Unholy Histories: The Humanist Heritage Podcast from Humanists UK

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• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights with Bill Cooke & Francesca Klug 27.05.2026 51min

  In the aftermath of two world wars, a new vision for humanity began to take shape, one grounded in shared dignity, freedom, and cooperation across borders. At the heart of that vision were humanist thinkers, from H.G. Wells, whose Rights of Man helped inspire the movement, to Julian Huxley, the first Director-General of UNESCO. This episode traces the ideas that shaped the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, asks why it still matters, and considers what challenges lie ahead for the univers...
• Born of Mary - LGBT Rights & Humanism In Britain with Lesley Hall and Peter Parker 20.05.2026 57min

  Join Humanists UK: humanists.uk/join Throughout modern British history, the movements for sexual freedom and freedom of belief have often converged, challenging moral orthodoxy and religious authority in the name of human dignity. This episode traces how humanism and LGBT activism have evolved side by side, and what that shared legacy means today. Guests: Lesley Hall, historian and retired archivist, specialising in sexuality and gender in 19th and 20th century Britain. Author of Sex, Gender ...
• Moral education without religion with Lois Lee & Susannah Wright 13.05.2026 50min

  Education has always been central to humanist thought, from the founding of the Moral Instruction League in 1897 to Margaret Knight's scandalous 1955 BBC broadcasts on raising children without religion. This episode traces the long humanist tradition of moral and civic education in Britain, and asks how children form their identities and worldviews in an increasingly non-religious society. Guests: Dr Lois Lee, senior lecturer in secular studies at the University of Kent, whose research examin...
• Atheism before the Enlightenment with Michael Hunter and Patrick McGhee 06.05.2026 49min

  Many people assume humanism began with the Enlightenment. But sceptical, rational, human-centred ideas have a much longer history. This episode travels back to the centuries before the so-called Age of Reason to meet the freethinkers, doubters, and proto-humanists who challenged religious orthodoxy when doing so could mean prison, exile, or death, and asks what their courage tells us about the slow erosion of religious certainty. Guests: Professor Michael Hunter, Emeritus Professor of History...
• Heroines of freethought with Annie Laurie Gaylor & Nan Sloane 29.04.2026 58min

  Throughout history, women have been leading voices for reason, equality, and human progress, even if their stories have too often been overlooked. Taking its title from Sara Underwood's 1876 collection, this episode sheds light on some of the women who defied religious and social convention, and asks what their legacy means for humanism today. Guests: Nan Sloane, historian, trainer, and author of Uncontrollable Women: Radicals, Reformers and Revolutionaries. nansloane.comAnnie Laurie Gaylor, ...
• Introducing Unholy Histories: The Humanist Heritage Podcast from Humanists UK 25.03.2026 2min

  Unholy Histories is the new Humanist Heritage Podcast from Humanists UK and inspired by the research of the Humanist Heritage Project. Join Andrew Copson and Madeleine Goodall as they uncover the rebels, reformers, and freethinkers who shaped a more open and compassionate Britain. The first episodes go live very soon. Subscribe now via your preferred podcast app to be notified the moment new episodes are released. Join Humanists UK: humanists.uk/join Discover more Humanist Heritage: heritage...