Shows
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallIs Belief a Choice? Deconstruction, Doubt, and Living Without Faith (BWAH Ep 10)In this episode, the conversation centers on one core question, is belief something you choose or something you become convinced of over time? The discussion explores doubt, deconstruction, and why some people seek belief yet struggle to force it. Topics include fear-based religion, the difference between atheism and agnosticism, and how personal experience shapes conviction.The episode also looks at real human challenges, family pressure, relationships across belief lines, emotional reactions to religion, and the search for peace after leaving faith. Listeners hear reflections on evidence, anecdotal belief, and why some people feel calmer once they no...
2026-02-0840 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallFlorida’s "God Grades," The Charlie Kirk Analogy, & Black Atheism (BWAH Ep 9)In this episode of Breakfast with a Heathen, we break down a proposed Florida bill (SB 1006) that could force schools to pay out $25,000 if they fail a student for citing religious beliefs in academic work. Is this protecting speech, or rewarding students for ignoring assignments?I also tackle the "Historical Jesus" debate with a controversial modern analogy: looking at the deification of Charlie Kirk to understand how myths form over time.We also discuss:Black Atheism: Why leaving the church is often seen as "betraying your race" and...
2026-01-251h 03
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallThe $25,000 Wrong Answer: Florida’s New School LoopholeFlorida just put a price tag on ignorance. A new bill (SB 1006) would ban "academic penalties" for students who express religious or ideological beliefs in class—even if their answers are factually wrong.If a teacher fails a student for citing the Bible on a biology test, they don't just face a complaint. They face a mandatory $25,000 lawsuit.I’m Mike Smithgall, and in this episode, we look at how "sincerely held beliefs" are becoming a get-out-of-grading-free card, and why Florida is creating the ultimate participation trophy for the religious right.Get more deta...
2026-01-2110 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallYour Taxes Are Higher Because Religion Pays NothingMike takes a drive through his hometown and counts the true cost of religious property tax exemptions. In just one ZIP code, he identifies 7 religious parcels representing $31 million in assessed value—all exempt from property tax.Drawing on data from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, the IRS and his local tax assessor, Mike explores how this "tax base erosion" shifts the financial burden of local services onto residents. He challenges the "charity defense," notes the lack of IRS Form 990 reporting for churches, and argues that public subsidies should require public evidence of community benefit.
2026-01-1410 min
Atheistville with Mike Smithgall"I'm Not Homophobic, It's Just God", Purity Culture, Gas Station Epiphanies, & The Judas Paradox (BWAH Ep 8)Welcome to the first broadcast of 2026. In this episode of Breakfast with a Heathen, we kick off the year by tackling the outrage over a New York mayor swearing in on a Quran and why Christian Nationalists ignore the irony when it comes to their own Bible.I share a personal story from my teenage years working at a Shell station in Jacksonville that shattered the homophobic stereotypes I was raised with, and I get open about mortality—and how an old crockpot reminded me to focus on the "dash" between birth and death.We...
2026-01-041h 07
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallThe Wizard Was Just Loud: Pulling the Curtain on Christian NationalismThe noise we heard in 2025 wasn't the sound of a giant conquering the land. It was the sound of a machine breaking down.In this episode of Mike Drop, we pull back the curtain on the Religious Right. 2025 felt like the walls were closing in—from the "Department of War" rebranding to mandatory Ten Commandments in schools. But when you look past the smoke, mirrors, and pyrotechnics, you find a movement that is terrified of its own demographics.We analyze the "Zombie Church" data that proves their pews are emptying, the desperate hypocrisy behind their "bo...
2025-12-3109 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallThe Atheist's Guide to Family Shunning, Faith-Based Emails, and the Vatican Rant (BWAH-EP7)Join Mike Smithgall, the unelected mayor of Atheistville, for a post-holiday edition of Breakfast with a Heathen. After a 27-day journey through Thailand, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, Mike returns to the mic to tackle listener questions on the friction between secular and religious life. From a heartbreaking discussion on evangelical families shunning siblings over same-sex marriage to a deep dive into the "carrot and stick" psychology of the fear of Hell, Mike shares personal stories—including his own experience as a parent in the South—to provide a roadmap for finding your own "tribe."We also...
