! Micki McAllen, known online as Apostate Barbie, spent 30 years as a Jehovah's Witness before leaving in 2021. Now based in the UK, she uses social media to raise awareness of high control religious groups, support others navigating life beyond faith, and advocate for an end to mandated shunning. Topics we cover ✔︎ What life inside a high control group really looks like — and how coercive control works without physical force ✔︎ The Norwa...
30 min
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71. Beyond Belief: Humanism From The Heart with...
Support Humanism Now and Join Our Community! “Curiosity leads to fully understanding someone’s situation and being empathetic to that person.” Steve Ghikadis is a Humanist Officiant, author, and speaker who leads secular weddings, memorials, and other life-affirming ceremonies in Ontario. In this conversation, he explores street epistemology, interfaith family life, raising curious and compassionate children, and why humanism needs to lead with empathy as well as reason. Connect...
24 min
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70. Science, Trust, and the History of Quacks w...
Support Humanism Now and Join Our Community! - ko-fi.com/humanismnowpod "Science is not objective. It is subjective. And I think having conversations about it is very important." Dr Jenny Lange is a neuroscientist specialising in uncovering the mechanisms of rare neurological disorders. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London. Outside the lab, Dr Lange is a public speaker and writer on medical history, the intersection of sci...
33 min
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69. New Report: How UK Asylum Process Fails Non...
"Home Office officials do not understand what apostasy is — and this affects how non-religious asylum seekers are recognised, questioned, and believed." Dr Lucy Potter returns to Humanism Now to share the findings of her landmark new report on non-religious asylum claims in the UK, produced in collaboration with Humanists UK. Drawing on three years of in-depth qualitative research, the report is the first study to analyse Home Office decision-making policies for those seeking asylum on the ba...
12 min
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Podcasthon 2026 Special: How Freedom From Tortu...
"An estimated one person in three seeking asylum in the UK has experienced torture in their home country." This is a bonus episode of Humanism Now, recorded as part of Podcasthon 2026: the global initiative uniting podcasters to raise awareness for charitable causes. This year, we are supporting Freedom from Torture, a UK charity that has spent more than 40 years providing specialist therapeutic care, rehabilitation, and advocacy to survivors of torture. Their work centres on restoring ...
20 min
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68. The Science Of Weird Stuff with Prof. Chris...
"We're at a time when we need critical thinking more than ever, and sadly, I'm not really seeing it happening." Professor Chris French is one of the world's leading researchers in anomalistic psychology and critical thinking. As former head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at Goldsmiths, University of London, author of The Science of Weird Sh*t, patron of Humanists UK, and former editor of The Skeptic magazine, Chris has spent decades investigating paranormal claims, de...
40 min
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67. Meet the British Army's First Ever Humanist...
“Chaplaincy is defined by function, it’s not defined by belief.” Padre Dr Neil Weddell, the first ever non-religious pastoral carer (humanist chaplain) appointed in the British Army, joins Humanism Now alongside Clare Elcombe Webber, Director of Humanist Care at Humanists UK. We explore what chaplaincy really is, why this appointment is a historic shift for belief-diverse Armed Forces, and what humanist pastoral care looks like in practice for serving personnel and their families. Topi...
41 min
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Introducing Freedom of Thought by Humanists Int...
SUBSCRIBE TO FREEDOM OF THOUGHT: Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicPodcast AddictYouTubeAll other podcast platforms******** Sign up for the Humanists International Newsletter Welcome to Freedom of Thought a new podcast series by Humanists International! In this first episode hosts Gary McLellend and Leon Langdon introduce Humanists International, the global representative body at the heart of the humanist movement, how a global humanist network works inside the UN system, and why universal rig...
21 min
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66. Fish Stark on How The AHA Is Building a Hum...
"If science tells you what's real and compassion tells you what's right, you're a humanist" - Fish Stark Fish Stark, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association (AHA), joins Humanism Now to unpack what a modern humanist revival could look like in the United States. From creator-led storytelling to legal strategy and mutual aid, Fish shares how the AHA is building power, community, and a clearer public-facing vision of humanism rooted in empathy, agency, and responsibility. Conne...
49 min
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65. CampQuest UK Returns! How Kids Camps Build ...
“It was a very safe space to be able to say, I got that wrong.” CampQuest UK Programme Director Alistair Lichten (Humanist Dad) and camper-turned-volunteer Katy Pugh join Humanism Now to unpack why a secular camp matters, and how a weekend of outdoor adventure, hands-on science, and Philosophy for Children helps young people practise curiosity, confidence, and respectful disagreement. Discover CampQuest UK 2026 Family Camp – dates, location, pricing, booking– https://campquest.uk/2026-family-...
30 min
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64. Empathy in Action: Wil Jeudy on Uniting Sec...
“Humanism is increasing well-being and decreasing suffering for as many people as possible.” - Wil Jeudy In this episode, Wil Jeudy, a secular humanist and political organiser based in Texas, shares how empathy shaped his journey from disengaged voter to coalition-builder, why secular government protects believers and non-believers alike, and how coordinated local action can push back against Christian nationalism. Topics we cover Humanism as empathy in action and a guide fo...
27 min
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63. Powering A Humane Future with Zion Lights
“I changed my mind because I cared about alleviating energy poverty.” Order now: Energy is Life: Why Environmentalism Went Nuclear, by Zion Lights AmazonGuardian BookshopNatural History Book ServiceZion Lights is an award-winning science communicator and environmental advocate whose work sits at the intersection of energy, climate, and public understanding of science. In this conversation, Zion shares her journey from prominent renewable-only activism to evidence-led support for a broader cle...
43 min