S8 E17 · Sat, April 26, 2025

Truth Wanted 08.17 with ObjectivelyDan and @Allegedly-Ian

S8 E16 · Sat, April 19, 2025

Truth Wanted 08.16 with ObjectivelyDan and Sara

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, Objectively Dan and Sara, with Leaving Faith, work through calls of deconversion, original sin, and ancient alien origins.  Steve in NE has strong evidence that the planet K2 18b has life, and uses that as a reason to believe that there is a god that is technologically advanced. How does this potential life make it more likely that a technologically advanced god exists? Why does there have to be a creator involved? We can find patterns in almost anything, but that does not prove anything. Rearranging this to get to the conclusion that you started with is not a good way to find the truth.  Chris in MI asks Sara if there was a higher power, is it most likely a floofy cute loaf of banana or a floofy cute dog that barks at things. Sara says it is the dog! Fastest call ever! Roy in MA has some questions about how to approach some conversations. The first question is about where original sin and atonement are referenced in the Bible. Dan describes how the Old Testament’s narrative involves people being held accountable for the sins of the father but was more strongly mentioned by Paul. Sara agrees this is more of a New Testament thing and an idea of Paul. Dan then explains how the Bible is a collection of blog posts with Paul being one of the biggest bloggers. Roy then asks the hosts their opinions about whether we can be punished for not worshipping god. Sara reminds us how the Bible lacks clarity about salvation and is full of contradictions.  Chuck in CA tells us his deconversion story, and we are the first ones to hear it! During his teenage years he started to question things after some conversations with friends. When he arrived in college, he had his first philosophy class where he encountered several god arguments that he could not shake. After watching several years of the AXP, and a few classes, he considers himself a firm atheist. He taught his mother, who is a lifelong believer, yoga and meditation that seemed to help her have a higher quality of life. Remember, you are not responsible for everything that happens and to be kind to yourself. What would you tell someone that told this same story to you? We appreciate you sharing this with us for the first time!  Thank you for tuning in this week! Our backup host, Kelley Laughlin joins us to close out the show. We want the truth prompt: Aliens thought they would have an easy time on earth, but they did not anticipate______. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S8 E15 · Sat, April 12, 2025

Truth Wanted 08.15 with Kelley Laughlin and @blitzphd

S8 E14 · Sat, April 05, 2025

Truth Wanted 08.14 with Jon the Skeptick and Amanda Bonanza

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, Jon the Skeptick and Kelley Laughlin kick off the show before being joined by Amanda Bonanza who shows her amazing ability to offer wise guidance and questions to ponder to a bigoted caller. James in NY asks about having hope that mythical beings exist and the value of this hope when it can give us comfort with mortality. Why would believing in something like a dragon give us hope and what purpose would it serve? What happens when two people have opposing hopes? What would you need for something to be higher than you? When you die, the same thing will happen to you that was before you were born. If you make amazing memories and help people feel great about themselves, they will pass it on for you! Make it brilliant now! Jon in Canada thinks that trans women are putting cis women in danger by saying that men and women are the same. Amanda gives Jon a generous helping of questions that Jon seems to be unable to honestly answer. Who says that men and women are the same? The common misconception that trans women are men or that they are trans for sport, to be cool, or to gain access to feminine spaces is wildly wrong and factually incorrect. This is a prenatal condition where the body produces the wrong hormones that requires medicine where the person feels better. People confuse this with something that is aesthetic and often results in premature death. How is treating this condition putting women at risk? The approval rating for the treatments used for this transition is off the charts positive. Gender and biological sex are different things that sometimes overlap but not always. Jon then goes on to claim that this is all a fantasy. How do you know you are a man; do you need to check your genitals? If you are straight, can you one day decide to be gay and think that men are attractive? Do you choose to write with your right hand and how do you know you are right handed? It would take a lot of work to start doing things with your left hand and it would not feel natural, wouldn’t it? How many conversations have you had with trans people about this? You are incongruent with yourself, Jon. What happens when you take estrogen? If a cis woman does not look feminine enough, does that make her a man? If Mike Tyson transitioned and became a woman, would you be able to kick his ass because he is no longer a man? Gabe in MO is meeting his girlfriend’s parents soon and the father is a Lutheran pastor and wants some ideas on how to deal with it. How does your girlfriend feel about this and how often will you be seeing them? Sometimes it is best to keep the peace; you don;t have to agree but diplomacy comes into play and can go a long way.  Thank you for joining us! We want the truth question: If atheists are not in fox holes, where are they? Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--31954

S8 E13 · Sat, March 29, 2025

Truth Wanted 08.13 03-28-2025 with Kelley Laughlin and @AlmostaDoctor1

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, Kelley Laughlin and Almost a Doctor, shift through how to not lionize science and provide some insights on how to deal with science being under attack and then kindly addressing some fears of hell with a repeat caller. Jamie in TX is not a fan of lionizing science for science itself by saying “In Science We Trust”; science needs to be taught and funded properly in a manner that instills the scientific method. Slogans can make science into an entity or belief system. Science is a tool and a method, not a thing that people worship or religion. How do you think we should solve the problem of the media writing misinformation after improperly reading the data? Dee in IA finds it disturbing how science is under attack and compares it with how people were oppressed in the medieval times. It is about how you approach it to change the base framework of how people view the world because not everyone is going to respond the same way. Always be careful to not represent what the scientific method is. It is important to remember that science is not the enemy. What will the future bring for science when we have this social movement that is against it? Jon in Canada, has been thinking about his faith, and lately the fear of Hell has been on his mind. Which hell will it be and how do you know it is a real thing? People normally can’t just rid this fear overnight. It can take years to work with this. Many atheists used to be theists and struggled with this same thing. What part of this are you most fearful of? The idea of it being forever makes it worse, doesn't it? What if your version of hell is wrong or you chose to worship the wrong god? Do any of the hells have more evidence than the others? Thank you for joining us! Ely Slack, our back-up host, joins us to close out the show by leaving us some words of wisdom, “Be like a proton and stay positive.” We want the truth for this week: What is really causing the loneliness epidemic? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S8 E12 · Sat, March 22, 2025

Truth Wanted 08.12 with Jon the Skeptick and Drew Bekius

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, Jon the Skeptic and Drew Bekius take a dive into animal rights before realizing the dive was deep enough to encounter octopi of potential alien origins. Connor in UT would like to know the hosts’ opinions on animal rights being an extension of human rights. Jon mentions the struggle associated with soy allergies when going to a plant based diet. As Drew emphasizes the importance of this conversation, he describes the need to exercise mindfulness and gratefulness towards other beings on the planet. What is the best option for animal testing? How can the pain and harm be minimized? Dee in IA says that farmed animals in the future need to reside with local farmers where farm animals are bred for food. If dogs are bred for fighting, does that make it right? What does ethical farming mean and how do we explore these practices? Would it be cool for aliens to come down and have a human farm because we are so tasty? If an animal is bred for a certain purpose, what would make that purpose ethical? Though Industry and employment are important, they are not the right reasons to keep this in practice.  Jon in Canada saw a plate move all by itself after having a conversation about ghosts. What is your best explanation for this? How do you go about getting all the information before making the conclusion that it was caused by a ghost? Sometimes taking the position of not knowing is the way to go. John in OH says that he can prove there is no afterlife because the mind is a separate substance from the body and consciousness is a property of the brain that can be turned off. If the mind is a process of the brain that stops when the brain dies, why is this important to theists? Dan in Canada wonders if the awesomeness and weirdness of octopi indicates they might be from other planets. Are there other connections that go beyond this category? How would the disconnect be explained between the animal kingdom and Cephalopods if there are in fact disconnections? How convinced are you that the octopus is not of earth origin? Thank you for tuning in! Kelley Laughlin, our backup host, joins us to close out the show. Question of the week is: What says I am an asshole without saying I am an asshole? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S9 E11 · Sat, March 15, 2025

Truth Wanted 08.11 with Kelley Laughlin and @planetpeterson2824_RX7

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, Kelley Laughlin and Planet Peterson sit in grass circles left by saucers and use inductive reasoning to observe the double slit experiment as they quantify infinity.  Dan in Canada is curious about the Landenberg incident where a farmer had seen five saucer shaped objects in his field that left circles on the grass after they flew into the sky. This just seems too silly to be true. Is it possible this farmer wanted people to remember his name and made it up? It looks like he succeeded because there was a cool glowing coin made after the incident. How do people become experts in crop circles? Is it possible BigFoot had anything to do with this? Afterall, it was Saskatchewan! Ransom in WY wants to talk about the Double-slit experiment and how that can prove there is life outside of this universe as a conscious observer. Measurements collapse the wave function, not conscious observations. What people say about this and other pop science is not what you think it is. What happens when the majority of physicists have a different explanation and opinion than the one physicist that you want to believe? Understanding the data and how wave patterns are shown on a screen is key to drawing the correct interpretations on this. The Delayed Choice Quantum Eraser, Debunked is a good place to start to know more about this.  James in NY asks the hosts if infinity could ever be quantified. Even with every fundamental thing in the universe included as a counting device, we would not be able to do this. We know about infinite sets and how they are used in math, but they are not quantified. Zeno's Paradox shows the infinite regression of an arrow never reaching a target because it must first reach an infinite number of half way points. This illustrates how a finite set can represent an infinite series.  Lee in Canada has some thoughts about how the scientific method uses inductive reasoning to show the hypothesis is false. Science does not deal in absolutes, but it can prove that things are false. When you solve the mathematical proof, there is nothing else left. In the court of law, you are not proven innocent, you are proven not guilty. Religion does not explain anything or contribute to epistemology in any rational way and is almost the opposite of the scientific method to gain knowledge.  Thank you for joining us for this fascinating show! Scott Dickie, our back-up host joins us to close us out as musician Collin Yours gives us a live beautiful sounding folk show!  Prompt of the week is: Name a religious counterpart for a scientific claim.  Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign

S8 E10 · Sat, March 08, 2025

Truth Wanted 08.10 03-07-2025 with ObjectivelyDan and @blitzphd

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, Objectivity Dan and Dr. Blitz, slow a star down to drive it towards another star to avoid the word salad bar in this universe that is still not fine tuned.  Steve in NE cites a paper The Spider Stellar Engine: a Fully Steerable Extraterrestrial Design? https://ress.at/news_uploads/2411.05038v1.pdf This describes a nearby star with some spectroscopic signals that show the star is decelerating where one explanation is extraterrestrial design. What other solutions could there be for this star slowing down? Who says these are artificially generated? Whenever there are claims with, “probably” we need to be careful. We need several pieces of data that point to the same thing. The discussion continues with a different claim of wreckage material that has a date older than our solar system. Why are you convinced these claims are true and why would you believe his own counter arguments to the criticisms? If you start with the conclusion, you will always find some stuff. Whether that stuff supports your conclusion is a different story.  Catholic Traditionalist (CT) wants to talk about ontological intelligibility where god is defined as an intelligent agent that has no beginning. We might have a basic understanding of how things work, but how do we get to god from that? What does it mean to understand things on a basic level? People perceive things without understanding them all the time. If we have this agreed upon definition of understanding what is around us, what next? Do properties exist on their own or are there features of minds interacting with things on the ontological status? CT fails at his attempt to put the hosts in a different world by comparing their perception to “other atheists”. If you claim to speak with hundreds of atheists online, why doesn’t your script cover nominalism? Your projection of word salad is hilarious and if you are going to use words like “ontological” you need to know what nominalism is.  Gregory in TN asks Dr. Blitz about the fine tuning argument that we get all the time and whether it is a non-starter or if we should try to take it apart. Dr. Blitz describes how this argument has at least two problems: 1. We must first know how the universe could have been and we can’t evaluate this probability. 2. From a theist’s point of view, the assumption must be made that not only god exists, but this god must want life to exist. How can we determine the likelihood of parameters if we don’t know the likelihood or the parameters? How fine tuned are god’s desires and why is his will so fine tuned? Thank you for tuning in this week! AJ, our backup host, joins us to close out the show. Prompt of the week is: Combine two conspiracy theories to make the ultimate conspiracy theory.  Become a supporter of this p

S8 E9 · Sat, March 01, 2025

Truth Wanted 08.09 02-28-2025 with Jon the Skeptick and Kelley Laughlin

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, Jon the Skeptic and Kelley Laughlin avoid discussing how to make a glove out of foreskins by working through some calls that need unraveling.  Gregory Peccary in TX blows the whistle on people who insist on giving airtime to well researched mysteries that are not commonly accepted yet continue to be exploited. Even when there is no evidence, people want things to be real, and it eats up tons of money. Why do you think Ouija Boards are still being sold? What kind of wacky inventions can you come up with to make people think we are communicating with the dead? When Bagel in Canada was a teenager, he experienced a 10 mile walk in the rain where he engaged in prayer that he thought was answered by god by manipulating the weather and summoning a ride. It was not until an atheist kid mentioned “if statistical anomalies did not happen, that fact would be a statistical anomaly itself” that Bagel realized it was all a crock. Why would god stop the rain and not help millions of starving children? Where are god’s priorities if this were true? What kind of terrible arguments did you used to believe that jump out at you now as silly?   Daen Dark in AR believes that divine sovereignty is our inseparable connection to the one true creator that has no real name. How do you demonstrate that this is creation without giving an example? Is the creator in your mind also in our minds? What are you doing that people are not doing to perceive this creator? Is this creator an energy or is it an actual being? If this is a working theory, it needs to be nailed down so you can demonstrate it to everyone. Think critically about what the real reason is for you to think and talk this way. Using poetic and artistic language may sound beautiful, but does not make something true. Many of us have come from the same place as you and have realized that using these ideas do not make things work. Start looking at the world as it is, and not the way you want it to be.  Jim in FL has gone from Greek Orthodox to Deism where a higher power is an energy that can’t be known by man and needs to bring people together. If this can’t be known by man, how can you perceive and define it? Why do you conclude that this energy is a higher power? If you make a claim, it is up to you to explain how you got there. We are trying to find out how you got to this belief, not engage in a debate. How do we know that any of this is not man made? It may be hard to know when you have exhausted all the variables. How can we come to the same conclusion as you with this concept of Deism being the only remaining explanation so that we can relate?  Dee in IA has some thoughts about the caller who chemically alters his brain with drugs, and wants to know how the “woo” helps us with trans rights and the law. Taking a drug that makes you think you saw god does not mean there is a god. <br

S8 E8 · Sat, February 22, 2025

Truth Wanted 08.08 with ObjectivelyDan and Eli Slack

Today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, Objectively Dan and Eli Slack use tulpas as their assistants to explore how much the truth matters to celebrities espousing ridiculous concepts of truth before a deep dive into what the truth is for callers.  James in NY wants to talk about how tulpamancy and mental conditioning help shape our concepts of god and religion. Some people say the development of primates had to do with psychedelic mushrooms and this is entirely possible. There is a chance that the Book of Revelation is a result of something like this. One has to wonder if we can ask questions without actually verbalizing and this is fun to think about. How would a tulpa change the questions that you ask or think about? Jamie in TX asks if it matters what popular figures performative espouse things about Christianity that were popular in the 1940’s. Religion is always a reflection of the culture. How would someone from the first century recognize the versions of Christianity today? The truth of what these people are saying probably does not matter to them.  Ben in AL wants to know if some of the people who call have a different definition of what “true” means. Many people will have a descriptive version of truth that conforms to their bias. When people start to ask why it could not have been their god that caused events, it gets them far into heavy lifting with the truth. This is when it is helpful to ask if their methods of determining the truth are reliable. If our ability to reason is tied to our material conditions, then what does that say about how we should treat one another? Kelley Laughlin, our backup host, joins with an awesome smile to close out the show. Thank you for tuning in! Prompt of the week is: What was one of Jesus’s lesser known miracles? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S8 E7 · Sat, February 15, 2025

Truth Wanted 08.07 with ObjectivelyDan and Thinker

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, Objectively Dan and Thinker work through calls of agnostic influence as the ethics of skin bleaching drip down to questions of secular replacements for the worries of materialist worldviews. Jim, a first time caller in FL, has for the last 20 years been discovering different belief systems and currently describes being agnostic and is thinking there still must be a higher power. The hosts ask a series of questions: What leads you to believe there is a higher power at all? Why does love need a higher power to exist? What do you need to know what the universe has in store for you? How do you know if there is a higher power? Why do you need a god to make a difference in this world? Why would you pursue this when it is unknown? Dan appreciates having a reverence greater than the self when something can be verified, and suggests Jim may be a deist. Thinker drills in with the question of “why” as the caller expresses the strong desire to influence people. We want to hear more of Jim’s thoughts as this journey continues.  Steven in NY has some questions about the ethics of using skin bleaching products in Japan. Dan describes the racial undertones with the use of these products. Thinker reminds us that people should be able to do what they want with their skin. Why are there so many Christians in the beauty care world? Skin bleaching can be useful for when people are uncomfortable with spots on the face. How is tanning different from skin bleaching and how does this compare to black face? People may see this as a fashion trend and what is seen as attractive.We can’t make a judgement of what people’s motivations are. Thinker suggests culture change through education and teaching people about self love. How do you change culture when we have these identities? Education about the background that is behind this is an important part of understanding the dynamic of skin color change. Sven in WA wants to know how confident the hosts are of secular replacements for the worries that can come from the materialist worldview. Dan reminds us that the bad guys seem to follow the most authoritarian religions. We must have the tools to escape those constructs where a higher power tells us what to do all the time. Thinker clarifies what the caller is asking and turns the question around. Why would there not be replacements for these things? If there are people who can not accept the earth is round, does that mean the earth is not round? We are not going around evangelizing; in what scenario would it be better for us to hide? Why do you think the countries who are most developed are also the most secular?  Kelley Laughlin, our ba ckup host, joins to close us out and reminds us to have a great time on his birthday! What a great show! Prompt of the week is: What do you most want to hear about the other side? Thinker gives us some thoughts of wisdom by remind

S8 E6 · Sat, February 08, 2025

Truth Wanted 08.06 02-07-2025 with ObjectivelyDan and Thom Norman

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, Objectively Dan and Thom Norman with Farm Kind, discuss veganism along with a variety of subtopics that atheists need to be talking more about.  Steve in NE brings up lab grown meat and wants to know how the hosts feel about it. Thom informs us that this is something that not only avoids the slaughter of animals, but how it is also good for the environment. If we are informed about this rather than seeing it banned, we will be able to make decisions for ourselves on whether or not we should consume this meat.  Dan is all for it and encourages people to try the meat that has already been produced to help determine the quality and compare with how it will improve years from now. The FDA has already improved it yet some states think it is in their best interest to ban it.  What reason would a state have to ban lab grown meat? How can we build big enough factories for this to be produced efficiently? How many jobs would this create?  Dee in IA uncovers the cruelty of how we treat animals. The reason for this cruelty goes back to the book of Genesis where it commands man to have dominion over and subdue animals. The statement in the Book of Acts that says all meat is cool to eat has changed human history drastically. Why engage in practices that harm the animal with no human gain such as broiler chicken production? If you could live your whole life without eating cows, then why kill the cow in the first place? How can we approach this systemic change? Why is it a problem to compare this practice to slavery? Remember the end product does not come from small farms because they do not have the infrastructure. What farms slaughter the animal only after its natural lifespan is near the end? Daniel in Canada is making an effort to eliminate factory farming by buying free range eggs, grass fed beef, eating smaller portions, and avoiding fast food retailers. Every little thing that we can do will make a difference and be meaningful improvements. There are a whole range of things that can be done that are beyond dietary restrictions such as donating to organizations to offset what you do consume. How can the lives of meat farmed animals be similar to the horrors of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre? Why not also help another sentient being with a nervous system if you can? Thank you for tuning in truth seekers! Kelley Laughlin, our back-up host helps close us out with a rainbow tie and ready to take on beef in the chat! Prompt of the week is: Name the strangest widely held non-critical belief. (Non-political answers only). Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S8 E5 · Sat, February 01, 2025

Truth Wanted 08.05 01-31-2025 with ObjectivelyDan and Tracy Wilbert

Show notes will be posted upon receipt. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S8 E3 · Sat, January 25, 2025

Truth Wanted 08.04 with ObjectivelyDan and Benjamin Clodfelter 2025-01-24

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, Objectively Dan and Benjamin Clodfelter, discuss defense tactics against Christian Nationalism before a surprise call from Jon who thinks that men who are not woke can beat Ronda Rousey in a fight. Rogue Show in SC asks the hosts how a layman person can defend against Christian Nationalism. Ben advises to get involved with any of thousands of organizations and help contribute to a number of causes. Everyone has the ability to go out and make a difference. ACLU and the Human Rights Campaign are two places to start. Dan mentions  Recovering From Religion , and how that activism does not have to be something that is on the books and how it is more than just donating or volunteering. Living your life by your own principles is a good way to do it.  Chase in the USA wants to talk about where art and activism merge and how there are methods such as writing screen plays, spoken words, and music. Ben mentions how some of the best art that has ever been created has come out of diversity and resistance. Dan reminds us that art that we create is not only helpful for the present, but also the future because it is like planting trees. Even public speaking like what the hosts do can be a form of helpful and impactful art! Practice, talk with strangers, and get used to talking in these spaces. Dan plays the violin and will think about being some random guy playing at a protest, even when it is 100 degrees in Texas. Dee in IA pushes back on the voicemail and describes how it is illogical and erroneous to point at Israel fulfilling any kind of prophecy. She mentions how we need to pull back support and take a harder line with war criminals. Dan describes how there is a lot of discourse for what is happening there. In response to the actions of Hamas, what is a proportional response to their actions? What actions should be taken as long as the ends justify the means? Dan reminds us that we are limited with our commentary on geopolitical events.  Jon from Canada wants to say that being woke is dangerous because it discriminates against white men, and men are necessary. Is Dan not woke anymore because is a white guy? What organizations are actively “woke” by discriminating against white men? What percentage of the firefighters in California are black women, and why do you say they are not qualified to handle it? Were the white men firefighters we saw on the news just wearing costumes? Why are men more physically capable? Do

S8 E2 · Sat, January 18, 2025

Truth Wanted 08.02 with ObjectivelyDan and Amanda Bonanza

This week, ObjectivelyDan and Amanda Bonanza delve into reincarnation and spiritism, “preaching” atheism, and ethical questions of space travel. Eduardo calls in from Brazil to talk about spiritism. He discusses the existence of local gods/spirits for each culture or region and says that our purpose is to grow in knowledge and morality. But if we think that humans just tend to be spiritual and build beliefs and myths, how do we know which claim is true? Eduardo says that they compliment each other because spirits are reincarnated in people. It seems like he is coming up with more ideas to try to reconcile the two claims. But how do we get to reincarnation if we don’t know if it’s a real option in the first place? Amanuel from Texas wonders what atheism’s selling pitch is? Why do we “preach” atheism? The hosts explain that the truth is the truth. It exists whether people believe it or not. Religion seems like the better deal for most people, but if it isn’t true, then you’ve been wasting your time, and even worse, you could be harboring prejudices because of it. Prejudice is baked into the cake in Christianity. There are plenty of Christians that don’t have prejudices and aren’t bigots, but the idea that God tells you what rules you need to follow and if you don’t, you're going to hell for eternity and are a bad person. Amanuel asks what prejudices Christians have against atheists. Jesus and God specifically say that they atheists are fools and that they aren't allowed in heaven. And that’s just in the bible and excludes the broader current culture of the world. There are currently people being killed around the world because they are atheists. In America, there are many people who believe you can’t be an American if you’re not a Christian. Amanuel says we need god, but why? Why does he need god? He says that he doesn’t believe we’re bad people, but we’re not going to heaven solely because we don’t believe. They aren’t more sinners than he is, they just don’t believe in God. God is his best friend but also his worst enemy. That sounds awful man. The hosts can’t just choose to believe in God so they can go to heaven if they aren’t convinced God even exists. Dan from Canada calls to talk updates on the drone situation in New Jersey. Unfortunately, there’s no new stories about them since the last time he called. He brings up an interesting moral thought experiment. Would it be moral if, for the good of the species, we sent an intergenerational colony ship into space? Is the good of the species worth more than the good of the individuals who would be on that ship? If we don’t have interstellar travel or cryogenics figured out yet, is it ethical to send a sustainable ship to just go out and explore until we do figure it out? Is it ethical for kids to be born and grow up on a ship since they didn’t consent to it? Thanks for joining us this week! Finish the joke in the comments: K

S8 E1 · Sat, January 11, 2025

Truth Wanted 08.01 2025-01-10 with Kelley Laughlin and PlanetPeterson

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, Kelley Laughlin and Planet Perterson swing through Appalachia with escaped creatures after realizing we are all reincarnated aliens that were never there to perceive the information that brought you the smugness of know it all callers.  Musical Instruments in VA had some encounters with possible ape creatures along the James River. He heard a roar in the middle of the night in one instance, and another night monkey sounds were heard and echoed throughout the forest. What are the possibilities of escaped lions and monkeys surviving in that area? Kelley confirmed that there were sightings of ape like creatures in 1994 near Roanoke VA, and Planet mentioned how bears can sound. How would you define a roar and identify animals by just the sounds they make? We don’t know that Sasquatch exist, but we do know about animals escaping and native animals making scary noises. The hosts cite several examples of animals escaping and breeding colonies.  Eduardo in Brazil says that a group of people were reincarnated in ancient times to help the growth of the planet and establish the old religions. How did you come up with this idea? How do you know if what you were told or the books you read are true? What would be the empirical evidence you can show that demonstrates this is true? Claims are not the same as evidence and supernaturalism is an extraordinary claim which is what reincarnation is. We need reincarnation to be proven real before we believe it. What reason do you have to believe this other than ‘evidence’ of people’s intrinsic skills? How is deja vu proof of this? Why are there more people alive today than in the past if everyone born has been reincarnated? What are these ancient aliens like and how is this rational thinking? Catholic Traditionalist, a repeat presup in LA, tries to prove how ontological intelligibility proves the existence of god. Are you defining god to be a mind or is this what god is? Why should we take your word for this? Why do you seriously think we do not understand your point? What is information when there is no one there to interpret it? The example the caller gives relied on somebody perceiving something. Try to understand that without somebody perceiving something, there is no information there because information is dependent on perception itself. The works of Shakespear exist, but the information does not exist until somebody consumes and interprets it. Do rocks exchange information with each other?  Thank you for tuning in folks! Question of the week is: What are your 2025 predictions?(No political answers please). Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E49 · Sat, December 21, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.51 with ObjectivelyDan, Kelley Laughlin, and Jon the Skeptick

In today’s final 2024 episode of Truth Wanted, ObjectivelyDan, Kelley Laughlin, and Jon the Skeptic go to Antarctica and hang out in seminary school to find that the death of Jesus was stolen before spinning in Roman manufactured circles that spiraled them straight to Mars where tiny creatures roam.  Race Bannon in Texas calls to talk about The Final Experiment that happened this week where a bunch of people visited Antarctica to prove that the sun does not set. Have we finally put this silly argument to rest? A lot of flat earthers are also young earth creationists because of you guessed it, the Bible. It turns out that feeling strongly about this kind of stuff gets more people to vote than science does and that is the world we live in.  Charles in Scotland grew up in a secular household, became a Christian for ten years, and deconverted after going to seminary, earning three theological degrees with a PHD. How did your parents feel about you going down this road? He focused on what the author was trying to say to the audience and realized there were so many problems with the Bible that it was basically myth. Why should we care what the authors of one Biblical book say vs. another? What is different now from when you were a believer? Jesus Tales in NC describes a story in Joshua 10 where a king was hung on a tree and put in a cave with rocks at the entry. Are you saying that the author of Mark borrowed from the author of Joshua? Stories of Jesus can be taken back to other pre-Old Testament stories.  Mike in FL calls in to give a different perspective on why man created god and it was as a symbolic representation of specific effects. You understand that we can’t just boil this down to a single sentence, right? How do we get to where the Roman people manufactured Christ? Why do you believe this? We can’t explain why people believe why Jesus died for their sins; there will be tons of answers.  Not all Christians follow the Bible to a literal degree. What are you even talking about?  Write out what you are going to say first and get yourself together next time.  Daniel in Canada calls to talk about some proxy war that is happening between him and another caller that involves using the real name of another caller just to troll him. What is going on guys? Why are you using this show to insult people? Once we get into the reason for the call, Daniel brings up how interesting some of the photos are that we are seeing on Mars, and how NASA is covering up the beings that are going underground on Mars. What do you think is the motive for this cover up? Create a Google Doc for this and share it! Thank you for tuning in this week. Question of the week is: What was the cringiest thing that happened to you in 2024? Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support?ut

S7 E50 · Sat, December 14, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.50 with ObjectivelyDan and Jimmy Jr. (@TalkHeathen) 2024-12-13

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, ObjectivelyDan and Jimmy Jr. attempt to unravel the truth behind the NJ drones! Previous Leon in TX sees things from fiction entering into the popular conspiracy lexicon all the time, and uses adrenochrome as an example. Qanon folks love talking about this one! The environment is prime for people believing in these things now and we don’t have the solution to this problem yet. Maybe humans are lazy and don’t put a lot of energy into figuring things out.  Steve in NE calls to talk about the claims of how shining a laser on a screen while on DMT, there will be a matrix and a code. If you take substances, you are going to see things. A visual representation for a code is unnecessary for the code to work and it does not make sense for us to have a reason to see this. Is it possible that people see similar things when on similar drugs? How do you know it is code if you can’t even read it? How can information about a drug trip be reliably tested and what are we supposed to do with it? There are better uses of your time if you want to understand the world. Dave AKA Sapper in CA was involved in a mission that took out a leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, and has reasons to believe that assassinations are justified. Where do we draw the line here? Which killings are justified and which are not? The answer depends on who is asking the question. What if the killing is not just to save lives but to stop people from saying things? How do we reconcile state interests not aligning with the people’s interests? The justification for violence is sometimes used to promote the status quo. Daniel in Canada is calling to talk about the drones the size of SUVs being sited in the NJ skyline and the U.S. does not claim these drones as theirs. Are these alien drones or are they ships carrying things? Why would the aliens just want to mess with NJ people? If we are going to talk about aliens doing stuff, we just have to have stronger reasons to believe this. Why would aliens be the best explanation of these things when there are so many other possibilities? Jon in Canada has taken the time to call and says Merry Christmas!  Dan in Canada heard reports that the drones came in over the ocean and trailed a Coast Guard vessel and wonders if this is counter intelligence. At least at this point in time, nobody is taking credit for this. It is unlikely that someone local has the resources for this and has a probability of it being a covert operation of some sort. Either we do know and we are not saying, or we don’t, and that can be a whole other problem.  Betty in MO says that nobody has the right answer for when it is okay to assassinate someone. Wasn’t a government killing what happened to Jesus? Why is it so much better when the government does this for you?  The two are joined by back-up host, Kelley La

S7 E49 · Sat, December 07, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.49 12-06-2024 with Kelley Laughlin and Chris Mallard @TheDAMShow

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, Kelley Laughlin and Chris Mallard try to break a caller out of Christian jail as their free will is limited by doctor parents falling for anti-vax conspiracies while acknowledging the poetry of Yahweh not being the creator as power continues to be abused over the vulnerable.  Craig in OH had an experience that led him to believe the Christian god is real. The experience was someone praying for him while being locked up, losing consciousness, and his mom calling with her tumors being gone. Is it more likely that something happened in your brain or that the almighty creator chose to speak to you specifically? Why would this creator answer your prayers and not someone else’s? How do you explain god killing innocent babies with Noah’s flood? Was this cool of god to do? Michael in VA says we can’t change our fate and therefore there is no freewill. How does the randomness of thought affect things? People don’t follow the laws of physics and often come out of left field. We can’t count on people to not do crazy things. Faulty wiring in the brain does not mean there is something random happening. Free will and free choice are not the same things. How can we tell what choices we are going to make? Gabe in TX has well educated medical doctor parents who are falling for anti-vax conspiracy theories. What kind of counter-research can be provided to help in your situation? How would it feel if you could never get through to them? You may be able to show them the light, but not lead them to it. How do you think your parents being theists play into this? You can remind them that Jesus will let them die and has no problem with that.  Daen Dark Light is a theist in AR who believes that the Abrahamic god is not the true creator. Why do you believe in any god? What brought you to this conclusion? Why do you think that the emptiness of atoms is the same as empty feelings? The problem is turning something physical into something emotional. An empty cup does not denote an emotion just because it is empty. The non-Abrahamic views are refreshing and the words may be poetic, but what is the meaning of what is being said? Dee in IA says that people who use their power or authority over others who are in a vulnerable state are abusing their power. These people who think they are saving others are actually creating monsters. Bringing knowledge to people will sometimes help. And in reference to the first caller, children do NOT deserve to be mistreated.  Thank you for tuning in this week! Prompt of the week is: What is an unexpected way to get on Santa’s naughty list? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E48 · Tue, December 03, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.48 Thankful For Our Haters 2024

S7 E47 · Sat, November 23, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.47 with ObjectivelyDan and Drew Bekius

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, Objectively Dan and Drew Bekius gaslight us into believing Dee called to talk about communities, and then we were sidetracked by the sound of musical instruments playing the melodies of church anger. We then realized that we were not being gaslighted but had actually traveled back in time to retrieve a call from Steve to give us a boost back to the present.  Dee, a secular Bhuddist in IA and friend of the show, has observed passive aggressive gaslighting when trying to join various communities. Why do people join communities if they do not want to engage? Everyone is looking for different types of communities and connections. Sometimes there is carryover from when people were Christians where they think that a community must be all things for all people. It is important to remember that not one community will meet everyone’s needs. Embrace the community that is right for you.  Musical Instruments in the South East USA, had an experience with a hardcore fundamentalist pastor. When questioning things curiously, he was called an agent of the Devil and there was no need for him. Drew describes his experiences when leaving the church and offers some ways to work with anger towards people who have been mean spirited. It may take years for this anger to fade with some people and it is important to remember that you are not alone and connect to resources. Dan talks about the last time he attended church and how that frustration can help build empathy.  Can the negativity inspire you to do other things? Steve, in Canada,wants to talk about time travel and asks if the earth would be in the same place if we were to go back in space. Drew has heard that the most flawless movie about time travel is called, “TimeCrimes” that is brilliantly made. Dan also mentions a movie about a group of scientists that build a time machine to go back in time and kill Jesus called,  “Assassin 33 A.D.”. Steve ends the call with a plug for Recovering From Religion for anyone that needs to talk: 1-88-Idoubtit. Kelley Laughlin, our wonderful backup host, joins to help close out the show as Dan reminds us about hot sauce. Drew reminds us that tryptophan is in more than just turkey. Thank you for tuning in! Question of the week: What topic will you bring up to change the subject at Thanksgiving? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E46 · Sat, November 16, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.46 11-15-2024 with ObjectivelyDan and Kelley Laughlin

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, Objectively Dan and Kelley Laughlin use the earth as a spaceship and travel to its own Giza pyramids to explore whether there is water that generates electricity. They then go underground traveling in the earth spaceship back in time to explore the origins of Atlantis.  Daniel in Canada believes that aliens are real and that we can't know the truth about this. Because stars do not last forever, our days on the surface are numbered. His idea is to go underground, turn our planet into a spaceship and travel around the universe. He also believes that NASA is hiding things about Mars. What would be the motive for NASA doing this? Why would we need to hide if we found life on Mars? There may be an incentive for the government to hide its knowledge, but that does not mean there is life on Mars. Why do you think there are more alien sightings now than angels, when people used to see more angels in the past? Kelley asks the caller to explore what a Houdou is in relation to the photos that appear to show creatures on Mars. There must be more evidence than this small group of photos to prove this huge claim of creatures being on Mars. There are people who are actively trying to fool us about these things and benefit from disinformation.  Bitty in MO calls to talk about how someone told her that the Giza Pyramids have water under base, creating vibration from soundwaves, and generating electricity, but the powers that be will not let this information out. What are they using this electricity for? Is this the Egyptian government or the New World Order doing this? Does the person who told you this wholeheartedly believe it? When people share these ideas, sometimes they are starting by proposing one idea to gauge interest, and then propose more. It is hard to know when people are joking and when they are serious.  The Pyramids are always involved in some way! Kelley helps explain how absurd this is by questioning the concept of rocks conducting electricity. It is important to ask people to show you the work on how they got there, yet go into it with a friendly state of mind and not be confrontational.  Hellsbells in FL asks if there are current conspiracy theories that Dan is digging at the moment and expresses an interest in Stanley Kubrick’s work. Dan answers by describing his fascination with how deep Atlantis goes. Kelley has seen some viable theories of how people put this together. Any island that has been sunk could be an inspiration for Atlantis, however, there is a specific origin. Dan explains how people go weird quickly when it comes to Kubrick. Who was Kubrick trying to talk to and what was he trying to say? Thank you for tuning in this Kubrick directed episode this week! We Want The Truth question is: When do you know it is time to leave the church? Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podca

S7 E45 · Sat, November 09, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.45 with Kelley Laughlin and almosteducational 3729 2024-11-08

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, Kelley Laughlin and Ejector Seat sort through some red headed giants in Kandahar before taking some calls of a serious nature regarding current events.  Tylo in IL wants to talk about the fictionalized giants in Kandahar, Afghanistan that the U.S. Army supposedly encountered a 12 foot giant with red hair that killed one of the soldiers with a spear. If there was a 12 foot giant, why would somebody not have shot one? Were giants seen interacting with locals? If you know of any other incidents or reports of giants? What would you look for if there was a warehouse where the Army stored the body of this giant? Snot Vampire in TX sees some conspiracy theories and vaccine troubles coming soon. It does seem to be a problem if crazy people are put in charge of our health. Speaking of crazy people, the fluoride conspiracies have some fun origins! People can’t even keep a surprise birthday party secret, how do you expect scientists with huge egos to keep these conspiracies secret? Dee in IA is curious if someone can make it through his first term due to health issues and how the campaign aged him. She thinks that we are worrying about the wrong person and there is someone else who has connections to Project 2025 and strong backing. This person has some scary ideas and may run for the next two cycles. Why do you think this happened? Do you think there were warning signs and not enough was done to stop it? Kelley stresses that we should not let one thing define us and we still have the ability to do something. The curtain has not been pulled and we have not been left in the dark; we need to light a small candle to bring the light back. We can stand up and fight back because it does not have to be a mandate for bigotry. Don’t get too wrapped up in not being able to do something because we can change the future. We can only hope this is the catalyst that causes a desired outcome. The two are joined by the back-up host, Cynthia McDonald for outro discussion before Dave in CA calls about being people motivated by bigoted ads. He is experiencing messed up stuff and harassed outside of his house because he has a trans child. People will throw fireworks and he observes people being emboldened over the most recent days due to current events. What steps can you take to make you feel safe? What measures have you taken to protect yourself? Hopefully we will see a SCOTUS case that takes events like this seriously so events like this do not go on without consequences. We need to keep moving forward and not let it get us down.  Cynthia reminds us that this is not the first time our democracy has been threatened and we got through it. We must stay tight together, keep a wall of solidarity with our LGBTQ friends, our people of color friends, our brown friends, our marginalized friends, and people who are unsee

S7 E44 · Sat, November 02, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.44 with ObjectivelyDan and Darrel Ray 2024-11-01

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, Objectively Dan and Dr. Darrel Ray with https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ (RFR), swim through calls with topics ranging from therapist trigger points to religious trauma.  Mr. Crabs in MD asks about therapist trigger points and tells us of a therapist who was still recovering from a partial thumb amputation and was triggered when opening a jar of pretzels. Dr. Ray explains how this therapist was functioning at a higher level before this tragedy happened and how when these levels drop, it is normal and natural. He further explains that  if you are stuck or constantly hitting the same problem, that may be a good time to talk with somebody.  When a job is toxic, it has the potential to push you into depression. People have shared so many times that they were depressed when they were into religion and how that changes when they leave.  Kass, a volunteer in CO for RFR, runs support groups each month. He talks about how it is rewarding to talk with people about their journeys, and connect with people in these ways. Kass was raised as a young earth creationist where several hours per day were spent at church and was super indoctrinated. When he got to middle school, he was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and this caused him to question how an all loving god would allow this to happen. He started to ask questions and of course, the church does not like questions and tried to drive him even harder into the religion. Kass, thank you for making it easier for other people going through similar journeys! Dr. Ben in VA calls to tell us all about the Fall Excursion Camp that RFR holds and all the awesome activities, panels, resources, support groups, community building groups, karaoke and recommends that we all attend next year. This will be the third week of September in 2025.  Now with two doctors on the show, we have the most educated show ever! Kdub in VA informs us that many of his friends who were brought up in religion still have some kind of trauma. He feels like his growth was stunted and how it was a waste by trying to be straight for so many years. He confirms that religious upbringing does cause trauma, and many denominations are contributing to this. Dan talks about how in some areas, there are more Christians than people, and it is important to be one of the exceptions and break out of the stranglehold that religion has on you. If we are all hurt by something, doesn't that mean there is a problem? Dr. Ray explains how trauma can show itself when one leaves a church. The hosts are joined by the back up host, Kelley Laughlin, who was sporting a Truth Wanted tie and also used to volunteer for RFR. Thank you for tuning in this week! Always keep wanting the truth! Prompt of the week is: What trivial conspiracy theory do you

S7 E43 · Sat, October 26, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.43 Halloween Special 2024

Welcome to the 4th Anniversary Halloween episode of Truth Wanted! SpookjectivelyDon, Jamie the Blahaj Limey, and Sister Mary Infidel64 tell scary stories around the fire and take calls about alien signals in genetic code, the existence of good and evil, and getting dragged by demons to hell. Steve from Nebraska calls in to talk about the Wow! signal. He cites an article that claims that there is an alien signal in our genetic code that represents an Egyptian triangle. Why is this argument so convincing as a non-expert in the field? If we knew aliens existed, we could discuss whether this was caused by aliens. But we can’t even demonstrate that aliens exist, so why do we conclude the signal is from them? It’s interesting and something to explore further, but why jump to extraterrestrial beings? It could be something we just don’t know about biology yet. This seems like an “alien of the gaps” scenario.  Halloween from the USA asks the hosts whether they’re certain that God doesn’t exist. It depends on the type of God. We can’t be certain that there aren’t any gods, but we are pretty certain that the traditional Yahweh does not exist. If we’re talking about a god that’s omniscient, omnipresent and all-loving, there’s evidence that leads us to believe that the claims of his existence and what he can and can’t do for us aren’t true. The caller asks why the hosts would believe that it’s impossible for Yahweh to exist if He has the knowledge of good and evil? First of all, we need to know that God exists before we can establish that He knows anything. How do we know that a god exists? We don’t and we can’t. Why should we believe in something that we can’t prove? Halloween asks the hosts if they believe that evil exists. Morality is relative, so we can’t claim that anything is inherently good or evil. There are nuances to everything and everyone has different ideas about what’s right and wrong. Marcus calls from Texas to ask if the hosts have ever had experiences with something they can’t explain. The hosts talk about their experiences with spiritual healers (that didn’t work), and dreams about loved ones in heaven. Marcus shares a story about when he bought a house for a surprisingly low price because there were rumors about it being possessed by demons.  Thank you for joining us this week for this special spooky episode! The prompt of the week is: What is it that makes aliens want to leave the Earth immediately? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E42 · Sat, October 19, 2024

