Best Humanise Live | Hosted by James Hodgson Podcasts (2025)

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39. Dr Bo Bennett on Sharpening Critical Thinking, Logical Fallacies & Persuasive Dialogue 38:31

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4d ago38:31

38:31

“We need to care more about believing what is true than being right and being proved right.” - Bo Bennet With outrage-bait, memes and “gotcha” clips swarming every feed, being able to think about our thinking is no longer optional. Social psychologist, entrepreneur and Positive Humanism author Dr Bo Bennett joins host James Hodgson to show why crit…

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38. Julie Pham on Mastering Curiosity as a Practice 32:40

13d ago32:40

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“Curiosity isn’t a trait — it’s a practice. And like any practice, we have to keep doing it even when it’s hard.” — Dr. Julie Pham In this episode of Humanism Now, we explore curiosity as a practice. Dr. Julie Pham — social scientist, community builder, and author of the bestselling 7 Forms of Respect® — joins us to unpack how curiosity, respect, a…

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37. Rachael Reign on Coercive Control Beyond the Home: Protecting Cult Survivors 49:19

20d ago49:19

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“Surviving isn’t just about leaving — it’s about learning to trust yourself again after someone else’s voice has lived in your head for years.” — Rachael Reign In this powerful episode of Humanism Now, Rachael Reign, survivor and founder of Surviving Universal UK, shares her deeply personal story of escaping spiritual abuse and coercive control and…

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36. JC Candanedo on Art as Activism for Solidarity, Identity and Representation 41:32

27d ago41:32

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"Inclusion isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about creating a space where people feel safe enough to stay." - JC Candanedo Artist, activist, and humanist JC Candanedo shares his journey from a Catholic school in Panama to the art studios of London. His work weaves together identity, displacement, and community action, exploring how creativity can cha…

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35. Lindsay de Wal on Redefining Chaplaincy & the Rise of non-religious Pastoral Care in the NHS 31:16

1M ago31:16

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"Transcendence is the connection with something wider; the world, the cosmos, nature, other fellow human beings, and doing good in this life"— Dr Lindsay De Wal When Dr Lindsay De Wal became the first non-religious head of chaplaincy in the NHS, she redefined what spiritual support can look like in modern healthcare. From sceptical colleagues to in…

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34. Michael Bauer on Community Services Without Religion: Practical Humanism for a Secular Future 31:43

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“The highest value, the most precious value we have is not peace—it’s freedom.” — Michael Bauer This week on Humanism Now, we’re joined by Michael Bauer, CEO of Germany’s Humanistische Vereinigung—a 175-year-old humanist organisation offering professional community services without religion, grounded in ethics, dignity, and freedom. From ceremony t…

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33. Audrey Simmons & Lola Tinubu on Keeping the Faith Out of the Classroom: Smart Move or Overreach? 22:55

2M ago22:55

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This episode was originally recorded in May 2024. "What we have in common is what is taking us forward." — Lola Tinubu In May 2024, the High Court ruled that Michaela Community School’s “prayer ban” did not unlawfully interfere with students’ rights to religious freedom. This landmark decision reaffirmed the importance of secular education in promo…

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32. Alan Palmer on Finding Common Ground Through Faith Dialogues 18:59

2M ago18:59

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“If we focus so much on the 5% that divides us, we miss the 95% we already share.” — Alan Palmer Alan Palmer is the former Chair of Central London Humanists, a trustee of Humanists UK, and a long-time NHS Trust Director. With over 17 years of experience in grassroots organising, Alan shares how London’s most active humanist group grew from pub chat…

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31. Katherine Stewart on Money, Lies & God: How Billionaires Weaponised Religion to Undermine Democracy 34:44

2M ago34:44

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The pro-life religion we see today is a modern creation. It was created for political purposes." — Katherine Stewart Katherine Stewart is an award-winning journalist and author, who has investigated the rise of religious nationalism and its impact on democracy for over 15 years. Her work appears in The New York Times and The New Republic. She is th…

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30. S.I. Martin on Uncovering Britain's Hidden Histories & the Power of Storytelling 29:34

