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Humanism Now

Humanism Now

By: Humanise Live
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Summary
 ⁠⁠Support Humanism Now and join our community⁠⁠. Every episode, guest and transcript is at ⁠humanism.now⁠. Humanism Now is a weekly podcast for anyone curious about secular humanism and making the most of the one life we have. Host James Hodgson, founder of podcast studio Humanise Live, is joined by scientists, philosophers, campaigners, authors and everyday people who are building a fairer world, cultivating human flourishing and celebrating the joy of being human. Every episode is a long-form interview that takes one hard ethical question seriously, using reason and evidence rather than dogma, and always with compassion for the people involved. Recurring themes include: secular ethics and moral philosophy freedom of religion or belief and human rights Resisting nationalism and the future of democracy AI ethics, technology and what it means to stay human climate action, equality and social justice science, scepticism and critical thinking awe, meaning and our place in the cosmos You will come away with ideas you can actually use: better arguments, better questions, and practical ways to live an ethical, purpose-driven life while understanding more about yourself, other people and the universe. Whether you are a lifelong humanist or simply curious about a naturalistic worldview, hit follow and join a global community working towards a fairer, kinder and more rational world, for this generation and the next. Every episode, guest and transcript is at humanism.now. Support Humanism Now and join our community Follow @HumanismNowPod on YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X | Bluesky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live, a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies and individuals across the globe. To start your own podcast, visit humanise.live or email hello@humanise.live. Music credit: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible and should not be treated as a fully accurate record of the conversation.© 2026 Humanise Live Philosophy Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • What Makes Us Human? Neanderthals, Denisovans and Our Origins | Oscar Lozada

    What Makes Us Human? Neanderthals, Denisovans and Our Origins | Oscar Lozada
    Oct 25 2026
    Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! What if our view of ourselves as a unique species is wrong? This week we are joined by Oscar Lozada, an archaeologist and biological anthropologist at the University of Cambridge, to explore the other ways of being human: the Neanderthals of Shanidar Cave, the Denisovans, and a growing cast of newly discovered human relatives. We dig into the "old man" of Shanidar, whose healed injuries hint that Neanderthals cared for their own; the long history of seeing these people as a mirror for our own prejudices; the explosion of new human species and the "ghost" lineages hiding in our DNA; why Homo sapiens ended up the sole survivors; and what deep history can teach us about climate change and extinction today. "Over the last 170 years, Neanderthals have been a mirror for how we view ourselves. We've projected onto them everything we don't want to be." — Oscar Lozada About the guest Oscar Lozada is a PhD researcher in archaeology and biological anthropology at the University of Cambridge, studying the palaeoecology of the Neanderthals of Shanidar Cave in Iraqi Kurdistan. A zoologist by training, he worked in rural development across sub-Saharan Africa before a master's in prehistoric archaeology at Oxford, and has excavated early human sites in Britain, Morocco and Iraq. He is also a science communicator, posting as "Oz of the Ancients." In this episode Shanidar Cave and the "old man" whose healed injuries suggest Neanderthals cared for one another, plus the famous flower-burial story and why it's now doubted A whistle-stop tour of human evolution: Homo erectus, Neanderthals, the Denisovans ("Dragon Man"), Homo floresiensis, Homo naledi, and the ghost lineages in our DNA Why Homo sapiens are the sole survivors, and what deep history teaches us about climate adaptation, extinction, and reading our own past in the world around us Links and references Oscar Lozada, University of Cambridge profile: https://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/staff/oscar-lozada @Oz_of_the_Ancients — Oscar's human evolution channel (YouTube, Instagram and Bluesky) Reassessment of Neanderthal mortuary behaviour at Shanidar Cave (Cambridge project): https://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/research/projects/current-projects/reassessment-neanderthal-mortuary-behaviour-shanidar-cave-iraqi Uncomfortable Oxford / Uncomfortable Cambridge walking tours: https://www.uncomfortableoxford.com ⁠www.humanism.now⁠ Follow @HumanismNowPod | ⁠YouTube⁠ | ⁠TikTok⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠Threads⁠ | ⁠X.com⁠ | ⁠BlueSky⁠ Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live, a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get started in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.live. Music: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr
  • Katherine Stewart on Christian Nationalism, Trump and the Fight for Democracy

