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As of December
2008 I hope to post one new episode each month. (See the Update,
Episode 14, for
more details.) I do appreciate your feedback and I'll do
the best I can. Thanks very much for your interest!
* If you don't have iTunes, you can download it here for
either Mac or PC.
For iTunes and QuickTime, the Enhanced version offers Chapter
Headings and Show Notes when applicable.
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Episode 15
12/03/08 |
Diary of a Mad Editor: Deborah
Markus, Secular Homeschooling |
AAC
MP3
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Deborah Markus is the Mad Editor
behind the website and hard-copy Secular Homeschooling
magazine. She
writes, edits, publishes, and even does the mechanical work
on the website's private jet. It's all done to encourage and
support effective home education, specifically free of certain
dogmatic influences too often associated with "home
school." So put on your pajamas and get ready for math!
(47:43)
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Episode 14
11/29/08 |
Update: What's Happened with the Podcast? |
AAC
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Please accept my apologies for the inconsistency
lately. Here's a brief explanation.
I do hope to continue the podcast; health issues and related concerns will probably
limit me to once a month, at best.
(Thanks
very much for the support from those who've e-mailed and
posted on iTunes.)
(2:08)
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Episode 13
10/29/08 |
Dr. Jerome
Lynn Hall talks about
Nautical Archaeology and Surf Culture. |
AAC
MP3
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Dr. Jerome Lynn Hall,
Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of San
Diego, shares from his experiences as a Nautical Archaeologist
for Puerto Rico, for Earthwatch, and in continuing research.
He also discusses the academic side of exploring
and teaching Surf Culture. (40:38)
The Fig and The Spade
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Episode 12
10/07/08 |
A few humanists sit down around
the table (in cyberspace) to talk. |
AAC
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Six participants from Yahoo's Human_ism forum
sit down to talk. After brief introductions in which they share
how they came to identify themselves as humanists and what
that means to them, they apply their beliefs and values to
a discussion of basic human rights. We don't intend this as
a professional, comprehensive survey of humanism; it's just
a few knowledgeable, freethinking people who care. (55:12) |
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Episode 11
9/30/08 |
Raising kids well, without religion: Noell
Hyman, Agnostic Mom |
AAC
MP3
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She writes, she blogs, she takes photos, she
keeps up two websites, she scrapbooks! Also, she's raising
her children to be thoughtful, intelligent, inquisitive, honest,
caring, and creative, and she doesn't need religion to do it
(still, even a humanist can have fun with the Easter
Bunny for the little ones). She's (sfx: fanfare) - AGNOSTIC
MOM! Noell Hyman tells us about all this and more. (26:48)
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Episode 10
9/23/08 |
Chemistry without Laboratories (II)
: Dr. Anthony Rest, Royal Society of Chemistry,
Pan Africa Chemistry Network |
AAC
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Dr. Anthony Rest spotlights the Pan Africa
Chemistry Network. Launched in London in 2007 and Nairobi in
May 2008, the PACN aims to help African countries cultivate
professional development and networking in the sciences, expand
the availability of practical video instruction and other resources,
and link the chemical sciences to economic and human development.
(19:02) |
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Episode 9
9/17/08 |
Chemistry without
Laboratories (I)
: Dr.
Jodye Selco's Hands-On Chemistry |
AAC
MP3
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Dr. Jodye Selco set out to make chemistry
education more engaging and practical for her college students.
Her techniques proved just as useful for fifth graders as well
-- and attracted attention from Dr. Tony Rest, of the U.K.'s
Royal Society of Chemistry, who brought Jodye to Kenya to help
undergird the RSC's Pan Africa Chemistry Network. From substituting
zip-loc bags for glass beakers to creating atomic structures
from ping-pong balls and pipe cleaners, Jodye emphasizes the
practical and (gasp) fun side of chemistry. She
also discusses how the field is changing, with more women and
other populations formerly less drawn to math and sciences
now finding more opportunities to take part meaningfully. (30:55) |
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Episode 8
8/27/08 |
Very Practical Physics—Dr.