3M ago29:34

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"Isn't it true that we are the stories we tell ourselves?" — S.I. Martin This week on Humanism Now, we’re joined by S.I. Martin—historian, author, and patron of Humanists UK—whose work has reshaped how we understand Black British history and the power of storytelling. From his upbringing in a religious family in Bedford to decades spent uncovering …

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29. Faith to Faithless on Finding Community after Leaving High-Control Groups (part of Podcastathon 2025) 45:04

3M ago45:04

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This special episode of Humanism Now is released as part of Podcastathon 2025, the world’s largest podcast charity initiative. We’re proud to dedicate this episode to Faith to Faithless, a programme by Humanists UK supporting those leaving high-control religious groups. Three incredible guests—George, Leena, and Sarah—share raw, courageous accounts…

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28. Susie Alegre on the Algorithmic Assault on Human Rights: How AI Threatens Our Core Freedoms 39:58

4M ago39:58

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AI technologies pose significant threats to fundamental human rights, reinforcing historical biases and power imbalances. This week, we are joined by Susie Alegre, international human rights lawyer and author, to explore the impact of generative AI on gender and racial equality, labour markets, and information ecosystems. Susie has worked for inter…

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27. Happy Human Lithuania on the Magic of Humanist Ceremonies & Growing Social Enterprises 30:12

4M ago30:12

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Humanist ceremonies—weddings, namings, and funerals—are growing rapidly worldwide, offering non-religious, deeply personal ways to mark life’s most significant moments. Laimingas Žmogus (Happy Human) is a social enterprise based in Lithuania, dedicated to making these ceremonies accessible and meaningful. This week we are delighted to be joined by …

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26. Nathan Stilwell on the Need for Compassionate Assisted Dying Legislation & End of Life Care 31:34

8M ago31:34

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Welcome back to Humanism Now for a special episode coinciding with the critical upcoming UK Parliament vote on assisted dying — a pivotal moment we've long campaigned for and debated. In this episode we hear how what the bill entails, why it matters and how safe assisted dying aligns with values of compassion and autonomy. Joining us is Nathan Stil…

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25. Paul Harrison on Humanists in Business, plus Approaches to Activism Discussion 1:06:28

1y ago1:06:28

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"It's difficult to think of an area of work life that isn't connected to humanistic thought. If you start with ideas around the dignity of each human, compassion, kindness, ambitions, ways to behave, being evidence-based and being equitable, fair and not biased wherever possible, you start to understand that those are the foundational concepts of h…

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24. Lori Marriott on Humanist Climate Action 1:12:57

1y ago1:12:57

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"A key tenet of humanism is empathy. Whether that's empathy for those around us or to all humans, but also we should extend that to all life of exists, and then forward in time, to future generations." - Lori Marriott This week, Katia & Mark join the panel to discuss the merits of identifying with the humanist label. Plus we hear from Lori Marriott…

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23. Ariel Pontes on the Quest for Ethical Consciousness in a Divided World 1:24:37

1y ago1:24:37

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"It's really not as hard as people think to have a peaceful conversation with somebody who disagrees profoundly with you on deep questions." - Ariel Pontes This week on Humanism Now we share our wide ranging interview with Ariel Pontes, a writer, podcast host and advocate for humanism, effective altruism, animal welfare and productive dialogue to c…

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22. Ojas Singh Bhanot on Cultivating Student Groups plus Fostering Scientific Literacy in Society 1:04:22

1y ago1:04:22

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"Humanism is about human goodness, appreciating reason & potential" - Ojas Singh Bhanot This week on Humanism Now, Mark & Nicole join the panel to discuss how illegal faith schools deny children the right to science, the importance of promoting scientific literacy across society and the impact of scientific fraud. This week's interview is with Ojas…

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21. Valerie Jack on Finding Peace in Grief without God 59:23

1+ y ago59:23

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“The irony of man's condition is that the deepest need is to be free of the anxiety of death and annihilation; but it is life itself which awakens it, and so we must shrink from being fully alive.” ― Ernest Becker, The Denial of Death Episode References: BBC News: New extremism definition unveiled by government Humanists UK: Extremists ‘negate the …

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20. Monica Belițoiu, ASUR on Championing Secularism & Science Across Europe 1:04:43

