Best Warp Point Podcasts (2025)

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Mike Drop: The Glass Bottom Boat - An Atheist's Defense of "Real" Christianity 8:16

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3h ago8:16

8:16

Send us a text Mike Smithgall explores the uncomfortable reality facing moderate Christians in America. As Christian Nationalism rises, many believers try to stay "above the fray," claiming the extremists don't represent them. Mike argues that this "Glass Bottom Boat" mentality is failing. Using the logic often applied to police misconduct ("just a…

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Episode 98 | The Big 6 | State 10,000m Championships | Transcend 2026 Entries Open 58:55

13m ago58:55

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Monday 24th November 2025 It’s Vici & Simon on the mic with the weekend’s results that included the UWA Athletics Club The Big 6 event, Strive Program A (1500m) and the State 10,000m Championships to cap off a weekend of just track racing. In this episode: Vici tries to do the episode intro, We discuss our plans for Transcend 2026 with registration…

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Breakfast With a Heathen EP6: Created for Hell? | Church Taxes, The Historical Jesus & Deconstruction Loneliness 40:50

2h ago40:50

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Send us a text In this episode, we tackle the dark theological implications of an all-knowing God: If the outcome is already known, did God create humanity just to send most of us to hell? We also dive into the heated debate over whether churches should lose their tax-exempt status if they fail to contribute tangibly to their communities. Later, we…

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633: Hotwire Native with Joe Masilotti 25:48

4d ago25:48

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Joe on LinkedIn Joe's Blog Joe on X Alice for Snowflake Mike on X Mike on BlueSky Coder on X Show Discord Alice & Custom Dev Mike's Recent Omakub Blog PostBy The Mad Botter

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17% Point Drop: Why Americans Are Leaving Religion (Gallup Data) 11:11

4h ago11:11

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Send us a text Gallup reports a 17% point drop in Americans who say religion is important in daily life. This is one of the largest declines recorded globally in the last decade, and it signals a massive cultural shift in America. In this episode of the Mike Drop, Mike Smithgall analyzes the #Gallup data, breaking down why this 17% drop is happenin…

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Episode 97 | Run Bibbulmun Track Stage Race | Strive Program D | Grampians Peaks Trail with Kate Timmons 1:38:48

3h ago1:38:48

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Monday 17th November 2025 Vici & Chris are joined by Kate Timmons, Vici’s therapist in more things than just massage and ultra runner extraordinaire who’s fresh from her tour of the east coast and will share her stories from the Grampians 100miler in Victoria and Coast to Kosciuszko in New South Wales as she paced Margie Hadley. In local results we…

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Breakfast with a Heathen EP5: Hungry Babies & The Cost of Faith: Sex, Consent, and Religious Hypocrisy. 44:03

8h ago44:03

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Send us a text This week, we dive into the deep and often hypocritical intersections of faith, social welfare, and personal ethics. The discussion opens with the shocking findings from the viral TikTok experiment where churches denied basic aid like baby formula to the needy, contrasting this with the impending government shutdown and asking: Where…

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632: Graphite's Merrill Lutsky 21:12

12d ago21:12

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Merrill on LinkedIn Graphite Alice for Snowflake Mike on X Mike on BlueSky Coder on X Show Discord Alice & Custom Dev Mike's Recent Omakub Blog PostBy The Mad Botter

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Faith, Fear, and the Mayor of New York 8:41

2h ago8:41

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Send us a text shared a meme of the Twin Towers asking, “Has New York forgotten?” Mike Smithgall digs into what that reaction says about us. He opens with a story that sounds like 9/11—but isn’t—and exposes the double standard in how we label religious violence. From the Oklahoma City bombing to modern Islamophobia, this Mike Drop looks at how fear…

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Episode 96 | Fremantle Running Festival Recap | Feral Pig Ultra | Zane Walsh & Ashleigh Yee 1:14:26

12h ago1:14:26

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Monday 10th November 2025 Zane Walsh, Ashleigh Yee and Simon from ‘Mama T’s Sweaty Boys & Girl’ Half Marathon Team Relay join the man with the shitbox fixie bike Chris as they recap the Revo Fitness Fremantle Running Festival along with the Ultra Series Feral Pig Ultra that happened over the weekend. Ashleigh makes a comeback, Zane’s chats about Mo…

