Atheistville with Mike Smithgall

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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 for yourself, and building a meaningful life grounded in evidence, empathy, and ethics rather than dogma.  Podcast Creator Bio: Mike Smithgall Mike Smithgall is the creator and host of Atheistville, a podcast and YouTube series exploring atheism, deconversion, and secular life through real conversation instead of confrontation. Drawing on his background as a financial professional and lifelong skeptic, Mike focuses on how people think, what leads them to question faith, and how they rebuild meaning without religion. He interviews former believers, secular thinkers, and progressive voices to highlight shared values of empathy, critical thinking, and human connection. His mission is simple: belief should be personal, not political, and every story deserves to be heard. Follow his work on YouTube (@Atheistville) or at Atheistville.com. 

  1. Florida's Anti-DEI Law Is So Vague It Could Cancel St. Patrick's Day — SB 1134 Breakdown

    2D AGO

    Florida's Anti-DEI Law Is So Vague It Could Cancel St. Patrick's Day — SB 1134 Breakdown

    Florida just handed its governor the power to remove elected local officials for welcoming their own constituents — and wrote the law so vaguely that St. Patrick's Day, Oktoberfest, and the Jewish Film Festival have no legal protection under it. Mike Smithgall breaks down SB 1134 — the Anti-Diversity in Local Government bill — section by section: what it actually says, what its sponsor admitted he didn't know, the $1.5 billion tourism economy Florida is putting at risk, and why a federal court already struck down a narrower version of this same idea. This one isn't just an LGBTQ+ story. It's a story about who gets to govern, who gets to celebrate, and what happens when a bumper sticker becomes a statute. Full sources at atheistville.com QUESTION: The bill gives the Governor power to remove elected local officials by executive order for violating it. Does that concern you regardless of your position on DEI — and why or why not? Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more content from Mike Smithgall and the Atheistville team 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville 💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CONTACT Check us out at: https://atheistville.buzzsprout.com 🔥 New episodes weekly from Atheistville — Mike Drop with Mike Smithgall, Ask an Atheist, and The Unholy Roundtable, Breakfast With a Heathen © 2025-2026 Atheistville Media

    16 min
  2. From Virginity Guilt to Eternal Damnation: Unpacking Religion's Most Uncomfortable Questions

    MAR 1

    From Virginity Guilt to Eternal Damnation: Unpacking Religion's Most Uncomfortable Questions

    What happens when the theological rubber meets the existential road? In this episode of Breakfast with a Heathen, we dig into the questions real people are actually wrestling with — from the psychological profile of extreme believers, to the emotional wreckage of purity culture, to the cold logic of a salvation system that rewards a serial killer over a kindhearted atheist. These aren't abstract seminary debates. These are the raw, unfiltered doubts of people navigating faith, identity, and reason in real time. We also examine the social mechanics of adult conversion, the cult-like grip some churches maintain even over departing members, and what it genuinely means to lose your faith — and then lose it again. If you've ever found yourself asking "Is any of this actually fair?" — this episode was built for that question. 💬 Viewer Question "If the Christian framework sends a repentant serial killer to Heaven while condemning a compassionate atheist to eternal torment — is that a justice system worth defending? Where does the logic break down for you?" 📑 Relevant Topics / Chapter Headings Welcome & Episode OverviewPolitical Extremism and the Conspiracy MindPurity Culture's Long ShadowWhy Adults Convert — And What They're Really Running FromThe Adam & Eve Problem: Incest and Intellectual HonestyLosing Faith, Then Losing It Again: Depression and Deconstruction"I'm Gay and I'm Terrified of Hell" — Fear, Faith, and Christian NationalismThe James vs. Jake Problem: Is Heaven Actually Just?My Boss Wants Me at His Kingdom HallCan a Church Actually Refuse to Let You Leave?Conservative Religion's War on the Dance FloorWould You Join This Religion?Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more content from Mike Smithgall and the Atheistville team 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville 💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CONTACT Check us out at: https://atheistville.buzzsprout.com 🔥 New episodes weekly from Atheistville — Mike Drop with Mike Smithgall, Ask an Atheist, and The Unholy Roundtable, Breakfast With a Heathen © 2025-2026 Atheistville Media

    1h 4m
  3. The $1.7 Million Cost of Tithing: Why Churches Target Young Earners

    FEB 22

    The $1.7 Million Cost of Tithing: Why Churches Target Young Earners

    A Reddit post from a young person trapped in a joint bank account with tithing-obsessed parents sparked this deep dive into the true cost of religious giving. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics income data and conservative investment assumptions, I calculated the lifetime financial impact of tithing 10% of your income from age 25 to retirement at 65. The findings are devastating: $285,035 given to the church versus $1,694,520 in a retirement portfolio. The opportunity cost is over $1.4 MILLIOMN. This episode examines the history of the 10% tithe, explains why it's not actually biblical in the way most people think, and breaks down why giving when you're young costs exponentially more than giving later in life. I also offer practical alternatives for people who want to be generous without sacrificing their financial futures. This is math, not theology—and the numbers don't lie. https://atheistville.com/2026/02/22/the-1-7-million-question-nobody-at-church-will-answer/ Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more content from Mike Smithgall and the Atheistville team 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville 💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CONTACT Check us out at: https://atheistville.buzzsprout.com 🔥 New episodes weekly from Atheistville — Mike Drop with Mike Smithgall, Ask an Atheist, and The Unholy Roundtable, Breakfast With a Heathen © 2025-2026 Atheistville Media

