What happens when religion shows up in your doctor’s office? From waiting room pamphlets to medical professionals offering prayer, our panel digs into the clash between science-based treatment and faith-based influence. Join the conversation as we share stories, debate boundaries, and ask whether religion has any place in modern healthcare. 💬 Viewer Question Have you…
This week on The Unholy Roundtable, Scott, Larry, Rhett and myself tackle the fallout from Charlie Kirk’s murder and explore religion’s tight grip on culture. We’ll talk about how people come to atheism later in life, whether Bible translations really preserve divine truth, why Christians get defensive when questioned, and how gender politics, culture icons,…
Florida just became the first state to eliminate ALL school vaccine mandates, claiming “religious freedom” and “my body, my choice.” But the same state enforces a 6-week abortion ban. Coincidence? In this episode, I break down: • The data showing vaccine exemptions at an all-time high (3.6% nationally, 15% in Idaho) • How Christian nationalism…
What do you say to someone who is dying when you don’t believe in heaven or an afterlife? In this clip, we share honest and deeply personal stories about loss, grief, and finding comfort without faith. From listening more and talking less, to valuing memories over promises of eternity, our panel explores what compassion looks…
What does “sin” mean outside religion? In this discussion, atheists explore how morality, ethics, and human well-being replace the concept of sin. From cultural norms to abuse scandals in churches, the panel digs into how the word is used as control, how forgiveness is weaponized, and why secular ethics may offer a clearer path to…
In this Mike Drop, I explore why prayer works, but not in the supernatural sense. Prayer doesn’t move mountains or cure illness. It does something more subtle and powerful. It offers comfort, control, and connection. I break down how prayer acts like structured self-talk, ritual, meditation, and social bonding. I also sound a warning: when…
Join Mike Smithgall, Larry Warren, Mike Gonzalez, and Cynthia McDonald for an episode of The Unholy Roundtable. This raw, unscripted conversation about life after faith covers everything from the struggle of feeling lost after leaving the pulpit to the sudden intrusion of religion in everyday spaces like a doctor’s office. Our panelists confront how belief…
What happens when religion claims it can “cure” someone’s sexuality? In this candid conversation, Mike and Scott tackle the harmful myth of “praying the gay away.” From personal stories of identity struggles to the church’s predatory tactics, they explore why these claims persist, the real damage they cause, and how patriarchy and religious dogma still…
Mike Smithgall and Mike Gonzalez respond to the tragic mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. With early reports identifying the suspect as a trans woman, this discussion tackles how narratives form in the aftermath of tragedy, why scapegoating marginalized groups misses the bigger picture, and the uncomfortable reality that most mass shootings in…
In this episode, we discuss the tragic Catholic school shooting and the way media outlets are framing the story. From Fox News fixation on the suspect’s identity to broader questions about bullying, mental health, and accountability, we look at how narratives are shaped in real time. Viewer Question Do you think the media focuses too…
