Marie D'Elephant

Today we feature the pilot episode of Marie D'Elephant's new podcast, "Everyone's Autonomous." It's a spin-off of this podcast and we're excited to promote it. For short, we call it EA2 and this show EA1. It'd be great if you could subscribe to EA2 and support the work. Cheers! 

Today we feature the pilot episode of Marie D'Elephant's new podcast, "Everyone's Autonomous." It's a spin-off of this podcast and we're excited to promote it. For short, we call it EA2 and this show EA1. It'd be great if you could subscribe to EA2 and support the work. Cheers!

Episode 256 - Everyone's Autonomous Podcast with Marie D'Elephant

 Summary:   Episode 255 is our final episode pending intermittent releases when we feel like it. In this final episode, Marie and Cass chat about their time together on the show and Cass and Bob talk about those first 4 years doing the show together. Cass will share some comments from listeners after finding out about the hiatus of the show. And Marie will share about her new spin-off podcast entitled "Everyone's Autonomous" which discusses the more practical steps of how to heal, move forward, and rebuild our lives with a full sense of agency over our bodies and minds.   Other Resources:  Voices of Deconversion, Life After God, The Life After, Shunned, Your Atheist Pastor, Exvangelical, The Thinking Atheist, A Better Life, How-To Heretic, The Friendly Atheist, Recovering from Religion, Women Beyond Faith, Secular Sexuality  We taped this conversation in October 2019. Thanks for listening and "Be a Yes-Sayer to What Is".  We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast,  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com.   ​Produced by Cass Midgley and Marie D'Elephant  Website: everyonesagnostic.com  Facebook: fb.me/everyonesagnostic  Twitter: @evry1sagnostic   Instagram: @everyonesagnostic  YouTube: tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis  Patreon: link  D'Elephant: mariedelephant.com

Summary:  Episode 255 is our final episode pending intermittent releases when we feel like it. In this final episode, Marie and Cass chat about their time together on the show and Cass and Bob talk about those first 4 years doing the show together. Cass will share some comments from listeners after finding out about the hiatus of the show. And Marie will share about her new spin-off podcast entitled "<a href="http://www.everyonesautonomous.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Everyone's Autonomous</a>" which discusses the more practical steps of how to heal, move forward, and rebuild our lives with a full sense of agency over our bodies and minds. Other Resources: Voices of Deconversion, Life After God, The Life After, Shunned, Your Atheist Pastor, Exvangelical, The Thinking Atheist, A Better Life, How-To Heretic, The Friendly Atheist, Recovering from Religion, Women Beyond Faith, Secular Sexuality We taped this conversation in October 2019. Thanks for listening and "Be a Yes-Sayer to What Is". We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s <a href="http://www.patreon.com/eapodcast," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast,</a>  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>. ​Produced by Cass Midgley and Marie D'Elephant Website: <a href="http://everyonesagnostic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">everyonesagnostic.com</a> Facebook: <a href="http://fb.me/everyonesagnostic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">fb.me/everyonesagnostic</a> Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/evry1sagnostic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@evry1sagnostic </a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/everyonesagnostic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@everyonesagnostic</a> YouTube: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis</a> Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/eapodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">link</a> D'Elephant: <a href="mariedelephant.com%20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mariedelephant.com</a>

Episode 255 Cass and Marie and Bob

Joe grew up a farm kid in rural northern California. His parents mistrusted public education and home schooled him all the way through eighth grade, although home school meant more farm labor and than learning, and social education happened only through the church. In eighth grade his parents decided it was time for him to get a "real" education, which meant sending him to a small private Baptist school where he learned more about the bible than reading or math. His de-conversation journey began when he entered college and learned that the world is a much bigger place than the space within the walls of a church.   We taped this conversation on September 15th. Thanks for listening and "Be a Yes-Sayer to What Is".  We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast,  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com.   ​Produced by Cass Midgley and Marie D'Elephant  Website: everyonesagnostic.com  Facebook: fb.me/everyonesagnostic  Twitter: @evry1sagnostic   Instagram: @everyonesagnostic  YouTube: tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis  Patreon: link  D'Elephant: mariedelephant.com

Joe grew up a farm kid in rural northern California. His parents mistrusted public education and home schooled him all the way through eighth grade, although home school meant more farm labor and than learning, and social education happened only through the church. In eighth grade his parents decided it was time for him to get a "real" education, which meant sending him to a small private Baptist school where he learned more about the bible than reading or math. His de-conversation journey began when he entered college and learned that the world is a much bigger place than the space within the walls of a church. We taped this conversation on September 15th. Thanks for listening and "Be a Yes-Sayer to What Is". We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s <a href="http://www.patreon.com/eapodcast," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast,</a>  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>. ​Produced by Cass Midgley and Marie D'Elephant Website: <a href="http://everyonesagnostic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">everyonesagnostic.com</a> Facebook: <a href="http://fb.me/everyonesagnostic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">fb.me/everyonesagnostic</a> Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/evry1sagnostic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@evry1sagnostic </a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/everyonesagnostic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@everyonesagnostic</a> YouTube: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis</a> Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/eapodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">link</a> D'Elephant: <a href="mariedelephant.com%20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mariedelephant.com</a>

Episode 254 - Joe

Randy Krakowski

Cass Midgley talks with Randy Krakowski. Randy was raised Catholic but in his mid twenties discovered an exciting evangelical Christianity on the radio during his daily commute. From the frying pan to the fire, then out into the cold water of reality. Randy was raised in Buffalo, NY.  A Roman Catholic altar boy for 7 years and CCD religious instruction for 10. However, after moving to the Bible Belt post college, he converted to Evangelical Christianity. Some 20 years later, while trying to reach his son and wife "for the Lord" by researching science and Atheism, he came out the other side deconverted.  As a result of discovering the lengths at which Christian apologists and ministries will go to defend Christianity, he decided to create an exposé. In 2018 LyingForJesus.org was born. An exposé of prominent &amp; influential Christian leaders who have used lying and dishonest tactics in an attempt to validate Christianity. We taped this conversation on October 3rd, 2019. The intro music is "Just Groove Me" by Dave Weckl.  The segue music on this episode is a percussion groove I recordedThanks for listening and be a yes sayer to what is

Cass Midgley talks with Randy Krakowski. Randy was raised Catholic but in his mid twenties discovered an exciting evangelical Christianity on the radio during his daily commute. From the frying pan to the fire, then out into the cold water of reality. Randy was raised in Buffalo, NY.  A Roman Catholic altar boy for 7 years and CCD religious instruction for 10. However, after moving to the Bible Belt post college, he converted to Evangelical Christianity. Some 20 years later, while trying to reach his son and wife "for the Lord" by researching science and Atheism, he came out the other side deconverted.  As a result of discovering the lengths at which Christian apologists and ministries will go to defend Christianity, he decided to create an exposé. In 2018 <a href="http://LyingForJesus.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">LyingForJesus.org</a> was born. An exposé of prominent &amp; influential Christian leaders who have used lying and dishonest tactics in an attempt to validate Christianity. We taped this conversation on October 3rd, 2019. The intro music is "Just Groove Me" by Dave Weckl.  The segue music on this episode is a percussion groove I recordedThanks for listening and be a yes sayer to what is

Episode 253 Randy Krakowski

The premise of this appalling podcast, Conversations With God, is to have open, deep and frank discussions with the creator of the universe: God. Each episode they address incredibly important issues of creation, morality, philosophy and cooking with the lord, in an informal, yet matter of fact, discussion. It is an irreverent comedy podcast which was launched in January of 2018 has has over 40 episodes to date. The host, Tony, tries to hold the God of the Old &amp; New Testament accountable for the atrocities that are in the aforementioned book. God is portrayed as a buffoon who has little regard for the human race and the troubles that plague it. Tony regularly gives god the opportunity to explain/redeem himself and apologizes to the audience but is generally ambivalent &amp; evasive which regularly becomes very frustrating for Tony. They often bicker and pick at each other. The show is fast paced and switch's between regular segments like:   God's Kitchen: Cooking Tips from the Lord   God's Top Ten Diseases   Questions from The Mortals (listeners email in their questions for the lord to answer on the show)   What you could have been doing instead of listening to this audio drivel   Philosophy Corner (where celebrities talk with God)   Tony, the host is a 45 year old sales executive living in Australia but who was born in the UK. He has a background in audio production/music and has been an atheist for most of his life. He is an audio nerd, loves audio tech and audio software.             Patreon: www.patreon.com/convowithgodpod  Twitter: twitter.com/ToeKneecwg  iTunes Website: www.convowithgodpod.com/We taped this conversation on September 7, 2019. Thanks for listening and "Be a Yes-Sayer to What Is".  We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast,  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com.   ​Produced by Cass Midgley and Marie D'Elephant  Website: everyonesagnostic.com  Facebook: fb.me/everyonesagnostic  Twitter: @evry1sagnostic   Instagram: @everyonesagnostic  YouTube: tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis  Patreon: link  D'Elephant: mariedelephant.com

The premise of this appalling podcast, Conversations With God, is to have open, deep and frank discussions with the creator of the universe: God. Each episode they address incredibly important issues of creation, morality, philosophy and cooking with the lord, in an informal, yet matter of fact, discussion. It is an irreverent comedy podcast which was launched in January of 2018 has has over 40 episodes to date. The host, Tony, tries to hold the God of the Old &amp; New Testament accountable for the atrocities that are in the aforementioned book. God is portrayed as a buffoon who has little regard for the human race and the troubles that plague it. Tony regularly gives god the opportunity to explain/redeem himself and apologizes to the audience but is generally ambivalent &amp; evasive which regularly becomes very frustrating for Tony. They often bicker and pick at each other. The show is fast paced and switch's between regular segments like: <ul> <li> God's Kitchen: Cooking Tips from the Lord </li> <li> God's Top Ten Diseases </li> <li> Questions from The Mortals (listeners email in their questions for the lord to answer on the show) </li> <li> What you could have been doing instead of listening to this audio drivel </li> <li> Philosophy Corner (where celebrities talk with God) </li> </ul> Tony, the host is a 45 year old sales executive living in Australia but who was born in the UK. He has a background in audio production/music and has been an atheist for most of his life. He is an audio nerd, loves audio tech and audio software.  Patreon: <a href="http://www.patreon.com/convowithgodpod" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/convowithgodpod</a>  Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/ToeKneecwg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">twitter.com/ToeKneecwg</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/a-podcast-where-i-chat-with-god/id1332166112" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> iTunes</a> Website: <a href="http://www.convowithgodpod.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.convowithgodpod.com/</a>We taped this conversation on September 7, 2019. Thanks for listening and "Be a Yes-Sayer to What Is". We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s <a href="http://www.patreon.com/eapodcast," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast,</a>  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>. ​Produced by Cass Midgley and Marie D'Elephant Website: <a href="http://everyonesagnostic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">everyonesagnostic.com</a> Facebook: <a href="http://fb.me/everyonesagnostic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">fb.me/everyonesagnostic</a> Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/evry1sagnostic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@evry1sagnostic </a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/everyonesagnostic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@everyonesagnostic</a> YouTube: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis</a> Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/eapodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">link</a> D'Elephant: <a href="mariedelephant.com%20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mariedelephant.com</a>

Episode 252 - Tony of the Conversations With God Podcast

Cass Midgley talks with married couple, Amy and David. They recently went through an intense deconstruction of their faith after which they found true freedom for the first time in their lives. David and Amy both come from a “Christian” upbringing, but were raised very differently.  David comes from a healthy loving home while Amy was raised by an abusive father. Amy served on the worship staff at a non-denominational megachurch for many years where David also served as an Elder.   We also feature a 12 minute sketch of Jerry Dale and Leroy on AM Christian talk radio, KING.   We taped this conversation on September 16th, 2019. ​The intro music is "Never Know" by Jack JohnsonThe opening rant is by Hank Green from his YouTube channel, the Vlog Brothersthe segue music on this episode are segments of music by our guest today, Amy learn more about us at everyonesagnostic.com email us at everyonesagnostic@gmail.com  follow us on Twitter @evry1sagnostic and Instagram To be invited to our private support group on Facebook please contact us on Facebook or email everyonesagnostic@gmail.com  Thanks for listening and be a yes sayer to what is

Cass Midgley talks with married couple, Amy and David. They recently went through an intense deconstruction of their faith after which they found true freedom for the first time in their lives. David and Amy both come from a “Christian” upbringing, but were raised very differently.  David comes from a healthy loving home while Amy was raised by an abusive father. Amy served on the worship staff at a non-denominational megachurch for many years where David also served as an Elder.   We also feature a 12 minute sketch of Jerry Dale and Leroy on AM Christian talk radio, KING.   We taped this conversation on September 16th, 2019. ​The intro music is "Never Know" by Jack JohnsonThe opening rant is by Hank Green from his YouTube channel, the Vlog Brothersthe segue music on this episode are segments of music by our guest today, Amy learn more about us at <a href="http://everyonesagnostic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">everyonesagnostic.com</a> email us at everyonesagnostic@gmail.com  follow us on Twitter @evry1sagnostic and Instagram To be invited to our private support group on Facebook please contact us on Facebook or email everyonesagnostic@gmail.com  Thanks for listening and be a yes sayer to what is

Episode 251 Amy & David

Josh Richards

Josh Richards is an ex-pastor who now serves as a humanist chaplain. Josh was laughed out of his last church he served as a minister for, and then he struggled for years leaving faith. He is an example of someone losing faith and then everything else. He made mistakes and had to learn to live honestly. He is so thankful to come through all of that. Josh runs a webshow "JRRTalking" and speaks in public as often as he can. We taped this conversation on June 2, 2019. Thanks for listening and "Be a Yes-Sayer to What Is".  We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast,  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com.   ​Produced by Cass Midgley and Marie D'Elephant  Website: everyonesagnostic.com  Facebook: fb.me/everyonesagnostic  Twitter: @evry1sagnostic   Instagram: @everyonesagnostic  YouTube: tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis  Patreon: link  D'Elephant: mariedelephant.com

Josh Richards is an ex-pastor who now serves as a humanist chaplain. Josh was laughed out of his last church he served as a minister for, and then he struggled for years leaving faith. He is an example of someone losing faith and then everything else. He made mistakes and had to learn to live honestly. He is so thankful to come through all of that. Josh runs a webshow "JRRTalking" and speaks in public as often as he can. We taped this conversation on June 2, 2019. Thanks for listening and "Be a Yes-Sayer to What Is". We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s <a href="http://www.patreon.com/eapodcast," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast,</a>  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>. ​Produced by Cass Midgley and Marie D'Elephant Website: <a href="http://everyonesagnostic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">everyonesagnostic.com</a> Facebook: <a href="http://fb.me/everyonesagnostic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">fb.me/everyonesagnostic</a> Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/evry1sagnostic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@evry1sagnostic </a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/everyonesagnostic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@everyonesagnostic</a> YouTube: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis</a> Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/eapodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">link</a> D'Elephant: <a href="mariedelephant.com%20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mariedelephant.com</a>

