Episodes

Episodes

• Round Trip to Christiantown 2026-07-06
  What happens when a professional atheist and skeptic addresses a classroom full of young earth creationists and fundamentalist Christians? For 20…
• Ann Druyan 2026-05-06
  Ann Druyan has had a stellar career bringing her creative talents to the world of science communication. From her time on the team that designed the…
• Telepathy Tapes 2026-03-16
  The massively popular Telepathy Tapes podcast has generated nationwide interest in the idea that severely autistic kids may also possess the ability…
• From Under a Guru's Thumb | Chanchal Garg 2026-01-27
  When a woman finds herself under the heavy influence of an authority figure who is revered by her friends, her family, and even the very culture she…
• SCOTUS Unbalanced 2025-10-06
  Historically, of the three branches of government, the judiciary has been the final voice of reason when it came to guaranteeing fundamental…
• Science v. Creationism with Eugenie Scott 2025-08-21
  In the past century, there have been a number of court cases where religious folks have attempted to inject their beliefs into the public schools.…
• Science Beacon on a Hill with Griffith Observatory Director Dr. Ed krupp 2025-07-18
  The Griffith Observatory is the most visited public observatory in the world, and a science icon that overlooks the Los Angeles basin. Since 1935,…
• Will Potter 2025-06-23
  A century and a half ago, one out of every five Americans lived on a farm. Today, it's closer to one out of every fifty, even though the population…
• Taking Inspiration from Greek History With Evaggelos Vallianatos 2025-03-07
  The ancient Greeks had a profound influence not only on their own world, but also on what would become Western culture as a whole. In this episode…
• A Primer on Cold Reading 2025-02-05
  The art of cold reading has convinced millions of people that gimmicks like crystal balls, palm reading, tarot cards, and other alleged paranormal…
• David Miles on Point of Inquiry 2024-11-27
• Steve Hill on Point of Inquiry 2024-07-19
  When a business owner, ex-marine, and retired peace office is questioned and later arrested for what appear to be bigoted reasons, there should be…
• Robert Sapolsky POI 2024-06-04
• Leo Igwe on Point of Inquiry 2024-05-15
• There Are Definitely Atheists in Fox Holes 2024-03-27
• Kate Cohen on Atheism and the Rewards of Honesty 2024-01-31
  Almost 30 percent of the U.S. population is religiously unaffiliated, but only a fraction of those so-called "Nones" identify as atheist or…
• Sarah An Myers on Secularism and the Millennial Mind 2024-01-05
  Members of Gen X and older grew up in an America in which being religious was the default and atheism was, as best, on the fringes. A lot has…
• Vaccine Hesitancy With Filmmaker Scott Kennedy 2023-12-22
  In 2019, Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker Scott Kennedy was working on a film about the years-long anti-vaxxer movement. Filming with…
• To The Temple of Tranquility, and Step on It 2023-11-22
• Supreme Injustice 2023-10-23
  The U.S. Supreme Court -- that over sixty years ago ruled against state-led prayer in public schools -- has swung back the other way with a…
• Dr. Juhem Navarro-Rivera on the Challenge of Rallying the Nones 2023-10-18
  The Nones are on the rise! When asked about their religious affiliation, year after year, more and more Americans are choosing "none of the above."…
• Getting to Know US Congressman Jared Huffman 2023-08-09
  Of the 535 Members of Congress, only one is an out-of-the-closet atheist. His name is Jared Huffman, and he is a U.S. Representative from Northern…
• The Great Australian Psychic Prediction Project 2023-07-19
  What happens when a group of skeptics from across the globe keeps score of over twenty years of psychic predictions? Any guesses? In this episode of…
• MG Lord on the Weird and Wonderful History of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory 2023-05-10
  The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California may be the world's premiere space exploration facility. From the earliest days of…
• Jennifer Michael Hecht on the Power of Poetry and the Weirdness of Existence 2023-04-14
  "Many of us who are happy to live outside religion still suffer from a lack of things religion gives its members," writes historian and poet…
• New Discovery in the Chemistry of Life 2022-11-28
  Graham Cooks and his team at Purdue University have discovered a chemical process that has exciting implications for people who believe that life…
• Broken Promises and False Prophets: Rina Raphael on the Business of Wellness 2022-10-27
• Alice Greczyn on Deconversion and Her Escape From Extremist Christianity 2022-09-15
  Realizing the faith you've had your entire life is wrong can be devastating for some people. The process of deconversion can lead to panic attacks,…
• Skepticism - Behind the Scenes 2022-08-19
  What do we do when television shows dealing with extraordinary events focus on the ridiculous to bolster views? In today's episode, we take a…
• Steven Pinker Discusses Rationality and Humanist Values 2022-07-07
  This special episode of Point of Inquiry is brought to you by our friends at CFI Canada from their new podcast, Podcast for Inquiry . They recently…
• Timothy Caulfield on the Infodemic and Spread of Misinformation 2022-03-24
  This week's episode is a bit different. Please enjoy a talk from Timothy Caulfield that originally aired on Skeptical Inquirer Presents. SIP is a…
