Humanism Now | Secular Ethics, Curiosity and Compassionate Change

"We're at a time when we need critical thinking more than ever, and sadly, I'm not really seeing it happening." 
Professor Chris French is one of the world's leading researchers in anomalistic psychology and critical thinking. As former head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at Goldsmiths, University of London, author of The Science of Weird Sht*, patron of Humanists UK, and former editor of The Skeptic magazine, Chris has spent decades investigating paranormal claims, debunking fraudsters, and exploring the psychology of belief. 
In this conversation, he unpacks why the paranormal is worth taking seriously as a scientific and psychological subject, what his own near-miss with precognition research taught him, why deliberate con artists deserve far more condemnation than sincere believers, and why we urgently need better critical thinking in schools, in public life, and in our politics.
Connect with Professor French
Chris’s website
Chris’s Guardian column
Chris’s Skeptic column
Chris’s profile page at Goldmiths
Chris on Bluesky
Chris being interviewed on the Plutopia podcast
The Science of Weird Shit on Bookshop.org
Topics we cover
How anomalistic psychology defines the paranormal  
The sheep and goat scale: do believers and sceptics think differently?
A near-miss with precognition research — when the data surprised the sceptics
Why sincere mediums deserve a different response to deliberate con artists
How a single book turned a believer into one of the world's leading sceptics
The case for teaching critical thinking through ghost stories and UFOs
The hard problem of conscious
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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 starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or [email protected]

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.

“Chaplaincy is defined by function, it’s not defined by belief.”

Padre Dr Neil Weddell, the first ever non-religious pastoral carer (humanist chaplain) appointed in the British Army, joins Humanism Now alongside Clare Elcombe Webber, Director of Humanist Care at Humanists UK. We explore what chaplaincy really is, why this appointment is a historic shift for belief-diverse Armed Forces, and what humanist pastoral care looks like in practice for serving personnel and their families. 
Topics we cover
The evolving purpose of Chaplaincy
Why the Army’s first non-religious chaplain is such a landmark moment 
“Presence”, confidentiality, and sitting outside the chain of command
Stoicism, existentialism, and humanistic psychology as practical frameworks for moral and pastoral support
How humanist chaplaincy strengthens, not replaces, religious chaplaincy
Where chaplaincy fits alongside welfare and medical support in a whole-person wellbeing system
Ceremonies in military life: inclusive funerals, namings, and personal milestones
What it takes to become a non-religious pastoral carer, and the pathway into the profession
Resources & further reading
Royal Army Chaplains’ Department: https://www.army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/about-the-army/corps-regiments-and-units/royal-army-chaplains-department/
Army Jobs -Chaplain role overview: https://jobs.army.mod.uk/roles/royal-army-chaplains-department/chaplain/
Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network (NRPSN): https://nrpsn.org.uk/
Humanists UK - First-ever humanist pastoral carer in the UK Armed Forces:  https://humanists.uk/2025/10/07/first-ever-humanist-pastoral-carer-in-the-uk-armed-forces-2/
Soldier Magazine - “New kinda padre in town”:  https://soldier.army.mod.uk/issues/november-2025/update/new-padre
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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 starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or [email protected]

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.

SUBSCRIBE TO FREEDOM OF THOUGHT:
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Welcome to Freedom of Thought a new podcast series by Humanists International!
In this first episode hosts Gary McLellend and Leon Langdon introduce Humanists International, the global representative body at the heart of the humanist movement, how a global humanist network works inside the UN system, and why universal rights need a louder defence right now. 
We share the member‑led model, lessons from the IRF Summit, and what really happens inside the UN Human Rights Council.

In this first episode we cover:
The formation and ethos of Humanists International
Our member‑led structure and global reach
Lived experience informing advocacy
Reflections on the 2026 IRF Summit
Fractures in human rights spaces and how to address them
What happens inside the Human Rights Council 
Why start this podcast now and what comes next
Why attend the World Humanist Congress 2026
How to shape the conversation, support us and follow
Follow Humanist International
Support Humanists International
About - Humanists International
Join us at the World Humanists Congress 2026
Freedom of Thought is produced by Humanise Live
🎶Music: Horizon by Simon Folwar
Send a text
Support the show
Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community!
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 starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or [email protected]

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.

"If science tells you what's real and compassion tells you what's right, you're a humanist" - Fish Stark

Fish Stark, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association (AHA), joins Humanism Now to unpack what a modern humanist revival could look like in the United States. From creator-led storytelling to legal strategy and mutual aid, Fish shares how the AHA is building power, community, and a clearer public-facing vision of humanism rooted in empathy, agency, and responsibility.

Connect with Fish Stark
Personal Website – fishstark.com
AHA Speakers Bureau
LinkedIn
Topics we cover
Why Fish believes the moment is right for a “humanist revival” in America
Humanism as identity, not just ideas: agency, responsibility, and moral confidence
What the AHA actually does: community-building, lobbying, legal action, and public narrative
Why the real arena is online, and how the AHA is backing creators to meet people where they are
Church-state separation under pressure, and how coercion shows up in schools and public life
Humanist chaplaincy and “parallel place” legal recognition as a strategic advantage
The American Empathy Project and why mutual aid is humanism in practice
What comedy teaches about organising: pacing, attention, clarity, and joy
Resources & further reading
Humanist Manifesto I – American Humanist Association (1933) – https://americanhumanist.org/what-is-humanism/manifesto1/
Peace First – https://peacefirst.org/
Born This Way Foundation  – https://bornthisway.foundation/
The Good Place – https://www.nbc.com/the-good-place
Person-centered therapy (Carl Rogers) overview – NCBI Bookshelf / StatPearls (2023) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK589708/
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Support the show
Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community!
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 starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or [email protected]

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.

“It was a very safe space to be able to say, I got that wrong.”
CampQuest UK Programme Director Alistair Lichten (Humanist Dad) and camper-turned-volunteer Katy Pugh join Humanism Now to unpack why a secular camp matters, and how a weekend of outdoor adventure, hands-on science, and Philosophy for Children helps young people practise curiosity, confidence, and respectful disagreement.
Discover CampQuest UK
2026 Family Camp – dates, location, pricing, booking– https://campquest.uk/2026-family-camp-pilot/
More info on Humanists UK Website
Follow Alistair on the HumanistDad Blog
Topics we cover
 ✔︎ Why CampQuest began, and what a secular camp offers that most camps do not
 ✔︎ How outdoor challenge makes speaking up feel less scary
 ✔︎ The 2026 family camp, and what the weekend format looks like
 ✔︎ Philosophy for Children: stimulus, question-voting, and “speaking object” rules
 ✔︎ Encouraging values without dogma: standards of behaviour that protect freedom of thought
 ✔︎ What kids actually take home: reasoning, confidence, and not taking disagreement personally
 ✔︎ Alumni impact, volunteer growth, and rebuilding community year to year
 ✔︎ Practical booking and arrival expectations for the May bank holiday camp
Resources & further reading
Philosophy for Children (P4C): SAPERE / Thoughtful – training and overview of the method – https://www.sapere.org.uk/
and “What is P4C?” 
The Ship of Theseus (identity over time): Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Send a text
Support the show
Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community!
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 starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or [email protected]

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.