Talk Heathen 10.24 with Richard Gilliver and Jamie the Blind Limey (Mobile Version)

In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Richard Gilbreath and Jamie the Blind Limey tackle the bizarre intersections of TikTok misogyny, religious dogma, and the emotional highs of sports fandom! From the "esoteric" cult-like nature of Mormonism to the shared ecstasy of a World Cup match, the hosts explore how our brains navigate community, grief, and the problem of suffering. Can we find peace in a world without a supernatural supervisor, or are we just hardwired for wonder? Barbara in USA discusses her transition to atheism at 72 and the struggle of shedding Mormon dogma. Richard and Jamie address the "problem of suffering" and the Epicurean trilemma, explaining why a perfect God wouldn't allow unnecessary pain. They highlight that deconstruction is a brave, individual process often hindered by social stigma. Can we find comfort in facts rather than mythological "magic" in the sky? Chloe (TikTok) explores the "intersection of fandom and faith," comparing World Cup excitement to religious fervor. Richard and Jamie suggest the emotional experiences are identical, rooted in a human craving for unity and narrative. They warn against "zealotry," using the sectarian violence of Scottish football as a cautionary tale for both believers and fans. Is passion a legitimate expression of humanity, or a shortcut to division? Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time! 00:00:00 Intro 00:05:12 Barbara-NV | Coping With Feelings About Past Beliefs 00:53:31 Chloe-Unity In Discourse Of Sporting And Religious Events Do you believe in God? Call and tell us why! Call the show on Sundays 1:00pm-2:30pm CDT, tell us what you believe and why! -Use your ☎ and call 1-512-991-9242 -Or use your 💻 and click https://aca.show/call WHAT IS TALK HEATHEN? Talk Heathen is a weekly call-in internet show in Austin, Texas geared toward long-form and on-going dialogue with theists & atheists about religion, theism, & secularism. Talk Heathen is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin. We request pronouns as part of the call screening process on our shows, and we display the pronouns our callers provide. If you see a caller with no pronouns indicated, this is because they chose not to provide us with any, and we respect that decision. Don't like commercials? Become a patron & get ad-free episodes & more:   / talkheathentome   The podcast may be found at: https://aca.show/podcastth ------- The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop & support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing & friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of government-religion separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists & to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals. We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.   / talkheathenfg   reddit.com/r/talkheathen NOTES The views and opinions expressed by hosts, guests, or callers are their own and not necessarily representative of the Atheist Community of Austin.    / talkheathen   is the official channel of Talk Heathen. "Talk Heathen" is a trademark of the ACA. Copyright © 2026 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.