Atheistville with Mike Smithgall
Hosted by Mike Smithgall, Atheistville explores atheism, deconversion, and secular life through open, respectful conversation. The channel features two signature shows:
Mike Drop – weekly commentary on religion, politics, and culture from a reasoned, secular perspective.
Breakfast with a Heathen – a relaxed Sunday Q&A that tackles listener and Reddit questions about belief, honesty, and living without faith.
Together, they create a space for candid dialogue about leaving belief behind, thinking for yourself, and building a meaningful life grounded in evidence, empathy, and ethics rather than dogma.
Podcast Creator Bio: Mike Smithgall
Mike Smithgall is the creator and host of Atheistville, a podcast and YouTube series exploring atheism, deconversion, and secular life through real conversation instead of confrontation. Drawing on his background as a financial professional and lifelong skeptic, Mike focuses on how people think, what leads them to question faith, and how they rebuild meaning without religion.
He interviews former believers, secular thinkers, and progressive voices to highlight shared values of empathy, critical thinking, and human connection. His mission is simple: belief should be personal, not political, and every story deserves to be heard.
Follow his work on YouTube (@Atheistville) or at Atheistville.com.
Atheistville with Mike Smithgall
Catholic School Shooting: Identity, Media Narratives, and Secular Perspectives
This episode examines the tragic Catholic school shooting and the reactions that followed. We unpack the immediate framing of the suspect’s identity as trans and atheist, and the way partisan lines shape the headlines. We also reflect on questions of justice, punishment, and personal morality in the aftermath of violence.
Viewer Question:
Do you think the media focuses too much on a suspect’s identity instead of the root causes of violence?
📑 Relevant Topics or Chapter Headings
Opening Reactions to the Shooting
Justice, Punishment, and Personal Morality
The Suspect’s Identity in Media Coverage
Partisan Splits: Right vs. Left Narratives
Bullying, Mental Health, and Root Causes
📚 Recommended Reading & Resources
(Please provide your Atheist Reading List link so I can pull in raw Amazon URLs where they exist. For now, I’ll flag links as missing.)
God and Guns in America
Author: Michael W. Austin
Brief Description: Explores the intersection of religion, culture, and America’s gun obsession, offering context for tragedies like this.
URL: https://amzn.to/4mul8fQ
The Violence Project: How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic
Authors: Jillian Peterson and James Densley
Brief Description: Research-based insights into mass shootings in America, with data on who commits them and how to prevent future violence.
URL:: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1419752952
Moral Combat: How Sex Divided American Christians and Fractured American Politics
Author: R. Marie Griffith
Brief Description: Examines how religious narratives about gender and identity feed into wider cultural conflicts, often amplified in crises.
https://amzn.to/47R8eUB
Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation
Author: Kristin Kobes Du Mez
Brief Description: Shows how masculinity, Christianity, and gun culture intertwine, shaping attitudes that fuel both extremism and scapegoating.
URL:: https://www.amazon.com/dp/163149905X
Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more content from Mike Smithgall and the Atheistville team
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