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Breakfast With Heathen Ep4 - From “Have a Blessed Day” to “You Cherry Picked That”: A Candid Talk on Faith and Frustration 55:04

9d ago55:04

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Send us a text In this episode of Breakfast with a Heathen, Mike answers real questions from listeners about debating religion, losing friendships, and navigating those awkward “bless your heart” moments. From being told you’re “taking scripture out of context” to realizing you never truly believed, this discussion explores how atheists and agnosti…

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631: Aeroview's Marc Weiner 29:36

2d ago29:36

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Aeroview Marc on LinkedIn Alice for Snowflake Mike on X Mike on BlueSky Coder on X Show Discord Alice & Custom Dev Mike's Recent Omakub Blog PostBy The Mad Botter

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Why the Parties Switched Sides — and How Religion Made It Possible 10:55

4d ago10:55

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Send us a text The Republican Party once led the fight against slavery. Today, it’s home to America’s Christian nationalist movement. What happened? In this episode, Mike breaks down how religion shaped every stage of the political party realignment, from Lincoln’s abolitionist Republicans to the rise of the evangelical right. Religion didn’t cause…

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Episode 95 | John Gilmour 10,000m | 24 hours Track Championships Recap with Hayley Boneham 1:08:36

22d ago1:08:36

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Monday 3rd November 2025 Hayley Boneham from the Australian Ultra and Trail Runners Association (AUTRA) joins Chris and Simon to discuss the recent 24hr Track World Championships in France back in October. In local results we had the John Gilmour 10,000m, Strive Program B and the Perth Duathlon & Runningworks Festival. The Queen of Kwinana ran New …

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Breakfast With a Heathen EP3 - Prayer, Apologetics, Mixed-Belief Love, and Leaving Faith 56:47

4d ago56:47

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Send us a text Pour a cup and hang out with Mike Smithgall for a Sunday morning Q&A. You’ll hear my take on “I’m praying for you,” why Christian apologetics fascinates and embarrasses, and a story about a friendly young-earth creationist who pushed me to think harder. We get into belief in a god without religion, the rise of the “nones,” and why a …

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Faith on the Blackboard , The Real Agenda Behind Ten Commandments Laws 10:13

29d ago10:13

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Send us a text In this episode, Mike Smithgall examines the growing push to hang the Ten Commandments in public classrooms and the larger campaign to rewrite history under the banner of “heritage.” He explains how Christian nationalism turns nostalgia into propaganda, and why real heritage requires facing uncomfortable truths. Question: How should …

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Road to Kwinana Freeway Episode 04 | 2025 PRF Training Series | Series Finale 1:10:23

22d ago1:10:23

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In our training series finale, Chris catches up with Matt, Kat, Denzel and Nita a couple of weeks following the Perth Running Festival with a State Marathon Title, a podium in the Half Marathon, a performance of the day PB and a confidence boosting half marathon PB. We share stories of poo on the side of the freeway, celebratory beers, race reflect…

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Breakfast With A heathen Ep2: How Religion Warps Politics, Parenting, and the Way We Think 48:09

17d ago48:09

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Send us a text This Breakfast with a Heathen episode covers a range of questions from faith and politics to parenting and personal belief. We start with how religion was never out of U.S. politics—Trump only made it obvious—and look at what happens when faith becomes a tool for control rather than reflection. We talk about the idea that atheists “b…

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Prayer as Propaganda: How Pete Hegseth’s “Department of War” Video Rewrites Scripture 12:29

28d ago12:29

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Send us a text In this episode, Mike Smithgall dissects Pete Hegseth’s viral Lord’s Prayer video and its disturbing fusion of religion and state power. Using biblical analysis and historical parallels from Sinclair Lewis and Eugene Debs, he explains how Christian nationalism repackages faith as propaganda and patriotism as obedience. This episode a…

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Episode 94 | Pemby Trail Festival | Strive Season Starts | Tom Radonic 1:06:32