Truth Wanted 07-42_with Kelley Laughlin and @ApostateAshley

Discover the truth today in our latest episode of Truth Wanted! Kelley Laughlin and Apostate Ashley play with high tech grifters as they speak in tongues about graphic footage and how things existed before the claim of god’s creation. Eli Slack, the backup host, joins and offers some icing on some of the calls.  Puck in OH wants to talk about high tech grifters that pitch weird quantum stuff who are asking for money and asks the hosts their opinions on what makes these people so appealing. Kelley explains that people may fall for this by feeling special and having knowledge that others do not. Ashley describes how people feel like something bad will happen if they do not jump on whatever is being sold and how any of us have the capability of being duped.  Marcus in TX asks Ashley about her Pentecostal background and what she was feeling then compared to now. Looking back, Ashley believes the things that she experienced were probably dopamine highs or having the rush of hormones that are similar to what happens during flight or fight. Now as an atheist, she can speak in tongues anytime she wants and the Holy Spirit still has nothing to do with it. When going through a hard time, having people around you hugging and caring is quite therapeutic and these things were normal for her. People have reached out to Ashley sharing they no longer believe and do not want to be on the wrong side of history.  Chase in the USA is curious about using graphic footage to motivate activism. After a while, it could lose its shock value because people are desensitized. Also, the reaction can be more negative than positive depending on how it is presented. This is where context can hugely matter. It is important to remember that some people will need a trigger warning. We need to be careful and understand how triggers work. Is it worth causing harm and triggering PTSD to get your point across? Why would you force people to watch something and cause suffering? A warning will at least help to know when an appropriate time is to watch something. If you do not put a warning, you are shoving it in people’s faces just like what the anti-abortion group does. Horrible graphic scenery will harm or hurt people if it is shoved in their face regardless of the reason.  Peter in Canada has proof of god’s non-existence only if he is defined as a conscious entity that created all of material existence. Peter’s reasoning is that consciousness requires existence and the things that are claimed to be god’s existence must have existed before god’s existence. How does this argument work with theists? Why could god not exist and become conscious at the same time? We don’t have proof of god’s non-existence, but we do have logical evidence. This is fitting for one concept of god, but not all the other gods. If we can’t have existence without consciousness, how did the earth exist before anything lived on it? Eli Slack

S7 E41 · Sat, October 12, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.41 with Jon the Skeptick and J.L. Warren

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, Jon the Skeptic and JL Warren discuss how to choose your battles with family before diving into the world of territorial ghosts opening doors. They are joined by our back-up host, Kelley Laughlin for the conclusion and a ghost story.  The Blind Limey in TX had an ex-wife who was terrified of graveyards and learned that with family, it is important to pick your battles. If you want to maintain a relationship, you must know where you can go and where you can’t with conversations. The conversation can be approached with curiosity. As people who like talking about this stuff, we are probably the most open to it and want paranormal things to happen. This helps us to ask how it can be explained.  Sheri in MD went to a haunted lighthouse when she was a kid and was creeped out by the ghosts opening doors to the bathroom, yet amused some of them were territorial. Don’t worry, the ghosts won’t watch you pee! How would you feel now as an adult about going to a haunted house? Would you use an ouija board now? Would you like to have been born on Friday the 13th? After a revealing conversation, Jon the Skeptic playfully shows off some psychic skills and accurately predicts Sheri’s birthday.  Jae in Australia called to discuss the events after his father’s death, but unfortunately the call dropped. Jae, please try us again, we wanted to talk with you!\ Thank you for tuning in this week! Question of the week is: You know you are screwed when your horoscope says_____. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E40 · Sat, October 05, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.40 with ObjectivelyDan, Christy Powell, and Forrest Valkai 2024-10-04

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, Objectively Dan is joined by Christy Powell and Forrest Valkai. The team works through calls involving mentally escaping a cult, chromosomal fusion, bugs on Mars, and the great vegan debate.  Tony in IL is an ex-cult member whose ex-cult leader died in 2020 after catching Covid. What made you determine this group was a cult and what was the thought process like? How are you feeling about everything now and how is it sitting with your emotions? What did it feel like to go from where you were to where you are now? Gabe in TX asks if the fusing of two chromosomes can be used to disprove Adam and Eve. Forrest explains that Chromosome 2 is the fusion of two chromosomes. The one difference that you notice between humans and chimps is we have 23 chromosomes and they have 24. This is not compatible with the Adam and Eve story, but creationists will say it was a poetic story and continue to be dishonest about these things. These are different ideas that need their own independent evidence; evolution is not the thing to use as proof against creation. Daniel in Canada believes there are bugs on Mars because there is photographic evidence that proves it. We are all guilty of wanting to believe something. Wanting to believe something and believing something are two different things. It is agreed that other life forms probably exist, however to say that life is nearby is a stretch. Would you agree that the main motivation for NASA is knowledge and in order to do that they need funding, and therefore it would be advantageous to go public with their findings? Why would we not want to be mentally prepared and why would we not want our military prepared? How are we at more risk of aliens harming us by knowing about them? If there is a civilization on Mars, there must be resources there. And guess who would want to mine things on Mars if there are resources there! Chase in the USA has some thoughts on being vegan and explains how animals are killed when they are young for our consumption. Why and how does it matter what age the animal is? How do we define our relationship with these animals? It raises the question of the ethics of raising a creature for the ultimate destruction of the creature.  Dan explains that these types of questions are what led him to be vegan. Why is it that we have this cultural bias of hierarchy of animals? How can we expand our circle of compassion? Our cultural preference for the sheer amount of meat that we consume is excessive. It is difficult to contrast the link of life to the quality of life when it comes to the age of the animal. If we were to produce and distribute the meat more humanely, we may not have the challenges we have today. What do you think about the issues associated with the amount of land it takes to produce some grains, and the areas of the world where there are food deserts? In developing nations, it is non-meat

S7 E39 · Sat, September 28, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.39 with ObjectivelyDan and Kelley Laughlin 2024-09-27

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, Kelley Laughlin opens with a personal story of recent loss accompanied by some wise words of advice. ObjectivelyDan and Kelley proceed to sort through simulation theory, Jon’s last call, effective conversations, and magic being applied to science.  Steve in NE has evidence showing biological evolution is simulated by AI rather than nature, and this is that RNA decreasing shows that mutations are done by some sort of an entity.  Evidence to “suggest” is not the same as proof. How are we getting to AI and how are you interpreting the data? Why are we going with AI and not another route? We have to establish that everything is being run by a computer in the first place.  Why does the idea of non-existence scare you? What if you were never even aware that you were ever aware? How can we predict how computers will work outside of our universe? Jon in Canada makes his last call to the show and asks the hosts if they are 100% correct that there is no god. Both Kelley and Dan answer in the negative because it is not a defensible position to have. What is it that believers have that others don’t have? Why should we believe in god? How do we tell the difference between what is true and what is not true? How do you know if your experiences that seem magical come from inside of you or outside of you? If a person helps you who happens to be Christian, it does not make Christianity true. Christianity is not just a set of ideas; it is a lifestyle that includes restricting other people’s lifestyles. The call ended with a distinct and epic, “click”. Jon, we hope you find what you are looking for.  Adam in NC advocates for showing a sincere interest in people rather than trying to condemn people and referenced Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. We are fans of the street epistemology approach and recognize how important it is to establish a friendship that shows respect to have a civil conversation. The funny thing is that many people who found the ACA, did so by running into angry calls. There is a time and a place to be emotionally passionate about the issues.  John Paul in WA is curious about the words magic and supernatural being applied to science. In the Old Testament, magic is not just a force but something that is used to explain the world. When we talk about science, we are using observable techniques. It is not the same thing because the methods are completely different. Why would god play both sides and help Egyptians so they turn away from him, and also Moses? Could people have just made up this story in the same way Mohammed rode a flying horse? What is the difference between saying something is a possibility and people saying something actually happened? Why is the explanation of this just being a story not good enough and why should we believe that staves were actually turned into snakes? There are things that just

S7 E38 · Sat, September 21, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.38 with ObjectivelyDan and @UnquestionableCal 2024-09-20

Objectively Dan and The Unquestionable Calvin Smith discover the truth today with government lies, theists needing proof, ascending Biblical aliens, and a black tongue as a result of lying.  Kyle in IN wants to know why a rational person would believe anything the government tells us such as weapons of mass destruction being in Iraq. The term “government” is broad and it is better to talk about specifics. The problem with never trusting them is sometimes they are correct. It is up to the citizens of any body to discern whether they can trust what they are being told. It can come down to compartmentalization; just because some people are lying, does not mean that everyone is lying. The question about Iraq and the use of weapons of mass destruction is: Was it actually a White House spin to justify a way or was it misreporting?  John Paul in WA has been reading The God Delusion, and wants to know if the hosts think things look designed, and finds it interesting that atheists take the position where theists need the burden of proof. We can prove how many things are not designed, however, we have not yet  done this with everything. There will always be room for a god when we can’t explain things. Is a god the best explanation for these gaps? If the Judeo Christian god may not be the best explanation, why would it be any god at all? If this planet is designed, why are there so many things that are hostile to our existence? How do we know there are not multiple creators? Cameron in TX wants to talk about how the Bible seems to describe extraterrestrials. Many of these stories are allegory and unfalsifiable. Outside of the imagination of flourishing, what is the reason to believe these things? How much of this could be post hoc rationalizations? How is the inconsistency of god’s name in the Old Testament explained? Is it more probable that ancient people were wrestling with space aliens than them just making stuff up? James in TX was raised religious and realized that it did not make sense around 12 years of age. He describes how he was told that his tongue would turn black if he lied. He would then prove that was not true because his tongue never turned black. Christianity often dabbles in the unhealthy in bringing up people and that is why we like to talk about it. Beliefs inform actions and actions inform policy and that is why it is important to know whether or not something is true.  Thank you for tuning in this evening. Prompt of the week is: If I were a ghost, I would______ just to fuck with people.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E35 · Sat, September 14, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.37 with Kelly Laughlin and Benjamin Clodfelter 2024-09-13

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, Kelley Laughlin and Benjamin Clodfelter work through topics of bigotry, hate speech, and protecting the rights of LGBTQ+. Mark in PA grew up learning that people are inherently good, however, he has observed that over the last 10 years, many have become openly prejudiced and racist. This is nothing new, it has just become fashionable lately to be hateful and we are hoping that it will die off soon. We are seeing more now because everyone is carrying a camera, and people have the ability to express their view to the world. The anonymity of the internet has enabled people to say harmful things with no consequences. You can be the person who encourages people to do better, even if it is the smallest difference. A small candle lights a dark corner of the world; everything that you do helps. What can we do about the hatred that spews out of the internet? Keith in TX wants to discuss the paradox of tolerance where hate speech is allowed so it takes over and the only way to stop it is to become intolerant of the intolerant. This can be a tough uphill battle, but this is one that we can win. If there are no shared values, free speech is effectively dead. At what point is speech shut down and where is the line drawn for what you are advocating for? At what point do you go from having a conversation about free speech to promoting ideas that are limiting free speech? The best possible solution to dealing with this is to promote critical thinking.  Mr. Crabs in MD calls to discuss LGBTQ+ in the military and the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy. Benjamin, a veteran, describes how important unit cohesion and accomplishing the mission is within the military and how it can be very progressive with how it handles things. What ended up happening is the people who were passionate about not wanting gay people, got out of the military or they just sucked it up. There is more of a commonality than there are differences. Kelley, also a veteran, emphasizes the importance of finding those common things with theists to have friendly conversations. The best thing you can do for the atheist community is to let people know that you are a good person as an atheist, and not the baby eating stereotype that people think.  Thank you for tuning in this week! The prompt for the week is: What is a weird thing to be offended by? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E36 · Sat, September 07, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.36 09-06-2024 with ObjectivelyDan and TheMagicSkeptic

Discover the truth today with ObjectivelyDan and the one and only Magic Skeptic! They wrestle with the appropriate topic of the true meaning of truth before springing into out of body experience explanations. Rogue Show in SC asks the hosts what the truth is to them. There is not one way for Dan to understand truth and he explains the deflation area of explaining truth. We have to ask if we are describing reality or a concept. Truth to Dan is a reliable way to navigate his way in the world and experiences. Magic Skeptic(MS) describes this as a massive domain and would take more than a lifetime to read about. He explains how there is a colloquial understanding of truth that gets him through the day. There is the correspondence reality of truth that contorts to reality and there are many challenges to this theory. Truth does not always have to correspond with knowing. What is your understanding of what other people mean by truth? It is important to have an understanding of what people mean to have a fruitful dialogue. Is the phrase, “snow is white” true because snow is white or is it true because white is a property of snow itself? Correspondence theories have many complex problems associated with them. Is there an inherent property to something that makes it what it is?  Dan in Canada, had an out of body experience when he was around 6. He was visiting his grandmother and stepped out of himself and looked down on himself. He recalls details such as wearing a radio around his neck. What is your perception of what happened? There are many things that can explain this experience, and sometimes we just need to settle on not knowing. How do you deal with the unknown when it comes to experiences you had? Keep searching for answers, but don’t accept any insufficient evidence.  Thank you for wanting the truth this week! Question of the week is: What is something you learned as an adult that you should have learned as a child? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E25 · Sat, August 31, 2024

Truth Wanted with ObjectivelyDan and Richard Gilliver

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, ObjectivelyDan and Richard Gilliver try to use free will to sort through cognitive dreams while explaining the emotional phenomenon that happens during church manipulation right after figuring out how to tax those same churches.  Rogue Show in SC wants to talk about determination vs. free will. Richard explains that we are bound by things by what has happened before, yet it can go many ways. How do we know if the probabilities would turn out the same if we go back in time to the very beginning? How would it be possible for every variable to be predicted? What do you think about your life being a product of stuff moving around for billions of years? It is okay not to have an answer for these things.  Greggery Peccary in TX thinks the comments about taxing all churches are wrong and that we should enforce the rules we have now where we tax a church. There are not enough narcs for churches that are violating the law and not every single church is hugely broadcasted. How do we get to the point where every church complies? How will we do this, are we going to tax grandma’s small church?  Dan in Canada is looking for a rational explanation for his experience during an altar call in youth group camp where there were intense emotional moments. Love bombing is a manipulative tactic that cults use where the leaders give excessive compliments or attention to those involved, allowing control to be gained over those involved. Prime grounds are set for emotional euphoria because the kids do not receive these things all the time. Christianity takes advantage of this. Euphoric experiences can happen without the manipulation when visiting a pop concert, anticipated speaker, or during meditation. These experiences can have profound effects that include conversion from one belief system to another.  Nny in OH had a near death experience yet does still not believe, and has cognitive dreams. Why do we need to be in an altared state or have a broken brain before experiencing god? How do you quantify the details of these dreams? We would be interested in how the dreams are tracked. If you genuinely believe this is true, make a detailed report soon after the event. Otherwise, you can start counting the hits and minimize the misses.  Thank you for tuning in today! Question of the week is, if fortune cookie factories were run by skeptics, what would the fortune be? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E34 · Sat, August 24, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.34 Bat Cruise 2024 with Captain ObjectivelyDan

S7 E33 · Sat, August 17, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.33 08-16-2024 with ObjectivelyDan and Ilane DeBare

Discover the Truth with ObjectivelyDan and Llana DeBare take a deep dive into hell. They discuss hellish medieval art, classic concepts of hell, and a book that Llana has written about hell, Shaken Loose.  Llana describes how this book will raise questions such as: How can a just god create or tolerate such an unjust universe? There is no mercy in hell! Dan in Canada calls to talk about demon possession and a story where a police chief confirmed children were possessed. The story had several claims such as children walking up walls and movie type stuff. The Catholic Church will be the first group to tell you that this is a thing and it happens all the time. If you grow up with that understanding, you will start to attribute things to that belief. Sadly, this can be used as a point of discrimination against people with mental illness. What moved you away from the belief of demon possession? Heath, a lifelong atheist in Canada, tells us of an experience he had as a four year old. Another four year old walked over to him and told him that god is always watching us. When Heath responded by telling her that god is not real, it resulted in her mother screaming at Heath and telling him he had a black heart and was going to hell.  We are glad that at the age of four you had the sense of self to not take that comment to heart and have empathy for the other four year old. Heath asks the hosts their opinion on habitable planets, and if they exist, how they could increase the likelihood of god or magic existing. This does not increase the likelihood of the Abrahamic god. Maybe if there was a god that clearly gave his intent such as holding a press conference, that would hold some weight. There is a long history of using miracles to prove god and we all look to that, but so far there is nothing that is definitive. What would it take for you to believe in god? Even if you do experience what you think may be a miracle, remember, that people suffer from delusions. How would you tell the difference? Thank you for joining us this week! Prompt of the week is: It is a bad idea to ______at a formal event. If you struggle with the fear of hell, you can visit Recovering from Religion to learn of ways of dealing with this in a healthy manner. See you all next week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, August 10, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.32 with ObjectivelyDan and @BradyHardin

In tonight’s episode of the Truth Wanted, Objectively Dan and Brady Hardin wrestle with Supreme Court cases involving church and state separation before taking a deep dive into what it means to be a skeptic.  Clutch Cargo in TX explains how the challenge of church being separated from state is complicated. He uses several examples including The Little Bird of the Snow vs. the U.S. case, and the Native American Church being able to ingest Peyote. He also brings up the origin of The Plastic Reindeer rule. Brady mentions reading a book that describes things happening decades ago that we recognize as the same types of things happening now.  Rogueshow in SC wants to explore whether a theist can be a skeptic or not. It is hard to know what people mean when they use this word. Who is to say that skeptics don’t believe in other crazy stuff that defy scrutiny? What would be the conflict between the words, “theist” and “skeptic”? How many people from the flat earth community consider themselves skeptics? The term skeptic can be broadly applied. People who oppose climate change science consider themselves skeptics for instance. Do Christians see themselves as skeptics when it comes to any other belief system? Saying that you are a skeptic within a family of hardcore believers can be somewhat of a badge of honor and can show you are taking a stand. What do you consider yourself skeptical of and why? Dan hits us with a classic piece of wisdom, “The problem with recreational skeptics is when you are a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” Are you able to doubt or accept an opinion? Can you be a full skeptic and also have an identity that requires faith? Thank you for joining us this week! Prompt of the week is: What is Jesus’ excuse for not showing up? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E31 · Sat, August 03, 2024

Truth Wanted 7.31 with ObjectivelyDan and Tim Whitaker

Discover the Truth with ObjectivelyDan and Tim Whitaker, the New Evangelical! They work through questions of faith healing, veganism, Christian Nationalism, and borders. And what would this be if we did not take a call about the Olympics allegedly mocking god!  Nancy in NV wants to know how to talk to someone who knows people that claim to be faith healed. Approaching with curiosity and building rapport is a way to gain more understanding of what is happening.  Rogue Show in SC asks Dan about being a vegan. Dan explains that this is a personal pursuit and is doing this for consistency. Dan asks himself, “How can I say that I like dogs and cats but am okay with a cow being slaughtered?”  If there were no risk of disease, when would it become okay for some animals to eat other animals? Is there an evolutionary reason for why we should eat animals? There will be advantages and disadvantages to any diet that you use.  Jon in Canada starts off with an ad hominem and then says that the Olympics prove god because of the last supper scenario that was “mocking god”. Did you see the blue guy in the middle of the stage on a pile of fruit? Did you know that the painting from Leonardo da Vinci is not even Biblical? Do you have evidence that this was mocking god when all the evidence supports the opposite? What exact persecution are you talking about in America? You are suffering from the Christian Persecution Complex.  Jack in MI calls to ask Tim how he would describeChristian Nationalism. Tim explains it is a specific brand of conservative Christianity that has the right to shape politics, is hierarchical in nature, and draws on white supremacy. They believe that god has called them to take dominion over society and make it Christian. Conservatives and Christian Nationalists are not the same. These movements are extremely dangerous; for instance, when abortion is restricted in some areas, infant mortality goes up, not down. What Christians think about how we should organize our lives should not be happening for everyone. If they get what they want, we will be living literally in The Handmaid's Tale.  Lee in IL asks why we shouldn't allow our borders to be more fluid. The idea that Mexico is not sending their best is simply not true. Even things like Fetanyl are coming from people who are crossing the border legally. It is a shame that this conversation has been hijacked by conspiracy theorists that push a KKK type agenda.  Thank you for tuning in this week! Question of the week is: When is a bad time to break up? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E30 · Sat, July 27, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.30 07-26-2024 with ObjectivelyDan and AJ

Discover the truth today with Objectively Dan and AJ! They run through a discussion about morality before being joined by Kelley Laughlin for a final wrap up. Rogue Show in SC is asking about opinions on morality and if the hosts think it is objective or subjective. There is a battle in the caller’s mind between the two viewpoints. Christianity teaches that morality is objective, and when you deconstruct, you have to rethink this. Objective morality is just a thing we say to make us feel better. We have ways of considering this, especially in light of what can cause harm to people. It is important not to connect things that we “ought” to do with things that just are. There is no need to follow a book that says we need to do something for the rest of our lives. How do people’s meaning of, “better” impact their decisions on morality? There are many other metrics to use other than whether or not something causes harm. All morality comes from our interests, and other people’s interests.   Thank you for tuning in this week! Prompt of the week is: What not to do in a haunted house: Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E29 · Sat, July 20, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.29 with ObjectivelyDan and Godless Engineer

S7 E28 · Sat, July 13, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.28 with Kelley Laughlin and Scott Dickie

S7 E27 · Sat, July 06, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.27 with Kelley Laughlin and Jimmy Jr.

Get your tin foil hat on as you discover the truth today with Kelly Laughlin and Jimmy Jr. as they burn barcodes into all who don’t experience reality after death as a Christian displays his persecution complex all while diving into the realms of colonoscopies through remote viewing.  Wesley in WV warns us about the mark of the beast. Everyone is going to get $32,523 through a barcode that is laser burned called the Omni, and this is the blotch(mark) of Egypt. What is the connection to Egypt and why is it called this? Why is it not a country that has more to do with oil? Who is going to be holding this laser gun to do the branding? Try to listen to the questions and answer them carefully.  Jeffrey, a Christian in PA takes the position that things seen during a near death experience(NDE) are real. Being based in reality and being real are different things. When a blind person experiences the ability to see during an NDE, how do we know that person did not already have this description from what they have picked up somewhere? At what point should we investigate a claim further and when should we not? If these were real experiences, why is it that no one else in the room can pick up on something? Why do people always see something that is congruent with their own religions? Is it possible for you as a Christian to receive the 72 virgins that Muslims get when y ou die and go to heaven? How do we know what happens after death is true?  Sea Bass, a Christian in CA, believes that when people die, we are knocked out until Jesus comes to get us. Was there external pressure put on you to believe these things you read in the Bible? There are mathematical laws that explain why seemingly miraculous coincidences happen. Asking detailed questions about your experiences is not the same as persecuting you as a Christian. David in CA leans towards spirituality and tends to believe some of the stories of NDEs that people have, and sees that universal claims can be problematic. These experiences can seem very real when it is hypoxia. Maybe we need to explore what is happening biologically more. Asking questions of these experiences should be automatic so we can gain evidence or proof if they are real. What does it mean to be spiritual? Why do you feel there is more than just atoms? It is worth exploring why you believe what you believe.  Coyote Boy in TX reminds us of remote viewing and how if it were real, we would be using it for colonoscopies. If one country can get another country to believe they are spying in a way they really aren’t, that misdirection ends up being useful because there will be investigations into things that never happened.  Jon, a theist in Canada, says that people believe in the Bible because it gives them comfort, and asks why we believe that we are here by random accident. We don’t know anyone here by random accident. If we

S7 E26 · Sat, June 29, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.26 with ObjectivelyDan and Eli Slack

Discover the truth as ObjectivelyDan and Eli Slack discuss the future of AI and how Moon landing conspiracy theorists obtained their beliefs.   Nirro in TN has a conspiracy theory about AI where the bot “Crawler” will be spawning lots of webpages that spread Christian and religious propaganda. This is another thing that keeps us up at night! We don’t even know how creative we can be with this stuff yet. There are AI created websites that you can build in real time.  Mr. Crabs in MD explains how ChatGPT is not the same as AI because it is restructuring things  that humans generate; AI needs to create its own to be called AI. How would this disqualify it from being AI? It just takes information that it has been trained on and generates words. What happens when a model is pushed beyond what it is trained to do? We have to figure out what we need to do to adapt to this new world. There have been things that have happened in the last few years that people did not expect for another twenty. Tools that we figure out how to use responsibly can be beneficial.  Ellen in AL has some friends that no longer believe in the moon landing. This is probably within the top five of conspiracy theories, at least in the U.S. The more deeply held this belief is, the harder it will be to change their mind. If they don’t even know how they got to this belief in the first place, it makes it more difficult to change. Be the friend they can talk to about this belief because they will not be as likely to isolate themselves and question that belief. This kind of thing starts with a little bit of mistrust of what they are being told, and can spiral from there. Being an atheist does not insulate one from this pitfall.  Jeff in OH says that AI should be regulated to prevent harm caused by bad decisions made by the AI like that of self driving cars. How do you think this will affect things like insurance? What about ships doing freight routes and planes flying people around? Maybe there is a way to make this more safe when people’s lives are involved. Who should make the decisions about regulation? Knowing how one AI model works does not mean you will know how all AI models work.  Thank you for tuning in this week! Prompt for the week is: What do you NOT say when firing someone? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E25 · Sat, June 22, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.25 06-21-2024 with ObjectivelyDan and Secular Rarity

In today’s episode ofTruth Wanted, Objectively Dan and Secular Rarity play with moonlight and Lucifer as they dive into utilitarianism that brings them full circle to the founding of our government and exposing clear violations of the First Amendment.   Howard in Spain is a theist searching for truth by using the scientific method and believes that being agnostic is the best position to hold. He asks why atheists ignore the existence of Lucifer when we can all see the “Light Bearer” with the naked eye as Venus. Cultures had very different ideas about planetary values and stars; why should we believe the culture that assigns Lucifer to venus? What reason do you have to think you know better than astronomers who have studied this? Venus is not directly in front of the sun relative to our position and does not emit its own light. How then is it a “Light Bearer”? We don’t have to be experts in every field to understand the consensus of facts. Howard then proceeds to state a debunked flat earth myth that water set out in moonlight has a lower temperature than water that is left in moon shade. If you are correct, why would all scientists be so hardcore against your position? Kyna in WA believes that utilitarianism is shaky as a moral foundation. As a basis this does not make sense, but as a way of navigation it is a good way. How would we deal with sociopaths with and without this method? Frank in TX asks which version of the Ten Commandments should be put up and if it should be the one that includes a feast of unleavened bread. There are different interpretations of these stories and Jesus did not care about most of them. This precedent set can very quickly roll out of proportion. For instance, why is it okay that a football coach stands in the public field inviting people to pray to his version of god? This is profoundly anti-American to its core. We don’t like violations of church and state.  Jon in Canada asks why the hosts are offended by the Ten Commandments being posted in public schools. Do you see problems with the Tenants of Satanism being posted? How Is the violation of The Constitution not enough of a reason? We are secular and the separation of church and state is a founding principle of our government. The “Year of Our Lord” is not mentioned in The Constitution, at all.  If you are a citizen, read The Constitution.  Thank you for discovering the truth with us! Question of the week is: Aliens would not abduct me because________.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E24 · Sat, June 15, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.24 with ObjectivelyDan and Jon the Skeptick

Discover the Truth today with ObjectivelyDan and Jon the Skeptick! They earn their wings as they fly with the angels swooping over Lake Worth to view a monster and then flap through the woods to debunk Slender Man right before landing in a convenience store parking lot where they give a panhandling angel some change.  Elane in KY asks how to respond to people when they say an angel saved them from a car wreck. Dan suggests asking questions to get them to talk about it more and Jon removes the angel from the equation entirely and suggests asking how sure they are that it was an angel. For example: On a scale of 1 to 100, how confident are you that it was an angel? What would it take to change that number? Billy Pilgrim in TX wants to talk about the Lake Worth Monster that was from the first man made lake in Texas that was built in 1913. He tells us the secret of how this monster was a contraption of intertubes and row boats. There was also a stark reminder for Dan of the terrifying Goat Man. The only monster is man once you think about it! There are some really dumb criptics out there! Allison in MO explains an experience as a kid where she saw this figure walk out of the treeline and back into the treeline. This figure was too tall to be a man and too small to be another animal. What could this have been? Could it have been a man on stilts? What could the most rational explanation for this be? It helps to take a step back and “Scooby Do” what you see. People do things to mess with others just out of fun. Remember when people dressed as clowns and scared others in the dark? Ben in VA was told a story where someone was contacted by an angel that disguised himself as a homeless person, but then said, “Your daughter is going to be okay.” This type of thing probably comes from The Gospels. If your friend was on the phone talking about his daughter prior to being approached by this homeless angel, what are the possibilities of this person hearing the phone conversation? If there is a way to get your friend to call in to describe the details, that would be beneficial to everyone. If you need to keep a low profile about this stuff, let us do the dirty work and take care of it.  Thank you for joining us, you truthful angels! Question of the week: Name a time win autocorrect went totally wrong! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E23 · Sat, June 08, 2024

Truth Wanted 07-23 Dr Ben and ObjectivelyDan

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, ObjectivelyDan and Dr. Ben sort through unexplained UFO sightings before getting into a heated discussion about misgendering and morality as spooky trucks are spotted in the Afghanistan desert.  Daniel, a theist in Canada describes Jacques Vallee’s work on UFO sightings and how we tend to forget about the small percentage that have no explanation. There is a difference between what is said to the public and what they know because the press can leak far and the process of being stealth can be inhibited. If you did see a UFO, what would that change in your life and is it part of the reality that we experience? Why is there a need to explain something you don’t understand? How do we demonstrate this happened and do something about it? Annie, a theist in Canada asks why misgendering makes someone immoral, if morality is considered to be subjective. How you address somebody is a matter of respect and since people perceive respect differently, it is important to gain consent for things and have conversations. Problems arise when actions are in direct violation of someone’s communicated ways of being respected. We are not talking about accidental misgendering, but intentional disregard. Why is it such a big deal to call someone by the name or pronoun they have communicated to you? This is kindergarten level stuff. We live in a society that works together. Why would you not care about other people? Why would you not include as many different people as possible when deciding what is best for humanity? Would it be cool to secretly serve pork products to a group of people that do not eat pork? It is not much to ask to call people what they want to be called.  Why are you okay with having an institutional reason to hate trans people? Dan in Canada told us a spooky story where he could see a truck using night vision in an Afghanistan desert, and his mom woke up from her sleep worried about her son and prayed that he made it through the night.  Thank you for exploring the truth this week! Question of the week is: What hill would you die on? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E22 · Sat, June 01, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.22 with ObjectivelyDan and Tom Benson

Find the truth today as ObjectivelyDan and Tom Benson transform into book publisher coaches right before our eyes. They work through ideas of book contests, Batman, religious practices, and inspiring theists to do things on their own.  Miguel in NH started the call with a book writing idea that he has been working on for years and includes a contest. How will this book be written and what is the plan? He then postulates that his approach to time travel will destroy the only universe we have and that will reboot science fiction. Why do you believe that this universe is the only universe we have? Is the multiverse idea supported by the fine tuning argument? What would change your mind about there being other universes?  Chloe in PA asks if theists can move away from the god claim and work on their religious practices. He asks if religious practices can lead theists down a slippery slope. Beliefs can be bad things when they are tied to unprovable ideas like god. Therefore it is still important to talk about whether god exists or not because this belief is tied to a lot of other beliefs. Rituals are worth examining to see if they are helpful or harmful. What are your motivations for these practices and what is worth keeping? How can we find something that can bring you joy that does not pose the same danger of believing in untrue things? Why do you need the god claim for these things? There are plenty of things for you to do but you just need to get creative with it. Religious beliefs are not a form of mental illness, however, it is always good to think about what you are doing and why. What are the spiritual priorities? When beliefs inspire action we need to be careful especially when there is an underlying god belief.  Nathan in OH is writing a book about Batman and wants to talk about how to be an inspiration to others to do things on their own without relying on god to tell them what to do. We are not sure about how the copyrights work with something like this. Sometimes people’s engagement in religious practice is their way of doing good and is their understanding of morality. You can ask people about their motivations to determine if it is what their god wants or not. Ask yourself if you can be a source of reflection for people. How can you be a pebble in their shoes?  Thank you for finding the truth this week and always keep wanting the truth!  Question of the week is: What sounds like a compliment, but isn't?  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E21 · Sat, May 25, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.21 with ObjectivelyDan and Kelley Laughlin

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, ObjectivelyDan and Kelley Laughlin look for evil in The Garden of Eden while pilots report UFO sightings as a venomous snake bites Paul on The Island of Malta. Erasmus in CA states that Satan is a real being and does evil things. Christians developed the figure of Satan where the older Jewish religion assigns a different idea to Satan. What are your thoughts on Satan not killing as many people as god? Where in the Bible does it say that Satan actually does evil? How can we know what we are doing is evil if we don’t even have knowledge of good and evil? Why would there be a reason to believe that evil existed in the Garden of Eden when there was no knowledge of evil there in the first place? If eating the fruit was an evil act, then Adam was capable of doing something evil in a perfect environment. Why did god have to put the temptation of the tree there at all?  If we could create full fledged people out of the ground, why do we have to wait for anything else? These are all just stories and there is no reason to believe that any of this is real. Why is the Apostle Paul so special? How do you know that god did not tell Kelley in a vision last night that everything in the Bible is BS? Why do we take Jesus more seriously than anyone else in history who has claimed to be the son of god? How does the resurrection claim make this true? Dan in Canada wants to talk about the increase of UFO reports from airline pilots and if we should start considering non-terrestrial sources for this. How do we know this uptick is not correlated with the media paying more attention to sitings? Alien contact stories have evolved over time and there was a major shift in content after the Betty and Barney Hill abduction story surfaced.  The Seed in the US wants to talk about the New Testament dating and how it impacts the importance of the Bible. Mainstream consensus does not put the Gospels much earlier than the 70’s with some of them being as late as 110 AD, the timeframe of the earliest fragments. How do we explain the Gospel metaphors making sense in Greek and not Aramic, the language Jesus spoke? It is not plausible these fishermen knew Greek well enough to write these Gospels. We don’t have the original autographs of these fragments that were from 100 years later. Why should we think that the Book of Acts is a historical book? The consensus among scholars on the legitimate letters from Paul tend to date between 50 and late 60s AD.  Jeffrey in PA proposes that the commandment given in the garden was to prevent the suffering that results from evil. Why did god create suffering in the first place and why did god create evil? Have you considered that none of this is real and it is just a myth? Why does god have to protect people against evil? Thank you for tuning in the week and remember to always keep wanting the truth. Prompt of the week: What is t

S7 E20 · Sat, May 18, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.20 05-17-2024 with ObjectivelyDan and Kevin Bolling

Show notes will be posted upon receipt. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E19 · Sat, May 11, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.19 05-10-2024 with ObjectivelyDan and Darante' LaMar

Explore the truth with Truth Wanted as Objectively Dan and Darante’ LaMar explain the focus on religious gods while debunking yet another conspiracy theory about genocide, all while god is being defined by theists who use morality as a noun just before issuing a warning about predatory self help groups.  Bradley in NC is a pantheist who asks why the hosts tend to only focus on religious gods and not unusual gods. How prevalent is pantheism in our culture? People need to see this dialogue in real time because the religious indoctrination is so strong. If we know people have doubts about a specific god, we create spaces for those doubts. We don’t need an explanation of the universe to conclude that gods don’t exist. We still have lives to live that are affected by this belief. Connor in FL discussing the conspiracy theory about the number of Jewish people who were killed and cremated being inflated. The biggest problem with this idea is not all the people were brought to concentration camps. Many were just murdered or were starved to death. Even if these theories were true, why would it matter and what number of people would be insignificant? If you are ever in Amsterdam, make some time to go to the Anne Frank Museum and you wil learn that sadly, this is the most documented genocide in history.  Bob in Germany asks how the hosts define god. God has just as many meanings as there are people. It depends on the context and we don’t take one definition. God is extremely personal so we go to the person who is talking to us for the definition of god and let the interlocutor spell out how they define god. If they say god is the universe, we already have a word for that.  Marcia in NC observes that theists use morality as a noun, and non-theists use it as a verb. Most theists are in this camp where they just have to know all the rules to know what is right or wrong. How do theists separate god’s morality from human morality? Where do you get your morality from? Products of highly social species are often hard to define by individuals themselves. How can we lay the groundwork for philosophy when we can’t even agree on what morality is? Chase in the USA describes the Landmark Forum where people are pressured to become members, recruit friends, pay a bunch of money, and engage in group “therapy”. If you are going to a seminar where people can help with your problems, check the credentials.  This is the type of magical thinking that we want to prevent and this is predatory behavior.  There is something that does not make sense about being sold self help.  Thank you for tuning in this week for the truth. Prompt for the week is: What is an instant red flag? Keep rising! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spr

S7 E18 · Sat, May 04, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.18 with Jon the Skeptick and The Cross Examiner

To be added Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, April 27, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.17 with ObjectivelyDan and MD Aware

Join us today on Truth Wanted with ObjectivelyDan and MD Aware! Dive into why humans go to war over photos of aliens on mars and is telecasted as a sporting event to vegans worldwide.  Mark with no location is troubled with how humans are the most intelligent animals yet we still engage in war. Animals are capable of both conflict and cooperation and humans are the same. The goal of humanism is to expand the ingroup to include the entire human species while times of hardship bring out the in-group/out-group instincts. People have a long way to go, for instance, we started this show by discussing why beating disabled children is considered to be okay. We still have lots to figure out! Chase in ID wants to talk about the health benefits of a plant based diet such as reduced risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. There are benefits to a lot of different diets, and we all metabolize things differently. Studies with nutrition are difficult and not like other studies because there are practical aspects of the science that are challenging. There are clear links between cancers and consuming certain kinds of meats. The focus from a health perspective is to have a more varied and balanced diet. What have humans evolved to eat and how does your heritage factor into this? What does a balanced diet really mean? Meat is calorie dense and we have cheap access to it in the U.S. This is one of the reasons why it is so over consumed. We need to come up with solutions for diets that people can do something about. If you reduce your consumption of meat, that is a positive change.  Daniel in Canada called to discuss the photos of aliens on Mars that he sent and was hoping the hosts would meet him halfway on how the photos looked lifelike. Do you believe that aliens are a thing and the government is covering it up? What would be the social ramifications of this? Why would vague Neil Armstrong quotes and screenshots be sufficient evidence? Photos looking like aliens are not the same as there being an actual alien on Mars. How can your belief in aliens be falsified? Something being possible is not a reason to believe it is true. Look at all the reasons why you believe this and start trying to disprove it by poking holes in these reasons. Can someone who is an authority in a field still be wrong? Ask yourself what this information is really telling you.  William in AR brings up how the pursuit of sports careers are popularized as a way to get out of poverty. This is a marketing problem, however, the bias is also on the consumer end. Sports is just a subcategory of celebrity culture. If it is not sports stars, it is Youtubers or rock stars. Racial stereotypes are played up in sports movies and people make money doing this. The pursuit of a higher education is just not as appealing as being a sexy hot person that everyone wants to be.  Thank you for tuning in to our show! Eat a balanced diet on Mars while you con

S7 E16 · Sat, April 20, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.16 Truth Wanted 07.16 with ObjectivelyDan and Michael Wiseman @BSWthepodcast

Title: Talking to God, Evolution/God,  Morality Debates, and Atrocity of Religion. SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:00 Intro 16:21 Messages from the Universe-USA | Talking to God 35:00 Just Some Guy-Ireland | Evolution disproves God? SHOW NOTES Welcome to Truth Wanted, where all the truthers gather! Tonight, our host Objectively Dan is joined by Michael Wiseman of the Bible Says What?!  Messages from God from the USA is our first caller. Ohh boy people! This is a doozy. Messages claims we just choose to hear God and we have to be open to it. And God especially picked her for us to receive this information so we can talk to God. Also, we exist and yet we don’t exist in this dimension. I am trying people, just listen to the call as this show notes writer is struggling. Seriously, both Dan and Michael try and pin down her premise and how she came to the conclusions she has and the message she wants to impart. Buckle up folks! Just Some Guy from the Green Isle gives our hosts a ring to talk about do atheists deny God because of evolution? No, as there are plenty of believers who accept the theory of evolution. Somehow, the conversation shifts to objective vs. subjective morality. The hosts and Just Some Guy get into some interesting philosophical questions and how God doesn’t resolve any of these issues.  Last but thankfully not least is Philo-Sophistry from also the USofA calls to discuss the harm of religion, if it does have any benefit, and when do we, as atheists intervene? These are some questions to ponder and worth it to do so.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E15 · Sat, April 13, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.15 with ObjectivelyDan and Phil Ferguson

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, ObjectivelyDan and Phil Ferguson ponder why we have Mormon Ghosts everywhere after diving into the evolution of ghosts and the existence of Jesus all while digging through an ancient alien purse for evidence.  Critical Corrie in the UK has people in his life that thinks ghosts are real and asks the sausages what their take on ghosts are. What are the rules for ghosts? Have you ever noticed that the low quality equipment is always what seems to pick up ghosts? How far back on the evolutionary scale do ghosts appear? Can an amoeba be a ghost? Why do ghosts get to go through walls and not the floor? How does gravity work for ghosts?  Tymm in WA has been studying Jesus Mythicism, and asks the hosts what they think about Mark being the creator of Jesus, based on the writings of Paul. The probability of Jesus being a real person is equivalent to that of Hercules being a real person. Sometimes stories that contain both fact and myth can be cobbled together to make one story. Paul wrote the most about Jesus, and never even met the man. There is more evidence for Joseph Smith existing than Jesus and we all know what he was about. If you are an Ex-Mormon, please call in! Ransom in WY says that it looks like there is synchronicity between video games and movies and then asks about the Alien Purse. The synchronicity is market demands and due to trends within general fascination. What is your explanation for this ancient handbag? What would the effects be if aliens have visited and been conquered by us in history? If you look through enough artworks, you can find things that mean whatever you want them to mean. We appreciate this call and taking us on this journey.  Thank you for tuning in this week, ghosts! Question of the week is, what is the worst advice you have ever been given? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E14 · Sat, April 06, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.14 with Jamie the Blind Limey and Jason Sherwood

Recorded LIVE at the Freeethought Library in Austin, TX in front of a live studio audience! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E13 · Sat, March 30, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.13 with ObjectivelyDan and Jim Barrows

01:05 Intro 17:45 Emily-New England | The Outlaws Pass 42:54 Critical Corey-UK | England vs. American Beliefs 50:25 Daniel-Canada | Alien Proof in Photos! SHOW NOTES In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, our hosts with the most  are Objectively Dan & Jim Barrows..  Our first caller is from Emily in New England who wants to discuss the hikers of the Outlaws Pass. Please give this a Google as this show notes the writer doesn’t have the character count. More Importantly, Emily discusses why she wants to believe in the conspiracy of this event vs.  investigating the possible truth. Dan explains we all have these needs to find a more exciting explanation rather than the real world reality of certain events. Emily does come to the conclusion that there was nothing out of the ordinary of the event, but still likes the thought experiments of the conspiracy theories. Deconstruction is an ongoing process, not just with religion, but any magical thinking ideas. Our next call from across the pond is from Corey. He wants to talk about the beliefs and the differences between the United States vs. the UK. It is a curious discussion between similar ideas, but in different cultures. It’s a curious conversation about identity, belief, and cultural experiences.  Welcome to call #3 from Daniel from Canada who has come with proof! Proof I tell you of aliens. Are the pictures blurry? Yes. Is this absolute proof? No. Is it pareidolia? Probably. But, it’s a fun call!  Call Truth Wanted!  7:00-8 :30PM CT at 1-512-991-9242 or call with your computer 💻 http://tiny.cc/calltw ► Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: http://tiny.cc/patreontw ► Podcasts may be found @:  http://tiny.cc/podcasttw ► Shop Truth Wanted merchandise @:  http://tiny.cc/merchaca We welcome your comments on the thread for this show.  ► http://tiny.cc/fbtwg ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: truth@atheist-community.org The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals. We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism. We request pronouns as part of the call screening process on our shows, and we display the pronouns our callers provide.  If you see a caller with no pronouns indicated, this is because they chose not to provide us with any, and we respect that decision. ► http://w