Episode 250 Josh Richards

Thomas Larson

 Journalist, book/music critic, and memoirist Thomas Larson is the author of "Spirituality and the Writer: A Personal Inquiry" (Swallow Press). He has also written "The Sanctuary of Illness: A Memoir of Heart Disease" (Hudson Whitman), "The Saddest Music Ever Written: The Story of Samuel Barber's 'Adagio for Strings'" (Pegasus Press), and "The Memoir and the Memoirist: Reading and Writing Personal Narrative" (Swallow Press). He is a twenty-year staff writer for the San Diego Reader, a six-year book review editor for River Teeth, and a former music critic for the Santa Fe New Mexican.     His Kindle books include "What Exactly Happened: Four Essays on the Craft of Memoir," "We Are Their Heaven: A Family Memoir," "On the Poetry of James Wright," and "Awash in Celebrity Authors."     As a lecturer, Larson speaks about his book on heart disease, holds workshops on "Writing the Memoir" and "Writing the Spiritual Memoir," edits nonfiction manuscripts, and gives talks on jazz, American composers, and nonfiction narrative.     His website is thomaslarson.com. When not on the road or spending time in Santa Fe, Larson lives with his partner Suzanna Neal in San Diego We taped this conversation on May 30, 2019. Thanks for listening and "Be a Yes-Sayer to What Is".  We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast,  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com.   ​Produced by Cass Midgley and Marie D'Elephant  Website: everyonesagnostic.com  Facebook: fb.me/everyonesagnostic  Twitter: @evry1sagnostic   Instagram: @everyonesagnostic  YouTube: tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis  Patreon: link  D'Elephant: mariedelephant.com

Journalist, book/music critic, and memoirist Thomas Larson is the author of "Spirituality and the Writer: A Personal Inquiry" (Swallow Press). He has also written "The Sanctuary of Illness: A Memoir of Heart Disease" (Hudson Whitman), "The Saddest Music Ever Written: The Story of Samuel Barber's 'Adagio for Strings'" (Pegasus Press), and "The Memoir and the Memoirist: Reading and Writing Personal Narrative" (Swallow Press). He is a twenty-year staff writer for the San Diego Reader, a six-year book review editor for River Teeth, and a former music critic for the Santa Fe New Mexican. His Kindle books include "What Exactly Happened: Four Essays on the Craft of Memoir," "We Are Their Heaven: A Family Memoir," "On the Poetry of James Wright," and "Awash in Celebrity Authors." As a lecturer, Larson speaks about his book on heart disease, holds workshops on "Writing the Memoir" and "Writing the Spiritual Memoir," edits nonfiction manuscripts, and gives talks on jazz, American composers, and nonfiction narrative. His website is <a href="http://thomaslarson.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">thomaslarson.com</a>. When not on the road or spending time in Santa Fe, Larson lives with his partner Suzanna Neal in San Diego We taped this conversation on May 30, 2019. Thanks for listening and "Be a Yes-Sayer to What Is". We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s <a href="http://www.patreon.com/eapodcast," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast,</a>  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>. ​Produced by Cass Midgley and Marie D'Elephant Website: <a href="http://everyonesagnostic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">everyonesagnostic.com</a> Facebook: <a href="http://fb.me/everyonesagnostic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">fb.me/everyonesagnostic</a> Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/evry1sagnostic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@evry1sagnostic </a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/everyonesagnostic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@everyonesagnostic</a> YouTube: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis</a> Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/eapodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">link</a> D'Elephant: <a href="mariedelephant.com%20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mariedelephant.com</a>

Episode 249 Author Thomas Larson

Cass Midgley and Marie D'elephant discuss everyone's autonomous right to grieve their loss however it manifests. We feature a segment of a YouTube talk by ex-Jehovah Witness, Rodney Allgood, and an updated from Dave Warnock on the Dying Out Loud campaign. Thanks for listening and "Be a Yes-Sayer to What Is". We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast,  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com.   ​Produced by Cass Midgley and Marie D'Elephant  Website: everyonesagnostic.com  Facebook: fb.me/everyonesagnostic  Twitter: @evry1sagnostic   Instagram: @everyonesagnostic  YouTube: tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis  Patreon: link  D'Elephant: mariedelephant.com

Cass Midgley and Marie D'elephant discuss everyone's autonomous right to grieve their loss however it manifests. We feature a segment of a YouTube talk by ex-Jehovah Witness, Rodney Allgood, and an updated from Dave Warnock on the Dying Out Loud campaign. Thanks for listening and "Be a Yes-Sayer to What Is". We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s <a href="http://www.patreon.com/eapodcast," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast,</a>  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>. ​Produced by Cass Midgley and Marie D'Elephant Website: <a href="http://everyonesagnostic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">everyonesagnostic.com</a> Facebook: <a href="http://fb.me/everyonesagnostic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">fb.me/everyonesagnostic</a> Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/evry1sagnostic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@evry1sagnostic </a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/everyonesagnostic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@everyonesagnostic</a> YouTube: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis</a> Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/eapodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">link</a> D'Elephant: <a href="mariedelephant.com%20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mariedelephant.com</a>

Episode 248 - ExJW Coach Rod / Cass & Marie

The Seeker and The Skeptic is a podcast in which two friends, Rebecca and Cat, explore esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives. Cat is The Seeker, she’s interested in spiritual ideas and hopes to find something meaningful and empowering in the wisdom of religion and new age philosophy. Rebecca is The Skeptic, she’s passionate about finding truth (or at least getting closer to it) using the tools of reason and evidence. Though their approaches to life and ideas are very different they share a sense of humor and a commitment to talking honestly about what we believe and why, which is why they started this podcast. In each episode they discuss a different topic or experience they’ve had from Holotropic Breathing to Mediumship and they’ll see if they can learn something from each other or change each other’s minds… or if their conversation will devolve into a good natured slanging match. Whatever happens they think having these conversations will be enlightening and amusing and after they finish recording they’ll be pouring themselves a drink and planning their next adventure. The Seeker and the Skeptic podcast Twitter &amp; Instagram: @SeekerSkeptic    We taped this conversation on April 28, 2019. Thanks for listening and "Be a Yes-Sayer to What Is".  We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast,  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com.   ​Produced by Cass Midgley and Marie D'Elephant  Website: everyonesagnostic.com  Facebook: fb.me/everyonesagnostic  Twitter: @evry1sagnostic   Instagram: @everyonesagnostic  YouTube: tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis  Patreon: link  D'Elephant: mariedelephant.com

The Seeker and The Skeptic is a podcast in which two friends, Rebecca and Cat, explore esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives. Cat is The Seeker, she’s interested in spiritual ideas and hopes to find something meaningful and empowering in the wisdom of religion and new age philosophy. Rebecca is The Skeptic, she’s passionate about finding truth (or at least getting closer to it) using the tools of reason and evidence. Though their approaches to life and ideas are very different they share a sense of humor and a commitment to talking honestly about what we believe and why, which is why they started this podcast. In each episode they discuss a different topic or experience they’ve had from Holotropic Breathing to Mediumship and they’ll see if they can learn something from each other or change each other’s minds… or if their conversation will devolve into a good natured slanging match. Whatever happens they think having these conversations will be enlightening and amusing and after they finish recording they’ll be pouring themselves a drink and planning their next adventure. <a href="https://seekerandskeptic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Seeker and the Skeptic podcast</a> Twitter &amp; Instagram: @SeekerSkeptic   We taped this conversation on April 28, 2019. Thanks for listening and "Be a Yes-Sayer to What Is". We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s <a href="http://www.patreon.com/eapodcast," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast,</a>  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>. ​Produced by Cass Midgley and Marie D'Elephant Website: <a href="http://everyonesagnostic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">everyonesagnostic.com</a> Facebook: <a href="http://fb.me/everyonesagnostic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">fb.me/everyonesagnostic</a> Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/evry1sagnostic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@evry1sagnostic </a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/everyonesagnostic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@everyonesagnostic</a> YouTube: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis</a> Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/eapodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">link</a> D'Elephant: <a href="mariedelephant.com%20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mariedelephant.com</a>

Episode 247 Rebecca & Cat of The Seeker & The Skeptic Podcast

Cass &amp; Marie interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith.

Fun. Great topics and conversations. It&#39;s part of my weekly rotation.

Great team work and conversation

I really like these discussions and I look forward to listening to many more. Thanks!

Keep the interviews coming, please!

Everyone's Agnostic Podcast

Ernest Becker

One year birthday of the Everyone's Agnostic podcast! This week we feature Dr. Sheldon Solomon lecturing on Ernest Becker's Pulitzer Prize winner book, "The Denial of Death." Becker reveals how and why we humans look to constructed narratives to ease our anxiety around death. This is the crux of why we need religion and why we so easily feel threatened by those with different beliefs. If this won't change your life, nothing will.     This episode was recorded on June 27th, 2015. Our opening monologue is an excerpt from a Youtube called “Towering Mountain of Ignorance” by Hank Green. The opening music is “never know” by Jack Johnson, and The musical segues on this episode were written and performed by Cass Midgley.

One year birthday of the Everyone's Agnostic podcast! This week we feature Dr. Sheldon Solomon lecturing on Ernest Becker's Pulitzer Prize winner book, "The Denial of Death." Becker reveals how and why we humans look to constructed narratives to ease our anxiety around death. This is the crux of why we need religion and why we so easily feel threatened by those with different beliefs. If this won't change your life, nothing will.   This episode was recorded on June 27th, 2015. Our opening monologue is an excerpt from a Youtube called “Towering Mountain of Ignorance” by Hank Green. The opening music is “never know” by Jack Johnson, and The musical segues on this episode were written and performed by Cass Midgley.

Episode 52 - Denial of Death - Ernest Becker

Marlene Winell

Guest: Dr. Marlene Winell , author of “Leaving the Fold,” and founder of journeyfree.org.  Marlene was the daughter of Christian missionaries in China with the Assemblies of God.  She left Christianity later in life due to the sexism, the notion of original sin, the dichotomy of saved and damned, and the broken promises within scripture.  She now counsels people and leads retreats for those damaged by religion.  She calls it Religious Trauma Syndrome or RTS.    Leaving one's religion can be a difficult, painful and lonely pilgrimage, but the payoffs are great.  As Marlene writes in her book, “…there was no turning back. The mental and emotional doors to the future had been opened. The honesty and gut-level confrontation with my humanness - the good, the bad, and the ugly - was delicious.”   Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and most podcast platforms.  Support us at Patreon.com   This show was taped on February 28th, 2015.  Credits:"Towering Mountain of Ignorance" introduction by Hank Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU"Never Know" by Jack Johnson“Fix You” by Coldplay We discussed: Religious Trauma Syndrome Christian Fundementalism The Jesus Movement Calvary Chapel The perpetual urgency of the return of Christ (aka Bad Prom Date) The pain of leaving religion is correlated to the degree in which one was invested in it Shattered Assumption Theory Walt Whitman – Song of Myself Quote from Charles Eliot Norton: “One may sigh for all that one loses in giving up the old religion…but the new irreligion is the humaner, honester, and simpler thing, and a affords a better theory of life and a more solid basis for morality.”  8 Logical Fallacies That Fuel Anti-Science Sentiments exchristian.net journeyfree.org extra: Marlene’s open letter to Sarah Palin 2008

Guest: Dr. Marlene Winell , author of “Leaving the Fold,” and founder of <a href="http://journeyfree.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">journeyfree.org</a>.  Marlene was the daughter of Christian missionaries in China with the Assemblies of God.  She left Christianity later in life due to the sexism, the notion of original sin, the dichotomy of saved and damned, and the broken promises within scripture.  She now counsels people and leads retreats for those damaged by religion.  She calls it Religious Trauma Syndrome or RTS.   Leaving one's religion can be a difficult, painful and lonely pilgrimage, but the payoffs are great.  As Marlene writes in her book, “…there was no turning back. The mental and emotional doors to the future had been opened. The honesty and gut-level confrontation with my humanness - the good, the bad, and the ugly - was delicious.”   Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and most podcast platforms.  Support us at <a href="http://Patreon.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patreon.com</a>   This show was taped on February 28th, 2015.   Credits:"Towering Mountain of Ignorance" introduction by Hank Green <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU</a> "Never Know" by Jack Johnson “Fix You” by Coldplay   We discussed: Religious Trauma Syndrome Christian Fundementalism The Jesus Movement Calvary Chapel The perpetual urgency of the return of Christ (aka Bad Prom Date) The pain of leaving religion is correlated to the degree in which one was invested in it Shattered Assumption Theory Walt Whitman – Song of Myself Quote from Charles Eliot Norton: “One may sigh for all that one loses in giving up the old religion…but the new irreligion is the humaner, honester, and simpler thing, and a affords a better theory of life and a more solid basis for morality.”  <a href="http://io9.com/8-logical-fallacies-that-fuel-anti-science-sentiments-1679442426" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">8 Logical Fallacies That Fuel Anti-Science Sentiments</a> <a href="http://exchristian.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">exchristian.net</a> <a href="http://journeyfree.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">journeyfree.org</a>   extra: Marlene’s <a href="http://www.opednews.com/articles/An-open-letter-to-Sarah-Pa-by-Marlene-Winell-Ph-081015-112.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">open letter to Sarah Palin</a> 2008

Episode 35 - Dr. Marlene Winell

On this special occasion of celebrating 200 episodes, we talk about the greatest, most alluring topic known to humankind: SEX. Specifically after leaving a faith this is negatively obsessed with it. We're featuring 4 different interviews, each about 40 minutes long: Two conducted by only Cass Midgley, one with Cass and Bob, and one with guest co-hosts Dave Warnock and Bryan Maynard. All guests are anonymous so they could be as honest as possible.   As a heads up, these talks today are all about cisgender hetero sex. I had a trans man and a gay man scheduled to come on but they both ended up not being able to do the taping. And all four guests are women. One could argue that male sexuality is less damaged by Christianity. And sex is an entirely different experience for men as it is women. Listen to this paragraph by (Ah-nay-ees Neen) Anaïs Nin, a 20th century American diarist, essayist, novelist, and writer of short stories and erotica. Notice how she contrasts the man's sexual experience with the woman's. “Man can never know the loneliness a woman knows. Man lies in the woman's womb only to gather strength, he nourishes himself from this fusion, and then he rises and goes into the world, into his work, into battle, into art. He is not lonely. He is busy. The memory of the swim in amniotic fluid gives him energy, completion. Woman may be busy too, but she feels empty. Sensuality for her is not only a wave of pleasure in which she is bathed, and a charge of electric joy at contact with another. When man lies in her womb, she is fulfilled, each act of love a taking of man within her, an act of birth and rebirth, of child rearing and man bearing. Man lies in her womb and is reborn each time anew with a desire to act, to be. But for woman, the climax is not in the birth, but in the moment man rests inside of her.” First up is Sierra. Her first marriage was riddled with sexual problems that she largely attributed to their inability to restrain themselves from having sex before marriage. Thinking, "if we'd just obeyed God, our sex life wouldn't be so messed up." Ironically, their sex life was ill-affected by their premarital sexual tension. As happens so often with Christian marriages, lovers have trouble shaking all the guilt, shame, and ugliness that shrouds sexuality in that context. Sierra's first husband passed away and she began a journey of self-discovery and sexual awareness that is a work in progress, of course. But it's a work that she's proud of, and well she should, because it's hard work and requires tremendous courage and honesty. Listen as her story goes from sexual shame to sexual pride. Sierra touched on learning to listen to her own body. This is a theme throughout all these talks. Bad Christian doctrine puts a wedge between us and our bodies as something to distrust on one hand and something that belongs to God on the other--his temple, in fact. We were to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. Some of us our reclaiming our bodies as the beautiful, intuitive, sexy treasures they are. Up next, Bob and I talk with Elisa. As a part of getting in touch with her body and suppressed sexuality, Elisa took up pole dancing or pole fitness. She has posted many videos on her Facebook of her pole dancing and it's very sensuous. Think about the types of reactions that could stir in people: the exhibitionistic, she must need attention, that's inappropriate, I hope my husband doesn't see this, etc. But once you get to know Elisa and hear her motivation behind doing it, all judgement will dissipate in your love and understanding for this fellow human trying find herself and her way in the new, godless world in which she finds herself.  About 20 minutes into this talk, she gets very real. She's candid the whole time, but she accesses some deep emotions that I believe a lot of women feel. Up next is Ruby Leigh and she's getting in touch with her own body and what it takes for her to achieve orgasm, which she didn't reach until her late 20s. Also, she's in the middle of her second divorce so we talk about relationship dynamics. She was deeply involved in Campus Crusade and the culture there to either marry or be single; anything in between was slutty. Our last guest is Lacey. With Lacey's permission, I invited my friends, Dave Warnock and Bryan Maynard to co-host. We're all three ex-pastors and Bryan is a licensed therapist. Like many of us in the Christian faith, Lacey and we three men got married partially because Paul taught it was better to marry than burn in lust. A HORRIBLE reason to get married!  That's really bad advice. More bad advice from Paul comes from 1 Corinthians chapter 7. He writes, "The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband." This is a verse that has caused immeasurable damage in the world. It caused tremendous damage in Lacey's life. So that's our 200th episode. I'm glad you made it this far with us. I hope we expanded the talkaboutable by talking candidly about human sexuality. Yet another area of our lives that we benefit from saying yes to it. I want to recommend two podcasts that are focused on sex every episode: Dan Savage's "Savage Lovecast," and Dr. Darrell Ray's "Secular Sexuality."  Thanks again for listening. We'll talk next week. We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast,  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com. Credits:"Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU  Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack JohnsonThe bumper music on this episode is the karaoke version of "Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye Thanks for listening and be a Yes-sayer to your own sexuality! 

