https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/raising-freethinkers--3245039enEducationCopyright Dale McGowanhttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b76346e35063bd8d1384f2d393e00958.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/raising-freethinkers--3245039Sun, 24 May 2026 23:17:30 +0000Dale McGowanDale McGowanfeeds@spreaker.comA podcast about raising compassionate, curious kids without religion. Hosted by Dale McGowan, editor and co-author of Parenting Beyond Belief and Raising Freethinkers.falseepisodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-different-kind-of-game--40802876https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40802876Wed, 09 Sep 2020 18:37:31 +0000Dale McGowanA growing game genre replaces mayhem with thinking and empathy.762critical_thinking,empathy,gaming,gris,parentingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/finding-a-crew--40159061https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40159061Wed, 05 Aug 2020 20:58:51 +0000Dale McGowanSometimes 'citizen of the world' didn't cut it. That's when I needed a crew.853atheist,nonreligious,parenting,raising_freethinkersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rescuing-the-word-privilege-for-our-kids--31503888https://api.spreaker.com/episode/31503888Wed, 17 Jun 2020 19:02:08 +0000Dale McGowanWhen 'privileged' becomes an epithet, it loses its power.1029parenting,privilege,raising_freethinkersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-face-for-the-universe--29849675https://api.spreaker.com/episode/29849675Sun, 07 Jun 2020 20:20:07 +0000Dale McGowanIt's hard to live in a universe that doesn't care. So we give it a face.775evolution,pareidolia,parenting,psychology,raising_freethinkersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/when-huxley-lost-his-darling-boy--28151955https://api.spreaker.com/episode/28151955Sat, 23 May 2020 20:34:59 +0000Dale McGowanIn the shadow of his terrible loss, Huxley wrote a moving testament to integrity.886falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-science-you-will-never-know--26847878https://api.spreaker.com/episode/26847878Wed, 06 May 2020 18:18:59 +0000Dale McGowanThe science you will never know can kill you, and it can save your life.1190coronavirus,covid-19,empiricism,health,sciencefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/normalizing-disbelief--26036865https://api.spreaker.com/episode/26036865Fri, 24 Apr 2020 22:00:15 +0000Dale McGowanOur kids' generation sees religious disbelief as kind of...normal. Let's catch up.795atheism,nonreligious,parenting,raising_freethinkersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-devil-you-know-religious-literacy--23401554https://api.spreaker.com/episode/23401554Mon, 02 Mar 2020 19:46:29 +0000Dale McGowanWhen teaching your kids about religion, cast a (very) wide net.939raising_freethinkers,religion,religious_literacyfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/from-the-god-fight-to-georgia-tech--22887604https://api.spreaker.com/episode/22887604Mon, 17 Feb 2020 21:24:22 +0000Dale McGowanOnce my daughter decided what she believed, there was another question waiting.782raising_freethinkers,religion,sciencefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/of-ant-squishing-and-crystal-meth-and-jesus--22376937https://api.spreaker.com/episode/22376937Mon, 03 Feb 2020 19:08:19 +0000Dale McGowanOur conversation about moral development is all wrong.980dalemcgowan,ethics,moral_development,morality,nonreligious_parenting,parenting,raising_freethinkersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/not-a-grab-bag-candy-game-widening-the-circle-of-empathy--21861192https://api.spreaker.com/episode/21861192Sun, 19 Jan 2020 23:04:23 +0000Dale McGowanLeveling the 'empathy gradient' has been one of my biggest parenting challenges.1030empathy,nonreligious_parenting,parenting,raising_freethinkersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/russell-s-other-value--20515387https://api.spreaker.com/episode/20515387Thu, 05 Dec 2019 23:50:22 +0000Dale McGowanBertrand Russell was a champion of clear thinking. But when he felt vulnerable, another value took over.853atheist,bertrand_russell,dale_mcgowan,kindness,raising_freethinkers,secular_parentingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/pants-on-fire-parenting--19962365https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19962365Sun, 10 Nov 2019 20:57:22 +0000Dale McGowanThe playful fib can serve a serious purpose in raising critical thinkers.827critical_thinking,dalemcgowan,lying,nonreligious_parenting,parenting,raising_freethinkersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/obey--19733639https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19733639Mon, 28 Oct 2019 21:23:24 +0000Dale McGowanDon't teach kids to obey without thinking -- or they just might.1205morality,nonreligious_parenting,obedience,parenting,raisingfreethinkersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/but-then-what-are-the-children--19587865https://api.spreaker.com/episode/19587865Sat, 19 Oct 2019 19:02:10 +0000Dale McGowanIt's the first question mixed-belief couples hear. The answer is simple.1089dale_mcgowan,mixed_belief,nonreligious_parenting,parenting,raising_freethinkersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/snip-and-dip--18791542https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18791542Sun, 11 Aug 2019 18:53:37 +0000Dale McGowanThey were two of our earliest parenting decisions, and we blew it both times.1019baptism,circumcision,mixed_marriage,nonreligious,raisingfreethinkersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-big-reveal--18660220https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18660220Sun, 28 Jul 2019 13:50:50 +0000Dale McGowan59% of nonreligious Americans who are married have a religious partner.1153dalemcgowan,mixed_marriage,raisingfreethinkersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-if-your-child-becomes-religious--18533440https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18533440Fri, 12 Jul 2019 14:21:18 +0000Dale McGowanIt's a fair question. Fortunately there's a very good answer.978dalemcgowan,nonreligious_parenting,parenting,raisingfreethinkers,religionfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/different-out-loud--18435003https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18435003Mon, 01 Jul 2019 19:24:36 +0000Dale McGowanA simple exchange in a middle school cafeteria touched on a famous study in conformity.832conformity,diversity,psychology,raisingfreethinkersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-first-really-hard-goodbyes--18185771https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18185771Thu, 06 Jun 2019 00:24:47 +0000Dale McGowanLosing Max was the start of my daughter's education in grief and