Shows
The Kayse Melone Show#033. Running a Christian Zionism PSYOP for Israel (and regretting it) - w/Brandt BurlesonBrandt Burleson worked inside the machinery connecting evangelical churches, mega-pastors, and U.S. foreign policy to support the Israeli government. In this interview, we talk about how Christian theology is used as a geopolitical tool, how American churches were targeted, and how the experience ultimately led to Brandt’s own deconstruction and loss of faith.Want to watch the video on YouTube instead? Here’s the link.Brandt’s work.His YouTube channel.Chapters.00:00 Intro02:09 Working for Israel From the United States10:40 The Manipulation Behind Christ...
2026-02-231h 07
The Kayse Melone Show#032. Christian Nationalism vs. Secularism: Who Will Win? - w/Hemant MehtaAre more people leaving religion in the United States? If so, what comes next? In this episode of The Kayse Melone Show, I sit down with Hemant Mehta (The Friendly Atheist) to discuss religious switching, the decline of organized Christianity, the rise of the religiously unaffiliated, and why conservative churches are aligning more aggressively with politics.Want to watch the video on YouTube instead? Here’s the link.Hemant’s work.Hemant is the founder and editor of FriendlyAtheist.com, a Youtube creator, and co-host of the Friendly Atheist Podcast.Chapters.
2026-02-1548 min
The Kayse Melone Show#031. Atheism, Religion, and the REAL Value of Truth - w/Britt HartleyRebuilding a meaningful life after leaving a high-control religion has unique challenges, including how to handle “truth.” In this first ever guest interview on The Kayse Melone Show, I sit down with Britt Hartley from No Nonsense Spirituality to explore the cost/benefit of truth, the rise of nihilism in secular culture, and whether meaning, identity, and well-being can truly survive without religion. We cover what most Exchristians struggle with, what most Atheists struggle with, and everything in between.Want to watch the video on YouTube instead? Here’s the link.Britt’s work.Britt...
2026-02-091h 25
The Kayse Melone Show#030. What I Learned After 1 Year of Being an "Online Atheist"It’s the 1-year anniversary of my work as an “online atheist.” Let’s talk about it.Want to watch the video on YouTube instead? Here’s the link.Chapters.00:00 Intro02:42 The Atheist Identity04:52 Constantly Talking About What’s Wrong With Christianity08:19 The Value of “Being Right”12:03 The First Guest on the Show!Stay informed.Never miss The Kayse Melone Show.Join the Kayse & Friends Discord!Subscribe on YouTube, and follow Kayse on TikTok or Instagram.Catch the full...
2026-02-0214 min
The Kayse Melone Show#029. The Myth of "Judeo-Christian Values" EXPOSEDReligion is always a tool of empire. In the West, we’re told to defend our “Judeo-Christian Values” at all costs. Let’s talk about how that has been an intentionally manipulated narrative.The article I reference is called “The ‘Christianization’ of Israel and Jews in 1950s America’ by Michelle Mart. Want to watch the video on YouTube instead? Here’s the link.Chapters.00:00 Intro01:38 How Christian Theology Is Harmful05:50 The Cold War & The Judeo-Christian Narrative08:25 The Problems With “Judeo-Christian” Values11:16 The Establishment of Israel13:12...
2026-01-2518 min
The Kayse Melone Show#028. I (an Atheist) Got a Christian to Agree With MeI recently was featured on a show where I, an atheist, got a Christian to agree with me. Let’s talk about it.Want to watch the video on YouTube instead? Here’s the link.The Dr. Daf Show in question.Get your own Spiritual Atheist Playbook here.Chapters.00:00 Intro00:47 My Invitation to the Dr. Daf Show05:37 Opening Statements: Christian vs. Atheist14:48 Personal “Supernatural” Experiences19:01 How the Christians & Atheists Behaved23:32 Personal Transformations27:48 The Final Agreement31:29 Last Ref...
