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PODCAST

Atheistville with Mike Smithgall

Atheistville Media

Hosted by Mike Smithgall, Atheistville explores atheism, deconversion, and secular life through open, respectful conversation. The channel features two signature shows:Mike Drop – weekly commentary on religion, politics, and culture from a reasoned, secular perspective. Breakfast with a Heathen – a relaxed Sunday Q&A that tackles listener and Reddit questions about belief, honesty, and living without faith.Together, they create a space for candid dialogue about leaving belief behind, thinking

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All Episodes

19:55

Throwing Out “Sin”: Building Secular Ethics Beyond...

Atheistville with Mike Smithgall ·

2025/09/07

Send us a text What 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 ...

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11:18

Prayer Works In Your Head, Not In Heaven:...

Atheistville with Mike Smithgall ·

2025/09/03

Send us a text This 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 intercesso...

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126:43

The Unholy Roundtable: What Is Sin Without Religion?...

Atheistville with Mike Smithgall ·

2025/09/02

Send us a text This 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 c...

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18:31

Slavery, Scripture, and Skepticism: A Black Atheist...

Atheistville with Mike Smithgall ·

2025/09/01

Send us a text In 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 ...

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100:47

From Episcopalian Choir Boy to Confident Atheist:...

Atheistville with Mike Smithgall ·

2025/08/31

Send us a text Meet 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 ho...

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58:25

Catholic School Shooting: Identity, Media Narratives,...

Atheistville with Mike Smithgall ·

2025/08/28

Send us a text This 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 ...

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11:42

Why “God Told Me To Do It” Can’t Stand in Court

Atheistville with Mike Smithgall ·

2025/08/27

Send us a text In 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 sec...

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100:47

Why Leaving Religion Can Feel Like Betraying Your...

Atheistville with Mike Smithgall ·

2025/08/26

Send us a text What 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...

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13:34

What If I’m Wrong? Pascal’s Wager, Satan’s Tricks,...

Atheistville with Mike Smithgall ·

2025/08/25

Send us a text In 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...

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16:13

Heimlich or Hallelujah? The Risks of Replacing Care...

Atheistville with Mike Smithgall ·

2025/08/21

Send us a text In 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....

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12:00

I'm not rejecting God, I’m rejecting YOU!

Atheistville with Mike Smithgall ·

2025/08/20

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 aga...

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13:34

Why “God’s Plan” Can Wound the Bereaved More Than It...

Atheistville with Mike Smithgall ·

2025/08/19

Send us a text In 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...

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8:57

Property, Purity, and Patriarchy: How Religion...

Atheistville with Mike Smithgall ·

2025/08/15

Send us a text In 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...

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11:02

Marriage Equality, Religious Liberty, and the Fight...

Atheistville with Mike Smithgall ·

2025/08/13

Send us a text Kim 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...

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125:21

Faith, Freedom, and Facts: Atheists on Leaving...

Atheistville with Mike Smithgall ·

2025/08/12

Send us a text In 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, a...

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8:06

Inside Doug Wilson’s Political Blueprint for...

Atheistville with Mike Smithgall ·

2025/08/10

Send us a text Pastor 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. Wh...

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10:20

Why Do Churches Protect Abusers? Inside the Crisis of...

Atheistville with Mike Smithgall ·

2025/08/06

Send us a text When 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. Quest...

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2:27

Episode 0 – Welcome to Atheistville

Atheistville with Mike Smithgall ·

2025/08/06

Send us a text In 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 rea...

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