    14 min
  4. Tithing Pressure, “Christian Love” Toward LGBTQ People, and Why God Stays Silent

    FEB 15

    Tithing Pressure, “Christian Love” Toward LGBTQ People, and Why God Stays Silent

    This episode tackles a set of questions that sit at the intersection of money, family pressure, identity, and belief. We start with the ethics and power dynamics of tithing, especially when a young person has limited control over their own income and faces pressure from a prosperity-gospel megachurch. We also address what “love” looks like when religion treats LGBTQ people as a problem to be fixed, and why that framing causes real harm even when someone claims good intentions. From there, we shift into the evidence questions. Why did miracles and divine “activity” appear concentrated in ancient stories but seem absent now? Why do intelligent people still believe, even while applying strong critical thinking in other areas? We also explore the logic of heaven only being available after death, and the credibility problem created by a resurrection story followed by a quick exit instead of public, sustained verification. The thread running through all of it is the same, what do these beliefs demand from people, and what level of evidence should match those demands. 💬 Viewer Question If a belief system asks you for obedience, money, or life-changing sacrifices, what level of evidence do you think it owes you?  📑 Relevant Topics or Chapter Headings   Tithing Under Family Control  Prosperity Gospel and Financial Pressure  When “Love” Treats LGBTQ People as a Project  Why Divine Activity Looks Like It Stopped  Evidence, Verification, and Public Miracles  Why Smart People Still Believe  When Deconstruction Collides With Marriage  Why Heaven Only Starts After Death  Resurrection, Ascension, and the Credibility Gap  Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more content from Mike Smithgall and the Atheistville team 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville 💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CONTACT Check us out at: https://atheistville.buzzsprout.com 🔥 New episodes weekly from Atheistville — Mike Drop with Mike Smithgall, Ask an Atheist, and The Unholy Roundtable, Breakfast With a Heathen © 2025-2026 Atheistville Media

    53 min
  5. Is Belief a Choice? Deconstruction, Doubt, and Living Without Faith (BWAH Ep 10)

    FEB 8

    Is Belief a Choice? Deconstruction, Doubt, and Living Without Faith (BWAH Ep 10)

    In this episode, the conversation centers on one core question, is belief something you choose or something you become convinced of over time? The discussion explores doubt, deconstruction, and why some people seek belief yet struggle to force it. Topics include fear-based religion, the difference between atheism and agnosticism, and how personal experience shapes conviction. The episode also looks at real human challenges, family pressure, relationships across belief lines, emotional reactions to religion, and the search for peace after leaving faith. Listeners hear reflections on evidence, anecdotal belief, and why some people feel calmer once they no longer believe. This is a thoughtful exploration of belief, identity, and intellectual honesty. 💬 Viewer Question Do you think belief is a choice, or does belief only follow when you are convinced by evidence or experience? 📑 Relevant Topics or Chapter Headings Is Belief a Choice  Wanting to Believe but Not Being Convinced  Fear of Punishment and Fear-Based Religion  Atheism vs Agnosticism Explained  Faith, Evidence, and Personal Experience  Religion and Relationships  Family Pressure and Coming Out as Nonreligious  Anger, Identity, and Deconstruction  Finding Peace After Leaving Faith Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more content from Mike Smithgall and the Atheistville team 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville 💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CONTACT Check us out at: https://atheistville.buzzsprout.com 🔥 New episodes weekly from Atheistville — Mike Drop with Mike Smithgall, Ask an Atheist, and The Unholy Roundtable, Breakfast With a Heathen © 2025-2026 Atheistville Media

    40 min
  6. Florida’s "God Grades," The Charlie Kirk Analogy, & Black Atheism (BWAH Ep 9)

    JAN 25

    Florida’s "God Grades," The Charlie Kirk Analogy, & Black Atheism (BWAH Ep 9)