Hugh Haskell: Nuclear
Disarmament |
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Dr. Hugh Haskell, Senior Science Fellow at the
Energy for Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, discusses
why maintaining nuclear weapons doesn't stand up to reason:
they have no valid use in conventional warfare, and they don't
deter terrorsts. Dr. Haskell asserts that to solve this problem
and make the world safer, the U.S. should take the moral high
ground and set the example. (44:40)
Via the "Additional remarks" link
to the left, Dr. Haskell offers more perspective on the U.S.'
decision to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
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Episode 7
8/20/08 |
Barbara
Byrne and David Roelant on Unitarian
Universalsm |
AAC
MP3 |
Unitarian Universalism embraces a variety of religious
and humanist traditions and beliefs. Barbara Byrne and David
Roelant came to UU from very different backgrounds. They share
how they chose to take part in their congregation, and offer
examples of how they and other UU's work for peace and justice,
fair wages, environment, sexual and gender equality, and other
issues. (25:21) |
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Episode 6
8/13/08 |
Science and Religion: Sharing
Spiritual DNA? |
AAC
MP3 |
Both religion and science aim to help us understand
our world and our place in it. Science, in fact, grew out of
religion. Given that today the two worldviews operate on different
assumptions, with some mutually exclusive means and ends, have
they grown irreparably apart? Can a rational, naturalist worldview
accommodate any form of spirituality, or religious faith? Maybe
one key lies in understanding that spirituality and even
religious belief can transcend supernaturalism, superstition,
and dogma (though for many religious people, that's like saying "I'm
all for swimming, except that bit about staying in the water.") Think
we can settle this? Ahhh, probably not, but let's stir it up
anyhow. (22:24) |
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Episode 5
7/22/08 |
Arianna Huffington, Right
is Wrong |
AAC
MP3 |
Ms. Huffington gives a talk on points from
her book, and then responds to questions and comments from the
audience. Recorded on a promotional tour; presented here with
Ms. Huffington's permission. (43:12) |
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Episode 4
7/15/08 |
Libbey White, Evilution! |
AAC
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Growing up in the gorgeous countryside of Montana,
Libbey White developed a love for nature that led her to pursue
a degree in biology. Then she turned to a Masters in Fine Arts.
As part of that grad work, she produced a short film on young-earth
creationist Kent Hovind. The film wisely lets Hovind speak for
himself, accompanied by found footage that provides an intriguing
counterpoint. Libbey talks about bringing together both the arts
and sciences in support of humanism. (19:14) |
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Episode 3
7/9/08 |
Dan Wakefield, The
Hijacking of Jesus: How the Religious Right Distorts Christianity
and Promotes Prejudice and Hate |
AAC
MP3 |
Revisiting his book from 2006, Dan Wakefield discusses
the Obama campaign, Kurt Vonnegut’s disillusionment over
the U.S. invasion of Iraq, progressives’ need for cobelligerence,
and how too many whites remain oblivious to ongoing racial complexities
and frustrations. It's not all bad: he also points out some positive
elements among traditional religion in America. (34:24) |
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Episode 2
7/5/08
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Joshua
Rosenau, National Center for Science Education |
AAC
MP3 |
Promoting and supporting the teaching of good science,
basic legal issues, some tactics of antiscientific efforts such
as the film Expelled; NCSE's Clergy Letter Project,
Project Steve, and more. (25:59) |
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| Episode 1 6/25/08 |
Introduction |
Presenting the sciences and
a rational, humanist worldview as the main character, center
stage, with religion and politics in supporting roles.
This episode sets the tone, introduces key terms, does a little compare-and-contrast,
and makes several broad assertions that we'll address more thoroughly in
coming episodes. (25:27) |
AAC
MP3 |
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EPISODES IN THE WORKS
Nautical Archaeology
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Three ways to play along at home:
One: comments, questions, suggestions, condemnations: email
Two: I’m looking for professionals, academics, artists, and
others who have a clearly defined perspective on issues
consistent with the principles discussed in the episodes and this site.
If you have something significant you’d
like to share, send me some verifiable documentation of your work and
your level of expertise — your C.V.,
links to publications, professional references, maybe your web page. email
all that
Three: Maybe you don’t feel quite up to that level, but if you’ve
listened all the way through Episode 1 without giving in to an urge to
dump your iPod into an vat of sulfuric acid, apparently you’ve
thrown a few bones at the monolith yourself. Maybe you
have a special appreciation for the number 42 or the Flying Spaghetti
Monster. If you’d
like to share a brief anecdote about any "aha" experience
that stands out as you've explored these things, please
summarize that in about 300 words or less, or a 2-3 minute mp3 file. e-mail
those
I can't guarantee I'll use everything sent, but I'd like to hear from
you. I'll respond as soon as possible, whenever possible. Patience, please.
I'm only human.
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