Bombastic secular creeps like Ann Coulter have unlimited access to the airwaves, and Christian programming bumps and grinds in markets large and small; but where do atheists go for programming that won't offend their non-secular sensibilities? 
Evangelicals and Republicans would reply: to CNN and MSNBC, of course!
But now the secular humanists also have Freethought Radio. Dan Barker, a
former evangelical Christian minister who co-hosts the Madison
Wis.-based program with his wife Annie Laurie Gaylor. They're
co-presidents of the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
Air America has added the weekly one hour show, which premiered nationally October 6, to their weekend lineup. So far, our own progressive talk station KPTK, a CBS affiliate who runs AAR programming has not picked it up. Previous programs may be listened to or downloaded for podcasting here.
"This is radio for the rest of us," says Barker, who self-references as "your friendly neighborhood atheist." he recommend s writing to KPTK station management to get a Seattle airing.
"Freethought Radio offers irreverent views, news, music and interviews," says Gaylor. The objective is to offer programming for nonreligious listeners, and to "counter the religious right domination of our public airwaves." Segments include "Theocracy Alert," Dan's "Pagan Pulpit," "Freethinkers Almanac," and music and interviews with authors and activists.
Such as Christopher Hitchens, comedian Janeane Garofalo, abortion-clinic bombing victim Emily Lyons, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Katha Pollitt, Eleanor Smeal, Betty Rollin; and Darrell Lambert. the exemplary Port Orchard Eagle Scout who was kicked out of his Boy Scout troop in 2003 after he publicly declared himself an atheist.
Seattle's own Ron Reagan, former KIRO talkhost and openly an atheist, appeared Saturday on the show.
"Ron became an atheist as a kid, and argued with his parents about it," said Dan Barker, a former evangelical Christian minister who co-hosts the show, "And he's still an atheist."
Oh damn, something to listen to while I work that will actualy beg for my attention. This will greatly decrease my productivity.
Posted by: Andrew | October 15, 2007 at 12:25 AM
Andrew sez
"Oh damn, something to listen to while I work that will actualy beg for my attention. This will greatly decrease my productivity.
Posted by: Andrew | October 15, 2007 at 12:25 AM"
Nevets, I guess your never gonna get those fries after all...
Posted by: PugetSound | October 15, 2007 at 04:25 AM
Very interesting. A former evangelical minister no less. I will podcast the show and check it out. Thanks, Michael.
Posted by: joanie | October 15, 2007 at 08:32 AM
PS, stop stalking me. There's more to life than following me around a blog.
Posted by: Andrew | October 15, 2007 at 09:12 AM
Well I hope Freethought Radio draws more listeners than Imus.
Apparently his new show Imus In The Morning starts on WABC, New York on Dec 3.
Since, reportedly he's out to get my candidate Mrs Clinton and regards her as 'satan' it would be paradoxical justice to see them succeed and he fall on his face.
Posted by: Duffman | October 15, 2007 at 12:59 PM
Maybe he meant "satin"
Posted by: coiler | October 15, 2007 at 02:03 PM
Sounds like Dan Barker stole his act from the great ex-preacher Sam Kinison.
Posted by: bobo | October 15, 2007 at 02:09 PM
Yay! A station for the rest (and best) of us...Thanks, Bla'M!
Posted by: Fremont | October 15, 2007 at 02:37 PM
It will fail.
Posted by: DT | October 15, 2007 at 04:57 PM
As an atheist, I'll give a listen, but am skeptical about building a radio show around this. It's kind of like having a radio show for vegetarianism. It's likely to start boring and get progressively worse real fast.
Hopefully they'll push Hitchens' historical angle. Fears about theocracy in the U.S. are wildly overblown, which is why anti-religionists are reduced to petty issues like performances of Handel's Messiah in public schools.
When it comes to legislation of morality, I'm much more worried about a liberal like Nickels or Sims with their strip club stings, malt liquor bans, etc.
I also hope they take on the real theocratic threat, which is militant Islam. Their motto in Europe is '2030, then we take over.' T-shirts with that slogan are reportedly very popular in Sweden, for example.
Posted by: wutitiz | October 15, 2007 at 05:22 PM
I listened to one of the podcasts and it was OK, they're very so-so as radio hosts in general. The evils of religion are manifesting themselves in numerous new ways everyday, especialy in religions other than Christianity. Who did the muslims stone today? They need to do some show prep and hit us with the latest news on how religion is holding mankind back once again.
On a side note, I feel a little guilty writing off religion entirely, it had a purpose when times were tougher and we were starving and dying of now curable diseases, that progress affords us the luxury of atheism, but religion is what it is, Santa Clause for adults.
Posted by: Andrew | October 15, 2007 at 06:14 PM
Andrew, I think I'm on the same page here. I see religion as an anomalous byproduct of how the human mind works. One, there is our need to explain things. Two there is our capacity for belief, whereby we can give ourselves over to a paradigm, almost like flipping a switch from 'off' to 'on.' Toss in a dollop of mental illness, and you've got wutitiz's quick 'n easy recipe for religion.