    In this episode of Breakfast with a Heathen, we break down a proposed Florida bill (SB 1006) that could force schools to pay out $25,000 if they fail a student for citing religious beliefs in academic work. Is this protecting speech, or rewarding students for ignoring assignments? I also tackle the "Historical Jesus" debate with a controversial modern analogy: looking at the deification of Charlie Kirk to understand how myths form over time. We also discuss: Black Atheism: Why leaving the church is often seen as "betraying your race" and the need for secular outreach at HBCUs.Tax The Churches: I break down the numbers from my own zip code—7 churches, $31 million in property, and $0 in taxes.Misogyny in the Pulpit: Reacting to Doug Wilson’s patriarchal theology and the idea that women shouldn't vote.Coming Out: A listener story about why coming out as gay at 13 was actually easier than coming out as an atheist.💬 Viewer Question "I used the deification of Charlie Kirk as an analogy for how the 'myth' of Jesus might have formed from a real person. Do you think modern celebrity worship is the same mechanism that created ancient religions? Let me know in the comments." 📑 Relevant Topics or Chapter Headings Intro: Brunch with a Heathen (Jan 2026)Advice to a 16-Year-Old: "Am I Wrong for Doubting?"Response to "Atheists Obsess Over God"Florida Bill: $25,000 Fines for Failing "God Answers"Responding to Carl: Is Evolution Just "Secular Dogma"?Did Jesus Exist? (The Charlie Kirk Analogy)Respecting People vs. Respecting ReligionWomen Pastors & The "No Voting" TheologyBlack Non-Believers & The Stigma at HBCUs"Taxation is Theft" Deflection vs. Church Property TaxListener Story: Coming Out Gay vs. AtheistVisit us at www.Atheistville.com for more content from Mike Smithgall and the Atheistville team 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville 💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CONTACT Check us out at: https://atheistville.buzzsprout.com 🔥 New episodes weekly from Atheistville — Mike Drop with Mike Smithgall, Ask an Atheist, and The Unholy Roundtable, Breakfast With a Heathen © 2025-2026 Atheistville Media

    1h 3m
  7. The $25,000 Wrong Answer: Florida’s New School Loophole

    JAN 21

    The $25,000 Wrong Answer: Florida’s New School Loophole

    Florida just put a price tag on ignorance. A new bill (SB 1006) would ban "academic penalties" for students who express religious or ideological beliefs in class—even if their answers are factually wrong. If a teacher fails a student for citing the Bible on a biology test, they don't just face a complaint. They face a mandatory $25,000 lawsuit. I’m Mike Smithgall, and in this episode, we look at how "sincerely held beliefs" are becoming a get-out-of-grading-free card, and why Florida is creating the ultimate participation trophy for the religious right. Get more details in our companion article at Atheistville.com Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more content from Mike Smithgall and the Atheistville team 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville 💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CONTACT Check us out at: https://atheistville.buzzsprout.com 🔥 New episodes weekly from Atheistville — Mike Drop with Mike Smithgall, Ask an Atheist, and The Unholy Roundtable, Breakfast With a Heathen © 2025-2026 Atheistville Media

    10 min
  8. Your Taxes Are Higher Because Religion Pays Nothing

    JAN 14

    Your Taxes Are Higher Because Religion Pays Nothing

    Mike takes a drive through his hometown and counts the true cost of religious property tax exemptions. In just one ZIP code, he identifies 7 religious parcels representing $31 million in assessed value—all exempt from property tax. Drawing on data from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, the IRS and his local tax assessor, Mike explores how this "tax base erosion" shifts the financial burden of local services onto residents. He challenges the "charity defense," notes the lack of IRS Form 990 reporting for churches, and argues that public subsidies should require public evidence of community benefit. Links: IRS Exempt Organizations  Research Report: How Secular Humanists (and Everyone Else) Subsidize Religion in the United States Lincoln Institute of Land Policy: "Reexamining the Property Tax Exemption" Lincoln Institute of Land Policy: "Significant Features of the Property Tax"  Listener Question: Do you think churches should be required to file public financial disclosures (Form 990) just like secular charities? Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more content from Mike Smithgall and the Atheistville team 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville 💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CONTACT Check us out at: https://atheistville.buzzsprout.com 🔥 New episodes weekly from Atheistville — Mike Drop with Mike Smithgall, Ask an Atheist, and The Unholy Roundtable, Breakfast With a Heathen © 2025-2026 Atheistville Media

    11 min
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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 for yourself, and building a meaningful life grounded in evidence, empathy, and ethics rather than dogma.  Podcast Creator Bio: Mike Smithgall Mike Smithgall is the creator and host of Atheistville, a podcast and YouTube series exploring atheism, deconversion, and secular life through real conversation instead of confrontation. Drawing on his background as a financial professional and lifelong skeptic, Mike focuses on how people think, what leads them to question faith, and how they rebuild meaning without religion. He interviews former believers, secular thinkers, and progressive voices to highlight shared values of empathy, critical thinking, and human connection. His mission is simple: belief should be personal, not political, and every story deserves to be heard. Follow his work on YouTube (@Atheistville) or at Atheistville.com. 

Information

  • Creator
    Atheistville Media
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Atheistville with Mike Smithgall
  • Show Website
    Atheistville with Mike Smithgall