List of Best Secularism Podcasts, Voice of America, and Planning for a Milestone

Blair: 00:00:00

Foreign.

Blair: 00:00:08

Ladies and gentlemen, hello and welcome to another, the 96th episode of the Secular

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Foxhole podcast.

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Number nine.

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Number nine.

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Number nine.

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Number nine.

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Martin, do you know why I'm saying that?

Blair: 00:00:22

No,

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it's recent.

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Well, it's because the Secular Foxhole

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podcast,

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in a survey of the top 25 secular podcasts in the United States, I'm assuming we are number

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nine.

Martin: 00:00:37

Wow.

Blair: 00:00:38

I think that is incredibly fantastic.

Blair: 00:00:42

And let me give a shout out.

Blair: 00:00:44

Let me bring this article up if I can get my mouse to work.

Martin: 00:00:48

Yeah, that's in the secular category, right?

Blair: 00:00:51

Yes, exactly.

Blair: 00:00:52

The secularism is what they call it.

Martin: 00:00:53

We are curated and handpicked and we got an email from that.

Martin: 00:00:57

So thanks for remember that.

Martin: 00:00:59

And I will include that in the show notes so

Martin: 00:01:02

they will get the link back.

Martin: 00:01:04

I know how this is working, but it's great that they have this kind of list because one

Martin: 00:01:11

thing, out of 4 million podcasts out there, maybe 500,000 active, how could you find a

Martin: 00:01:17

podcast?

Martin: 00:01:17

I think regarding word of mouth marketing and of course, guests that have been on the show

Martin: 00:01:24

saying, now I've been on the show, I'm now known by.

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From radio, so to speak,

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and fellow listeners, maybe some have mentioned our podcast during the latest

Martin: 00:01:37

podcast conference in Berlin.

Blair: 00:01:39

Wow. I hope so.

Martin: 00:01:40

I hope so because I know that Mark Moses from California was there.

Martin: 00:01:45

Is he from California? Yeah.

Martin: 00:01:47

And also Roland Horvath, loyal listener and a true fan of our podcast.

Martin: 00:01:52

Visit that conference in Berlin and soon it will be a conference in your neighborhood.

Martin: 00:01:58

Right, in Boston.

Blair: 00:01:59

I believe that's true.

Martin: 00:02:00

I believe maybe some, you know, individuals will talk about our podcast there

Martin: 00:02:06

and others, of course.

Martin: 00:02:07

So back to your.

Martin: 00:02:09

To the list.

Blair: 00:02:10

All right, this is a website called Feedspot F W E D S P O T.

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And the link is podcast.feedspot.com secularism underscore podcast.

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And it lists the top.

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This is as of March 19th.

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And we have under the 25 best secularism podcasts, we are listed as number nine.

Martin: 00:02:37

Wow.

Blair: 00:02:39

So I think that is supremely.

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And we have an Apple rating of five out of

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five.

Martin: 00:02:44

Yeah.

Blair: 00:02:45

A Twitter of 15, which I don't know what that means.

Blair: 00:02:49

15 of what?

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And they gave us our August of 2020 as our start date.

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Okay, so that.

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Let's see.

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Let's highlight a couple other ones since.

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Yeah,

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number six is the scathing atheist.

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Yeah.

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And let me read a little short bio of their podcast.

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A weekly look at religion and the stupidity that breeds it.

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Bada Bing.

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I second that.

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And then we have at number five, the secular

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left and let's see, number three, new books in secularism.

Blair: 00:03:26

That sounds interesting.

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But Anyway, to be ninth out of 25,

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I think that is pretty darn.

Martin: 00:03:34

Good or how you say it.

Blair: 00:03:35

That's pretty darn good is correct.

Martin: 00:03:37

We can say that we have to praise somebody.

Blair: 00:03:41

And so let me get back to the.

Blair: 00:03:44

Where is that?

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Where is the email? Let me see here.

Blair: 00:03:47

I want to mention this gentleman, when.

Martin: 00:03:49

You look for that and I ask where they were located, I think they are located in

Martin: 00:03:56

California.

Martin: 00:03:56

Also, they had listed an email there to us

Martin: 00:03:59

that you have your TrueFans FM email.

Martin: 00:04:03

And I informed them that was for sending satoshis.

Blair: 00:04:07

Right, right.

Martin: 00:04:09

And they are welcome to do that.

