Shows
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallReligion is Already Dead (It Just Doesn’t Know It Yet)Send us a textHeadlines 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...
2025-12-2311 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallMike Drop: The Glass Bottom Boat - An Atheist's Defense of "Real" ChristianitySend us a textMike 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...
2025-11-2508 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallCreated for Hell? | Church Taxes, The Historical Jesus & Deconstruction Loneliness (BWAH-EP6)Send us a textIn 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...
2025-11-2340 min
Atheistville with Mike Smithgall17% Point Drop: Why Americans Are Leaving Religion (Gallup Data)Send us a textGallup 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:...
2025-11-1911 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallHungry Babies & The Cost of Faith: Sex, Consent, and Religious Hypocrisy. (BWAH-EP5)Send us a textThis 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...
2025-11-1644 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallFaith, Fear, and the Mayor of New YorkSend us a textshared 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 harb...
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)Send us a textIn 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 misunders...
2025-11-0955 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallWhy the Parties Switched Sides — and How Religion Made It PossibleSend us a textThe 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 Smithgal...
2025-11-0410 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallPrayer, Apologetics, Mixed-Belief Love, and Leaving Faith (BWAH - EP3)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 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...
2025-11-0256 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallFaith on the Blackboard , The Real Agenda Behind Ten Commandments LawsSend 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 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 gues...
2025-10-2810 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallHow Religion Warps Politics, Parenting, and the Way We Think (BWAH - EP2)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 “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...
2025-10-2648 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallPrayer as Propaganda: How Pete Hegseth’s “Department of War” Video Rewrites ScriptureSend 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 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 YouTu...
2025-10-2212 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallCoffee, Questions, and the Cost of Honesty (BWAH - EP1)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 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 q...
2025-10-191h 06
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallMorality Without God: How Religion Hijacked Our ConscienceSend us a textIf 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’...
2025-10-1213 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallThe Supreme Court’s Next Test: Faith vs. FactsSend us a textA 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...
2025-10-0815 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallFrom Pulpit to Prison: An Atheist’s Journey Through Faith, Identity, and Redemption with Mike GonzalezSend us a textIn 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...
2025-10-071h 31
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallThe Retreat of Faith: How Science Replaces Supernatural ClaimsSend us a textReligious 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
2025-10-0110 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallThis Isn’t About Jesus: How Christian Nationalism Became a Political WeaponSend us a textChurch 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...
2025-09-2809 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallThe Rapture That Wasn't: September's Failed Doomsday Prediction and the Psychology of Apocalyptic BeliefSend us a textThis 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.Vi...
2025-09-2415 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallFrom Pastor to Atheist: The Pain and Power of DeconstructionSend us a text🎙 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 is...
2025-09-2316 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallLeaving Church Doesn’t Have to Be Lonely: Building Atheist Community That SticksSend 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 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 sec...
2025-09-2219 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallAntifa, Atheism, and the New War on Free ThoughtSend us a textThe 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.
2025-09-2015 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallFree Speech or Hypocrisy? Pam Bondi’s “Hate Speech” CrackdownSend us a textThis 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...
2025-09-1711 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallAfter Charlie Kirk: Unpacking Political Martyrdom, Violence, and the Future of American DemocracySend 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. 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 a...
2025-09-161h 00
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallDangerous Predictions: How End Times Beliefs Influence Politics and CultureSend us a textFor 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 HeadingsW...
2025-09-1512 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallFrom Silence to Strength: Why Atheists Need a Political Voice with Larry WarrenSend us a textIn 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 run...
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 MovementSend us a textMike 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...
2025-09-1019 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallConversations on Death, Grief, and Saying Goodbye Without ReligionSend us a textThis 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 than words. It’s a candid conversation about compassion, authenticity, and doing no harm at the end of life. 💬 Viewer Question How would you comfort a loved one who is dying if you don’...
2025-09-0810 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallThrowing Out “Sin”: Building Secular Ethics Beyond ReligionSend us a textWhat 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 dives into institutional abuse, forgiveness at the “11th hour,” and how secular ethics provide a stronger framework for justice and compassion than theology ever did. 💬 Viewer Question Do you think the word “sin...
2025-09-0719 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallPrayer Works In Your Head, Not In Heaven: Understanding Religious Ritual Through ScienceSend us a textThis 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 repetitive ritual, and why understanding prayer's natural benefits doesn't require dismissing its value entirely.Topics covered include intercessory prayer studies, the dangerous side of replacing action with prayer, and how secular practices like meditation tap into the same psychological mechanisms that make religious prayer effective.💬 Viewer Que...
