Humanize Me

Mega is an improvised satire from the staff of a fictional mega church, hosted by Holly Laurent and Greg Hess.In this conversation with Bart Campolo, Holly and Greg talk about satirizing American Christianity, what makes it funny, and the mental gymnastics it takes to twist Jesus into a capitalist. But it doesn't take long before they're also talking - very personally - about being haunted by the evangelicalism of childhood, how to live authentically, recovery from trauma, undoing some of the Christian cultural lessons about sexuality after you're married, marriage itself and more.Listen to the Mega podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mega/id1425141892 or wherever you get your podcasts.—Follow this podcast to stay up-to-date:Twitter: @HumanizeMePodInstagram: @HumanizeMePodcastFacebook Group: Facebook.com/Groups/1772151613053280Check out Patreon.com/HumanizeMe! Support the podcast there for the cost of a cup of coffee once a month and get extra content for it. That amount won’t matter to you, but

In this Part 2 with Mark Oppenheimer, recorded later after both had listened back to their first conversation, Mark and Bart return to take the earlier convo in a practical direction.Including: Facebook versus Letter to the Editor, steel-manning, don’t act in ways you wouldn’t let your kids act, diversity including identity and ideology, features of the 'new puritanism', the importance of hearing from the young and old, keeping kids off social media, thoughts on how people with privilege should engage with people from oppressed groups, allowing people to care about different things, progress can be made with compassion for what is lost in the process, how sometimes people trying to change the world are cruel to those right next to them, how we may be living in the most humorless time in American history, and the importance of being committed to something.—Follow this podcast to stay up-to-date:Twitter: @HumanizeMePodInstagram: @HumanizeMePodcastFacebook Group: Facebook.com/Groups/1772151613053280Check out Pat

A recent blog post by Esther Perel caught Bart Campolo's eye. In this brief, bonus episode, Bart reads his unauthorized edit of Perel's piece, which is about what we've lost in the pandemic, and how to cultivate collective resilience and 'tragic optimism'.Perel's original essay can be found at:https://estherperel.com/blog/anticipatory-grief?fbclid=IwAR3rD-qfdtNrUdQPgehl2f6156YJOEMTNooRjgZIaOcNtrUw1D5mnXuXxPM

Mark Oppenheimer is a friend of this podcast who is a signatory to a recent open letter published by Harper's Magazine, in praise of open debate and tolerance for differing opinions, and against some aspects of 'cancel culture', dogmatism and censoriousness.In this conversation with Bart Campolo, Mark chats about why he signed the letter, the limits and boundaries of free speech, the likeliest paths to progress, the effects of added scrutiny on writers at present and some of the reasons he thinks liberals have gotten less 'liberal'. It's just Part 1, so stay tuned for a followup! This topic is part of our focus on better conversations.Read the letter at:https://harpers.org/a-letter-on-justice-and-open-debate/Read Ross Douthat's 10 theses on cancel culture at:https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/14/opinion/cancel-culture-.html—Follow this podcast to stay up-to-date:Twitter: @HumanizeMePodInstagram: @HumanizeMePodcastFacebook Group: Facebook.com/Groups/1772151613053280Check out Patreon.com/HumanizeMe! Support the po

"Hi Bart, I know in your podcast you talk a lot about people in 'suddenly interfaith' marriages, where one is a believer and the other has since left, and obviously there are obstacles, but what I want to know is: Does anything work? Is intimacy possible between people of radically different worldviews?" Bart's perspective: Sometimes. And there are some things that make it harder and other things that make it easier. — Follow this podcast to stay up-to-date: Twitter: @HumanizeMePod Instagram: @HumanizeMePodcast Facebook Group: Facebook.com/Groups/1772151613053280 Check out Patreon.com/HumanizeMe! Support the podcast there for the cost of a cup of coffee once a month and get extra content for it. That amount won’t matter to you, but it means everything to us and makes the podcast happen! (Includes access to the monthly bonus podcast, ‘Why It Matters’, where we discuss the show and read listener feedback, and the ‘Campolo Sessions‘, long-form conversations between Bart and his dad Tony Campolo.) Hum

Leah Helbling is a close friend of Humanize Me and a member of the team at the humanist community Cincinnati Caravan with Bart Campolo.In this episode, the two chat about Leah's instinct to attempt to 'deconvert' those who are questioning their faith, and Bart's belief that many people are better off staying where they are. The friendly disagreement started when Bart answered a question in Episode 504 from a listener called Craig who found himself in that position.Along the way, the conversation addresses some of the harm done by religion, Leah's sense of shame in her past as an evangelical woman, the kinds of Christianity available and how different they are from each other, how the length of time since deconversion can affect one's approach, the merits or otherwise of 'accommodating' Christianity, the idea that there is one best way to live or to be, to meddle or not to meddle, the difference between meddling and listening, and in what circumstances someone can know what's in somebody else's best interests.