1M ago1:06:32

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Monday 20th October 2025 Simon's back on hosting duties with Vici this week joined by Tom Radonic, a local Perth ultra runner fresh off his recent challenge “Mund Everest” - comprising of 42 laps of Australia's toughest parkrun course Mundy Regional Park parkrun (210km and the equivalent elevation of Mount Everest). The challenge was in honour of J…

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Breakfast with a Heathen - Ep 1: Coffee, Questions, and the Cost of Honesty 1:06:08

1M ago1:06:08

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Send us a text Mike Smithgall, the unelected mayor of Atheistville, sits down with coffee to answer your questions about atheism, belief, and honesty. From telling your Christian mom you’re an atheist to why arguing with believers never works, this Sunday Q&A takes on faith, comfort, family, and finding peace without religion. No sermon, no shoutin…

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Episode 93 | Perth Running Festival | Narrischka Irvine & the Melbourne Marathon 2:20:12

26d ago2:20:12

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Monday 13th October 2025 This is a bloody big episode so strap in! It’s Vici and Chris in Perth, with Simon and Narri Irvine in Melbourne recapping the marquee event (of the second half the year) in the WA Running Calendar, the Perth Running Festival and the other Australian running event this weekend, the Melbourne Marathon. In local results, we a…

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Morality Without God: How Religion Hijacked Our Conscience 13:26

1M ago13:26

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Send us a text If morality comes from God, why do moral progress and religious doctrine so often collide? Mike Smithgall breaks down the myth that we need divine authority to be good. This episode examines empathy’s evolutionary roots, the failures of fear-based morality, and the evidence that secular societies thrive without divine command. It’s a…

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630: Edward Schmitz 13:10

27d ago13:10

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SigCore UC SigCore UC on Crowd Supply Alice for Power BI Mike on X Mike on BlueSky Coder on X Show Discord Alice & Custom Dev Mike's Recent Omakub Blog PostBy The Mad Botter

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The Supreme Court’s Next Test: Faith vs. Facts 15:22

1M ago15:22

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Send us a text A counselor in Colorado claims her “sincerely held beliefs” give her the right to counsel LGBTQ+ minors out of who they are. The state says that’s harmful pseudoscience. She says “First Amendment.” And now, the Supreme Court will decide. Host Mike Smithgall breaks down Chiles v. Salazar, exposing the tactics behind the legal argument…

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From Pulpit to Prison: An Atheist’s Journey Through Faith, Identity, and Redemption with Mike Gonzalez 1:31:18

2M ago1:31:18

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Send us a text In this candid conversation, Mike shares his path from a devout Lutheran youth leader and Boy Scout to an openly bisexual atheist who rebuilt his life after addiction, prison, and deep personal conflict. We discuss the pressures of growing up in a conservative religious environment, wrestling with questions about faith and morality, …

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Road to Kwinana Freeway Episode 03 | 2025 PRF Training Series | Live Show from The Running Centre | Mindset with Raf Baugh 1:08:58

1M ago1:08:58

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In episode 03, we recorded the episode live from The Running Centre on the 1st October with Nita Traeger, Kat Watt, Denzel Gould and Matt Smith joining us in person in taper week as they go through final preparations for their upcoming races at the Perth Running Festival. Raf Baugh also joins us to discuss the mental side of running, mindset and ge…

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The Retreat of Faith: How Science Replaces Supernatural Claims 10:53

2M ago10:53

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Send us a text Religious faith often leans on mysteries as proof of God. But when science explains those mysteries, faith loses ground. In this episode, I trace the history of the god-of-the-gaps argument, from Zeus’s lightning to modern debates over consciousness. I show why this strategy fails, and why atheism is better framed as trust in curiosi…

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629: Tom Totenberg from LaunchDarkly 30:46

2M ago30:46

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Mike sits down with Tom Totenberg to discuss disastrous Friday night deployments, selective feature flags, Launch Darkly and more general development goodness. Alice for Power BI Mike on X Mike on BlueSky Coder on X Show Discord Alice & Custom Dev Mike's Recent Omakub Blog Post Tom's LinkedIn LaunchDarkly…

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Episode 92 | Denmark Half Marathon | Tom's Mund-Everest Jeff Hansen Challenge 46:55