On this special occasion of celebrating 200 episodes, we talk about the greatest, most alluring topic known to humankind: SEX. Specifically after leaving a faith this is negatively obsessed with it. We're featuring 4 different interviews, each about 40 minutes long: Two conducted by only Cass Midgley, one with Cass and Bob, and one with guest co-hosts Dave Warnock and Bryan Maynard. All guests are anonymous so they could be as honest as possible.   As a heads up, these talks today are all about cisgender hetero sex. I had a trans man and a gay man scheduled to come on but they both ended up not being able to do the taping. And all four guests are women. One could argue that male sexuality is less damaged by Christianity. And sex is an entirely different experience for men as it is women. Listen to this paragraph by (Ah-nay-ees Neen) Anaïs Nin, a 20th century American diarist, essayist, novelist, and writer of short stories and erotica. Notice how she contrasts the man's sexual experience with the woman's. “Man can never know the loneliness a woman knows. Man lies in the woman's womb only to gather strength, he nourishes himself from this fusion, and then he rises and goes into the world, into his work, into battle, into art. He is not lonely. He is busy. The memory of the swim in amniotic fluid gives him energy, completion. Woman may be busy too, but she feels empty. Sensuality for her is not only a wave of pleasure in which she is bathed, and a charge of electric joy at contact with another. When man lies in her womb, she is fulfilled, each act of love a taking of man within her, an act of birth and rebirth, of child rearing and man bearing. Man lies in her womb and is reborn each time anew with a desire to act, to be. But for woman, the climax is not in the birth, but in the moment man rests inside of her.” First up is Sierra. Her first marriage was riddled with sexual problems that she largely attributed to their inability to restrain themselves from having sex before marriage. Thinking, "if we'd just obeyed God, our sex life wouldn't be so messed up." Ironically, their sex life was ill-affected by their premarital sexual tension. As happens so often with Christian marriages, lovers have trouble shaking all the guilt, shame, and ugliness that shrouds sexuality in that context. Sierra's first husband passed away and she began a journey of self-discovery and sexual awareness that is a work in progress, of course. But it's a work that she's proud of, and well she should, because it's hard work and requires tremendous courage and honesty. Listen as her story goes from sexual shame to sexual pride. Sierra touched on learning to listen to her own body. This is a theme throughout all these talks. Bad Christian doctrine puts a wedge between us and our bodies as something to distrust on one hand and something that belongs to God on the other--his temple, in fact. We were to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. Some of us our reclaiming our bodies as the beautiful, intuitive, sexy treasures they are. Up next, Bob and I talk with Elisa. As a part of getting in touch with her body and suppressed sexuality, Elisa took up pole dancing or pole fitness. She has posted many videos on her Facebook of her pole dancing and it's very sensuous. Think about the types of reactions that could stir in people: the exhibitionistic, she must need attention, that's inappropriate, I hope my husband doesn't see this, etc. But once you get to know Elisa and hear her motivation behind doing it, all judgement will dissipate in your love and understanding for this fellow human trying find herself and her way in the new, godless world in which she finds herself.  About 20 minutes into this talk, she gets very real. She's candid the whole time, but she accesses some deep emotions that I believe a lot of women feel. Up next is Ruby Leigh and she's getting in touch with her own body and what it takes for her to achieve orgasm, which she didn't reach until her late 20s. Also, she's in the middle of her second divorce so we talk about relationship dynamics. She was deeply involved in Campus Crusade and the culture there to either marry or be single; anything in between was slutty. Our last guest is Lacey. With Lacey's permission, I invited my friends, Dave Warnock and Bryan Maynard to co-host. We're all three ex-pastors and Bryan is a licensed therapist. Like many of us in the Christian faith, Lacey and we three men got married partially because Paul taught it was better to marry than burn in lust. A HORRIBLE reason to get married!  That's really bad advice. More bad advice from Paul comes from 1 Corinthians chapter 7. He writes, "The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband." This is a verse that has caused immeasurable damage in the world. It caused tremendous damage in Lacey's life. So that's our 200th episode. I'm glad you made it this far with us. I hope we expanded the talkaboutable by talking candidly about human sexuality. Yet another area of our lives that we benefit from saying yes to it. I want to recommend two podcasts that are focused on sex every episode: Dan Savage's "Savage Lovecast," and Dr. Darrell Ray's "Secular Sexuality."  Thanks again for listening. We'll talk next week. We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s <a href="http://www.patreon.com/eapodcast," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast,</a>  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>. Credits:"Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU</a> Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack JohnsonThe bumper music on this episode is the karaoke version of "Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye Thanks for listening and be a Yes-sayer to your own sexuality!

Episode 200 Post-Christian Sexuality

Cynthia Jeub

Gary MacDonald

Cynthia Jeub was raised in a cult of sorts. She is the 3rd oldest of 16 kids and her parents believed God wanted them to avoid birth control of all kinds, and try to breed as much as possible. Cynthia was to marry young and become a baby-making handmaiden, after having been a sister-mom to her younger siblings since childhood. Her family was highlighted on the reality show "Kids By The Dozen".   Cynthia is now a freelance writer, blogger, and author. She writes about the deconstruction of faith, mental illness, abuse recovery, economic justice, and philosophy at cynthiajeub.com. She is working on a memoir about her childhood, Music in the Dream House, which is being sponsored through her Patreon.   Cynthia's website: www.cynthiajeub.com Cynthia's Twitter: @Cynthia Jeub  Cythina's Patreon (to support forthcoming book): Patreon.com/cynthiajeub   Gary T. McDonald  Gary McDonald is a fifth generation Texan who now lives in California. A practicing Buddhist, Gary has had a lifelong interest in the origins of Christianity. These two strands culminated in his first book THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS (THE YOUNGER), a post-modern novel which is both a gospel and a novel that attempts to reboot the Jesus mythology. The Gospel of Thomas (The Younger), while telling a captivating story, also replaces a theology based on deity worship with a prescription for living a full and happy life. It offers a humanistic and secular view of Jesus and Christianity, if such a thing is possible. It shows how Christianity took a wrong turn early on and does its best to set it straight.       We taped this conversation on April 21, 2019. Thanks for listening and "Be a Yes-Sayer to What Is".  We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast,  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com.   ​Produced by Cass Midgley and Marie D'Elephant  Website: everyonesagnostic.com  Facebook: fb.me/everyonesagnostic  Twitter: @evry1sagnostic   Instagram: @everyonesagnostic  Patreon: link  D'Elephant: mariedelephant.com

Cynthia Jeub was raised in a cult of sorts. She is the 3rd oldest of 16 kids and her parents believed God wanted them to avoid birth control of all kinds, and try to breed as much as possible. Cynthia was to marry young and become a baby-making handmaiden, after having been a sister-mom to her younger siblings since childhood. Her family was highlighted on the reality show "Kids By The Dozen".   Cynthia is now a freelance writer, blogger, and author. She writes about the deconstruction of faith, mental illness, abuse recovery, economic justice, and philosophy at <a href="http://cynthiajeub.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cynthiajeub.com</a>. She is working on a memoir about her childhood, Music in the Dream House, which is being sponsored through her Patreon.   Cynthia's website: <a href="http://www.cynthiajeub.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.cynthiajeub.com</a> Cynthia's Twitter: @Cynthia Jeub  Cythina's Patreon (to support forthcoming book): <a href="http://Patreon.com/cynthiajeub" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patreon.com/cynthiajeub</a>   Gary T. McDonald<a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cynthia-jeub-kids-by-the-dozen_n_5c798c1be4b0e5e313ca43e0?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9jeW50aGlhamV1Yi5jb20vYWJvdXQv&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAACbi1lIjKK7mq-pHVGoTJwXCeMYxNhPjGO8SeDyRzXySSHnze-TJrgDrKJQw0jEswQ7w_3F9TW61kv1oABwffTlgcS3vyuNy4NTfiHDcM95q6bx0woa31-HZ3BmYhuhTBiVV-d4gCjZMRnDhmHsn-7QI8PWXzuir6bhMCc_7XXE2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a> Gary McDonald is a fifth generation Texan who now lives in California. A practicing Buddhist, Gary has had a lifelong interest in the origins of Christianity. These two strands culminated in his first book THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS (THE YOUNGER), a post-modern novel which is both a gospel and a novel that attempts to reboot the Jesus mythology. The Gospel of Thomas (The Younger), while telling a captivating story, also replaces a theology based on deity worship with a prescription for living a full and happy life. It offers a humanistic and secular view of Jesus and Christianity, if such a thing is possible. It shows how Christianity took a wrong turn early on and does its best to set it straight.   We taped this conversation on April 21, 2019. Thanks for listening and "Be a Yes-Sayer to What Is". We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s <a href="http://www.patreon.com/eapodcast," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast,</a>  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>. ​Produced by Cass Midgley and Marie D'Elephant Website: <a href="http://everyonesagnostic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">everyonesagnostic.com</a> Facebook: <a href="http://fb.me/everyonesagnostic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">fb.me/everyonesagnostic</a> Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/evry1sagnostic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@evry1sagnostic </a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/everyonesagnostic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@everyonesagnostic</a> Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/eapodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">link</a> D'Elephant: <a href="mariedelephant.com%20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mariedelephant.com</a>

Episode 246 Cynthia Jeub (Kids by the Dozen) and Gary MacDonald (The Gospel of Thomas [The Younger])

Neil Carter

Trav Mamone

Today, Cass has a short conversation with Neil Carter on the struggle for ex-Christians to establish personal agency, or what he calls self-possession. After that, Cass and a clinical therapist named Jeanine interview Trav Mamone. Trav is a Bisexual genderqueer atheist blogger and podcaster, who has two podcasts: Bi Any Means and the Bi Skeptical podcast. He blogs on freethoughtblogs.com and has had articles published in many medias including Humanist.org, Splice Today, and has been featured on numerous podcasts.  The word for today’s episode is tension. And by that I mean a strained relationship between. Between gender identifications, between sexual orientations, between being selfish and selfless, between getting what you want and wanting what you got, between love and hate, between the pursuit of self and the denial of self. This episode goes out to those trying to discover what or whom they like and are giving themselves permission to like those things or people. To those who eventually, through intensive labor and self-examination, find themselves in the body and mind of what appears to be their own singular unique person and identity, mixed with weakness and strength, joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, and they say yes to it. Welcome to the community of self-lovers who, by simply being honest, make the world a better place. In so doing, we project our waning self-dislike on others less and less and own up to what it means to not only be human but to be ourselves. As a warning, you will overdo it at first and it may get ugly and even painful for those around you. You may hurt others but don’t let that stop your progress because the ones that truly lovely will take it on the chin to see you emerge and will be by your side when the smoke clears. And the others…they just may see you and your imperfectly perfect self and find the permission they need to do their own work toward self-acceptance. But if they do, they just might hurt you in the process, but you’ll recognize what’s happening and take it on the chin for their maturation.  This is part of the tension. The most honest relationship is a love/hate relationship and yes-sayers know how to abide in it and let love win.  We taped the conversation with Trav Mamone on January 28th, 2017, and February 26th with Neil Carter. We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Our show is available on most podcast platforms.  Also, you can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge one dollar per episode through Patreon; that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast, or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com. The smallest contribution is greatly appreciated. Credits: "Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU  Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack Johnson The segue music is on this episode was created our guest today, “The Barry Orchestra” found at  barryorchestra.bandcamp.com Thanks for listening and be a yes-sayer to what is. http://freethoughtblogs.com/bianymeans/ http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/trav-mamone/bi-any-means-podcast https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-biskeptical-podcast Neil Carter’s blog

Today, Cass has a short conversation with Neil Carter on the struggle for ex-Christians to establish personal agency, or what he calls self-possession. After that, Cass and a clinical therapist named Jeanine interview Trav Mamone. Trav is a Bisexual genderqueer atheist blogger and podcaster, who has two podcasts: Bi Any Means and the Bi Skeptical podcast. He blogs on <a href="http://freethoughtblogs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">freethoughtblogs.com</a> and has had articles published in many medias including <a href="http://Humanist.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Humanist.org</a>, Splice Today, and has been featured on numerous podcasts.  The word for today’s episode is tension. And by that I mean a strained relationship between. Between gender identifications, between sexual orientations, between being selfish and selfless, between getting what you want and wanting what you got, between love and hate, between the pursuit of self and the denial of self. This episode goes out to those trying to discover what or whom they like and are giving themselves permission to like those things or people. To those who eventually, through intensive labor and self-examination, find themselves in the body and mind of what appears to be their own singular unique person and identity, mixed with weakness and strength, joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, and they say yes to it. Welcome to the community of self-lovers who, by simply being honest, make the world a better place. In so doing, we project our waning self-dislike on others less and less and own up to what it means to not only be human but to be ourselves. As a warning, you will overdo it at first and it may get ugly and even painful for those around you. You may hurt others but don’t let that stop your progress because the ones that truly lovely will take it on the chin to see you emerge and will be by your side when the smoke clears. And the others…they just may see you and your imperfectly perfect self and find the permission they need to do their own work toward self-acceptance. But if they do, they just might hurt you in the process, but you’ll recognize what’s happening and take it on the chin for their maturation.  This is part of the tension. The most honest relationship is a love/hate relationship and yes-sayers know how to abide in it and let love win.  We taped the conversation with Trav Mamone on January 28th, 2017, and February 26th with Neil Carter. We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Our show is available on most podcast platforms.  Also, you can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge one dollar per episode through Patreon; that’s <a href="http://www.patreon.com/eapodcast," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast,</a> or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>. The smallest contribution is greatly appreciated. Credits: "Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU</a> Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack Johnson The segue music is on this episode was created our guest today, “The Barry Orchestra” found at <a href="https://barryorchestra.bandcamp.com/album/introducing-the-barry-orchestra-tape-vol-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> barryorchestra.bandcamp.com</a> Thanks for listening and be a yes-sayer to what is. <a href="http://freethoughtblogs.com/bianymeans/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://freethoughtblogs.com/bianymeans/</a> <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/trav-mamone/bi-any-means-podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/trav-mamone/bi-any-means-podcast</a> <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-biskeptical-podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-biskeptical-podcast</a> <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/godlessindixie/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Neil Carter’s blog</a>

