Shows
Skeptical Inquirer Audio EditionBarry Karr Is Retiring—and That Is Not a Hoax by Robyn E. BlumnerRobyn Blumner celebrates Barry Karr’s retirement after forty-four years at CSI, calling him the tireless backbone who kept skepticism thriving through leadership, conferences, and creative outreach. Through anecdotes and tributes, she highlights his humor, dedication, and behind-the-scenes work that made him an unsung hero of the skeptical movement. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/08/barry-karr-is-retiring-and-that-is-not-a-hoax/ About the Author: Robyn E. Blumner is president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry and executive director of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science. She is a lawyer who...
2025-09-1016 min
Free Inquiry Audio EditionThe Dover Trial Revisited: Still One for the Ages by Robyn E. BlumnerRobyn E. Blumner reflects on the landmark 2005 Kitzmiller v. Dover trial, which struck down the teaching of intelligent design in public schools as a violation of the Establishment Clause. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2025/03/the-dover-trial-revisited-still-one-for-the-ages/ Register for the Scopes Trial Centennial Conference: https://centerforinquiry.org/scopes-trial-centennial-conference/ About the Author: Robyn E. Blumner is the CEO of the Center for Inquiry and the executive director of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and, Science. She was a nationally syndicated columnist and editorial writer for t...
2025-04-0209 minSkeptical Inquirer Audio EditionThe Ideological Hijacking of Science Funding by Robyn E. BlumnerBlumner critiques the influence of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mandates on science funding, arguing that these policies prioritize ideological conformity over scientific merit. She highlights examples of federal grant requirements emphasizing DEI goals and warns that politicizing research funding undermines trust in science, particularly in a polarized climate. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/02/the-ideological-hijacking-of-science-funding/ About the Author: Robyn E. Blumner is president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry and executive director of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science. She is a lawyer w...
2025-02-2512 minFree Inquiry Audio EditionEvolution Is Still on Trial 100 Years after Scopes by Robyn E. BlumnerJennifer and Jason Reinoehl's 2023 lawsuit against their local school for teaching evolution echoed the century-old debate over science and religion from the Scopes Trial, alleging it promoted atheism and violated their parental rights. Though their case was dismissed as "futile," efforts to undermine evolution persist, with creationist legislation and advocacy testing the boundaries of science education nearly 100 years after Scopes. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2024/11/evolution-is-still-on-trial-100-years-after-scopes/ About the Author: Robyn E. Blumner is the CEO of the Center for Inquiry and the executive director o...
2024-11-2610 minSkeptical Inquirer Audio EditionThe Cass Review: Are We Experimenting on Kids? by Robyn E. BlumnerThe Cass Review, a report commissioned by the National Health Service in the United Kingdom, raises significant concerns about the rapid medicalization of gender dysphoria treatment for minors. The review’s recommendations for a more measured approach contrast with practices in the United States, where early medical interventions remain largely endorsed, underscoring the need for clearer guidelines and more comprehensive studies. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2024/10/the-cass-review-are-we-experimenting-on-kids/ About the Author: Robyn E. Blumner is president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry and executive director of...
2024-11-0510 min
The Non-ProphetsIgnoring Racism Won’t Fix RacismIgnoring racism won’t fix racism: A response to Robyn Blumner's misguided essayThe Friendly Atheist, By Bakari Chavanu and Hemant Mehta, on Aug 13, 2024https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/ignoring-racism-wont-fix-racism-aBakari Shabanu, a Black atheist humanist, critiques Robert Blumer's editorial on secular humanism and the notion of a colorblind society. Blumer argues for a society that overlooks race, believing that focusing on race perpetuates division and reverse racism. However, Shabanu contends that this approach disregards the realities of systemic racism and the historical context of Black em...
2024-08-3125 min
Friendly Atheist PodcastEp. 544 - Richard Dawkins Lies About the Algerian Boxer and CensorshipPatreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Hemant got into a beef with 80s TV-star-turned-evangelist Kirk Cameron. (0:35)— Richard Dawkins lied about the Algerian boxer, then lied about Facebook censoring him. (16:10)SPONSOR: This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at BetterHelp.com/atheist and get 10% off your first month. — Ignoring racism won't fix ra...
2024-08-151h 36Skeptical Inquirer Audio EditionThe Eight-Cell Person, Religion, and the Legality of In Vitro Fertilization by Robyn E. BlumnerRobyn E. Blumner discusses the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that recognized cryogenically preserved embryos as legal persons under state law, sparking debates on the intersection of religion, law, and science in matters of reproductive rights. It critiques the influence of religious beliefs on legal definitions of personhood and warns of broader implications for scientific literacy, highlighting the ongoing conflicts between religious ideology and scientific understanding in American jurisprudence. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2024/06/the-eight-cell-person-religion-and-the-legality-of-in-vitro-fertilization/ About the Author: Robyn E. Blumner is president and CEO of...
2024-07-0107 minFree Inquiry Audio EditionSpeaker Mike Johnson’s Christian Nationalism Gets Congressional Attention—Not the Good Kind by Robyn E. BlumnerRobyn E. Blumner criticizes Speaker Mike Johnson’s promotion of Christian Nationalism and his efforts to undermine the separation of church and state, citing his ties to the New Apostolic Reformation and history of advocating for religiously-driven public policies. The Congressional Freethought Caucus has raised concerns about his views, especially his support for teaching young-earth creationism and pushing for a nationwide abortion ban, urging him to clarify his stance on imposing religious law over constitutional principles. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2024/03/speaker-mike-johnsons-christian-nationalism-gets-congressional-attention-not-the-good-kind/ About the Author: Rob...