1+ y ago1:04:43

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Welcome back to Humanism Now! This week AJ & Mark from the Central London Humanists join the panel to discuss the latest news, plus our interview with Monica Belițoiu, Chair of The Romanian Secular Humanist Association (ASUR) . Episode References Humanist UK; Dr Rebecca Wragg Sykes awarded Darwin Day Medal Rebecca Wragg Sykes Interview Humanists UK…

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19. Celebrating International Women's Day! Conversation on Feminism and Humanism 54:27

1+ y ago54:27

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Welcome to Humanism Now's International Women's Day Special hosted by Audrey Simmons (Association of Black Humanists & CLH) and featuring Lola Tinubu (Assoc. Black Humanists & CLH), Katia Urquiza (Central London Humanists) & Nicole Shasha (Leicester Humanists and Young Humanists) who discuss; The importance of IWD today Does being humanist imply be…

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18. Leo Igwe on New Future for Freethought, Atheism and Humanism in Africa 1:31:17

1+ y ago1:31:17

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"We should acknowledge that humanism is something that beats in the heart of every human being" Dr Leo Igwe This week James, Lola & AJ are joined by legendary human rights activist, Leo Igwe. We discuss the merits of Darwin Day, Leo's decades of campaigning for freethought and against superstition and Leo's vision for a new future for atheism and h…

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17. Jeremy Rodell on the Art of Interfaith Dialogue 1:06:40

1+ y ago1:06:40

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Welcome back to Humanism Now. This we learn practical tips for engaging in good faith dialogues with people of different beliefs with expert insight from Jeremy Rodell, Director of Humanist UK's Dialogue Network and our regular panellists Lola & Nicole. Episode references: Humanists UK: Exploring Common Ground, Dialogue with others Humanists UK: Di…

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16. Anya Overman on Humanism's Social Justice Impact 1:18:43

1+ y ago1:18:43

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This week on Humanism Now, Audrey & AJ join the panel to discuss personal and group activism and support for Social Justice campaigns. The panel discuss; How do humanist vales align with these causes? How do we prioritise issues to best influence changes? and what role should Humanist groups play in leading or supporting campaigns? We delve deeper …

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15. Scott Jacobsen on the Importance of Journalism plus Navigating Global Conflicts with Humanistic Values 1:24:39

1+ y ago1:24:39

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"Peace is more than just the absence of war. Peace requires respect for the worth and dignity of our fellow human beings, tolerance among individuals, and harmony within each person." Humanist International's Oslo Declaration on Peace This week, AJ and Mark tackle Humanist perspectives on global conflicts such as the current Israel-Palestine crisis…

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14. 2023 Review & 2024 Preview; Hope, Awe & Collective Human Achievement 1:01:53

1+ y ago1:01:53

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Join us as we review the 2023 year in Humanism and preview the events for 2024 with our regular panellists, Mark, Nicole & Katia. Together with host James, they discuss; insights from 2023 meetups and conventions, inspiring personal experiences, a varied events calendar and the important role of humanist voices in 2024's major democratic elections.…

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13. Bart Campolo on Choosing Human Experience, Relationships & Belonging 1:09:31

1+ y ago1:09:31

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"I know so many people whose lives got better when they learned how to use a crock pot and make a decent chili" Welcome back to Humanism Now. This week we are delighted to share an extended interview with Bart Campolo, host of the inspirational podcast, Humanize Me! After decades as a Christian evangelist, Bart embraced humanism and now uses his pl…

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12. Emma Wadsworth-Jones on Humanists International's Freedom of Thought Report 2023 1:07:29

1+ y ago1:07:29

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"When we're upholding secularism, we're making sure that that is freedom of religion or belief for all, and not just for the non-religious to be safe" - Emma Wadsworth-Jones On this week's Humanism Now we are delighted to be joined by Emma Wadsworth-Jones, Casework & Campaigns Manager Of Humanists International and principle editor of the Freedom o…

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11. Madeleine Goodall on Britain's Humanist Heritage 1:23:21

1+ y ago1:23:21

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"Conscious morality cannot exist in any being except so far as it can look behind, before, and around; and can remember, compare, and reason about right and wrong so as to choose for itself, and for those it can influence, a given course." - Zona Vallance What does it mean to be a humanist in the modern world? Join James, Mark and new contributor K…

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10. Comedian Lisa May on Comedy, Freethought & Challenging Authority 1:24:54