Episode 140 Trav Mamone & Neil Carter

Welcome everyone to episode 216 of the Everyone’s Agnostic podcast. I’m Cass Midgley.  My guest today is Rachel and that's all she's going to go by today. She's hear to talk about GRIEF, especially secular tools for coping with grief. This is a great convo.  You're not going to believe how sharp Rachel is. Prepare to be a better person 2 hours from now (if you listen in one sitting; which no one does, so...) Prepare to be a better person and more equipped to deal with grief whenever you get through this episode.   We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast,  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com. Between 2002-2011, Rachel moved ten times for her husband's graduate education and career in ministry.  The more she studied the scriptures and served in the church, the more her faith eroded. This was true for her husband, as well. For him, addiction ensued and secrecy abounded.   In 2010, Rachel left her religious tradition to explore new worldviews, including humanism and applied positive psychology. While she flourished in her newfound freedom, her husband languished... consumed by regret, self-doubt, and anxiety around the potential fallout of leaving the fold. Two years later, Rachel's optimism was put to the ultimate test when her husband died in a car accident, leaving her widowed overnight with three boys to raise. Although surrounded by loving and well-intentioned family and friends, her support system offered definitively Christian comfort and consolation. This minimized her loss and compromised her ability to process her grief honestly and openly.   Ever since she's been exploring new pathways to navigate both life and death in the pursuit of wholehearted healing and reality-based hope.  Her desire is to build secular communities of support for people whose lives have been disrupted by tragedy, transition, and loss... including (and especially) the loss of faith. Rachel is a resilience trainer and grief support specialist. Even though she talks about death and loss a lot, she's into all things mind-expanding, life-enriching,  and joy-inducing. She is currently developing "resilience without religion" retreats through www.FlourishingBeyondBelief.com. We taped this conversation on July 29th, 2018. The intro music is by Dave Weckl called "Just Groove Me"Thanks for listening, and be a yes-sayer to what is. find your 25 strengths at https://www.viacharacter.org/ Maria Paplova's Blog - Brain Pickings

Welcome everyone to episode 216 of the Everyone’s Agnostic podcast. I’m Cass Midgley.  My guest today is Rachel and that's all she's going to go by today. She's hear to talk about GRIEF, especially secular tools for coping with grief. This is a great convo.  You're not going to believe how sharp Rachel is. Prepare to be a better person 2 hours from now (if you listen in one sitting; which no one does, so...) Prepare to be a better person and more equipped to deal with grief whenever you get through this episode.   We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s <a href="http://www.patreon.com/eapodcast," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast,</a>  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>. Between 2002-2011, Rachel moved ten times for her husband's graduate education and career in ministry.  The more she studied the scriptures and served in the church, the more her faith eroded. This was true for her husband, as well. For him, addiction ensued and secrecy abounded.   In 2010, Rachel left her religious tradition to explore new worldviews, including humanism and applied positive psychology. While she flourished in her newfound freedom, her husband languished... consumed by regret, self-doubt, and anxiety around the potential fallout of leaving the fold. Two years later, Rachel's optimism was put to the ultimate test when her husband died in a car accident, leaving her widowed overnight with three boys to raise. Although surrounded by loving and well-intentioned family and friends, her support system offered definitively Christian comfort and consolation. This minimized her loss and compromised her ability to process her grief honestly and openly.   Ever since she's been exploring new pathways to navigate both life and death in the pursuit of wholehearted healing and reality-based hope.  Her desire is to build secular communities of support for people whose lives have been disrupted by tragedy, transition, and loss... including (and especially) the loss of faith. Rachel is a resilience trainer and grief support specialist. Even though she talks about death and loss a lot, she's into all things mind-expanding, life-enriching,  and joy-inducing. She is currently developing "resilience without religion" retreats through <a href="http://www.flourishingbeyondbelief.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.FlourishingBeyondBelief.com</a>. We taped this conversation on July 29th, 2018. The intro music is by Dave Weckl called "Just Groove Me"Thanks for listening, and be a yes-sayer to what is. find your 25 strengths at <a href="https://www.viacharacter.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.viacharacter.org/</a> <a href="https://www.brainpickings.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Maria Paplova's Blog - Brain Pickings</a>

Episode 216 Rachel on Grief

Jeff Loken

Bob and Cass interview Jeff Loken, another Minnesotan listener who reached out to us to share his story. When a fellow Lutheran friend lost his faith, Jeff felt called of God to rescue the apostate by sharpening his apologetic skills and engaging in a 2 year dialogue with him, only to discover that in the end he had lost the argument and had too much personal integrity to use the smart-bomb of faith to wipe out his cognitive dissonances, or trick himself into thinking that works. He had to admit, to himself, his wife and parents, that he couldn’t believe it any longer. Jeff points to an argument made by J.L. Schellenberg called nonresistant nonbelief, which is very similar to the concept of divine hiddenness. This argument says that if God exists (and is perfectly good and loving) every reasonable person would be brought to believe in God; however, there are reasonable nonbelievers; therefore, this God does not exist. Here’s an excerpt from Schellenberg’s book, The Wisdom of Doubt: “Consider those who have always believed in God and who would love to go on believing in God but who have found, as adults, that serious and honest examination of all the evidence of experience and argument they can lay their hands on has unexpectedly had the result of eroding their belief away. These are individuals who were happy and morally committed believers and who remain morally committed but are not longer happy because of the emotional effects of an intellectual reorganization involving the removal of theistic belief. Perhaps they will be happy again, but the point is that for the time being, it is the removal of theistic belief that they are inclined to resist, if anything. For they were still on friendly terms with God and benefitting in a variety of ways from what they took to be contact with God when their belief in the existence of such a being was whisked away.” (The Wisdom to Doubt, p. 205) Bob and Cass fell in love with Jeff and his Midwestern cultural modesty. He’s a sharp, humble guy trying to be honest about his lack of faith without letting the transition destroy his life. We taped these conversations on September 11th, 2016. If you’re liking our show, please subscribe to it, give it 5 stars, and/or leave a review on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.  Also, you can support us monetarily on a per episode basis through our Patreon page. That’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast. Or leave a donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com. Credits: "Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU  Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack Johnson The segue music is “Hard To Be," Thanks for listening and be a yes-sayer to what is. Jeff’s Blog – Real Live Actual Blog Schellenberg’s Defense of Nonresistant Nonbelief / Divine Hiddenness - See more at:  http://www.patheos.com/blogs/secularoutpost/2014/11/14/schellenbergs-defense-of-nonresistant-nonbelief-divine-hiddenness/#sthash.MbZzTHDN.dpuf David Bazan “Curse Your Branches” full album on YouTube

Bob and Cass interview Jeff Loken, another Minnesotan listener who reached out to us to share his story. When a fellow Lutheran friend lost his faith, Jeff felt called of God to rescue the apostate by sharpening his apologetic skills and engaging in a 2 year dialogue with him, only to discover that in the end he had lost the argument and had too much personal integrity to use the smart-bomb of faith to wipe out his cognitive dissonances, or trick himself into thinking that works. He had to admit, to himself, his wife and parents, that he couldn’t believe it any longer. Jeff points to an argument made by J.L. Schellenberg called nonresistant nonbelief, which is very similar to the concept of divine hiddenness. This argument says that if God exists (and is perfectly good and loving) every reasonable person would be brought to believe in God; however, there are reasonable nonbelievers; therefore, this God does not exist. Here’s an excerpt from Schellenberg’s book, The Wisdom of Doubt: “Consider those who have always believed in God and who would love to go on believing in God but who have found, as adults, that serious and honest examination of all the evidence of experience and argument they can lay their hands on has unexpectedly had the result of eroding their belief away. These are individuals who were happy and morally committed believers and who remain morally committed but are not longer happy because of the emotional effects of an intellectual reorganization involving the removal of theistic belief. Perhaps they will be happy again, but the point is that for the time being, it is the removal of theistic belief that they are inclined to resist, if anything. For they were still on friendly terms with God and benefitting in a variety of ways from what they took to be contact with God when their belief in the existence of such a being was whisked away.” (The Wisdom to Doubt, p. 205) Bob and Cass fell in love with Jeff and his Midwestern cultural modesty. He’s a sharp, humble guy trying to be honest about his lack of faith without letting the transition destroy his life. We taped these conversations on September 11th, 2016. If you’re liking our show, please subscribe to it, give it 5 stars, and/or leave a review on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.  Also, you can support us monetarily on a per episode basis through our Patreon page. That’s <a href="https://www.patreon.com/eapodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast.</a> Or leave a donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>. Credits: "Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU</a> Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack Johnson The segue music is “Hard To Be," Thanks for listening and be a yes-sayer to what is. <a href="https://realliveactualblog.wordpress.com/author/dryspell/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jeff’s Blog – Real Live Actual Blog</a> Schellenberg’s Defense of Nonresistant Nonbelief / Divine Hiddenness - See more at: <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/secularoutpost/2014/11/14/schellenbergs-defense-of-nonresistant-nonbelief-divine-hiddenness/#sthash.MbZzTHDN.dpuf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> http://www.patheos.com/blogs/secularoutpost/2014/11/14/schellenbergs-defense-of-nonresistant-nonbelief-divine-hiddenness/#sthash.MbZzTHDN.dpuf</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS9ykrEZd-Q" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">David Bazan “Curse Your Branches” full album on YouTube</a>

Episode 117 Jeff Loken 

Dan Barker

Cass &amp; Bob talk with former pastor, Dan Barker. Dan was a door-to-door evangelical Christian whose mission was set on saving souls. This is his story of deconversion. In his words, he drained the bathwater and there was no baby. The first time he came out as ex-Christian was in 1984 on the Oprah Winfrey show, where he also met his future wife, Annie Laurie Gaylor, and co-president with him of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. His new book is “Life Driven Purpose.” http://ffrf.org/ We taped this talk on Oct 31st, 2015. Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn and most podcast platforms.  If you’re feeling grateful for our podcast, Patreon.com is like a per episode tip jar for our work. Credits: "Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack Johnson All other music by either Dan Barker or myself.   

Cass &amp; Bob talk with former pastor, Dan Barker. Dan was a door-to-door evangelical Christian whose mission was set on saving souls. This is his story of deconversion. In his words, he drained the bathwater and there was no baby. The first time he came out as ex-Christian was in 1984 on the Oprah Winfrey show, where he also met his future wife, Annie Laurie Gaylor, and co-president with him of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. His new book is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TCZTHSA/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?ie=UTF8&amp;btkr=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“Life Driven Purpose.”</a> <a href="http://ffrf.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://ffrf.org/</a> We taped this talk on Oct 31st, 2015. Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn and most podcast platforms.  If you’re feeling grateful for our podcast, <a href="http://Patreon.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patreon.com</a> is like a per episode tip jar for our work. Credits: "Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU</a> Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack Johnson All other music by either Dan Barker or myself.

Episode 72 Dan Barker

Cass Midgley and Dr. Bob Pondillo interview Dr. Marlene Winell. This is our second interview with Marlene, back in March of 2015 on Episode 35. She is the founder and director of JourneyFree.org. Journey Free is dedicated to helping people transition out of harmful religions, recover from trauma, and rebuild their lives.  They develop programs for both individuals and groups. From their website, "If you are recovering from religious harm, we have great respect for your strength and courage. Please know that you are not alone and things can get better." We're honored to have her back on the show; she's been helping people recover from religion for 23 years. Born and raised overseas by missionary parents, Marlene was immersed in fundamentalist Christianity from childhood. She moved away from that religion during college and found the transition process so difficult and intriguing that she began to research it professionally. In 1994 she published Leaving the Fold: a Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving their Religion which has become a leading self-help book in the field of religious recovery. In 2011, she coined the term for the condition she calls Religious Trauma Syndrome.She holds a bachelor and a masters in Social Ecology from the University of California, Irvine, with an emphasis on marriage and family relations. She earned her doctorate from Penn State in Human Development and Family Studies. Her area of special study was programs to enhance human development in adulthood.Dr. Winell has taught courses in adult development at Penn State, Colorado State University, and  Boulder Graduate School and University of California, Santa Cruz. She was licensed as a psychologist in Colorado where she had a private therapy practice. She also worked as a psychologist in Australia for seven years before relocating to California. Her primary focus is on developing services for recovering from religious harm. She believes this is important for individuals and for society to move forward. In this talk, we tackle issue of post-religious sexuality, sexism, and some really helpful tips on how to communicate and relate to religious family members around this issue. Before we get into our talk with Marlene, I had a short 15 minute talk with Peter Montoya. We had Peter on back at the end of 2016 on episode 130. Peter is a true go-getter. He has an appetite for life and emotional health that sets him apart. If he wasn't such a genuine soul and a true friend, I'd pigeonhole him as one of the motivational speakers types, like a Tony Robbins or something. But the thing about these types of people, is if they don't fall into their own ego and greed and become cheap posers and charlatans, they have a lot to offer and their energy and passion is contagious. And Peter is one of those who has all the assets of motivated person without the masks and lies and deceit. He was there for me when I was drowning several months back and was a real life-line for me. He's got a project going that is not only relevant for Californians, where he lives, but the principles for building community that come through in this conversation will be helpful to all of us that hungry for intimate friendships post-Christianity. I know you're gonna like him. But more importantly, you may be quickened to do something in your town that fosters essential relationships. Seriously, as humans, we are not going to be our best selves or truly develop character or live up to our potential if we're not engaged with honest, intimate friendships on a regular basis. This is science. This is evolution. And I mean that in the meaningful sense too. Like more laughter, more looking forward to the coming week because of the events we have on our calendar. If you're feeling like your calendar is stale, you're starting to get bored with or even hopeless about the future, the ideas we discuss here may energize you to make some calls, host some get-togethers, and initiate ways to elevate your lifestyle by meeting and involving cool people in your lives. So I'm happy to bring these two outstanding guests on and I'm confident that your life will be enriched is some way. First my one-on-one with Peter Montoya, then Bob and I talk with Dr. Marlene Winell. We taped the conversation with Marlene on July 29th, 2017, and my talk with Peter on August 7th. We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Our show is available on most podcast platforms.  Also, you can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge one dollar per episode through Patreon; that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast, or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com. The smallest contribution is greatly appreciated. Credits:"Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack JohnsonThe segue music is on this episode is me goofing off on various percussion instruments from my collection.   Thanks for listening and be a yes-sayer to what is. http://journeyfree.org/ Dr. Marlene Winell's previous appearance on Everyone's Agnostic Ep 35 Peter Montoya's EA episode 130

