Freedom of Thought by Humanists International

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Freedom of Thought from Humanists International is a global news and interview podcast examining the state of freedom of belief, expression, and human rights worldwide. Hosted by Gary McLelland and Leon Langdon, the podcast draws on Humanists International’s flagship Freedom of Thought Report to bring together researchers, human rights defenders, activists, and policy experts to unpack the realities facing humanists, atheists, and non-religious people in different countries and regions. Each episode explores key findings from the report alongside wider developments in international law, politics, and civil society. Through in-depth conversations, case studies, and timely analysis, the show highlights where freedoms are under threat, where progress is being made, and what solidarity and advocacy can achieve. Produced by Humanise Live, Freedom of Thought offers clear, accessible insight into global freedom of thought issues for anyone interested in human rights, secularism, democracy, and evidence-based policy.

  1. 12h ago

    A Strong Humanist Movement Needs Shared Futures and Practical Services - Lone Ree Milkær, EHSN

    Sign up for the Humanists International Newsletter https://humanists.international/sign-up-for-the-newsletter/ Gary and Leon reflect on the Humanists International quarterly staff gathering in London. Leon updates on the UN Human Rights Council 62nd session, where HI delivered statements on domestic violence and the Istanbul Convention, and supported an Austrian member's statement in the Universal Periodic Review. Gary introduces the upcoming deep-dive episode on the General Assembly. This week's guest is Lone Ree Milkær, a Danish cultural scholar, folklorist, and humanist movement leader with more than 20 years of experience. Lone served as president of the Danish Humanist Society from 2015 to 2023 and as vice president of the European Humanist Federation. She is the co-founder and network manager of the European Humanist Services Network (EHSN), coordinating 20 European humanist organisations on ceremonies, humanist existential care and chaplaincy, and youth work. In this episode we cover How attending a friend's humanist wedding first brought Lone into the movement — and why her own registry office wedding felt like "sign here and out the door"Lone's PhD research: how climate change activism creates livable futures through shared narrative — and what humanists can learn from itWhat the European Humanist Services Network is, how it works, and why it focuses on ceremonies, existential care, and youthThe challenge of scale: managing a network from the Norwegian Humanist Association (one of the world's largest) to small, newly formed Eastern European organisationsWhat's next for EHSN: accreditation of humanist weddings, funerals, and existential care services; a new fundraising working group Further reading and references European Humanist Services Network (EHSN): https://humanistservices.eu/About EHSN: https://humanistservices.eu/about-ehsn/Danish Humanist Society (Humanistisk Samfund): https://www.humanistisksamfund.dk/European Humanist Federation: https://europe.humanists.international/Luxembourg Declaration on AI and Human Values: https://humanists.international/policy/luxembourg-declaration-on-artificial-intelligence-and-human-values/Follow Humanist International Sign up for our free NewsletterSupport Humanists InternationalFollow our CampaignsAbout - Humanists International Join us at the World Humanists Congress 2026This podcast is produced by Humanise Live. Start your podcast today, visit: humanise.live 🎶Music: Horizon by Simon Folwar 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.

    A Strong Humanist Movement Needs Shared Futures and Practical Services - Lone Ree Milkær, EHSN

  2. Jul 8

    The Fight to Keep Religion Out of Government - Rachel Laser, Americans United for Separation of Church and State