2025-12-2858 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallReligion is Already Dead (It Just Doesn’t Know It Yet)Headlines claim a religious revival is happening, but the data tells a different story. Today on the Mike Drop, we’re looking at the "Zombie Store" of global faith. Using new research from Nature Communications and the latest 2025 Pew Global Sweep, I break down the 3-stage P-I-B model (Participation, Importance, Belonging) that proves religion isn't bouncing back—it's just rotting from the inside out.Is religion actually "leveling off" in the US, or are we just watching a generational lag? Let’s look at the math.to see the charts head over to https://atheistville.com/20...
2025-12-2311 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallMike Drop: The Glass Bottom Boat - An Atheist's Defense of "Real" ChristianityMike 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 few bad apples"), Mike challenges the faithful to take responsibility for their institution. If the "good" Christians don't stand up to the "bad" ones, the whole system is complicit. An episode about integrity, reputation, and why an atheist is fighting to save the soul of the church.
2025-11-2508 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallCreated for Hell? | Church Taxes, The Historical Jesus & Deconstruction Loneliness (BWAH-EP6)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 analyze the "Telephone Game" of history regarding the existence of Jesus compared to figures like Alexander the Great, and address the personal side of leaving religion, from overcoming the guilt of enjoying secular music to the isolation of losing friends...
2025-11-2340 min
Atheistville with Mike Smithgall17% Point Drop: Why Americans Are Leaving Religion (Gallup Data)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 happening now, what it means for American politics, and how younger generations are redefining their relationship with faith and authority.We explore:The difference between Christian identity and...
2025-11-1911 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallHungry Babies & The Cost of Faith: Sex, Consent, and Religious Hypocrisy. (BWAH-EP5)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 is the promised Christian charity when the most vulnerable are suffering? The episode also explores the data showing a massive drop in religion's importance in America.We pivot to the evolving moral landscape of sex and consent. Is the traditional religious argument against premarital...
2025-11-1644 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallFaith, Fear, and the Mayor of New Yorkshared 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 and familiarity shape our bias. Mike explains why, as an atheist, he’s not on either side of the Muslim–Christian divide, why both faiths harbor good people and dangerous extrem...
2025-11-1108 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallFrom “Have a Blessed Day” to “You Cherry Picked That”: A Candid Talk on Faith and Frustration (BWAH - EP4)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 agnostics experience conversations with the faithful.He also unpacks the emotional side—grief over lost friendships, the desire for belief, and the strange mix of humor and tension when religion lingers in daily life. This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt misunderstood for thinking differently or tired of being...
2025-11-0955 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallWhy the Parties Switched Sides — and How Religion Made It PossibleThe 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 the switch, but it provided the moral vocabulary for both oppression and liberation.Religion in American Politics: A Short HistoryVisit us at www.Atheistville.com for more content from Mike Smithgall and the Atheistville team
2025-11-0410 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallPrayer, Apologetics, Mixed-Belief Love, and Leaving Faith (BWAH - EP3) 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 secular state isn’t my goal. We talk through fear during deconversion, mixed-belief relationships that work or implode, and simple etiquette for atheists at religious events. I close with “God of the gaps,” why “I don’t know” is a strong ans...
2025-11-0256 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallFaith on the Blackboard , The Real Agenda Behind Ten Commandments Laws 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 schools teach history without whitewashing or politicizing it?Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more content from Mike Smithgall and the Atheistville team 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville 💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question...
2025-10-2810 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallHow Religion Warps Politics, Parenting, and the Way We Think (BWAH - EP2) 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 “believe in nothing,” the emotional damage of teaching children about hell, and the isolation that often follows when you stop believing. There’s a discussion about finding hope without faith, why you don’t need all the answers to live meani...
2025-10-2648 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallPrayer as Propaganda: How Pete Hegseth’s “Department of War” Video Rewrites Scripture 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 asks a hard question: when government officials use prayer to sanctify military imagery, is it devotion, or theater?Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more content from Mike Smithgall and the Atheistville team 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville 💬 W...
2025-10-2212 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallCoffee, Questions, and the Cost of Honesty (BWAH - EP1) 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 shouting, no salvation required. Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more content from Mike Smithgall and the Atheistville team 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville 💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CO...
2025-10-191h 06
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallMorality Without God: How Religion Hijacked Our ConscienceIf 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 reasoned and candid look at what truly drives human ethics.Visit www.Atheistville.com for more shows and resources.Q: How do you explain moral instincts in people who’ve never been exposed to religi...
2025-10-1213 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallThe Supreme Court’s Next Test: Faith vs. FactsA 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, the misuse of science by religious law groups, and the broader threat to professional standards.Evidence versus belief. Law versus faith. Protection versus permission.That’s today’s Mike Drop.Visit us at www.Atheistville.c...