Cass Midgley and Dr. Bob Pondillo interview Dr. Marlene Winell. This is our second interview with Marlene, back in March of 2015 on Episode 35. She is the founder and director of <a href="http://JourneyFree.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">JourneyFree.org</a>. Journey Free is dedicated to helping people transition out of harmful religions, recover from trauma, and rebuild their lives.  They develop programs for both individuals and groups. From their website, "If you are recovering from religious harm, we have great respect for your strength and courage. Please know that you are not alone and things can get better." We're honored to have her back on the show; she's been helping people recover from religion for 23 years. Born and raised overseas by missionary parents, Marlene was immersed in fundamentalist Christianity from childhood. She moved away from that religion during college and found the transition process so difficult and intriguing that she began to research it professionally. In 1994 she published Leaving the Fold: a Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving their Religion which has become a leading self-help book in the field of religious recovery. In 2011, she coined the term for the condition she calls Religious Trauma Syndrome.She holds a bachelor and a masters in Social Ecology from the University of California, Irvine, with an emphasis on marriage and family relations. She earned her doctorate from Penn State in Human Development and Family Studies. Her area of special study was programs to enhance human development in adulthood.Dr. Winell has taught courses in adult development at Penn State, Colorado State University, and  Boulder Graduate School and University of California, Santa Cruz. She was licensed as a psychologist in Colorado where she had a private therapy practice. She also worked as a psychologist in Australia for seven years before relocating to California. Her primary focus is on developing services for recovering from religious harm. She believes this is important for individuals and for society to move forward. In this talk, we tackle issue of post-religious sexuality, sexism, and some really helpful tips on how to communicate and relate to religious family members around this issue. Before we get into our talk with Marlene, I had a short 15 minute talk with Peter Montoya. We had Peter on back at the end of 2016 on episode 130. Peter is a true go-getter. He has an appetite for life and emotional health that sets him apart. If he wasn't such a genuine soul and a true friend, I'd pigeonhole him as one of the motivational speakers types, like a Tony Robbins or something. But the thing about these types of people, is if they don't fall into their own ego and greed and become cheap posers and charlatans, they have a lot to offer and their energy and passion is contagious. And Peter is one of those who has all the assets of motivated person without the masks and lies and deceit. He was there for me when I was drowning several months back and was a real life-line for me. He's got a project going that is not only relevant for Californians, where he lives, but the principles for building community that come through in this conversation will be helpful to all of us that hungry for intimate friendships post-Christianity. I know you're gonna like him. But more importantly, you may be quickened to do something in your town that fosters essential relationships. Seriously, as humans, we are not going to be our best selves or truly develop character or live up to our potential if we're not engaged with honest, intimate friendships on a regular basis. This is science. This is evolution. And I mean that in the meaningful sense too. Like more laughter, more looking forward to the coming week because of the events we have on our calendar. If you're feeling like your calendar is stale, you're starting to get bored with or even hopeless about the future, the ideas we discuss here may energize you to make some calls, host some get-togethers, and initiate ways to elevate your lifestyle by meeting and involving cool people in your lives. So I'm happy to bring these two outstanding guests on and I'm confident that your life will be enriched is some way. First my one-on-one with Peter Montoya, then Bob and I talk with Dr. Marlene Winell. We taped the conversation with Marlene on July 29th, 2017, and my talk with Peter on August 7th. We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Our show is available on most podcast platforms.  Also, you can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge one dollar per episode through Patreon; that’s <a href="http://www.patreon.com/eapodcast," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast,</a> or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>. The smallest contribution is greatly appreciated. Credits:"Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU </a>Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack JohnsonThe segue music is on this episode is me goofing off on various percussion instruments from my collection. Thanks for listening and be a yes-sayer to what is. <a href="http://journeyfree.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://journeyfree.org/</a> <a href="http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/3396114" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Marlene Winell's previous appearance on Everyone's Agnostic Ep 35</a> <a href="http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/4932786" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Peter Montoya's EA episode 130</a>

Episode 163 Dr. Marlene Winell

Mark Stephens

Cass Midgley and Dr. Bob Pondillo interview an ex-Christian, and now police officer, Mark Stephens.  Mark’s story has a lot to do with him noticing that much of his Christian way of thinking—the  “logic” whereby Christians made choices, for spouse, for President, for where to live, what college to go to, just life choices in general, were flawed.  When he ventured outside reliance on scripture or prayer for making decisions and trusted his own skills of deduction and reason, he found that he made wiser choices and reaped better outcomes.  We taped these conversations on October 1st, 2016. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, give it 5 stars, and/or leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Our show is available on most podcast platforms.  Also, you can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge one dollar per episode through Patreon; that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast, or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com. The smallest contribution is greatly appreciated. Our Indigogo fundraiser is here:  https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ea-podcast-equipment-upgrade#/ Credits: "Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU  Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack Johnson The segue music is by Sam Maher recorded on a handpan in the NY city subway. Thanks for listening and be a yes-sayer to what is. http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/ DarkMatter2525 video about why Christians take our Atheism personally   The insert I put in the middle of the interview: I’m stopping the tape here to enter a footnote regarding this issue of the Christian notion of the Fall or what Mark is calling here Sin. I didn’t fully understand the gravitas of Bob’s question in real time, but after listening back to it, I realized that there is something here to elucidate.  We’re talking about the problem of evil and how the fact that an alleged good, all-powerful god doesn’t heal amputees or intervene in any measure of suffering is a big problem. It’s important to understand how Christians get around this and maintain their allegiance to and a loving image of a good god, despite this evidence. To most Christians, God created everything perfect. And there are actually several Falls that ruined God’s perfect world—the two main one’s being the Fall of Satan from Heaven as he questioned God’s authority and wanted be like God, and second, the Fall of Adam of Eve, which was prompted by Satan as the serpent to do the same—question God and desire to be like God. Now being like God, in this context, would mean being knowlegable—knowing stuff—the knowledge of good and evil for example, but also being free. The rebellion to want to eat from any tree I want to. The desire to think for one’s self, etc. It’s important that we understand that to the Christian, God is the only source of goodness. In the Biblical narrative, humans have always messed things up and God is constantly disappointed and frustrated with our ineptitude.  This is pounded into us over and over. Eden was only the first time we fucked things up. The flood was God giving his creation a do-over because our disobedience and rebellion led to debauchery and ruin. The same with Sodom and Gomorrah, the same with the Tower of Babel. This is what is drilled into the Christian mind—humans always ruin things when they ignore God. These narratives keep God’s reputation squeaky clean and human’s reputation hopeless. This is why they are so quick to assume malice when we misbehave, this is why’s it’s easy for them to demonize humans, and have ZERO reservoir of hope for humanity. They already walk around with a presupposition that humans are evil, hopeless, and incapable of turning things around. “Only God can save us” is there goto answer for everything. In fact, when they hear some of us saying that we trust our own ability to think and reason our way out of problems and don’t need God to fix this, THEY HEAR SATAN. They hear the voice of the Serpent. They hear Adam and Eve. They hear the stomping footsteps of a wrathful God approaching. Atheists, naturalists, secularists, scientists scare them and anger them just like their blind ignorance and allegiance to their non-existent savior angers us. We both think the other’s ideology leads to more suffering. Eden represents the perfection of God’s world before humans got prideful and disobedient and rebellious. To the Christian, restoring the Kingdom of God, represented here by pre-Fall Eden, is their main agenda. Why, because they hate suffering too. They want to end racism, poverty, famine, and war. They too want social justice, equality, civil liberties, but many of them only see it possible by way of humbling ourselves before God and crowning him King of the World. But I think it’s helpful to keep in mind that we both want the same things (at least for the earth). Now the after-life is really another layer of this altogether, but I think all humans, especially as were born into this world as children, pre-tainted by fears and prejudice, want the same good things—food, water, and shelter for everyone, peaceful relations, joy and laughter, fun and freedom, etc. We just see two very different means to those ends. They believe that the invisible third-party Maker of everything is the only hope of that coming to fruition. In fact, God will thwart the efforts of humans who have not called on His help first. This is what would lead Newt Gingerich or Mike Huckabee to say things like whoever’s president should be first and foremost a man of prayer. Christians want the good life too, but they frame it as wanting to get back to Eden. They want the kingdom of God to come on earth as it is in heaven which will only happen when every nation, tribe and tongue bows the knee to Jesus. This is why they do missions around the world. And they’ve added a loophole just in case that’s impossible here on earth (and they fear it is), and that is that God will create a new heaven and earth populated only by Christians and that’s when they’ll get their Eden back. And then God will have his way. Because finally, He’s got a bunch of obedient people around him.  They see me and my atheism as rebellion and disobedience to the God who wants to bring it about. I see their fictional narrative as a brainwashing that impedes us solving these problems ourselves.  And here we find ourselves. 

Cass Midgley and Dr. Bob Pondillo interview an ex-Christian, and now police officer, Mark Stephens.  Mark’s story has a lot to do with him noticing that much of his Christian way of thinking—the  “logic” whereby Christians made choices, for spouse, for President, for where to live, what college to go to, just life choices in general, were flawed.  When he ventured outside reliance on scripture or prayer for making decisions and trusted his own skills of deduction and reason, he found that he made wiser choices and reaped better outcomes.  We taped these conversations on October 1st, 2016. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, give it 5 stars, and/or leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Our show is available on most podcast platforms.  Also, you can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge one dollar per episode through Patreon; that’s <a href="http://www.patreon.com/eapodcast," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast,</a> or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>. The smallest contribution is greatly appreciated. Our Indigogo fundraiser is here: <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ea-podcast-equipment-upgrade#/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ea-podcast-equipment-upgrade#/</a> Credits: "Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU</a> Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack Johnson The segue music is by Sam Maher recorded on a handpan in the NY city subway. Thanks for listening and be a yes-sayer to what is. <a href="http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j8ZMMuu7MU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DarkMatter2525 video about why Christians take our Atheism personally</a> The insert I put in the middle of the interview: I’m stopping the tape here to enter a footnote regarding this issue of the Christian notion of the Fall or what Mark is calling here Sin. I didn’t fully understand the gravitas of Bob’s question in real time, but after listening back to it, I realized that there is something here to elucidate.  We’re talking about the problem of evil and how the fact that an alleged good, all-powerful god doesn’t heal amputees or intervene in any measure of suffering is a big problem. It’s important to understand how Christians get around this and maintain their allegiance to and a loving image of a good god, despite this evidence. To most Christians, God created everything perfect. And there are actually several Falls that ruined God’s perfect world—the two main one’s being the Fall of Satan from Heaven as he questioned God’s authority and wanted be like God, and second, the Fall of Adam of Eve, which was prompted by Satan as the serpent to do the same—question God and desire to be like God. Now being like God, in this context, would mean being knowlegable—knowing stuff—the knowledge of good and evil for example, but also being free. The rebellion to want to eat from any tree I want to. The desire to think for one’s self, etc. It’s important that we understand that to the Christian, God is the only source of goodness. In the Biblical narrative, humans have always messed things up and God is constantly disappointed and frustrated with our ineptitude.  This is pounded into us over and over. Eden was only the first time we fucked things up. The flood was God giving his creation a do-over because our disobedience and rebellion led to debauchery and ruin. The same with Sodom and Gomorrah, the same with the Tower of Babel. This is what is drilled into the Christian mind—humans always ruin things when they ignore God. These narratives keep God’s reputation squeaky clean and human’s reputation hopeless. This is why they are so quick to assume malice when we misbehave, this is why’s it’s easy for them to demonize humans, and have ZERO reservoir of hope for humanity. They already walk around with a presupposition that humans are evil, hopeless, and incapable of turning things around. “Only God can save us” is there goto answer for everything. In fact, when they hear some of us saying that we trust our own ability to think and reason our way out of problems and don’t need God to fix this, THEY HEAR SATAN. They hear the voice of the Serpent. They hear Adam and Eve. They hear the stomping footsteps of a wrathful God approaching. Atheists, naturalists, secularists, scientists scare them and anger them just like their blind ignorance and allegiance to their non-existent savior angers us. We both think the other’s ideology leads to more suffering. Eden represents the perfection of God’s world before humans got prideful and disobedient and rebellious. To the Christian, restoring the Kingdom of God, represented here by pre-Fall Eden, is their main agenda. Why, because they hate suffering too. They want to end racism, poverty, famine, and war. They too want social justice, equality, civil liberties, but many of them only see it possible by way of humbling ourselves before God and crowning him King of the World. But I think it’s helpful to keep in mind that we both want the same things (at least for the earth). Now the after-life is really another layer of this altogether, but I think all humans, especially as were born into this world as children, pre-tainted by fears and prejudice, want the same good things—food, water, and shelter for everyone, peaceful relations, joy and laughter, fun and freedom, etc. We just see two very different means to those ends. They believe that the invisible third-party Maker of everything is the only hope of that coming to fruition. In fact, God will thwart the efforts of humans who have not called on His help first. This is what would lead Newt Gingerich or Mike Huckabee to say things like whoever’s president should be first and foremost a man of prayer. Christians want the good life too, but they frame it as wanting to get back to Eden. They want the kingdom of God to come on earth as it is in heaven which will only happen when every nation, tribe and tongue bows the knee to Jesus. This is why they do missions around the world. And they’ve added a loophole just in case that’s impossible here on earth (and they fear it is), and that is that God will create a new heaven and earth populated only by Christians and that’s when they’ll get their Eden back. And then God will have his way. Because finally, He’s got a bunch of obedient people around him.  They see me and my atheism as rebellion and disobedience to the God who wants to bring it about. I see their fictional narrative as a brainwashing that impedes us solving these problems ourselves.  And here we find ourselves.

