Humanism Now | Secular Ethics, Curiosity and Compassionate Change

Humanise Live

Humanism Now is the weekly podcast for everyone curious, interested or actively engaged in secular humanism. Each Sunday, host James Hodgson—founder of Humanise Live—welcomes scientists, philosophers, activists, authors, entrepreneurs and community leaders who are challenging the status quo and building a fairer, kinder world. Together we unpack today’s toughest ethical questions—using reason and compassion instead of dogma—and champion universal human rights and flourishing. Expect in-depth interviews on today's pressing issues, from climate action, protecting freedoms, equality & justice to AI ethics and cosmic wonder. Every episode delivers practical take-aways for living an ethical, purpose-driven life while discovering more about ourselves, others and the universe. Whether you’re a lifelong secular humanist or simply curious about a naturalistic worldview, hit follow for insight-packed conversations that challenge ideas, celebrate human potential and inspire positive change. Join our global community working toward a fairer, kinder and more rational world—for this generation and the next.

  1. 80.Inside the Ex-Muslim Movement - Muhammad Syed on why leaving Islam Can Be Liberating, and Dangerous

    16 hr ago

    80.Inside the Ex-Muslim Movement - Muhammad Syed on why leaving Islam Can Be Liberating, and Dangerous

    "One of the things I heard again and again was: I thought I was the only one." — Muhammad Syed  Leaving religion can be one of the most liberating decisions of a person's life. For those leaving Islam, it can also be one of the most dangerous. This episode looks at why so many ex-Muslims stay hidden, how community breaks that isolation, and what the data really tells us about people leaving the faith worldwide. Our guest is Muhammad Syed, human rights activist, writer, and co-founder and president of Ex-Muslims of North America (EXMNA), the first ex-Muslim advocacy and community organisation in North America. In this conversation we cover: Why so many ex-Muslims believe they are "the only one", and how visibility and community change thatWhat scripture, interpretation and culture each contribute to the risks ex-Muslims face, from loss of family to threats of violenceThe numbers behind a global trend, and how both the political left and right get the conversation wrongLinks for support: Ex-Muslims of North America: https://exmuslims.orgFaith to Faithless (UK support): https://www.humanists.uk/our-work/faith-to-faithless/r/exmuslim global reddit community: https://www.reddit.com/r/exmuslim/References: Pakistan college student lynched after discussing Adam and Eve/incestNigeria college girl lynched over a WhatsApp class chatAyan Hirsi Ali threatened, lost security/neighborhood in Netherlands, moved to U.S.Somali gay atheist kidnapped/taken to Kenya for “re-education”Canadian mother whose children were taken to Africa; hasn’t seen them in over a decadeEx-Muslim husband/wife/siblings chain deconversion storyIIraq lowering age of consent/marriage age to nine -Pew: one in four U.S. Muslims raised Muslim have left Islam-Pew: among U.S. ex-Muslims, ~55% became nonbelievers and ~23% became Christian-Arab Barometer: younger people in parts of North Africa around 18% nonreligious/nonbelieving-Turkey survey showing rising nonbelief-Iran survey showing roughly 40% nonbelief -Saudi Arabia survey showing ~4–5% confirmed atheists, higher broader nonbelief-Pakistan poll: ~60–70% support killing apostates-EXMNA data/reporting: ~60% lost friends/social circle; similar share verbal abuse; high 40s/around 50% lost family; one in three experienced threats of violenceSend us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.live Music: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.

    42 min
  2. 79. Meet strangeness with kindness - Kestral Gaian on the role of representation, community and politics in fiction

    21 Jun

    79. Meet strangeness with kindness - Kestral Gaian on the role of representation, community and politics in fiction

    "It's really about what happens when kindness is the first response to strangeness." — Kestral Gaian What does it take to stay human in a world that often forgets what that means? This episode explores storytelling as an act of resistance: why humans need fiction, why representation matters, and how meeting difference with curiosity rather than judgement can ease the loneliness of modern life. Our guest is Kestral Gaian, an award-winning writer of fiction, theatre and poetry, whose debut young adult novel "The Boy From Elsewhere" is out now. In this conversation we cover: The origins of "The Boy From Elsewhere", born from a 26-hour charity writing livestream, and what tiredness taught Kestral about creativity and craftWhy storytelling is fundamental to being human, and how representation shapes what young readers believe is possibleWhether all art is political, the recent publishing pushback against LGBTQ+ fiction, and meeting strangeness with kindnessLinks: The Boy From Elsewhere: https://reconnectingrainbows.co.uk/book/tbfe/Kestral Gaian's website: https://kestr.alSupport Humanism Now: https://ko-fi.com/humanismnowpod Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.live Music: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.