In this solo episode, Bart talks about seeing the current wave of protest and uprising - the most significant moment ever for the Black Lives Matter movement - in the context of collective trauma. -- Follow this podcast to stay up-to-date: Twitter: @HumanizeMePod Instagram: @HumanizeMePodcast Facebook Group: Facebook.com/Groups/1772151613053280 The reason this podcast exists, even in trying economic times, is because some people support it monthly at Patreon.com/HumanizeMe. Please consider supporting us there for the cost of a cup of coffee once a month and get extra content for it. That amount won’t likely matter much to you, even now, but it will mean everything to us! (Includes access to the audio story of Bart’s recent psychedelic experience, the bonus podcast, ‘Why It Matters’ where we discuss the show and read listener feedback, and the ‘Campolo Sessions‘, long-form conversations between Bart and his dad Tony Campolo.) Humanize Me is hosted by Bart Campolo and is produced by John Wright at JuxMedia

After talking a bit about insomnia, shaking hands with a local dog owner and dating in the pandemic, we turn to a voicemail asking Bart's opinion of anti-natalism, the philosophical position that ascribes a negative value to having babies.In response, Bart takes an approach which doesn't attempt to engage too much with the rational arguments of anti-natalism, saying that we should have an anti-natalist on the podcast to talk to. Instead, we talk about the values of humanity being 'baked in', one of them being reproduction, and the fact that we tend to value contradicting things, leading to optimal ethics and situational ethics.—Follow this podcast to stay up-to-date:Twitter: @HumanizeMePodInstagram: @HumanizeMePodcastFacebook Group: Facebook.com/Groups/1772151613053280The reason this podcast exists, even in trying economic times, is because some people support it monthly at Patreon.com/HumanizeMe. Please consider supporting us there for the cost of a cup of coffee once a month and get extra content for it. Th

Where did our popular ideas of heaven and hell come from? Did Jesus teach a doctrine of eternal torture? How did our ideas of the afterlife evolve?Bart Ehrman is the author of over 30 books, including six New York Times bestselling books explaining critical biblical scholarship to a popular audience.In this conversation with Bart Campolo, Ehrman talks about the difference between agnosticism and atheism and why he considers himself both, why the words translated 'hell' don't mean what we think they do, how Jesus talked of 'eternal life', the early church theology of heaven and hell, how Jews of the 1st century understood bodily resurrection, the origin of the devil, our ideas of the afterlife and cosmic justice, whether we should try to deconvert people who are wavering in their faith, and more.Pick up his new book, Heaven and Hell, at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Heaven-and-Hell/Bart-D-Ehrman/9781501136733. Have a look at the Bart Ehrman Blog at https://ehrmanblog.org.—Follow this podcast to stay u

"Hey Bart. As I grew up, prayer was touted as the answer to everything. Now with the shutdowns and loss associated with COVID-19, I still miss the feeling I had when I could 'give it all to Jesus.' I suppose this is part of taking back control of my own life and not depending on a higher, all-knowing power to save me all the time. But I still feel feel like I’ve lost something very powerful, if only in my own mind. Any ideas of how to move beyond this? Is it just a grieving process that I need to go through?" - Jonathan "Hi Bart. I am concerned. During this strange and surreal time (I work in a hospital in the UK), I am finding myself more and more 'sucked in' to Christianity and have been attending Church services regularly. I do not want to be Christian but I am finding much support and solace within their boundaries and I can feel myself submitting to their ways!!" - Debbie In this episode, we attempt an answer to both these (related) questions and give a little preview of the next one. Includes an updat

Bart reflects on two recent episodes that have generated the most mail ever for this podcast, and offers some thoughts on how to improve relationships during this extended lockdown. — Follow this podcast to stay up-to-date: Twitter: @HumanizeMePod Instagram: @HumanizeMePodcast Facebook Group: Facebook.com/Groups/1772151613053280 The reason this podcast exists, even in trying economic times, is because some people support it monthly at Patreon.com/HumanizeMe. Please consider supporting us there for the cost of a cup of coffee once a month and get extra content for it. That amount won’t likely matter much to you, even now, but it will mean everything to us! (Includes access to the story of Bart’s recent psychedelic experience, the monthly bonus podcast, ‘Why It Matters’ where we discuss the show and read listener feedback, and the ‘Campolo Sessions‘, long-form conversations between Bart and his dad Tony Campolo.) Humanize Me is hosted by Bart Campolo and is produced by John Wright at JuxMedia.com.