healing.1153death,grief,grieving,mortality,pets,raising_freethinkersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/spare-the-rod-and-spare-me-the-rest--18083128https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18083128Mon, 27 May 2019 00:33:14 +0000Dale McGowanThe jury is in on corporal punishment.956corporal_punishment,discipline,parenting,raisingfreethinkersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/of-song-and-story--17919986https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17919986Mon, 13 May 2019 22:26:37 +0000Dale McGowanI found a fun, natural way for my kids to really meet their dad.844bedtime,dale_mcgowan,raising_freethinkers,songs,storiesfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-conflict-avoiders-when-science-goes-south-3--17805246https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17805246Wed, 01 May 2019 15:06:04 +0000Dale McGowanWe wanted the assistant principal's head on a platter. But some things mattered more.1346conflict,dale_mcgowan,evolution,raising_freethinkers,schools,science,science_literacyfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-word-when-science-goes-south-2--17715043https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17715043Mon, 22 Apr 2019 18:44:14 +0000Dale McGowanI would not allow my daughter's scientific accomplishment to be erased.841evolution,raising_freethinkers,schools,sciencefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/when-science-goes-south-part-1--17638624https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17638624Sun, 14 Apr 2019 13:17:27 +0000Dale McGowanEven the best science standards can be undercut by one misguided educator.1010dale_mcgowan,education,evolution,raising_freethinkers,schools,science,science_educationfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-devil-went-down-to-georgia--17553353https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17553353Sat, 06 Apr 2019 13:28:22 +0000Dale McGowanWhen my nonreligious family moved south, I was wound a little tight.1093dale_mcgowan,georgia,nonreligious_parenting,public_schools,raising_freethinkersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/we-are-the-mythmakers--17466131https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17466131Thu, 28 Mar 2019 18:21:16 +0000Dale McGowanAfter my girls heard myths every night for weeks...the Bronze Age suddenly broke loose.911creativity,dalemcgowan,folklore,legends,myths,nonreligious_parenting,parenting,raisingfreethinkers,religionfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/after-the-origin-evolution-pt-3--17323301https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17323301Thu, 14 Mar 2019 19:24:11 +0000Dale McGowanBoth Darwin's theory and his personal opinions took a long, difficult road to reach us.1638agnosticism,dale_mcgowan,darwin,evolution,genetics,modern_synthesis,nonreligious_parenting,parenting,raising_freethinkers,religion,sciencefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/children-of-the-evolution-evolution-pt-2--17257702https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17257702Thu, 07 Mar 2019 22:18:27 +0000Dale McGowanKids should learn about evolution the same way evolution happens -- in small steps over many years.1245carl_sagan,dale_mcgowan,evolution,raising_freethinkersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/why-evolution-matters-evolution-pt-1--17193677https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17193677Fri, 01 Mar 2019 15:54:57 +0000Dale McGowanBefore we talk about how to introduce kids to evolution, let's talk about why.1155dale_mcgowan,evolution,raising_freethinkers,science,secular_parentingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/raising-curious-kids-curiosity-pt-4--17110170https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17110170Thu, 21 Feb 2019 21:58:05 +0000Dale McGowanThe last episode in the curiosity series gets practical: What exactly can we do to raise curious kids?976curiosity,nonreligious_parenting,parenting,raising_freethinkers,secular_parentingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/curious-science-curiosity-pt-3--17044881https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17044881Thu, 14 Feb 2019 19:20:07 +0000Dale McGowanA love letter to knowledge for its own sake.1093basic_research,curiosity,nonreligious_parenting,parenting,raising_freethinkers,science,transit_of_venusfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/of-curious-women-and-dead-cats-curiosity-pt-2--16968592https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16968592Thu, 07 Feb 2019 14:45:19 +0000Dale McGowanTo raise a curious kid, you'll have to fight the culture a bit.813falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-curious-root-of-everything-curiosity-pt-1--16896886https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16896886Thu, 31 Jan 2019 20:26:37 +0000Dale McGowanCould I find one core value at the center of my parenting? I was curious.1151curiosity,nonreligious,parenting,raisingfreethinkersfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/fearless-fear-pt-3--16833530https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16833530Thu, 24 Jan 2019 20:40:09 +0000Dale McGowanFear is okay for a visit, but your kids shouldn't live there.1155fear,fearless,parentingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/useful-monsters-fear-pt-2--16741269https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16741269Thu, 17 Jan 2019 22:08:18 +0000Dale McGowanWhen parents invent monsters to scare their children safe, it comes at a cost.838childhood,fear,monsters,parentingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/beyond-fearthought-fear-pt-1--16679753https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16679753Thu, 10 Jan 2019 18:14:35 +0000Dale McGowanDon't assume your kids know they have the freedom to think.1130fear,freethought,goodandevil,morality,thinkingfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/amazingly-unlikely--16621482https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16621482Thu, 03 Jan 2019 17:35:02 +0000Dale McGowanOn life and death, and wonder, and boxer shorts.776chance,death,life,nonreligious,parenting,wonderfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/santa-claus-the-ultimate-dry-run--16404630https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16404630Thu, 06 Dec 2018 20:36:15 +0000Dale McGowanThe Santa myth is the greatest gift a rational worldview ever had.859criticalthinking,freethought,nonreligious,parenting,santafalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/origin-story--16210163https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16210163Sat, 24 Nov 2018 20:07:45 +0000Dale McGowanOne sentence from my four-year-old boy launched Parenting Beyond Belief and Raising Freethinkers.911atheist,nonreligious,parenting,questioningfalsefull