    34 min
  3. 78. "No Hope But Peace and Justice" - An Israeli and a Palestinian in Dialogue

    5 Jun

    78. "No Hope But Peace and Justice" - An Israeli and a Palestinian in Dialogue

    "Many in society saw the news and understood there's no hope for peace. But I understood there's no hope but peace." — Yaniv Aknin What does humanism actually ask of us when we confront the Israel-Palestine conflict? In this episode we preview a special Festival of Humanism session, exploring how secular, rational and compassionate values can cut through motivated reasoning and moral blind spots to rebuild shared ground between Palestinians and Israelis. Our guests are Dr Jasr Kawkby, a British-Palestinian paediatrician raised in Gaza, and Yaniv Aknin, a British-Israeli software engineer and former soldier, who work together on peacebuilding, dialogue and nonviolent advocacy. In this conversation we cover: Their personal journeys from a Gaza refugee camp and a secular Zionist household in Tel Aviv to a shared humanist platformHow humanist values (curiosity, rationality, secularism and the dignity of every life) can reframe history, accountability and the path forwardWhy both believe nonviolence and sustained dialogue, not force, are the only routes to peace, justice and equalityJasr and Yaniv host "No Hope But Peace: A Dialogue Between an Israeli and a Palestinian" at the Festival of Humanism in Bournemouth on 13–14 June. Links: Festival of Humanism 2026: https://humanists.uk/events/festival2026/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.live Music: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.

    44 min
  4. 77. Ethical Volunteering with Kimberly Haley-Coleman - Building Bridges Through Community Led Service

    24 May

    77. Ethical Volunteering with Kimberly Haley-Coleman - Building Bridges Through Community Led Service

    "It's amazing how enduring humans can be with their willingness to look for good." Kimberly Haley-Coleman is the founder and executive director of GlobeAware, a nonprofit building ethical, community-led volunteer service programmes across more than 25 countries. With a background spanning international business, nonprofit leadership, and global partnership building, Kimberly has spent years thinking deeply about how service, cultural exchange, and shared work can bring people together with dignity, curiosity, and compassion. Topics we cover ✔︎ What ethical volunteering actually looks like — and why locally led, community-designed programmes are so different from voluntourism  ✔︎ How shared work breaks down assumptions faster than almost anything else — and what that means for building genuine cross-cultural empathy  ✔︎ How GlobeAware's programmes are responding to sweeping foreign aid cuts and what resilience looks like on the ground in 2026 Connect with Kimberly and Globe Aware Website www.globeaware.orgFacebook https://www.facebook.com/globeawareLinkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyglobeaware/Podcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/6n9cfb4QIVb2aqUD6XSttEInstagram https://www.instagram.com/globeaware/Youtube: https://youtube.com/@globeawareX Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlobeAwareLinkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/globe-aware/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@globe_awareWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globe_AwareBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/globeaware.bksy.socialPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/globeaware/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.live Music: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.

    28 min
  5. 76. Why Science Always Carries Human Values with Anjan Chakravartty

    17 May

    76. Why Science Always Carries Human Values with Anjan Chakravartty

    Support Humanism Now and Join Our Community!  "Dogmatism is the enemy of reason, after all." Dr Anjan Chakravartty is the Apignani Foundation Chair for the Study of Atheism, Humanism, and Secular Ethics at the University of Miami and a philosopher of science whose work explores the nature of knowledge and what science tells us about the world. His latest edited volume, Science and Humanism: Knowledge, Values, and the Common Good, brings together leading philosophers to examine the relationship between science and humanist values — historically deep and increasingly urgent. Topics we cover ✔︎ Why science is not a value-neutral tool — and why humanists need to think more carefully about what science is actually for  ✔︎ How disinformation campaigns exploit the language of science to manufacture doubt on climate, health, and more  ✔︎ What a genuinely humanistic science looks like in practice — from diversifying research communities to confronting scientism Connect with Dr Chakravartty and find out more University of Miami profile: https://people.miami.edu/profile/axc1256@miami.eduScience and Humanism: Knowledge, Values, and the Common Good: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/science-and-humanism/Personal Website: https://anjanchakravartty.com/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.live Music: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.