Posted by: wutitiz | October 15, 2007 at 07:01 PM
Puts, I always get the fries, just no salt to go with them.
Posted by: nevets | October 15, 2007 at 07:35 PM
As for religion, to each thier own is what I say. Just don't try to perfect me, and I wont try to perfect you, and we can get along just fine.
Posted by: nevets | October 15, 2007 at 07:45 PM
Gee, if you're all so concerned about everybody tending to their own moral fences, what are we doing in "islamofascist land." Are we tolerant until we decide to become intolerant?
What a bunch of frauds.
Posted by: joanie | October 15, 2007 at 10:23 PM
Listening to Ross' podcast in which he's discussing Sanchez' talking to the media. Ross is naive sometimes. He is wondering why a general doesn't have a responsibility to speak up - Sanchez plainly says that this war has been mismanaged (obviously mismanaged) from day 1. He even intimated that impeachment is the proper remedy.
A soldier called to say that generals and all military men take oaths to support their comnanders up the line and that generals are no different.
I think that should be obvious to Dave. The President is the Commander in Chief. Obey or resign. Look how many generals have already resigned or been removed. Anybody with a brain didn't need Sanchez to spill the beans. It has been obvious to anybody paying attention that the generals have little respect for this Decider.
I like Ross but sometimes . . .
BTW, if anybody wants to know how the war is going - Steven - check out this podcast. Eye-opening to sheep or should be.
Posted by: joanie | October 15, 2007 at 11:17 PM
BREAKING-RANDY RHODES ATTACKED IN NYC PARK WHILE WALKING HER DOG (T-8 News Service) According toDaily Kos and the John Elliot Show, talkhost Randy Rhodes was attacked while walking her dog in a NYC park. She is reported to be in a city hospital. Ne details yet on her injuries.
Posted by: Tommy008 | October 16, 2007 at 02:17 AM
MORE DETAILS ON RHODES ATTACK- Apparently Randy Rhodes was mugged by two men outside her Manhattan apartment. She was hit in the mouth with a baseball bat by the thugs and beaten up pretty badly. She lost several teeth, according to reports. There is speculation on Taliaferro's show and on the blogs that she was attacked to send her a message by rightwingers, but this could be just a mugging by vicious, lowlife criminal thugs in NYC.
Posted by: Tommy008 | October 16, 2007 at 02:59 AM
A baseball bat? Sounds like the usual weapon-of-choice for intentional assaults, doesn't it? What kind of people would do such a thing?
Posted by: joanie | October 16, 2007 at 05:41 AM
"There is speculation on Taliaferro's show and on the blogs that she was attacked to send her a message by rightwingers, but this could be just a mugging by vicious, lowlife criminal thugs in NYC."
So, T008 - tell me: what's the difference? :)
This is horrible; I wish RR a quick recovery and hope these 'thugs' are caught and punished to the nth degree!!
Posted by: Duffman | October 16, 2007 at 06:02 AM
This is on talkingradio.blogspot.com
Randi Rhodes was mugged on Sunday night on 39th Street and Park Ave, nearby her Manhattan apartment, while she was walking her dog Simon.
According to Air America Radio late night host Jon Elliott, Rhodes was beaten up pretty badly, losing several teeth and will probably be off the air for at least the rest of the week. At of late Monday night we have not able to locate any press accounts of the attack and nothing has been posted on the AAR website.
Several liberal blogs, including the Randi Rhodes Message Board and Democratic Underground have logged numerous posts on the Rhodes mugging with most of the posters expressing concern about the condition of the popular lib talker.
Morning talk host, Lionel filled in for Rhodes on Monday, but did not say anything about why she wasn’t on hand to do her show. The Randi Rhodes board reports that Sam Seder, who does a Sunday afternoon show for AAR, will be filling on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Elliott was extremely agitated when he reported on the incident. He opened his show by saying "it is with sadness that tonight I inform you that my Air America colleague Randi Rhodes was assaulted last night while walking her dog near her New York City home."
Pointing out that Rhodes was wearing a jogging suit and displayed no purse or jewelry, Elliott speculated that "this does not appear to me to be a standard grab the money and run mugging."
Some of blog posters also expressed concerns that the attack on Rhodes was hate crime. Other posters warned that we need more facts before any judgements are made.
According to Elliott, Rhodes was resting in her New York City apartment and was not hospitalized.
Posted by: sparky | October 16, 2007 at 07:00 AM
Thanks for the update, sparks.
Posted by: Duffman | October 16, 2007 at 07:04 AM
I hope that she is ok. Too bad that it is so hard to get a concealed weapons permit in New York. It would have been nice if she had been able to smoke those bastards right on the sidewalk. If they had been "right wing extremist", I would have celebrated their demise with the rest of you. If they were muggers, rapist or just plain mean assholes, their demise would be equally satisfactory.
Posted by: chucks | October 16, 2007 at 10:11 AM
Amen on that chucks!
Posted by: Duffman | October 16, 2007 at 10:14 AM
Agree, chuck s.
Posted by: joanie | October 16, 2007 at 11:20 PM