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
Prayer Works In Your Head, Not In Heaven: Understanding Religious Ritual Through Science
This episode examines prayer from a psychological rather than theological perspective. While prayer doesn't produce supernatural results, it does provide genuine benefits through mechanisms like structured self-reflection, ritual comfort, and social connection. We explore the placebo effect in religious practice, the neuroscience of repetitive ritual, and why understanding prayer's natural benefits doesn't require dismissing its value entirely.
Topics covered include intercessory prayer studies, the dangerous side of replacing action with prayer, and how secular practices like meditation tap into the same psychological mechanisms that make religious prayer effective.
💬 Viewer Question
How has prayer—or any quiet ritual—helped you feel more grounded or connected in a difficult moment?
📑 Relevant Topics or Chapter Headings
Placebo Effect of Prayer
Structured Self-Talk and Ritual
Psychology Behind Prayer’s Comfort
Harm When Prayer Replaces Action
Prayer and Mindfulness Overlap
Group Prayer as Social Bonding
Reframing Prayer Without Supernatural Claims
📚 Suggested Reading List (3–5 resources, from your spreadsheet)
Breaking the Spell by Daniel Dennett — Examines religion through science and explores the natural processes behind spiritual experiences. https://amzn.to/45JWYZf
Grief Works by Julia Samuel — A therapist shares stories of grief and shows how structured reflection supports healing. https://amzn.to/4oCYaEQ
Godless by Dan Barker — A former evangelical shares his journey away from belief, showing how meaning survives without supernatural claims. https://amzn.to/3T0toY5
Faith Versus Fact by Jerry A. Coyne — Looks at why religious belief and science often clash, and how secular thought offers alternative grounding. https://amzn.to/3IUdXib
Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more content from Mike Smithgall and the Atheistville team
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville
💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CONTACT
Check us out at: https://atheistville.buzzsprout.com
🔥 New episodes weekly from Atheistville — Mike Drop with Mike Smithgall, Ask an Atheist, and The Unholy Roundtable
© 2025 Atheistville Media