    Sign up for the Humanists International Newsletter https://humanists.international/sign-up-for-the-newsletter/ Gary and Leon are joined this week by Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church.  Americans United (AU) is the only organization dedicated solely to defending the separation of church and state. We are the shield protecting the foundational American principle of freedom of religion — including the right to believe or not believe — for all. Rachel became president and CEO of AU in February 2018. She is the organization’s first non-Christian and female leader in its 78-year history. Rachel is a lawyer, advocate and strategist who has dedicated her career to making our country more inclusive. In her position at Americans United, Rachel oversees the organization’s work to protect freedom of conscience for all and ensure religion is not used to justify discrimination. In 2025, she was appointed to serve on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Rachel joins Freedom of Thought to explain what white Christian nationalism really is, how it differs from religious extremism (and why the terms are used interchangeably), and why AU fights it every day in the courts, in Congress, and in the public square.  She also addresses the anti-Christian bias task force's April 2026 report, Pete Hegseth's Pentagon prayer services, the billions flowing to discriminatory private schools through voucher programmes, and what the LGBTQ crackdown has to do with all of it. The episode closes with Rachel's sources of hope  and the annual Summit for Religious Freedom — and an open invitation to listeners to join AU at au.org. In this episode we cover What white Christian nationalism is and why it's the defining threat to church-state separation in America todaySchool vouchers: billions in public money flowing to religious schools that can legally discriminate against LGBTQ students, women, and disabled childrenMaddonna v. HHS: the case of a Catholic mother turned away from a taxpayer-funded foster care agency for being the wrong type of ChristianThe anti-Christian bias task force, Pete Hegseth's Pentagon prayer services, and the LGBTQ crackdownWhat gives Rachel hope — and how to join Americans United at au.org Further reading and references Americans United for Separation of Church and State: https://www.au.org/Rachel Laser — AU profile: https://www.au.org/about-au/people/rachel-laser/Case: Maddonna v. HHS: https://www.au.org/how-we-protect-religious-freedom/legal-cases/cases/maddonna-v-department-of-health-and-human-services/Case: Clergy challenging Missouri abortion ban (Rev. Blackmon v. Missouri): https://www.au.org/how-we-protect-religious-freedom/legal-cases/cases/rev-blackmon-v-missouri/PRRI Christian nationalism research: https://www.prri.org/research/a-christian-nation-understanding-the-threat-of-christian-nationalism-to-american-democracy-and-culture/USCIRF — Rachel Laser commissioner page: https://www.uscirf.gov/about-uscirf/commissioners/rachel-laserSummit for Religious Freedom: https://thesrf.org/ Follow Humanist International Sign up for our free NewsletterSupport Humanists InternationalFollow our CampaignsAbout - Humanists International Join us at the World Humanists Congress 2026This podcast is produced by Humanise Live. Start your podcast today, visit: humanise.live 🎶Music: Horizon by Simon Folwar 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.

    The Fight to Keep Religion Out of Government - Rachel Laser, Americans United for Separation of Church and State

  3. Jul 1

    What Does a Humanist Life Stance Look Like in Practice? with Christian Lomsdalen

    Sign up for the Humanists International Newsletter https://humanists.international/sign-up-for-the-newsletter/ Gary and Leon mark World Humanist Day — sharing a brief history of how the 21st of June became the humanist calendar's most important date, from the American Humanist Association's grassroots observances in the 1980s to its official adoption by the AHA and Humanists International in the 1990s. Leon also notes that blasphemy laws have now been repealed in Northern Ireland — a meaningful milestone on this year's World Humanist Day. Gary introduces a three-stage model of humanist organisation development (persecution, secularism campaigning, lived humanism) and the team shares news of their upcoming London staff gathering, including a canoeing session. This week's guest is Christian Lomsdalen, President of the Norwegian Humanist Association (Human-Etisk Forbund), a position he has held since 2021. Christian is a Norwegian academic, scholar of religion, and educational podcaster whose podcast has reached up to 200,000 yearly listeners in Norway. He and Gary discuss what it means to build a fully-realised humanist life stance — covering 75 years of humanist confirmation ceremonies, the NHA's new chaplaincy programme in hospitals and the military, the Ungtring 2030 free speech project for young people, the Humanist Compass leadership programme, and the European Humanist Services Network. The episode closes with a preview of the Stumbling Cafe, an informal dialogue event Christian will be hosting at the World Humanist Congress in Ottawa. In this episode we cover World Humanist Day history — from the AHA in the 1980s to the official June 21 designationA three-stage model of humanist organisation developmentHumanist confirmations in NorwayHumanist chaplaincy in hospitals, prisons and the militaryFree speech and leadership projects for young peopleWhat are "Stumbling Cafes"?Further reading and references Norwegian Humanist Association (English): https://www.human.no/om-oss/norwegian-humanist-associationHumanist confirmations in Norway: https://www.human.no/seremonier/humanistisk-konfirmasjon/humanist-confirmationChristian Lomsdalen — Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_LomsdalenEuropean Humanist Services Network (EHSN): https://humanistservices.eu/Follow Humanist International Sign up for our free NewsletterSupport Humanists InternationalFollow our CampaignsAbout - Humanists International Join us at the World Humanists Congress 2026This podcast is produced by Humanise Live. Start your podcast today, visit: humanise.live 🎶Music: Horizon by Simon Folwar 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.