S7 E12 · Sat, March 23, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.12 03-22-2024 with ObjectivelyDan and Secular Rarity

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, Secular Rarity is hosting alongside the recently engaged ObjectivelyDan!  Austin in NC thinks free will shouldnt be argued because there is no good evidence. So that may cause some people, depressed or not, to give up on succeeding in life. Lack of free will doesn’t mean you can’t change things, it's just that we're in a physical universe. When discussing free will with others, don’t expect immediate change. It can be a bit of a depressing topic but it should be discussed, people can handle it.  (Depressed notetake here, don’t believe we have free will) Matly in WA had an experience with a physical trainer offering cupping as a therapy and asked for evidence to back up their claims and show side effects. Medical professionals should know everything behind what they are doing to your body and more people should ask for evidence of unfounded medical claims.  Jon in Canada has proof of god again, the “perfectly designed’ human body. Can you not think of anything you could improve upon? If you call back, ditch the script and let's have a regular old conversation.  Andrew in FL thinks that absence of evidence isn’t evidence of absence and asks for proof of evidentialism. We’re interested in systems that can provide reliable and predictable results, our best (not perfect) method is science. If you use a different system for proof of god, we can’t really test that. We are just rejecting god claims that come without evidence. There hasn’t been a clear right or wrong on morality and atheism doesn’t claim any answers beyond god claims. There is so much to morality, people aren’t going to wrap their heads around it for a while after deconstructing, if at all. Thank you for tuning in this week. Question of the week is: Why Is It REALLY Called ‘Good Friday’? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E11 · Sat, March 16, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.11 with Kelley Laughlin and AlmostaDoctor1

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, Kelley Laughlin and AlmostDoctor1(Matt), look at reflections of their future selves as churches being taxed is contemplated and they conclude that the universe may not be deterministic.  Cole in DC saw a reflection of an older version of himself and felt at the time that this was a way of seeing into another universe.  How has your idea changed about the experience now that you know it was not what you thought it was? Is it safe to say you are in a better place now? How does this experience affect you now as you move forward in your life? Narratives are powerful to people and can’t be underestimated. The memory of emotion surrounding an event can overpower the memory of specific details.  Troy in TX makes and asks if we should be taxing the church. When charity work is happening and things are transparent, then there is not a problem. Pastors and ministers do pay an income tax individually. Whenever you are deciding something, especially when it is controversial, always take a step back and have a look at how the decision fits into the big picture.  Lori in WV asks about how the concept of a person’s existence of energy relates to the physics concept of how energy can’t be created or destroyed. Matt explains that the energy must be transferred somewhere when someone dies and there is not some magical life energy, but rather energy that allows the complicated processes of life to occur. For energy to be transferred from one to another, there needs to be a process that allows this energy to move. Reincarnation or life after death does not contain this pathway. Are you content with not coming back?  Bryan in CA says that the universe is probabilistic and not deterministic.  What do you mean by deterministic? We can determine the probability of things on the quantum scale, but not exactly how things will happen because we don’t have the ability to rewind the clock. On the macro scale, we can rewind the clock and repeat experiments. The further you go from the initial conditions, the harder it is to know what will happen in advance. Our brains did not evolve to understand quantum mechanics yet and therefore see this field as something that is not straightforward. We don’t have evidence that shows that if we rewound the clock, things would happen exactly the same.  Daniel in Canada believes there could be an alien reality, underground civilizations on Mars, and other ways of traveling through the universe beyond traveling at the speed of light. Why haven’t we seen these other civilizations yet? What is meant by alien reality? What kind of resolution are we using to detect these things? We know there is geological activity that happens on these planets and moon, but we don’t have anything that suggests that there has to be life. We can’t rely on what we think things look like. It must be fully demonstrated that there was not a

S7 E10 · Sat, March 09, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.10 with Jon the Skeptick and Drew Bekius

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, Jon the Skeptic and Drew Bekius navigate through the Paw Paw Tunnel dodging Australian Raptors and Owl Man all while knowing that the tunnel was created by a creator. But not to worry! No flashlights are needed because Jamie the Blind Limey safely guides them to the end where light is shed on the existence of trans people.  Ben in VA had an experience in the Paw Paw Tunnel where he heard coins being thrown and sounds like people behind him. On a scale of one to ten, how convinced are you that it was something paranormal? If you are at a six, what would it take to get you to a ten, or bring it down to zero? Have you ruled out all possibilities like having change in your pocket that was dropped? What is the most simple explanation for this? Stories of events can grow over time becoming more juicy and exaggerated.  Joshua in GA asks the hosts what cryptid they believe or hope exists. He believes that the Australian Raptor, Owl Man, and the Mongolian Death Worm existed, but just not 300 feet long. What is it that convinces you these things exist? Could Owl Man just be a large owl? We hope these things exist and will have drinks with them if so! Elane in KY knows a game creator that was an atheist but now believes because if we can create worlds, then there could be a creator of this one. What good reason would we have to conclude this is true?  Jamie the Blind Limey in TX asks for ideas on how to educate people about the existence of trans people. It is not just how someone feels; there are at least five different stages of sexual development in the uterus that are observable. At least one in fifty people have intersexual development. You can ask people how this community has affected you personally. When people set themselves up as the ultimate authority, try to help them realize that they may not see everything accurately, and ask if there are areas that they misread. By questioning, get them to see that they are not the genius of all geniuses for all things. Thank you for tuning in this week! Question of the week is: If psychics are real, why did they not predict _____? Put your answers in the comments.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E9 · Sat, March 02, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.09 03-01-2024 with Objectively Dan and Infidel64

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, ObjectivelyDan and Infidel64 discover an ancient Chinese Dragon after studying history that did not quite lead to their belief in Catholicism, but did remind us of how our policies are still based on ancient mythology. Saphri’ell in NY informs us about a 240 million year old Chinese Water Dragon that seems to have been right out of mythology. Without a doubt it would be cool if we found something like this alive, however, let’s not forget what happens with people’s imagination and how stories can change from something being a large lizard to a dragon flying around breathing fire. What other kinds of dragons do you believe have existed? Greg in PA studied Western history and explains how logical thinking led him to his belief in god. How did studying the French Revolution get you to your beliefs? What convinced you and what are the particulars that brought you to where you are today? Can you apply this same kind of thinking to another religion? If there were a more accurate description of the world that came from another religion, would that raise your confidence level of that other religion? Greg asks the hosts about their belief in evolution. Evolution is survival of the being that can exist the best in the environment, not just the strongest, bad ass around. If we could demonstrate that animals are compassionate to each other, how would that change your belief in evolution? Just because humans understand compassion in a certain way does not mean other animals do not have it at all. There is no goal or purpose or goal to evolution; it is just a description of how things happened. Tim in WA describes the recent attack on Nex Benedict who was harassed and killed because of their identity and how sad it is that we are making policies based on mythology. If your church is not talking about how to help the LGBTQ community, what good is your church? This is what we are talking about when we say that religion is driven by hate. As long as people are willing to excuse the inexcusable, we are going to keep seeing this. It is completely unacceptable that people are afraid to move, or must move because their child might be in danger. How many churches actually ask what they can do to help the LGBTQ community? We are hopeful that things can change and must keep fighting. Thank you for tuning in this week! If you hear someone digging in the middle of the night, they are probably just looking for a Chinese Dragon. Nothing to see here. Question of the week is: What is normal during the day, but is terrifying in the middle of the night? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E8 · Sat, February 24, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.08 02-23-2024 with MD Aware and SecularSpirit

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, MD Aware and Secular Spirit wrestle with the meaning of life as a caller obsessed with teaching children about buttplugs insists that jail is worse than hell. Kyle in Canada says that religion makes it hard to know what is modeled as the truth, and asks the hosts what they think the meaning of life is. Secular Spirit explains how he has come to accept that life has no inherent meaning. MD Aware agrees and asks Kyle to define the terms of meaning and life. He further explains that there can be an overarching purpose for humanity that does not necessarily apply to the individual. What should people be doing that they are not currently doing? What is the best case scenario that we should strive for? The leaps in health care alone show we are greatly more advanced than our ancestors. If you are going to call the show and complain about the hosts being skeptical, you might be calling the wrong show. McMichael in FL wants to know if teaching children about jail is equal to teaching them about hell. The fear and psychological trauma is deeper when there is an eternity than it is when there is a life sentence as a consequence. Jails in North America are different from jails in other parts of the world. How can you compare an eternity to a lifetime? Of hell and jail, one of these two things is real and one of them is not. Which is better to teach children about? How is the threat of eternal torment for natural sexuality better than a real life consequence for a crime committed? The caller asks what the appropriate age is to teach kids about butt plugs. Perhaps there would not be people showing up at emergency rooms with Christmas ornaments stuck in their rectum if they were taught not to be ashamed. Jon in Canada has proof of god existing and that proof is that we are here. How did you delete all other explanations? What examples do you have of these other things that you have eliminated? The Big Bang is an explanation for the expansion of the universe, not the origin. Are you reading from a book of quotes or something? Does a puddle exist because of the conditions or were the conditions “designed” for the puddle to exist? The God Delusion is a great place to start if you want some of these questions answered. The scientific approach is to assume the negative until we know otherwise. If you had scientific evidence for god, we would accept it and that is why we took the call. Tim in WA asks Secular Spirit if Islam is more accepting in the Western world of the LGBTQIA community than they are in other Muslim states. Secular Spirit explains the stigma surrounding this that exists in the Muslim states and that overall there is a difference between areas of the world when it comes to acceptance. Rainer Wolfcastle in TX mentions a documentary called Science Friction that cuts quotes to make people say what they want them to sa

S7 E7 · Sat, February 17, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.07 2-16-2024 with Kelley Laughlin and Scott Dickie

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, Kelley Laughlin and Scott Dickie display their discordian core beliefs as they discuss developed friendships with theists while UFO documentaries are infuriating the UFO community all because we have lost our superhuman abilities and can now use the internet to communicate. Galaxy in MO wants to talk about atheist and theist discordianism, where both disorder and order are delusions imposed upon the universe by one’s own perspective where anyone’s view of order and disorder is not any more true or false than the other. Could there be many realities perceived by one event then? This was originally written to ridicule religion in the same bowling alley that was in The Big Lebowski. Why is this just not a system of understanding human thought? What makes this an “ism”? With your method of measurement, are there any belief systems that will be excluded? When have your beliefs led you to a conclusion that you did not like? Jamie in OH, a long time caller with Scott, wants to discuss friendship within this discourse. Has your interaction with the show changed the way you see atheists? How does it feel when someone is sincerely interested in friendship rather than trying to convert or deconvert? IT helps to concentrate on the things you have in common with people and keep the friendship. Bleeding Gums Murphy in TX tells us about the The UFO MOVIE They Don't Want You to See is debunking UFO claims and causing the UFO community to fall apart. It is expected for something like this to cause outrage. When people’s beliefs or identity are challenged, the flight or fight response is activated in the brain and the protective response takes over. If you address the beliefs rather than the individuals, you will generally be safe, even when it seems the beliefs are bordering on mental health. Kyle in Canada wants to talk about the way we live now vs the old naturopath way. What do you think we have lost with our modern society? What is the harm in losing something and picking up something new? Why is how we approached things in the “natural” days any better than how we do it today? What have we lost that has not been replaced by something else? Show us your work on why this is better. Thank you for diving into this discussion with us this week! Question of the week is: Name a time the punishment actually fits the crime. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E6 · Sat, February 10, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.06 with Kelley Laughlin and Jim Barrows

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, Kelley Laughlin and Jim Barrows observe theists falsifying their own god as an actual bigot managed to sneak in a false nudist call. But don’t worry, Thumper saved the day with a stimulating question about wheels and finally we are topped off by Alfonso reminding us of the “other” born of a virgin stories. Ryan in NY asks if the Abrahamic god can be falsified when theists describe him as outside of space and time. We do not even know if nothing exists. What does it mean to exist outside of the universe? Mickey in FL asks if the hosts think there is a prejudice against nudist people like there is against LGBTQIA people. Being a nudist is not the same thing as being in the LGBTQIA community because being nude is a choice. If it was a cultural taboo it would be based on where people lived. Various cultures in warmer climates are more likely to be nudist than in colder climates and the technology to build clothes also comes into play. JIm makes an analogy to being in situations where rescuers have to put their own lives at risk to save someone who has taken a risk. You can be a nudist, but don’t take resources away from people who need it by doing things that will need to get you rescued like running around in cold weather nude. In fact, whether you are wearing clothes or not, don’t put yourself in that position. Did you call to talk about nudity or were you just trying to be a bigot? If you walk like a bigot, and talk like a bigot, you probably are not a nudist. Thumper in ME asks if Native People have ever tried to invent the wheel. The wheels were invented by some of the South American tribes but for some reason only put them on toys. Part of the reason why could be due to overland trade difficulties. Transporting heavy items over water is easier than navigating over larger boulders and obstacles with land. There are many factors that we did not think about such as scarcity. Jim recommends the book, “Sapiens” that will shed some light on this. Alfonso in WA is disappointed to discover there are a lot of other stories other than the Jesus stories about people being born of virgins and turning water into wine. There are lots of stories with similar themes. This is just part of story telling and does not necessarily mean the story is false. Thank you for tuning in this week! Question of the week: What is something that is immoral but is culturally accepted? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S7 E5 · Sat, February 03, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.05 02-02-2024 with ObjectivelyDan and JL Warren

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, Objectively Dan and J.L. Warren use their free will to talk about animal rights in horror films as UFOs continue to warrant the god of the gaps before attending funerals where relatives declare the deceased are in a league with satan. Jesse in NJ calls to clear up a previous conversation that involved the use of Google for the discussion. Dan and Jesse demonstrate how to work out a mistake in a classy way. Thank you both for being examples of how to be civil in these conversations! Kit in NY turns Dan on by holding a position that free will should be protected at all costs. When you make a decision, is that decision informed by prior information gained in life? How do we protect free will? What is the difference between free will and personal autonomy? Even if free will does not exist, the legal system is still something that is a factor. The systems that exist are part of the preventative causes. Biology is also in play where people are born psychopaths and sociopaths. We need legislation to protect autonomy, but how this is implemented is up to the politicians. Daniel in Canada asks if The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was making an animal rights statement with how the gore was illustrated. J.L. Warren describes his conversations with Tobe Hooper, the composer and producer of the film, and how animal rights was an allegory rather than the point of the movie. The example of Night of the Living Dead is used where racism can also be allegory with the shooting death at the ending. Dan, also in Canada asks about well documented yet unexplained events such as the Shag Harbor UFO Incident. We must assume there is no connection with causal events to lead to better decisions. Human beings are pattern seeking monsters wanting to make connections out of everything. We must determine what information is reliable, and start with what we know. Are what people saw being interpreted correctly? Circumstantial evidence may be abundant, but still is not the smoking gun. What do you think about the difference between possibility and probability? There may be a joy in not knowing something, but be careful not to do the “god of the gaps” with aliens. James in WI describes a funeral when the family exclaimed the person being interred was in league with the devil. Many of us are conditioned to be uncurious about the world by indoctrination where we grow up somewhere and just don’t explore other options. Once you get a few generations down the line, these things become cultural. Thank you for tuning in to another spooky episode! Question of the week is: What is your unpopular opinion? See you next week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support</a

S7 E4 · Sat, January 27, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.04 01-26-24 with Objectively Dan and Jamie the Blind Limey

S7 E3 · Sat, January 20, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.03 with Kelley Laughlin and The Cross-Examiner

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, Kelley Laughlin and The Cross-Examiner ponder how effective it is to talk with theists as they identify the labels of Irish ghosts all being synchronized with prayer. Jerry in Ireland expresses how it can be pointless to talk with theists and how the Socratic Method did work for him, but only one time. If we can have these conversations, we can show them that we are people just like they are. It works the best when there is an audience and the interlocutor is honest. Everybody has a right to their religion; it is extremism that is problematic. We do have callers that are showing their minds are changing slowly. Showing genuine curiosity and asking questions to sincerely understand helps in the long term. These conversations are a great way to bond people, even if they disagree. Johnny in MD is wanting to abandon the use of identifiers such as atheist. How does the use of identifiers help or hinder your communication? How often does the need to use identifiers when communicating come up? How does the abandonment of labels or identifiers help you? How do people react when the use of these categories are avoided? How does this play out when the labels of “atheist” or “theist” are avoided? Not using these terms may cause conversations to be longer, and definitions for how words are used can be blurred. We are curious how this will work for you; please keep in touch! Dan in Canada thinks he may have seen ghosts and would like to know how to collect credible evidence of this. We don’t have any testing that is supernatural at this point so this presents a tough paradox for science. Designing the experiment and replicating the experiment is the problem? What can we observe with our five senses, and how is this experience explained? Stating that you don’t know something is a great way to start. How do you think the power of suggestion affected what you saw? What would be the steps to design an experiment for this? If it is not reliably reproducible, we end up diving into a sea of excuses. The only way you can find out is to start gathering data and follow the rules of evidence. Please send Kelley the video when you obtain it! Nicholas in America wants us to know that Christ is God. How do we know this when people claim that Allah or ancient gods such as Ahura Mazda are real? How does prayer cause something to happen? If events are synchronized, does that mean that one caused the other? Think of all the probabilities rather than prayer being the first explanation. Remember how impressionable the mind is when you are young and how what you have been told can affect your perception. Thank you for tuning in this week! We want the truth for what the real purpose of Stonehenge was! Remember, always keep logging the truth! Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth

S7 E2 · Sat, January 13, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.02 01-12-2024 with ObjectivelyDan and Sydney Davis Jr Jr

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, Objectively Dan and Sydney David Jr Jr work through ways to overcome homophobia and number obsessions while wrestling with prophecies and conspiracy theories. Alfonso in WA is trying to overcome the icky feeling he gets when he sees two men kissing. Our feelings of other people have nothing to do with how we should treat them. People feel grossed out when seeing anyone kissing, regardless of the genders, because they did not give consent to see this in public. The status quo in many places used to be homophobic where men and women had specific roles. Alfonso mentions that hopefully the transition that is happening now will mean these conversations happen less. How will the private actions of others negatively affect your life? How does two men holding hands in the store translate to telling others they also must marry the same gender? It is too easy to do what everyone else is doing in a small town and you must separate yourself if you want to make a change. Killgoretrout in TX asks about the waxing and waning of conspiracy theories. These things will get into people’s consciousness and then they get bored of it. It might be that people realize there are bigger problems, or see the debunking of the once popular theories. The less you argue about something, the less they will want to talk about it. Johnny in MD wants to discuss his obsession with The Theory of Everything and how kids are being taught math. Is this a thought pattern that feels like it is something that you can’t control? What are some things that help with this and distract you from these thoughts? Remember that people can have unorthodox beliefs and still be mentally sound. Therapists can be like trying on shoes; not all will fit or match your needs. What are some other things you can explore and get into that will not occupy your thoughts all the time? It is fantastic that you are being open about your emotional struggles and pursuing the help that you need. The Lord’s Day Ministry wants to prove that the branch that the Old Testament talks about is Jesus Christ because god gave him a revelation. How do you know this revelation is from god? What is the difference between your brain telling you something and receiving a message from god? Revelations from god seem to be a common theme in history. How do you explain the contradictions between these revelations and how do we know which ones are true? Why should we care about what the scriptures say, and how do we know if the scriptures are true? Millions of people are not liars; they have been convinced that these things are true and genuinely believe them. If Joseph Smith predicted the Civil War, does that mean everything else he prophesied is true? Why should prophecy be used to know if something is true? How do we know that the Gospels were not just fan fiction? What is the best way to demonstrate the scriptures su

S7 E1 · Sat, January 06, 2024

Truth Wanted 07.01 01-05-2024 with MD Aware and Calvin Smith

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, MD Aware and Calvin Smith give a repeat caller some deep thinking homework to help reduce his ad hoc claims, before discussing Diquis Spheres and how to prevent the furthering of pseudoscience. Frequent Caller in TX argues that people who saw god did not actually recognize him as god. How does this equate to everyone needing to believe in god? Have we interacted with god and did not realize it? This is an unjustifiable hypothesis. How is it my problem if I interact with someone or something and not know it is god? What definition of god are you proposing? Are there any non-physical versions of god and how do you know if there is or isn't? Why do you choose the non-crazy things to believe about god? You don’t start with the belief and work backwards to prove it, that is not how science works. How do we know which religion is right? Is there one true god that is the same for all religions and is just called different names? If you threw a box of marbles in the ocean, how do you justify believing that the total number of marbles are both odd and even? If someone shot me, and I just don’t believe in bullets, would I still be okay? Raven in Central America says that separation of church and state comes from constitutional analysis and asks if Calvin is aware of the Diquis Spheres found in Costa Rica. We can agree these are just super cool circles that humans made. The U.S. has white washed the history of Christianity through genocide and hiding how religion was used as a tool of oppression. Phil in CA calls to confirm that Calvin is not furthering the pseudoscience of Graham Hancock. Calvin clarifies that he does not agree with Hancock currently, and was something he once followed. Calvin has never claimed to know these things are true, and is on the same page as Phil. Be careful to take context into consideration. We just need this Graham Hancock to call in! Thank you for tuning in this week! Question of the week is: What is the cause of crop circles? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S6 E52 · Sat, December 30, 2023

We Asked; You Answered

Happy New Year from The Atheist Community of Austin! This year we began a new segment called “We Want the Truth,” or as we generically referred to as “question of the week.” This segment is only as good as the comments we get to respond to, and you, the viewers, really rose to the challenge! Here is a compilation of our ten favorite questions and answers. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S6 E51 · Sat, December 23, 2023

Truth Wanted's Top 5 Calls of 2023

Here are our favorite calls from 2023, what were your favorite calls? Tell us in the comments! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S6 E50 · Sat, December 16, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.50 12-15-2023 with Kelley Laughlin, and ExXtian Erin

S6 E49 · Sat, December 09, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.49 12-08-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Jimmy Jr

S6 E48 · Sat, December 02, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.48 12-01-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Blatant Blatheist

Welcome to Truth Wanted! Yay, Dan is back and we’re happy he is doing better. Our special guest this week is Blantant Blatheist, joining us from Japan! First up tonight, Phil in TX keeps getting blocked from outlandish videos/channels. He has taken to posting more outlanding comments to avoid getting blocked. There isn’t one simple way to deal with these outlandish claims. Consider your target audience, you are more likely to affect people on the fence. Rich in NY has problems with a previous call about animals suffering too much. He argues that we shouldn’t judge how animals are better off. Wildlife conservation and veganism is a tough and multifaceted topic. There are sustainability, moral, ethical, and economic arguments to just get started. Fact is dogs, pigs, cows, etc have near equal to human capacity to suffer. Andrew in FL claims secular families are more likely to lead to divorce. To double down, he says secularism is causing divorce. Ok, there is a trend showing more secular couple’s divorce. Is that a bad thing though? If someone is unhappy in their marriage, shouldn’t they be able to get out of that marriage? Divorce isn’t a solve-all but it’s necessary in some cases. This week's “We Want The Truth” segment is: Make a prediction for 2024 that no one would see coming. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S6 E46 · Sat, November 18, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.46 11-17-2023 with Kelley Laughlin and Damien H

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S6 E45 · Sat, November 11, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.45 11-10-2023 with Kelley Laughlin and Jordan from Stand to Reason

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S6 E44 · Sat, November 04, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.44 11-03-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Phil Ferguson

Welcome to Truth Wanted! This week we have ObjectivelyDan and Phil Ferguson taking your calls. We get into prayer, why crypto is a scam, and other issues. First up is Coop the Coop-Cooper in NY is perplexed why Dan would tell them they could continue praying while deconstructing their belief. Sure, you can pray to anything, anyone, or no one, who cares. Phil brings up the argument that why are believers praying to a god to change the plan created for them. If prayer makes you feel good or helps with life’s stress then go for it. Just don’t mistake it with action, prayer doesn’t help others. Keith in NJ thinks there may be some legitimate crypto currencies. He gives the example of his friend giving free wifi devices that pays you in crypto for time kept online. Interesting concept but Phil would need to know more about the device and company before advising to join. Who knows, they could be stealing peoples data to sell it. James in VA, an ex jehovah witness, asks for advice for people leaving religion that you donated all your profits. Thanks for joining us for the special episode. This week's “We Want The Truth” segment is: What is REALLY in the Egyptian pyramids? Put your answers in the comments to possibly be read on air! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S6 E43 · Sat, October 28, 2023

The Third Annual Truth Wanted Halloween Special: The Séance!

S6 E42 · Sat, October 21, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.42 10-20-2023 with Kelley Laughlin and Cynthia McDonald

Welcome to Truth Wanted! This week we host two of The Non-Prophets team, Kelley Laughlin and Cynthia McDonald. Maybe we’ll finally figure out the meaning of “spiritual but not religious”. Chris in WI continues the “Humpy the ghost” story. (I thought Chris was saying HumpTy, oops) You are equating the ghost experience to energy but can’t seem to define what you mean. The points you bring up are questionable and seem to infer electricity to energy. Try to keep an open mind, if you conclude it’s a ghost you aren’t going to be open to other explanations. Rich in NY thinks we spend too much time arguing specifics regarding miracle claims. He thinks we should challenge theists with praying for “real” miracles. People do accept things too easily. Use the socratic method to suss out if their claim holds up. Confirmation bias is frustrating. AJ in WA claims he has seen UFOs, sasquatch, ghosts, and other cryptids. Aj goes on to delve into the different tribes of bigfoot. Interesting call, and do call back, but these are just recounting stories. Top G in TX wants to clarify what people mean by spirituality and says starting by looking into the neuroscience of religion would help. We want to know what people are experiencing when they claim they did something spiritual. Top G defines spiritual as “an inner potential in your consciousness”. The examples you gave don’t point to the supernatural, more so to physiological. Consciousness is a property of the brain, how is that spiritual? Thanks for joining us! This week's “We Want The Truth” segment is: Write a fortune cookie that is oddly specific. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S6 E41 · Sat, October 14, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.41 10-13-2023 with Jon The Skeptick and Tom Benson

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Sat, October 07, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.40 10-06-2023 with Infidel64 and Kelley Laughlin

S6 E39 · Sat, September 30, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.39 09-29-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Aaron Jensen

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, our super host Objectively Dan is joined by our esteemed guest Aaron Jensen! Caller #1 is up! Cooper is calling from New York to ask our hosts, how does someone deconstruct without losing hope and dealing with distressing emotions. Dan and Aaron talk about their own process when leaving faith and how to build community and purpose without the trappings of religion. In the words of Aragorn “there is always hope”. Baked Alaska also coming to us from New York is caller #2! He inquires what compelled us atheists to not believe in a God and what evidence (or lack thereof) shows God does not exist. Baked Alaska does some logical fallacies (appeal to population for example) to prove his point, when as we know dear listener, we need more than opinions and emotions to show something is real, esp. when it comes to a God claim. Welcome R, caller #3 from the unknown void! He posits that Newton and other scientists of his time, especially during the Enlightenment, had to hide their anti-theist opinions. Perhaps, but we have no proof. Dan and Aaron push back against this opinion based on his own writings and opinions. When it comes to great minds who came before us, unless they state otherwise, we can only wonder what their true position was in regards to a deity existing or not. Caller #4! Sumartono gives our hosts a ring to discuss atheists vs. theists morality, what does it mean to be moral without a God which leads down the epistemological path of the watchmaker’s argument. To round out the show, Steven from Mississippi has fallen down the YouTube ancient alien conspiracy rabbit hole. Steven's mind is blown! Though our hosts walk him through obvious questions and encourage Steven to give some pause before concluding aliens made such wonders like the pyramids. He isn't saying it's aliens…. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S6 E38 · Sat, September 23, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.38 9-22-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and JMike

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S6 E37 · Sat, September 16, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.37 09-15-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and JL Warren

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S6 E36 · Sat, September 09, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.36 09-08-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Scott Dickie

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S6 E35 · Sat, September 02, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.35 09-01-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Kevin Bolling

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, Objectively Dan is joined by Secular Student Alliance’s David Bolling. The show’s first caller Coyote Boy from Texas comes out swinging with the 100th on BS science and people's inclination to take it on authoritative trust. We all have our blind spots and tend to want to believe what makes us feel good. This could include aliens, Bigfoot, bad medical advice and so on. We all need to keep those skeptical hats on to determining the truth. Caller #2 gives Truth Wanted a ring to have a discussion about food waste which everyone agreed was a problem, ethical hunting, and does this particular practice reduce suffering? Nuisance as always, is always a thing in these conversations. UFOs! Yes! Arlindo gives the full Truth Wanted experience by telling Kevin and Dan about their UFO encounter. I am not saying they were aliens….but it was aliens. Tim from Texas is our last call of the show! And he recalls a dream where Slender Man invades his room, and the strange emotions that dreams can evoke. Are sweet dreams made of this? Who am I to disagree? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S6 E34 · Sat, August 26, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.34 08-25-2023 with MD Aware and Jason Friedman

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S6 E33 · Sat, August 19, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.33 08-18-2023 with Jon the Skeptick and Jim Barrows

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S6 E32 · Sat, August 12, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.32 8-11-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Brady Hardin

S6 E31 · Sat, August 05, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.31 8-4-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Godless Granny

Truth Wanted 06.31 8-4-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Godless Granny show notes upon reciept Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S6 E30 · Sat, July 29, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.30 7-28-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Prophet of Zod

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Sat, July 22, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.29 7-21-2023 with Jon the Skeptick and Vimoh

S6 E28 · Sat, July 15, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.28 7-14-2023 with ExXtian Erin and Apostacie

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S6 E27 · Sat, July 08, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.27 7-7-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Sydney Davis Jr Jr

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Sat, July 01, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.26 6-30-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Johnny P Angel

S6 E25 · Sat, June 24, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.25 2023-06-23 with ObjectivelyDan and Da Real Nordic Black

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S6 E24 · Sat, June 17, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.24 6-14-2023 with MD Aware and Vino

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S6 E23 · Sat, June 10, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.23 2023-06-09 with ObjectivelyDan and The Cross Examiner

Show notes wil be posted upon receipt. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, June 03, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.22 6-2-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Da Real Nordic Black

S6 E21 · Sat, May 27, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.21 5-26-2023 with MD Aware and Derek Mathias

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S6 E20 · Sat, May 20, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.20 2023-05-19 with ObjectivelyDan and Dr Darrel Ray

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S6 E19 · Sat, May 13, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.19 2023-05-12 with ExXtian Erin and Christy Powell

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S6 E18 · Sat, May 06, 2023

Truth Wanted 5-5-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Armin Navabi

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Sat, April 29, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.17 4-28-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and The Valiant Heathen

Sat, April 22, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.16 4-21-2023 with Jon The Skeptick and Secular Rarity

S6 E15 · Sat, April 15, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.15 4-14-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Apostate Ashley

It’s Friday! You know what that means? We want the truth! Our incomprehensible host Objectively Dan is joined with our guest Apostate Ashley of The Clergy Project. Joe from CA calls into our show to relay his experience with shadow people in his home. Now, call us skeptical but seeing things in the dark proof of the paranormal? Of the devil? Dan and Ashley try to get to the bottom of this claim and if we should believe in the spooky stuff. Jim in NJ gives us a call to inquire why don't Dan and Ashley believe in the Bible? Oh let us count the ways! Ashley and Dan explain why the bible is immoral and how God may be a genocidal dictator and why should anyone believe in him. Does might make right? If you are quirking an eyebrow, you are on the right track. Also, the Biblical flood apologetics…yay… Alex in CA discusses why the God of the Old Testament is a false God. Also, look at the trees man! Intelligent Design should be obvious, so why isn’t it? Because pretty things=God, right? Maybe God’s perfect design isn’t so perfect. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S6 E14 · Sat, April 08, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.14 4-7-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Kelley Laughlin

Welcome back to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week’s episode is hosted by ObjectivelyDan and Kelley Laughlin. T from MO is calling to present sentientism as a more complete alternative to humanism that goes beyond a limited human or human-like moral system. Todd from FL wants to discuss some reasons why Jesus cannot be the atoning sacrifice that Christians hold him up as. Great points. Brandt from WI asks our hosts if they are familiar with the deistic concept of the universe as God’s corpse. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S6 E13 · Sat, April 01, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.13 3-24-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Jimmy Jr

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S6 E12 · Sat, March 25, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.12 3-24-2023 with Kelley Laughlin and Student Doctor Ben

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted with Kelley Laughlin & co-host Student Doctor Ben. Natasha asks the hosts without religion, how do psychopaths maintain morality? Dr. Ben and Kelley dissect how logic really can help us dictate our moral behavior vs. fears in the supernatural. Also, finding the humanity and mental health avenues for people who have anti-social and/or psychopathic behaviors. Xavier claims that his practice of Che Gong healed him from ailments and improved his mental health. Is this the miracle cure? Or is it all placebo? Student Dr. Ben weighs in. Noah searches for meaning as he works through his deconversion from religion. Without faith, how do we bring meaning to our lives? What is the path you follow? Noah and the hosts through kindness, ask honest questions on how we choose meaning in our lives without belief. Jeff wonders about intersexed people. Can a person be born without a certain set of chromosomes? Could Jesus be intersexed? The science of Jesus’ conception has some flaws. Student Doctor Ben drops some fact bombs with this thought experiment. Simon deals with the cognitive dissonance of believing in reincarnation yet knowing logically it makes no sense. The hosts and Simon ask how do we deal with these feelings of belief yet knowing it has no basis in reality. Trigger warning: gender dysphoria and mental health. Blake inquires how our hosts when presented with homeopathic “studies” ,fishy evidence, and pseudo-scientific claims: what do we do, the process of the scientific method, and how correlation is not causation. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S6 E11 · Sat, March 18, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.11 3-17-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Tom Benson

Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted, hosted this week by ObjectivelyDan and Tom Benson! First up is Will from IN asking if there is any credence to the David Wilson notes or secret government programs dedicated to communicating with extraterrestrials. Slave of Christ from TX wants to discuss the correlation between the consumption of junk food and hyper-sexuality. Buildings have been getting taller over the generations, is there a correlation between building height and the existence of LGBTQ+ people? James from WA has some items questionably not where they are expecting them to be, and wants to know how one can go about ruling out ghosts. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S6 E9 · Sat, March 11, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.10 3-10-2023 with MD Aware and Helen Greene

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S6 E8 · Sat, March 04, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.09 3-3-2023 with ExXtian Erin and Phoebe Rose

In this weekly episode of Truth Wanted, Exxtian Erin is joined by Phoebe Rose. On today’s show, religious deconstruction, Jesus’ love, aliens among us, and answer that burning question: are trans people fraudsters? (spoiler alert: no!) 00:00 Intro 01:44 WWTT: Best Pickup Line EVER! 04:01 Phoebe Talks About Her Adventures in Woo Woo in Housing Safety 15:08 How Phoebe Went from Judaism to Skepticism 22:25 The New Age Stop, Religious Trauma, & Deconstruction 28:31 Patron of the Week-Matthew Scholtes 29:12 Phil-TX | The Alien Question 40:38 Bobby-TX | Nefarious UAPs? 57:05 Amanuel-TX | Why Won’t Atheists Accept Jesus Loves Them? 1:23 Jon-CA | Are Trans People Fraudsters/s? SHOW NOTES Welcome to Truth Wanted Truth Seekers! Your hosts ExxtianErin & PhoebeRose will be taking your calls and talking about whatever strikes their fancy. Phil from TX asks are we alone in the universe or if there are aliens, what does that mean? Something, something, plausibility, and the Fermi Paradox. Are humans the special snowflakes in the universe? Ponder. Ponder. Bobby from TX talks about the UAPs shot down by the military. What does it mean? China spies? Weather balloons? Or something out of this world? Also, try the poutine! Oh Canada! Amanuel from TX talks about preaching in public places and why they are just trying to tell us about the Lord. This is real love, right? And why don’t secularists realize religious people are just trying to help them see the light? You can be the “chosen one” if you just believe! Also, Phoebe poses the inquiry, what if you are Jewish? Hmm…there’s a pickle. Jon from Canada wonders how anyone can experience gender dysphoria. Because he is the most perfect form of masculinity. Phoebe has some pointed questions and a dose of reality for him. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, February 25, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.08 2-24-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Demonstryde

S6 E7 · Sat, February 18, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.07 08-27-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Scott Dickie

S6 E6 · Sat, February 11, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.06 02-10-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Mark Solomon

Show notes will be posted upon receipt Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S6 E5 · Sat, February 04, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.05 02-03-2023 with Jon The Skeptick and Godless Engineer

Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted, hosted this week by Jon the Skeptick and @godlessengineer! Jon from Canada wants to know what the hosts think of pascal’s wager? Pascal’s wager isn’t strictly a question for atheists, its also applicable to theists. Bernard from Canada, an expert on evolution, wants to know the name of a specific transitional fossil from human evolution. Julachak from NY wants to define what it means to be a mystic and I am going to try to sumarize it. Pray for me: You can read a lot of hoofoo and kind of woo sort of things and definitions about what it truly means to be a mystic, but really it really means in psychological terms is to make spiritual things philosophical and logical, then add science. Susan from AL made a post on Facebook referencing the Israel/Palestine conflict and was called anti-semitic and wants to know if maybe they went to far with their post. Sarah from IA had an experience where an elevator door opened with no one inside. The caller wants to know possible explanations for why this happened. Randi from New Zealand is concerned that religion has and will continue to slow science and medical advancement. It does sure seem to have a history of it. Katelyn from AL had an experience where their son was mis-diagnosed with cancer by a machine and the family claims the caller is disrespecting God by taking this “win” away from him. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S6 E4 · Sat, January 28, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.04 1-27-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Kelley Laughlin

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S6 E3 · Sat, January 21, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.03 01-20-2023 with ObjectivelyDan and Zachary Shedd

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S6 E2 · Sat, January 14, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.02 01-13-2022 with Jon the Skeptick and ExXtian Erin

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S5 Enull · Sat, January 07, 2023

Truth Wanted 06.01 1-06-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Nikki - Beat the Cult

S5 E52 · Sat, December 31, 2022

The Truth Wanted 2022 Midshow Megaclip Episode

The Midshow Promo clips. You like them! You love them! You want more of them! Well, consider your prayers answered, because we present some of the best moments from our past season. The video elves have been working overtime to bring you this collection of some of the funniest, most intense, and overall best segments. We’ll be back to live production in the new year, but for now the hosts, crew and volunteers of Truth Wanted and The Atheist Community of Austin wish you all the best for this holiday season and in the new year to come. We’ll see you next year! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 E51 · Sat, December 24, 2022

The Truth Wanted Year End Top 5 Calls Countdown

As we wind down 2022, we wanted to take a look back at all the best moments of the current season, and we've chosen the Top 5 calls, as determined by your viewing. Relive some of the most memorable and favorite moments from this past year of Truth Wanted. We are also compiling this collection so that we could give you something interesting to watch over the holidays, but also give our hard-working hosts and crew some time off to spend with their family and friends. The ACA wishes you all the best for 2023, and make sure to join us in this coming year for more of the stuff you love! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 E50 · Sat, December 17, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.50 12-16-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Jason Friedman

Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week ObjectivelyDan is joined by Jason Friedman! First up is Liam from LA who presents a study that indicates that pathological liars make great athletes. It would be interesting to figure out why. Is it because they believe their own B.S. to hype themselves up, or because it helps them tune out smack talk from competitors, or is it something else entirely? Tymm from LA is calling in to discuss the refreshing portrayal of bi-sexuality in the show “Heartstopper,” the tragedy the community unleashed onto the lead actor, and the social indoctrination that bi-sexuality is really just a stepping stone to homo-sexuality when that just isn’t the case. Jonathan from FL, a close friend of Jason, asks what was harder: coming out as queer or coming out as atheist. Pat from FL discusses an experience they had when they had a tooth operation and were put under and was wondering caused them to hear what they heard. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 E49 · Sat, December 10, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.49 12-9-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Sinn Sage

Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week ObjectivelyDan is joined by Sinn Sage! Mohammad from CA is calling in to defend the claim that there is an objective truth because without it people would go insane. What is your evidence other than that it's a scary thought to not have a purpose for existence? John from Canada asks our hosts what made them lose their faith in Christianity and what they have faith in now? Mr. Krabs from MD wants to discuss how sex-trafficking is being utilized as a weapon and crutch against sex workers in other fields of sex work, an argument that also prevents victims of sex-trafficking from safely coming forward to law enforcement. Our final call is ForgingThought who wants to address how ingrained the false correlation between sex work and sex trafficking is within society and popular media. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 E48 · Sat, December 03, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.48 12-02-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Jordan-ReasonToDoubt

Show notes will be posted upon receipt. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 E47 · Wed, November 30, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.47 PRERECORDED with ObjectivelyDan, ExXtian Erin and Jon the Skeptick

S5 E46 · Sat, November 19, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.46 11-18-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Jaime Boone

Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week ObjectivelyDan is joined by Jaime Boone! Welcome back, Jaime! David from CA has an issue with the show urging callers to have discussions that the callers may not have the knowledge or ability to defend their positions on contentious topics such as God. Nate from CA is calling to propose a hypothetical scenario where Mother Mary was the only documented case of asexual reproduction and what the implication of that would be. Amanual from TX is calling to ask out hosts if they think all believers are irrational. The answer is far more nuanced than a blanket statement. Heath from Canada is calling to dispute the saying “there are no atheists in foxholes.” The caller provides their own near-death and dangerous experiences, and how belief in God was the last thing they were thinking about immediately after. Sam from OH is calling to ask if there is a place in Christianity for LGBTQ people. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 E45 · Sat, November 12, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.45 11-11-2022 with MD Aware and Kelley Laughlin

Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week MD Aware is joined by Kelley Laughlin! First up is Arthur from NY who believes that foreign substances may have contributed to the formation of religion and might serve as an explanation for the supernatural occurrences depicted within them. Kevin from TN wants to discuss occult magic. The caller defines magic as “making changes according to will,” both through the demonstrable process of taking action, and the less demonstrable collective unconscious. Suzie from FL is calling to talk about her experience with Feng Shui (the use of specific colors and object placement in rooms), and how she has noticed how specific room arrangements affect “the energy” of the room. Is it possible that this energy isn’t so much energy in the physical sense, but more to do with how our environment affects our fight/flight responses and other psychological social queues? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 E44 · Sat, November 05, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.44 11-04-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Jon The Skeptick

Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week ObjectivelyDan is joined by Jon the Skeptic! First up is Whisper from UT who argues that QAnon and its subsequent beliefs are harmful to everyone, followers or not. Next is Phoenix from TX who is calling to bullet point out the unfounded things they used to believe in when they were a theist all the way from hearing voices to full environmental hallucinations. Phatman from OR is calling to ask if there is a correlation between Chrisitan nationalism and QAnon. If someone were to make a venn-diagram between the two, the middle section would be quite large. Rebel from D.C. is calling to claim that QAnon has a hairline of truth regarding the child-trafficking and the elitist pedophile ring even though most of the rest is malarkey. Basically, take Epstein and then add a little salt for some extra flavor and boom, truth! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 E43 · Sun, October 30, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.43 Halloween Special with ObjectivelyDan, ExXtian Erin and MD Aware

Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to Truth Wanted’s Holiday Special! Join MD Aware, Exxtian Erin & Objectively Rob Boss on this spooky landscape filled adventure as they guide you through the spookiest of tales. Scotland from NY calls to share a story where they spotted the “IT” clown on the side of the road while pulling up to a stop sign. Jim from NJ is calling to refute the idea that “faith” is an anti-intellectual tool. What other beliefs do you hold that were derived from not evidence and testing, but through faith? Finally, Jasmine from Canada is calling to ask our hosts if they ever become unsettled sleeping in an environment where people have died? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 E42 · Sat, October 22, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.42 10-21-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Brennon Goodson

Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week ObjectivelyDan is joined by Brennon Goodson! Welcome to the hosting chair Brennon! First up is Kelley from MI who wants to talk about their experience working in a haunted bar, including some funny stories of coworkers enocuntering the spooky spectres within. Phatman from OR is calling to discuss the opening conversation of the show regarding dinosaurs and more specifically Mary Schweitzer’s discovery and what the controversy specifically is surrounding it. Jaime from TX wants to talk about the flawed thought process of over-relying on our senses given their general and well documented flaws and inaccuracies. Marcus from TX is calling to ask if the recent verdict of the Alex Jones trial will set a precedent for holding others making such serious and dangerous claims accountable, or will it pass or worse, empower other people like him? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 E41 · Sat, October 15, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.41 10-14-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Blatant Blatheist

Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week ObjectivelyDan and @BLATANT BLATHEIST. First up is Doug from Canada who claims to know the greatest truth of humanity...that Planned Parenthood is a liberal conspiracy to kill all black children. Presumably to maintain the atheist food source. Don from WA is curious to know why the hosts of ACA shows don’t take a more rigid stance on their Atheist position, and why the individual hosts even on the same programs have different positions on the same subjects. Daniel from Canada is the inspiration for today's show background with a call discussing the existence of bugs on Mars. Rebel from VA is calling to accuse NASA astronauts of being paid actors who lie to the public in order to hide God and his work. His work is the flat Earth. Also apparently, NASA is an occult secret society that traffics children, but I guess we’re gonna just ignore that for today. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, October 08, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.40 10-07-2022 with ExXtian Erin and Rion

Hello again Truth Wanters! This week, Erin is joined by Rion of TikTok fame, host of Skeptic Haven and owner of many plants! Erin and Rion talk about their deconversion process before we move on to your calls. This week’s Patron of the Week is Maxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxwell Carlisle! You wanted the X emphasized Max, careful what you wish for! May a thousand bad Vin Diesel movies haunt your dreams! First up is Mr. Enigma, who’s emerged from under his bridge to ask a series of silly questions. Dogs, genies, spirits… perhaps too much of another kind of spirits are involved here? Erin tries to parse this caller and his claims of a visit to heaven, but we’re not getting anywhere. Cool story bro. Next is Thomas, who thinks dried up rivers caused by climate change are evidence of the truth of Biblical prophecy. Our hosts point out that lots of rivers go dry, and counting the hits while ignoring the misses is a terrible road to truth. Thomas throws out a few weak examples of prophecy correlating to reality, but let’s face it, make enough predictions and a few are bound to pan out. We’re not convinced. Jamie’s in Texas, and he’s fed up with the constant failed prophecies of the end times. Human hardships are pretty damned common, and connecting the yarn to the latest pushpin doesn’t prove a thing. Both our hosts agree that correlation isn’t causation, and calamity is a recurrent part of our experience here on Earth. Finally it’s Lake, he’s wondering about the plum pudding model of atomic composition, and how our modern understanding is more analogous to the structure of our solar system. Our hosts agree that lots of things in nature look alike, but similitude doesn’t equate to divinity That’s a wrap for this week folks, we’ll see you next time! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, October 01, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.39 09-30-2022 with Objectively Dan and Richard Firth-Godbehere

Oooh, it’s Friday, it’s 5pm in Texas, and today, Dan is joined by perhaps the only educator that could possibly drag me back into a classroom, it’s Richard Firth-Godbehere, on loan from the Non-Prophets! Dan and the good doctor discuss his work and his book before we start taking your calls. Our Patron of the Week this week is Katie Stewart! Thanks for the support Katie, even if you do eat bugs for breakfast! From the Great White North comes Jasmine! In the vein of our discussion of emotion thus far, she wants to talk about how religions use fear and hell. Dan and Rich talk about why the concept of hell doesn’t make logical sense, but let’s be real, emotions don’t always have to. Our hosts discuss the pitfalls of letting go of indoctrination, and remind Jasmine that it’s ok to be scared of something you know isn’t real! Another Canadian? You betcha! Daniel’s back! Diving back in, Daniel alleges that the NASA interactive camera tool that allowed users to pan around the Martian landscape seems to now omit the section that showed the evidence for Martian insectoids. Our hosts are skeptical that NASA would allow and subsequently delete evidence of alien life, past government gaffes notwithstanding, paredolia still seems a more likely explanation. Next up is Coyote Boy, love the name! He asks Rich to quantify what “counts” as a discrete emotion, and Rich talks about how our understanding is still evolving. This is right down the good Doctor’s alley, and we get a crash course on his life’s work. Jamie’s in Texas, who offers circumcision as a great example of how church/state separation can come into conflict with personal freedoms. Dan offers his opinion on navigating these tricky waters, and Richard points out that consent is what’s important here. A JW can refuse a blood transfusion, an infant can’t refuse genital mutilation. That’s the show this week folks! Join us next time, and keep wanting the truth! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, September 24, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.38 09-23-2022 with Objectively Dan and The Skeptick

Welcome back to Truth Wanted folks! This week, back by popular demand, is Jon the Skeptick! He’ll also be joined by some Dan guy who wandered in off the street. Dan and Jon chat about horoscopes and other kinds of charlatanry before we move on to your calls. This week’s Patron of the Week is I Heart Dogs! Clearly a Saggitarius, who are known for their generosity. Or something. We’ll open the show with Nevyn, whose friends describe him as a conspiracy theorist. He’s just asking questions! In this case, those questions are about the moon landing, and some missing answers. Jon points out that missing answers doesn’t mean the Apollo missions were faked, and Dan doesn’t think a Youtube video is very convincing. This is an interesting example of a credulous caller with an argument from incredulity. Jamie’s calling in from Texas with an observation about how the United States’ veneration of concepts like freedom and liberty may be a roadblock to having universal healthcare. We’ll listen to two Brits dunk on the myth of American exceptionalism for a few minutes before a REAL American chimes in… and agrees. The ghost of Senator McCarthy is coming for you, Dan! Our third caller is Greg, he downloaded a phone app that talks to ghosts. Testing whether the app actually communicates with the spirits of the dead, he got some responses that were eerily relevant, and saw a ghost “tour guide” use dowsing rods. Jon gives us a demonstration of his magical ability, but Dan rains on this parade by suggesting that ideomotor movement is a more likely explanation. We all agree that stories are cool, but they’re just that. Finally we have Daniel in Canada, and he’s convinced that some alien abductions are real and that the government is hiding the evidence. Our hosts quiz Daniel on what he believes and offer some good reasons to be skeptical of claims, as well as a few examples of what might convince them. We finally get to the good part when Daniel claims NASA has footage of insectoids on Mars using tools. Sadly, we lose Daniel when his connection is sabotaged by a Martian insect with an adorable tiny pickaxe. What a way to end the show! We’ll see you all next week, truth seekers! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, September 17, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.37 09-16-2022 with MD Aware and Student Doctor Ben

Ehhhh what’s up Doc? This week on Truth Wanted we’ve assembled our crack medical team to dissect… ugh… Matt Walsh’s “What is a Woman?” Oh boy, this is going to be a wild ride. MD and Ben chat about quack medicine before destroying this piece of transphobic garbage. This week’s Patron of the Week is I Heart Dogs. May you never have to explain the difference between sex and gender to Matt Walsh in a busy nightclub. Also, we at the ACA also heart dogs. And cats. And cockatiels. Our first caller once visited a psychic eye surgeon? I didn’t see that coming! After experiencing visual anomalies due to a tricky retinal dysfunction, in desperation, Jamie reached out to a wish doctor. Our hosts discuss the preposterous charlatanry that is psychic healing, MD squeezes in a James Randi reference, and Ben reflects on the ethics of using the placebo effect in medical practice. One-Eyed Heathen is next, they’re a reformed Reiki practitioner who’s come around to a rational approach to health care. MD tries to drill down on the actual practice of this… cough cough… technique… but the actual processes of Reiki are just as nebulous as the perceived benefits. Ben points out that human touch therapy has demonstrated benefits, and doesn’t require magic to work. Next, we have Gerard calling in about the value of fetuses. Yes, it’s an abortion call, bear with us. MD quizzes our caller on the “ends justify the means” aspect of this ethical question, and Ben points out that even surgery is a calculated risk that can cause short-term harm for long-term benefit. We chat about subjective morality and what the word “value” really means to Gerard before moving on. Our final caller in Canada believes that COVID misinformation comes mainly from the conservative side of the spectrum. Well, yeah, tell us something we don’t know! Poor reasoning in political views bleed into poor reasoning in other aspects of the human condition. We get into the self-declared Queen of Canada, who, to no surprise, is an anti-vaxxer before wrapping up. That's all folks! Join us next week, and make sure to answer the survey questions for the upcoming holiday special! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, September 10, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.36 09-09-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and ExXtian Erin

Show notes will be posted upon receipt. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, September 03, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.35 09-02-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Kara Griffin

Welcome back to Truth Wanted, the weekly callin show that’s seen the most episodes of The X-Files. Joining Dan today is host of Secular Sexuality, Kara Griffin! Today’s Patron of the Week is Dawn Nelsen! May the sun never set on your glorious empire. Our first caller is Masedog, who mayyybe watches too many pseudoscientific youtube videos? She asks our hosts what they think about content creators that claim to speak to the dead. Dan explains why balderdash and hoakum are too generous a term for this nonsense. Masedog is still working out what he believes, and our hosts offer some techniques for sorting out trash from truth before we move on. Oh boy… Suzie wants to talk about the adoption of the swastika by Nazi Germany. Did Hitler visit the far east and co-opt their symbol? Dan isn’t sure, but Kara has a whole lot to say about pseudo-archeology and how National Socialism perverted the traditional meaning of the symbol that’s come to represent evil across the world. Heath in Canada witnessed a rain of frogs. A toadstorm, if you will. A tizzy of tadpoles. Upon further conversation, we determine that the toadstorm occurred in a rainforest during a storm, so a natural explanation seems more likely than a resurrection of an Egyptian curse. Heath tells us about another strange occurrence he experienced after a seven day bender, but our hosts aren’t convinced that this is anything other than a product of a drug-addled brain. We wrap up the show with Dan’s Deep Dive into Severus Snape, the only character from Harry Potter ever to be dropped from Nakatomi Plaza. Sorry, wrong movie… is love of this complicated character a religion? God I hope not. That’s the show tonight folks, we’ll catch you next week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, August 27, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.34 08-26-2022 with MD Aware and Adam Elmasri

Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week MD Aware is joined by Adam Elmasri. First up is Red from OH who talks about a conspiracy that her friend believes revolves around the government having a cure to cancer, but won’t release it because they make money off of cancer treatment. Next is Jasmine from Canada who brings up the subject of religiosity being engrained in hospitals and medical culture. Next is Frank from IL who has questions surrounding the philistines and how and why they exist biblically or scientifically if we all came from the same two people. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, August 20, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.33 08-19-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Trevor Poelman

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, Dan is joined by creator of the show Belief It Or Not, Trevor Poelman. Trevor is a former youth group leader and would go through actual theology audits. Together this team will ask viewers what they believe and why. Special thanks to Lauren Zhuge, the Patron of the Week! First up is RedDeadBread from CA who is wondering about how the environment in which a person is raised causes anger towards religion. How does religiosity affect the nature of atheistic beliefs? Dan explains the difficulty involved with separating religion from politics and how conservatives would get mad at Obama for just breathing. Trevor confirms that since he has lived that life, he tends to get more angry about these things than his co-host who was not raised in religion. There is still the perception that atheists are a bunch of whiny, angry white dudes that go off about all sorts of things, and we need that to change. Muhammad in CA wants to talk about western morality and eroding belief. Is this being caused by “tolerance” and being okay with everything? Tolerance can be a tightrope to balance. Trevor mentions that he can tolerate beliefs until those beliefs start to harm others. Tolerance can lead to great things but it can also lead to bad things such as giving bigots platforms. The intention of the U.S. was to create a secular democracy where individual denominations would not influence aspects of government. There are people who are intolerant to those who don’t have beliefs. Is it a common occurrence that people become more tolerant and progressive prior to leaving Christianity? Conservative, evangelical types rail against being tolerant because they know what it threatens. Maybe it is time to move on from some of the moral codes we had. A question from the chat asks if either host has had paranormal experiences. When Trevor was a kid, an orb of light went over his head and thought it was an angel at the time. Years after leaving the faith, it was discovered through research the carbon monoxide can cause this type of hallucination. Next is Red in OH who as a kid came to the conclusion that the Loch Ness Monster might be leviathan in the Bible. She would draw pictures of it and show it to creationist professors who actually liked her theories. Dan remembers a fundie pastor on TV talking about a leviathan verse in The Book of Job that proves dinosaurs lived at the same time as humans. Trevor explains how the famous picture is made with a toy submarine and plaster for the head that can be pulled with a string. Tonight we have learned that the truth is everybody knows BigFoot is king! Thank you for joining us this week! Special thanks to Trevor! Be kind and always keep wanting the truth. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreake

S5 Enull · Sat, August 13, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.32 08-12-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Kelley Laughlin

Welcome back to Truth Wanted, the ACA call in show with the highest frequency. This week Dan is joined by rock scientist and former groupie for the Grateful Dead, R Kelley Laughlin! (Ok I made that last part up, kinda) This week’s Patron of The Week is Gabriel Guerra. We may not believe in angels on this show, but you’re a close second in our books Gabriel. Thank you for the support! We’ll kick calls off with Scottland, and he makes his case for why a multiverse might indicate that his particular god is real. Not particularly well, but hey, at least he’s a friendly theist! Dan isn’t so interested in deities that exist outside our universe, Kelley throws in a Tolkien reference for all you nerds out there, and somehow we land on John Lennon being a jerk? Luc’s in Canada, he asks our hosts what sort of evidence would convince them that gods are real. Kelley wants a sandwich in the hand of every starving child on Earth, and Dan wants to see a manipulation of nature that couldn’t be done naturally. We fence with Luc about what qualifies as a miracle, how we might test for one, but he’s not getting it. Next is Jamie who’s become increasingly intolerant of bullshit. Horoscopes, crystals, you name it, holding beliefs without good reason is dangerous, and Jamie is frustrated. Dan advocates for having healthy conversations in a constructive manner, and plugs Street Epistemology for the 148th time. Kelley is just as curmudgeonly as Jamie, perhaps more, but he offers a few tips on avoiding alienating people we disagree with. Finally we’ll talk to Gabriel, who asks if classism plays a role in people buying into conspiracy theories. Is Marxism a gateway drug to believing in the New World Order? Dan points out that political ideology tends to be more based on observation than Uncle Frank subscribing to QAnon, but we can definitely see the overlap there. That’s it for this week folks, if the FBI asks, we definitely have no top secret nuclear documents squirreled away at the Freethought Library. See you all next Friday! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, August 06, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.31 08-05-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Richard Gilliver

Show notes will be posted upon receipt. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, July 30, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.30 07-30-2022 with ExXtian Erin and Chris Keaton

Welcome back to Truth Wanted, the ACA show least likely to be trampled by elephants. This week we have ExXtian Erin in the host chair, joined by Chris Keaton. This week’s Patron of the Week is Jonathan Hull! Thanks to patrons like you, the ACA can finally hire someone to come to the Freethought Library and investigate those strange sounds coming from the crawlspace. Kennita’s calling back from Cali, she identifies as an atheopagan, and also as an atheist. She shares her journey from Catholicism into skepticism, and while she doesn’t believe in the supernatural, she finds the practice therapeutic. We don’t see any harm in reflection Kennita, but beware the dangers of believing things without good reasons! Phil wants to talk about Godzilla! Just kidding, he offers the myth that there was an alternate ending to a monster film as an example of how it’s possible to do the leg work as a skeptic, yet still get it wrong. We take a quick tour of some common misconceptions, and both hosts agree that we must continue to be vigilant and open-minded about our beliefs. Next up is Jasmine, she asks if our hosts miss anything about being Christian. We get an emphatic no from Erin, and several examples of why. Chris is conflicted, but realizes it’s the community he missed, and he’s found other ways to find that, through volunteer work and social groups. We’ll stomp on the dangers of faith healing for a few minutes before we move on. That’s it for this week folks! We’ll see you back here next week, but in the meantime, be wary, Godzilla is still out on the prowl, searching for the lost hidden ending of his film, where he beats King Kong. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, July 23, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.29 07-22-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Johnny P Angel

Welcome back to Truth Wanted, the weekly call-in show with the highest nutritional value on Youtube. Today, Dan is joined by an ACA regular, it’s Talk Heathen host and lover of video game recommendations Johnny P. Angel! This week’s Patron of the Week is Garret AJ! May the Flying Spaghetti Monster extend his noodly appendage in your direction. Our first caller is Wayde, and he wants to psychologically profile his favourite deity as part of a doctoral thesis. He gives us a few nebulous descriptions, but Dan and Johnny are less interested in what God is, and more curious about whether God is. We have an interesting exchange about competing religions, and Johnny asks questions about Wayde’s education in theology. I don’t know about you folks, but if I was to get a degree in magic, I’d prefer it be from Hogwarts. Mark is calling back to share more of his deconversion journey. He’s come to realize that vampire tales have a lot in common with resurrection narratives in the Bible, and Dan offers are few more contemporary examples of visitors from beyond the grave that are equally silly. Johnny steers Mark towards finding activist involvement that doesn’t have a religious bent as a method of finding purpose without the agenda, and Dan gives Mark a few specific resources for finding secular community. Next up is Alyssa, her father tragically disappeared when she was a child. Her family consulted mediums, and even as a skeptic, she finds the similarities in their stories to be compelling. After hearing the similarities, Dan points out that “being in water” is a very common image sold by psychic charlatans. Johnny talks about James Randi, and his lifetime of testing psychic claims with zero results in the clairvoyance column. We all agree that taking advantage of grieving families is disgusting. Finally we have Tyler, who claims that there are empirical reasons to believe in God. Johnny drills down on Tyler’s notion of justice using the example of Hell. Tyler’s stumped, as he should be, because infinite punishment for finite crimes is wrong, and even Tyler admits this. He attempts to rationalize his position, but Johnny’s not having it. We get a scathing yet cogent contrast of free will vs. omniscience from our hosts, but Tyler’s having trouble seeing the point. Johnny tries to get through with analogies to Anne Frank/Hitler and his role as custodian of his adorable dog. Tyler seems like a nice guy, but needs to shake off the indoctrination. Thanks for tuning in tonight everyone, we’ll catch you next Friday! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, July 16, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.28 07-15-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Drew Bekius

Hey there Youtube wanderer. Sit a spell, warm up by the fire, and enjoy another episode of Truth Wanted! This week Dan is joined by former pastor turned humanist author Drew Bekius! This week’s Patron of the Week is Richard… just Richard. May you join the ranks of folks like Cher, and be showered with fame, fortune, and enough plastic surgery to keep you looking young well into middle age! Our first caller is Richard (no, not that Richard) from Arizona. He’s struggling with a lingering fear of hell, and asks how our hosts got over this hurdle. Drew asks some probing questions, and Dan reminds our caller that this stuff takes time to conquer. Drew recommends finding community, and shares a great analogy to car accidents that seems to help. Be patient with yourself Richard! Isaiah’s calling back from Korea, asking if a multiverse could affect the likelihood of a god being real. Short answer, no. Dan and Drew can’t see how multiple universes could affect the null hypothesis or make deities more likely. Drew pushes back on the idea that more universes equals greater probability for creator gods, and Dan refutes Isaiah’s argument from incredulity. Nature is beautiful, but lots of pretty things we have explanations for don’t require sky wizards. Next we have William in Canada, who thinks humanism is just a reimagining of concepts from holy texts. Drew draws a great picture of how those authors then, and people now, construct our moral views through the lens of our experience. Dan simplifies the discussion by pointing out that most people want the same things, regardless of the century they’re living in. Is humanism a new iteration of humanity’s efforts to build a moral code? Sure, but that’s a far cry from a religion. That’ll wrap it up for this week folks, join us next week, although it won’t be hosted by Ashton Kutcher and Russell Crowe’s atheist avatars, it’ll still be pretty good. See you then! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, July 09, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.27 07-08-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and TheSkepTick

Something something Truth Wanted? Sorry Youtube reader, coming up with witty intros every week is tough, so this week…. I’m phonin’ it in! Fortunately our guest tonight will be far less uninspired, Dan is joined by The SkepTick! This week’s Patron of the Week is SkeptiKarl, may you not be zapped by magical laser beams, thank you for the support! Sven’s a skeptic making a living from ghost hunting apps, but he’s conflicted about enabling folks that believe in nonsense. Our hosts both agree that framing his content as “for entertainment purposes only” is an ethical way to make money from people who hold different beliefs. No judgment here, Sven. Next up we have Richard, who’s under a think attack by “prayer warriors” in his family asking their imaginary friend to make him come back to Christ. Unfortunately, the recent converts are his wife and stepson, and this is causing strife in their relationship. Dan thinks honesty is important, and the Skeptick has quite a humorous, yet frank method for communication that might work. This can’t be easy Richard, keep us posted! Ricardo’s calling in from Italy, and asks how Christians reconcile the character of their God in Old vs. New Testaments. Dan gives a brief history of the Bible, and explains New Covenant theology. Of course it’s silly, but hey, this is what they believe. Ricardo asks how religious folk are able to cheerfully ignore the parts of the Bible they don’t like. Cognitive dissonance is a powerful thing my friend! Jean’s replying to our chat poll, which was asking the live chat if they believe Shakespeare actually wrote all the works attributed to him. He’s got a degree in theatre and gives our hosts a brief backstory on this myth. After Jean mentions the forensic analysis of the Bard’s writing styles, Dan brings up that experts believe only half the letters attributed to the apostle Paul were actually written by him. This is quite the entertaining chat, don’t miss this call! We wrap up with a quick exchange about Georgia guidestones and our guests experience in the USA. Enjoy your weekend fellow Truth Seekers! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, July 02, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.26 07-01-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Calvin Smith

Get ready for a very wacky episode of Truth Wanted, because this week Dan is joined by Calvin Smith, podcaster and aficionado of all things weird and wonderful! This week’s Patron of the Week is Fortuna Ex Machina! May extraterrestrials shine down their hidden knowledge upon you. John’s up first with a divine thought experiment. After an explanation of what a god is to him, our hosts offer their take on how likely that entity is to exist. John responds with an argument from popularity, since most people believe the Earth is round, and most people believe in a deity, aren’t both likely to be true? It takes Dan & Calvin a few minutes to explain why not, but we get there eventually. Next up is returning caller Ransom, who’s wondering if the UAP footage recently confirmed by the Pentagon is evidence of alien visitors. Everyone agrees that unidentified doesn’t mean extraterrestrial, but Ransom wants to focus on how unlikely the phenomenon are to be advanced foreign (ie. Earthly) technology. While it is fascinating that even the governments of the world can’t identify these, we’re going to withhold belief until we have good reasons. Finally, VJ wants to chat about the shift towards religious extremism in India, and how the media frames these events to favor the Muslim worldview. Dan briefly describes the historical context for sectarian violence in the subcontinent, and we all agree that religion has a habit of encouraging folks to hate each other for no good reason. That’s the show folks, we’ll see you all next week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, June 25, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.25 06-24-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Jason Sherwood

Psst. Hey there. Yeah you. Thanks for joining us for another episode of Truth Wanted! This week, Jason Sherwood emerges from behind the ACA camera like a curmudgeonly grizzly bear in spring to join Objectively Dan! This week’s Patron of the Week is Allegedly Dave, but we’ll need a citation before we can accept this assertion. John’s up first with a silly reductionist argument for why abortion is the termination of human life, which is quickly dismantled by our hosts. Jason discriminates between terminating a life and terminating a pregnancy, and Dan points out that a clump of cells isn’t suffering. This is kinda irrelevant John, even if a zygote is a person, bodily autonomy is still paramount, and no, I won’t give you my kidney. We have Kaylen calling from the Land of the Rising Sun next, and he doesn't think there’s a Biblical justification for theocracy. Both our hosts agree, and offer a few abhorrent examples from the Bible that reinforce Kaylen’s perspective. Red’s concerned about moving to a state where it’s likely she’ll be denied healthcare, and our hosts couldn’t be more sympathetic. We’ll chat about potential solutions for this current crisis, and how this recent decision will disproportionately affect those without the means to travel for healthcare. Loving the international callers tonight, Ricardo’s from Italy, and he’s struggling with picking your battles when having constructive conversations with theists. Dan thinks we have to examine our own motivations before we even approach using Street Epistemology to build better interactions. Our next caller is concerned about moving to a red state in the current political climate, and we’re sympathetic. Fascist policies lead to a brain drain, learn from Nazi Germany folks. We’re all better when we’re all healthy and free. Nick’s wondering how to talk to people who are so staunchly committed to their beliefs that they won’t consider changing their mind. How do we get through to these people? Dan throws exposure therapy out there; normalize it, plant the seed, and hope it grows. Jason thinks you oughta ask yourself, “Is it worth it?” No one’s required to be the arbiter of progressive policy Nick, but keep fighting the good fight. Finally we have Dylan who suggests replacing our legal system with a poll system where the internet decides what’s correct. We’ve seen this episode of Black Mirror, but if you haven’t, loyal TW viewer, check it out. It was a disaster. At this point however, anything might be better than having lifetime appointments to the highest court in the land in a time of a quickly shifting moral landscape. That’s the show tonight. It’s a dark day in the history of the United States, but activism and hope will see us through. Stay strong, vote, protest, do anything but remain silent. Catch you next week! Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="h

S5 Enull · Sat, June 18, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.24 06-17-2022 with MD Aware and Vino

Bienvenue dans un autre… wait sorry, my Canadian is showing. Tonight our fabulous Canuck host MD Aware is joined once again by Vino for an all-star episode of Truth Wanted! Let’s dig in! Tonight’s Patron of the Week is SG! Thanks for the support! David’s up first, he supports abortion rights, but has a few what-ifs for our hosts to ponder. Is it ethical for parents to keep aborting zygotes until they get the perfect mix of chromosomes they’re seeking? Short answer, yes. Clumps of cells aren’t people, and the person with the uterus has the call. Does this decision approach eugenics? Not really. Keep asking questions David, this was an interesting chat. Average Andrew has beef with our host’s determination of the intrinsic value of human life. His god assigns value, and our subjective morality can lead to genocide! Like the thing your god did multiple times in his manifesto Andrew? Yes, we want to avoid that. Our hosts illustrate the superiority of secular humanism using the example of euthanasia. Sucks to be dead, but sucks more to be suffering. Our third caller is Jay, he wants to talk about the is/ought gap from the previous caller, and how that affects our use of the word “arbitrary.” Our hosts draw a metaphor with the rules of gaming, be it chess, volleyball, or anything else. The people playing have to agree on the rules before we can start playing. Sal wants to talk more about how the rights of a fetus balance out with the rights of the person carrying it. Specifically, how adoption as an option might be a better choice than abortion. In a perfect world, sure, unwanted pregnancies might result in a loving adopted family, but this doesn’t get us past the right of the person with the uterus to decide. We discuss the flaws of the current adoption system before we move on. That Truth Wanted this week! See you all in seven Earth rotations! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, June 11, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.23 06-10-2022 with ExXtian Erin and Scott Baker

What’s everyone’s favorite day of the week? If you said Friday, you’re correct, and not just because it’s time for Truth Wanted! This week, Erin is joined by atheist content creator Scott Baker. This week’s Patron of the week is Kori K Reine! Thank you for the support Keri, you get the corner piece of lasagna! Melissa’s got a few good reasons that she thinks the USA is a Christian nation. Erin agrees that having Christian events as stat holidays is favoritism, and that political candidates who don’t espouse religious belief stand a far smaller chance of being elected. Scott talks about how the Christian nationalist agenda has twisted formerly secular American traditions. Terry’s up next, and we quickly move from “Christmas is stolen from pagans” to a truly strange and long-winded no true scotsman fallacy. All Christians nations are fake because of the plurality of biblical interpretation? I think? Erin isn’t having it, she interrupts this odd sermon, and Scott quickly pokes a few holes in this caller’s argument before we move on. Next up is Isaiah, he’s got a theist friend, Scott’s got a theist friend, how do we navigate holding opposing beliefs with our pals? Scott thinks maturity is key, and Erin recommends setting boundaries, and sticking to the stuff that made you friends in the first place. Pick your battles Isaiah! Nate in Canada is looking for ideas on handling theists in the workplace, specifically a Muslim subordinate. Balancing the urge to free minds with remaining productive in the workplace is tough, Erin recommends Street Epistemology combined with boundaries and restraint. Scott works from home and hasn’t had this experience, but recommends exposing Nate’s colleague to the ACA’s own former Muslim host, Apostate Prophet! This caller is likely very handsome, and also does show notes for Truth Wanted. That’s the show folks, we’ll see you all next week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, June 04, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.22 06-03-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Alice Greczyn

Whaddya buying, stranger? Not theism? Well you’re in the right place, it’s time for Truth Wanted, and this week Dan is joined by Alice Greczyn! She has an IMDB page! This week’s Patron of the Week is Jay Gu! Thank you for the support Jay! Jessica is a mental health professional in Texas, and she’s called in to speak about the struggle of being true to your beliefs while providing care to folks who don’t always share your worldview. Alice recommends the Secular Therapy Project as a resource for maintaining Jessica’s integrity, and Dan shares how his own nonconformity contributed to his own deconversion. We also find out a bit more about Dan’s family’s contempt of male jewelry. Second is Jay, who quizzes our hosts on their knowledge of how the Bible treats women. Dan and Alice are down for a quote battle. Despite Jay’s claims that we haven’t read the Bible, ours host's response call is clear evidence to the contrary. We get the weak argument for context. Context. CONTEXT! Jay isn’t listening, We close out with some misogynistic garbage from Jay, and this show notes writer is fed up. Gay people work in construction, women are mechanics. We see it every day. Get stuffed. Adam’s up, and he is super miffed by the misrepresentation of the null hypothesis. For someone who isn’t familiar with the concept, Alice gives a great response. Dan speaks to the nomenclature of miracles, and how that might apply to our caller's topic of conversation. Our penultimate caller is Jan, with a story of how purity culture affects our sex lives. Dan illustrates the absence of consent in biblical conceptions of sex, and both hosts agree that we’ve moved on from these ancient concepts of what constitutes a healthy sex life. Sex good, dogma bad. Finally, Drew wants to talk about incest and genetic viability from a Biblical perspective. Our hosts agree that the stories in the Bible are scientifically impossible. Alice talks about how inter-marriage in European monarchy is an example of why this can be dangerous. Hapsburg jaw anyone? That’s a wrap folks! Thank you for joining us, and never don’t not keep unwanting the truth! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, May 28, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.21 05-27-2022 with Nate Smith and Paulogia

Hey Truth Seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week Nate Smith is joined by Paulogia! First up is Otangelo from Brazil who wants to know what kind of evidence for god the hosts would accept, and what it would take to thoroughly convince them. Next up is Raymond from FL who wants to continue the conversation about why people are so easily indoctrinated to fear hell, even long after they’ve deconverted. Next is Red from OH who believes that religious indoctrination is often, although not always, a pathway to child abuse. Our final caller for the evening is Kristen from NC who recounts a past experience with an “apparition,” and how that interpretation of events made it challenging to deconstruct their faith. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, May 21, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.20 05-20-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Eve Was Framed

Tonight’s the night for another episode of Truth Wanted! This week ObjectivelyDan is joined by our guest Eve was Framed. Eve was raised as an evangelical christian in and around Seven Mountain Theology and attended the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry… You can now find her at www.tiktok.com/ @eve_wasframed Our Patron Of The Week is SkeptiKarl, thank you so much for donating. First caller up to tonight is Mary in FL asks Eve if she was shunned by her family. While they hold different beliefs, she is still loved and accepted by her family! Only a lucky few get to say that, given that background. Evangelical Christianity seems to be about a third of the population with a surprising amount of young people. Eve has been pushing back on Tiktok and talks about her experience dealing with christians on that platform. Doug in CA dives into Eve’s experience at Bethel’s as he has a healing school nearby and has people trying to try to lay hands to heal him. Eve had to go out “treasure hunting” to try “healing” people, usually visually disabled, and never saw anyone magically healed. Apparently, the school even had award ceremonies for someone that “healed” the best. Red from OH wants advice on how to come out to parents as atheist. If it’s important, we totally accept that. Make sure you are safe and have a plan if a catastrophe happens. A normal conversation is best, don’t make an ordeal out of it. Eve wrote an email, it gives space and allows them to take it in and respond when they are ready. Boundaries are important, make sure to enforce them. Good luck Red! Jon in Canada asks why Eve chose her name. Eve was Framed retells biblical stories and dislikes how Eve was punished in the bible. Biblical Eve got a bad rap. We don’t believe it and are out here looking for the truth… Wesley in WV claims Jesus gave us all a vision. Before you dive into this, how can you know god told you this? Going on, Wesley claims all perverted religious texts turned to dust for a minute, as per his last call’s prophecy. Hmm, we don’t see any news on this one anywhere… Thank you to all who joined us in person for last week's live show and especially those that donated to the UTSA SSA! We ended up raising $4002.64!!! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sun, May 15, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.19 Live from UTSA! ObjectivelyDan and @Secular Student Alliance

SHOW NOTES This Friday the 13th Dan is on location at UTSA, with Secular Student Alliance and special guests! Not to worry folks, none of them are surnamed Voorhees. Zach Shedd speaks with Dan about creating secular communities, and our first caller asks the hosts how to approach conversations with a budding atheist. Dan recommends Street Epistemology, and agrees with Zach’s point that setting boundaries is important. We hit up our audience for some Q&A. Some strange Johnny guy asks Dan if he prefers the live show format to the remote, and Jamal asks what was most difficult about Dan’s deconversion process. Our next guest is John Dye, he studies volcanoes, and erupts into the background of the SSA and why he joined. Needs more magma. An audience member suspects that her child may be faking faith to further their romantic pursuits. Neither Dan nor John recommend it, and John is very clear that he will not be dating any crystal cuties. Finally, Madison shares a story about his first date experience with a spiritualist. After a quick chat with John about his deconversion, Paul in the audience asks how to get involved with the secular movement. A former Muslim asks how to find community after leaving religion, and finally Donovan asks how the SSA approaches activism. We take a call from Michael, who asks our hosts for their perspective on the recent odious activities of the Supreme Court. Surprising zero people across the globe, our hosts are champions of women’s bodily autonomy. This is why activism is so important! Back to our audience, Zoe encourages locals to show up for the Bans off our Bodies protest, and Jamal asks how to promote positive atheism. Cody Valdez joins us on stage, and shares his experiences as a newcomer to the atheist movement. Next we’ll talk to Larry, who has a grandson starting at U of T, and asks Cody how he can get involved! The power of SSA grows! Shifting back to our audience emcee, Johnny talks to another SSA member who expresses his gratitude for the exposure today. We’re happy to do it! Joel asks our hosts what other beliefs they’ve shed, and Dan admits he used to have some misguided views about the LGBTQ+ community. It’s ok Dan, we forgive you. Tanjil calls in and asks about coming out as an atheist to family. Our hosts recommend kindness and discretion, and an audience member offers his perspective. Hal has an argument from incredulity that will shock and amaze. Jk, no it won't. Dan and Cody make short work of this, but Hal seems nice. Special guests Christy Powell and Jim Barrows join the conversation with some banter before we wrap up, thanks for watching! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tr

S5 Enull · Sat, May 07, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.18 05-06-2022 with ExXtian Erin and Neil the 604 Atheist

Hellooo fellow combers of candor, it’s Friday night, and this week ExXtian Erin will be joined by Neil the 604 Atheist, a familiar face from the ACA show Non-Prophets, and host of his very own Youtube channel featuring deconversion stories. It’s a Canadian takeover, and no, we will not apologize. We will, however, feast upon poutine and be terrorized by geese. This week’s Patron of the Week is Freethinker 215! Many thanks, but we’re still waiting on cheques from freethinkers 1 thru 214. Patrick wants to talk about overpopulation and the tendency of religion to encourage procreation in the interest of making more Christians. Neil thinks that part of this might be a holdover from an age before modern medical care, when juvenile mortality was much higher. Both hosts touch on how education is the key to healthy skepticism, and agree that the younger generations seem to be breaking the cycle of indoctrination. Up next is Sven, who asks our hosts if they believe that a soul is intrinsic to the human experience. Neither Erin nor Neil have seen evidence of consciousness existing outside a physical body, so one might say this is a… no-brainer? I’ll show myself out. We’ll dabble in the potentiality that souls might be real and we haven’t figured them out yet, but until we can demonstrate it, we’re not convinced. Mark had a brush with death that reinforced his atheism. This is a great perspective from an atheist in his 70’s, Mark’s takeaway from almost dying is that kindness is paramount. Couldn’t agree more ol’ timer! We appreciate this nugget of wisdom! Finally we have some more international representation! Isaiah in South Korea missed the community that religion offers, until Jesus paid him a visit one lonely night. Our hosts quiz Isaiah on how Jesus changed his mind, but he’s reticent to describe the experience. It’s tough to parse your conversion without details! Spill that tea! That’s a wrap folks, join us next week for a very special episode as Dan joins the Secular Student Alliance live at the University of Texas! This episode will be a fundraiser for SSA, and we’ll be joined by some very special guests as we promote this great cause, don’t miss it! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, April 30, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.17 04-29-2022 with ExXtian Erin and MD Aware

Welcome back to the best thing about your Friday night, it’s time for Truth Wanted! Tonight, are two terrific titans of the show, we have ExXtian Erin hosting with MD Aware for the very first time! This week’s Patron of the Week is James Fitzwater! A thousand blessings upon your ancestors James. Our first caller is the big cheese, the man upstairs, the sky wizard we’ve all been waiting for, it’s God! Our hosts never learned not to play with their food, they ask the caller a few leading questions, and quickly discover there are other god’s, but this god’s not sure how many. I thought this character was omniscient! We have an exchange about free will and souls, and move on. Estevan thinks using profanity is a poor way of communicating ideas, and asks our hosts if they think it’s moral to use curse words. Erin doesn’t think swearing is intrinsically bad, and MD traces the religious aversion to cursing to the commandment dealing with taking the Lord’s name in vain. He points out that folks usually associate swearing with some negative event, and it’s more about how you say a phrase than what you say. Estevan says a bad word for the very first time, and it’s quite liberating. Curse on, Estevan! Next on our list is Mark, and he thinks that religious folk that claim to speak to God should be called out more and confronted as being mentally ill. MD clears up what constitutes a mental illness, and asks Mark why he wants to connect those dots between prayer and psychosis. Mark sees harm happening, and while Erin partially agrees that making bad choices based on unverifiable religious belief is dangerous, it doesn’t make a person mentally ill. Gohan’s in Texas, and knock me over with a feather, is opposed to female reproductive autonomy. MD helps him drill down his definition of an organism, and we finally get to the real DNA of this call when MD compares the abortion debate to euthanasia. Gohan’s got no rebuttal when we establish that brain dead people are indeed organisms, and he agrees that terminating life can be a morally correct decision. Eventually, Gohan admits that his stance is “God says so,” and has no legitimate position. This is actually a civil conversation about a touchy topic, with a shade of nebulous goal posts, enjoy! Jon’s back, and as usual he’s got a big bag of bad ideas. This may be the first time we see MD Aware become visibly annoyed, you’re gonna want to watch this one. It may be short, but it’s oh so sweet. That’s the show folks, join us on Facebook or on Discord to continue the conversation! Never don’t not un-want the truth! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, April 23, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.16 04-22-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Willow the Wendigo

It’s Friday, it’s 7p Central, and you know what that means! Tonight, Objectively Dan is joined by his first supernatural creature, shaking the very foundations of his worldview. Welcome WIllow the Wendigo! This week’s illustrious Patron of the Week is Maxxxwell Carlisle! Gracias, merci, danke, however you say it, thanks for the support! Chelsea’s up first, she’s dealing with a toxic relationship with her mother. Dan asks if the relationship is salvageable, and Chelsea asks for some details on the dynamic. Both hosts recommend surrounding yourself with people who are a positive influence, and reassure our caller that it’s ok to draw a line in the sand when it comes to the people in your life. Family isn’t who you’re related to genetically, family are the people who accept and love you! Alison used to be a ghost hunter, and sadly, didn’t find any in ten years of investigation. We get an insight into some of the flawed techniques of ghost hunting in the media, and then we get an epic story that would make for a great Scooby Doo episode, you’ll have to listen to this one! Zoinks! Next up is Chadwick who wants to talk about the different versions of the Bible, and how we arrived at our current iteration. Dan’s got some great insights on how this book has been shaped for the agenda of those choosing what’s included, and Willow points out that the works attributed to Paul are the true framework of what we know as Christianity. We’re gonna riff on the subject of Paul’s influence on early Christianity for a bit, and end up agreeing that early Christians…. didn’t agree. Ernie in Canada asks about why hateful bigots are platformed on certain internet sites that shall remain unnamed, and our hosts commiserate. Awful people gonna awful Ernie. Good grief… it’s Jon in Canada again. Willow absolutely owns this weak-ass apologist, and he retreats to the Arctic. Poor Dan didn’t even get to weigh in, but really, did he need to? Shoulda have known better than to tangle with a wendigo Jon. That’s a wrap folks, and in case you were wondering, next week’s guest is probably definitely mayyybe not a cannibalistic cryptid. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, April 16, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.15 04-15-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Josh Entner

Welcome back to a very good Friday, and not just because it’s time for Truth Wanted. This zombie Jesus day, Dan’s guest is the host of the Bloody Good Film podcast, a three-time guest on Non-Prophets, and a Facebook moderator for the ACA fan groups, welcome Josh Entner! This week’s Patron of the Week is J.P. Young, thank you for the support! We’ll kick it off with Jeff, who feels some skeptics suspend their standards when it comes to UFOs. Our hosts agree that unidentified doesn’t mean aliens, and offer a few potential explanations for weird stuff in the sky. We talk about how to approach these conversations with friends; as the mantra goes, confront ideas, not people! David in Florida wants to talk about Canadian legislation banning Holocaust denial. We talk about sensible limits to free speech, and Josh points out that misinformation can be harmful. Dan draws a great parallel between libel and slander laws, illustrating the importance of having sources when making claims. Josh and Dan chat about journalistic integrity before we move on. Jay in Florida is up next, he offers a different take on why Holocaust denial should be illegal. Josh isn’t convinced that promoting bad ideas is tantamount to yelling “Fire!” in a crowded space, and Dan asks how the legislation would look in practice. Jay thinks Germany’s approach to the ugly history of WW2 is a good model, that being honest education combined with a banning of hate speech. Biblically is back! He’s got a deity on call, right next to him on the couch, and wants to talk about Genesis. Dan and Josh try to dissect his bizarre web of claims, and attempt to nail the caller down on a few specific elements of his narrative. Unfortunately, Biblically is just waiting for his turn to talk. Josh makes an attempt to lead this list of assertions into a constructive conversation by redirecting to one point of contention Dan asked about. It doesn’t work. This is apologetics at its worst, but it is kinda entertaining, so without further ado… we announce that… The winner of the Award for Worst Pre-Suppositionalist of 2022… is… BIBLICALLY!! That’s a wrap folks! Shoutout to Judas for the long weekend, we’ll see you next week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, April 09, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.14 04-08-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and MD Aware