1+ y ago1:24:54

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“If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.” ― George Bernard Shaw This week on Humanism Now, Nicole and AJ join James to discuss the relationship between comedy, freethought and humanism. We discuss the role of comedy in challenging authority and changing social norms, our personal comedy heroes and what sho…

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9. Lucy Potter on Non-Religious Asylum Claims plus Tackling Misconceptions about Humanists 1:04:02

1+ y ago1:04:02

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Welcome to Humanism Now. This week James is joined by Mark from Central London Humanists and Nicole of Leicester & Young Humanists to tackle more common misconceptions about humanism. The panel counter some of the frequent critiques of a humanist worldview; from misleading definitions of Humanism (by prominent thinkers!) to misperceptions of how hu…

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8. Martin Di Maggio on Humanistic Judaism, Cultivating Communities & Confronting Misconceptions 1:11:39

1+ y ago1:11:39

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This week on Humanism Now as we welcome Lola Tinubu, Co-Founder of the Association of Black Humanists and Nicole Shasha, Founder of Leicester Humanists to discuss their experiences creating and cultivating secular communities and challenging misconceptions. We also discuss the implications of Ayaan Hirsi Ali's recent article Why I am Now a Christia…

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7. Terri O'Sullivan, Faith to Faithless on Support for Leaving Religion plus Humanistic Approaches to Free Speech 1:23:59

1+ y ago1:23:59

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This week on Humanism now, Audrey & Mark join the panel to discuss taking a humanistic approach to issues around Free Speech and free expression, drawing on recent international news items. Our guest this week is Terri O'Sullivan from Faith to Faithless. Terri shares her deeply personal journey to humanism and her role as Apostate Services Developm…

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6. Javan Lev Poblador, Young Humanists Special! 1:12:47

1+ y ago1:12:47

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On this episode of Humanism Now, we're exploring the inspiring world of young humanists. Our co-host AJ and new panellist Nicole, fellow coordinators of Young Humanist UK share what campaigns and activities motivate Humanists in the 18-35 age range. Nicole also shares her experience of starting a new humanist group in Leicester and the joys of brin…

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5. Emma Park, Editor of The Freethinker plus Humanism in Education & Science Communication 1:17:32

1+ y ago1:17:32

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This week on Humanism now, Mark & AJ join the panel to discuss the role of science communication & humanism in education, with insights gathered from the New Scientist Conference. Dr. Emma Park, Editor of The Freethinker, provides a deep dive into the essence of freethought & the consequences of placing any views on an untouchable pedestal. Emma sh…

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4. Jamie Woodhouse on Sentientism plus Humanist Approaches to Asylum Policy 1:23:44

2y ago1:23:44

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This week's episode focusses on humanistic approaches to both human and animal rights issues. Following recent proposed changes to the UK's asylum policy, AJ, Audrey (Assoc. Black Humanists) & James explore humanistic perspectives on immigration, climate change and the role of empathy in approaching global political issues. In our guest interview w…

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3. Alex Williams on the Poetry of Discovery & What Humanism Means 55:35

2y ago55:35

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Mark Agathangelou, CLH Committee Member and active Event Organiser joins this week's panel to discuss finding Humanism through the One Life Course, hosing discussion groups and our recent 'What Humanism Means to Me' live open mic night. Plus our interview with the multi-talented Alex Williams; a poet, teacher, playwright, and author, who will shed …

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2. Prof. Christopher Cameron on Black Freethinkers plus Ending Conversion Therapy 1:09:50

2y ago1:09:50

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Audrey Simmons, co-lead of the Association of Black Humanists joins James & AJ this week to discuss her personal journey and the unique challenges for the Black community in the UK when it comes to embracing humanism. AJ provides an update on the proposed ban of conversion therapy in the UK. Despite the government's commitment to a ban, delays, and…

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1. Roslyn Mould, Humanists International & Why Humanism Now? 1:09:29

2y ago1:09:29

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What does it truly mean to be a humanist in today's world? In this episode, James & AJ from Central London Humanists discuss their personal journeys and why start a humanism podcast now? Plus guest interview with Rosyln Mould, Vice President of Humanists International Send us a text Support the show Support us on Patreon Advertising opportunities C…

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