    What Does a Humanist Life Stance Look Like in Practice? with Christian Lomsdalen

  4. Jun 24

    Fighting Religious Indoctrination in Schools with Monica Belițoiu, ASUR

    Sign up for the Humanists International Newsletter Gary reports from the Humanist UK Festival of Humanism — over 650 humanists gathered in Bournemouth for the flagship annual event. Leon updates on the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council, where Humanists International is active on resolutions covering freedom of expression, domestic violence, and early child marriage. And the World Humanist Congress in Ottawa is now six weeks away and close to sold out. This week's guest is Monica Belițoiu, Executive Director of the Romanian Secular Humanist Association (ASUR) and board member of Humanists International. Monica talks about ASUR's campaign giving Romanian parents the legal tools to opt children out of religion classes — including a school textbook that told children they would be hit by a car for skipping Sunday church. She also discusses the Bucharest Science Festival, an EU-funded project on scientific literacy and disinformation, and the European Humanist Services Network — a model of regional humanist cooperation now being explored in Latin America under new regional officer David Pineda. In this episode we cover - Humanist UK Festival of Humanism — over 650 humanists gathered in BournemouthUN Human Rights Council 62nd session: freedom of expression, domestic violence, child marriageWorld Humanist Congress 2026 Ottawa — now an annual event, 500+ tickets sold, six weeks to goHumanists International strategy review — Berlin, October 2026ASUR's campaign against religious indoctrination in Romanian public schoolsThe school textbook telling children they'd be hit by a car for skipping churchBucharest Science Festival and ASUR's EU scientific literacy projectEuropean Humanist Services Network — a replicable model for global humanist cooperationNew Latin America regional development officer: David Pineda, based in GuatemalaFurther reading and references  Romanian Secular Humanist Association (ASUR): https://asur.ro/asur-english/ Bucharest Science Festival: https://www.bucharestsciencefestival.ro/ European Humanist Services Network (EHSN): https://humanistservices.eu/ Humanist UK Festival of Humanism 2026: https://humanists.uk/events/festival2026/ World Humanist Congress 2026 — Ottawa, August 7-9: https://humanists.international/event/world-humanist-congress-2026/Global Alliance for Human Rights — OHCHR: https://www.ohchr.org - Freedom of Thought Report: https://fot.humanists.internationalFollow Humanist International Sign up for our free NewsletterSupport Humanists InternationalFollow our CampaignsAbout - Humanists International Join us at the World Humanists Congress 2026This podcast is produced by Humanise Live. Start your podcast today, visit: humanise.live 🎶Music: Horizon by Simon Folwar 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.

    Fighting Religious Indoctrination in Schools with Monica Belițoiu, ASUR

  5. Jun 17

    Resisting Christian Nationalism with Empathy, Community and Creators - Fish Stark