It’s Friday, it’s 7pm Central, and it’s time for another episode of Truth Wanted! Tonight we’re joined today by two terrific titans of truth testing, Objectively Dan and MD Aware! Let’s take some calls! This weeks Patron of the week is Zachary Wilkes, thanks for the support Zachary! Out of the gates we have a familiar voice, it’s Tim in Washington! He’s concerned with the recent Florida legislation known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, and with good reason. Is throwing a blanket over the subject of sex education good for our kids? Both our hosts think not, as does every study examining this subject. LGBTQ+ people don’t disappear if you cover your eyes Ron DeSantis! Andrew is next and isn’t convinced that the “Don’t Say Gay” bill is as insidious as some make it out to be. MD Aware offers a brilliant comparison between the teaching of math and sex ed, in that we don’t teach calculus to first-graders. He makes a case for teaching sex ed before 7/8th grade, but Andrew’s intransigence prevents him from seeing the light. Also, gay. I said it. Buckle up for Jon in Canada, who thinks sex ed before the age of 16 is wrong because one time he wrote a dirty sentence and got in trouble. Jon thinks any level of sex ed is tantamount to handing out condoms to 6 year olds, and MD tries to explain the concept of gradation using a bicycle analogy. Dan weighs in on why LGBTQ+ representation isn’t the indoctrination Jon thinks it is, but Jon’s not listening. Dan gets a break while these two Canucks battle it out, and it becomes evident Jon’s brought a knife to a gunfight. This man does not represent the True North, Strong and Free. (It’s our anthem) Aaaand if you didn’t think tonight’s show could get any better, we’re going to wrap up with Biblical. I’ve listened to this call three times, and I’m still not sure what his point is. The claims of the Bible must be true if you acknowledge that it exists… I think? Our hosts fence with the caller for a few minutes, but biblically, even God has his limits for tolerance. Biblically. Floods and towers, folks. It’s biblical. That’s the show tonight folks! Seek the truth, say gay because it makes Ron DeSantis cry, but don’t say biblically, because our callers have that covered. See you next week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, April 02, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.13 04-01-2022 with ObjectivelyDan, ExXtian Erin, Puck, and MD Aware

Welcome to a very special episode of Truth Wanted! Tonight, ObjectivelyDan is joined by everybody! First up is Barry from New Zealand who has a question for MDAware regarding behaviors exhibited by individuals who are reaching the end of their life, that are so common that they are accurately documented by hospital workers. Next is Michael from CA who calls to talk about the cultural weirdness of forcing kids to recite the Pledge of Allegiance or National Anthem every morning before school. Next is Stan from NY who asks our hosts what their objections are to God’s morality, either through their actions or commandments. Next is Douglas who is calling to ask our hosts how they think the Earth and Universe Came to be if they don’t believe God did anything? Next up is Lauren from Canada who has become more fearful of death since their deconversion and would like advice from our hosts on how to address these feelings. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, March 26, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.12 03-24-2022 with ExXtian Erin and Brady Hardin

Hey everyone and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week ExXtian Erin is joined by Brady Hardin! First up is ObjectivelyDan from TX who wants to talk about some of the issues surrounding Progressive Christianity, and the “aren’t you on the same side” questions that get flung about whenever the subject is breached. Next up is Jay from FL who is calling to see what our hosts would retcon from the bible if they had the power to do so? Great question Jay! Up next is Jon from Canada who wants our host's opinion on critical race theory. Whew, this one is a doozy. Next is Melvin from TN who recounts their time living through the segregation era, and their observations of how little many systems have progressed since that period. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, March 19, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.11 03-18-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Kenneth Leonard

First up is Chris from Canada who wants the hosts opinions on the anunnaki (an example of an ancient alien theory), and the belief that humans are genetically modified to be slaves. Next is Jeff from Japan who thinks that non-vegans use a different definition of veganism than vegans. The caller draws parallels to the arguments theists create that are based upon definitions of atheism that atheists may not ascribe to. Up next is Setuf from Spain who believes that the purchase of animal products supports the unnecessary killing of animals. Next up is Paul from FL who has recently found out that their friends and family are convinced that the 2020 election was stolen, but when pushed for their justification, they choose to avoid the subject. This begs the question, how far should we go to have these questions on epistemology? Next is Phil from TX who calls into talk about the contradictions in the story of Noah's flood and the absurdity of it. Our final call is from Mr. Crabs who asks our hosts if it would even be reasonable to presume that anything we see from Earth using advanced telescopes could actually be evidence of life. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, March 12, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.10 03-11-2022 with MD Aware and Shannon Q

Hello truth seekers! Welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week MD Aware is joined by the fabulous Shannon Q! First up is Setuf from Spain, who asks our hosts if they perceive theism as illogical and if so why? The call eventually shifts topics to discuss the ethics and medical need for eating meat. Next up is Barry from New Zealand who shares their experience with hypnotherapy. The caller tested the procedure in an attempt to break a knuckle-cracking habit, and while it seemed to help at first, it ended up failing after the doctor shattered the placebo. Jim from Canada wants to talk about brain stimulation, specifically with regards to porn consumption, and if it is even possible to over-stimulate your brain with this activity. Next is Bill from IL who asks our hosts what the difference is between the terms “atheist” & “agnostic”. Ask a person what position they actually hold, rather than attempt to strongarm them into a definition they may or may not ascribe to. Next is Alison from CA who is battling MS, and wants advice from Shannon on how she is managing to cope with it. Matthew from CA is engaged in a debate with a friend about the origin of consciousness, and wants the host’s input on the topic. Our final call is from an individual who is very excited by Florida’s attempts to investigate and charge the parents of transgender youth as child abuse. Bye bye Peter from Canada! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, March 05, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.09 03-04-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and JMike

Hello Truth Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week ObjectivelyDan is joined by none other than JMike! First up is Steve from TX who presents a Roman Empire conspiracy theory where they fabricated biblical figures to gain power. The caller claims that this is the most likely explanation for the presented biblical figures. Up next is Queer Atheist from IL who asks who our hosts consider to be their leader, i.e. who is the best representative for humanity. Next up is Peter from Canada who calls in to assert that everyone has a religion, which is apparently the hot new gotcha attempt on the theist street these days, and refuses to accept that Atheists do not believe in ANY god. Up next is Oliver from WA who is wondering why there is suddenly so much societal support for the anti-science movement? Next is Phil from TX who wants to talk about the neverending conspiracy theories that keep popping up and the enthusiasm which people flock to them with. Ernie from CA calls to talk about the act of putting oneself in harm's way for social causes. Joshua from LA wants to know if Ukraine’s citizens should understand Russia’s reasons for invading their sovereign country. Understanding why doesn’t justify or put an end to what Russia is doing. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, February 26, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.08 02-25-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Forrest Valkai

Welcome back to Truth Wanted folks! This week’s special guest is taking a break from handing out quests in Skyrim to join Dan. He's a science communicator, he’s Tik Tok royalty, welcome Forrest Valkai to the show! This week’s Patron of the Week is Ayame, thank you for supporting the show! A thousand blessings upon your ancestors. Danni is having some trouble letting go of childhood religious indoctrination. Forrest recommends patience, these things don’t disappear, they fade away. He offers Danni a few tools, and a very gross, yet poignant metaphor. Dan shares an anecdote about his own upbringing, and advocates for visibility as an atheist, when safe to do so. Be patient with yourself Danni, much love! Jay is up next, with a “No True Scotsman” argument that will dazzle and amaze. Okay, maybe not, but he tells our hosts that the Christians hating gay people aren’t true Christians. Our hosts point out that both all Xtians, good or bad, are drawing their conclusions from the same book. Jay has the one true interpretation of the Bible though! You and a million others, Jay. TH has a real problem, that being his anti-vaxxer adult children. His kids offer up past lies from the government as reason to distrust the Covid narrative. Dan offers his own conversation with Anthony Magnabosco as an example of how minds don’t change overnight. Forrest paints a picture of how other conspiracies mirror the current anti-vax trend, and gives our caller a few tools for starting constructive conversations. There aren’t any magic words to get through to someone TH, but you seem to be on the right track. Forrest spills the tea on this next call, Zim in Virginia asks how to explain evolution to a younger crowd, and it turns out Forrest is already on it! He’s working on exactly this topic! He gives a brief rundown of what Zim can expect, subjects like alleles, speciation, exactly what we need. Dan gets a bye round on this call, it’s entertaining as heck though! Charles is up next, and asks our hosts what they think about the ethics of incest. Is our aversion to sex with close kin cultural, biological, or just plain good sense? Our hosts offer an impartial analysis of a typically taboo topic. Like the trolley problem, there’s no easy answer here. Barrie the Kiwi asks if including creationism in public education has value, even if it’s just to warn students. Forrest thinks that teaching the history of science is valuable, especially because it includes the times we got it wrong. Honesty and skepticism go hand in hand! Finally Paul gets Forrest super excited about mermaids and speciation. Actually. Best. Wrap-up. Ever. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, February 19, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.07 02-18-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Seth Andrews

In today's show, ObjectivelyDan is joined by the legendary Seth Andrews, host of The Thinking Atheist Podcast. They talk about Skillet (the band, not breakfast) and their message to fellow Christians. Our Patron of the week is Daniel. Thanks, Daniel. First up is Casey from Missouri, he asks why atheists hate god if he doesn't exist. He has a very extreme view of an atheists' position and is way out there. He tries to drag the luggage of his beliefs to run roughshod over human rights, science and the usual failure of self educating. He struggles to grasp not believing in the non-existent. Our second call is Nicky from Oregon who wants to know if she has a bias from her upbringing. She explores if seeking truth is found in science as her willingness to seek that truth is warranted. She attempts to understand logic and tries to define absolute truth but cannot. Third caller is Jacob from Illinois, he encountered a Christian that claimed he was going to hell because he was an atheist and he also endured conversion therapy. Fourth call is from Ashley from Colorado who is atheist, her family, not so much. She asks how to control herself when addressing her family over her atheism without losing her mind. Seth suggests ways to converse in peaceful terms. Fifth call is Mike in Texas. He rejects the bible while being raised as Christian. He wants to explore ways to tell his family of his doubts of Christianity. Seth has a few things to consider in this conversation and what to watch for in navigating this situation. Sixth is Jim from Canada found himself drunk preaching and making a spectacle of himself. He explores how indoctrination materializes in very embarrassing ways. Our seventh caller is Barry from New Zealand. He asks, what do you think is the best argument for God? Dan talks about objective vs convincing arguments, what he experienced in his deconversion and common misunderstandings. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

S5 Enull · Sat, February 12, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.06 02-11-2022 with Puck and Emma Thorne

It’s Friday, it’s P*ck day, and tonight his special guest on Truth Wanted will (finally) be Emma Thorne! This week’s Patron of the Week is Matthew Scholtes! Our first contestant is Liam in Louisiana, come on down! Liam asks our hosts about separation of church and state, specifically their opinion on the mayor of New Orleans incorporating a Catholic tradition in their inauguration ceremony. Puck isn’t about to die on the hill of swearing in on Bibles, or other traditions that are nominally associated with religion. If the Freedom from Religion Foundation is though, we certainly won’t complain! Aaron has beef with tonight’s YouTube poll, and feels like cryptocurrency being framed as either “the future of currency” or “a pyramid scheme” isn’t entirely fair. Puck illustrates how NFTs could be perceived as a scam, and asks Aaron some pointed questions. Emma’s not convinced either, and won’t be buying a slice of any songs any time soon. Scott wants to talk about the Central Park 5 case. Our hosts aren’t super familiar with the case, but promise to look into it further. Also, there may have been baby dinosaurs on Noah’s Ark (but probably not). Connla wants to talk about how NFTs could ruin the video game experience by pushing out those who aren’t willing to shell out the big bucks for space. Our hosts agree that it’s a ‘dangerous game,’ analogous to the pitfalls of loot boxes and pay-to-win mechanics. All parties can agree that legislation could help limit greed, and make gaming better for everyone. That’s our show tonight folks, stay skeptical, we’ll see you next week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, February 05, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.05 02-04-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Christy Powell

Truth Wanted is a show about getting to the bottom of beliefs, whether it’s karma or Christ, Bigfoot or crystals. Truth Wanted would like to know how you know it’s true. Primarily hosted by ObjectivelyDan, Truth Wanted takes calls from the community (that means YOU!) and features new guests every week, emphasizing thorough conversations over name-calling and scoffing (most of the time). Truth Wanted focuses on how and why people believe what they believe, and how you can talk about beliefs in more effective ways. Join us for truth investigations and lively conversations every Friday at 7:00pm CT! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, January 29, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.04 01-28-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Jesus Christ

Hello Truth-Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week Objectively Dan is joined once again by the USA’s favorite deity, Jesus H Christ! Barrie the Kiwi is first up, he’s got an alien abduction/medical emergency metaphor for us. JC suggests that traumatic experiences could lead to false memories, and Dan probes Barrie for details. Verbally, of course. JC admits to an odd fetish, you’ll have to listen to find out, no spoilers! Barrie’s also got a UFO story, but sadly, is interrupted before he can finish (probably by aliens). Steve is next, who has a new philosophical argument for… rabbits? I’m as confused as Dan. It takes a lot to bewilder a deity, but Jesus Christ! Is. We’re gonna move along, thanks for the call Steve! Marcus is a new atheist who’s received a letter from his mother, claiming that she’s had a revelation from God. Jesus has no record of this intervention, and tells us that heaven has a “no indirect revelation” policy. Good to know, Lord. Marcus thinks there’s a chance this could be for real, and Dan has a tarot card analogy that seems more likely than miracles. Many of us have been there too, remember that we humans are pattern seekers, and coincidences are just that, and nothing more. Our final two callers have crawled out from beneath a bridge, taken a break from extorting billy-goats, and graced us with their nonsense. Strap in! Douglas in Canada thinks that the McCarthy era addition of In God We Trust to American currency is proof of God. Douglas is also unaware that this is a recent addition. He throws some childish insults at Jesus, which is entirely un-Christian, and our hosts play with their food for a brief moment before Douglas runs away. This man does not represent Canada. Alex in Cali is off the road, and off the rails. We begin with the accusation that our guest is not the REAL Jesus… pretty sure we all knew that. Alex coins the term “self-exist,” presents a few ridiculous false dichotomies, is thoroughly owned by our hosts, and runs back beneath his bridge. Stick to goats dude. Well that was fun! Tune in next week, when two lowly mortals will continue their side-quest for the truth! The main quest is donuts. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, January 22, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.03 01-21-2022 with MD Aware and Vino

Hello, all you truth seekers and welcome to today’s episode of the Truth Wanted where our host MD Aware, is joined by Vino! Raymond from FL is our first caller tonight. This week, they claim to have devised a scientific experiment specifically designed to detect the voice of God. The experiment is flawed because the way events are determined and categorized isn’t objective. How do we determine when an event starts and ends? How do we reproduce the caller’s testing methodology without a consistent set of variables? Next up is Otangelo. Today’s script submission tackles the concept of DNA being an intelligently programmed code. Maybe “tackles” isn’t quite the right word. Up next is Wesley from WV who has come to talk about...something. Today we learned that the King James Bible is the real one because God says so and that MD Aware is a frog wizard. Next is James from ME who has some biology questions for our hosts regarding genes and chromosomes, and how they relate to speciation. Chromosome count doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with an organism’s ability to breed. There are members of the same species with different chromosome counts that can breed, just as there different species with the same chromosome count that cannot. Next up is K from a mysterious bunker in the swiss alps. Anyways, the caller wanted to share a story about how their friend started believing in ghosts after they experienced something they didn’t have an explanation for. Next is Martin from CO who has some sexy alien stories to share with the audience. (Not alien sex stories mind you, we save those for Thursdays.) Finally, Kyle from IN calls in to ask how and why anyone should trust government-provided information when there is a history of governments lying to their citizens. While there are many small lies, unless there is substantial, damning evidence showing some massive coverup exists like those depicted in many popular conspiracy theories, then belief in those rabbit hole labyrinths isn’t justified. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, January 15, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.02 01-14-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and MD Aware

Hello Truth Seekers, and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by MD Aware! First up tonight is Liam from LA who wants to discuss the topic of Red Mass, and by extension the necessity of the separation of religion and government. Thanks for bringing this to attention. They definitely are something to be given a closer look. Next up is Trey from FL who asks our hosts for concrete evidence and reasoning for mask wearing. They, like most of us, are exhausted from trying to explain to others why caring about those around you should be reason enough, and want to actually be able to close the argument as cleanly as possible. Stephanie from ME calls to continue the conversation on conversion therapy’s harm, as well as to share their own experiences with anti-lgbtq indoctrination. Next is Phil from TX who recounts his experience as a moderate christian when his church was infiltrated by evangelical fundamentalists, and how this encounter started him on his path to deconversion. Next is Raymond from FL who feels that we only look at what something is and its purpose without just considering the fact that it is. Finally, Maurice from AL recently tested positive for HIV, but doesn’t know why they did. It would be a good idea to do more tests and make sure that it wasn’t a false positive, while also being careful not to prematurely make conclusions. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, January 08, 2022

Truth Wanted 05.01 01-07-2022 with ObjectivelyDan and Ross Blotcher

Hello Truth-Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week, Fox Mulder returns to aid Objectively Dan on his quest for truth. Hmm? Correction, It’s Ross Blocher of the Oh No Ross and Carrie podcast! First up is a returning caller, it’s Tony in Mexico, asking about the dangers of Scientology. Ross compares their hard sales tactics to hi-pressure timeshare tactics, and gives us a glimpse into how Scientology sells themselves to new candidates. We get a brief history of the faith, before Dan flat-out recommends against attending a “new members” seminar. Careful Tony! Next is Bob from Colorado, he claims that psychics at two different times and fairs gave him a similar past life regression story. Bob was a Vietnam-era sniper, and tells us that he has an interest in marksmanship and ballistics. Fascinating coincidence? Ross suggests cold reading techniques may be at play here. Bob’s psychics also told him he would marry a General’s daughter, and he’s married two. Ross thinks Bob had more to do with his marital outcome than the psychic, and all three agree that if you discount the 95% of predictions that weren’t accurate, the remainder isn’t that impressive. Even a broken clock is correct twice a day! Our Patron of the week is calling! Sheila is an atheist, but still has some superstitious idiosyncrasies, and wants to know why she might be holding on to these. Dan points out that humans are creatures of habit, and habits can be tough to shake. Ross offers that pattern seeking is a human trait, a trait that science and superstition share. Keep that inner dialogue going, and keep asking questions Sheila. You’re never too old to grow as a person, all the best, thank you for supporting the show! Sprout from Canada is looking for tips on how to investigate like Ross and Carrie do on their podcast. Ross recommends taking notes, and approaching any topic with an open mind. We’re not debunkers, we’re truth seekers! Both hosts recommend being kind, funny, and original. Can’t wait to see what you come up with Sprout! Jenn in Australia believes that in a past life she was a tree, killed by a strangler fig, and offers her fear of this particular plant as evidence. Jenn does seem to be aware of how preposterous this sounds, but asks our hosts to examine their phobia. Ross points out that consciousness can’t exist without a brain, and since plants don’t have brains, we’d need a mechanism for how a tree’s experience transfers to a human. We think there’s another explanation for this phobia Jenn, and perhaps you do too. (Show Notes Writer: This plant is terrifying, no judgement here Jenn). Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Wed, January 05, 2022

Truth Wanted 04.51 12-24-2021 - Holiday Trivia Challenge Round 2

The Atheist Community of Austin Holiday Trivia Challenge - Quarter Finals Part 1 - Year End Special. We are pre-recording this challenge so that we could give you something interesting to watch over the holidays, but also give our hard working hosts and crew some time off to spend with their family and friends. This will be a 5 part series, with one episode appearing on each of our AEN Network shows. The schedule is as follows: The preliminary rounds will consist of 5 questions each, and was aired on Thursday, December 23rd at 7pm Central. You can watch the episode now by going to tiny.cc/acahtc1 The second two Quarter Final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on Talk Heathen on Sunday, December 26th at 1pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytth The two Semi-final rounds will consist of 7 questions each, and will be shown on The Non-Prophets on Sunday, December 26th at 3pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytnp The Championship round will consist of 7 questions, and we will have a Consolation round consisting of 3 questions. These will both be show on The Atheist Experience channel on Sunday, December 26th at 4:30pm Central: http://tiny.cc/ytaxp Call the show Fridays 7-8:30pm CT at: 1-512-991-99242 or http://tiny.cc/calltw Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, December 18, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.50 12-17-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and ExXtian Erin

Truth Wanted Episode 4.50 with ObjectivelyDan and ExXtian Erin Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, December 11, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.49 12-10-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Richard Gilliver

Hello Truth-Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week’s guest comes from across the pond, Mr. Richard Gilliver! First up is Kyle in Indiana, and we’re gonna talk about the multiverse, and how infinite universes may include ghosts, gods and the supernatural. Richard doesn’t think many universes must include magic, but we can’t rule it out. It’s tough to judge the properties of universes we don’t belong to. Dan thinks physical constants could be different, but reserves his opinion of the supernatural until we have evidence of it here, in our little backwater. Second we have Peter in Canada, who’s wants to talk about abortion and has decided life begins at six weeks. Peter also states that a heartbeat = human life, two conflicting assertions. Our hosts point out that consent to sex is different from consent to pregnancy, and Peter comes out of left field with an assertion that the pro-choice movement is out to eliminate black people, and that Dan has been brainwashed. We’re gonna move on before this gets cray cray. Starman in Arizona has a hot take on cryonics. He believes that one’s opinion on a singular issue forms a worldview, and wants our hosts to offer an opinion on how mortality affects morality. Richard asks why this single contentious issue necessarily informs our views. If we lack information on the end result of a burgeoning technology, how can we make a judgement as to whether it’s a good idea? Mark wants to ask, if people knew what was coming, would they opt out earlier? How does one react when faced with their own mortality? Richard offers his perspective on end of life care, and his experience with his father. Dan finds purpose through activism. Strap in for Biblical in Australia, and he’s serving up a word salad that’s heavy on Biblical croutons. Richard chews on these cronchy bits by asking for a demonstration that a god even exists, and Dan’s gonna go ahead and drop the call, after offering a Biblical example of how Yahweh got beat by some chariots. Setuf is once again going to offer a weak argument from the pro-life camp. We’re not going to waste a lot of time on this, get a uterus and give us a call Setuf. That’s our show tonight folks! Stay frosty out there, have a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hannuhak, a Craaazy Kwanzaa, and ya know… just enjoy your time with family, no matter what you believe. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, December 04, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.48 12-03-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Anthony Magnabosco

Hello Truth-Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. We have a special treat this week as Objectively Dan is joined by Anthony Magnabosco! We’ll kick it off with Aelora in Oregon, who is curious what Street Epistemology has to offer for someone with a mental health issue. Anthony thinks that by helping others, you help yourself, and practicing SE with others will ingrain the process into one’s own introspection. Both hosts agree that the process is not a therapy method and urge caution, but encourage the pursuit of truth as a path to wellbeing. We wish you a healthy recovery Aelora! Second we have Barrie in New Zealand, who wants to talk about how applicable the process of SE can be to other facets of life, in schools, with street preachers, and especially with followers of a particular zealous church in NZ. Anthony recommends steering away from contentious issues in the interest of building trust. Be a mirror, ask questions, and let your interlocutor reveal why they believe what they believe in a long form conversation. Jake in Texas wants to talk to his father about political views. Anthony wants Jake to take a broader approach, asking questions like “When was the last time you changed your mind” instead of getting into social issues. Dan points out that the goal of SE should never be to change someone’s mind in a single conversation. We’re planting seeds here Jake, especially with family. Next we have Philipp in Germany who wants to know if there’s a point where a person becomes unreachable. Dan thinks assuming a person can’t change their mind isn’t constructive, and reminds us that people can surprise you. Anthony asks Philipp to try roleplay, ask the people in your life that think others can’t be reached to steelman those people. Get some practice in! Queer Atheist asks if “new atheism” and big names like Dawkins and Harris are harming the movement. Dan refutes the idea that a handful of people can represent such a wide demographic, and reminds us that getting atheists to agree on anything is like herding cats. Atheism is just a response to one claim, people can be wrong on plenty of other things. Anthony agrees that big names have played a role in bringing atheists to the forefront and removing stigma, but outdated views can’t speak for the ever-evolving zeitgeist of the 21st century. That’s a wrap folks, stay safe, ask questions, and think for yourselves! See you next week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sun, November 28, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.47 with ObjectivelyDan, ExXtian Erin and PCK Thankful to our Haters special

Truth Wanted 03. for August 12, 2020 with ObjectivelyDan. Call the show Fridays 7-8:30pm CT at: 1-512-686-0279 or use our green call the show button to save on long-distance charges: http://www.atheist-experience.com/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, November 20, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.46 11-19-2021 with Puck and Krafty Keelah

Welcome back to Truth Wanted! Tonight Puck’s special guest is Krafty Keelah. First up is Walt, who has a Theory of Everything predicated on assumptions and conjecture. While this is a great conversation to have over a beer, Walt’s hourglass hypothesis is just that, a hypothesis. Speculation and curiosity are the parents of discovery, do some tests and get back to us! Second we have Jason from Indiana, who’s had some tough conversations with fellow mental health professionals promoting pseudoscience and homeopathy. Krafty offers some great tips on how to maintain professional integrity in a field that doesn’t always have a yes or no answer. Next up is Jon in Canada, who believes that vaccine mandates violate bodily autonomy, and wants to draw a comparison with abortion. Krafty wisely points out that a person’s choice to have an abortion does not put public health at risk, there’s a huge difference there. Jon equates regulation to communism, and our hosts take a few minutes slapping that argument around. Spicoli in Florida offers an interesting perspective on how toxic nationalism contributes to vaccine hesitancy and other social issues. Krafty has some great commentary on how any myopic worldview is dangerous, and offers a uniquely Irish perspective on American exceptionalism. Muhammed wants to ask our hosts about morality and legality, is it wrong to steal to feed your family? What values trump others? How do we decide what’s most important? This is a great conversation about how we as individuals and societies decide what matters to us. Tony in Mexico thinks that pharmaceutical companies may be disguising side effects in the interests of profit. While our hosts agree that profit is huge to these corporations, they also point out that these companies are competing against each other to have the “best” vaccine, and if money is their big motivator, it’s in their best interest (and ours) to minimize harms from their product. Finally, Steven is going to talk about Christian mental health services. Krafty, coming from a very religious nation, talks about how excluding any method in favour of one that espouses your favourite imaginary friend is unethical. That’s our show tonight folks! Keep seeking veracity through tenacity and perspicacity! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, November 13, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.45 11-12-2021 with ExXtian Erin and JMike

Hello Truth-Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week ExXtian Erin is joined by a Talk Heathen favorite, welcome back JMike! First up tonight is Kyle, he’s got ancient Sumer on the mind. The notion that aliens visited early Bronze Age humans is fascinating, but our hosts are unconvinced. Kyle suggests that the Drake Equation supports the likelihood that we’ve had visitors, but JMike illustrates that Drake’s conjecture is just that, and we can’t draw conclusions from speculation. Kyle is clear that he doesn’t subscribe to this belief, he’s just spitballing. Call again Kyle! Next we have Liam in Louisiana, who met the Ancient Aliens guy! We chat about the burden of proof when it comes to potential explanations that employ unfounded claims, and land on the old axiom that it’s best to scale your belief with the available evidence. Thanks for providing the title for this clip Liam, this was an interesting conversation! Alex in Colorado wants to drill down on how presupposition is necessary for any constructive conversation. We must move past the problem of hard solipsism and value what we experience to be true, otherwise any wacky unprovable explanation could have us bogged down for days. Gods, for example. That’s our show tonight folks! Wear your masks, get your booster shots, and let’s get back to some kind of normal! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, November 06, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.44 11-05-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Brently

Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Brently! First up tonight is Robert from CA who wants to vent his frustration with the right wing’s use of “dog whistle” terms to rile up their base. The caller specifically dislikes their use of the word “indoctrination” with regard to education & science as it devalues the issues caused by actual religious indoctrination. Next up is Monty from ID who wants to discuss his experience with sleep paralysis and how their plan to stay calm and not panic the next time it happened may have helped keep them from experiencing it again. Next is Tony from Mexico who presents seemingly credible doctors who are against the mRNA vaccine as authorities to dispute the pro-vaccine position. Kelly from CA is back in the queue and this time has his evidence for a God. Technically the caller believes in the Christian God but opts to justify a more general God using genetic “code” as evidence. Unfortunately, the caller doesn’t really understand the scientific consensus or the burden of proof. Next is Brian from OR who tells our hosts a cool story regarding demons that could be heard on a cassette tape, but was really just radio interference. Next up is John from TX who starts by asking how evolution can exist in a universe with entropy, and then follows up by quietly accusing our hosts of just regurgitating information without thinking just like theists do with religious texts. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Mon, November 01, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.43 10-31-2021 Live from the Driskill Hotel with ObjectivelyDan, ExXtian Erin, and Puck

First up tonight is Connell from FL who doesn’t want to break his dad’s heart with his Atheism and wants advice on what to say so as not to hurt him. Next is Frank from IL who has a detailed sleep paralysis/lucid dream story and explains how they go about testing whether they are dreaming or if they are awake. Next is Micha from WA who is a paranormal investigator who doesn’t believe in the supernatural or ghosts. Despite being unconvinced, they continue investigating in the hopes of uncovering something incredible, specifically regarding an afterlife. Next is Zach from HI who explains his story of nearly hitting what he and others believed to be an evil demon pig. Now, after careful thought, the caller no longer believes that it is a spirit trying to kill him, but they still don’t have an explanation for what happened. Next up is Queer Atheist from IL who wants advice on how to deal with presup apologists and their circular scripts. Next is Joe from MI who has another story where they saw something spooky while they were riding a bike. Was it a Ghost or something sinister? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, October 30, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.42 10-29-2021 with ExXtian Erin and Trevor Poelman

Hello Truth-Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week ExXtian Erin is joined by Trevor Poelman of the Belief it or Not podcast. Liam is our first caller, and wants to talk about premonitions that he’s noticed since deconverting. Erin points out that coincidence and the human tendency to see patterns are more likely than clairvoyance. Pareidolia is a thing and Liam seems to agree. Stay curious, friend! Next up is Queer Atheist from Illinois, who recently had his dirty, dirty chakra cleaned at work. He’s also been turned down for dates because of his astrological sign, and wants our hosts to opine about how to gently push back on such nonsense. Liam points out that promoting personal beliefs in the workplace is inappropriate, whether it be theology or astrology. No -ologies allowed folks! Erin offers tips on how to politely set boundaries, and our caller makes clear that a clean carpet is better than a clean chakra. Keeping the woo theme going is Kennita, who’s been offered Reiki massage by someone close to her, and while she appreciates the massage, the magic crystals are a bridge too far. How best to be honest? Erin points out that touch therapy and human contact is valuable and doesn’t rely on discredited claims. Both hosts agree that the placebo effect of pseudoscience is harmless until folks prefer it to actual medical care! David from WA wants to know whether our hosts think morality is subjective or objective. Erin thinks goals are key to determining what’s right and wrong, and like a typical Canadian, Trevor just likes being nice to people. Our spidey senses go off when anyone brings up Adolf Hitler and slavery in a conversation about morality, and our hosts quickly identify and deconstruct a weak apologist argument for why we ought to listen to an invisible sky daddy. That’s our show this week! Join us this Sunday after The Atheist Experience for a very special episode of Truth Wanted, live from a haunted hotel room! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, October 23, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.41 10-22-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Genevieve

Hello Truth-Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week Objectively Dan is joined by Genevieve! Our first caller is Barrie from New Zealand, who’s asking how to talk to an otherwise brilliant family member who believes in wacky conspiracy theories. Dan points out that folks on both sides of the political spectrum are susceptible to delusions that feel empowering, and suggests Street Epistemology may be an effective approach. Genevieve concurs, which is exactly what we would expect from a lizard person in disguise. Next we have Mark in Oregon, who saw a UAP and as one does, grabbed his eldest cell phone and got it on video. Sadly, our hosts can’t review the evidence live on the show, and remind Mark that unidentified doesn’t mean aliens. Mark’s footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCXN-WUGvrQ Cassius in Virginia wants our hosts to offer advice on how to combat the Old Testament/New Testament, old covenant/new covenant apologist argument. Dan makes the point that objective morality shouldn’t magically change one day two thousand years ago, because “Jesus”. Genevieve thinks Christians just aren’t familiar enough with the OT to really grasp how awful it is, and reiterates that their god is allegedly eternal and unchanging. You can’t change the rules in the middle of the game Yahweh! The hosts wrap up by pointing out that the Christian notion of a deity seems to evolve with human culture. Seems sus… Next up is Tony in Mexico is seeing conflicting COVID information on social media, and is seeking methods to vet this content. Dan reminds Tony that the Colgate College of Fresh Breath is not a reliable medical school, and that the vast majority of medical professionals are in agreement. Genevieve points out that social media is not the best place to get accurate medical advice, and directs Tony to consult accredited sources. Both hosts agree that no drug is without side effects, and the evidence agrees that being vaccinated is far less risky to your health than the alternative. Finally we talk to Casey in Colorado, who’s bringing a follow up to last week’s conversation about cryonics. Casey doesn’t see the harm in a small chance to be thawed out sometime in the future, and is aware that the company could conceivably go out of business. Our hosts are proponents of bodily autonomy, and put this one on ice until the science is clear. That’s our show tonight folx, stay safe, and get the jab if you haven’t already! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, October 16, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.40 10-15-2021 with Nate Smith and MD Aware

Hello Truth-Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week Nate Smith is joined by MD Aware! First up tonight is Richard from NY who claims that they made themselves time travel. Is there any way we can verify that this truly is time travel and not some other phenomenon? Next is Kennita from CA who wants to ask our hosts about the subject of cryonics and its potential efficacy in the future. Our final caller of the evening is Otangelo from Brazil who wants our hosts to explain the existence of life without a God. Thank you all so much for tuning in! Until we see you next week, keep on wanting the truth! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, October 09, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.39 10-08-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Dan Beecher

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted! Objectively Dan is joined by Dan Beecher from the “Thank God I’m An Atheist” Podcast. Welcome to the show, Dan! First up in the calls is Cononthebarber in the UK to discuss sentientism, the belief that all sentient beings deserve moral consideration, not limited to aliens or-in some cases- even plants. But where do we draw the line? This is a much needed moral conversation, so thanks for the call! Next we’ve got Mark in Oregon with a question for (not objectively) Dan; Do Mormons believe in aliens? They’ve got quite the interesting space theology, according to our co-host. Planets, gods and aliens, OH MY! Colson in Texas has a brother who is hesitant about getting the vaccine. He wants to encourage him to get it but doesn’t know the best way to go about having the difficult conversation. This is such an important issue, and you have every right to bring it up with unvaccinated family members. Stay calm and ask a lot of questions along the way. Good luck, Colson! Donny J in Canada is getting ready for a trip back to his homeland but is concerned about visiting his mother because she is unvaccinated, and doesn’t even want to have a conversation about it. Although this is an important topic, we can’t expect to change anyone’s mind. We just have to continue asking the hard questions and steering the conversation in a positive direction. That wraps up tonight’s show. Thank you so much to our co-host, Dan Beecher for bringing your perspective to these important discussions. Remember to always keep wanting the truth. See you next week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, October 02, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.38 10-01-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Apostate Prophet

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted! Objectively Dan is hosting with Apostate Prophet. Welcome to the show! First up is Barrie in New Zealand who feels awkward criticizing beliefs within politically oppressed groups. While we think it is important to maintain respect for others, we also think it is worth speaking up when a certain ideology is harmful. Next in the calls is Allen in California who has taken a revisionist approach to Christianity, believing that it is the religion of atheists. Although your theological take is interesting, we prefer evidence over interpretation. Anthony from North Carolina is attempting to navigate conversations about the supernatural with friends in the most productive way. Try using street epistemology techniques and don’t expect to change anyone’s mind in one conversation. Up next is James in the UK who thinks perhaps western culture has gone too far in encouraging a lack of religion when it often provides community and comfort. While it is true that religion has given comfort to many, we hope to see more communities embracing secular humanism and encouraging individualism. Lauren in Arizona was once involved with a cult that made her believe that symptoms of her neurological illness were supernaturally related. She wonders how many other people are ignoring their mental health for the sake of religion. Great discussion, Lauren! That wraps up tonight’s show. Thank you so much to our co-host, Apostate Prophet for bringing your perspective to these important discussions. Remember to always keep wanting the truth. See you next week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, September 25, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.37 09-17-2021 with ExXtian Erin and Prophet of Zod

Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week, Exxtian Erin is joined by Prophet of Zod! Our first caller tonight is Jeremiah from TX who is wondering if our hosts have any opinions regarding evangelical involvement in politics. As the hosts briefly touched on earlier, the evangelical narrative oftentimes revolves around a “good vs evil” dichotomy which has, over time, enflamed the opinions of and vocabulary used against the other non-evangelical side. Next up is Eric from IA who recently discovered Dantes Infernoand Apocalypse of Peter, and wants to know the atheist opinion of them and potentially their context within Christianity. Those texts among many others have and continue to influence the way the bible is interpreted and imagined by its followers. Up next is Andy from TX who wants to know how we can demonstrate that free will is just an illusion. If the societal, functional assumption is that we all have free will, why is that not the default position in philosophy? Up next is Otangelo from Brazil who wants to know if our hosts would accept the Christian God if he were proven to exist. Just because a God claims that they want a loving relationship is completely separate from whether they actually do want one. The threat of eternal punishment for those that do not truly believe, worship out of fear not counting, isn’t the foundation of a loving relationship. Last up is Sandra from OH whose boss is forcing her to stay in a haunted hotel for a work trip. Bring things that will help make you feel safer in the dark like a flashlight and avoid discussions of the paranormal leading up to your visit, especially of this exact site, to help keep your imagination at bay. That’s it for this week Truth Seekers, thank you so much for watching. Until we see you next week, keep on hunting for the truth! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, September 18, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.36 09-17-2021 with Puck and Paulogia

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted! Puck is back in the host chair alongside Paulogia, best known for his atheistic response videos on YouTube. Tonight we get a peek at the Paulogia behind the avatar and learn about his walk from teaching theology to taking on the bigger names in apologetics. First up! Molly in IN believed she would miss a sign god if she didn’t pay attention to her dreams, later realizing dreams aren’t important. All humans make attribution errors and place more importance on some things that maybe shouldn’t. Thanks for sharing Molly! Erin in Canada asks if she should have disclosed her atheist activism with her family, as they just discovered it? Someone outed you before you were ready, it may hurt for a bit. You may have to set boundaries for religious conversations, ask them what they are comfortable in discussing. Phil in TX recognizes there isn’t enough skeptic presence around conspiracy videos and thinks there should be more of a pushback there. It is worth addressing conspiracy theories, people CAN change their mind. We are all susceptible to confirmation bias. While it’s best to have someone in that community fight back, we can tackle some of that too! Otangelo in Brazil is back. He asks Paulogia if using a recipe to make a cake is a mental process… uh oh here comes intelligent design. Yes, but you can stumble on a recipe by accident. We can demonstrate design in making a recipe, or blueprint, but not design of humans. How can you ascertain the purpose of design for humans? Once again, we don’t see the intentionality of design behind humans. That wraps up tonight’s show. Make sure to check out more at youtube.com/c/paulogia Until next week, keep wanting the truth! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, September 11, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.35 09-10-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and CeaseToKnow

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted! Objectively Dan is hosting with CeaseToKnow. Welcome to the show, we’re happy to have you! First in queue is a super quick call from Jim in Canada who wonders if ethics are determined by context. Great question, Jim! Alex in New York is dealing with religious gaslighting after leaving a Pentacostal cult and wants to know how to navigate it. We recommend sticking to your convictions and realizing that you cannot change what other people think of you. Next up is Deborah in North Carolina who called to talk about morality from the Christian perspective. It can be difficult to take the Christian position on morality seriously when the bible has been used to defend so many atrocities. The truth is, religion has been used to defend power structures in place for a very long time. This is why we do what we do at the ACA! Barrie in New Zealand is an atheist who had a personal experience with a late friend and a coke bottle that he cannot make sense of. Although we often want to believe that coincidences are rooted in the supernatural, our brains seek patterns so it’s best to go with the most simplistic explanation. James in New York claims he was abducted by aliens during a seizure. Although we do not deny his experience, we cannot know for certain what actually happened because it isn’t falsifiable. Belief should be reserved until it can be tested and proven to be true. That wraps up tonight’s show. Thank you so much to our co-host, CeaseToKnow for bringing your perspective to these important discussions. Remember to be kind and always keep wanting the truth. See you next week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, September 04, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.34 09-03-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Suris

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted! Objectively Dan is hosting with a very animated Suris. Welcome to the show, Suris! Jamie in England is first up in the calls to discuss dark lines he sees in the sky he suspects are magnetic fields used by birds for travel. As cool as this sounds, Suris offers up a more scientific explanation. Next up is Chris in Canada who experienced a dream which has led him to believe he is God incarnate. Unfortunately, you cannot find the truth within a dream. William in California finds himself getting frustrated when having conversations with believers. Try staying humble and compassionate, and enter these situations with a clear end goal. We don’t have to be arrogant when talking about the truth. Another Chris called in from the UK wondering if we are experiencing a new wave of satanic panic in America. While we might find more media pushback today than in the last panic of the 90s, we are seeing the spread of misinformation on a larger scale than ever before. Perhaps the last wave never ended. Mark calling from North Carolina comes from a strong Christian background but is trying to live a life without labels. We understand the desire to live in the grey, but labels help us communicate our thoughts and ideas more effectively. Last up is Harley in Idaho to share some thoughts about abortion from the perspective of someone who grew up Catholic and pro-life, and the catholic position on purgatory for the unborn. Thanks for sharing, Harley! That wraps up tonight’s show. Thank you so much to our co-host, Suris for bringing your perspective to these important discussions. Remember to always keep wanting the truth! See you next week. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, August 28, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.33 08-27-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Dr Abby Hafer

Hey, all you Truth Seekers out there! Welcome to this week’s episode of Truth Wanted! This week our very own ObjectivelyDan is joined by Dr. Abby Hafer! First up is Matt from MD who proposes a theist pro-choice argument and is wondering what our hosts think of it, as well as if they have any of their own. David from CA wants to talk about the material collapse theory. Why David? Why are we doing this? Neither host is equipped to talk about this, and you are most certainly not. Our final caller is Alex from NY who wants to talk about the harm that thought crimes in the Bible could pose. Thank you all so much for watching, we hope you enjoyed today’s show! Until we see you next week, keep on hunting for the Truth! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, August 21, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.32 08-20-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Secular Rarity