2025-10-0815 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallFrom Pulpit to Prison: An Atheist’s Journey Through Faith, Identity, and Redemption with Mike GonzalezIn 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, and the cost of living a double life.Mike opens up about the role military service, the loss of community, and hidden identity played in his struggles, and how moving to a more accepting environment, getting mental health support, and embracing authenticity changed his life...
2025-10-071h 31
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallThe Retreat of Faith: How Science Replaces Supernatural ClaimsReligious 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 curiosity and evidence. -Which scientific discovery do you think most changed how humans see the world?Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more content from Mike Smithgall and the Atheistville team 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheis...
2025-10-0110 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallThis Isn’t About Jesus: How Christian Nationalism Became a Political WeaponChurch 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 branding, nostalgia, and fear drive the movement, and what it means for democracy, atheists, and anyone outside the mold.💬 Viewer Comment PromptDo you think Christian nationalism is more driven by religious belief or cultural identity? Why?⏱ Chapter Topic...
2025-09-2809 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallThe Rapture That Wasn't: September's Failed Doomsday Prediction and the Psychology of Apocalyptic BeliefThis 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 apocalyptic anxiety.From Edgar Whisenant's mathematical certainty to Harold Camping's billboard campaign to today's viral prophets, the cycle never ends because the underlying psychology works. The rapture industry offers certainty, control, and cosmic justice — even when it's completely wrong.Visit us at www.Atheistville.com fo...
2025-09-2415 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallFrom Pastor to Atheist: The Pain and Power of Deconstruction🎙 Podcast DescriptionWhat 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. Whether you’re questioning, deconstructing, or supporting someone who is, this conversation highlights both the struggles and the strength in walking away from belief.Former pastors and believers share what it feels like to lose faith, face isolation, and rebuild community. This episode...
2025-09-2316 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallLeaving Church Doesn’t Have to Be Lonely: Building Atheist Community That Sticks 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 Black atheist experience and how leaving church means leaving a broader community. This episode offers insights on creating safer, more welcoming spaces for people questioning faith. It offers ideas and encouragement to anyone wanting to connect through secular social practice. 💬 Viewer...
2025-09-2219 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallAntifa, Atheism, and the New War on Free ThoughtThe 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 irony of targeting antifascists, the hypocrisy around January 6, and why both liberals and conservatives should resist this slide. Speech is the foundation of every other freedom, and defending it is not optional.💬 Viewer QuestionDo y...
2025-09-2015 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallFree Speech or Hypocrisy? Pam Bondi’s “Hate Speech” CrackdownThis 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, Charlie Kirk’s provocations, and Bondi’s dangerous framing in the spotlight, this episode reminds us that free speech isn’t about protecting words we like — it’s about protecting the ones we hate.Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more content from Mike...
2025-09-1711 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallAfter Charlie Kirk: Unpacking Political Martyrdom, Violence, and the Future of American Democracy 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. We examine how martyrdom functions in modern politics, the performative nature of political outrage, and why both sides aren't equally responsible for America's violence problem. The conversation also explores the role of online radicalization, the othering of political opponents, and what we can expect as political tensions continue to escalate. A...
2025-09-161h 00
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallDangerous Predictions: How End Times Beliefs Influence Politics and CultureFor 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, from support for apocalyptic foreign policy to the normalization of extremist rhetoric.💬 Viewer QuestionDo you think end times preaching is harmless tradition or a dangerous influence on society?📑 Relevant Topics or Chapter HeadingsWhy “End Times” Predictions Never Stop
2025-09-1512 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallFrom Silence to Strength: Why Atheists Need a Political Voice with Larry WarrenIn 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 representation.We also compare the atheist movement’s visibility to the LGBTQ community’s decades-long fight for rights and acceptance, asking what lessons we might take from their progress. From court cases that chip away at secular values to the challenges of running for office as an open a...
2025-09-1106 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallMy Body, My Choice - But Only Sometimes: Deconstructing the Religious and Political Hypocrisy Behind America's Growing Vaccine Resistance MovementMike 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 autonomy arguments, and partisan public health policy. From Idaho's 15% exemption rate to Texas's deadly outbreak, the data reveals a pattern of communities suffering when ideology overrides evidence. Mike also calls out the breathtaking hypocrisy of officials defending "my body, my choice" for vaccines while enforcing abortion bans. This isn't about faith versus science, it's about how...
2025-09-1019 min