    40 min
  6. 75. Taming Your Impostor Monster with Dr AJ Lauer

    10 May

    75. Taming Your Impostor Monster with Dr AJ Lauer

    Support Humanism Now and Join Our Community! "Culture is a representation of what our habits are on a daily basis. If we drop the habit, we are not building the culture we're wanting to see." Dr AJ Lauer is a leadership and diversity educator, executive coach, and founder of Thriving IBIS Leadership Solutions. With two decades of experience across higher education, non-profit research, and STEM, she specialises in imposter syndrome, psychological safety, and helping organisations make more human-centred decisions. She is also the author of My Monster Mungo, an illustrated book for adults about the imposter phenomenon. Topics we cover ✔︎ What the imposter phenomenon actually is — and why 82% of people experience it  ✔︎ How to build psychologically safe, inclusive teams where dissent and creativity are welcomed  ✔︎ Why burnout and perfectionism are connected — and how leaders can interrupt the cycle Connect with Dr AJ Lauer Thriving IBIS Leadership Solutions: https://www.thrivingibis.comMy Monster Mungo — illustrated book: https://www.thrivingibis.com/my-monster-mungoSend us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.live Music: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.

    29 min
  7. 74. TikTok Humanist TimTalks on Deconstructing Religion Out Loud

    3 May

    74. TikTok Humanist TimTalks on Deconstructing Religion Out Loud

    "You are unlocked to a whole new world... you're not alone, and it's that community that makes you reaffirming yourself" Timothy David, known as Tim Talks, is a UK-based content creator whose TikTok videos on humanism, faith deconstruction, and Black freethinking have racked up millions of views. Drawing on his own journey away from Pentecostal Christianity, Tim uses social media to spark honest conversations about belief, identity, inclusivity, and what it means to question everything. Topics we cover ✔︎ What deconstruction really means and why it is a lifelong process rather than a single moment  ✔︎ Why social media is a powerful tool for humanists — and why more of us should be using it  ✔︎ How to start questioning your own beliefs and build community on the other side of faith Connect with Timothy TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@_timtalksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_t1m24YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TimTalksUKSend us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.live Music: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.

    25 min
  8. 73. How Norwegian Humanists Changed a Nation | Tale Pleym on Ceremonies, Confirmation & European Secular Services

    26 Apr

    73. How Norwegian Humanists Changed a Nation | Tale Pleym on Ceremonies, Confirmation & European Secular Services

    Support Humanism Now and Join Our Community! https://ko-fi.com/humanismnowpod "That's what humanism is about, isn't it? That we have the freedom to do whatever we feel is right for us." Tale Pleym is Chair of the European Humanist Professionals and Senior Ceremonial Advisor of the Norwegian Humanist Association, where she has been conducting humanist ceremonies for more than 15 years. She joins us to explore how humanist ceremonies and secular services are shared and strengthened across Europe, and what organised humanism can achieve when it grows deep roots in society. Topics we cover ✔︎ How the European Humanist Professionals network connects practitioners across borders through webinars, workshops, and conferences  ✔︎ How Norway's humanist confirmation became a genuine secular rite of passage that now outgrows the church in major cities  ✔︎ What other humanist organisations can learn from Norway — and what large organisations can learn from small ones Connect with Tale and find out more Norwegian Humanist Association: https://www.human.no/om-oss/norwegian-humanist-associationEmail: tale.pleym@human.noEuropean Humanist Professionals: https://www.humanistprofessionals.euFestival of Humanism, Bournemouth — Humanists UK: https://humanists.uk/events/festival2026/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.live Music: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.

    26 min
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About

Humanism Now is the weekly podcast for everyone curious, interested or actively engaged in secular humanism. Each Sunday, host James Hodgson—founder of Humanise Live—welcomes scientists, philosophers, activists, authors, entrepreneurs and community leaders who are challenging the status quo and building a fairer, kinder world. Together we unpack today’s toughest ethical questions—using reason and compassion instead of dogma—and champion universal human rights and flourishing. Expect in-depth interviews on today's pressing issues, from climate action, protecting freedoms, equality & justice to AI ethics and cosmic wonder. Every episode delivers practical take-aways for living an ethical, purpose-driven life while discovering more about ourselves, others and the universe. Whether you’re a lifelong secular humanist or simply curious about a naturalistic worldview, hit follow for insight-packed conversations that challenge ideas, celebrate human potential and inspire positive change. Join our global community working toward a fairer, kinder and more rational world—for this generation and the next.

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