BEING HUMAN Episode 1 with Mary Beaty | Humanist Canada Television Series (2010–2015)

In the premiere episode of Being Human, host Barbara Caines sits down with humanist educator and advocate Mary Beaty for an introduction to humanism and the values that guide it. Together, they explore the foundations of humanist philosophy, including its emphasis on reason, compassion, human dignity, and ethical living without reliance on supernatural beliefs. Mary also discusses what it means to live a humanist life in practice, offering insights into how humanist values can shape our relationships, decisions, communities, and sense of purpose. Originally produced for VisionTV in the early 2010s, Being Human brought a humanist perspective to Canadian television through thoughtful conversations with leading voices from across Canada and around the world. As with any program from a previous era, some discussions, language, or perspectives may reflect the time in which they were recorded and may not align with current understandings or the views of our organization today. We are pleased to share this archival series as a reflection of our history and the ongoing evolution of humanist thought. Special thanks to former Humanist Canada President Simon Parcher for preserving these recordings and making them available to a new audience. Subscribe to follow the series as we release one episode each week and revisit the conversations that helped bring humanist ideas to a wider audience.