2026-01-1934 min
The Kayse Melone Show#027. The End of Religion in America? My 2026 PredictionsResearch shows that people in the United States are walking away from religion - especially the one they were raised in - more than ever before. My question is: now what?In this episode of The Kayse Melone Show, we’ll take a look at why I think people are walking away from their childhood faith, what we can expect from the year 2026, and what we should do about all of this in general. Want to watch the video on YouTube instead? Here’s the link.Get your own Spiritual Atheist Playbook here. Chapters.00...
2026-01-0424 min
The Kayse Melone Show#026. The God Question & The Philosophy Behind AtheismLet’s explore a question that has haunted humanity for millennia: the God question. What if the most profound answers to life’s biggest questions—purpose, morality, and even what comes after—aren’t found in ancient scriptures or divine revelations? What if the path to understanding suffering, or finding meaning, lies entirely within human experience and critical thought? In short, what if there is no god? And if there isn’t one, what does that, well, mean?Want to watch the video on YouTube instead? Here’s the link.Chapters.00:00 Intro00:40 Humans...
2025-12-1528 min
TheThinkingAtheistKayse Melone: DeconstructingKayse Melone is an exvangelical turned secular humanist activist, and she has much to say about her former faith, women in activist spaces, and political indoctrination.INTERVIEW VIDEOKayce's YouTube pageBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support.
2025-12-1237 min
The Kayse Melone Show#025. 6 Ways Christian Dogma Still Controls YouEven after leaving Christianity, Christianity doesn’t automatically leave you. There are so many ways Christianity is the dominant cultural force in the United States and the western world, affecting even people who don’t adhere to it.So, In this segment of the Kayse Melone Show, we’ll explore how Christian dogma still infiltrates our daily lives — even for nonbelievers.Want to watch the video on YouTube instead? Here’s the link.Chapters.00:00 Intro01:41 What Is Dogma?04:26 The Christian Dogma of Original Sin09:17 The Christian...
2025-12-0830 min
The Kayse Melone Show#024. All the Ways My Life Got Better as an AtheistFrom Evangelical Christian to Atheist - is life really better now? So many Christians talk about how their “relationship with Jesus” amounts to their experience of a personal transformation that has essentially improved their overall quality of life. I respect that. This, however, is my story of how atheism has improved my own existence.Want to watch the video on YouTube instead? Here’s the link.Chapters.00:00 Intro02:03 My Previous Life as an Evangelical Christian04:16 Some Definitions: Deconversion & Deconstruction06:06 Why I Talk About Going From Christ...
2025-11-3042 min
The Kayse Melone Show#023. "Debating" a Christian Nationalist Changed My LifeI am all for calling out the harm of Christian Nationalism, but I do want to pick my battles more. Let’s talk about some upcoming changes to The Kayse Melone Show.Want to watch the video on YouTube instead? Here’s the link.Chapters.00:00 Intro02:11 About “Debating” a Christian Nationalist08:01 Will I Debate a Christian Nationalist Again?11:38 Why I’m Doing What I’m Doing17:55 Changes to The Kayse Melone ShowStay informed.Never miss The Kayse Melone Show.Join the K...
2025-11-1723 min
The Kayse Melone Show#022. I Escaped the Religious RightThis shouldn’t surprise you, but political indoctrination and religious indoctrination go hand-in-hand. The psychological mechanisms infused in both kinds of indoctrination are the same. Keeping people controlled, complacent, and compliant appears to take many forms throughout the ages, but there are underlying concepts that ring true in these efforts no matter what. And that’s what we’ll be talking about in this segment of The Kayse Melone Show.Want to watch the video on YouTube instead? Here’s the link.Chapters.00:00 Intro01:56 The Basics of My Religious Indoctrination05:12...
2025-10-0623 min
The Kayse Melone Show#021. Christian Zionism EXPOSED (part 3: the money behind it)Let’s talk about how Christian Zionism is funded to the scale of billions of dollars on behalf of everyday people in the United States. Every Sunday, millions of families in this country make their way to their local church - and the majority of those churches stand behind the settler occupation of the state of Israel. No matter the cost.The money behind the powerful and harmful ideology of Christian Zionism is one of the most corrupt and immoral facets of today’s world. As the third part of my series on Christian Zionism, this segment migh...
