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 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. Breakfast With a Heathen EP6: Created for Hell? | Church Taxes, The Historical Jesus & Deconstruction Loneliness

    NOV 23

    Breakfast With a Heathen EP6: Created for Hell? | Church Taxes, The Historical Jesus & Deconstruction Loneliness

    Send us a text In this episode, we tackle the dark theological implications of an all-knowing God: If the outcome is already known, did God create humanity just to send most of us to hell? We also dive into the heated debate over whether churches should lose their tax-exempt status if they fail to contribute tangibly to their communities. Later, we analyze the "Telephone Game" of history regarding the existence of Jesus compared to figures like Alexander the Great, and address the personal side of leaving religion, from overcoming the guilt of enjoying secular music to the isolation of losing friends and family during deconstruction. Finally, we answer a listener's concern about whether you need a "goth" aesthetic to fit in as a Satanist. 💬 Viewer Question "If the U.S. government mandated that churches must donate a specific percentage of their income to local charities to keep their tax-exempt status, do you think most churches would comply or close their doors?" 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 © 2025 Atheistville Media

    41 min
  2. 17% Point Drop: Why Americans Are Leaving Religion (Gallup Data)

    NOV 19

    17% Point Drop: Why Americans Are Leaving Religion (Gallup Data)

    Send us a text Gallup reports a 17% point drop in Americans who say religion is important in daily life. This is one of the largest declines recorded globally in the last decade, and it signals a massive cultural shift in America. In this episode of the Mike Drop, Mike Smithgall analyzes the #Gallup data, breaking down why this 17% drop is happening now, what it means for American politics, and how younger generations are redefining their relationship with faith and authority. We explore: The difference between Christian identity and Christian practice in the U.S.How institutional scandals and the rise of #Christiannationalism have pushed people away from organized religion.Why the U.S. now sits in a "strange zone" of high religious identity but middling religiosity compared to other developed nations.The rise of personal agency and reason as people build morality from human needs, not ancient rules.This analysis provides a measured, #secular, and skeptical look at the forces reshaping belief in America. Source/Citation: The analysis is based on the Gallup World Poll and its analysis of the dramatic drop in U.S. religiosity: https://news.gallup.com/poll/697676/drop-religiosity-among-largest-world.aspx 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 © 2025 Atheistville Media

    11 min
  3. Breakfast with a Heathen EP5: Hungry Babies & The Cost of Faith: Sex, Consent, and Religious Hypocrisy.

    NOV 16

    Breakfast with a Heathen EP5: Hungry Babies & The Cost of Faith: Sex, Consent, and Religious Hypocrisy.

    Send us a text This week, we dive into the deep and often hypocritical intersections of faith, social welfare, and personal ethics. The discussion opens with the shocking findings from the viral TikTok experiment where churches denied basic aid like baby formula to the needy, contrasting this with the impending government shutdown and asking: Where is the promised Christian charity when the most vulnerable are suffering? The episode also explores the data showing a massive drop in religion's importance in America. We pivot to the evolving moral landscape of sex and consent. Is the traditional religious argument against premarital sex fundamentally flawed? We explore the secular, pragmatic case for physical intimacy outside of marriage, focusing on mutual respect, consent, and well-being over outdated contractual concepts. Finally, the conversation tackles a foundational philosophical problem: The cost of faith and the question of consent—from mandatory school activities and Bibles in public spaces to the ethics of infant baptism and the profound, unconsenting nature of existence under a supposedly loving God. 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 © 2025 Atheistville Media

    44 min

Trailer

About

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.