Martin: 00:04:11

And you as a listener are welcome to support

Martin: 00:04:13

our show with sending a booster gram or a super comment at Sarufans FM now or streaming

Martin: 00:04:21

satoshis during listening to an episode.

Martin: 00:04:24

And we want, I will give that goal to onboard 30 plus of our guests so they also could get a

Martin: 00:04:33

split of our future donations.

Martin: 00:04:36

So.

Blair: 00:04:37

Right, right.

Martin: 00:04:38

That's my goal.

Blair: 00:04:40

So that's,

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that's a good part of our new sandwich, if you will.

Blair: 00:04:45

And, but I, I'm, I'm sorry to say I can't bring up at the moment, I can't bring up the

Blair: 00:04:51

gentleman's.

Martin: 00:04:51

Name, but we will include that in the show notes.

Blair: 00:04:54

Yes. Right. Okay, good.

Blair: 00:04:56

And then I want to talk about some bad news, I

Blair: 00:05:01

guess,

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although there is good in response to it.

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Let me swing over here to.

Martin: 00:05:07

We have, and my guess is it has to do something with politics in usa.

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I'm sorry to say it does.

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But this new newly formed Institute for the

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study of Modern Authoritarianism, which is isma global.org they now have a, a feature

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called Executive Watch tracking presidential abuses of power.

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And that is initially by Robert Krasinski, who's been a frequent guest of our show.

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And they have several categories and I'll name them Executive Watch under Political

Blair: 00:05:44

Corruption Policy, Illegality,

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Personal Grift,

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Presidential Retribution and Power Consolidation.

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So these are categories that they list various abuses of Mr. Trump's sword.

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I want largess perhaps, but I, and when I first saw this, this I did, I wrote to Robert

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because we've known each other for quite a long time and he's been a guest on our show.

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And I asked him, I said, you know, gee,

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why now? I mean, what, you know, what about the abuses

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under Obama?

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And he wrote back and said, well, you know,

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just to, you know, just to show the record, you know, he, he listed me a couple of his

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stories that he wrote about Obama's abuses.

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So I was glad to see that and yeah.

Blair: 00:06:44

But anyhow.

Martin: 00:06:45

Yeah for for the record I I think I've been abuses you have to go back pretty far

Martin: 00:06:50

back in the history.

Blair: 00:06:52

I'm afraid so.

Blair: 00:06:53

Yes. I'm afraid so but it's unfortunately

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they're accelerating and but so that's in a good bad news sort of in the middle there.

Martin: 00:07:03

But then have a you know, positive our latest episodes before this episode 95.

Martin: 00:07:10

I mean this the content there with the conversation and for finding the new

Martin: 00:07:16

intellectuals.

Martin: 00:07:16

Where to find the new intellectuals.

Blair: 00:07:18

True.

Martin: 00:07:19

If that will be spread word of mouth I think I see really hopeful for the future.

Martin: 00:07:27

Great content and conversation and great work by our guest fair.

Martin: 00:07:32

So yeah.

Blair: 00:07:34

Well I know that although a prominent leader of the Objectivist movement predicted a

Blair: 00:07:43

religious form of authoritarianism,

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he he thought it was 50 years down the road and now I think he sees which it's like right

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upon us.

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So anyway that that's the bad news that's so

Blair: 00:08:01

to speak although it's a great it's a great organization called the Institute for the

Blair: 00:08:05

Study of Modern Authoritarianism.

Martin: 00:08:07

Yeah.

Blair: 00:08:08

And there again they have a great website and Executive Watch is one of one of

Blair: 00:08:13

the links on that website.

Blair: 00:08:16

And then the only other thing I.

Martin: 00:08:17

Want to discuss,

Martin: 00:08:19

may I add another news that I told you before here in Green Room and I'm open for that if

Martin: 00:08:27

somebody will come as a guest to set the record straight if I'm wrong here.

Martin: 00:08:33

But I've heard that Donald Trump wants to shut down Voice of America and that's include also

Martin: 00:08:40

Radio Free Europe.

Martin: 00:08:42

And if you know the history of that, I really

Martin: 00:08:45

wonder why.

Martin: 00:08:48

So that's something to ask and question and see if that's really true that that will

Martin: 00:08:56

happen.