2025-08-1834 min
The Kayse Melone Show#020. Christian Zionism EXAMINED (part 2: from pulpits to politics)I will never shut up about how terrible Christian Zionism is. This is Part 2 of my 3-part series exploring the roots and results of this concept. From British imperial interests to televangelist media empires, in this segment, I trace how Christian Zionism jumped from the pages of the Bible to the halls of Congress.Christian Zionism is fueling United States foreign policy, shaping public opinion, and justifying genocide in real time. This segment is a no-holds-barred look at how Christian mythology became a geopolitical weapon, and why it’s still one of the most dangerous be...
2025-08-0431 min
The Kayse Melone Show#019. Christian Zionism EXPLAINED (part 1: an origin story)Christian Zionism is the most harmful belief in the United States. After growing up indoctrinated in the Evangelical Christian church, I can promise you that the depths of this insidious ideology go much deeper than you think.As someone who was raised to call myself a Zionist as a child, I’m pulling back the curtain on this theological and political movement to trace its roots all the way from the Protestant Reformation in Europe to the modern-day genocide still happening in Palestine. If you were taught to “stand with Israel,” this is the history lesson you were n...
2025-07-2138 min
The Kayse Melone Show#018. The Christian Nationalism to Fascism PipelineChristianity has primed millions of Americans to not just accept the rise of fascism in this country, but to openly embrace it - whether they realize it or not.The Christian Nationalist movement grows in power every single day. What might have started out as a more fringe belief system is now a full-blown attempt at an authoritarian theocracy. But this isn’t about religion or faith at all. It’s about power in the hands of a few people at the top. Who honestly might not even believe in the Christian mythology - but, they do know...
2025-07-0741 min
The Kayse Melone Show#017. The Myth of Western Civilization EXPOSEDWe’ve been sold a lie: that “Western Civilization” is the pinnacle of human progress, reason, and morality. But that’s propaganda talking.I spent the first 21 years of my life fully indoctrinated in Christian Conservatism, which I now realize is the cultural foundation for the empire that is the United States. Deconstructing Christianity and colonization is a never-ending journey, but we all have to start somewhere because we all have a part to play in building a better, more equitable future.And that’s gonna have to start with debunking the idea that we were ever...
2025-06-3037 min
The Kayse Melone Show#016. Christian Morality Is a LIEWe often hear that Western Civilization was built upon Christian morality, but is that actually a good thing? In fact, is that actually a real thing?I would argue that no, Christian morality is not as set-in-stone as the religious leaders in power would like their everyday congregation members to believe. To go further, I think the idea of Christian morality is used by the leaders in this country to falsely justify discrimination, violence, and now, involvement in yet another destabilizing war in the Middle East. Let’s talk about it.Want to watch the vi...
2025-06-2344 min
The Kayse Melone Show#015. The Best & Worst Parts of Leaving Evangelical ChristianityI grew up indoctrinated in the Evangelical Christian church, but 12 years ago, I walked away. The journey since then has been both challenging and rewarding. In this episode of The Kayse Melone Show, I talk about the best and worst parts of that journey leaving the Christian faith.Want to watch the video on YouTube instead? Here’s the link.Chapters.00:21 Intro01:00 Growing Up in the Evangelical Christian Church04:37 Believing in the Second Coming of Jesus06:34 Realizing I Was Taught History Wrong11:33 Christian Zi...
2025-06-0134 min
The Kayse Melone Show#014. How to Escape Evangelical ChristianityI grew up indoctrinated in an evangelical fundamentalist christian megachurch. So how did I escape?The more I learn about how the evangelical christian church in the United States operates, the more I commend myself and others for getting the hell out of there. But the reality is, it wasn’t easy. It took a lot of courage, curiosity, and most importantly, critical thinking. And not everyone has the mental bandwidth, or even the time, to seriously challenge the belief systems they’ve been taught since birth.It is possible, though, and that’s what I want...
