How to Humanist

American Humanist Association
  • 4.8 (26)
  • Self-Improvement

How to Humanist asks life’s questions big and small with the help of brilliant humans along the way.

  1. 2d ago

    #30 "Am I a Humanist?" Shay Leonia on Discovering Humanism in Public

    It's a humanist crossover episode! "I've never heard of humanism, but is this what I've been all along?" What happens when you discover the word for what you've believed your whole life? Shay Leonia came to humanism only recently, and rather than hide the learning curve, she has made it the heart of her work. In this episode, James Hodgson talks with Shay about her journey into humanism, the art of admitting what you don't know, and how to bring humanist values to people who have never heard the term. We discuss growing up with everyday kindness as a lived value, letting go of the supernatural without losing what matters, the AHA Creator Program and building coalitions beyond the secular space, and why humanism needs to become more accessible and more representative if it is going to grow. ABOUT SHAY LEONIA Shay Leonia is the communications manager at the American Humanist Association (AHA), where she hosts the How to Humanist podcast and runs AHA's Creator Program, partnering with content creators to bring humanism to new audiences. A lifelong musician based in Philadelphia, she founded the media company 44th Minute Media and came to humanism recently, arriving, as she puts it, curious, a little confused, and glad she stayed. In this episode How Shay discovered humanism through a job posting and realised it named the values she'd held all alongLearning out loud: the "fourth wall break" behind How to Humanist, and why admitting what you don't know builds trustThe AHA Creator Program, giving people a "soft landing" into humanism, and why the movement must become more accessible and representativeLEARN MORE AHA Conference 2026: https://conference.americanhumanist.orgFor more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist

    #30 "Am I a Humanist?" Shay Leonia on Discovering Humanism in Public

  2. Sep 7

    Have a question about Humanism?

    Have a question about Humanism that you'd like answered on an upcoming episode of How to Humanist? Great! We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions to ->-> podcast [at] americanhumanist.org for your chance to hear your question on a future episode! podcast [at] americanhumanist.org LEARN MORE AHA Conference 2026: https://conference.americanhumanist.orgFor more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist

    Have a question about Humanism?

  3. Aug 31

    #29 Rebuilding Joy After Deconstruction with Rev. Leika Lewis

    As humans, we can find comfort in the most uncomfortable environments as long as it means we don't have to face change and sacrifice the only life we've known. Well, not only did Rev. Leika Lewis take that brave step and live to tell the tale -- they did it twice! As a professional Change Management expert, who better to assist us than Rev. Lewis on the windy road that can be deconstructing our beliefs, and helping us to build something even better this time around. Something like... joy. ABOUT REV. LEIKA LEWISRev. Leika Lewis (they/she) is a secular minister, chaplain, coach, and consultant. After a career as a corporate change management expert, Leika turned their skills to guiding secular folx and seekers who want to map their own path post-deconstruction and beyond dogma. Leika is a past president of the UU Humanist Association; a queer, kinky, polyamorous poet; and an unabashed Trekkie and Rennie. Heretics are their favorite people. Leika Lewis Free Masterclass: https://masterclass.leikalewis.com LEARN MORE AHA Conference 2026: https://conference.americanhumanist.orgFor more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist

    #29 Rebuilding Joy After Deconstruction with Rev. Leika Lewis

  4. Aug 24

    #28 Start Your Humanist Group Today with Elizabeth Hegwood

    Where there's one of us, there's many. All around the country, people are searching for like-minded community, something AHA's 2025 Humanist Volunteer of the Year, Elizabeth Hegwood, knows very well. AHA has over 230 chapters and affiliates, but far more are needed to reach the communities that want them. That's why we're so grateful to have Elizabeth and Jake walk us through exactly how to start a humanist group near you. For any additional questions on starting a chapter, contact Jake at jake [at ] humanist [dot ] org. ABOUT ELIZABETH HEGWOODElizabeth Hegwood is the president of Gulf Coast Humanists as well as the Mississippi State Director for American Atheists. Gulf Coast Humanists: https://gulfcoasthumanists.orgGet in touch with Elizabeth: elizabeth.hegwood [at ] atheists [dot ]org LEARN MORE AHA Conference 2026: https://conference.americanhumanist.orgFor more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist

    #28 Start Your Humanist Group Today with Elizabeth Hegwood

  5. Aug 17

    #27 Sci-Fi Fantasy and Gods Who Are a Nuisance with Jordan Ifueko

    Ever wonder if it's possible to give your children and teenagers books they will love purely for their entertainment value, while also teaching them about capitalist societies and the giant tapioca balls that can destroy evil? Oddly specific, but Jordan Ifueko is up to the challenge. The NYT Bestselling Author joins us this week to discuss children's rights, her journey through deconstruction, and her acclaimed novels that are being sought after around the world. Oh, and Happy Birthday Jordan! ABOUT JORDAN IFUEKOJordan Ifueko is the NYT Bestselling Author of the RAYBEARER series & the Disney-Marvel comics MOON GIRL & DEVIL DINOSAUR. She's been featured in People Magazine & NPR Best Books. She writes about magic Black girls who aren’t magic all the time, because honestly, they deserve a vacation. Jordan on Instagram: https://instagram/jordanifuekoInvite Jordan to speak near you: https://jordanifueko.com/authorvisits LEARN MORE AHA Conference 2026: https://conference.americanhumanist.orgFor more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist

    #27 Sci-Fi Fantasy and Gods Who Are a Nuisance with Jordan Ifueko

  6. Aug 10

    #26 Who have we forgotten? What have we forgotten? with Dr. Anthony Pinn

    Dr. Anthony Pinn spent 13 years in ministry before he couldn't preach what he no longer believed. What he found on the other side of that was humanism, and what he's found inside humanism since then has not always been pretty. Hip hop and religion are asking the same questions, he says. Who are we, what are we, and why are we here. The difference is who gets to answer those questions, and who gets forgotten in the process. By the end of this conversation, the call-out lands squarely on (white) humanists to do better, starting now. ABOUT DR. ANTHONY PINNAgnes Cullen Arnold Distinguished Professor of Humanities and Founding Director of the Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning--Rice University LEARN MORE AHA Conference 2026: https://conference.americanhumanist.orgFor more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist

    #26 Who have we forgotten? What have we forgotten? with Dr. Anthony Pinn

  7. Aug 3

    #25 Atheism vs Humanism with Nick Fish & Fish Stark

    Two Fish walk into a podcast... One is the Executive Director of the American Humanist Association. The other is the President of American Atheists. They have been getting each other's mail, confusing each other's colleagues, and creating increasingly dorkier inside jokes with one another. Yet somehow, in the middle of all that chaos, they managed to become one of the most effective partnerships in the secular movement. If you have ever tried to explain the difference between humanism and atheism and ended up more confused than when you started, Fish and Fish -- or "The Fish Tank" -- are here to help. They talk about where the movements overlap, where they diverge, why the endless God debate might finally be losing its grip on the community, and what it actually looks like when two organizations decide to just be good neighbors.  ABOUT NICK FISH Since 2018, Nick Fish has served as the president of American Atheists. Nick first joined American Atheists in 2012 and has spent his career defending the separation of religion and government, advocating for equality under the law, and protecting civil rights for all Americans. Nick was born and raised in Michigan but now calls Philadelphia home. American Atheists Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/atheists.org American Atheists Instagram: https://instagram.com/AmericanAtheists  American Atheists Action Alerts and Emails: https://atheists.org/sign-up Nick Fish Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nickfish.me LEARN MORE AHA Conference 2026: https://conference.americanhumanist.orgFor more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist

    #25 Atheism vs Humanism with Nick Fish & Fish Stark

  8. Jul 27

    #24 Drawing the Line for a Healthier Life with Chris Line

    Chris Line is a lawyer at the Freedom From Religion Foundation who lost 270 pounds and has kept it off for years. But this isn't a weight loss episode. Well... it is, but... it's a lot more, too. It's a conversation about what happens when you stop looking for a trick and start thinking clearly about your own life. Chris talks about growing up in a family where processed food was just the reality, what it actually feels like to have a brain that won't stop telling you to eat, and why the same moment he got serious about secular thinking was the same moment things started to change. And we promise, he doesn't have a magic pill he'll try to sell you. Just a really honest conversation about being human and doing the best you can with that. ABOUT CHRIS LINE Chris began working for Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) in 2015 as a legal intern while attending law school at the University of Wisconsin. Shortly after receiving his Juris Doctor in 2017, Chris began working full-time for FFRF as an attorney. He is an accomplished photographer whose work has appeared in The Humanist magazine, the Progressive, and FFRF’s Freethought Today. In 2017, Chris began a weight loss journey, losing more than 270 pounds and maintaining that transformation ever since. Chris' Story: https://www.freethoughttoday.com/free/chris-line-ffrf-attorney-tips-scales-back-in-his-favor/ AHA Conference 2026: https://conference.americanhumanist.orgFor more on humanism: https://linktr.ee/americanhumanist

    #24 Drawing the Line for a Healthier Life with Chris Line
See All (31)

4.8
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

How to Humanist asks life’s questions big and small with the help of brilliant humans along the way.

Information

  • Creator
    American Humanist Association
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 American Humanist Association
  • Show Website
    How to Humanist

You Might Also Like