    Katherine Stewart on Christian Nationalism, Trump and the Fight for Democracy
    Oct 18 2026
    Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! www.humanism.now Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Two years ago, Katherine Stewart came on the show with a stark warning about the long campaign of Christian nationalism in the United States. A lot has happened since. As the US approaches the midterm elections, she returns to take stock: the changes, the corruption, the resistance, and what the next two years could bring, in America and well beyond it. James Hodgson and Katherine discuss presidential overreach and what she calls the most lawless administration in American history, how the movement long predated Trump and will outlast him, the "persecution narrative" used to justify stripping away others' rights, the erosion of the separation of church and state, parallels with Reform UK and the European far right, and where the pockets of pro-democracy resistance really are. "The aim is not about banning abortion. If they ban all abortions, they'll move on to the next thing. What they really want is to destroy democracy itself." — Katherine Stewart About the guest Katherine Stewart is an award-winning investigative journalist and author who has spent more than a decade reporting on the religious right and Christian nationalism. Her books are The Good News Club (2012), The Power Worshippers (2020), which inspired the documentary God & Country, and her latest, Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy (2025). In this episode Why Katherine calls this the most lawless administration in US history, and how the movement predates Trump and will outlast him The "persecution narrative": how claiming victimhood is used to shield abuses and justify stripping away the rights of others The international picture, from Viktor Orbán to Reform UK, the economics behind it, and where pro-democracy resistance is winning Links and references Katherine Stewart's website: https://katherinestewart.me Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy (2025): https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/money-lies-and-god-9781635578546/ The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism (2020): https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/money-lies-and-god-9781635578546/ The Good News Club: The Christian Right's Stealth Assault on America's Children (2012): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-News-Club-Religious-Americas/dp/1586488430 God & Country, the documentary based on The Power Worshippers: https://www.godandcountrythemovie.com Humanism Now is produced by ⁠Humanise Live⁠, a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get started in podcasting today at ⁠humanise.live⁠ or ⁠hello@humanise.live⁠. Music: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    46 mins
  • Introducing: Humanism Ireland Podcast | James Hodgson on Humanism, Curiosity and the Story So Far | Bonus Crossover

    Introducing: Humanism Ireland Podcast | James Hodgson on Humanism, Curiosity and the Story So Far | Bonus Crossover
    Oct 15 2026
    Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! www.humanism.now Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky ******** "We are rationalising animals. We feel first, and then we look for reason — so you have to actively push against that all the time." Something a little different this week. James recently sat on the other side of the microphone as a guest on the Humanism Ireland podcast, the show from the Humanist Association of Ireland, hosted by Megan De Siún. We're sharing that conversation here as a bonus episode. About this episode This is a crossover with the Humanism Ireland podcast from the Humanist Association of Ireland (HAI), hosted by Megan De Siún, where it first appeared as a special crossover episode. If you enjoy it, please head over and subscribe to support another humanist and secular group. Humanism Now returns to its regular interviews next week. In this episode James's path to humanism: What 90+ episodes have taught him Where humanism goes next Links and references Humanism Ireland podcast (Humanist Association of Ireland): https://rss.com/podcasts/humanismireland Humanist Association of Ireland: https://www.humanism.ie Humanists International Freedom of Thought Report: https://fot.humanists.international Sikivu Hutchinson, author and humanist (Humanism Ireland relaunch episode): https://sikivuhutchinson.com ******** Contact Humanist Ireland Podcast https://media.rss.com/humanismireland/feed.xml ⁠Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.⁠ Join Megan for a chat with James Hodgson, host of Humanism Now podcast as they explore the world of humanist podcasting, and the wins and challenges along the way in this special crossover episode of Humanism Ireland Podcast. Want to get in touch, or share your feedback? Contact megan@humanism.ie ******** Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live, a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get started in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.live. Music: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Contact Humanist Ireland Podcast Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. Join Megan for a chat with James Hodgson, host of Humanism Now podcast as they explore the world of humanist podcasting, and the wins and challenges along the way in this special crossover episode of Humanism Ireland Podcast. Want to get in touch, or share your feedback? Contact megan@humanism.ie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    29 mins
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All stars
Most relevant
I really like how James, panelist's and guests are tackling important subjects, with compassion, knowledge and vulnerability.
There is some great quality guests, with profound personal stories, that are both touching and relatable. I have learnt a lot about Humanism from this podcast and will look forward to hearing more.

On a personal note; the humanist outlook conveyed, has really struck a chord (ration, reason, compassion) and I think I have found my people. 🙏🏽💕

Engaging and informative 💭

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