2025-09-0311 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallThe Unholy Roundtable: What Is Sin Without Religion? Atheists Redefine Morality, Ethics, and TruthSend us a textThis 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 unbelief.Topics Covered:Redefining sin through secular ethicsReligious influence in healthcare and counselingThe pain of leaving ministry and losing communityDouble standards: why believers proselytize but expect atheists to stay silentBuilding supportive spaces for deconstruction and doubt📚 2. Recommended Reading...
2025-09-022h 06
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallSlavery, Scripture, and Skepticism: A Black Atheist Questions the Bible’s MoralitySend us a textIn this powerful conversation, we explore the deep contradictions between Christian scripture and the lived Black experience, especially when it comes to slavery. Our guest shares her personal journey from belief to atheism, shaped by critical questioning within the church and a confrontation with biblical passages that justified slavery. What happens when a faith tradition used to oppress is also the one embraced by the oppressed?This isn’t about attacking individuals, it’s about examining dangerous ideas with honesty, curiosity, and humanity.Relevant Topics / Chapter Head...
2025-09-0118 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallFrom Episcopalian Choir Boy to Confident Atheist: Larry Warren tells his storySend us a textMeet Larry Warren, a man whose journey from Episcopalian choir boy to confident atheist mirrors the experience of countless Americans who quietly questioned their faith for decades before the internet gave them the tools to understand their doubts. Larry's story is refreshingly relatable—no dramatic deconversion moment, no religious trauma, just a gradual realization that began in his teenage years and crystallized in his late 40s.What makes Larry's perspective valuable is how he represents the "casual Christian" experience that so many Americans share. Raised in the mild Midwestern Episcopalian tradition, La...
2025-08-311h 40
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallCatholic School Shooting: Identity, Media Narratives, and Secular PerspectivesSend us a textThis episode examines the tragic Catholic school shooting and the reactions that followed. We unpack the immediate framing of the suspect’s identity as trans and atheist, and the way partisan lines shape the headlines. We also reflect on questions of justice, punishment, and personal morality in the aftermath of violence. Viewer Question:Do you think the media focuses too much on a suspect’s identity instead of the root causes of violence?📑 Relevant Topics or Chapter HeadingsOpening Reactions to the ShootingJustice...
2025-08-2858 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallWhy “God Told Me To Do It” Can’t Stand in CourtSend us a textIn this Mike Drop episode, Mike Smithgall explores Penn Jillette’s sharp observation that courts recognize insanity as a defense, but never “God told me to do it.” Why? Because the law must rest on evidence, not revelation.Mike unpacks the secular foundation of law, the distinction between mental capacity and religious belief, and the dangers of allowing divine authority into legal defenses. Drawing on history, cultural context, and real-world cases, this episode shows why secularism protects fairness and accountability for all.💬 Viewer QuestionDo you think the justice s...
2025-08-2711 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallWhy Leaving Religion Can Feel Like Betraying Your Race: Cynthia McDonald's Atheist JourneySend us a textWhat happens when faith and identity collide? Cynthia McDonald shares her powerful journey from Christian belief to unapologetic atheism—and how that decision sparked unexpected reactions within her community. In this episode of "Ask an Atheist," we talk about religion in Black culture, breaking free from indoctrination, and what it really means to be true to yourself. Cynthia also shares her work with Black Nonbelievers and the Atheist Community of Austin.Question of the day:Have you ever felt like leaving religion made others question your identity? How did you ha...
2025-08-261h 40
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallWhat If I’m Wrong? Pascal’s Wager, Satan’s Tricks, and Deconstructing FaithSend us a textIn this episode, we explore the question many wrestle with while deconstructing: What if I’m wrong? We look at Pascal’s Wager, the idea of being deceived by Satan, and how authoritarian religious systems discourage critical thought. The discussion ranges from absurdities like Noah’s Ark to the deeper problem of outsourcing reasoning to leaders who claim to speak for God.This is a raw, thoughtful, and often humorous look at the mental journey out of belief, the role of evidence, and why being genuine matters more than pretending to believ...
2025-08-2513 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallHeimlich or Hallelujah? The Risks of Replacing Care with PrayerSend us a textIn this episode, we tackle a deceptively simple question: if someone is choking, do you pray or perform the Heimlich? The conversation leads to deeper issues—parents who choose faith over medicine, the legal limits of religious exemptions, and the impact of homeschooling rooted in ideology rather than evidence.We share personal stories, examine research on the effectiveness of prayer, and discuss how secular humanism offers a better framework for decisions that affect lives. A challenging but vital discussion on where belief ends and responsibility begins. 💬 Viewer QuestionHa...