Episode 121 Mark Stephens

Joshua Hupp

Cass Midgley and Bob Pondillo interview Josh Hupp. Josh has spent the last ten years trying to rebuild his life and identity after escaping the grip of a Christian Cult he was in for 10 years. As per the cult leader's demands, he broke off ties with his family, physically abused fellow cult members, and was himself beat up by other cult members, while his wife at the time watched--a wife that the cult leaders picked for him to marry. Before we get into our talk with Josh, I want to plug the book "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life" by Mark Manson. I got it on audiobook and the first chapter is the best summary of what it means to be a yes-sayer that I've ever heard.  Just like all self-help material, I don't agree with all of it, but overall, this book posits my philosophy of life as close as anything I've ever heard. I truly believe it will change your life for the better by leaps and bounds. Also, I received an email from a listener and supporter of this podcast, John Rexrode from Akron, Ohio, that is really well written and rich in thought. He writes, Hi Cass, I do want to thank you and Bob for the podcast. I have just recently started listening and find myself enjoying it very much.One of the things I like most about your podcast is how willing you are to share the stories of everyone, including those with whom you don't entirely agree. I just finished listening to the conversation with Cheri Jamison. She seems like a good person and what a shame it would have been to have excluded her ideas and thoughts for a broader perspective. You should be commended for being willingly inclusive.It would not be inaccurate to call me an atheist, but I dislike the term specifically because too many atheists are as dogmatic in their unbelief as christians are in their belief. I understand well the anger, hurt, intellectual distrust, and historical perspective for this dogmatic response. I have had the same reactionary responses myself for many years, and I continue to do so under certain conditions. However, now that I am older, retired, and hopefully a little more insightful about life and myself, (or is it actually early dementia?) I find I am no longer as sure or as smart as I once thought myself. Or maybe I am just worn out and tired of all the bickering. I want to find a way to care, accept, and mutually tolerate others.My life and work is based in science. Science and math are great constructs as constructs go, but they still only expose the very tip of what may actually exist. The quantum enigma exposes this vulnerability quite well despite the protestations or denial of scientists saying otherwise.Can any of us really be so convinced that our own opinions are representative of “objective reality”? Can any of us even know what “objective reality” is, being the primitive little primates that we are? I am not talking about our collective objective reality as humans. I think we can speculate on that just fine and my opinions are as good as anyone's. I am talking about actual “objective reality” which I believe will always be beyond our reach.I am as intolerant of intolerance as one can be, but should it matter to me if people believe things I find ludicrous or silly if it makes life easier or happier for them and they are good people. Many of the things I think and believe are actually emotionally based and not actually true. There are some fairly recent neurological studies that actually support the idea that all our opinions and conscious thoughts originate as emotions. Our thoughts may all be rationalizations for our emotions.I enjoyed Frank Schaeffer (that's way back on episode 21) on your program and read his book. You tuned me into Mike McHargue (aka Science Mike) and I read his book. I found his “wave” experience too much for me, but since his wife threatened to leave him and his mother was pressuring him, to speak nothing of his life being turned upside down, is it really any wonder that his mind gave him something to bridge the gap? At least his religion is now apparently loving and less toxic.I am going to write something that will sound arrogant but I don't mean for it to be. I just think that while some people like us, may be perfectly capable of devising our own moral system and fiber, many people are not. They are not as intense or intuitive because they have no interest in being so. They need some sort of moral structure and religions offer that in prepackaged form. Unfortunately, these religions are often toxic, hateful and hurtful.So I am drawn in my later years to try and make peace with people and my past. I am attempting to find some kind of connection beyond, or in spite of, our disparate dogmas. It is a real struggle for me since like you, I have many emotions and past conflicts to deal with. I find your program very timely and helpful with that.Take care and may you be at ease,John Rexrode My thanks to John for articulating his desire to "care, accept, and mutually tolerate others." You can hear the humility that comes with age and the self-confidence it takes to admit that we don't know everything. He also understands that some people aren't as interested in the truth as others, or spelunking the caves of philosophy and critical thinking or need a pre-fab moral framework to guide their lives. They're comfortable in their beliefs and really don't want to be bothered with disrupting those comforts. And as long as they're not assholes about it or are making the world a worse place, leave 'em be. Of course, some could argue that they are passively extending the life of toxic religions on a macro level, but I think we all have friends and family that we have to keep the peace with on a micro level and John's wisdom here is giving us permission to pick our battles wisely.   And can I just say that I have really impressive listeners. Every week I get emails and messages from listeners that without exception are well thought out, well articulated, and full of integrity, compassion, and virtue-seeking people. The communities that have been built around this podcast--some online and some in person--are full of the most impressive people I've ever seen assembled. And I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I take great encouragement from the quality of people this show attracts.  And John's email reminds me that while we atheists are truly taking the moral high road, we would do well to not do so while looking down on religionists from our high horse. We taped this conversation on June 24th, 2017. We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Our show is available on most podcast platforms.  Also, you can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge one dollar per episode through Patreon; that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast, or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com. The smallest contribution is greatly appreciated. Credits:"Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU  Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack JohnsonThe segue music is on this episode was created by our guest today, Josh Hupp, and we feature an original number by Josh at the end.   Thanks for listening and be a yes-sayer to what is.

Cass Midgley and Bob Pondillo interview Josh Hupp. Josh has spent the last ten years trying to rebuild his life and identity after escaping the grip of a Christian Cult he was in for 10 years. As per the cult leader's demands, he broke off ties with his family, physically abused fellow cult members, and was himself beat up by other cult members, while his wife at the time watched--a wife that the cult leaders picked for him to marry. Before we get into our talk with Josh, I want to plug the book "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life" by Mark Manson. I got it on audiobook and the first chapter is the best summary of what it means to be a yes-sayer that I've ever heard.  Just like all self-help material, I don't agree with all of it, but overall, this book posits my philosophy of life as close as anything I've ever heard. I truly believe it will change your life for the better by leaps and bounds. Also, I received an email from a listener and supporter of this podcast, John Rexrode from Akron, Ohio, that is really well written and rich in thought. He writes, Hi Cass, I do want to thank you and Bob for the podcast. I have just recently started listening and find myself enjoying it very much.One of the things I like most about your podcast is how willing you are to share the stories of everyone, including those with whom you don't entirely agree. I just finished listening to the conversation with Cheri Jamison. She seems like a good person and what a shame it would have been to have excluded her ideas and thoughts for a broader perspective. You should be commended for being willingly <a href="http://inclusive.It" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">inclusive.It</a> would not be inaccurate to call me an atheist, but I dislike the term specifically because too many atheists are as dogmatic in their unbelief as christians are in their belief. I understand well the anger, hurt, intellectual distrust, and historical perspective for this dogmatic response. I have had the same reactionary responses myself for many years, and I continue to do so under certain conditions. However, now that I am older, retired, and hopefully a little more insightful about life and myself, (or is it actually early dementia?) I find I am no longer as sure or as smart as I once thought myself. Or maybe I am just worn out and tired of all the bickering. I want to find a way to care, accept, and mutually tolerate <a href="http://others.My" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">others.My</a> life and work is based in science. Science and math are great constructs as constructs go, but they still only expose the very tip of what may actually exist. The quantum enigma exposes this vulnerability quite well despite the protestations or denial of scientists saying otherwise.Can any of us really be so convinced that our own opinions are representative of “objective reality”? Can any of us even know what “objective reality” is, being the primitive little primates that we are? I am not talking about our collective objective reality as humans. I think we can speculate on that just fine and my opinions are as good as anyone's. I am talking about actual “objective reality” which I believe will always be beyond our reach.I am as intolerant of intolerance as one can be, but should it matter to me if people believe things I find ludicrous or silly if it makes life easier or happier for them and they are good people. Many of the things I think and believe are actually emotionally based and not actually true. There are some fairly recent neurological studies that actually support the idea that all our opinions and conscious thoughts originate as emotions. Our thoughts may all be rationalizations for our emotions.I enjoyed Frank Schaeffer (that's way back on episode 21) on your program and read his book. You tuned me into Mike McHargue (aka Science Mike) and I read his book. I found his “wave” experience too much for me, but since his wife threatened to leave him and his mother was pressuring him, to speak nothing of his life being turned upside down, is it really any wonder that his mind gave him something to bridge the gap? At least his religion is now apparently loving and less toxic.I am going to write something that will sound arrogant but I don't mean for it to be. I just think that while some people like us, may be perfectly capable of devising our own moral system and fiber, many people are not. They are not as intense or intuitive because they have no interest in being so. They need some sort of moral structure and religions offer that in prepackaged form. Unfortunately, these religions are often toxic, hateful and <a href="http://hurtful.So" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">hurtful.So</a> I am drawn in my later years to try and make peace with people and my past. I am attempting to find some kind of connection beyond, or in spite of, our disparate dogmas. It is a real struggle for me since like you, I have many emotions and past conflicts to deal with. I find your program very timely and helpful with that.Take care and may you be at ease,John Rexrode My thanks to John for articulating his desire to "care, accept, and mutually tolerate others." You can hear the humility that comes with age and the self-confidence it takes to admit that we don't know everything. He also understands that some people aren't as interested in the truth as others, or spelunking the caves of philosophy and critical thinking or need a pre-fab moral framework to guide their lives. They're comfortable in their beliefs and really don't want to be bothered with disrupting those comforts. And as long as they're not assholes about it or are making the world a worse place, leave 'em be. Of course, some could argue that they are passively extending the life of toxic religions on a macro level, but I think we all have friends and family that we have to keep the peace with on a micro level and John's wisdom here is giving us permission to pick our battles wisely.   And can I just say that I have really impressive listeners. Every week I get emails and messages from listeners that without exception are well thought out, well articulated, and full of integrity, compassion, and virtue-seeking people. The communities that have been built around this podcast--some online and some in person--are full of the most impressive people I've ever seen assembled. And I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I take great encouragement from the quality of people this show attracts.  And John's email reminds me that while we atheists are truly taking the moral high road, we would do well to not do so while looking down on religionists from our high horse. We taped this conversation on June 24th, 2017. We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Our show is available on most podcast platforms.  Also, you can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge one dollar per episode through Patreon; that’s <a href="http://www.patreon.com/eapodcast," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast,</a> or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>. The smallest contribution is greatly appreciated. Credits:"Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU</a> Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack JohnsonThe segue music is on this episode was created by our guest today, Josh Hupp, and we feature an original number by Josh at the end. Thanks for listening and be a yes-sayer to what is.

Episode 158 Joshua Hupp

Luke King

Luke is a former Foursquare Pastor, Seminary student and US Navy Chaplain Candidate turned atheist. He went from believing in divine healing, speaking in tongues, casting out demons, and other supernatural phenomenon to embracing a secular perspective on life. His goal is to put a friendly face on atheism and create an environment for atheists to experience love, belonging, and connection. Cass Midgley and Marie D'Elephant skip past Luke's deconversion story and jump right into discussing post-religious community building and deconstructing sexual traditions. Show Links:   Your Atheist Pastor Tea/Consent Video  Produced by Cass Midgley and Marie D'ElephantWebsite: everyonesagnostic.com Facebook: fb.me/everyonesagnostic Twitter: @evry1sagnostic  Instagram: @everyonesagnostic YouTube: tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis Patreon: link We taped this conversation on January 6th, 2019. The intro music is by ---- The segue music on this episode is an excerpt from ---- We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast,  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com.

Luke is a former Foursquare Pastor, Seminary student and US Navy Chaplain Candidate turned atheist. He went from believing in divine healing, speaking in tongues, casting out demons, and other supernatural phenomenon to embracing a secular perspective on life. His goal is to put a friendly face on atheism and create an environment for atheists to experience love, belonging, and connection. Cass Midgley and Marie D'Elephant skip past Luke's deconversion story and jump right into discussing post-religious community building and deconstructing sexual traditions. Show Links:  <ul> <li><a href="https://player.fm/series/series-2000396" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Your Atheist Pastor</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGoWLWS4-kU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tea/Consent Video</a></li> </ul> Produced by Cass Midgley and Marie D'ElephantWebsite: <a href="http://everyonesagnostic.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">everyonesagnostic.com</a> Facebook: <a href="http://fb.me/everyonesagnostic/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">fb.me/everyonesagnostic</a> Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/evry1sagnostic" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@evry1sagnostic </a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/everyonesagnostic/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@everyonesagnostic</a> YouTube: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis</a> Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/eapodcast" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">link</a> We taped this conversation on January 6th, 2019. The intro music is by ---- The segue music on this episode is an excerpt from ---- We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s <a href="http://www.patreon.com/eapodcast," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast,</a>  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>.

Episode 233 Luke of "Your Atheist Pastor" Podcast

Dave Warnock

Dave Warnock, a former conservative Evangelical pastor and church leader for almost 40 years and former guest of the show, began a process of de-conversion several years ago. At first calling himself an agnostic, he gradually began to embrace the word ‘Atheist’, as he does what he can to de-stigmatize this word (which simply means “non-theist”). Dave’s leaving the Christian faith came at huge cost with the loss of almost his entire community of friends, the breakup of his 37 year marriage, and the Christian “shunning” by two of his three children, which has also deprived him of being a part of his six grandchildren’s lives to this day.  Given how life can be random, chaotic, and unpredictable, on February 26, 2019 Dave received the devastating diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).   Suddenly for Dave this precious and brief life became infinitely more precious and incredibly brief. Instead of succumbing to the depression, anger, and hopelessness this debilitating fatal diagnosis often brings, Dave immediately decided to begin “Dying Out Loud,” - living life to the fullest and making plans to travel as much of the world as his body will allow - seeing places he's never been to and spending time with people he knows and loves, while also experiencing the joy of meeting new people and cherishing the beautiful “moments” life offers to all of us.  Follow his adventure on Facebook as he seeks to grab as many moments as he can.    We taped this conversation on April 15, 2019. Dave's deconversion story is on episode 107.  Thanks for listening and "Be a Yes-Sayer to What Is".  We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast,  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com.   ​Produced by Cass Midgley and Marie D'Elephant  Website: everyonesagnostic.com  Facebook: fb.me/everyonesagnostic  Twitter: @evry1sagnostic   Instagram: @everyonesagnostic  YouTube: tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis  Patreon: link

Dave Warnock, a former conservative Evangelical pastor and church leader for almost 40 years and <a href="http://everyonesagnostic.libsyn.com/episode-107-dave-warnock" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">former guest of the show</a>, began a process of de-conversion several years ago. At first calling himself an agnostic, he gradually began to embrace the word ‘Atheist’, as he does what he can to de-stigmatize this word (which simply means “non-theist”). Dave’s leaving the Christian faith came at huge cost with the loss of almost his entire community of friends, the breakup of his 37 year marriage, and the Christian “shunning” by two of his three children, which has also deprived him of being a part of his six grandchildren’s lives to this day. Given how life can be random, chaotic, and unpredictable, on February 26, 2019 Dave received the devastating diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).  Suddenly for Dave this precious and brief life became infinitely more precious and incredibly brief. Instead of succumbing to the depression, anger, and hopelessness this debilitating fatal diagnosis often brings, Dave immediately decided to begin “Dying Out Loud,” - living life to the fullest and making plans to travel as much of the world as his body will allow - seeing places he's never been to and spending time with people he knows and loves, while also experiencing the joy of meeting new people and cherishing the beautiful “moments” life offers to all of us. Follow his adventure on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DaveWarnock.DyingOutLoud/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> as he seeks to grab as many moments as he can.    We taped this conversation on April 15, 2019. Dave's deconversion story is on episode 107.  Thanks for listening and "Be a Yes-Sayer to What Is". We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s <a href="http://www.patreon.com/eapodcast," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast,</a>  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>. ​Produced by Cass Midgley and Marie D'Elephant Website: <a href="http://everyonesagnostic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">everyonesagnostic.com</a> Facebook: <a href="http://fb.me/everyonesagnostic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">fb.me/everyonesagnostic</a> Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/evry1sagnostic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@evry1sagnostic </a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/everyonesagnostic/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@everyonesagnostic</a> YouTube: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tinyurl.com/sayyestowhatis</a> Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/eapodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">link</a>

Episode 245 Dave Warnock, Dying Out Loud

Tony Hupp

Cass and Bob converse with Tony Hupp. Tony is the father of Josh Hupp, our guest on episode 158. It might be good to listen to that episode first, if you haven't already. This talk gets very emotional. Tony was in the Air Force for 24 years. He has two sons whom he loves very much and Josh was brainwashed by a cult in Tulsa, Oklahoma for several years that eventually made him forsake his family, place a restraining order on his dad, Tony, and, and the cult leaders took over as parents and overseers of the financial, romantic, and all aspects of their parishioners' lives. Tony tells the story of his attempts to rescue his son and the eventually homecoming. We taped this conversation on August 26th, 2017. We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Our show is available on most podcast platforms.  Also, you can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge one dollar per episode or more through Patreon; that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast, or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com. The smallest contribution is greatly appreciated. if you are a listener of this podcast, and would like to be added to the Private Support Group on Facebook, friend me on FB, private message me that you'd like to be added, and give me a brief description of your relationship to the show. I do screen applicants briefly to protect the confidentiality of the group.    Credits:"Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU  Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack JohnsonThe segue music is Paul Thorn's "You Might Be Wrong." Thanks for listening and be a yes-sayer to what is.  Tony Hupp's Podcast, Unfiltered and Unfettered Paul Thorn "You Might Be Wrong"  Fred Armison's character, Nicholas Fehn, on SNL's Weekend Update