2024-04-0105 minSkeptical Inquirer Audio EditionDefending Science against Social Justice Dogmatism and Identitarianism by Robyn E. Blumner Robyn E. Blumner critiques the influence of social justice dogmatism and identitarianism on science, arguing that these ideologies hinder scientific progress by prioritizing identity over merit. She highlights cases like the opposition to golden rice, the push to equate indigenous knowledge with scientific principles, and ideological biases in STEM publishing, warning that such trends undermine objectivity, academic freedom, and the role of science in solving global challenges. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2024/02/defending-science-against-social-justice-dogmatism-and-identitarianism/ About the Author: Robyn E. Blumner is president and CEO of the...
2024-03-0109 min
Secular LeftWhen Did Free Inquiry Turn Into David Silverman's Twitter Feed?Robyn Blumner of the Center of Inquiry took the opportunity, in a recent editorial, to slam identity politics, woke progressives, and took a cheap shot at the American Humanist Association.Show NotesSubscribe to our free newsletterCheck out our merch01:35 Blumner is wrong about Humanism22:47 Dawkins the Snowflake34:42 When Did Free Inquiry Turn Into David Silverman's Twitter Feed?43:07 Why I am no fan of CFISend us a textSupport the show...
2022-06-0953 min
Glass City HumanistBlumner Is Wrong: All Individuals Are Important To HumanismRobyn Blumner of the Center of Inquiry took the opportunity, in a recent editorial, to slam identity politics, woke progressives, and took a cheap shot at the American Humanist Association.
Show Notes
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01:22 Why aren't all individuals important to Humanism?
13:55 Richard Dawkins the Snowflake
2022-06-0330 min
The Phil Ferguson Show380 Robyn Blumner - Center for InquiryInterview with Robyn Blumner. She is the President and CEO of the Center for Inquiry.Investing Skeptically: JP Morgan pays 19 Million settlement, More Regulations?Bonus audio: Recordings of Robert Green IngersollYou can buy the audio CD here....https://centerforinquiry.org/store/product/2-cd-set-lectures-by-ingersoll/
2021-04-271h 22
The Secular FoxholeInterview with Margaret Downey and Andrew SeidelOn January 24th, we discussed the life and work of Thomas Paine, one of America's first, great, intellectuals. Margaret Downey of The Freethought Society and Andrew Seidel of The Freedom From Religion Foundation were our guests for this lively discussion. You will hear an important announcement by the Thomas Paine Memorial Association.Show notes with links to articles, blog posts, products and services:The Freethought SocietyThomas Paine Foundation/Memorial CommitteeFreedom From Religion FoundationCommon Sense - WikipediaCommon Sense - Writ Large podcastThe Inauguration's Beautiful Call for Unity was Undermined by the Invocation of ReligionThe American CrisisZenos FrudakisRobyn...
2021-01-2938 min
Banachek's BrainRobyn Blumner & The Center for Inquiry: Episode #65On this episode of the podcast we talk with Robyn Blumner. Robyn is a journalist, civil rights expert and the current president and chief executive officer of the secular educational organization Center for Inquiry and executive director of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science.
2019-11-1031 min
Secular Jihadists for a Muslim EnlightenmentEP60: Secular Rescue: Saving Freedom, Saving LivesIn many countries—especially Muslim-majority countries—atheists live in mortal danger. Thirteen of these countries—Afghanistan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen—officially punish atheism with death. This grim reality led the Center for Inquiry (CFI) to start the Secular Rescue program, designed to provide emergency assistance to writers, bloggers, publishers, and activists who face threats because they are freethinking non-believers. In this episode, we speak to Robyn Blumner, the CEO of CFI and executive director of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science (RDFRS), about this lifesaving, heroic initiati...
2018-08-011h 02
Point of InquiryRobyn Blumner and Ronald A. Lindsay: A Joining of Forces, a Passing of the Torch
The freethought movement has seen two of its most respected and influential institutions combine into what has been called a “supergroup” for secularism. The Center for Inquiry, the organization that proudly produces this program, announced in January that it would merge with the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science, and that Robyn Blumner, the Richard Dawkins Foundation’s president and CEO, would take over from Ronald A. Lindsay as CEO of CFI.
Both Robyn Blumner and Ron Lindsay appear together as our guests this week, here to discuss with host Josh Zepps the reasoning behind the merger, and how...
2016-02-0836 minPoint of InquiryRobyn Blumner and Ronald A. Lindsay: A Joining of Forces, a Passing of the Torch
The freethought movement has seen two of its most respected and influential institutions combine into what has been called a “supergroup” for secularism. The Center for Inquiry, the organization that proudly produces this program, announced in January that it would merge with the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science, and that Robyn Blumner, the Richard Dawkins Foundation’s president and CEO, would take over from Ronald A. Lindsay as CEO of CFI.
Both Robyn Blumner and Ron Lindsay appear together as our guests this week, here to discuss with host Josh Zepps the reasoning behind the merger, and how...
2016-02-0836 min
Friendly Atheist PodcastEp. 93 - Robyn Blumner, CEO of the Center For InquiryRobyn Blumner spent 16 years as a nationally syndicated columnist and editorial writer at the Tampa Bay Times newspaper, where she wrote a lot about civil liberties, church/state separation, and free speech issues. In 2012, she was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize along with the rest of her editorial team.
Before she was writing professionally, she headed up ACLU affiliates in Florida and Utah. She entered the world of organized atheism, if you will, in 2014, when she was tapped to run the Richard Dawkins Foundation. Recently, RDF announced a merger with the Center For Inquiry, and Robyn will soon become...
2016-02-0737 min