is a weekly podcast for people who think for themselves and enjoy real conversations about life, belief, and reason. Hosted by Mike Smithgall, the unelected mayor of Atheistville, each episode brings a calm, thoughtful start to your Sunday or an honest companion for your Monday commute.
You’ll hear grounded, open discussions about morality, meaning, and the world we live in—without preaching, pressure, or dogma. It’s smart talk with a human touch, served with your morning coffee.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
In the most recent episode of Breakfast with a Heathen, we sat down over coffee to parse through some of the most common questions facing the skeptical community today. We explored the friction between living a life of reason while navigating a world that often demands performative faith. These are some of the core issues…
This week’s Breakfast with a Heathen covered various listener questions, including doubt in faith, the political landscape in Florida, and the historical debate of Jesus’s existence. Key themes included the challenges facing atheists, education and religious biases, and the stigmatization of atheism in the Black community. Tune in for more insights.
In the first episode of 2026’s “Breakfast with a Heathen,” the host discusses the controversy surrounding a New York mayor’s Quran oath and the hypocrisy of Christian Nationalists. Personal stories highlight themes of faith, mortality, and the complexities of free will. The episode also tackles topics like toxic family dynamics and religious fallacies.
Mike Smithgall, the unelected mayor of Atheistville, returns for a post-holiday episode of Breakfast with a Heathen. After traveling through Asia, he discusses the tension between secular and religious life, sharing personal stories and addressing viewer questions about community, spirituality, and the atheist experience in modern society.
This episode explores the unsettling theological issues surrounding an all-knowing God and the implications for humanity’s fate. Discussions include whether churches should retain tax-exempt status based on community contributions, historical comparisons of Jesus, and personal challenges in leaving religion. Viewer questions further enhance the dialogue.
This week’s episode examines the contradictions between faith and social welfare, highlighting churches’ failure to provide aid to the needy. It also discusses the changing views on sex and consent, questioning the relevance of traditional religious beliefs. The episode raises critical philosophical issues around the nature of faith and consent.
In this episode of “Breakfast with a Heathen,” Mike discusses navigating religious debates, losing friendships, and awkward interactions as an atheist or agnostic. He addresses listener questions, explores emotional challenges, and shares personal experiences that shaped his beliefs, emphasizing the complexities of faith and understanding in everyday life.
Pour a cup and hang out for a Sunday morning Q&A. You’ll hear my take on “I’m praying for you,” why Christian apologetics fascinates and embarrasses, and a story about a friendly young-earth creationist who pushed me to think harder. We get into belief in a god without religion, the rise of the “nones,” and…
This Breakfast with a Heathen episode covers a range of questions from faith and politics to parenting and personal belief. We start with how religion was never out of U.S. politics—Trump only made it obvious—and look at what happens when faith becomes a tool for control rather than reflection. We talk about the idea that…
Mike Smithgall, the unelected mayor of Atheistville, sits down with coffee to answer your questions about atheism, belief, and honesty. From telling your Christian mom you’re an atheist to why arguing with believers never works, this Sunday Q&A takes on faith, comfort, family, and finding peace without religion. No sermon, no shouting, no salvation required. …