• Kelly Weill on Flat-Earthers and Why People Will Believe Anything 2022-02-28
  In this week's episode, we are diving into the flat-earth conspiracy theory and why people could believe such a thing with guest Kelly Weill and her…
• Living on Life's Edge | Carl Zimmer on The Search for What It Means to Be Alive 2021-12-22
  What does it mean to be alive? Does life have a clear definition? On this week's episode, Carl Zimmer joins host Jim Underdown to discuss his new…
• The Case That Jesus Never Existed 2021-12-02
  Christians believe that Jesus was the son of God who walked the Earth as a human being. Some Atheists believe none of the God bits but that there…
• David McAfee - Hi, I'm an Atheist! 2021-11-08
  On today's episode we introduce the show's new guest host, Julia Sweeney and her interview with author David G. McAfee on his new book, Hi, I'm an…
• Science Denial - Why It Happens and What to Do About It 2021-09-28
  Throughout the modern world trust in science has continued to erode at dangerous speeds. From anti-vaxxers to climate change deniers, there is an…
• Banachek - From the Inside of Being a Mentalist 2021-08-12
  It's a rare person indeed who can trick and amaze people on one hand while reassuring them that what they are experiencing is not real. Meet Banacek…
• How to Live a Good Life With Massimo Pigliucci and Skye Cleary 2021-07-15
  Have you ever been curious about what other people believe in or how they navigate the ethical challenges of life? Ancient philosophy was partly…
• The Rise of the Nones with Ryan Burge 2021-07-01
  A question on the minds of many theists and non-theists alike is why are so many Americans leaving religion and becoming religiously unaffiliated?…
• Greg Paul on the Lost Children and the Implications of Natural Evil 2021-06-10
  In the June/July issue of Free Inquiry, today's guest Greg Paul makes the case that a loving God cannot possibly exist next to all the suffering and…
• Inside the Group Investigating Extraordinary Paranormal and Supernatural Claims 2021-05-27
  The Center for Inquiry Investigations Group tests extraordinary claims from anyone who believes they have paranormal or supernatural abilities like…
• Annabelle Gurwitch on Living Through Ups and Downs 2021-05-13
  Annabelle Gurwitch is an award-winning actress, comedian, and writer. She's also a secular humanist and a skeptic, though that hasn't always been…
• Interview with David Javerbaum, Daily Show Writer and host of Godcast Podcast 2021-04-15
  David Javerbaum is the guest on this week's episode of Point of Inquiry. David discusses his early writing career and his current gig as God. David…
• Behind The Mind of a Conspiracy Theorist 2021-03-30
  Have you wondered what it's like to get caught up in a conspiracy theory? QAnon, the 9/11 truth movement, lizard people who want to take over the…
• An Atheist and a Christian Walk Into a Bar 2021-02-19
  An Atheist and a Christian Walk Into a Bar | Overcoming Differences America is as polarized as it's been in decades as our citizenry draws lines in…
• The Trouble with Christmas for Atheists with Tom Flynn 2020-12-24
  Christmas in 2020 will be unlike any other in recent history due to COVID 19. Nevertheless, Christians around the world will be finding ways to…
• Revisiting The Life Of Frank Sinatra – Living A Life Of Homelessness 2020-11-25
  In 1997 Jim produced and directed a short documentary called "A Day in the Life of Frank Sinatra" that was an exploration of what it was like to be…
• The Puritan Roger Williams, Church State Separation, and The Impact on Today 2020-11-12
  What does the Puritan founder of both the state of Rhode Island and the Baptist Church have to say about modern evangelicals? Roger Williams had…
• J.R. Becker on the Annabelle and Aiden Book Series and Teaching Children Critical Thinking 2020-10-22
  Author J.R. Becker joins Leighann Lord in this episode of Point of Inquiry to speak about his book series, Annabelle & Aiden. The series is a…
• Chris Matheson on Writing Bill and Ted and his Books on God and Buddha 2020-10-08
  Screenwriter and author Chris Matheson joins Jim in this episode which touches on the recently released Bill & Ted Face the Music , then dives…
• Rev. Barry W. Lynn on The Supreme Court, Retirement, and His Upcoming Book 2020-09-24
  The recent passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has left many shaken. A few weeks prior to her passing, Leighann Lord had the opportunity to speak…
• Dr. Raymond Hall on Physicsfun and Teaching Critical Thinking 2020-09-10
  One professor is using social media to remind us that physics is the real magic of the universe. Through showing off his massive collection of…
• The Brazen Atheist Erin Louis on Countering Conspiracists With Critical Thinking 2020-08-20
  Would you rather have your children looking at QAnon conspiracy Youtubers or porn online? That's a question author Erin Louis has had to confront…
• Steven Hassan on Breaking Down The Cult of Trump 2020-07-23
  The names Jim Jones, L.Ron Hubbard, David Koresh, and Sun Myung Moon might come to mind when someone uses the term cult leader . Many have suggested…
• Anthony Pinn on Religion, Oppression, and Humanists 2020-07-09
  In this episode of Point of Inquiry , co-host Leighann Lord talks with professor, writer, and humanist Dr. Anthony Pinn. Lord and Pinn discuss the…
• Scientology in Hollywood | A Guided Tour 2020-06-26