2025-05-1937 min
Truth WantedTruth Wanted 08.19 05-09-2025 with ObjectivelyDan and @kaysemeloneIn today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, ObjectivelyDan and Kayse Melone jump into hell to find it does not exist. They then sort through ways of telling people they are wrong and the merits of an atheist evangelizing in a church. Sven in WA has some questions about the value of the soul from a Christian point of view and god as an entity vs. a mind. How useful is it to believe in the concept of a soul? Sven also has a second question about the Pope’s belief in hell and the infer...
2025-05-101h 23
The Kayse Melone Show#013. I Escaped Christian Conservative IndoctrinationWhen I was in grade school, I was taught that liberals were my enemy, God will send these nonbelievers to hell, and how it was up to me to ensure that the Democratic party failed in everything it attempted.Because I wasn’t just raised in a church. I was indoctrinated into Christian Conservatism. And I was one of the fortunate ones who were able to eventually walk away from it.But this isn’t just about my story. We’re gonna talk about how these religious values uphold authoritarianism in plain sight. This is The Ka...
2025-05-0536 min
The Kayse Melone Show#012. Growing Up in a Megachurch: An Exvangelical StoryNot only was I raised in an Evangelical Christian church, I was specifically involved in a megachurch. And that’s what I want to talk about in this episode of The Kayse Melone Show. Want to watch the video on YouTube instead? Here’s the link.Chapters.00:16 Intro03:11 Nondenominational Evangelical Fundamentalist Christian Church07:49 The Production of Praise & Worship14:16 The Corporatization of Christian Megachurches24:14 Youth Group At a Megachurch31:25 The Nature of Evangelism37:38 The Good Parts of My Evangelical Christian Upbringing45...
2025-04-2851 min
The Kayse Melone Show#011. Is Easter Symbolism Unique to Christianity? (a brief study of fertility goddesses)Growing up in the Evangelical Christian church meant every Easter was a time to celebrate Jesus Christ and his supposed resurrection. But where did Easter symbolism come from? How has Christianity borrowed from the ancient worship of female fertility goddesses? And what are the consequences therein?Want to watch the video on YouTube instead? Here’s the link.Chapters.00:29 Intro01:03 Growing Up in the Evangelical Christian Church04:09 Happy Easter From an Atheist!08:00 The Roots of the Easter Holiday & the Worship of Fertility Goddesses12:49 How Patriarchy To...
2025-04-2134 min
The Kayse Melone Show#010. Is Christianity Fueling a Genocide?I was raised to be a Christian Zionist, believing that the statehood of Israel was worth any cost. And for people who weren’t raised in the Evangelical Christian church, the depth of this belief system might be hard to understand.Have you ever heard of the rapture or the biblical Armageddon? Further, why are so many Christians obsessed with their theology’s Armageddon, to the point they’d do anything to bring it about? And what does all of this have to do with the Middle East?That’s what we’ll be covering in this ep...
2025-04-1448 min
The Kayse Melone Show#009. From Christian Conservative to Atheist Leftist: How I Escaped the Far RightI was raised deep in the belly of the Evangelical Fundamentalist Christian Church. Which, from top to bottom, also held to an unavoidably conservative political ideology. According to the level of indoctrination I received, statistically, I should’ve stayed in that cult-like environment forever. So... how did I get out?With Donald Trump in the Oval Office AGAIN, many left-leaning progressives throughout the country are wondering: how on earth did this happen?How are so many people fooled by the false claims of the Christian Nationalists in control of our government? How can we move to...
2025-04-0648 min
The Kayse Melone Show#008. 6 Ways Atheism Will Set You FreeCan you really live the “good life” if you don’t believe in God? Can you be a good person if you’re an atheist? And what does it mean to believe in a better society when you also believe that morality is relative?Humankind is thousands of years old. In that time we’ve invented the wheel, steam engines, social media, the IRS, and of course, religion. But with statistics showing that so many people are walking away from the faith-based communities they were raised in, what’s next for the unbelievers? How can we participate in a society...