2025-08-2116 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallI'm not rejecting God, I’m rejecting YOU!Send us a text"I’m not rejecting God. I’m rejecting YOU.” That’s the core idea in this episode of Mike Drop. Host Mike Smithgall breaks down why most atheists aren’t denying the existence of a god, they’re questioning the authority of those who claim to speak for one. From televangelists to politicians invoking divine will, this episode explores how human claims of divine authority often go unchecked, causing real-world harm. If you've ever wondered what atheists are really pushing back against, this episode lays it out, reasoned, direct, and unfiltered.💬 Viewer...
2025-08-2012 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallWhy “God’s Plan” Can Wound the Bereaved More Than It HealsSend us a textIn this episode, we examine a story from a Christian mother who lost her young son and was met with repeated assurances that he was “in a better place.” While well-intentioned, these comments left her feeling invalidated, diminished, and deeply hurt.We unpack how religious comfort can clash with real-world grief, the theological contradictions it exposes, and the emotional impact on surviving children. Along the way, we discuss the dangers of thoughtless platitudes, the limits of prayer as a response, and why compassion requires presence, not just piety.💬 Viewer Questio...
2025-08-1913 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallProperty, Purity, and Patriarchy: How Religion Controls Women’s BodiesSend us a textIn this episode, we unpack the centuries-old religious systems that police women’s sexuality while excusing men. From the way conservative Christians condemn women in porn but ignore male participation, to purity culture traditions like veils and “giving away the bride,” we explore the deep roots of patriarchal control.We also discuss the link between modesty rules, property laws, and the ongoing expectation that women bear the moral burden in sexual matters. Along the way, we address sex-positivity, boundaries, and the troubling patterns that connect violence against women to broader cultural belief...
2025-08-1508 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallMarriage Equality, Religious Liberty, and the Fight for Secular RightsSend us a textKim Davis, the former Kentucky county clerk who went to jail in 2015 for refusing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, is back in the headlines with a Supreme Court petition to overturn marriage equality. While most experts agree it’s unlikely to succeed, the case highlights a persistent, organized effort to roll back secular rights under the banner of “religious freedom.”In this episode, we explore the history of Davis’s defiance, why her arguments have repeatedly failed in court, and the broader political campaign to challenge LGBTQ rights. We also look at why t...
2025-08-1311 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallFaith, Freedom, and Facts: Atheists on Leaving Religion and Finding CommunitySend us a textIn this episode of The Unholy Roundtable, a panel of atheists explores the rise of Christian nationalism, the persistence of gender inequality in religion, and the powerful social bonds that keep many in the pews. We share personal stories of deconstruction, confront historical myths about America’s founding, and challenge the logic behind religious control. Whether you’ve left religion or are questioning, this conversation offers thoughtful perspectives on belief, community, and freedom. What was the single biggest turning point that made you start questioning your religious beliefs?...
2025-08-122h 05
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallInside Doug Wilson’s Political Blueprint for Christian NationalismSend us a textPastor Doug Wilson’s mission goes far beyond the pulpit. With a growing network of over 150 churches worldwide and a new base just blocks from the U.S. Capitol, he’s advancing a vision for America — and eventually the world — governed by his brand of Christian theology. In this episode, Mike examines Wilson’s rise, his open call to repeal women’s right to vote, and his belief that all societies should be theocratic.It’s a 250-year plan to reshape culture, law, and politics. Whether you’re an atheist, a Christian who va...
2025-08-1008 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallWhy Do Churches Protect Abusers? Inside the Crisis of Moral HypocrisySend us a textWhen abuse happens in religious institutions, it’s not just a scandal, it’s a system. In today’s “Mike Drop” from the Pulpit of Reason, Mike Smithgall tackles one of the most disturbing moral failures in modern religious life: the widespread cover-up of child abuse by churches. From Catholic dioceses to evangelical megachurches, this isn’t just history, it’s happening now. Why are predators protected, and why is silence still sacred? It’s time to pull back the curtain.Question of The Day:Why do you think religi...
2025-08-0710 min
Atheistville with Mike SmithgallEpisode 0 – Welcome to AtheistvilleSend us a textIn this short introductory episode, host Mike Smithgall lays the foundation for what Atheistville is all about, a podcast created for atheists, ex-Christians, skeptics, and anyone questioning religion’s role in their lives.Atheistville isn’t here to bash anyone’s personal beliefs. But it challenges the idea that nonbelievers should stay silent in a world where religion is treated as the default. This show is for people who are tired of pretending, tired of apologizing, and ready to live out loud.
2025-08-0602 min