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted! Objectively Dan is hosting with Secular Rarity. First up in the calls is Ken, who believes he had an encounter with a flirty, Victorian era ghost over forty years ago. When considering the validity of experiences like this one, we have to wonder how much our perception of them changes over time. More often than not our memory will fail us. Thanks for sharing your story, and let’s hope you’re not haunted again any time soon. Another caller out of Virginia, Joe, wants to discuss a familiar argument: Kalam Cosmological. More specifically, that everything which begins to exist has a cause. While we see this in the natural world, we’re not sure what happens outside of what we call time. Keep thinking on it, Joe. Daniel In Canada wonders how alien findings might affect our society. Would it unite us or bring mass chaos? How much is the government hiding about alien encounters? If there is evidence for extraterrestrial life, would we want to know? Be careful what you wish for! Kevin in Tennessee has some deep thoughts about existence and consciousness. Give us a moment while we process this abstract interpretation of reality involving various levels of fields representing multiple dimensions...or something like that! Are we simultaneously existing in both potential and kinetic states? We’ve definitely put our brains to work on this call, but we might not be any closer to concluding the truth. We’ll stay in the real world for now, Kevin. That wraps up tonight’s show. Thank you so much to our co-host, Secular Rarity for bringing your perspective to these important discussions. Remember to always keep wanting the truth! See you next week. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, August 14, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.31 08-13-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Cynthia McDonald

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted! Objectively Dan is hosting alongside Cynthia McDonald, an infectious disease case manager and one of our fellow Non Prophets. Welcome to the show, Cynthia. We’re happy to hear your perspective. First up in the calls, a hypothetical scenario: Imagine you were born on a desert Island with nobody else around to teach you about language. How would that define your reality? Matthew In California calls to discuss this very question. Thanks for the discussion, Matthew! Alex in New York is trying to make sense of solipsism and wonders if we really are just brains in a jar. We appreciate the discussion, but is it actually possible to prove one way or another? We’re not sure, but it’s a fun thought to entertain. Keep thinking on it, Alex. William in Alaska called to talk about the gross misrepresentation of truth in modern day politics. The quick spread of misinformation is scary with everyday Americans choosing to trust non-experts for their political commentary. Unfortunately the internet makes it so easy to spread a false narrative these days. We just have to keep having one-on-one conversations to combat this very serious societal issue. Last is Joe in Virginia who’s a theist and wants to know why atheist activism is so important to us. Although many people try to misrepresent our intentions, we believe promoting critical thinking, preventing the spread of misinformation and shining light on problematic views can create positive change within our society. Whew! We had some great discussion tonight. Thank you so much to our co-host and remember to stay funky, get your vaccine, wear your mask, be nice to others and always keep wanting the truth! See you next week. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, August 07, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.30 08-06-2021 with Puck and Martin Robert

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted! P*ck is hosting alongside Martin Robert, an ACA Volunteer. Kelley in Michigan attempted to test the devil to prove God’s existence. Did it work? The devil’s in the details and the details aren’t there. Next is James in Texas to discuss the misinformation surrounding vaccines. The unfortunate reality is that the facts are available but refusal to accept them is a symptom of a much larger problem. Spicoli in Florida continues the conversation on vaccines, feeling frustrated by his colleagues who are hesitant to get the jab. We just have to keep having these conversations and fighting the good fight. Deborah in Oregon is a former theist who realizes she never needed religion to find community. While we agree that churches can provide a good place to find friends, you shouldn’t have to hold religious values to develop genuine relationships. John in Virginia feels the frustration of having anti-vax parents. These situations can be sticky and the best you can do is vaccinate yourself and keep having productive conversations about the facts surrounding vaccines. Tapia in Minnesota has a loaded question: does Christianity have roots in racism? We have reason to believe that it does. This is one of the many problems surrounding America’s favorite religion. And last we’ve got Jordan in California who’s curious about the difference between religious and non-religious beliefs. If it relates to a deity, it’s religious! That wraps up tonight’s show. Thank you so much to our co-host and remember to always keep wanting the truth! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, July 31, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.29 07-30-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Nate Smith

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted! Objectively Dan is joined by Nate Smith from our sister show, Secular Sexuality. We’re so happy to have you here this week, Nate! Mark from Oregon is first up to discuss growing up gay and Pentecostal in the 70s. As an atheist, he realizes how sheltered his Christian faith kept him. He now lives his life free from religion and we’re happy to hear that. Thanks for sharing your story, Mark! Brandon in Texas recently lost his Christian faith and now feels the frustrations of unpacking childhood indoctrination. Is it any different than brainwashing? We tend to think it’s just a distinction without a difference and promote freedom of thought for all. Why do Christians often deny scientific facts? Vincent in England can’t wrap his head around the cognitive dissonance within religious communities- and we get it! Unfortunately, many scientific topics have become so politicized and threaten the core of most religious beliefs. Keep supporting scientific research. Tymm in Washington is a long-time caller who also grew up in the Pentecostal church and had an interesting realization about his experiences being “slain in the spirit”. Is speaking in tongues just a theater exercise? It may be, and those speaking gibberish in church might not even realize it. Another Mark In Oregon? What are the chances? Even wilder, Mark claims to have had telepathic experiences with UFOs! Unfortunately he’s never managed to capture any of these alien encounters on camera. Keep searching for answers and let us know when you gather some data. That wraps up tonight’s show. Thank you so much to our co-host, Nate. Remember to always keep wanting the truth. See you next week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, July 24, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.28 07-23-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Derek Lambert

Bzzzt. Krrrrzztztz. *static* False start! Five yard penalty! On today’s exciting episode of Truth Wanted, Objectively Dan is joined by Derek Lambert, creator and host of the MythVision Podcast! Derek is a former Calvanist who used to upload sermons on YouTube. He shares his story with Dan to open up the show. Welcome, Derek! We can’t wait to see how you handle these truth claims. First up in the calls is Mauricio, who is also the first person to call Truth Wanted from Venezuela! Thanks for calling! Mauricio is wondering whether acupuncture is actually affecting a person’s medical health, or if it maybe just makes them feel better. Dan shares his views on acupuncture and they are quite similar to his views on chiropractors as well. Derek Next up is Alex in NY, who is calling to pitch his ghost hunting show idea! Instead of the normal format (where people already believe in ghosts and set out to prove their own conclusions), Alex thinks they should set out to prove whatever is true without assuming anything. We think that’s quite a concept, but unfortunately, discovering the cause of a supernatural claim is actually mundane is rather… mundane. Thanks for the idea, Alex! We’ll see what we can do. Matt in Maryland calls in next to talk about UAPs/UFOs! He is curious if Dan and Derek think that UAPs demonstrate advanced technology! This subject certainly needs more research, let us know what you think in the comments! Our next caller, Erik, wants to talk about how to prevent people from using fake medicine. Acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, chakra manipulation, and tarot readings for medical advice… all of it is harmful! We think this is a very important topic, thank you for calling, Erik. Next up, Tony calls in from Mexico to discuss COVID conspiracy theories. This is a very tough topic, especially when it hits close to home. Hang in there, folks! Lastly, Oliver calls in from England to, well, make Dan’s day! This call is a must-listen. Well that wraps up tonight’s show. Thank you so much to our guest, Derek Lambert from the MythVision podcast. Remember to always keep wanting the truth. See you next week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, July 17, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.27 07-16-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Kelley Laughlin

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted! Objectively Dan is joined by Kelley Laughlin, one of our discord volunteers. Welcome to the show, Kelley! We’re eager to talk about crystal woo with you. First up in the calls is Kevin in Arizona, who wonders why psychedelic experiences tend to make people adopt theism. Although hallucinogenic encounters may feel powerful in the moment, it doesn’t make what happens in them rooted in reality. But this is a fascinating topic, indeed. Another Arizona caller, Sarah, spent a long time dabbling in crystal woo and blames her Christian upbringing for making her susceptible to blind belief. We’re so happy you’ve decided to start examining your beliefs with more skepticism! Does the devil’s lettuce make us stupid? Stephen in Michigan thinks the stoner stereotype isn’t an accurate representation of people who smoke and marijuana should just be legalized. We might have to agree with you there, Stephen! Robert in South Carolina called to talk about the two things you’re never supposed to discuss in public: religion and politics. These two things are inherently intertwined, but we do hope to find more political representation in the future. Karlyn is moving to her dream town, but there’s one problem- it’s highly religious. How do we navigate these difficult encounters with believers? It is important to know when to keep your thoughts to yourself, but you also have the right to assert yourself and answer honestly when questioned about what you believe. Well that wraps up tonight’s show. Thank you so much to our co-host Kelley. Remember to always keep wanting the truth. And don’t use amethyst for migraines. See you next week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, July 10, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.26 07-09-2021 with Exxtian Erin and Dave Warnock

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, ExXtian Erin is back as host and joined by a very special guest, Dave Warnock, who is currently working on a memoir. We’re happy to have you on the show and excited to read your story! Brian from Michigan is a lifelong atheist that can’t fathom laughing at anyone else’s belief. While we do believe that bad beliefs should be scrutinized, we would never laugh at the people who hold those beliefs. James in Washington is trying to heal a relationship with his religious grandma after a Holiday dinner went awry. Now he’s left wondering how to navigate the resentment. Maintain boundaries and set aside conversations that ignite bitter feelings in the future. Kennita in California thinks atheists shouldn’t use god as an expression because it might give off the impression that they are believers. Flippant expression is a normal part of human language. Let’s pick our battles and leave this one alone. Marcus in Texas met a Christian this past week who believes in miracles and wants to plant seeds of doubt. Although you should never expect to change anyone else’s beliefs, you can utilize tools like street evangelism to encourage them to examine their ideas with skepticism. Autumn in California called to talk about a social media storm over the definition of atheism. According to some, atheism is the assertion that no god exists. Let’s keep working to de-stigmatize the term atheist so we can have more honest conversations. Sterling In SC wonders what it would convince us that aliens exist. We’ve got one word for you: Evidence. Show us the proof and we’ll start to believe. Jamie called all the way from Australia to play around with some street evangelism. How would Christians respond if god commanded them to murder? We’re not sure, but we hope it never happens. Great show tonight! Remember to always keep wanting the truth. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, July 03, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.25 07-02-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Exxtian Erin

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted! Objectivity Dan is joined by ExXtian Erin, glad to have you back! First up! Joshua from LA is struggling with the need to “appease” a higher power and pray. That’s a pretty common struggle atheists have, remnants of religious rituals. It takes a bit to relearn some habits, try reminding yourself it’s nothing when they pop up. Stair in Canada asks advice on addressing superstitions or irrational beliefs. It’s common for people to find patterns like this, just remember correlation doesn't equal causation. Glad you are thinking rationally about it! Ulf in Norway found that chiropracty isn’t recognized as medical science in Norway. Yeah, it’s much bigger in the US and some can make some pretty dangerous claims. Some people find a little help but maybe stick to physical/massage therapists. Jared in IN argues that we are moving to transhumanism. For sure, we have been modifying ourselves since a pirate donned a pegleg. Medical science and technology has been advancing in leaps and bounds. It’s exciting to look to the future! Allison in Canada experienced white washing of her indigenous roots growing up. It’s such a heartbreaking story that is coming to light. White washing history is a travesty. Look into finding a community and learn more about your indigenous heritage. It seems lots have found healing in that. Thanks for sharing your story with us. Congratulations Erin, welcome to Truth Wanted!! Remember to always keep wanting the truth. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, June 26, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.24 06-25-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Puck

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, Objectivity Dan is joined by a special guest who might be recognized by some. It is P*ck who is coming up on a year with the ACA now! Congress released the UFO report and there are NO new revelations. As we may have guessed, the conspiracy theorists are going to have fun with this! Stay tuned for the new species of human that of course people think are nephilim that proves the Bible to be true. First up we have Matt in AR who has seen a UFO while stationed in Iraq. This looked like the Phoenix Lights soaring across the sky. The lights did not descend like a meteor; they moved across the sky. This is the first time we ever had a caller that described seeing a UFO while on military duty. We tend to have a bad sense of distance and scope, especially at night. It was probably something experimental. A healthy sense of skepticism is appreciated! Okun in NV, a former radar tech in the Navy, reveals that the screen footage from the jet that was tracking the oblong thing is probably mostly BS. The little grain of truth can grow to a conspiracy theory quickly. We just don’t have enough information about this yet to conclude anything. Kennita in CA states there are probably aliens here because we have only had radio for a little over 100 years and it would have taken them longer than that to get here, even with the closest stars. They were probably AI because of their advanced technology and the entire civilization may have already disappeared. Check out the Magic Flute Opera for a related idea! Traditional Catholic in LA claims that crafts have no mass and do not behave the way they should if they were physical because they accelerate and vanish. They are really demonic illusions. How do we pick them up with physical apparatuses then? How do you know the source of this? A guy that drew a picture is not going to cut it. We can’t say that something is fake or real without doing research. We would love to know if we can summon demons as long as we don’t have to pay for it. Andrew in OH wants to talk about the absurdity of 911 conspiracies. These theories are not even rooted in physics. There is just enough light for the believers and just enough dark for people to doubt. An act of terror is still the most likely explanation. This was a wild episode! We went from UFOs to demons to 911! Thank you everyone and continue the conversation with us in a number of different ways. Remember to always keep wanting the truth. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, June 12, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.23 06-11-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Jessica Bluemke

Hello everyone! Thank you for tuning into another fantastic episode of Truth Wanted. This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Jessica Bluemke Greiff! First caller tonight is Levi in CA who asks advice on helping his mother care more about the truth. Dan was where you are now. These kinds of things come after a long time to deconstruct your beliefs, be patient with her. Usually it’s more important that they approach the world with kindness, rather than what they believe. Uh oh. Otangelo in Brazil is trying to challenge Dan on his well known talking points. You know anti-evolution, intelligent design..the works. Otangelo tries to shift the burden of proof, apparently promoting atheism means we deny god or some crap. Otangelo, you need to come up with an argument rather than trying to call in with “gotchas”. We are happy to say “I don't know” because that gives us room to figure it out, rather than posit “god did it”. Jason in ID asks what we know about the “third bucket”, referencing Otangelo’s 2 bucket comment. What the bleep is the third bucket? Oh it’s scientology crap. Jason says it’s a level to achieve AND a porthole to travel back in time. Yeah, uhhh. That was weird. Uros in Siberia really believes we can’t be the only life in this universe, arguing the statistics are overwhelming. Yes, we want to talk about aliens!! If you want to believe in aliens, go for it. We are more comfortable saying it’s highly likely. It’s fun to think about possible alien life. Call back if you discover aliens. Thank you all so much for watching. We hope you enjoyed today’s episode so go check out some of the other great shows that the ACA produces! Until next week, keep wanting the truth and watch out for the third bucket. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, June 05, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.22 06-04-2021 with P*CK and BrainBug

Hello all you Truth Seekers and welcome to the first episode of Truth Wanted for this June! This week, P*ck is joined by the one, the only creepy crawly lover, BrainBug! Our first caller tonight is Matt from Maryland who wants to talk about the recent reports of UFO/UAPs. They want to know if our hosts have a possible explanation for what we are seeing in the leaked footage. As we cannot explain what is in the various pieces of footage, it would be irresponsible to then apply an unfounded explanation. Up next is Jason from Rhode Island. They want to talk about the use of possibility and impossibility in debates. To help address the caller’s question, our hosts differentiate between physical and logical possibility/impossibility, and explain the specifics of each. Up next is P*ck’s new rival, Paul from England. The caller believes that they can present the kalam in a non-problematic way. Needless to say, they do not. Our last call for the night is Duane from Florida who has a cousin who is a Young Earth Creationist. BrainBug provides excellent examples to show evolution (Do Not Attempt At Home!), from one species to another in “real-time.” However, family members may not be as openly receptive to direct mentions of the “confrontational” topic, but finding ways of dropping little seeds throughout conversations of shared interests can be very helpful overtime. That was such an amazing episode wasn’t it! We hope you enjoyed it. Until we see you next week, stay safe out there! Goodnight! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, May 29, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.21 05-28-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Ro

Hello everyone! Thank you for tuning into another fantastic episode of Truth Wanted. This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Ro! Our first caller tonight is Nathan from Australia. They are concerned that the “far left” is devaluing the goal of equality with its focus on social justice and identity politics. Next up is Dude from the USA who wants to share a ghost experience they had while working in a lighthouse, where the doors appeared to close on their own. The caller admits that they are skeptical about the feasibility of the supernatural being the cause of these experiences, but would like to believe that the causes are special even though they’re unconvinced. Our next call comes from James in New York. The caller is a deist/theist who believes because they are having trouble dealing with the concept of death. Believing in a god out of fear of death isn’t a good reason for believing in something because it doesn’t correlate to whether that god is real or not. Next is “Alien Noises” from Germany who is curious to know if the media (films, books, news etc) representation of the separation of racial and cultural in the US is true. Segregation is a thing, and the legacy of segregation, and its scars are definitely still present. Thank you all so much for watching. We hope you enjoyed today’s episode. If you did, why not check out some of the other great shows that the ACA produces! Just me, they’re worth a watch! Until next week, keep wanting the truth. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, May 22, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.20 05-21-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Rudy Bee

Hello everyone! It's Friday which means another episode of Truth Wanted is going to get sent to your eyeballs from the illuminated pixels on your screen. This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Rudy Bee. Our first caller of the evening is Shaun from the UK who wants our host’s take on the extent to which math correlates to reality and truth, or whether the subject falls under sophistry. Up next is Rahul from MD who claims to have precognitions of events. How do we separate precognition from a person unconsciously reading external stimuli and environmental changes? Next is Autumn from CA. The caller wants to talk about cult psychology and to better understand the differences between cults and religions. Our next caller is Omniskeptic from Canada. The caller proposes that if a person’s morality is based upon what will get themselves and others to heaven or utopia (with regards to a divinely established objective morality), then how does one account for a constantly changing morality without reaching an unstable version of heaven or utopia. Thank you all so much for watching this week's episode of Truth Wanted! We hope you enjoyed the show! Until we see you again, stay safe out there and keep wanting the truth. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, May 15, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.19 04-14-21 with Puck and Arden of Eden

Hello all and welcome to Truth Wanted. On today’s episode, P*ck is joined by Arden of Eden! The first caller of tonight is Lucas from Texas recognizes that they have prejudices towards trans people that stem from their upbringing and is wondering if Arden can help logic him out of these prejudices. Thank you for your call Lucas and for taking the time to learn more! Next up is Paul from the UK who believes that atheists have a burden of proof when they reject arguments for the existence of a God or Gods. This is shifting the burden of proof away from the person making the claim. If you are making a claim, it is up to you to provide the sufficient evidence necessary to support the claim. Third up is Stephanie from Maine who wants to share their experiences as a trans person pushing back against the stereotypes plaguing popular media. The caller also addresses the discomfort that a previous caller, Lucas felt, and indicated that from their own experience that the visibly trans person he saw in the grocery store probably felt just as or more uncomfortable than he did. Last up for the night is Jesse- from New Jersey who is wondering what Arden’s position is about a trans person disclosing their trans status to a potential romantic partner. Arden believes that disclosure is morally virtuous, but not morally obligatory. Thank you all for tuning in this Friday! As requirements regarding masks are changing, please check with your state governments for the exact rules in your area. See you all next week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, May 08, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.18 05-07-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Matt Dillahunty

Hello everyone. It’s Friday which means it’s time to welcome you all back to another episode of Truth Wanted. This week ObjectivelyDan is joined by the ACA’s very own Matt Dillahunty! The first caller of the evening is Justin from AL. They want to talk about the light topic of coming out as an atheist to grieving and ill family members. The decision that the caller has to make is if making sure that their father knows who they are is more important than maintaining peace in the relationship. Next up is Johnny from TX who is looking for advice on how to move forward with a frustrating debate about God. The definition of God, that God begins where our understanding ends,” is fallacious. If God is beyond our understanding, how can the one making the claim even begin to define it. Next is Glenn from PA who believes that Matt does not promote the positive Atheism that he and the ACA claims it does. The term positive Atheism has multiple definitions: either promoting atheism in a positive light, or stating that a specific God doesn’t exist or a specific belief system is wrong. The issue with the latter definition is that if the goal is to put the burden of proof where it belongs, then you want to argue against the points that are actually being presented, and not make unsubstantiated generalized claims about god’s existence. Up next is Rudy from OH who is curious to know what our host’s favorite cryptid story is. If anyone has proof of the “Deer Man,” please call in! Next is Evan from CO who is wondering what our host’s think about Jungian Psychology. Jungian Psychology seems to be able to provide answers for unexplained psychological phenomena. It appears to presuppose (deeper) meaning in phenomena that may not actually be there. Our last call for the night is Joao from TX and is wondering if the platypus’ weird combination of traits are an argument for evolution. Definitely, if you look back at its lineage, you can trace the changes over time that have led to its current, seemingly bizarre form. What a fantastic show that was! Thank you so much for joining us tonight. Please, please, please get vaccinated, and continue to do your part to keep yourself and everyone around you safe until we finally overcome this virus. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, May 01, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.17 04-30-2021 with P*ck and God is Grey

Hello all you truth seekers and welcome back to Truth Wanted! This week, our favorite vulcanized rubber disk, P*ck, is joined by God is Grey! P*ck us actually the only vulcanized bit of rubber that we own here at the ACA so he is our favorite by default. Our first caller this evening is Justin from AL who is wondering if Brenda believes that the flood really occurred. The caller also wants to understand why his friend believes what is said by Jesus in the Bible without question. Next up is Tralian from AZ who wants to tell us about a supernatural experience. Eyewitness testimony is demonstrably unreliable, especially testimony that is being given after 40 years. No one is suggesting that the caller’s mental faculties are degraded or that he was hallucinating, but we all perceive events differently and our perception may not align with what actually happened. Next is Nate from Canada. The caller wants to ask how Brenda reconciles Jesus’ potentially bad advice. The issue is that you can create any kind of Jesus that you want when you read the Bible, and that the image of Jesus that you create is going to align with the lens that you had going into it. Up next is Keith from FL had concerns with the use of the “God of the Gaps” fallacy and then ending the conversation there. It is good to point out logical fallacies because argument is fallacious and not worth directly responding to. However, rather than just ending the conversation right there, it would be beneficial to then explain why it is fallacious and try to work through the argument so that it's not just a one way shut-down. Our next caller is Barbara from Wisconsin who is wondering if Brenda believes that God is omnipotent, and how she reconciles with problematic parts of the Bible that were never corrected. The show’s final caller is Sven from WA who wants to know what keeps Brenda in her faith. The caller mentions that belief in the afterlife is important to him and his connection to his family, and is curious to know what specifically keeps Brenda attached to her own faith. What a show! I mean what a show! If you agree, please give the episode a big like! As always, we at the ACA hope you continue to stay safe! See you next week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, April 24, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.16 04-23-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Matthew Distefano

Hello everyone! It's Friday which means another episode of Truth Wanted is going to get sent to your eyeballs from the illuminated pixels on your screen. This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Matthew J. Distefano. First call of the night is Nick from California who is curious to why more Atheists and skeptics aren’t investigating the supernatural such as paranormal activity. Part of the reason is that these phenomena have been instigated by skeptics in the past and the results didn’t point to a supernatural cause. There is also the factor of cultural beliefs impacting a person’s interpretation of events to match their preexisting beliefs. Next up is Mohammad from California who wants to explain what caused them to become more religious, as well as the reason why they are becoming less convinced in their belief in a god. Our next caller is Adrian all the way from Jamaica. They are wondering how they can go about telling others that they are Atheist. Remember when coming out as an Atheist is to make sure that you are able to do so without impacting your physically safe. While it is nice to be able to have these discussions with others who may disagree with you, those conversations are not more important than your own personal well being. Our final caller is Nate from Canada who wants to talk about the haunted house they used to live in. The caller recounts the many experiences where their family heard footsteps leading up to the front door, but whenever they would check, there was no one there. Thanks for sharing your story with us Nate, it was a wild ride! Thank you all so much for watching this week's episode of Truth Wanted! We hope you enjoyed the show! Until we see you again, stay safe out there and keep wanting the truth. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, April 17, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.15 04-16-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Megan Lewis

Hello all and welcome to this week’s episode of Truth Wanted. Tonight, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Megan Lewis from Digital Hammurabi. The first call for tonight is Lucas from Texas who is curious about what Megan’s concept of Hell and the afterlife in general are. Lucas also wants to talk about a recent conversation with their brother who claims that they survived cancer because of God. Next up is Robert from New York who is convinced that there are “supernatural” type phenomena that exist that science will eventually one day be able to explain. While this is true, science is constantly advancing and developing new tools and techniques to investigate the unknown, that doesn’t mean that science can or will be able to explain everything. Our next caller is David from Florida has a question regarding absurdism and the existence of God. The question boils down to how we find meaning and truth in this world if we do not accept the existence of a God, or we reject a God who fails to help us understand the truths in our universe. Fourth up on the roster is Daryl from Virginia who wants to ask Dan’s opinion on the possibility of living forever and its consequences. Daryl’s “lore” so to speak offers the obvious advantages of living forever at a person’s preferred age range, but there are many factors to take into account and could lead to numerous disadvantages especially over the very long term. Last up is Colson from Texas. The caller is wondering if Megan can provide clarification on her position that a God who chooses to save one person from something is condemning another if they choose not to. They are also curious about how active the God Megan believes in is in our world. Thank you all so much for watching. We hope you enjoyed today’s show. As vaccines are continuing to roll out, please continue to remain courteous to those who are still waiting to get theirs and continue to wear your mask and social distance. To quote Megan, “Be Nice! Don’t Be A Dick!” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, April 10, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.14 04-09-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Jo Luehmann

Hello everyone! Welcome to another spectacular, astonishing, dramatic, magnificent, breathtaking episode of Truth Wanted: Theist Month Edition! Today, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Jo Luehmann. Our first caller of the night is Lee from Canada who is wondering what Jo’s take is on Liberation Theology. While Jo disagrees with some of the theological parts of it, she agrees with the ideology’s fundamental concern for the most socio-economically oppressed groups, and its advocacy to actually work to help uplift them in this physical world. Next up is Andrew from OH. The caller wants to talk about the consequences of Jehovah’s Witnesses banning blood transfusions. The issue is literally life threatening, and while as a person you cannot force a person to undergo a blood transfusion, the indoctrination of such harmful and abhorrent beliefs should be called out and protested. Gabriel from the USA is next and is wondering what Jo’s take on salvation is? Jo doesn’t believe in Heaven or Hell, but instead defines salvation not in regards to an afterlife but in accordance to escaping systems of oppression. Capt. Dad Pool is flying in to see what our hosts think about progressive christianity and whether it is just a stepping stone to Atheism. Everyone has different experiences with Christianity. There are many many cases where Christianity is a toxic, oppressive force while there are other examples where people’s experiences with it, both as believers or non-believers, are more positive. The last caller of the night is Keith from FL. They are wondering if Jo believes in any form of God since she doesn’t believe in an entity God. Jo defines divinity as mystery and defines prayer coming to terms with one's subconscious and dealing with personal trauma. While she doesn’t believe in a supernatural version of Christianity, she continues to use the label as a method protesting the oppression and other harm that has been done in its name. What an amazing show! Thank you for watching Truth Seekers! Stay safe out there and we hope to see you back here next week for another episode Truth Wanted! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, April 03, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.13 04-02-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Keith Giles

Hello and welcome back to Truth Wanted’s first episode of Theist Month! This week ObjectivelyDan is joined by Keith Giles! First up is Robert from Texas who is wondering how well known Christian apologists determine what is considered mythology in the Bible, and what is considered History. Many of the stories and their modern interpretations are vastly different from the interpretations made in the past. Lucas from Texas is our next call who wants to carry on his conversation from last week about confronting his religious family members. This past week he asked his brother why God can do whatever he wants without consequence, and his brother’s response was Isaiah 55:8-9 (Be quiet and just do what god says). Next is Zeph from Illinois who is wondering how the soul correlates to salvation. In his example, he mentions that his dad was a different person after experiencing a stroke, and he is confused on which version of him is going to be judged. If the soul is what is being judged, and it can be affected by physical damage from the natural world, then what even is the soul and why would it be valuable to judge it. Next is Milo from AZ proposes the fun idea that all gods exist, but instead of dying off as they become irrelevant, they instead move onto the next stage of their life cycle. Last up for tonight is Erik from Texas who is concerned about how much Christianity and religion is embedded in the United State’s culture. He is also wondering how our hosts deal with it. Our hosts point out that there are cultural norms that even secular people are unaware derive from Christianity. It is also safe to assume that Christianity is probably never going to fully disappear in this country even if the current trends continue. That’s it for this week’s episode of Truth Wanted! We hope you enjoyed the show. Until we see you next week, we hope you continue to stay safe out there! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, March 27, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.12 03-26-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and P*ck

Hello all and welcome to this week's episode to Truth Wanted. Tonight, our hosts ObjectivelyDan and our favorite piece of vulcanized rubber P*uck are going to be fulfilling all your truth seeking needs. First up on the docket is Lucas from Texas! The caller comes from a very religious family, they’re all preachers, and they are the only Atheist. Your safety and well being are the top priority, and we’re glad you have found other outlets to at least mentally escape from your situation. Thank you so much for calling Lucas! Next up is Roberto from Texas who wants to get into activism, but is overwhelmed by the number of subjects they are passionate about and the ever expanding amount of misinformation out there. Don’t worry about whether people will listen to you, they will. Over time, you will find an audience who appreciates your goals as an activist. As for choosing a subject, focus on one that you are comfortable with and naturally branch out from there. Third up is Michael from Germany who is wondering what theists are objecting to when they say something can’t come from nothing. We don’t need to assert that something can come from nothing to reject the claim that everything came from God. Many of the “gotcha” attempts made by apologists are one sided, over-simplified statements that can be confusing to outsiders and do not necessarily address the actual positions held by non-believers. Next is Keith from Florida who wants to continue the conversation from earlier on religion and racism. The caller provides an example of a Pagan organization's explicit racism outlined on its website’s “values page.” What a show! I mean what a show! If you agree, please give the episode a big like! As always, we at the ACA hope you continue to stay safe! See you next week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, March 20, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.11 03-19-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and SMiles Lewis

Hello and welcome to another fantastic episode of Truth Wanted! This week, our in-house truth seeker ObjectivelyDan is joined by SMiles Lewis! The first call of the evening is Phil from Texas who wants to talk about the possibility of other intelligent beings beyond this planet. While it is true that we only have our own species as a data point, we cannot draw conclusions about the limitations of other intelligent life if it does indeed exist. Great call Phil! Next up is Phil from Ohio who asks, assuming we have been or are being contacted by aliens, how we can account for the massive technology gap between us and them. Like in the last call, since we have a sample size of one, us, when it comes to a civilization, and we don’t have evidence that we have encountered alien species, any assessments we make on the situation would be answering one unknown with another. Next is Sven from Washington who is wondering if our attribution of the building of ancient structures to aliens is rooted in racism tropes, or mere semantics (gods being replaced by aliens in modern times). There are definitely racist themes in some if not many of the ancient alien analyses as they imply the inferiority of ancient cultures– specifically that these cultures or races wouldn’t have otherwise been able to accomplish what they did without the help of other, superior beings. Our final call for the night is from Keith in Maine, I mean Florida! They want to know what the most compelling evidence SMiles has for the existence of the Loch Ness Monster. Sorry to disappoint you Keith, but we don’t have much! Thanks for calling! That was an amazing show wasn’t it, we sure thought so. If you haven’t already, please consider giving the episode a like. Finally, while we are beginning to approach the end of this pandemic’s title, we’re not there yet. From everyone here at the ACA, please stay safe out there. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, March 13, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.10 03-12-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Dr. Josh

Hello all you truth seekers and welcome back to Truth Wanted! This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Dr. Josh. First call for the night is Ally from GA who recently stopped believing in the supernatural and spiritual phenomena (such as crystal healing and tarot card reading), and wants to come out to their friends about it. They don’t want to make their friends who aren’t as skeptical think that they are being betrayed. Next up is Jay from MO who is calling to share a personal experience with God through a dream he had. The issue with dreams is just how much they are affected by what is happening in our lives, so attributing naturalistic experiences to them can be potentially unjustified. The conversation also brings up the interesting perspective of how the pull to faith, and hope that our religious beliefs are true increases when we encounter tragedy. Next up is Ed from DC who wants to talk about his research into the wife of God, Asherah and the connections between the story he pieced together from the Bible and current day. Fourth up is a return caller from last week, Adam from IL. Adam wants to double down on his use of the “No True Scotsman Fallacy” from last week. The caller still doesn’t understand that people leave their faith for a wide variety of reasons, but that just because they stopped believing, that doesn’t mean that they never did believe or that their denomination is any less legitimate that another. Our last caller for the evening is Michael from OH. The caller wants to know how we as a society can combat the rapid spread of conspiracies. One of the biggest factors in this fight is how we as a society handle free-speech on social media. Since these platforms are run by private companies, the best way to combat these beliefs that don’t conform to reality is to have conversations and guide people to ask why they believe what they believe and what made them hold that belief so confidently. What a show! Thank you all so much for watching. Until we see you next week, stay safe out there! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, March 06, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.09 03-05-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Ross Blocher

It’s Friday which means another episode of Truth Wanted is hitting your screens right on schedule. This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Ross Blocher! First up for the night is Will from TX. As a former Catholic, the caller is struggling to have a conversation with their still believing sister who is having personal experiences in the form of visions and dreams. One of the ways to continue the conversation is to not outright deny their experiences, but to insert a bit of gentle nuance into the discussion to possibly get them to ask some questions about their beliefs. Next up is Joe from VA who wants to run some street epistemology on Dan. In the interview shown in the previous episode of Truth Wanted (Episode 04.01), Anthony Magnabosco is shown interviewing Dan back when he was still a believer. The caller wants to know what part of that conversation was most convincing to Dan. Entering onto the field now is number 3, Adam from IL. The caller wants to know more about Street Epistemology and if it is just a tool to create more Atheists. SE is less about convincing theists that a God isn’t real than it is guiding people to questions why they believe the things that they do (not limited to a God belief). Also sidenote, the caller should familiarize themselves with the “No True Scotsman Fallacy.” It isn’t cool to dismiss other people’s experiences as Christians just because they don’t believe anymore, or when they did, they weren’t a part of your specific denomination. Instead, please potentially consider why there are so many different denominations with so many conflicting views. That was a great show wasn’t it! We sure hope you thought so! If you want to see more why not check out some of the ACA’s other great shows? It’s still a crazy world out there right now so until next week, stay safe out there! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, February 27, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.08 02-26-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Reid Nicewonder

Hey there truth seekers! We here at Truth Wanted hope you are all having a very happy Friday, or Saturday if you live in the future. Today, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Reid Nicewonder! Our first caller of the evening is Adam from IL who was thrown off by Matt’s definition of Atheism. Atheism is a very broad term that encompasses many different confidence levels when it comes to disbelief in a god. Because definitions are descriptive, the very fact that a person can find one definition of Atheism that says its a positive claim that God does not exist and another that is merely an absence of belief shows the glaring flaw in building an entire argument over specific definitions. Next up is Keith from FL who is curious about the ethics of street epistemology and if it can be considered manipulative. SE is all about asking questions and having thought provoking conversations while keeping your own beliefs separate from the discussion. Tom from Ohio wants to know how we and other life can come to exist without God. As we do not have evidence for the supernatural, the null hypothesis for any questions that science asks is natural. The burden of proof is on those claiming the answer was caused by the supernatural or God to demonstrate that they both exist and are capable of accomplishing what is being claimed. Fourth up is our first ever caller from France! Please give a warm welcome to Gus! The caller is wondering if Reid has advice on how to stay motivated to keep practicing SE especially when having seemingly unproductive conversations or conversations with people who are convinced for less than desirable reasons. Thank you all so much for watching this week's episode of Truth Wanted! We hope you enjoyed it. Until we see you next time, keep on wanting the truth and questioning every TikTok you come across. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Mon, February 22, 2021

Truth Wanted 04-07 02-19-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Outcast X

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, our very own ObjectivelyDan is joined by Outcast X! First up is a caller from last week, Al from Wisconsin! Welcome back! For clarification, Al identifies as an atheist, but still believes in some of the aspects of Scientology. Today, Al talks about his experiences using the famous e-meter. How can we determine whether what you are experiencing is actually a memory of a past life or a creation of your mind? Next up is RJ from Texas who is another former Scientologist. The caller recounts his experience growing up under Scientology and the effects that it had on him and his parents. He also goes into detail about the highly manipulative tactics the Church of Scientology employs to keep its members in line and disconnected from the outside world. Our final caller is Scott from Texas who wants to share a ghost encounter they believed they had, how this experience led to them becoming more skeptical. If you want to get involved in the skeptic community, don’t hesitate to put yourself out there or offer your services as a volunteer. There is always work to do! What a show that was! Thank you all so much for watching tonight’s episode! As always, especially with what has been happening this week, please stay safe out there! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, February 13, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.06 02-12-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Almost a Doctor Matthew Rahm

Happy Friday and welcome back to Truth Wanted! Today, Almost A Doctor: Matthew Rahme is joining ObjectivelyDan to carry out their weekly mission to take your calls and seek out the truth! First up tonight is Al from Wisconsin who tells us his story as a former member of Scientology. Despite leaving the church, he still holds onto some of the teachings such as people having past lives. How can we demonstrate that we have actually lived past lives rather than it just being a trick of the mind? Next is Scott from California who is calling to see if our hosts can help clarify the concept of event ontology. While we can demonstrate that time is experienced differently depending on its location within space, GPS and Atomic Clocks play a big role in testing this, our hosts are unfortunately not equipped to fully help our caller. Thank you again for your call Scott! Mike from Washington wants to know how we can hold individuals accountable for perpetuating unfounded claims and if we should. One way is to have conversations with these individuals and work through the claims. Unfortunately, because it is unlikely that people will change their minds after a single conversation, it can be difficult to maintain a continuous dialogue. Therefore it is much more effective to present peer reviewed evidence as refutation and get them to reach conclusions on their own, rather than levying consequences for their past claims. Journey from North Carolina is calling to present evidence of chemtrails. He proposes that an experiment has been conducted that has detected harmful chemicals and materials in the trails left behind the jet. One of the biggest questions is how accurate these measurements were considering the already difficult task of testing single elements in a much slower and controlled environment than flying behind a jet. Our final caller is Matt Dillahunty from Austin Texas! Catch Matt & Dan on The Atheist Experience on February 21st!!! That was a great show wasn’t it! We sure hope you thought so! If you want to see more why not check out some of the ACA’s other great shows? It’s still a crazy world out there right now so until next week, stay safe out there! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sun, February 07, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.05 02-05-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Kenneth Leonard

Welcome back truth seekers to the first episode of Truth Wanted for the month of February! It's sunny outside and 70 degrees and don’t you dare question that! This week ObjectivelyDan is joined by Kenneth Leonard! First in our lineup tonight is Paul from MN who wanted to share his experiences and frustrations as a questioning Christian. Our hosts share their own experiences to show how widespread these experiences are for so many. If you are questioning your faith and feel like you are on this journey alone, know that there are others who have walked that same path who are ready to help guide you. Next is Allison from Canada who claims that her mother dreamed of drowning at the pool when after a near death encounter. She believes that this may have been a telepathic connection with her mother due to their closeness. We don’t have the technology to assess telepathic experiences, especially dreams, but we do have evidence that our brains react and form ideas based on a collection of information and biases. Third on the list is Phillip from Australia. If you call the show with the intent of making a formal argument for God, please make sure that the questions are organized and coherent rather than spending 20 minutes defining obtuse terminology. Next up is Carpe Diem from CO who is wondering about the correlation between belief and sacrifice. Sacrifice isn’t necessarily tied specifically to the religious as an Atheists can choose to make sacrifices for all sorts of causes, from pushing against societal prejudices of Atheism to any other personal causes that an individual finds important. Our final call of the night is Will from OK who is wondering why anything matters if people don’t have a common sense of morality. Moral systems that are from an authoritative source such as a god do not recognize nor account for the foundational goals that a community may share. Secular moral systems on the other hand are much more flexible in their ability to be shaped to fit the will of the community, and acknowledge that humans are going to be the ones who have to find ways of living together. That's it for this week; we hope you enjoyed today’s show! See you all again next Friday right here for another great episode of Truth Wanted! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, January 30, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.04 01-29-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Joey Krieger

It’s that time of the week again truth seekers for another episode of Truth Wanted! This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Joey Krieger! Our first caller of the evening is Laurie from OH who is calling to talk about the secular perspective of karma. While there isn’t evidence to support the claim that the supernatural is responsible for any acts of “karma,” there is evidence supporting that our actions have consequences. For example, if you generally treat people poorly, those same people may be less inclined to treat you well in the future. Next is Carpe Diem from CO calls in to finally give ObjectivelyDan what he has been wanting, a conversation about QAnon. The caller draws a parallels between the way people within the cult of Q and devout theists draw conclusions about reality, and is wondering how we can effectively push back against those beliefs to minimize the dangers they pose on society. Isaiah from HI calls in to talk about the events that possibly led to the creation of the prominent myths found in various religious texts around the world. How can we accurately determine which event influenced which story, or if a myth formed separately? Our last caller of the show is Mark from NC. He states that while we have the right to free speech, you do not necessarily have the right to be heard. One of the main issues with that statement is that those who have the power to enforce that right shifts over time. For example, when segregation was legal, a sign could be placed that discriminated against an entire group of people and those with power wouldn’t step in. Today a sign like that would be removed almost immediately in most places and those who made it would face legal ramifications. Unfortunately that’s all we’ve got for this episode, but rest assured, we’ll be right back here again next week! Until next time, stay safe out there everyone! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, January 23, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.03 1-22-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Bridget Bradshaw

Happy Friday truth seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! Today, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Bridget Bradshaw! Our first caller is Carpe Diem from CO who asks why someone would investigate something they don’t believe in? He also asked whether Bridget actually believed in Ghosts or wanted to believe in Ghosts? While Bridget did believe that Ghosts were possible during her time, she wouldn’t assert certainty in either direction and was open to the possibility that they either did or did not exist. Our next caller is Will from AL who is wondering what Bridget thinks of claims of physical assaults from Ghosts at haunted properties. Our hosts bring up the point that many of these places profit from these anecdotes and reports and that they are a vital part of their business plan. Omniskeptic from Canada asks how Bridget’s team of paranormal investigators came to an explanation of events after an investigation? Was it organized? According to Bridget, there was a set procedure where the different members or smaller break-out groups would all individually come up with their own conclusions before sending them to a designated team leader who would then create the official report. Next is Marcia from AZ who calls to tell our hosts about her time in Sunday School. She explains how her teachers would threaten her and other students with the possibility of being haunted by demons if they stray from their faith. While she is an Atheist now and has moved on, she still notices habits stemming from that class. Keith from FL calls in to ask how a paranormal investigator can determine the real paranormal activity from the false positives as was seen in the video footage shown earlier in the show. You can’t, at the end of the day it’s always a personal anecdote that’s unfalsifiable. Well that’s it for this week, we hope you enjoyed the show! If you did, why not check out some of the other great shows that the ACA produces! Also if you thought Bridget was fantastic, you can find her at Facebook & Twitter at the links below! Bridget Bradshaw: Facebook - APOPHENIA666 Twitter - @APOPHENIA666 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, January 16, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.02 1-15-2021 with ObjectivelyDan and Jamie Woodhouse