    Sign up for the Humanists International Newsletter Gary and Leon open Season Two with updates on the World Humanist Congress — now just two months away and on track to sell out in Ottawa — alongside news of a new Latin American Membership Development Officer, an upcoming Human Rights Council session, and Humanists International's participation in EU dialogues on artificial intelligence in Brussels. This week's guest is Fish Stark, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association — one of the co-founders of Humanists International and a co-sponsor of this year's World Humanist Congress. Fish talks about why humanism is the right cause for this moment in America, the fight against white Christian nationalism and threats to church-state separation, and two bold new initiatives: the American Empathy Project — a national day of service backed by $100,000 in grants — and the AHA's humanist creator fund, investing in secular content creators to reach young Americans where they are. In this episode we cover Congress updates, Latin America expansion and EU AI dialoguesWhy humanism is growing in America — and what the AHA is doing about itFighting white Christian nationalism and defending church-state separationPete Hegseth's removal of humanists and atheists from the DoD recognised belief listThe American Empathy Project — the biggest humanist mobilisation since the Reason RallyThe AHA creator fund — backing secular influencers to grow the movementFurther reading and references American Humanist Association: https://americanhumanist.orgFish Stark — AHA Executive Director: https://americanhumanist.org/what-we-do/speakers-bureau/stark/The American Empathy Project: https://www.americanempathyproject.orgHow to Humanist Podcast — AHA: https://americanhumanist.org/thehumanist/how-to-humanist-podcast/European Humanist Services Network (EHSN): https://humanistservices.euWorld Humanist Congress 2026 — Ottawa, August 7-9: https://humanists.international/event/world-humanist-congress-2026/Global Alliance for Human Rights — OHCHR: https://www.ohchr.orgLuxembourg Declaration on Artificial Intelligence — Humanists International: https://humanists.international/congress-declarations/Follow Humanist International Sign up for our free NewsletterSupport Humanists InternationalFollow our CampaignsAbout - Humanists International Join us at the World Humanists Congress 2026This podcast is produced by Humanise Live. Start your podcast today, visit: humanise.live 🎶Music: Horizon by Simon Folwar 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.

    Resisting Christian Nationalism with Empathy, Community and Creators - Fish Stark

  6. Apr 29

    Humanists International Answer Your Questions

    Sign up for the Humanists International Newsletter To mark the end of Season One, Gary and Leon are joined by Harry, Fundraising and Communications Officer at Humanists International, who hosts a special listener Q&A. Questions came in from around the world covering everything from digital safety under repressive regimes, to the future of the UN, to humanism's role in the age of AI and climate change. In this episode we cover How humanists living under restrictive regimes can stay safe and connected — and what Humanists International can offerThe Freedom of Thought Report — greatest improvements and worst declines over the past decadeHumanism, climate change and AI — can humanists help shape the story humanity tells about itself?Concerns about the direction of UN reform and what it means for human rights funding and civil societyHow Humanists International sets its priorities, how it is governed, and how it is financedFurther reading and references Humanists International casework and security resources: https://humanists.international/what-we-do/Frontline Defenders — security support for human rights defenders: https://www.frontlinedefenders.orgLuxembourg Declaration on Artificial Intelligence — Humanists International: https://humanists.international/policy/luxembourg-declaration-on-artificial-intelligence-and-human-values/UN80 Initiative — reform framework: https://www.un.org/en/un80Follow Humanist International Sign up for our free NewsletterSupport Humanists InternationalFollow our CampaignsAbout - Humanists International Join us at the World Humanists Congress 2026This podcast is produced by Humanise Live. Start your podcast today, visit: humanise.live 🎶Music: Horizon by Simon Folwar 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.