2M ago46:55

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Monday 29th September 2025 Chris and Vici are back on the weekly pod minus Simon as they cover the 6th annual Denmark Half Marathon to cover over the weekend just gone, the Collie River Ultra (we found the results!) and track the moving dots of Aaron Young and Mackenzie Burgoyne in midst of potentially breaking the Bibbulmun Track FKT. Chris tries …

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This Isn’t About Jesus: How Christian Nationalism Became a Political Weapon 9:42

2M ago9:42

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Send us a text Church attendance is plummeting, yet calls for America to be a “Christian nation” are growing louder. In this Mike Drop episode, we unpack the paradox: why Christian nationalism is gaining steam even as religion fades. It’s not about faith, it’s about identity, fear, and power. From empty pews to political pulpits, we explore how bra…

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628: Co-Pilot Vibe Coding 29:52

2M ago29:52

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Alice for Power BI Mike on X Mike on BlueSky Coder on X Show Discord Alice & Custom DevBy The Mad Botter

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The Rapture That Wasn't: September's Failed Doomsday Prediction and the Psychology of Apocalyptic Belief 15:50

2M ago15:50

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Send us a text This week's failed rapture prediction joins a long list of embarrassing doomsday dates, but it reveals something deeper about human psychology and social media manipulation. We explore the 200-year history of rapture theology, the pattern of failed predictions from 1988 to today, and why TikTok has become the new frontier for apocaly…

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From Pastor to Atheist: The Pain and Power of Deconstruction 16:38

2M ago16:38

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Send us a text 🎙 Podcast Description What happens when faith unravels? In this episode, former pastors and believers reflect on the loneliness of leaving religion, the emotional toll of deconstruction, and the importance of finding community. You’ll hear stories of loss, resilience, and the shift from magical thinking to evidence-based reality. Whe…

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Episode 91 | Sarah Paduano | Run Britannia | Sunset Coast Marathon 1:25:35

2M ago1:25:35

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Monday 22nd September 2025 This week we chat to Sarah Paduano a weapon in her own right who recently ran Run Brittania, an event that covers 1,600km running the entire length of Great Britain, from Lands End in Cornwall to John O’Groats in Scotland. We find out what keeps Sarah lacing her shoes and how running has become both a way to challenge her…

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Leaving Church Doesn’t Have to Be Lonely: Building Atheist Community That Sticks 19:32

2M ago19:32

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Send us a text In this episode, we focus on why many secular and humanist meetups don’t last. We hear from longtime organizers about how they rebuilt the social network that people lose after leaving religious institutions. They share how snacks, casual brunches, movies in the park, and simple conversation act as the glue. We look closely at the Bl…

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Antifa, Atheism, and the New War on Free Thought 15:37

2M ago15:37

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Send us a text The U.S. government is testing the limits of the First Amendment. In one week, Pam Bondi promised prosecutions for “hate speech,” the FCC threatened ABC over Jimmy Kimmel’s jokes, and Trump labeled Antifa a terrorist organization. In this Mike Drop, I argue why labeling ideas as terrorism is a dangerous precedent. We explore the iron…

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Free Speech or Hypocrisy? Pam Bondi’s “Hate Speech” Crackdown 11:30

2M ago11:30

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Send us a text This week’s Mike Drop examines Attorney General Pam Bondi’s claim that the Justice Department will “target hate speech.” Mike Smithgall unpacks what the law actually says, highlights the hypocrisy of both left and right on free expression, and explains why consistency is the only real protection for free speech. With Trump’s rhetoric…

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After Charlie Kirk: Unpacking Political Martyrdom, Violence, and the Future of American Democracy 1:00:17

2M ago1:00:17

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Send us a text This week, we tackle the assassination of political commentator Charlie Kirk and its broader implications for American democracy. Our discussion covers Kirk's rise as a major figure in Christian nationalist movements, the immediate political reactions to his death, and the troubling patterns of political violence in the United States…

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Road to Kwinana Freeway Episode 02 | 2025 PRF Training Series | Kat Watt & Denzel Gould | Strength & Conditioning with Shane Johnstone 1:32:16

2M ago1:32:16

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In episode 02 of our Perth Running Festival Training Series, we're joined by the self-confessed Queen of Kwinana and previous winner of the Perth Marathon Kat Watt as she prepares to return to Perth to take on the half marathon, a steppingstone to a big marathon major later this year. We're also joined by young gun Denzel Gould who has seen a huge …