It's been a hard week for Bart! Episode 509 of this podcast featured his conversation with Michael Dowd, a fellow 'apocalyoptimist' who shares Bart's belief that a great societal collapse is inevitable, and that the current pandemic represents the beginning of a difficult time for humanity. Bart's son Roman Campolo listened, and hated the episode. Not only did Roman have strong criticisms of Dowd, collapse-thinking, and the tone and content of the conversation itself, but he feels that Bart is wasting his unique skill set and intellect on apocalyptic thinking at a time when he could be applying himself to this moment more effectively. In this episode, Roman lets Bart have it, firing on all cylinders. We thought about some different titles for this episode: "Roman v Bart" "An on-mic intervention" "About last week..." "A podcast massacre" "Roman on a rampage" "Bart gets taken to the woodshed" "Roman takes no prisoners" Ultimately, Bart acknowledges the validity of much of the criticism, and admits to feeling so

Three years ago to the week, Michael Dowd talked with Bart on this podcast about our modern way of life, sustainability and the future of civilization. When the coronavirus pandemic hit, Bart could think of nobody he wanted to talk to about it more than Michael, so he's back! In this conversation, Bart and Michael talk about their shared sense that the pandemic will be followed by an economic recession or even depression, and that it signals the beginning of the end of our current way of life. Michael talks about the industrial world's reliance on the 'religion' of growth-based progress, the ecological fallacy being committed, the illusion of control we have, the inevitability of collapse, the stages of grief in response, and his optimism about what lies beyond it all. Michael's website can be found at PostDoom.com. On Patreon this week, hear Bart's story of his first psychedelic experience after taking LSD! It's at Patreon.com/HumanizeMe. — Follow this podcast to stay up-to-date: Twitter: @HumanizeMePo

Bart and John are socially distancing, like most of America. What does that mean for our all-important human connections? In this episode, Bart talks about his humanist community, Caravan in Cincinnati, and how they're handling the crisis. Bart emphasizes the importance of listening to each other, reaching out, asking how people are doing and genuinely hearing the answer, and more. Here's some stuff we've been reading lately.... On potential silver linings: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/03/19/coronavirus-effect-economy-life-society-analysis-covid-135579 On watching movies together remotely: https://apple.news/AwpiLmYYwRC-lDtTh8hyafw An editorial by Alain de Button: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/opinion/sunday/coronavirus-camus-plague.html A reminder for materialists to cultivate wonder: https://blendle.com/i/time/string-theorist-brian-greene-wants-to-help-you-understand-the-cold-cruel-universe/bnl-time-20200222-f23c2127b01?sharer=eyJ2ZXJzaW9uIjoiMSIsInVpZCI6ImJhcnRjYW1wb2xv

It was a bad week to be away. But while Bart Campolo was gone on a family trip, the world changed. After coming back, Bart shares his thoughts about the emerging global crisis being caused by COVID-19.Quick note: We briefly talk about our worst fears for our modern way of life, including Bart's long-held belief that the economy is unsustainable and could collapse into an economic depression. If you don't want to hear negative thoughts right now, and want to go straight to the more hopeful and practical stuff, skip at 9:42 and resume at 14:35.Some ideas: Band together. Who’s in your ‘in-person’ circle? Learn how to ‘touch’ people remotely. Identify your trusted news sources and use them to verify other information. Sync up and watch movies and shows together remotely (3-2-1-PLAY). Develop good routines. Listen to next week for some thoughts on at-a-distance friendship.--Follow this podcast to stay up-to-date:Twitter: @HumanizeMePodInstagram: @HumanizeMePodcastFacebook Group: Facebook.com/Groups/177215161305328