    Humanists International Answer Your Questions

  7. Apr 22

    Humanism Has Answers - Inside Humanist Canada with Janalee Morris

    Sign up for the Humanists International Newsletter Gary joins from Guatemala, where he has been meeting with Humanistas Guatemala and learning about the growing influence of American evangelical Christianity and the fascinating tradition of Catholic-Mayan syncretism. Leon meanwhile shares updates including cautious optimism around the Hungarian election result, ongoing tensions in Iran and the Middle East, the worrying composition of the newly elected UN Committee on NGOs, and welcome news that UN High Commissioner has endorsed the codification of gender apartheid as an international crime. This week's guest is Janalee Morris, Executive Director of Humanist Canada, which is co-hosting the 2026 World Humanist Congress in Ottawa this August. Janalee gives a wide-ranging overview of Humanist Canada's work — from training officiants and chaplains to advocacy on the census religion question, publicly funded Catholic schools, and Alberta's restrictions on gender-affirming care and medical assistance in dying. She also shares her excitement about the Congress and what it means to bring the global humanist movement together at this critical moment. In this episode we cover Evangelical Christian growth in Guatemala and Catholic-Mayan syncretismCautious optimism on Hungary's election resultEndorsements for codification of gender apartheid as an international crimeHumanist Canada Campaigns, Advocacy and ActivitiesHumanist ceremonies, officiants and the provincial licensing challengeWhy Attend The World Humanist Congress 2026Further reading and references Humanist Canada: https://www.humanistcanada.caHumanist Canada chaplaincy programme: https://www.humanistcanada.ca/programs/chaplaincy/Humanist Canada Choice Chat podcast on reproductive rights: https://www.humanistcanada.ca/programs/podcast/choice-chat-podcast/Humanistas Guatemala: https://www.facebook.com/HumanistasGuatemalaVolker Türk supports codification of gender apartheid as a crime against humanity — OHCHR: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/01/turk-urges-ambition-crimes-against-humanity-treatyFollow Humanist International Sign up for our free NewsletterSupport Humanists InternationalFollow our CampaignsAbout - Humanists International Join us at the World Humanists Congress 2026This podcast is produced by Humanise Live. Start your podcast today, visit: humanise.live 🎶Music: Horizon by Simon Folwar 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.

    Humanism Has Answers - Inside Humanist Canada with Janalee Morris

  8. Apr 15

    How the UK Asylum System Is Failing the Non-Religious with Dr. Lucy Potter

    Sign up for the Humanists International Newsletter This week's guest is Dr. Lucy Potter, postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Sociological Studies at the University of York. Her landmark three-year study — Freedom of Religion or Belief for All: Recognising and Protecting the Non-Religious in the Asylum System — reveals how the UK's asylum system routinely misunderstands and fails people fleeing persecution for leaving their religion. Lucy shares her key findings, her policy recommendations to the Home Office, and how she has been taking this research to Parliament and the UN. In this episode we cover The UN Committee on NGOs — why the newly elected slate of states is alarming for civil societyThe crisis in the Middle East and the erosion of the rules-based international orderWhat drew Dr. Lucy Potter to research non-religious asylum claimsWhy the asylum system struggles to assess non-religious identity claimsKey recommendations — updated Home Office policy, staff training, and adjusting the burden of proofReferences Dr. Lucy Potter's report — Freedom of Religion or Belief for All: Recognising and Protecting the Non-Religious in the Asylum System: https://humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/Freedom-of-Religion-or-Belief-for-All-report.pdfHumanists UK — work on asylum and FoRB training: https://humanists.uk/campaigns/asylum/UK All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group: https://humanists.uk/campaigns/parliament/all-party-parliamentary-humanist-group/UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief: https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-religion-or-beliefUN Committee on NGOs: https://csonet.orgFreedom of Thought Report: https://fot.humanists.internationalFollow Humanist International Sign up for our free NewsletterSupport Humanists InternationalFollow our CampaignsAbout - Humanists International Join us at the World Humanists Congress 2026This podcast is produced by Humanise Live. Start your podcast today, visit: humanise.live 🎶Music: Horizon by Simon Folwar 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.

    How the UK Asylum System Is Failing the Non-Religious with Dr. Lucy Potter
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Freedom of Thought from Humanists International is a global news and interview podcast examining the state of freedom of belief, expression, and human rights worldwide. Hosted by Gary McLelland and Leon Langdon, the podcast draws on Humanists International’s flagship Freedom of Thought Report to bring together researchers, human rights defenders, activists, and policy experts to unpack the realities facing humanists, atheists, and non-religious people in different countries and regions. Each episode explores key findings from the report alongside wider developments in international law, politics, and civil society. Through in-depth conversations, case studies, and timely analysis, the show highlights where freedoms are under threat, where progress is being made, and what solidarity and advocacy can achieve. Produced by Humanise Live, Freedom of Thought offers clear, accessible insight into global freedom of thought issues for anyone interested in human rights, secularism, democracy, and evidence-based policy.

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