Happy Friday Truth Seekers and welcome to another episode of Truth Wanted! This week, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Jaime Woodhouse! Our first caller is Mark from Pennsylvania asks if there is any way that life can persist without causing suffering to other entities. While there is evidence that plants release pheromones when they are damaged, there isn’t evidence indicating that they are sentient or that they suffer the same way that a farm animal would. Next up is Tymm from Washington who is wondering about the sentientist position of euthanizing a suffering person or animal. This question is a tough one because while humans are in the unique position of giving consent, pets are not which puts the responsibility on their owner to do what they feel is best to minimize their companion’s suffering. Fantastic question Tymm! Up next is Louie from Florida. The caller asks if sentientism can help in answering the question if life, complex or otherwise, exists elsewhere in the universe. Our hosts bring up the similar genetic patterns that all known life within our own planet shares, and argue that if there is life elsewhere, that there is a strong possibility that it has followed a similar sequence of change that we have seen over time here on Earth. Joey from California calls in to discuss the ways that veganism is intersectional with other forms of injustice. The caller brings up the example of how the US government generally subsidizes meat and dairy rather than fruits and vegetables. Our hosts go on to discuss how we can oppose multiple forms of oppression at once, and how acknowledging and fighting injustice and suffering in one area doesn’t negate the injustice and suffering in another. Louis from New York calls in to tell us his UFO sighting story from back when he was in LA. Thanks for sharing the fun story with all of Louis! Our last caller is Malcolm from California who wants to talk about the reason for the commonality of various symbology across a multitude of various religions. The eels have ALL the answers you seek! That’s all for this week folks! Thank you for tuning in to today's episode of Truth Wanted. If you want to see more of Jaime, check out the links below! Jaime Woodhouse: Twitter - @jaimewoodhouse Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, January 09, 2021

Truth Wanted 04.01 1-8-2021 with ObjectivelyDan, Anthony Magnabosco and Ben G

Hello Truth Seekers and welcome to our very first episode of Truth Wanted in 2021! Tonight our host ObjectivelyDan is joined by Anthony Magnabosco and Ben G! First up is Keith from FL who is wondering how street epistemology can be applied to conversations beyond the religious. Our hosts act out an example conversation while also providing advice to the caller on how to gauge the usefulness of the conversation. Knowing when to apply SE is a give and take exchange that is subjective to the specific conversation. Carpe Diem from CO takes the position that while SE isn’t necessarily persuasion towards the interviewer’s position, but is persuasion away from the belief that was previously held. Our hosts push back and define the goal of SE is to help people come to a more reliable method of obtaining the truth. SE does not attack specifically held beliefs, but the reasons and methods that have been used to arrive at those beliefs. That’s a wrap for this week Truth Seekers! Hope to see you all back here next week for another episode of Truth Wanted. Did you like our guests this week? You can find them via the info below! Ben G: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAtheistRoundTable/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/ @ben_g_se Twitter: www.twitter.com/Ben_G_SE Anthony Magnabosco: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AnthonyMagnabosco210/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/StEpistemology Support Black Nonbelievers!!!: https://blacknonbelievers.com/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, December 19, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.46 12-18-2020 with ObjectivelyDan and SkepticShe

Welcome Truth Seekers! Tonight, ObjectivelyDan is joined by Lauren (aka SkepticShe)! Lauren makes videos on everything from Atheism to Scientology! Cast your vote on The Golden Pico Awards!!!: tiny.cc/thegoldenpicos Our first caller Mark from PA is shocked at how much money Scientology manages to take in despite its comparatively young age compared to the more established religions. Should Atheist groups try to take them on in a legal battle? Brian from OR asks our hosts if they have investigated the other side’s evidence of the 9/11 conversation. It’s important to form a reasonable conclusion based on the current set of evidence, rather than extrapolate down rabbit holes that go beyond the data. Next is Tymm from WA who shares his deconversion story from ex-gay minister to coming out gay. If a god exists, they are definitely not a kind one who loves you for who you are. Thank you for calling Tymm, you are amazing! Jo from IN is concerned about the speed that the Covid vaccine was developed and asks our hosts for their thoughts. We should believe experts because they are the ones who are most informed on the subject and qualified to draw conclusions from the available data. Our final caller of the year is Lawson from MN! He expresses concern over trusting anything from the establishment. Technology allows us to create and access information faster than ever before, so it is more important than ever to do your due diligence and actually read any article of interest fully before sharing. With this in mind, there is no such thing as a completely unbiased source or article so it is important to look at a variety of sources to get a clearer picture. That’s all for this episode! Thank you all so much for watching and hunting the truth with us during this crazy year! From all of us at Truth Wanted, we wish you a very safe and happy New Year! You can find Lauren at https://www.youtube.com/skepticshe Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, December 12, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.46 12-11-2020 with ObjectivelyDan and Jmike

Good evening, Truth Seekers! Tonight, ObjectivelyDan is joined by our special guest, Jmike. Jmike is a co-host on The Atheist Roundtable and has a new channel, Axioms On Trial! First caller tonight, John in the USA asks what our objections are to libertarian free will. If you affect our physical brain it will change how we act. Free will, even if we had it, wouldn’t be good evidence for god, or even a soul. Is the soul not something we can observe? Sven in WA asks if skepticism would lead to conformity the way religion doctrine does? We do see a culture that develops when one is around a group of like minded people, it’s true for any social group. Skeptics seem to be more open to addressing failures in how we think as a social species. Ceafe in the USA argues that claiming a soul is supernatural is an evasion, since we can’t demonstrate the supernatural. You can’t say the soul exists and does something in the natural world by claiming it's supernatural, supernatural has no explanatory power. Edward in Canada asks how we know god isn’t deceiving us to make us not believe. One couldn’t know, we are stuck in the confines of our reality. Give us the evidence a god is deceiving us, Neo didn’t know he was in the matrix until he was provided evidence. Doug in ID asks why people are more concerned about freedoms than protecting people during this pandemic. It’s sad how “pro-life” people don’t seem to care about the life of living people. People do change their minds, it’s not the end...yet. Kevin in CA asks if it’s probable that highly technological life is out there? It’s possible... Jmike takes a more agnostic view of alien life. Alien stories starting with drugs are hard to take on face value, sorry. Lastly, Denis in AZ wasted our time with a prank about UFOs and a tool he brought back from an abduction. Ugh, we were interested in this call...too bad it was a prank caller. That's all the Truth for this week! Stay safe and make sure to check out more from Jmike at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxRu_TVAR6nWE9pRSJJR-sw/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, December 05, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.44 12-04-2020 with ObjectivelyDan and Bryce Cornell

Good evening, Truth Seekers! Tonight’s episode of Truth Wanted, ObjectivelyDan is joined by our special guest, Bryce Cornell. Bryce is a former believer turned atheist and co-hosts on The Empathetic Atheist. He left his faith after realizing believing first is not a good pathway to truth. First caller tonight, Geo in AZ experienced a burned in hand print on the floor that moved around his old house. This only happened 3 times in ~20 years. How would you explain this? This is just an odd story and no way to substantiate or even investigate it any longer. We can’t jump to the supernatural on this, I don’t know is the perfect answer. Carpe Diem in CO asks our opinions on the morality of bringing kids into this world. Dan is an antinatalist, there are kids in the foster system that need help if one chooses to bring up kids. It sounds like Carpe’s wife is leaning toward wanting to have a baby and you aren’t, you need to have these discussions together and see if there is a middle ground. Yo in TX asks how can a vegan diet give you enough energy to make it through the day. Most of what we get our energy from is carbohydrates/sugars, not meat. You can get all your protein from a vegan diet, make sure you get all your nutritional requirements. Take small steps for yourself if you want to move toward veganism. Glenn in PA says that vegans aren’t saving animal lives, arguing it's better to live a short time than not exist. We don’t agree. In your hypothetical, we would rather not live than die in childhood, one couldn’t care if they didn’t exist. This argument doesn’t make sense, would a farmed animal agree with you? Our last caller tonight, Scott in PA asks how our views changed on LGBT issues from when you were a christian. Dan thought it wasn’t the equivalent of a straight relationship so there was something wrong. It took a little empathy to challenge that belief. Luckily, it's more acceptable now to be LGBT. That's all the Truth for this week! Stay safe and make sure to check out more from Bryce at www.youtube.com/c/TheEmpatheticAtheist/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, December 05, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.43 11-27-2020 with ObjectivelyDan and PUCK

Good evening, Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by our intrepid co-host Puck. Tonight is a pre-recorded show due to Thanksgiving week in the US. First caller tonight, Malty in WA asks how we can address friends/family on their unsubstantiated beliefs. It can be a task to be patient but if someone is saying something insulting, that is a time you can push back. Keep in mind, you don’t owe anyone a conversation. Stitics in CO asks what is the one topic we would want someone to call in about. Puck looks for claims he has not heard, like out there paranormal claims. Any kind of extraterrestrial claims, hollow earth, etc claims interest Dan. Richard in England asks if veganism is a moral obligation. You could make the argument that is an obligation if you want to stick to your practices to lessen harm and suffering. Typically, people have more food options but not everyone has access to stick to a strictly vegan diet. Richard finds the position morally superior but not an obligation. Dustin in WV asks for advice on how to shift online arguments from a debate to a conversation. The longer form you can get your ideas across the better, twitter is not a good option if you want to change peoples mind. Try to understand why they are convinced by their reasoning and point out why it doesn't convince you. Katie in OH what advice do you have for new atheist activists? Don’t wait until you have the best equipment, put yourself out there, people will find you! Listen to people and see what they have to say. Be willing to adjust the nature of your content. Martin in FL asks Dan about his experience with the Boy Scouts. Dan is an eagle scout and learned lots about the outdoors but is upset at the report of allegations of abuse. We would like to see a more secular Boy Scouts. Patricia in NY asks if there are any conspiracy theories we somewhat believe or wish were true. Some conspiracies do happen, most of them are just too outlandish. We don’t just believe the claims, we need GOOD evidence. Our last caller tonight, Tanjil in Australia asks how much time per week we research. Dan listens to podcasts/books 5 days a week. Puck gets in about 30-40 learning hours a week with podcasts, books, news, and research for Non Prophets. That's all the Truth for this week! We hope you enjoyed our “Friendsgiving” episode, stay safe out there and we’ll see you live next week. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, November 21, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.42 11-20-2020 with ObjectivelyDan and Ian Jaydid

Good evening, Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by Ian Jaydid! Tonight’s episode is about all things paranormal. Ian is an artist first and foremost but he is also an author. Check out his latest book “Migration”. Ian starts us off today talking about his experiences with lucid dreaming and the astral realm. First caller tonight, Pierre in Canada argues that the bible is not talking about gods, but extraterrestrials that created the world. How could you know that? Pierre tells the testimony of a prominent Raelian. Neither testimony or books on the subject will convince us. Mark in PA believes that lucid dreaming isn’t magic, it’s just dreaming, you can’t see things that aren’t there. Ian doesn’t believe in a soul and would agree if he hasn’t had his personal experiences. We definitely aren’t talking about an immortal soul saved by Jesus. Jordan in CA asks how we define truth. It is not as straightforward as we think. We work more with a pragmatic idea of truth, assuming a shared reality. Even that starts with a bunch of assumptions, like terms we use to describe reality. Ian goes super deep, talking about empty space and the physics behind empty space. Our last caller tonight, Vern in MI asks how often we interact with presuppositionalists? They do call in from time to time. Ian hasn’t had the pleasure yet. We quickly break down the argument and all the traps and pitfalls that come. There is no reason to insert a god in any argument. The logical absolutes don’t point to a god either. That's all the Truth for this week! Find more from Ian at https://ianjaydid.com/ Stay safe out there, wear your masks! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, November 14, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.41 11-13-2020 with ObjectivelyDan and Abdullah Sameer

Good evening Truth Seekers. ObjectivelyDan is back in the host chair with our special guest, Abdullah Sameer. Abdullah is an ex-muslim activist and and hosts a website of all his appearances on podcasts, shows, or his blogs. Check it out at https://abdullahsameer.com/ First caller tonight, Autumn in CA is a new atheist activist and asks how to differentiate Islamaphobia or valid criticisms of Islam. Keep in mind that Islam is not a race and when you criticize Islam, you are addressing an ideaology. Feel free to step outside the focus of your YouTube channel and criticize Islam. Maya from the Caribbean asks how Abdullah has experienced how islamic families treat their deaf children. She works with deaf people and has seen that hindu and islam families tend to hide away their deaf children and won’t communicate with them. Abdullah has not experienced that, sadly humans do stuff like that. Adrian in TX argues for the existence of a deistic god. Dan starts off accepting the 1st premise but can’t accept the fine tuning argument for god. Nature may have the APPEARANCE of fine tuning, we don’t agree that things ARE finely tuned. Doesn’t a deistic god not interfere with nature? Scott in PA was prompted to call after listening to Adrian’s call. Scott thinks the fine tuning argument is bunk and goes on to talk about how we evolved along with our ecosystem. There are many examples of places just on this planet that are uninhabitable by humans, let alone the entire universe. Our last caller tonight, Catholic Traditionalist in LA asks if the hosts are hard or soft atheists. Adbullah identifies as a weak atheist, we are open to evidence to change our minds. CT fails to trap Dan in a weird semantics definition of logic, trying to poke holes in logic. That's all the Truth for this week! Remember to keep wanting the truth. Stay safe out there, wear your masks! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, November 07, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.40 with Puck and Ethan Micheal

Good evening Truth Seekers. Sit back and relax tonight, Puck is hosting Truth Wanted this week and joining him is Your Friendly Neighborhood Atheist, Ethan Michael! Ethan is a new to YouTube atheist but now has several YouTube shows now! Puck starts us out tonight talking with Ethan about everything Atheist YouTube. First caller tonight, James in Australia asks about the religiosity in America versus Australia. This call dropped, please call back James. Robyn in AZ tells a story of where she was laying in bed and felt something jump up on her waterbed but nothing was there. She later learned that her cat died and thinks that was a last visit. Even if this was true, what can we do with this information now? Yo in TX conducted a seance and asked for any supernatural experience and claims the lights turned off, darkness enveloped a candle, the candle came back on and they saw a shadowy figure. Candles can relight and cast ominous shadows, again this is just a story. James in Australia is back to talk about how religiosity has permeated in all American society. Ethan thinks we aren’t aware how much religion affects our daily lives and talks more on history and religion. America is not a christian founded country. Puck talks how much more religious America appears on the world stage. David in CA argues that “in the beginning, let there be light” is confirmed by the consistent nature of cosmic microwave background radiation. The bible is vague and open to interpretation, how do we know that's what the bible meant? Why not talk with a physicist about this? Last caller tonight! Anthony in CA argues there is more evidence for bigfoot than the tooth fairy, etc There might be MORE evidence, but we don’t find it credible. Anthony feels bigfoot is a claim to be researched, not ridiculed. Anthony is going to share some evidence he has, we ran out of time. That's all the Truth for this week! Thanks for voting! Find all of Ethan’s links here: linktr.ee/YFNAtheist Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, October 31, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.39 with ObjectivelyDan and Dave Farina

Good evening Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined this week by Dave Farina, aka Professor Dave on YouTube. Dave is a science communicator on YouTube with over 1 million subscribers! First caller tonight, Lars in Norway wants to address obtaining absolute certainty. Let's start with some definitions. Absolute certainty is only obtainable through maths, but it’s used a bit more colloquially in other sciences. We have to operate under some assumptions. Larry in PA asks if our hosts believed a soul leaves your body and lives forever. There isn’t a consensus in Christianity on an afterlife, but Dan did believe in a soul and afterlife. Dan agrees with the caller that there doesn’t seem to be evidence of any afterlife. We wish more people viewed this as the one and only life and lived it to the fullest. Derek in MI theorizes Donald Trump may be the antichrist. He gives us a few examples, possibly prophesying 2020 being a terrible year. The antichrist in the bible is not what people think. As fun as this call was, we don’t put much stock in Christian mythology. Tymm in WA is fearful of the conservative nature of SCOTUS given the 6-3 majority, specifically losing marriage rights and blurring the lines between religion and government. It is a really big problem and it’s going to be an uphill fight. Tymm talks abortion rights with our hosts for the remainder of the call. Last caller tonight! Julie in ID continues the conversation on the recent SCOTUS nomination and how it could affect women’s reproductive rights. We get that people need to talk about politics right now, it's horrible how much it affects our rights. It would be a grave social ill if women’s reproductive rights are taken away. That's all the Truth for this week! You can find more from Dave at https://www.youtube.com/c/professordaveexplains Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, October 24, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.38 with ObjectivelyDan and Puck

Good evening Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined this week by Puck! Puck has been a volunteer with the ACA for several months and streams on twitch! Puck is a newer skeptic and is chomping at the bit to talk to some callers. First caller tonight, Johnny in CA asks our hosts of any favorite paranormal claims they have, or any that make you go, “Hmmm.” The deep sea freaks out Puck, aliens for Dan. Interesting. Johnny wants there to be aliens but still remains skeptical. Mark in PA asks if evangelicals would believe in creationism if the creator was Hindu, not Abrahamic. Some people will remain skeptical of whatever claim you tell them, hell some even believe the earth is flat. If Brahma were real, we would need some corroboration and ask if this was the best they could do. Jay in IN asks if we know about Falun Dafa, or Falun Gong, a practice similar to Tai Chi. We know if it, but don’t attribute the health benefits to the supernatural. Be wary of newer organizations that claim to be ancient, especially if that group has a dubious at best news site. Will in SC asks our advice about an upcoming speech project on using epistemology to examine their beliefs. Thank you for learning how to give a speech. Talk about the Socratic method and examples of Socrates’ use of questions, street epistemology, and introspective questioning. Last caller tonight! Bridget in NJ was a ghost hunter that realized it was not real. She realized the people believed first and filled in the unknown gaps with ghosts and noticed the reactions when asking the “wrong” questions. Bridget agreed to post some ghost hunting reports to our TW Facebook fan group! That's all the Truth for this week! Thanks for watching and make sure to check out Puck on Truth Wanted’s November 6th episode. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, October 17, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.37 with ObjectivelyDan and Dallas Wade

Good evening Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined this week by our special guest, Dallas Wade! Dallas is an atheist YouTuber focusing right now on paranormal myths. They start us off talking about paranormal beliefs and ghost stories. First caller tonight, Richard from Toronto tells us a ghost story, a friend’s friend found a ready to eat meal while fleeing a conflict in Africa. Maybe it's manna from heaven! What’s to say it wasn't a meal of another person that was fleeing that conflict? Sorry we can’t just jump to the miraculous. Harper in Belgium asks for advice on how to deal with this girlfriend that seems to have dissociative identity disorder. We are not doctors, this would best be addressed with professional help. Katie in PA asks if repeat-style behavior in ghosts is just a stain on time, causing said repeat actions. Dallas thinks the stories and tales told affect what people say they experience. Katie then tells a story of an attempted exorcism someone tried to perform on her. Dani in LA died clinically 6 times after an attempted murder, no pearly gates, but she isn’t sure she was 1000% dead. We aren’t medical experts but there are different types of clinical death. We are glad you are with us today! Zoey in NY claims to have seen a ghost wearing a velour tracksuit walking around outside an abandoned mental institution. How do you know there wasn’t someone living there that knew the ins and outs? We believe you saw something but we would want to investigate this claim before believing it. Last Caller tonight! Sarah in The UK tells us about an impromptu séance she had 40 years ago. There was a makeshift question/answer board, everyone touched a glove and it started moving, sounds ouija-esque. Look into the ideomotor phenomenon. There is a lot of fakery in these types of things. That's all the Truth for this week! Check out more from Dallas Wade at https://www.youtube.com/c/dallaswade Thanks for watching! Continue to wear a mask and make sure to vote! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, October 10, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.36 with ObjectivelyDan and Jesus H Christ

Good evening Truth Seekers! After all this time Jesus Christ makes an appearance tonight on our show, apparently ObjectivelyDan needs a good ol’ talking-to. Jesus has over 1 million followers on YouTube. First caller tonight, Alexiel from Canada claims to be able to channel the goddess Isis, even saying she may channel Isis talking with us today. If anyone can do this, how do we know this isn’t a feeling we have? She claims to be able to channel Isis over the air, Dan wants her to call back when ready. Oriax in PA asks if blasphemy laws are too strict in a monotheistic religion. Dan thinks cultures use blasphemy differently. You should be wary of who you can’t criticize in any culture, for example authoritarian regimes. Jesus sees blasphemy as a control mechanism. Aegir in Iceland asks how people justify seizing land using religious texts. Ooh, tough question. It is not a justified reason to take land on religious grounds. Jesus talks about the ludicrous amounts of land the LDS church owns, it can be seen as modern colonization. Corey in SC said the claim of Jesus is more absurd than the claim of bigfoot, despite Jesus on the show tonight. The Jesus claim is less than anecdotal and there is more biology in a bigfoot blame, but Jesus admits bigfoot is more likely than Jesus. Chris in MO wonders why his political views shifted with losing his beliefs and asks if he has good reasons. Sure social media algorithms do play a role but it’s just mainly exposure to other viewpoints, just be wary not to fall into an echo chamber. Last Caller tonight! Bob in OR thinks it’s not in our ability to own things, claiming we can’t have relationships to objects. Ownership does seem kind of arbitrary but we have evidence of humans and other animals demonstrating connection to objects, a type of relationship. That's all the Truth for this week! Check out more from Jesus Christ at www.youtube.com/c/thejesuschrist Thanks for watching! Continue to wear a mask and make sure to vote! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, October 03, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.35 with ObjectivelyDan and Christy Powell

Good evening Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by ACA’s own Christy Powell, host of Secular Sexuality. Christy is a licensed therapist and talks with us tonight about mental health and the stigmas that come with it. First caller tonight, Brutus in MN has wanted to started a male positive feminist movement to help keep men from sliding to right wing groups. There are some sites to help educate men. You want to include some female voices in your movement. Sven in WA asks our opinion of gender specific dress codes in the work environment. Dan wonders if equal protection laws actually protect or how to enforce those laws. You are likely more protected at a larger company but there are systemic issues affecting the world. Being a part of the world changing takes some pioneering. Harry in WA asks Christy’s advice about exploring their gender when their partner has come out as transgender. Just because you experience someone else transitioning doesn’t devalue your own thoughts or exploration, there is nothing wrong with that. Find some people that will support you and be happy! David in NE talks with us about his past sexual abuse experience that affects how he thinks about his bisexuality, specifically that it caused his same sex attraction. We can’t speak to your experience but research is inconclusive and may have limited your sexuality. We recommend talking to a sex positive therapist. Mira in Germany grew up with a mother into alternative medicine and asks our advice for remaining skeptical about those faux cures. Finding a shared community to talk to others and keep yourself informed, be your own advocate. Last Caller tonight! Noel in CO wants to create LGBT inclusive spaces and asks for advice about educating their grandparents. There are affirming grandparents and being old is not an excuse to not change your mind. Conversations with family can be very tricky, give them a chance to hear what you really think. That's all the Truth for this week! Check out more from Christy at www.vcatx.com or Thursday’s at 7 on Secular Sexuality. Thanks for watching and keep wearing those masks out there! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, September 26, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.34 with ObjectivelyDan and Seth Andrews

Good evening Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by Seth Andrews. Seth is no stranger to the ACA, he is an author, podcaster and YouTuber! Check out his new book, Confessions of a Former Fox News Christian. Sorry for the technical difficulties on today’s stream. First caller tonight, Trina from IL claims to be able to feel physical pain without touching the person by hovering her hands over their body. Wish we could test this remotely. It makes a great story but we can’t just take someone's word for this kind of ability. Jacob in TX asks what humanism means to the hosts. Only humans can solve the problems of humanity. Humanism is rooting ourselves in the best parts of humanity to better the world. No deity is going to help. Terri in SD asks how do you explain ghosts to a child that has never grown up knowing about ghosts. We are creatures of imagination and kids don’t have the tools to figure out what scared them. It would be a good time to explore critical thinking. Pat in AL struggles with believers hearing her telling them their wrong when she is talking about her non belief. There isn’t a lot you can do about their insecurities, try to use “I” statements and be true to yourself. Andrew in MI feels jaded with religion but still feels there is something out there, like a conscious source. While it seems the brain and mind are separate things, the mind is a product of the brain. We don’t fully understand consciousness. Last Caller tonight! Andrew in CO asks how to talk to conspiracy theorists or is it best not to talk to them. Seth has faced this as well and finds it’s best to counter the claims but not try to change their minds, more often than not you won’t be heard. That's all the Truth for this week! Check out more from Seth Andrews at www.sethandrews.com Thanks for watching and keep wearing those masks out there! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, September 19, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.33 with ObjectivelyDan and Oz from TART

Good evening Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by Oz, from The Atheist Round Table! TART is a YouTube show giving believers a one on one conversation with a round table of non believers. They create a welcoming atmosphere over at TART, check them out at https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAtheistRoundTable/ First caller tonight, G in NC asks for tips on how to avoid magical thinking in day to day life. How to figure out if your beliefs are true or not. Check sources of what others are researching into about that belief and challenge your own beliefs. Julie in ID talks about a weird experience she had in a cabin in Alaska where she thinks she astral projected back to her home. This sounds more like a crazy dream. The hosts relate stories of weird things happening when asleep. Dreams are fascinating but completely natural. Sven in WA thinks the concept of morality keeps him believing in souls. Defining souls as a 3rd party between our brains and body. How can one find their soul? How do we know our good intentions aren’t natural? Measuring people by their humanitarian actions doesn’t indicate a soul. Last Caller tonight! Jaime in Australia thinks the brain has a lot to answer for and relays a story of driving and watching trees turn into buildings and wildlife coming at him. The brain does all kinds of wacky things and it’s a fascinating field of study. There is no evidence of the supernatural regarding the brain. That's all the Truth for this week! Check out more from OZ or TART at tart.live Thanks for watching and keep those CO monitors out when camping... Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, September 12, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.32 2020-09-11 with ObjectivelyDan & Hemant Mehta

Good evening Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by Hematnt Mehta, The Friendly Atheist. He is an online activist with YouTube shows, podcasts, blogs, and more! He is mainly working on a YouTube series breaking down the book of genesis! You can check that out on Hemant’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/FriendlyAtheist1 First caller tonight, Tymm in WA, views the bible as a book of fables and asks about the mythicality of Moses and the patriarch. Hemant points out that knowing they were real wouldn’t affect their day to day life. Katherine in AR noticed the connection of flat earthers and fundamental Christianity and finds it disturbing. Hemant finds the flat earth to be unbelievable but acknowledges the appeal of people finding a community of like minded believers. Be wary of people that “feel” something is true, stick to facts! Last Caller tonight! Jacob in TX talks asks how you can install some doubt into hardcore believers. Street Epistemology is a method that reflects others beliefs. If you want to install doubt, figure out what they believe and why. Dan and Hemant talk about Street Epistemology and veganism, since that was Jacob’s example. That's all the Truth for this week! Check out more from Hemant Mehta at friendlyatheist.com Thanks for watching, stay safe out there, and keep wearing your masks! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, September 05, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.31 2020-09-04 with ObjectivelyDan & Taylor (The Antibot)

Good evening Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by Taylor, also known as The Antibot on Youtube. Taylor focuses her channel on debunking multi-level marketing schemes. MLMs are a business model that looks similar to a pyramid and focuses on recruiting people to sell their products. First caller tonight is Eric from The Netherlands! Eric witnessed “miracle” healing, like back pain removed or legs lengthened, while a member of the pentacostal church. These are staged tricks done by all kinds of people, nothing magical there. Please research these types of parlor tricks. Virus in the UK is calling in about déjà vu type experiences, for example remembering an exact conversion with someone that he dreamed about. While we can’t speak to personal experiences, we have limited knowledge of how dreams function. Debbie in the USA questions the effectiveness of spiritual coaching and asks our take on energy healing and other “supernatural” coaching. Be wary of anyone that mentions energy, stick to evidence based therapy and life coaches. Please check out the secular therapy project! Nick in AR argues there is no way for voters to reject the null hypothesis, one can’t vote not to vote. We all have criticism of our voting and/or election system and don’t have a solution to offer. Jesse in NJ got the full pitch to join a MLM and the person stopped talking to him when he didn’t sign up. We are thankful you didn’t fall into any of these schemes. The last caller tonight, Jaime in Australia, relates a story of being pitched Amway while in the states. Jaime offered advice on providing your time to practice but not join the MLM. Taylor recommends not buying any products from MLMs. That's all the Truth for this week! Check out Taylor on YoutTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9LIQ1_csOAXTHOjQ_G11SA Thanks for watching, stay safe out there, and be weary of multi-level marketing schemes. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, August 29, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.30 2020-08-28 with ObjectivelyDan & Scott Crow

Good evening Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by a special guest, Scott Crow! Scott is an author, activist, musician, and anarchist! Scott has worked to create power from below to create individual autonomy and freedom for ourselves. Right on! First caller tonight is Sally from Australia, she wants to rant about church based charities. Sally is fed up with churches making people believe first or sit through a sermon to qualify for something as simple as food for the hungry. Scott points out that it’s the same for governments and corporations too, and informs us about solidarity over charity. Jamie from Australia talks about the link between conspiracy theories and theism. Specifically Jamie notices theists tend to think conspiratorial. Theists are self important, have sources others don't have access to, and if we just thought like them we would finally know the truth. Zealots of any kind tend to think this way too. Tymm in WA talks about the victim blaming he noticed in Kenosha, WI after protest turned violent. Tymm noticed that people were painting victims in a bad light after the events in Kenosha. This has been a problem in all cities that had victims of violence from recent event protesting. News coverage hasn’t been very positive lately... The last caller tonight, Jason in PA, talks about his conversion to Jehovah Witnesses, which he calls most definitely a cult. Jason feels that roughly 30-40% of Americans are involved in a cult, religious or otherwise. Dan and Jason commiserate how religious cults do harm in the name of good. That's all the Truth for this week! You can learn more about Scott Crow at https://www.scottcrow.org . Thanks for watching, stay safe out there, and wear a damn mask. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, August 22, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.29 2020-08-21 with ObjectivelyDan & @notesfromautumn

Good evening, Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by @notesfromautumn! She is a fellow atheist YouTuber merging human development with atheism. Check her channel out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9cfudGyOm2GiFEg4jf5uDA First caller tonight is Johnnie from TX, calling because he notices he is not able to stick to the questioning part of Street Epistemology (SE) and is asking advice. ObjectivelyDan explains that the creator of SE struggled early on and to keep practicing and stick to the method. Dan in AR met a previous caller, Itto, after hearing her call on Truth Wanted. He called in to further the conversation about atheism and disabilities. He planned to have Itto on the call with him, but unfortunately she couldn’t make it...one day, Itto! Micahel in CO asks the hosts about Christology and Jesus mysticism. ObjectivelyDan notices there is a good credibility for the mythicist position, but that he isn’t 100% on board. He acknowledges this is worth looking into. Autumn takes a great position: “I don’t know.” Jake in WA has a concern regarding Street Epistemology. Jake heard that SE is a script to get people to lose faith in their belief or get people to doubt themselves. SE is a modified version of the Socratic method, to examine why someone holds that belief, and has been used for beliefs other than god beliefs. Our last caller is Shannon Q in Canada! While Shannon wasn’t necessarily an angry atheist, she felt foolish that she didn’t investigate into her previous religious belief system. The hosts recognized some anger they felt early on but it’s a result of the indoctrination and realization that so many others have fallen for beliefs that you just gave up. That's all the Truth for this week! You can check out Notes From Autumn on her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notesfromautumn/ and ObjectivelyDan on Twitter at, get ready for it… @ObjectivelyDan. That’s all folks! Seeya next week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, August 15, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.28 with ObjectivelyDan & John de Lancie

Good evening, Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by our special guest, John de Lancie!!! You may know him best as Q on Star Trek but John is no stranger to secular activism, most recently speaking with the Secular Student Alliance. First caller tonight is Skyler in AR asks if we should have more secular people in government, given that we are a growing minority and have little to no representation. John is optimistic that we will have representation soon, it's definitely needed... Zac in London sees atheists ask for evidence after he makes a statement on his beliefs and asks whether a belief is a claim? The burden of proof rests on the person making the claim. Zac thinks there is a difference in making a claim versus a statement of belief. Sounds like shirking the burden of proof. Deec in SC asks if John would consider a role in a faith promoting production? John says he would not be in a show that is proselytizing. John has played roles as believers but says he isn’t interested in roles on proselytizing shows. Ransom in CA believes that there is evidence of advanced ancient civilizations. His evidence is from paintings and petroglyphs depicting aliens. How can one discount human creativity? Ben in TX is calling in about project blitz, a christian push to get people of faith in places of political power. The best way to deal with it and call it out for what it is, an abuse of power. John gives Last caller is Rob in NJ, asking about John’s secular projects. John updates us on a couple projects he has been working on. One he was able to complete is a play on the Dover intelligent design trial. That's all the Truth for this week! You can check out John de Lanice on his website https://www.johndelancie.com/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, August 08, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.27 2020-07-07 with ObjectivelyDan & Exxtian Erin

Good evening, Truth Seekers! ObjectivelyDan is joined tonight by Exxtian Erin. This week is her 1 year anniversary of deconversion! Erin tells her fascinating story of youth groups, bible camps, introductions to atheist YouTube, and ultimately her deconversion from Christianity. First caller tonight is Kevin in NY who calls to talk about Charles Darwin’s racial biases and challenges evolution. The truth of evolution doesn’t hinge on Darwin or his books. Science has come a long way on this subject! Kevin says that genetic mutations seem to result in only bad traits, which is a creationist talking point. Mike in Germany, a lifelong atheist, calls to ask what it feels like to believe in a god. Good question! The hosts relate that you feel a personal relationship with the creator of the universe and you just know it’s true. Believing is all about controlling your actions. Mun in Australia calls to ask why some people are quick to dismiss Christianity without looking too deeply into the faith. The hosts have been believers and researched Christianity but did not find a reason to believe any longer. Mikey in Finland calls to ask the hosts; view on antinatalism. Dan considers it more ethical to adopt than to give birth. Erin does have kids but thinks it's good to have the arguments out there for people to make more informed decisions about their life. Sam from NC calls to discuss his argument against the idea of Satan, pointing out he thinks the lore around Satan is ridiculous. From a biblical standpoint, the idea of Satan isn’t coherent and our current understanding of Satan relies heavily on the book of revelation. The rest is pop culture and information from other sources. Our last caller tonight is Skyler in AR whose mother has some spiritual/supernatural beliefs and asks how to respond to that while being respectful. These beliefs can be positive or harmful, keep in mind beliefs influence your actions. Dan asks a great question, do you care if your beliefs are true? With loved ones, sometimes you have to pick your battles. That's all the Truth for this week! You can find Exxtian Erin on twitter at @ExxtianEri Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, August 01, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.26 2020-07-31 with ObjectivelyDan & Dan Barker

Good evening, Truth Seekers! Objectively Dan is joined tonight by a former funadmentalist, pastor, and evangelical musician, Dan Barker! He is now a co-president of Freedom From Religion Foundation with over 100 debates under his belt! First up for callers tonight is Mitch in OH, who is calling to ask why people don’t take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously. There’s a decent amount of mistrust of the media and government. Mr. Barker shared a story of picketing a coffee shop which violated mask orders. Christian in WI calls in to ask Mr. Barker for some good local secular resources near Madison, WI, where FFRF has an office downtown with events for members. He also points out Universal Unitarians are great for personal connections and answers questions about starting local groups After Christian’s call, we get to learn a bit more about Dan Barker’s career and history in atheist activism! Ben in TX asks if Mr. Barker felt guilt from his long years of preaching and converting others to Christianity. Anyone would feel guilt, but you have to keep in mind it was never malicious or intentionally misleading. Brian in OR was a Christian for 35 years and is calling to talk about Christian privilege and James 4:17. The hosts don’t have much to disagree with. Linda in OH called to ask Mr. Barker his opinion about Project Faith Initiative, a juvenile court program to mentor at-risk kids. FFRF has filed some lawsuits on this initiative and talks on his experience dealing with these types of programs. Our last caller tonight is Autumn in CA who is a new atheist activist (Yay!) and asks what advice you would have for your younger self. Mr. Barker recommends complaining...about church state violations. Dan points out if someone gives an interpretation, that’s a discussion. To paraphrase ObjectivelyDan, that wraps it up for another DAN-TASTIC episode of Truth Wanted. See you next week, folks! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, July 25, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.25 2020-07-24 with ObjectivelyDan & Aron Ra_20200724

Good evening, Truth Seekers! Today ObjectivelyDan is joined by Aron Ra, the man in black, the maestro of stout beer! Aron Ra is well known on YouTube for tackling evolution and young earth creationism. If you haven’t, definitely check him out. First up for callers tonight, Christian in WI. He is grappling with explaining how to trace back the human genome step by step to its origin. Aron has a 49 part series on this, of course, called The Systematic Classification of Life. Give that a look see. Mark in TX is up next. He is calling to report that he has seen UFOs and asks if the hosts have seen anything unexplained up in the sky. The hosts can’t see the connection from it being explained to it being a UFO. Dolly Llama in Canada is next. He called in to tell a story of UFO he debunked. He saw something floating in the sky so he shot at it. Turns out, it was a mylar birthday balloon. Such a fun story! Vade Mann, from NM, is calling about the origins of god in mythology. Vade theorizes that ancient peoples saw petroglyphs in aurora borealis and assumed they were gods. The hosts remain skeptical about this claim. Next up, Kevin in NY is calling regarding simulation theory. He proposes the simplest elements had to come together with intention. The hosts don't agree and Aron goes on to say simulation theory is his pet peeve. Both hosts chime in with great arguments here. Matthew in FL is calling working about fundamentalism christianity and worried about people working to a theocracy. This is right up Aron’s alley, he and Dan have fun on this call. Mr Batman in IN is the last caller this week. He is calling to continue an argument with Aron Ra about natural laws not changing over time. Dan ended this call early, take your beef with our guests elsewhere. That’s all for this week! Check out AronRa’s channel! https://www.youtube.com/aronra Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, July 18, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.24 2020-07-17 with ObjectivelyDan & Prophet of Zod

Good evening, Truth Seekers! Today ObjectivelyDan is joined by Prophet of Zod! His YouTube channel focuses on helping people find their footing while coming out of their faith. Check him out: https://www.youtube.com/c/prophetofzod or on Twitter @ProphetOfZod! Let's move on to callers! First up tonight, Matt in MD. He mentions a paranormal show that suggests bigfoot is an interdimensional or underground being, but a question arose: Is it ethical to watch these shows, which helps keep them on air and further encourage incredulity? Hm... Itto in Morocco calls in to inquire on how to help disabled people leave their faith. She has seen atheists who are disabled who can’t come out due to stigma of both atheism and disability. Itto is a new atheist content creator, too! Check her out: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUrrZw5htdCxTVUDLInzF2Q Cory in SC called into AXP and is now an atheist! Cory wants to keep some culturally Christian things and wants to find a balance (shouts out to other new atheists navigating this!) Dan gives good advice: Keep what you want, avoid giving money to the church! Chaz in TX calls in about social media and how it affects society with such easy access to bad information. Should social media be a public utility? While that might sound good, there are some real problems with the idea. More regulation could be nice, but how might that be accomplished? Unholymole in IL is an atheist whose 8 year old son asked why he doesn’t go to church. He’s unsure how to approach this. The hosts’ advice? Be a positive model of atheism! Stephen in AU feels belief in god is a desperate attempt to sublimate fear of death, meaninglessness, and suffering; and that people tiptoe around what it means to live. Is that true? Hassan in CA is the last caller this week. He is calling in to ask how to recognize cognitive dissonance in an interlocutor. Dan advises to frame their beliefs in a context of how you could believe something. Zod recommends understanding your own cognitive dissonance. That’s all for this week! Check out Zod’s channel! We put it up top, remember? ;D Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, July 11, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.23 2020-07-10 with ObjectivelyDan & Divine Disbelief

Good evening Truth Seekers! Today is ObjectivelyDan joined by two guests, Divine Disbelief (Susan and Nathaniel). They have a YouTube channel regarding secular news, politics, and global issues and how it affects the community as a whole. Let's move on to the callers for tonight! First up, Nick in NY. He asks what is your rational basis for atheism. Atheism is just the lack of belief in god/gods. Nick seems to assert god is required to be able to verify evidence. Next up we have repeat caller Malcom, in CA. He is calling about languages being influenced by an eel or snake species. Uhhh… Dan pipes up to indicate this is a topic they’ve talked about before and languages are just signifiers to something else. It doesn’t prove anything. Next we have Steph, from TX. She is calling to talk about solipsism, virtual god-hood and consent. Steph defines virtual god as a thinking agent with complete control over your reality. How does virtual godhood tie into solipsism? If we are in the matrix, how can we prove it? Who knows. Justin from VA is our next caller. He is calling to talk about this path out of christianity. He found the origin story of christianity not quite right and looked into other religions. Maybe the bible was started as a self help book. Dan recommends anyone look more into their religion. Kevin in NY is our last caller tonight. He is calling in as a christian that believes christian denominations are wrong. He goes on to say theological framework is based on an incorrect assumption that apocryphal books are inferior to the canonical books, specifically the book of Enoch. Great conversation on the bible and the church on this one! That is all for this week’s Truth Wanted. Check out Divine Disbelief’s work at https://www.youtube.com/divinedisbelief and DivineDisbelief on the rest of social medias. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, July 04, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.22 2020-07-03 with ObjectivelyDan & Shannon Q

Good evening truth seekers! Today is ObjectivelyDan joined by guest Shannon Q. Shannon has an amazing YouTube channel where she meets faith with a psychology background. Check out her YouTube and catch her on upcoming shows on The Atheist Experience. Let's move on to the callers for tonight! First up, Ransom in CA. He is proposing that we live in a simulation and has evidence regarding Planck time and smallest measurable units. Dan doesn't see how this can be evidence for a sim. Shannon doesn’t see the leap to show we are in a sim. This was one amazing call! Next up we have repeat caller Craig, in CA. He is asking how Truth Wanted is patient but other atheist channels aren't, wonder who he means? Shannon explains that not everyone has the same goals and atheists aren't a monolith. Dan adds that he has recognized some of those problems and forms his channel as such. Next we have Doc, from TX. They ask how to know what battles to pick. Dan tells a story of not speaking up and explains that you just have to stand up. Shannon explains that it's contextual and you have to assess each battle. Rick from CA is our next caller. He has recently turned agnostic after reading the bible and finding a contradiction in exodus. Dan explains that it's not even the best example. Shannon gives her example of bible atrocities, the test for an unfaithful wife. They have a great conversation about problems in Christianity. Dragnauct in TX is our last caller tonight. He is calling to discuss a scenario regarding his cousin relating divine intervention regarding a car accident. Dan points out that feelings aren't a reliable way of knowing. Shannon points out you can take mundane parts of an event and relate them to god, if you already have that worldview. That is all for this week’s Truth Wanted. Check out Shannon’s work at https://www.youtube.com/shannonq Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, June 27, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.21 2020-06-26 with ObjectivelyDan & Jenna H