Cass and Bob converse with Tony Hupp. Tony is the father of Josh Hupp, our guest on episode 158. It might be good to listen to that episode first, if you haven't already. This talk gets very emotional. Tony was in the Air Force for 24 years. He has two sons whom he loves very much and Josh was brainwashed by a cult in Tulsa, Oklahoma for several years that eventually made him forsake his family, place a restraining order on his dad, Tony, and, and the cult leaders took over as parents and overseers of the financial, romantic, and all aspects of their parishioners' lives. Tony tells the story of his attempts to rescue his son and the eventually homecoming. We taped this conversation on August 26th, 2017. We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Our show is available on most podcast platforms.  Also, you can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge one dollar per episode or more through Patreon; that’s <a href="http://www.patreon.com/eapodcast," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast,</a> or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>. The smallest contribution is greatly appreciated. if you are a listener of this podcast, and would like to be added to the Private Support Group on Facebook, friend me on FB, private message me that you'd like to be added, and give me a brief description of your relationship to the show. I do screen applicants briefly to protect the confidentiality of the group.    Credits:"Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU</a> Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack JohnsonThe segue music is Paul Thorn's "You Might Be Wrong." Thanks for listening and be a yes-sayer to what is. <a href="https://unfilteredunfettered.com/tag/unfiltered-unfettered-podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Tony Hupp's Podcast, Unfiltered and Unfettered</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFRM4oJwLdc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paul Thorn "You Might Be Wrong"</a> <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0ahUKEwi-pPzMqrXWAhWl6YMKHdYlBbAQtwIIKzAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbc.com%2Fsaturday-night-live%2Fvideo%2Fweekend-update-nicholas-fehn%2Fn13345%3Fsnl%3D1&amp;usg=AFQjCNFCJ4-StP9PHQivEUIgqP8pAerZ7A" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Fred Armison's character, Nicholas Fehn, on SNL's Weekend Update</a>

Episode 169 Tony Hupp

Jen Senko

Cass Midgley and Dr. Bob Pondillo interview Jen Senko, who wrote and directed a documentary titled “The Brainwashing of My Dad.” Jen’s documentary and the effect that political pundits and talking heads have on the human psyche brings up a fascinating subject, especially relevant in view of the election of Donald J. Trump to the highest office in the world (or at least it was before he took it). This catastrophe has so stupefied people that we’re finally talking about the elephant in the room: “fake news.” and it’s ability to influence people  to vote against their own self-interest, their own conscience, or against whatever decency they have left after 30 years of right-wing propaganda. This really is a fascinating conversation with a fascinating personality—Jen Senko. There are several nuggets of unique dialogue here and a few at my expense.  I love this episode and I hope you will too.  We taped these conversations on October 30th, 2016. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, give it 5 stars, and/or leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Our show is available on most podcast platforms.  Also, you can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge one dollar per episode through Patreon; that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast, or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com. The smallest contribution is greatly appreciated. Our Indigogo fundraiser is over and as of this taping, we raised $530. We were trying to raise $1600 for 3 new microphones and 3 boom arm mic stands. We raised enough for the mic stands with a head start toward the mics. My thanks to everyone who donated.  Credits: "Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU  Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack Johnson The segue music is by Sam Maher recorded on a handpan in the NY city subway. Thanks for listening and be a yes-sayer to what is. Official Website: www.thebrainwashingofmydad.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebrainwashingofmydadmovie?ref=hl  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq2PQ5pM-6oYAdAGSsreB4Q  Twitter: @brainwashingdad Tumblr: http://thebrainwashingofmydad.tumblr.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_brainwashing_of_my_dad/   Producer/Sales Contact: Adam Rackoff CINCO DEDOS PELICULAS (917) 207-5169 adam@cincodedospeliculas.com https://vimeo.com/cincodedospeliculas   Maslow’s 5 hierarchies of needs start with the basic needs of food and shelter, then safety and security. The third is community. The fourth is esteem. The fifth, and top of the pyramid is self-actualization. But in light of today’s show and the premise of this podcast, I want to point out how falling for counterfeit means of meeting the 3rd and 4th level’s needs—community and self-esteem, keeps one from ever achieving self-actualization. This is where false ideologies come in and hijack personal growth and true agency. This where religion and Fox News come in.  People can overlook a lot of nonsense associated with an organization IF they’ve made friends within it. Churches are full of people that don’t tow the party line of all 7 tenants of their church’s statement of faith, but they go back week to week because “Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows you’re name, and they’re always glad you came. You want to be where you can see our troubles are all the same. You want to be where everybody knows you’re name.” That’s the 3rd tier—community.  The fourth tier has to do with self-respect or self-esteem.  We all need a sense of contribution or value. This might include a felt need for strength, competence, independence, and/or freedom. These are true paths to the 5th need—self-actualization. But we can be tricked into thinking we have freedom when we’re yet a slave; we can think we’re thinking for ourselves when we’re being told what to think. We can be tricked into thinking we’re strong when in fact we’re weak. The church does this by conveying that God loves you uniquely. He knows the number of hairs on your head. He knit you together in your mother’s womb. You are special. The music, the stain glass windows, the grand narrative from Creation to Apocalypse, the goose-bumps all make a person feel alive and a part of something bigger than themselves. All this was made with you in mind. But what if it’s not true? What if life is not the intent or creation of a being and we’re all just accidents; that the universe doesn’t know or care that we’re here? Wouldn’t it be important that we’re getting our needs met by things that are true? That are real? We don’t eat imaginary food? We don’t shelter ourselves under imaginary roofs. Our self-esteem must be based on facts or we’ve fallen for counterfeit girding of our existence.  The banner under which we rally our community must be real. Fox News meets the esteem need by igniting the emotions—primarily fear and anger. When our brains light up with these emotions, they release dopamine and adrenaline and we feel alive, powerful, and most importantly: right. The need to be right cannot be underestimated. But it actually stunts our maturation, not fosters it. Yeah, you’re exerting your energy, flexing your muscles, fighting enemies, but they’re not real. Fake news keeps people on an imaginary playground with imaginary battles and thus in a perpetual state of infancy. The most honest path to true self-esteem is thinking for one’s self, doing the work yourself to build your beliefs, but this is hard work. Part of the difficulty is facing harsh realities like the chaotic, absurd meaninglessness of life. Part of it is acknowledging that we all die a permanent death and will be forgotten in a few generations—as if we never existed. If a person cannot or will not exert the effort needed to face reality, it can actually lower their self-esteem. Life is SO complex, and navigating human problems is such an intricate labyrinth, that it’s very attractive when someone offers to do your thinking for you and feed you what to think and believe.  Religious leaders and political pundits are eager to feed us. There is great wealth to be gained by creating followers.  We all can get overwhelmed with our realities and the temptation to bury our heads in the sand is powerful. But this is saying no to what is.  There are many popular ideologies, including religion and partisan politics, that when adopted can trick you into falsely maintaining your self-esteem, self-respect, and self-righteousness in spite of your cowardice, incompetence and sloth.  I’m saying that Maslo’s needs are real; we all want to feel alive and part of a community. I’m pointing out that there are people who understand that humans can be stupid and lazy and are eager to exploit us for personal gain by introducing deceitful pitfalls that can derail our heroic journey toward genuine self-esteem and authentic community. Don’t fall for it. Smell it out. Follow the greed. Discern the liars. Say yes to reality and no to falsehood, not the other way around. Jesus may have been right when he said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Cass Midgley and Dr. Bob Pondillo interview Jen Senko, who wrote and directed a documentary titled “The Brainwashing of My Dad.” Jen’s documentary and the effect that political pundits and talking heads have on the human psyche brings up a fascinating subject, especially relevant in view of the election of Donald J. Trump to the highest office in the world (or at least it was before he took it). This catastrophe has so stupefied people that we’re finally talking about the elephant in the room: “fake news.” and it’s ability to influence people  to vote against their own self-interest, their own conscience, or against whatever decency they have left after 30 years of right-wing propaganda. This really is a fascinating conversation with a fascinating personality—Jen Senko. There are several nuggets of unique dialogue here and a few at my expense.  I love this episode and I hope you will too.  We taped these conversations on October 30th, 2016. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, give it 5 stars, and/or leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Our show is available on most podcast platforms.  Also, you can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge one dollar per episode through Patreon; that’s <a href="http://www.patreon.com/eapodcast," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast,</a> or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>. The smallest contribution is greatly appreciated. Our Indigogo fundraiser is over and as of this taping, we raised $530. We were trying to raise $1600 for 3 new microphones and 3 boom arm mic stands. We raised enough for the mic stands with a head start toward the mics. My thanks to everyone who donated.  Credits: "Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU</a> Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack Johnson The segue music is by Sam Maher recorded on a handpan in the NY city subway. Thanks for listening and be a yes-sayer to what is. Official Website: <a href="http://www.thebrainwashingofmydad.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.thebrainwashingofmydad.com </a> Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thebrainwashingofmydadmovie?ref=hl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/thebrainwashingofmydadmovie?ref=hl </a> YouTube Channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq2PQ5pM-6oYAdAGSsreB4Q" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq2PQ5pM-6oYAdAGSsreB4Q </a> Twitter: @brainwashingdad Tumblr: <a href="http://thebrainwashingofmydad.tumblr.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://thebrainwashingofmydad.tumblr.com </a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_brainwashing_of_my_dad/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/the_brainwashing_of_my_dad/</a> Producer/Sales Contact: Adam Rackoff CINCO DEDOS PELICULAS (917) 207-5169 <a href="mailto:adam@cincodedospeliculas.com">adam@cincodedospeliculas.com</a> <a href="https://vimeo.com/cincodedospeliculas" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://vimeo.com/cincodedospeliculas</a> Maslow’s 5 hierarchies of needs start with the basic needs of food and shelter, then safety and security. The third is community. The fourth is esteem. The fifth, and top of the pyramid is self-actualization. But in light of today’s show and the premise of this podcast, I want to point out how falling for counterfeit means of meeting the 3rd and 4th level’s needs—community and self-esteem, keeps one from ever achieving self-actualization. This is where false ideologies come in and hijack personal growth and true agency. This where religion and Fox News come in.  People can overlook a lot of nonsense associated with an organization IF they’ve made friends within it. Churches are full of people that don’t tow the party line of all 7 tenants of their church’s statement of faith, but they go back week to week because “Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows you’re name, and they’re always glad you came. You want to be where you can see our troubles are all the same. You want to be where everybody knows you’re name.” That’s the 3rd tier—community.  The fourth tier has to do with self-respect or self-esteem.  We all need a sense of contribution or value. This might include a felt need for strength, competence, independence, and/or freedom. These are true paths to the 5th need—self-actualization. But we can be tricked into thinking we have freedom when we’re yet a slave; we can think we’re thinking for ourselves when we’re being told what to think. We can be tricked into thinking we’re strong when in fact we’re weak. The church does this by conveying that God loves you uniquely. He knows the number of hairs on your head. He knit you together in your mother’s womb. You are special. The music, the stain glass windows, the grand narrative from Creation to Apocalypse, the goose-bumps all make a person feel alive and a part of something bigger than themselves. All this was made with you in mind. But what if it’s not true? What if life is not the intent or creation of a being and we’re all just accidents; that the universe doesn’t know or care that we’re here? Wouldn’t it be important that we’re getting our needs met by things that are true? That are real? We don’t eat imaginary food? We don’t shelter ourselves under imaginary roofs. Our self-esteem must be based on facts or we’ve fallen for counterfeit girding of our existence.  The banner under which we rally our community must be real. Fox News meets the esteem need by igniting the emotions—primarily fear and anger. When our brains light up with these emotions, they release dopamine and adrenaline and we feel alive, powerful, and most importantly: right. The need to be right cannot be underestimated. But it actually stunts our maturation, not fosters it. Yeah, you’re exerting your energy, flexing your muscles, fighting enemies, but they’re not real. Fake news keeps people on an imaginary playground with imaginary battles and thus in a perpetual state of infancy. The most honest path to true self-esteem is thinking for one’s self, doing the work yourself to build your beliefs, but this is hard work. Part of the difficulty is facing harsh realities like the chaotic, absurd meaninglessness of life. Part of it is acknowledging that we all die a permanent death and will be forgotten in a few generations—as if we never existed. If a person cannot or will not exert the effort needed to face reality, it can actually lower their self-esteem. Life is SO complex, and navigating human problems is such an intricate labyrinth, that it’s very attractive when someone offers to do your thinking for you and feed you what to think and believe.  Religious leaders and political pundits are eager to feed us. There is great wealth to be gained by creating followers.  We all can get overwhelmed with our realities and the temptation to bury our heads in the sand is powerful. But this is saying no to what is.  There are many popular ideologies, including religion and partisan politics, that when adopted can trick you into falsely maintaining your self-esteem, self-respect, and self-righteousness in spite of your cowardice, incompetence and sloth.  I’m saying that Maslo’s needs are real; we all want to feel alive and part of a community. I’m pointing out that there are people who understand that humans can be stupid and lazy and are eager to exploit us for personal gain by introducing deceitful pitfalls that can derail our heroic journey toward genuine self-esteem and authentic community. Don’t fall for it. Smell it out. Follow the greed. Discern the liars. Say yes to reality and no to falsehood, not the other way around. Jesus may have been right when he said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Episode 126 Jen Senko

Cass Midgley and Jennifer Kates interview Nicole, who wishes to remain anonymous. Bob was out of town for this one. Nicole was raised as a devout, non-denominational Christian and home-schooled for most of her youth. She gave her life to the lord as a young teen and became involved in the “apostolic church” movement. In her early 20’s, she served as a deacon in a charismatic, evangelical church and led a home group for several years. She has worked as a nurse for 15 years in pediatric oncology and pediatric critical care at a university hospital in California. She also facilitates courses for health-care workers on self-compassion and self-care. In learning about the neurobiology of self-compassion, and seeing the healthiness, joy and peace of the “un-believers” she worked with, she began to question the health of some of the Christian teachings. A journey of seeking health above all slowly changed her view of what “righteousness” was and changed how she saw the world around her. Valuing health over righteousness led to leaving her church and she is now slowly dismantling the beliefs and experiences that have shaped her identity and worldview. She is replacing what once was “a beautiful faith” with personal agency and a freedom to be healthy, no matter what. I want to share something from Gretta Vosper. She's our Canadian friend whose been on the show twice, episodes 67 and 188. She's developed a conference as a fundraiser for their refugee family. Sobak Pakhi is one of the most threatened secular bloggers in Bangladesh and has been in hiding since September 2015. I was in Chattanooga TN this weekend speaking to the Humanist Assembly with my friend Tad Beatty and someone asked me if I knew about the persecution and even execution of atheists in that country. We Gretta's church, West Hill United has been approved as Sobak's resettlement sponsor. They are trying to get his processing expedited. It is a long and dangerous time for him, his two small children, and his wife. I cannot even imagine. So she's doing this conference up there in Canada for you Canadian listeners to raise money for this cause. What: Lives in the Balance ConferenceWhere: Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst Street,TorontoWhen: Saturday 2 June 2018, Registration at 08:00 am. Events 8:45 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.Cost: Early registration - $125 until the end of April; $150 following. Here is the website: livesinthebalance.ca. Here is the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/livesinthebalance2018/ The second thing I want to talk about that came in our talk with Nicole was the word "supposed." We learned early on that we were supposed to behave certains ways, talk in certains ways, and, conversely don't behave or talk in certain ways. NOW, as free moral agents, we get to decide who we are and how we show up, without any wagging fingers shaming us for following our own moral compasses. So, in summary, the only thing we're SUPPOSED to be is US! Here's your freedom, your licence, my admonition: DO YOU. That's it: DO YOU. And trust yourself. You don't need any external laws, rules, or parameters to guide your heart. It's not impure; it's good. You're good. Unless you're a psychopath or sociopath, you know what's right and wrong for you and the way you treat others. That should go without saying, but for those of us who left the faith, it's music to our ears and empowerment to our integrated selves, welcoming our bodies into our minds into our hearts and ourselves into reality. It's beautiful. Come on in, the waters warm.   We taped this conversation on March 25th, 2018. We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast,  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com. Credits: "Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU  Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack JohnsonThe bumper music on this episode is by The Best Deep House Chill Out Music Thanks for listening! And be a yes-sayer to what is.    