On this Q&A episode of the podcast, we take 3 questions in a row!Question 1 is about why Bart decided to tell his parents he wasn't a Christian anymore at the time he did, and how the calculation would have been different if he wasn't a 'professional Christian'. Questions 2 is about starting humanist communities like Caravan in Cincinnati. Bart talks about Caravan and how one may go about using it as a template for new communities. Question 3 is about the impulse to avoid hanging with old friends one doesn't see much anymore, who you suspect may want to change your mind and get you back into your old life.Got a question of your own for future episodes? Leave it easily, anonymously if you like, and without having to talk to someone, by calling the 'Q' Line: (424) 291-2092.-Bonus content: a new episode of Why It Matters is available on our Patreon page now! Check it out at Patreon.com/HumanizeMe.-Follow this podcast to stay up-to-date:Twitter: @HumanizeMePodInstagram: @HumanizeMePodcastFacebook Group: Faceb

Greg Asbed is a human rights strategist developing a new model—worker-driven social responsibility (WSR) for improving conditions for low-wage workers within the twenty-first-century labor market.In this wide-ranging conversation with Bart Campolo, Greg talks about his background, his life and how he got here. Greg became a MacArthur Fellow in 2017. For the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, visit https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/.—Follow this podcast to stay up-to-date:Twitter: @HumanizeMePodInstagram: @HumanizeMePodcastFacebook Group: Facebook.com/Groups/1772151613053280Check out Patreon.com/HumanizeMe! Support the podcast there for the cost of a cup of coffee once a month and get extra content for it. That amount won’t matter to you, but it means everything to us and makes the podcast happen! (Includes access to the monthly bonus podcast, ‘Why It Matters’, where we discuss the show and read listener feedback, and the ‘Campolo Sessions‘, long-form conversations bet

Bart takes a call from a questioning Christian looking for advice on who and what to listen to. It's a reminder that our listeners aren't all in the same place on their religious journey, and Bart shares some thoughts on the many paths ahead. — Follow this podcast to stay up-to-date: Twitter: @HumanizeMePod Instagram: @HumanizeMePodcast Facebook Group: Facebook.com/Groups/1772151613053280 Check out Patreon.com/HumanizeMe! Support the podcast there for the cost of a cup of coffee once a month and get extra content for it. That amount won’t matter to you, but it means everything to us and makes the podcast happen! (Includes access to the monthly bonus podcast, ‘Why It Matters’, where we discuss the show and read listener feedback, and the ‘Campolo Sessions‘, long-form conversations between Bart and his dad Tony Campolo.) Humanize Me is hosted by Bart Campolo and is produced by John Wright at JuxMedia.com.

In previous episodes of this podcast, we've established that rituals are important. But why? And how is it connected to our own nature, and the nature around us? Sasha Sagan has written a book all about the subject. It would be hard to imagine a more 'Humanize Me' book, and by such a gifted communicator! In this conversation, Bart Campolo talks with Sasha about the kinds of rituals we have, how they operate for secular people, encouraging deeper thinking about why we mark the occasions we do, and how to create good conversations around them. Sasha Sagan is a writer and speaker living in Boston. She shares another feature with Bart: a famous dad. Carl Sagan, the popular cosmologist and science communicator, was a huge influence in Sasha's life, and they talk about him near the end of their conversation. Her book, 'For Small Creatures Such as We', can be found on Amazon. — Follow this podcast to stay up-to-date: Twitter: @HumanizeMePod Instagram: @HumanizeMePodcast Facebook Group: Facebook.com/Groups/17721

Bart Campolo has been a counselor in one context or another for many decades. As listeners to this podcast, we invite you to submit your questions! Are you looking for advice about a relationship in your life? Got a friend in a predicament? Want to know how to handle a situation? Call us at the number on our site - BartCampolo.org/HumanizeMe - or write your message at BartCampolo.org/Contact.—Follow this podcast to stay up-to-date:Twitter: @HumanizeMePodInstagram: @HumanizeMePodcastFacebook Group: Facebook.com/Groups/1772151613053280Check out Patreon.com/HumanizeMe! Support the podcast there for the cost of a cup of coffee once a month and get extra content for it. That amount won’t matter to you, but it means everything to us and makes the podcast happen! (Includes access to the monthly bonus podcast, ‘Why It Matters’, where we discuss the show and read listener feedback, and the ‘Campolo Sessions‘, long-form conversations between Bart and his dad Tony Campolo.)Humanize Me is hosted by Bart Campolo and is pr