  Looming over the sidewalk of Hollywood, California are tens of millions of dollars of buildings owned by the Church of Scientology. This beleaguered…
• Monuments to Misinformation | The Ark Experience & Creation Museum 2020-06-09
  A short drive south of Cincinnati, OH, lie two well-funded, well-executed museums dedicated to the telling of biblical "history." The Creation…
• The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe and Science-Based Medicine's Steven Novella 2020-05-21
  In this episode of Point of Inquiry , cohost Leighann Lord talks with famous skeptic and Assistant Professor of Neurology, Steven Novella, MD.…
• Ian Harris on Comedy, Skeptical Audiences, and Atheism 2020-05-07
  In this episode of Point of Inquiry , cohost Leighann Lord talks with fellow comic Ian Harris. Besides being a comedian, Harris is a voice actor,…
• Mandisa Thomas on Black Nonbelievers and the Atheist Community 2020-04-23
  On this week's episode, Leighann Lord speaks with Mandisa Thomas, president of Black Nonbelievers . Black Nonbelievers connect with other Black…
• Kurt Andersen, Fantastyland, and How Irrational Thought Worsened the Pandemic 2020-04-09
  Kurt Andersen is the author of the novels Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire: A 500-Year History (2017), True Believers (2012), Heyday (2007),…
• Recognizing Misinformation and Staying Safe from Coronavirusa 2020-03-11
  Coronavirus continues to infect more and more people around the world. As the number of infected grows so does the misinformation surrounding the…
• Professor Elizabeth Loftus on False Memories 2020-02-20
  Can our memories be trusted if they are easily manipulated by suggestions? Where is the line between repressed memories that bubble up to the…
• Where Are We In The Battle For Church State Separation 2020-02-06
  Where does the separation of church and state stand with a conservative majority in the Supreme Court? The short answer: not great. In this week's…
• Is a Good God Logically Possible? | James Sterba 2020-01-23
  James Sterba is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, USA. His book, Is a Good God Logically Possible? deals with the Argument…
• Playwright and Actor Ian Ruskin on Thomas Paine 2020-01-09
  Ian Ruskin is a producer, writer, actor and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He has starred in theatre, television, and film…
• Dawkins on his new Book Outgrowing God 2019-12-12
  Richard Dawkins is the recipient of a number of awards for his writing on science, including the Royal Society of Literature Award and the LA Times…
• Professor Chris French - Anomalistic Psychology and Conspiracy Theories in Politics 2019-11-29
  Chris French is a British psychologist and prominent skeptic focusing on the psychology of paranormal beliefs and experiences. He is currently…
• Richard Wiseman on the Skeptics Movement and Tricking People 2019-11-14
  Richard Wiseman is Professor of the Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire in England. Richard began his career as a…
• ECSO President, Claire Klingenberg on the State of Skepticism 2019-10-31
  The European Council of Skeptical Organisations (ECSO) is an umbrella of skeptical organizations throughout the EU that investigate claims of…
• How Defy Ventures Reduces Recidivism with Rehabilitation 2019-10-17
  In the second part of this two-part series on the prison system reform, Jim Underdown speaks with Andrew Glazier, president of Defy Ventures, on the…
• Former Security Guard and Atheist Activist Steve Hill on the Prison System 2019-10-03
  How humane are prisons in the U.S.? And what is their purpose – to punish or to rehabilitate? This is part one of a two-part series that dives into…
• Angela Saini on the Return of Race Science 2019-09-19
  Even though there's growing awareness that race is a social construct — it defies biological definition — it's really hard to let go of a concept…
• Dr. Sarah Taber on the Myth of the Destruction of Family Farms 2019-09-05
  Point of Inquiry co-host Kavin Senapathy has covered food and agriculture for years, and if she's learned one thing, it's that people's views on…
• Jerry Minor - From Jehovah's Witness to Comedian 2019-08-22
  This week, Point of Inquiry welcomes actor, comedian, and former Jehovah's Witness, Jerry Minor. Minor has been a cast member and writer on Saturday…
• Clearing Up the Concept of Risk Assessment 2019-08-08
  How well do you think you can assess risk? The evidence is clear that humans are innately poor at assessing risk in our personal lives, in part due…
• Julia Sweeney on Atheism, Saturday Night Live, and Me Too 2019-07-25
  This week, Point of Inquiry welcomes comedian, monologist, and atheist, Julia Sweeney. Many may know Sweeney from her time on Saturday Night Live,…
• Why Do People Love Umami but Fear MSG? 2019-07-11
  Why do people love the taste of Umami but avoid monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is the purest form of Umami on Earth? In this episode of Point of…
• Diving into the Lawsuit Against Walmart and Fraudulent Homeopathic Medicines 2019-06-27
  The Center for Inquiry has filed a lawsuit against Walmart for deceiving its customers with marketing, labeling, and product placement that present…
• Meet Science for the People 2019-06-13
  Science for the People began as a group in 1969 that grew out of the anti-war movement and lasted until 1989. SftP has been rebirthed for a new…