Martin: 00:08:57

And then you could also see Trump's way of reacting on things because I think Voice of

Martin: 00:09:03

America is probably maybe made some comments or maybe doing some radio shows about his

Martin: 00:09:10

actions,

Martin: 00:09:12

but he doesn't then understand the history of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty and for

Martin: 00:09:18

example Radio Farda in Persia and then Voice of America.

Martin: 00:09:23

So that's something to come back to.

Martin: 00:09:25

I think so I will include a link in the show notes also about that.

Martin: 00:09:31

So. Yep.

Blair: 00:09:32

Yeah.

Martin: 00:09:32

Well the good news then.

Blair: 00:09:34

Well, let me just I'll follow up with your just from the Associated Press.

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One day ago,

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a federal lawsuit says that the Trump administration has unlawfully shuttered the

Blair: 00:09:47

Voice of America.

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A lawsuit filed by the Voice of America

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reporters, some unions and press and oppressed freedoms.

Blair: 00:09:56

Let's see.

Blair: 00:09:57

Anyway, that's an incredible stupid idea.

Martin: 00:10:01

Yeah, it is.

Martin: 00:10:02

But then I will also say for a record when you

Martin: 00:10:05

mention associate press, I had some grudges against them back in the day when they didn't

Martin: 00:10:12

allow you to directly link to them when you were a blogger.

Martin: 00:10:16

But that was back in the day.

Martin: 00:10:19

So the old media, mainstream media, they don't

Martin: 00:10:22

really get how new media is working and it's frightening when president wants to shut down

Martin: 00:10:31

freedom of expression and free speech in that way.

Martin: 00:10:35

Maybe it's something with the governors or how you run these positive propaganda radio

Martin: 00:10:41

stations and websites, that could be one thing.

Martin: 00:10:45

But I don't think that was the reason why he tried to shut down.

Martin: 00:10:49

But we will follow this along and see if we could get something.

Martin: 00:10:53

And as I mentioned it, I have been on Radio Farida back in the day also.

Martin: 00:10:57

So I will contact and reach out to the journalists there and see if we could have her

Martin: 00:11:02

on the show in the future.

Blair: 00:11:04

Yes, I would love that.

Martin: 00:11:05

I would love that because it was recently the new Persian year here about and I

Martin: 00:11:11

included that on my personal Facebook.

Martin: 00:11:15

It was now.

Martin: 00:11:17

Was it 2000?

Martin: 00:11:18

Was it 4 or 14? Yeah, a long time ago now.

Martin: 00:11:23

So about the Bonfire of the Mullahs by Cox and Forkham.

Martin: 00:11:27

A cartoon, editorial cartoon around this time because around March 20, 21st or 19th or

Martin: 00:11:35

whatever it is the new year if you look at the nature regarding earth and the planets and the

Martin: 00:11:45

sun and so on.

Martin: 00:11:46

So that's something historically and also and it's a non religious celebration and the

Martin: 00:11:53

mullahs vary, they don't really like that the citizens are doing that.

Martin: 00:11:58

So that could be the resistance.

Martin: 00:12:00

We have to spread that word also be Iran.

Blair: 00:12:04

That'd be good.

Martin: 00:12:06

Yeah.

Blair: 00:12:06

And then the other piece of really good news is a hat tip to Jason Crawford's Progress

Blair: 00:12:12

Institute.

Blair: 00:12:14

He sends out a monthly newsletter.

Blair: 00:12:18

It's the Roots of Progress Institute.

Blair: 00:12:20

Excuse me.

Blair: 00:12:21

And let's see this is something really good news.

Blair: 00:12:27

Open Philanthropy announced a 120 million dollar progress fund and they excited to

Blair: 00:12:34

announce the new fund.

Blair: 00:12:38

And the pro, you know know Roots of Progress received initial funding from this open

Blair: 00:12:46

philanthropy to get to get them started.

Blair: 00:12:50

And so that's a hat tip to both of them.

Blair: 00:12:55

And there's also although I'm not a fan of David Brooks, the New York Times alleged

Blair: 00:13:00

conservative writer.

Blair: 00:13:02

He I will quote him.

Blair: 00:13:04

This winter the abundance movement is having

Blair: 00:13:06

its coming out party in the form of three spectacular books by some of its more

Blair: 00:13:11

prominent champions.

Blair: 00:13:13

Next month Derek Thompson and Ezra Klein.