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Dangerous Predictions: How End Times Beliefs Influence Politics and Culture 12:09

2M ago12:09

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Send us a text For centuries, religious leaders have predicted the end of the world — and for centuries, they’ve been wrong. In this episode, our panel discusses failed prophecies, the cultural fascination with apocalypse narratives, and the political consequences of end times obsession. We also explore how these beliefs fuel dangerous thinking, fr…

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From Silence to Strength: Why Atheists Need a Political Voice with Larry Warren 6:13

2M ago6:13

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Send us a text In this episode, we reflect on growing up without the language or community to identify as an atheist — a reality that left many of us isolated before the internet connected like-minded people. Our conversation explores how religious communities reinforce their beliefs weekly, while atheists lack the same infrastructure or political …

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My Body, My Choice - But Only Sometimes: Deconstructing the Religious and Political Hypocrisy Behind America's Growing Vaccine Resistance Movement 19:36

3M ago19:36

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Send us a text Mike examines Florida's groundbreaking decision to eliminate all school vaccine mandates, exposing how genuine religious concerns have been hijacked by political movements. With vaccine exemptions at record highs and measles cases surging, this episode unpacks the dangerous intersection of Christian nationalism, selective bodily auto…

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Episode 90 | Mackenzie Burgoyne | Light Horse Ultra & Women’s Classic 1:09:28

2M ago1:09:28

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Monday 8th September 2025 We’re joined by Dubbel’s Mackenzie ‘Coach Macka’ Burgoyne as he finalises his preparations before his Bibbulman Track FKT attempt starting on the 26th September 2025. Chris is back from his European adventures trying to emulate Vlad with his running before succumbing to another toilet story on Father’s Day. Meanwhile Simon…

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Conversations on Death, Grief, and Saying Goodbye Without Religion 10:13

2M ago10:13

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Send us a text This segment explores one of the most difficult questions atheists face: what do you say to someone who is dying when you don’t share their faith in heaven or an afterlife? Our panel shares personal experiences with parents and loved ones, the challenge of offering comfort without false promises, and why listening often matters more …

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Throwing Out “Sin”: Building Secular Ethics Beyond Religion 19:55

2M ago19:55

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Send us a text What does the concept of sin mean if you remove God from the picture? In this episode, atheists wrestle with the idea of sin, exploring whether it should be redefined or abandoned altogether. They discuss cultural norms, ethical responsibility, and the role of sin as a tool of control in religious communities. The conversation also d…

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627: Event Modeling Pt2 43:08

2M ago43:08

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Adam's Socials Adam on LinkedIn Event Modeling Understanding Event Modeling Adaptech Coder's Socials Mike on X Mike on BlueSky Mike's Blog Coder on X Coder on BlueSky Show Discord AliceBy The Mad Botter

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Prayer Works In Your Head, Not In Heaven: Understanding Religious Ritual Through Science 11:18

2M ago11:18

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Send us a text This episode examines prayer from a psychological rather than theological perspective. While prayer doesn't produce supernatural results, it does provide genuine benefits through mechanisms like structured self-reflection, ritual comfort, and social connection. We explore the placebo effect in religious practice, the neuroscience of …

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Split Chain's Debut, Psycho Frame's Grit, and Census 21:35

3M ago21:35

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Album Reviews: Split Chain, Resider, Psycho Frame, ONI, Census CTRL-ALT-SAVE '25 Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4GaFHbTyaNWZiAMP307SBV?si=44af9c07a47748d9 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matrixmusicreview?igsh=MXRibXhvcGNoOGpkaQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@matrixmusicreview?_t=8mzPtDr9LwZ&_r=1 X: https://x.…

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The Unholy Roundtable: What Is Sin Without Religion? Atheists Redefine Morality, Ethics, and Truth 2:06:43

2M ago2:06:43

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Send us a text This Roundtable asks big questions about life after faith. What does “sin” mean when you leave religion behind? How do atheists define morality, deal with religious influence in medical spaces, and navigate the pain of deconstruction? The panel unpacks hypocrisy, cultural double standards, and the struggle to speak openly about unbel…