Cass Midgley and Jennifer Kates interview Nicole, who wishes to remain anonymous. Bob was out of town for this one. Nicole was raised as a devout, non-denominational Christian and home-schooled for most of her youth. She gave her life to the lord as a young teen and became involved in the “apostolic church” movement. In her early 20’s, she served as a deacon in a charismatic, evangelical church and led a home group for several years. She has worked as a nurse for 15 years in pediatric oncology and pediatric critical care at a university hospital in California. She also facilitates courses for health-care workers on self-compassion and self-care. In learning about the neurobiology of self-compassion, and seeing the healthiness, joy and peace of the “un-believers” she worked with, she began to question the health of some of the Christian teachings. A journey of seeking health above all slowly changed her view of what “righteousness” was and changed how she saw the world around her. Valuing health over righteousness led to leaving her church and she is now slowly dismantling the beliefs and experiences that have shaped her identity and worldview. She is replacing what once was “a beautiful faith” with personal agency and a freedom to be healthy, no matter what. I want to share something from Gretta Vosper. She's our Canadian friend whose been on the show twice, episodes 67 and 188. She's developed a conference as a fundraiser for their refugee family. Sobak Pakhi is one of the most threatened secular bloggers in Bangladesh and has been in hiding since September 2015. I was in Chattanooga TN this weekend speaking to the Humanist Assembly with my friend Tad Beatty and someone asked me if I knew about the persecution and even execution of atheists in that country. We Gretta's church, West Hill United has been approved as Sobak's resettlement sponsor. They are trying to get his processing expedited. It is a long and dangerous time for him, his two small children, and his wife. I cannot even imagine. So she's doing this conference up there in Canada for you Canadian listeners to raise money for this cause. What: Lives in the Balance ConferenceWhere: Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst Street,TorontoWhen: Saturday 2 June 2018, Registration at 08:00 am. Events 8:45 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.Cost: Early registration - $125 until the end of April; $150 following. Here is the website: <a href="http://livesinthebalance.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">livesinthebalance.ca</a>. Here is the Facebook page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/livesinthebalance2018/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/livesinthebalance2018/</a> The second thing I want to talk about that came in our talk with Nicole was the word "supposed." We learned early on that we were supposed to behave certains ways, talk in certains ways, and, conversely don't behave or talk in certain ways. NOW, as free moral agents, we get to decide who we are and how we show up, without any wagging fingers shaming us for following our own moral compasses. So, in summary, the only thing we're SUPPOSED to be is US! Here's your freedom, your licence, my admonition: DO YOU. That's it: DO YOU. And trust yourself. You don't need any external laws, rules, or parameters to guide your heart. It's not impure; it's good. You're good. Unless you're a psychopath or sociopath, you know what's right and wrong for you and the way you treat others. That should go without saying, but for those of us who left the faith, it's music to our ears and empowerment to our integrated selves, welcoming our bodies into our minds into our hearts and ourselves into reality. It's beautiful. Come on in, the waters warm.   We taped this conversation on March 25th, 2018. We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s <a href="http://www.patreon.com/eapodcast," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast,</a>  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>. Credits: "Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU</a> Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack JohnsonThe bumper music on this episode is by The Best Deep House Chill Out Music Thanks for listening! And be a yes-sayer to what is.

Episode 198 Nicole (anon)

Reba Riley

Author Reba Riley was raised charismatic evangelical, a graduate of the Focus on the Family Institute, comforted by the safety and certainty of living without doubts.  Then the questions came and eventually the bottom fell out and, like many of us, Reba had to rediscover herself and reality. She visits over 30 different religious experiences in a pilgrimage ala Eat Pray Love.   Her book, “Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome: a Memoir of Humor and Healing in 30 Religions,” is that story.  Taped on April 18th, 2015. Co-hosts Cass Midgley &amp; Bob Pondillo Patreon.com/eapodcast  Credits:  "Towering Mountain of Ignorance" introduction by Hank Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU "Never Know" by Jack Johnson Percussion by Cass Midgley

Author Reba Riley was raised charismatic evangelical, a graduate of the Focus on the Family Institute, comforted by the safety and certainty of living without doubts.  Then the questions came and eventually the bottom fell out and, like many of us, Reba had to rediscover herself and reality. She visits over 30 different religious experiences in a pilgrimage ala Eat Pray Love.   Her book, “Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome: a Memoir of Humor and Healing in 30 Religions,” is that story.  Taped on April 18th, 2015. Co-hosts Cass Midgley &amp; Bob Pondillo <a href="http://Patreon.com/eapodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patreon.com/eapodcast</a> Credits: "Towering Mountain of Ignorance" introduction by Hank Green <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU</a> "Never Know" by Jack Johnson Percussion by Cass Midgley

Episode 43 - Author Reba Riley "Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome"

Just Cass sharing his thoughts on the Trump election

Just Cass sharing his thoughts on the Trump election

On Trump

Valerie Tarico

Cass Midgley and Bob Pondillo interview Valerie Torico. Dr. Valerie Tarico is a psychologist and writer with a passion for personal and social evolution. Today, we discuss Tarico’s book, Trusting Doubt:  A Former Evangelical Looks at Old Beliefs in a New Light, offers personal insight into how we can apply “constructive curiosity” to our most closely guarded beliefs.   As a social commentator, Tarico tackles issues ranging from religious fundamentalism to gender roles, to reproductive rights and technologies. A primary focus is on improving access to top tier contraceptive technologies. To that end, in 2015, she co-founded Resilient Generation, a family planning advocacy hub based in Seattle, Washington. She serves on the board of Advocates for Youth, a D.C. based nonprofit with wide-ranging programs related to reproductive health and justice, and is a Senior Writing Fellow at Sightline Institute, a think tank focused on sustainable prosperity. Her articles have appeared at sites including the Huffington Post, Jezebel, Salon, AlterNet, and the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, and they are available at ValerieTarico.com.   Bob and I (Cass) wish you a wonderful summer solstice, time with family and friends, the giving and receiving of gifts from loved ones, and however else you recognize these year end holidays. If you're going to be with family with whom there is religious tension, I encourage you to stick to humanist values when you're with them and be present as a healthy, mature version of yourself. To that end, I will now read excerpts from the third Humanist Manifesto and David Richo's declarations of healthy adulthood: As humans, you and your family members are an integral part of nature, the result of evolutionary change, an unguided process. Our ethical values are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience. Our fulfillment in life emerges from individual participation in the service of humane ideals. Humans are social by nature and find meaning in relationships. Working to benefit society, even a micro-society like your family gatherings, maximizes your own individual happiness. We humanists have respect for differing views in an open social context, as long as they are humane. And from Richo, in preparation for potentially incendiary encounters with family and friends, say these to yourself before you engage: I accept full responsibility for the shape my life has taken.I need never fear my own truth, thoughts, or sexuality.I let people go away or stay and I am still okay.I accept that I may never feel I am receiving – or have received – all the attention I seek.I acknowledge that reality is not obligated to me; it remains unaffected by my wishes or rights.One by one, I drop every expectation of people and things.I reconcile myself to the limits on others’ giving to me and on my giving to them.Until I see another’s behavior with compassion, I have not understood it.I let go of blame, regret, vengeance, and the infantile desire to punish those who hurt or reject me.I am still safe when I cease following the rules my parents (or others) set for me.I cherish my own integrity and do not use it as a yardstick for anyone else’s behavior.I am free to have and entertain any thought. I do not have the right to do whatever I want. I respect the limits of freedom and still act freely.No one can or needs to bail me out. I am not entitled to be taken care of by anyone or anything.I give without demanding appreciation though I may always ask for it.I reject whining and complaining as useless distractions from direct action on or withdrawal from unacceptable situations.I let go of control without losing control.If people knew me as I really am, they would love me for being human like them.I drop poses and let my every word and deed reveal what I am really like.I live by personal standards and at the same time – in self-forgiveness – I make allowances for my occasional lapses.I grant myself a margin of error in my relationships. I release myself from the pain of having to be right or competent all the time.I accept that it is normal to feel that I do not always measure up.I am ultimately adequate to any challenge that comes to me.My self-acceptance is not complacency since in itself it represents an enormous change.I am happy to do what I love and love what is.Wholehearted engagement with my circumstances releases my irrepressible liveliness.I love unconditionally and set sane conditions on my self-giving.  So get out there and be your self. Your "self" and presence are precious. Someday you and all your family members will be dead, never to be experienced ever again. You and they will not be sitting around the dinner table someday. But this Christmas,  you and they will be there, together, in the same rooms, and that is valuable beyond measure. Bring your body, mind and soul into those rooms. As much as you're able and comfortable, be the miracle that you are with those people, whether they understand that or not. Be gentle with yourself. Don't do anything you don't want to do. Be as honest as you can and look for the magic moments, as brief and rare as they may be. And remember Bob and I and the relationships you've made through this podcast and the larger atheist community and that you are LOVED just as you are, even if your family is unable to do that. Happy Holidays my agnostic friends!   We taped the conversation with Valerie Tarico on November 19th, 2017. We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, you can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge one dollar per episode or more through Patreon; that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast, or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com. The smallest contribution is greatly appreciated. Credits:"Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU  Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack JohnsonThe segue music on this episode was created by Cass Midgley Thanks for listening! And be a Yes-sayer to what is.   https://valerietarico.com/ http://www.wisdomcommons.org/ Twitter: @valerietarico  The movie, "The Mask You Live In." 

Cass Midgley and Bob Pondillo interview Valerie Torico. Dr. Valerie Tarico is a psychologist and writer with a passion for personal and social evolution. Today, we discuss Tarico’s book, Trusting Doubt:  A Former Evangelical Looks at Old Beliefs in a New Light, offers personal insight into how we can apply “constructive curiosity” to our most closely guarded beliefs.   As a social commentator, Tarico tackles issues ranging from religious fundamentalism to gender roles, to reproductive rights and technologies. A primary focus is on improving access to top tier contraceptive technologies. To that end, in 2015, she co-founded Resilient Generation, a family planning advocacy hub based in Seattle, Washington. She serves on the board of Advocates for Youth, a D.C. based nonprofit with wide-ranging programs related to reproductive health and justice, and is a Senior Writing Fellow at Sightline Institute, a think tank focused on sustainable prosperity. Her articles have appeared at sites including the Huffington Post, Jezebel, Salon, AlterNet, and the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, and they are available at <a href="http://ValerieTarico.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ValerieTarico.com</a>. Bob and I (Cass) wish you a wonderful summer solstice, time with family and friends, the giving and receiving of gifts from loved ones, and however else you recognize these year end holidays. If you're going to be with family with whom there is religious tension, I encourage you to stick to humanist values when you're with them and be present as a healthy, mature version of yourself. To that end, I will now read excerpts from the third Humanist Manifesto and David Richo's declarations of healthy adulthood: As humans, you and your family members are an integral part of nature, the result of evolutionary change, an unguided process. Our ethical values are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience. Our fulfillment in life emerges from individual participation in the service of humane ideals. Humans are social by nature and find meaning in relationships. Working to benefit society, even a micro-society like your family gatherings, maximizes your own individual happiness. We humanists have respect for differing views in an open social context, as long as they are humane. And from Richo, in preparation for potentially incendiary encounters with family and friends, say these to yourself before you engage: I accept full responsibility for the shape my life has taken.I need never fear my own truth, thoughts, or sexuality.I let people go away or stay and I am still okay.I accept that I may never feel I am receiving – or have received – all the attention I seek.I acknowledge that reality is not obligated to me; it remains unaffected by my wishes or rights.One by one, I drop every expectation of people and things.I reconcile myself to the limits on others’ giving to me and on my giving to them.Until I see another’s behavior with compassion, I have not understood it.I let go of blame, regret, vengeance, and the infantile desire to punish those who hurt or reject me.I am still safe when I cease following the rules my parents (or others) set for me.I cherish my own integrity and do not use it as a yardstick for anyone else’s behavior.I am free to have and entertain any thought. I do not have the right to do whatever I want. I respect the limits of freedom and still act <a href="http://freely.No" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">freely.No</a> one can or needs to bail me out. I am not entitled to be taken care of by anyone or anything.I give without demanding appreciation though I may always ask for it.I reject whining and complaining as useless distractions from direct action on or withdrawal from unacceptable situations.I let go of control without losing control.If people knew me as I really am, they would love me for being human like them.I drop poses and let my every word and deed reveal what I am really like.I live by personal standards and at the same time – in self-forgiveness – I make allowances for my occasional lapses.I grant myself a margin of error in my relationships. I release myself from the pain of having to be right or competent all the time.I accept that it is normal to feel that I do not always measure up.I am ultimately adequate to any challenge that comes to <a href="http://me.My" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">me.My</a> self-acceptance is not complacency since in itself it represents an enormous change.I am happy to do what I love and love what is.Wholehearted engagement with my circumstances releases my irrepressible liveliness.I love unconditionally and set sane conditions on my self-giving. So get out there and be your self. Your "self" and presence are precious. Someday you and all your family members will be dead, never to be experienced ever again. You and they will not be sitting around the dinner table someday. But this Christmas,  you and they will be there, together, in the same rooms, and that is valuable beyond measure. Bring your body, mind and soul into those rooms. As much as you're able and comfortable, be the miracle that you are with those people, whether they understand that or not. Be gentle with yourself. Don't do anything you don't want to do. Be as honest as you can and look for the magic moments, as brief and rare as they may be. And remember Bob and I and the relationships you've made through this podcast and the larger atheist community and that you are LOVED just as you are, even if your family is unable to do that. Happy Holidays my agnostic friends!   We taped the conversation with Valerie Tarico on November 19th, 2017. We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, you can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge one dollar per episode or more through Patreon; that’s <a href="http://www.patreon.com/eapodcast," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.patreon.com/eapodcast,</a> or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, <a href="http://www.everyonesagnostic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.everyonesagnostic.com</a>. The smallest contribution is greatly appreciated. Credits:"Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU</a> Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack JohnsonThe segue music on this episode was created by Cass Midgley Thanks for listening! And be a Yes-sayer to what is.  <a href="https://valerietarico.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://valerietarico.com/</a> <a href="http://www.wisdomcommons.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.wisdomcommons.org/</a> Twitter: @valerietarico  <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3983674/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The movie, "The Mask You Live In." </a>

Episode 182 Valerie Tarico

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