Blair: 00:13:18

Ezra Klein's book Abundance will be published offering A comprehensive indictment of the

Blair: 00:13:24

current problems and clear path forward.

Blair: 00:13:28

This month brought us Yoni Applebaum's stuck historical account of the forces that have

Blair: 00:13:34

produced the current housing crisis and its social and cultural effects.

Blair: 00:13:39

And then Mark Dunkelman's new book, why Nothing Works.

Blair: 00:13:43

There's an apt title,

Blair: 00:13:46

is an intellectual history that describes the ideas and values that first drove people like

Blair: 00:13:51

Moses to act the way that they did and the values that drove the next generation of

Blair: 00:13:56

activists to oppose them.

Blair: 00:13:59

These three books have significantly altered the way I see our current political morass.

Blair: 00:14:04

Well, I think if these three books help in Jason Crawford's forthcoming book,

Blair: 00:14:10

if they kick off a solidified abundance movement, progress movement,

Blair: 00:14:19

again, there's another shift in the culture for good.

Blair: 00:14:23

Again, there's always currents, underlying currents, undercurrent of good, regardless of

Blair: 00:14:29

how the media portrays everything.

Blair: 00:14:32

And that's.

Blair: 00:14:33

But that's a wrap on my new sandwich,

Blair: 00:14:36

Martin.

Martin: 00:14:37

And you had also follow up there that it was a successful boom.

Blair: 00:14:43

Oh, right, boom.

Blair: 00:14:44

Supersonic had successful.

Blair: 00:14:46

Had a successful test flight of their engines.

Martin: 00:14:51

Yeah.

Blair: 00:14:52

Which I think is phenomenal.

Martin: 00:14:54

Yeah.

Blair: 00:14:54

So they're one step closer to becoming commercial commercially viable.

Blair: 00:14:59

So again, there's a lot of good news out there.

Martin: 00:15:02

Yeah, that's great to hear, Claire.

Martin: 00:15:05

And I want to say also that for the record,

Martin: 00:15:08

when we are planning for the celebration of our milestone of hundred episodes,

Martin: 00:15:13

and if I could publish the hundred episodes around my birthday end of May, May 25, that

Martin: 00:15:21

will be great.

Blair: 00:15:22

Goodness.

Blair: 00:15:22

Excuse me.

Martin: 00:15:24

Yep.

Blair: 00:15:24

Yeah, that's.

Blair: 00:15:25

That'd be okay.

Blair: 00:15:26

Well, I'll see what I can do as far as getting guests or whatever.

Martin: 00:15:29

Yeah, guest and.

Martin: 00:15:30

And our duo show.

Martin: 00:15:32

And you as a listener, if you have any suggestions or ideas how you want to celebrate

Martin: 00:15:37

together with us, support us, come up with ideas and so on and spread the good word so we

Martin: 00:15:43

could end up off on new lists in the future.

Martin: 00:15:47

That will be good.

Blair: 00:15:48

So that's right.

Blair: 00:15:49

Number nine.

Martin: 00:15:52

So with that lair, I think we will do a wrap up and.

Blair: 00:15:56

Yeah, so of course, my.

Blair: 00:15:58

That number nine is a tribute to the Beatles,

Blair: 00:16:00

obviously, on their White Album.

Martin: 00:16:03

Yeah.

Blair: 00:16:04

So it's all good.

Blair: 00:16:06

It's all good is correct.

Martin: 00:16:07

Yeah.

Blair: 00:16:08

Martin, I appreciate your time always.

Blair: 00:16:09

As always.

Martin: 00:16:10

Yeah.

Blair: 00:16:11

And I'll try to.

Blair: 00:16:13

Yeah, I'm going to try to get Andrew Bernstein

Blair: 00:16:15

to talk about his detective novels.

Blair: 00:16:18

Yeah,

Blair: 00:16:19

that'll hopefully be next.

Blair: 00:16:21

And then I want to get a reach out to Brad

Blair: 00:16:23

Thompson and Dr. James Lennox.

Blair: 00:16:25

So we'll see how they all shake out.

Martin: 00:16:28

Yeah. Great.

Martin: 00:16:29

So.

Blair: 00:16:30

All right, sir.

Martin: 00:16:31

Thanks.

Blair: 00:16:31

Thank you.

Martin: 00:16:32

Bye.

Blair: 00:16:32

Bye.