2025-03-3040 min
The Kayse Melone Show#007. I'm a Spiritual Atheist. WTF Does That Mean?There’s a lot going on in the world right now - it seems like every day there’s another headline. And on top of that, everyone has their own personal belief system that influences how they perceive everything that’s going on.So, why do I call myself a spiritual atheist? Why does that matter? And why am I having conversations about religion and politics?That’s what I’ll be talking about in this episode of The Kayse Melone Show.Want to watch the YouTube video instead? Here’s the link.Chapter...
2025-03-2350 min
The Kayse Melone Show#006. Christian Nationalism Is Not About Faith. It's About Power.What happens when patriotism becomes religious in nature?Christian Nationalism is a movement promoting that the United States is a country founded by and for Christians. And in most cases, this means straight white Christians. No pluralism, no diversity.At the same time, though, the country is also in the middle of a modern Meaning Crisis, and we’re struggling. Existentialism and nihilism are on the rise, with mental health issues getting worse every day. As a response, it makes sense that many people have unwittingly turned to the political sphere for a sense of pu...
2025-03-161h 01
The Kayse Melone Show#005. How Christianity Is the Gamification of SpiritualityHave you ever felt like life was just a video game? What about religion - do you think that it’s just a game reinforcing eternal rewards and punishment to the winners and losers? That’s what we’ll be talking about in this episode of The Kayse Melone Show. We’ll look at how religion uses game mechanics to shape belief and behavior, how purity culture functions like a moral points system, and why Christian Nationalism has been able to take hold in the United States using these same tactics. And of course, we’ll talk about what...
2025-03-0945 min
The Kayse Melone Show#004. Why I Don’t Believe in God (Anymore) | From Evangelical Fundamentalist Christian to Agnostic AtheistDo you believe in God?This is perhaps the most important question a human can ask or answer. It goes hand in hand with other important questions like: If a God does exist, do they care about the daily lives of humans? What does the idea of God even mean? And what happens after we die?These are the major questions that ultimately led me on my deconstruction journey from being a full-fledged Evangelical Fundamentalist Christian all the way to what I would call a Spiritual Agnostic Atheist.And that’s what this ep...
2025-03-021h 02
The Kayse Melone Show#003. Why I Left Christianity: A Deconstruction Origin StoryI grew up fully indoctrinated in the Evangelical Christian church. And 12 years ago, I finally walked away from the faith.But why did I? What did that look like?That’s what this episode of The Kayse Melone Show will explore.We’ll talk about what the Prosperity Gospel is, we’ll talk about how personal identity is intertwined with religious identity, and we’ll talk about what comes after Deconstruction from a high-demand religion like Evangelical Fundamentalist Christianity.Want to watch the YouTube video instead? Here’s the link.Stay inf...
2025-02-2359 min
The Kayse Melone Show#002. The Art of Resistance: Kendrick Lamar’s Halftime Show & Other Creatives Who’ve Challenged the SystemAn act of creativity is, by definition, an act of defiance against the current reality. Is it possible for a single song to spark a revolution? Can a novel written decades ago still inspire us to believe in a better future? And what happens when a Superbowl halftime show challenges the status quo?Artists have long used their work to inspire real societal change, often in the face of a political regime determined to suppress their creativity.Because an act of creativity is, by nature, a rebellion. And bringing something new into the...
2025-02-1631 min
The Kayse Melone Show#001. On Atonement Rituals, Religious Salvation, and Christian Nationalism’s Role in the Rise of TrumpChristian Nationalism is not about faith; it’s about power. What do atonement rituals (which humans have performed in every culture we’ve designed), religious salvation (which the church has historically weaponized to consolidate control over its followers), and the culminating movement of Christian Nationalism in the United States all have in common?In short, the rise of Donald Trump. Welcome to the first episode of The Kayse Melone Show - and happy 33rd birthday to me! I’m so excited to share this with you, so please do let me know what you th...
2025-02-0950 min
With All Due Respect PodcastKayse MeloneIn this episode i sit down local Tulsa Comedian Kayse Malone.
2021-03-2553 min