Good evening truth seekers! Hosting today is ObjectivelyDan joined by guest Jenna H. She is a childhood friend of Dan and the artist making thumbnails for the show! How cool! They start the show catching up about growing up as christian in Waco and how they became atheist. Let's move on to the callers for tonight! First up, Katie from TX. They have been deconstructing their faith after some bad experiences in the church and a course in the old testament. While they don’t identify as christian, they are leaning toward witchcraft. Such a great call! Next up we have Brian, in TX. He is calling in to talk about an argument for god. Dan calls them definitional arguments for the existence of god. Dan points out that even though there is a possibility that there is a god, doesn’t make it true. To make arguments for god, it seems you have to strip Next we have Steph, from TX. They are calling to ask about granting moral considerations to non humans. Dan has been considering a veg/vegan path and points the lines we draw about harm are arbitrary. Jenna points out examples in nature of carnivores and a bear eating her wouldn’t be immoral. Now we have Chris from OH, he is calling in because his daughter made remarks about past lives and finds it odd that a doctor said lots of kids say that. Dan makes a point that it is mostly just stories and kids tend to have bigger imaginations than adults. Jenna thinks kids parrot adults sometimes. Next up we have Kevin, in NY. He is calling to express the validity of the bible and the curious relationship of 2nd Peter and the new testament. Dan is more interested in how to demonstrate the truth of the bible and struggles to find a point. Omniskeptic in Ontario is our last caller tonight. He mainly called in talking about ethical responsibilities of mass genocide of certain species, to reduce harm. Jenna points out that we should stay in our own lane. This was a interesting call, give it a listen! That is all for this week’s Truth Wanted. Check out Jenna’s work at https://www.instagram.com/princepsed/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, June 20, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.20 2020-06-19 with ObjectivelyDan & Neil the 604 Atheist

Good evening truth seekers! Hosting today is ObjectivelyDan joined by guest Neil the 604 Atheist! Neil is a return guest, last time we had some technical difficulties so we wanted him back. Neil is rocking a Truth Wanted shirt, such a cool cat. Check out Talk Heathen Let's move on to the callers for tonight! First up, Steph from TX. They are calling in about Gender Abolitionism, where some people advocate that gender roles are harmful. Dan doesn't want to take away Transgender folks gender identity and Neil points out that we should accept whatever gender identity. Next up we have Emry, in VA. Welcome to Truth Wanted. They call to ask if Canada should be a republic. He says that if so, Neil could run for Prime Minister. Neil graciously says no. Dan points out Canadian politics aren't his thing. Uh oh look out, our own Derek Hawke! Is he calling to troll or does he have a topic on deconversion stories? There is no way to sum up this call, just listen to its entirety. Next up, we have Jimmy from TX, he is calling in about how Truth Wanted interprets evidence of god. Neil points out we are empirical when it comes to the evidence. The conversation moves into meditation from there. Neil has had a conversation with Jimmy before, this must be round 2. Next up we have Sara from Idaho. She called in saying after some therapy she isn't fully convinced anything is real or a part of her mental illness. Dan asks if this is more like solipsism. While we can’t convince you that we aren't brains in a vat, there is something to reality.. Andrew in OH is our last caller tonight. He thinks The New England Dark Day was from god because of the book of Matthew and ...thallus? Neil points out it was a natural event. Dan shows that since the bible said a day would be dark, doesn't mean this was from god. That is all for this week’s Truth Wanted. Check out Neil the 604 Atheist at https://www.youtube.com/Neilthe604atheist Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, June 13, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.19 2020-06-12 with ObjectivelyDan & Notjah Witness

Sat, June 06, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.18 2020-06-05 with ObjectivelyDan & Desh Amila

Good evening truth seekers! Hosting today is ObjectivelyDan joined by guest Desh Amila! He has a new movie out called, Islam & The Future of Tolerance. It is about 2 people who fundamentally disagree about a very tough subject. It’s a story of how they met, where they are at now, and how to talk about difficult topics. A trailer was played on the show, you can see it at amazon, https://amzn.to/2Mvd5jw Let's move on to the callers for tonight! First up we have Sierra from the USA. They are calling in because they feel the image of god is a snake or eel. and that saying snake in chinese is just syllables away from god. Desh points out that tonality is important in mandarin and that we know that language is manmade. Next up we have Jen, in SC. Welcome to Truth Wanted. She is calling because her brother passed away at 5 years old. She was told it was an accident and she learned that it was a suicide. Dan points out that it's never a bad idea to see a therapist. Jumping on over to Jeremiah in TX. He says he watches tons of debates on YouTube and puts theists on the level of flat earthers. Claims they don’t have evidence for belief and only keep it because it makes them feel well. Desh doesn't have interactions with flat earthers, lucky for him! Last up we have Jay from UT. He calls to talk about atheists and their political leanings. From experience, he notices atheists were conservative as religious people then moved to leaning left after being an atheist. Desh has a special announcement, his movie is included with Amazon Prime Also Desh’s next project is about politics, it's called Better Left Unsaid! That is all for this week’s Truth Wanted. Check out Desh Amil’s Islam & The Future of Tolerance @ islammovie.org and https://amzn.to/2Mvd5jw Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, May 30, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.17 2020-05-29 with ObjectivelyDan & Ian Harris

Good evening truth seekers! Hosting today is ObjectivelyDan joined by guest Ian Harris, a skeptic, comedian and much more. He has incorporated skepticism into comedy and has noticed more people getting on board with that style of comedy! Lets get on to some callers tonight! First up we have Sierra from Michigan. She would like some advice on how to approach conversations with her step-dad regarding his conspiracy theory beliefs. For example, moon landing being faked. Dan gives some great advice! He recommends taking it slowly and looking at the specific claims in microscopic levels. What is spirit science??? Next up we have Minh, in CA. Talking about intuition in the martial arts and how it affects your epistemology of skepticism. Ian points out intuition is a learned response based on hours of practicing, trust your instincts not necessarily intuition. Jumping on over to Dylan in New Mexico. He wants to talk about the morality of adoption and how he can't see that it causes harm to humanity. He mentioned a podcast he heard about anti-natalism. Dan explained he cant speak to what the podcaster said but is willing to call into that show to talk about it! Next up we have Kal from Arizona! He is an atheist but seems to be struggling with a theist mindset, like expecting the rapture when there is a loud sound outside. Kal recalls a story from his pastor where they were going to worship jesus for 10,000 years, take a breath, and worship for another 10,000 years. Sounds like hell to me! Last up we have John in Oregon! John is calling to talk about the soul. Claims it is like identity with history and it's a process of our consciousness moving moment to moment. Ian makes the point that definitions matter and recommends coming up with a new word for that, not soul, would be a better idea. That is all for this week’s Truth Wanted. Make sure to check us out on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKzYd1mJ8M1pUZ7cM1nwyPA and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and enable notifications. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, May 23, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.16 2020-05-22 with ObjectivelyDan & Gutsick Gibbon

Good evening truth seekers! Our host today is ObjectivelyDan joined by guest Gutsick Gibbon (aka Erika!). Erika kicks off the show with a fascinating summary of what she does, she studies anthropology and goes on to talk about human evolution, the depth of the other hominids, consciousness, and much more! Jumping into calls, first up we have Jeff from California, wanting to know if we should pose challenges to meditation or buddhist “woo”? Next up we have Zac, from London! Zac is wondering how people who don’t have a belief in god have morals. Erika makes a great point about how our primary ideas of “morality” are consistent amongst other cultures, other religious beliefs, and even other primates! Jumping to AZ, from Texas! From San Antonio, wondering if the stereotype of Texas being extremely conservative and Christian is starting to go away. Are people becoming more secular? Next up we have Jacob from New York! He wants to talk about how we got here, but now why. They dive into quantum mechanics, laws of physics, and big bang. Last up we have Ben from Texas! Ben wants to ask about how veganism ties into anthropology and evolution. While this is a difficult question, morals certainly play a role. They hosts tackle this question from a number of different angles. Find Gutsick Gibbon at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJNcAH2yzV3VAMYIGxCZ8_w/about Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, May 16, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.15 2020-05-15 with ObjectivelyDan & Katy Montgomerie

Hello Seekers of Truth! Our cohost for tonight is Katy Montgomerie. Katy is a trans rights activist with incredible musical talent. You can find her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatyMontgomerie/media or on her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3CVggxIzAo7xxq5oeQ4vZg/featured Our first caller is Daniel from Canada, who wants to talk about alien abductions. Could alien technology be so advanced that it appears to be magic, making experience with extraterrestrials unprovable by our current means? Next up is Zack from the UK, who wants to talk about the difference between knowing things to be true and believing things to be true. What even is the definition of truth? Next, we have Tim from Arizona, who wants discuss legal discrimination against LGBT+ people in America. How many problematic laws and institutions are currently being overlooked? Then we have Nick from Wisconsin, whose family believes in pseudoscience. How should you discuss sensitive opinions with others? Last but not least, we have Kyle from Virginia, who wants to know how best to approach a conversation with someone who holds religion-related transphobic views. What do you say to someone who considers transgenderism to be a mental illness? We have a great show in store tonight, so be sure to tune in! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, May 09, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.14 with ObjectivelyDan & Empathetic Atheist

Call the show Fridays 7-8:30pm CT at 1-512-991-9242 ► Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/TruthWanted ► Podcasts may be found @: https://www.spreaker.com/show/truthwanted ► Shop Truth Wanted merchandise @: http://bit.ly/aenmerch ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: truth@atheist-community.org WHAT IS TRUTH WANTED? Truth Wanted is a show about getting to the bottom of beliefs, whether it’s karma or Christ, Bigfoot or crystals. Truth Wanted would like to know how you know it’s true. Hosted by ObjectivelyDan, Truth Wanted takes calls from the community (that means YOU!) and features new guests every week, emphasizing thorough conversations over name-calling and scoffing (most of the time). Truth Wanted focuses on how and why people believe what they believe, and how you can talk about beliefs in more effective ways. Join us for truth investigations and lively conversations every Friday at 7:00pm CT! The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals. We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism. ► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin) ► Check out Dan's other channel @ https://www.youtube.com/objectivelydan TruthWanted is the official channel of Truth Wanted. "Truth Wanted" is a trademark of the ACA. Thumbnail artwork by: https://www.instagram.com/princepsed Intro Music: Cold Funk - Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) Artist: http://incompetech.com/ Copyright © 2020 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/po

Sat, May 02, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.13 with ObjectivelyDan, Nicole Seeley & David Amsel

Welcome back to Truth Wanted! Today’s guest hosts are David Amsel and Nicole Seeley! David and Nicole are Soka Gakkai Buddhists and are here to discuss those beliefs! Our first caller, David, draws on his memories of learning comparative religions, and asks if Buddhism is just a belief in reincarnation. This leads to a broader discussion that gives you an even better idea of David and Nicole’s flavor of Buddhism than the intro! Dolly Llama calls to return to a throwback...Tooth Wanted! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwk4P5P9PFo See, we recently had a caller explaining what his dad did to him when he was younger to cause him to believe in the tooth fairy. Well, Dolly did a few experiments and has some ideas for us! After some further discussion of Buddhism and light technical issues, Josh in Reno, home of the world’s best police force, asks our guest hosts why their religion’s chanting is any different from simple repeated mantras into a mirror, and they respond with some thoughts about religion as an individual experience. Do you agree with them? “Apatheism” is the attitude of not caring if a god exists or not. It isn’t necessarily attached to whether you believe in a god...but a theist apatheist would certainly be interesting. Joseph in Maryland wants to discuss apatheism, and Buddhism’s relation to god claims. The show continues to be about definitions of Buddhism! Adam in Canada asks if Buddhism counts as a religion, or if the idea of it being a religion attaches too much baggage. That’s our show today! If you want to support the show you can check out https://www.patreon.com/truthwanted for a monthly subscription to podcasts with NO ADS and other fun goodies, or https://tiny.cc/aenmerch for merch from all of the ACA’s shows! Hosts and guests can be found on Twitter @ObjectivelyDan and @OfficialSGIUSA. Thanks for watching/listening! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, April 25, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.12 2020-04-26 with ObjectivelyDan & Raul Antony

Good evening Seekers of Truth! Our guest for today is Reverend Raul Antony from the Church of Satan. Raul is a director at Radio Free Satan and host of Chaos Sedated, a podcast which delves into post-industrial music. Additionally, Raul is an editor and journalist at Heathen Harvest, a periodical focused on post-industrial underground and relative philosophy, history, spirituality, politics and culture. You can find Raul at his website https://invisible-war.net/ or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/InvisibleWar Our first caller of the night is Phoenix from Texas. He wants to discuss “chaos magic,” as was discussed last week when a self-proclaimed practitioner called in. Our next caller is Tom from Tennessee, who wants to find accurate sources about Satanism as opposed to common media portrayals. What is it that Satanists really believe – do they actually worship the Devil? How about magic? Next on the line is Tymm from Washington. He wants to discuss the parallels of Satanic principles with humanist and Christian sentiments. Can a Christian still personally identify with aspects of Satanic philosophy? Finally, Jason from Montana calls in to discuss electric vehicles, climate change, and potential solutions to environmental concerns. Tonight’s episode is a blast, so be sure to tune in! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, April 18, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.11 2020-04-17 with ObjectivelyDan & Jordan Homes

Truth Wanted is hosted by ObjectivelyDan and today and he is joined by Jordan Holmes. and they get right into the discussion- Is the Corona virus is a conspiracy? Is Carry Cassidy a quack? How serious is Alex Jones - really? There's much nonsense out there. Lets talk about conspiracies and frauds! Then- on to the callers! Malachi grew up in a sect. How do people fall for nonsense like Alex Jones? Puck is just beginning as an 'out' atheist. What's the difference between a charismatic leader and a cult. Jordan: escalation. Dan: BITE model for academic criteria. Yo is a repeat caller. Heard that some studies claim intercessory prayer to work for ill people. Do they? Josh has a friend in the military who believes all conspiracy theories, so how should he talk about that? Christine wonders what the hosts think about Covid-19 and anti-vaxxers. David is 3rd time caller and studied history of religion and Christianity. What's the origin of monotheism? Dan from WA serves word salad on chaos magic v. ceremonial magic. Does it work!? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, April 11, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.10 2020-04-10 with ObjectivelyDan & Johnny

Sat, April 04, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.09 2020-04-03 with ObjectivelyDan & Unholy Sara

Greetings Truth Wanted fans! In our home edition of Truth Wanted, we are joined by Unholy Sara. It’s going to be a great show! Let’s get to calls. The first caller is David from New Jersey. He wants to talk about COVID-19 from the UK government’s website. He claims to have found some shady statements that have changed their declassification and status of the virus from a High consequence infectious disease (HCID) to a lower classification, he attempts to make this fit into his hoax narrative. From the gov.uk website he so much wanted to talk about: “the designation cleared the way for broader treatment options, as COVID-19 cases could now be treated at ordinary hospitals and not just at the few specialty infectious disease centers.” The website goes on to say that the UK government still regards it as highly transmissible and recommends social distancing and other precautions. He additionally talks about our first amendment right of the freedom of assembly. Does the order to not gather more than ten people a violation of our first amendment right? Does it make sense to close down the economy for a virus that supposedly is safer than the flu? Next up, Julie, in opposition of our first caller, has evidence for COVID-19! Wanting to protect our public, especially the vulnerable, she’s willing to advocate for our medical experts. When lives are at risk, we have to be safe. The following caller Matt Dillahunty from Austin! A question for our hosts, related to Netflix’s “Tiger King.” Based on a documentary, how do we rationally draw conclusions from what the documentary implies? The next caller in the queue is Lynne from Michigan who has a neighbor sick with Covid-19. Unfortunately, her call dropped due to technical issues. Next up, Nick in Massachusetts believes that deism is rational. They discuss the simulation hypothesis, and how much of that hypothesis that informs Nick’s belief? Are there other things that lead Nick to a creator? We can create simulation (ie videogames), is there reason to think we are also in a simulation? Afterwards we have Gary in Colorado. How do we evaluate claims? Can you portray the same story accurately in more that one way? Gary wishes to discuss how different perspectives and narratives will lead people different directions. Rather than just looking at one side or another, Gary suggests looking for some middle ground. Our final call! We have Dean in North Carolina, wanting to talk about the many varying degrees of confidence held in beliefs. Is the method of street epistemology completely arbitrary? If it is arbitrary, could you say that the scale really has more to do with a psychological commitment? Final question from Dean, what is the point of identifying that scale? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--

Sat, March 14, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.08 2020-03-13 with ObjectivelyDan & Tom Jump

Sat, March 07, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.07 2020-03-06 with ObjectivelyDan & Jim Barrows

SHOW NOTES Today’s episode is hosted by ObjectivelyDan and Jim Barrows, co-host of NonProphets and The Atheist Experience! Jim is a local member of the ACA, so Dan and Phil mention something people may forget: the ACA is a local community with events and people who hang out in Austin! Our first caller, Sean in Oklahoma, seems to have a surprisingly common confusion about what the word “homeopathy” means, so Dan and Jim clarify that homeopathy is not the whole category of natural remedies to illnesses and ailments: rather, homeopathy is super-diluted “medication” based on a “like cures like” idea that only came shortly before we understood how vaccines actually work. Malachi in Ohio presents some potential risks of eating meat and dairy. He brings up a common thought that milk is actually too nutrient rich for humans to reasonably consume, since it’s basically growth food for baby cows, amongst other things. Joshua in Virginia calls in to talk about the coronavirus, but gets quickly side tracked down a conversation about whether a scientific study is propaganda if it’s true...but misleading. Friend of the show Neil the 604 Atheist calls in after a short discussion on research and sources to ask about Jim’s de-conversion story! (Hint: The Price Is Right is involved.) We’ve talked a bit about sources and information on today’s show, and Amanda has a specific question: How do I deal with family and friends who only trust one source of information because the number of sources in the modern age is so overwhelming? That’s our show! If you’d like to donate monthly, you can visit us over at https://www.patreon.com/truthwanted , chat with other fans at https://tiny.cc/acadiscord , and check out our merch at https://bit.ly/aenmerch ! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, February 29, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.06 2020-02-28 with ObjectivelyDan & Phil Ferguson

Truth Wanted 03.06 2020-02-28 with ObjectivelyDan & Phil Ferguson SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:00:00 Introduction 00:10:09 Is the Coronavirus Causing a Stock Market Crash? 00:21:49 William - AUS: I’m Christian because I Don’t Know Any Other Religion 00:33:34 Lin - MI: I Thought I Saw a UFO 00:40:48 Julie - ID: Differences Between Jehovah's Witness & Buddhist Afterlife Ideas 00:54:57 Ed - OH: Should My Daughter Get a Bond or a CD? Also UFOs and Quartz 01:00:09 Stan - PA: The Danger of Religion When Dealing with Crisis Situations 01:08:29 Fred - BE: Similarities Between Religion & Love of...Gas Cars? 01:15:22 Sean - TX: Simulation Theory and the Bostrom Argument 01:29:44 Outro! SHOW NOTES Today’s co-host is a rare occurrence here at Truth Wanted: a repeat guest! Phil Ferguson is host of the cleverly titled “Phil Ferguson Show” (a title only to be rivaled by an atheist show called, like, The Atheist Experience). Phil’s area of expertise involves economics. The coronavirus has caused quite a stir the world over in the past month, and some are saying it’s causing a stock market crash. Dan asks Phil if it’s true that the virus is affecting the stock market, and Phil explains some of the thought behind this. Caller William in Australia asks what we do on this show and elaborates on what his Christian beliefs look like. Things get interesting when William says he uses science to validate his beliefs, but doesn’t think Christianity and science fit together. Then we talk about the coronavirus again inexplicably! Lin in Michigan has called before, and today she brings us her memory of an experience where she thought she saw a UFO! (She later learned what the source of the lights was. No aliens, unfortunately.) We get an interesting call from Julie in Idaho who asks a seemingly odd question of two atheist skeptics: What are your thoughts on the afterlife? Julie is an ex-JW who is now exploring other religions, especially Buddhism. Dan and Phil offer some advice about ex-JW resources and give a perspective on the afterlife Julie probably hasn’t heard. We get a caller (Ed) who asks a question that’s specifically in Phil’s wheelhouse: should his daughter who has $10k get a CD or a bond? What follows are words I only slightly understand. Then Ed gives us a cool potential explanation for UFOs or spiritual orbs, which I’m...also unsure how to explain. Thanks for confusing me, Ed! Why is it that religions cause issues when we’re dealing with huge crises? Stan wants to know the same thing. (He didn’t say he’s our biggest fan, but his name is Stan.) Our Belgian caller Fred asks if Dan and Phil feel that there is anything nearing a religious adoration of clinging to their gas cars over electric vehicles. He offers a few of the arguments he’s heard about this topic as well. To end the night, we go to the incredibly

Sat, February 22, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.05 2020-02-21 with ObjectivelyDan & Rebecca Fox

SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:00:00 Introduction 00:13:41 River - MI: How do we know logic is true? (Doubting Skepticism & Laws of Logic) 00:28:33 Doug - FL: Was the Bible Made Up to Discourage People from Human Sacrifice? 00:37:30 Woo is Me (A Brief Discussion on Woo-ey Beliefs) 00:42:25 Tom - UK: My Country Isn't Religious, but We Have a Lot of Woo Beliefs 00:48:44 Fred - ID: Weird Mormon Stories Derived from Their Mythology 00:57:31 Bobby - CA: Life Extension Research 01:11:49 Nathan - TX: Spirituality, Conspiracy Theories, & Schizo-Effective Disorders 01:21:07 Jeremy - IA: Is/Ought Gap...Why is it an issue? 01:40:10 Outro SHOW NOTES You know what’s fun about Truth Wanted? We always have new and different guests! Today, we have Rebecca Fox. She’s an illustrator, animator, podcaster, and all around awesome human being. Rebecca recently worked with a few atheist content creators, including our young Dan (or Yung Dan as he’s known in the “rap game”) and his grandmaster Anthony Magnabosco, to create a Twitter survey about atheists and their deconversions, then making a video about the responses. (That video can be found here at Anthony Magnabosco’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EMyPABdCHc. ) River in Michigan shares an issue that’s bound to sound familiar to a lot of skeptically-minded people: He’s doubting the very foundations of knowledge, including the Laws of Logic. It’s an interesting question precisely because we have no answer. What do? Doug in Florida has a potentially interesting thought about why stories like Abraham sacrificing his son and the entire sacrifice motif of Jesus might exist: The stories are intended to show human sacrifice as reprehensible to discourage a society of people who were already sacrificing humans. (The society is made of people doing human sacrifice, why do any of them care? Why would a story about human sacrifice bother people engaging in human sacrifice?) Dan has some interesting counter-points to this based on Jewish ideas about the Old Testament. Following Doug’s calls, Rebecca & Dan get into a short discussion about woo and “spirituality” from acupuncture to tarot cards! Tom in the UK continues a bit of the conversation about woo by chiming in to agree with Rebecca: the UK has lost a lot of standard religions, but has become infested with woo. Then after Dan & Rebecca discuss further, we realize Tom seems to have dropped. You win some, you lose some. Moving on! Fred in Idaho has a decent interest and knowledge of Mormon mythology, and tells us some of the hilarious tales people spin about how some of these strange Mormon stories fit with their real lives-like 3 men in white suits magically fixing a car with no tools! This gets into the more interesting side of why people tell these tales-is it because they be

Sat, February 15, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.04 2020-02-14 with ObjectivelyDan & Nervardia

14:11 Stan in Philadeplphia Defending gold-diggers. It's behaviors between two consenting adults. "Money is more important than muscles." What about if the relationship becomes a dependency? Is it exploitation? It can introduce various forms of abuse, like financial abuse. One of the examples is getting one's education paid for by gold-digging. What happens in a gold-digging relationship when the power dynamic shifts? What happens when the financier loses access to money? Stan says, "No one can consent to abuse." Being lonely and getting into gold-digging relationships should be allowed without judgment. But, money is inherently coercive, which is a risk. There are different types of relationships, not everything is about love. Historically, marriages were about property. Don't go into gold-digging if you really need the money, because the power dynamic may be skewed. 32:16 32:40 Harry in Yakima, Washington. Transition from new age to atheism Wife lost her faith and began to look into new age stuff. Dr. Daryl Ray suggested giving her time to grieve her faith. And it worked. She began to learn about atheism and ask questions. And they wanted to share about how they've grown together. The transition from new age to atheism.(36:24). There are many people who lose their friends and family when their faith changes or is lost. How long did the transition take? 10 years. She left the church in 2018 and took over a year. How has their family reacted? The family rejected her, but they are geographically far away. So, they've created a small community of atheists. 41:33 42:01 Derick from Alabama. Cults. Teaches a class about conspiracy theories and uses Truth Wanted clips. Will be talking about cults and how people are drawn in. Visit Telltales channel. Being born into one is a cause. Being targeted by good liars. Multi-Level-Marketing schemes are a good example of a persuasive cult. Lies by omission. Love bombing by a cult community who make you feel loved and special. The cult will isolate the new member from their friends and family. Doctrine is fed to the new member in very small doses. If outsiders say that you're in a cult, believe it. 55:06 Start time ? Paul in Georgia. Life changing heart attacks. Transitioning to Atheism because of his heart troubles. He prayed to God for help and his prayers were not answered. End time ? 1:15:22 Truth Wanted 03.04 with ObjectivelyDan & Nervardia-Oriax in Pennsylvania-Occult Chaos Magick Oriax in Pennsylvania. The Occult. Chaos Magick. Practitioners try various techniques and then they share the results with the community. ObjectivelyDan asks for talismans to see if he can practice Chaos Magick. Oriax used the Occult to get him out of a cult. End time ? 1:24:54 Aaron from Seattle, Washington. Tolpas. Aaron in Seattle, WA. Talks about Tolpas. He

Sat, February 08, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.03 2020-02-07 with ObjectivelyDan & Andey Fellowes

Sat, February 01, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.02 2020-01-31 with ObjectivelyDan & Jen Aldrich

SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:00:00 Introduction 00:06:27 Dan’s Weird Job Interview Discussion 00:14:29 What are Christian Apologetics? 00:16:53 Caller: Matt - MD 00:35:43 Merch & Hosts Struggle with Clothes 00:37:33 Caller: Ian - AL 00:56:51 Caller: Dean Meadows - NC 01:17:04 Caller: Jeremy - IA SHOW NOTES Jen Aldrich joins us, replacing planned guest Sci-Man Dan who will appear in a later show. Jen hosts the new ACA reboot show Godless Bitches 3.0! (It’s a lot of fun.) Jen reveals an upcoming personal project where she’ll cover a range of non-atheist topics with other atheists, which sounds pretty neat to me. Dan tells a story of a weird encounter before a job interview wherein someone asks if he’s a Christian...spoiler: the conversation partner isn’t very polite. Also, Jen is verbally assaulted for wearing a symbol someone doesn’t like. How reasonable! She also ends up on a date where the guy tells her he’s afraid she’ll go to hell. Wonderful first date talk, this is bound to go well for him. Dan and Jen get into a discussion on Christian apologetics history and get into a few apologetic arguments. Our first caller, Matt, explains that he thinks the left/right political spectrum isn’t valid and is mostly arbitrary. He may have a point to some extent, but there is a utility to be found here! Matt asks what makes something left or right fundamentally, or are we applying these labels arbitrarily after the fact? Jen gives an explanation of where this comes from, and we get into a conversation about how parties can change their left/right alliance, which happens more frequently than you might think. We cover a lot of ground on this call, including false narratives and the general tone of today’s politics being quite divided. Dan and Jen have a quick talk about NEW TRUTH WANTED MERCH available at bit.ly/aenmerch, and how they struggle with clothes. Adulting is hard sometimes. Caller Ian hooks us in with an “out there” topic: he believes that humans (later clarified to be all living things) all share the same consciousness, because, “How could we not share the same consciousness?” Or, is it the same nature of consciousness? Definitions seem to be an immediate issue...this will be a fun call! After the call, Jen and Dan get into their pasts with Eastern philosophies and “woo.” The amazing Dean Meadows returns to ask how we can navigate consciousness without a belief in the supernatural, as there seems to be something strange about the connection between minds and bodies. Dan explains consciousness having clear physical roots, and we have a springboard for an interesting call. (Dean Meadows is a friend of our shows who studies apologetics and calls into Truth Wanted and Talk Heathen frequently. Check those calls out if you liked this one.) After some brief discussion on telecommunication infrastructure, Jeremy presents a case

Sat, January 25, 2020

Truth Wanted 03.01 2020-01-24 with ObjectivelyDan & Eric Murphy

TRUTH WANTED 03.01 for 2020-01-24 with Objectively Dan & Eric Murphy SHOW TIME-STAMPS 00:00:00 Introduction 00:04:24 Curtis - CO: Astral projection & ceiling fan communion 00:20:15 Update on December 15th “Prophecy” 00:21:52 Laura - AZ: Update on Tulpas! 00:44:45 Dylan - NM: Conspiracy theories abound! 01:07:50 Tim - WA: Paganistic Atheism 01:23:00 Brock - MS: Religious Levels of Political Interest SHOW NOTES On today’s show, the internet screwed everything up so we’re pre-recorded! (Also Objectively Dan is joined by Eric Murphy of Talk Heathen, which is cool.) Our long holiday break is over and we’re ready to find some truth! Curtis kicks things off with his thoughts on astral projection as a reality. In a shocking turn of events, we quickly find that this person and Eric share a hobby of communing with ceiling fans after using “shamanic substances.” On episode 02.36 of Truth Wanted, a prophecy was offered by caller John in Missouri, that on December 15th something was supposed to happen. We never figured out what was supposed to happen, because nothing happened. Huge flop. NEXT! Laura calls back to update us on the status of her tulpa, and Eric is entranced by tulpas. Laura draws comparison between talking to her (admittedly imagined) tulpa and religious prayer, which moves into a discussion about how the “feeling of god” can often be found in secular experiences. Eric falls in love with the word “tulpamancy.” Dylan seems to think that “theory” isn’t an accurate word for what “conspiracy theories” really are. Dylan offers evidence of a 9/11 conspiracy theory--not a kooky conspiracy theory, actually, a kind of unremarkable one. He does a similar thing with JFK conspiracy theories. Eric somehow turns the last piece on JFK into a motivational speech. Timm expresses love for D&D, Eric shares in that love, and Dan calls Eric a nerd. He discusses his journey as an ex-Mormon who once preached as an “ex-gay” minister, who came out as gay around 38 after he left his faith. Now, Timm talks about being a druid pagan atheist with a tulpa-like belief about nature...it’s mostly metaphor. Brock in Mississippi follows up on D&D talk by saying he started questioning religion when people around him told him D&D was “demonic.” Brock seems concerned about people taking their political affiliations, party or individual figure, to such levels that they seem to be religiously devoted. Aaand that’s our show! Join us for after shows over at https://tiny.cc/acadiscord after every live stream of Truth Wanted, which starts Friday nights at 7 PM CST! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support

Sat, December 14, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.40 2019-12-13 with ObjectivelyDan & Jamie Boone

StreetEpistemology Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, December 07, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.39 2019-12-06 with ObjectivelyDan & Shane Isgrig

Sat, November 23, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.38 2019-11-22 with ObjectivelyDan & Lloyd Evans

Sat, November 16, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.37 2019-11-15 with ObjectivelyDan & Vi

Sat, November 09, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.36 2019-11-08 with ObjectivelyDan & Derek Hawke

Sat, November 02, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.35 2019-11-01 with ObjectivelyDan & Atheist Pastor

Sat, October 26, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.34 2019-10-25 with ObjectivelyDan & Mr. Bear

Sun, October 20, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.33 2019-10-18 with ObjectivelyDan & The Lavender Lady

Sat, October 12, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.32 with ObjectivelyDan & Matthew Maxon

Sat, October 05, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.31 2019-10-04 with ObjectivelyDan & Brent Lee

Sat, September 21, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.30 2019-09-20 with ObjectivelyDan & Seamus

Sat, September 14, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.29 2019-09-13 with ObjectivelyDan & Gayle Jordan

Sat, September 07, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.28 2019-09-06 with ObjectivelyDan & Jenna Belk

Sat, August 17, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.27 2019-08-16 with ObjectivelyDan & Ocean

Sat, August 10, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.26 2019-08-09 with ObjectivelyDan & Dave Warnock

Sat, August 03, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.25 2019-08-02 with ObjectivelyDan & Alex O'Connor

Sat, July 27, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.24 2019-07-26 with ObjectivelyDan & SurisSkeptic

Sat, July 20, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.23 2019-07-19 with ObjectivelyDan and Sassy Atheist

Sat, July 13, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.22 with ObjectivelyDan & Alex O'Connor

NOTE: This episode has audio issues with the guest audio due to Internet bandwidth problems. We apologize for the lack of clarity and plan to have Alex back again soon with better sound. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, June 29, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.21 with ObjectivelyDan & Darrel Ray

2019-06-28 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, June 22, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.20 2019-06-21 with ObjectivelyDan & Reggie Bien Amié

Sat, June 15, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.19 2019-06-14 with ObjectivelyDan & Christy Stargazelle

This week on Truth Wanted we discussed the free market of ideas with Hayk from California. Tackled misconceptions around sexual attraction, with Sassy from New Hampshire. Talked to Tymm in Washington about his time in the X-Gay christian ministries. Rachael in Ohio brought up the lack of mental health services for pedophiles who don’t want to become pederasts. Arguments against veganism as speciesism with Sam from Ohio. And to end the show Dan and Christy discussed how free-speech is good but hate-speech has been linked a rise in violence against marginalized groups with Stan from Pennsylvania. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, June 08, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.18 with ObjectivelyDan & David Worley

2019-06-07 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, June 01, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.17 2019-05-31 with ObjectivelyDan & Robert Stanley

Sat, May 25, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.16 with ObjectivelyDan & ExCultBaby

2019-05-24 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, May 18, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.15 with ObjectivelyDan & Faraday Speaks

2019-05-16 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, May 11, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.14 2019-05-09 with ObjectivelyDan & BionicDance

Truth Wanted 2.14 – Bionic Dance Intro Faithless forum Kate: Arguments from theists don’t change much Definition of faith and how people use it Atheist activism- Kate didn’t grow up religious; Most people in the movement came from a religious background; LGBT+ rights, women’s rights What’s going on on Kate’s channel?? – working on a narrative fiction space-opera animation project Calls • Charles – Fort Worth – Goddess Columbia – paganism, important founding fathers (Ben Franklin, etc) were part of an occult; was America founded on paganism? Dan mentions Greek principles. Charles says Columbia is everywhere. Charles doesn’t believe in Columbia as a real being but as a symbol. Dan talks about rituals for symbols (burning the US flag if it touches the ground). Columbia is a powerful, inspirational symbol that Charles draws motivation from. Illuminati next time! • Brenda – Minnesota – trans woman, asking about Kate’s experiences as a lesbian woman out as an atheist on YouTube; what is it like and how do you deal with hate? Kate says she is not usually targeted, doesn’t get much hate. “Most people think [lesbianism] is hot.” Brenda mentions special targeting of trans people from the GOP; transphobia in the community – conservatives need someone to hate. Kate, Brenda, Dan talk about what conservatives will hate after the trans community is normalized. Speculate Artificial Intelligence and its possibilities in the future. Are AI’s capable of beliefs? Kate – What makes me “me?” – I am what my brain does. If a person turned into a machine, is the self still there? What stops a computer from being a person? • Alex – Rhode Island – conversations with people: should I push people to use more precise language? Dan references his video with Anthony Magnabosco, where Christian Dan claimed to have been an atheist at one time, but his definition of atheism was different from how most atheists define the word. Dan says asking about definitions is important, start off that way. Kate- we should be more pedantic about words because it helps us describe ourselves better. Dan mentions the Sapir Whorf Hypothesis. Dan says words matter. People use the language that they think they know but don’t or try to express ideas they don’t know how to express. Patience is a virtue. Dan talks about having an attitude of open-mindedness. Kate says that changing people’s mind is a good feeling, but we must be willing to check our own sources. • Jesse – NJ – Talking about religion in recovery communities - What about yourself? What about the doctors? God gave you this affliction. Dan mentions karmic influence in Christianity – it’s because you did this. Jesse speculates that people who reference Christianity in healing circles do so because they need to find something good to look towards, so they point to god. Dan talks about his pastor visiting him in the hospital when he had appendicitis. Kate

Sat, May 04, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.13 2019-05-03 with ObjectivelyDan, Rachel Oates, & Rationality Rules

Sat, April 27, 2019

Truth Wanted 01.00.04 with Objectively Dan & Genetically Modified Skeptic

2018-08-10 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, April 20, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.12 with ObjectivelyDan & Bart Campolo

2019-04-19 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, April 13, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.11 with ObjectivelyDan & Matt Dillahunty

2019-04-12 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, April 06, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.10 with ObjectivelyDan & Phil Ferguson

2019-04-05 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, March 30, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.09 2019-03-29 with ObjectivelyDan & Mr Atheist

Sat, March 23, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.08 2019-03-22 with ObjectivelyDan & Mimzy

Sat, March 16, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.07 with ObjectivelyDan & Neil the 604Atheist

Sat, March 09, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.06 with ObjectivelyDan & Craig Reed

Sat, March 02, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.05 with ObjectivelyDan & Paulogia

2019-03-01 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, February 23, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.04 with ObjectivelyDan & Telltale Atheist

Sat, February 16, 2019

Truth Wanted 01.00.07 with ObjectivelyDan & PineCreek

Sat, February 09, 2019

Truth Wanted 01.00.05 with ObjectivelyDan & Godless Engineer

Recorded on 2018-08-17 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, February 02, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.03 with ObjectivelyDan & Veedu

Sat, January 26, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.02 with ObjectivelyDan & Shannon Q

Sat, January 19, 2019

Truth Wanted 02.01 with ObjectivelyDan & Uncle Mark

2019-01-18 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, December 22, 2018

Truth Wanted 01.10 with ObjectivelyDan & Suris the Skeptic

Sat, December 08, 2018

Truth Wanted 01.09 with ObjectivelyDan & Reid Nicewonder

Truth Wanted 01.09 for December 7, 2018 with ObjectivelyDan & Reid Nicewonder of Cordial Curiosity: https://www.youtube.com/CordialCuriosity Call the show Fridays 6-7:30pm CT at: 1-512-686-0279 or use our green call the show button to save on long-distance charges: http://www.atheist-experience.com/ ►Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/truthwanted ►Podcasts of Truth Wanted may be found by visiting: https://www.spreaker.com/show/truthwanted We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/TruthWanted/ ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: truth@atheist-community.org ------- WHAT IS TRUTH WANTED? Truth Wanted is a show about getting to the bottom of beliefs, whether it’s karma or Christ, Bigfoot or crystals. Truth Wanted would like to know how you know it’s true. Hosted by ObjectivelyDan, Truth Wanted takes calls from the community (that means YOU!) and features new guests every week, emphasizing thorough conversations over name-calling and scoffing (most of the time). Truth Wanted focuses on how and why people believe what they believe, and how you can talk about beliefs in more effective ways. Join us for truth investigations and lively conversations every Friday at 6:00pm CT! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, December 01, 2018

Truth Wanted 01.08 with ObjectivelyDan & Courtney Stewart

On Today's show: "Tarot Card reading from a psychological perspective" "Spiritual Orgasm with the Rev! "Linology- Lin made her own religion" And MORE! :) Truth Wanted is a show about getting to the bottom of beliefs, whether it’s karma or Christ, Bigfoot or crystals, Truth Wanted would like to know how you know it’s true. Hosted by ObjectivelyDan, Truth Wanted takes calls from the community (that means YOU!) and features new guests every week, emphasizing thorough conversations over name-calling and scoffing (most of the time). Truth Wanted focuses on how and why people believe what they believe, and how you can talk about beliefs in more effective ways. Join us for truth investigations and lively conversations every Friday at 6:00 CT! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, November 24, 2018

Truth Wanted 01.00.08 with ObjectivelyDan & Ocean

Recorded on 2018-10-05 during our pilot period. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, November 17, 2018

Truth Wanted 01.07 with ObjectivelyDan & Thomas Westbrook

ObjectivelyDan & Thomas Westbrook (a.k.a Holy Koolaide) take calls on 9/11 truth, flat earth, NASA lies, Crystal Healing, Chakra Energy and Philosophical underpinnings of secular society! Buckle up! :) Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Thu, November 15, 2018

Truth Wanted 01.06 with ObjectivelyDan & Bryce Blankenagel

For 2018-11-9 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, November 03, 2018

Truth Wanted 01.05 with Objectively Dan & Jamie Boone

►Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/truthwanted ►Podcasts of Truth Wanted may be found by visiting: https://www.spreaker.com/show/truthwanted We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/Truthwanted ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: truth@atheist-community.org ------- WHAT IS TRUTH WANTED? Truth Wanted is a show about getting to the bottom of beliefs, whether it’s karma or Christ, Bigfoot or crystals. Truth Wanted would like to know how you know it’s true. Hosted by ObjectivelyDan, Truth Wanted takes calls from the community (that means YOU!) and features new guests every week, emphasizing thorough conversations over name-calling and scoffing (most of the time). Truth Wanted focuses on how and why people believe what they believe, and how you can talk about beliefs in more effective ways. Join us for truth investigations and lively conversations every Friday at 6:00pm CT! The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals. We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism. ► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin) ► Check out Dan's other channel @ https://www.youtube.com/objectivelydan NOTES TruthWanted is the official channel of Truth Wanted. "Truth Wanted" is a trademark of the ACA. Copyright © 2018 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Fri, October 26, 2018

Truth Wanted 01.04 with Objectively Dan & Tyrone Wells

►Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/truthwanted ►Podcasts of Truth Wanted may be found by visiting: https://www.spreaker.com/show/truthwanted We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/TruthWanted ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: truth@atheist-community.org ------- WHAT IS TRUTH WANTED? Truth Wanted is a show about getting to the bottom of beliefs, whether it’s karma or Christ, Bigfoot or crystals. Truth Wanted would like to know how you know it’s true. Hosted by ObjectivelyDan, Truth Wanted takes calls from the community (that means YOU!) and features new guests every week, emphasizing thorough conversations over name-calling and scoffing (most of the time). Truth Wanted focuses on how and why people believe what they believe, and how you can talk about beliefs in more effective ways. Join us for truth investigations and lively conversations every Friday at 6:00pm CT! The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals. We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism. ► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin) ► Check out Dan's other channel @ https://www.youtube.com/objectivelydan NOTES TruthWanted is the official channel of Truth Wanted. "Truth Wanted" is a trademark of the ACA. Copyright © 2018 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Mon, October 22, 2018

Truth Wanted 01.03 with ObjectivelyDan & Anthony Magnabosco

2018-10-21 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Sat, October 20, 2018

Truth Wanted 01.02 with ObjectivelyDan & Genetically Modified Skeptic

Truth Wanted 01.05 for November 2, 2018 with ObjectivelyDan & Jamie Boone. ►Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/truthwanted ►Podcasts of Truth Wanted may be found by visiting: https://www.spreaker.com/show/truthwanted We welcome your comments on the thread for this show. ► https://www.facebook.com/groups/TruthWanted ► Contact us with questions or news stories at: truth@atheist-community.org ------- WHAT IS TRUTH WANTED? Truth Wanted is a show about getting to the bottom of beliefs, whether it’s karma or Christ, Bigfoot or crystals. Truth Wanted would like to know how you know it’s true. Hosted by ObjectivelyDan, Truth Wanted takes calls from the community (that means YOU!) and features new guests every week, emphasizing thorough conversations over name-calling and scoffing (most of the time). Truth Wanted focuses on how and why people believe what they believe, and how you can talk about beliefs in more effective ways. Join us for truth investigations and lively conversations every Friday at 6:00pm CT! The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals. We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism. ► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin) ► Check out Dan's other channel @ https://www.youtube.com/objectivelydan NOTES TruthWanted is the official channel of Truth Wanted. "Truth Wanted" is a trademark of the ACA. Copyright © 2018 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .

Mon, October 15, 2018

Truth Wanted 01.01 with ObjectivelyDan & Genetically Modified Skeptic

Premiere episode of Truth Wanted with Objectively Dan and the Genetically Modified Skeptic Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support .