In this interview the New Enlightenment Project’s Director of Advocacy Scott Douglas Jacobsen interviews Humanist Chaplain Marty Shoemaker about the need for chaplains in humanism. Dr. Martin “Marty” Shoemaker is a trained clinical psychologist and, currently, a Humanist Chaplain at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (Multifaith Centre) and Vancouver General Hospital (August, 2014-Present). Previously, he worked as a psychologist and instructor in organizational behaviour. Here we talk about humanist chaplaincy Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Humanism is a broad term encompassing various e ..read more

Simon Parcher is the President and Executive Director of Canadian Humanist Publications, publisher of Humanist Perspectives Magazine. Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Today, we are here with Simon Parcher. We will be talking about Humanist Perspectives, a humanist publication in Canada. It’s the only major Canadian humanist magazine. How did you first get involved in Humanist Perspectives, and how has it developed over time as you’ve taken the helm? Simon Parcher: Humanist Perspectives magazine used to be called ‘Humanist in Canada.’ It started being published in 1968 in British Columbia. Then, in ..read more

Tauya Chinama is a Zimbabwean born philosopher, Humanist, apatheist, academic researcher and educator. He is also into human rights struggles as the founding leader of a Social Democrats Association (SODA) a youth civic movement which lobbies and advocates for the inclusion and recognition of the young people into decision making processes and boards throughout the country anchored on Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, Strong Institutions). Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What is the current state of witch accusations in Zimbabwe? Tauya Chinama: In Zimbabwe, witchcraft accusations ..read more

Gary McLelland joined Humanists International in February 2017. Before this he worked for the Humanist Society Scotland since 2013 as Head of Communications and Public Affairs. He has also previously served as a Board member of the European Humanist Federation based in Brussels, as well as a board member of the Scottish Joint Committee on Religious and Moral Education. Before working in Humanist campaigning, Gary worked for a global citizenship project at the Mercy Corps European headquarters in Edinburgh, and also in policy and service delivery in education and social work. He has a ..read more

Victoria Gugenheim was drawing before she could talk and was beginning with makeup by age 6, then focusing on face and bodypainting by age 9. She enjoys the process of de-othering as means of humanizing people. Her artistic forms vary widely from bodypainting, clothing design, digital art, and drawing, to installations, makeup, painting, and photography. Her clients have included Alice Cooper’s Halloween Night of Fear, Charlotte Church, Sony, London Fashion Week, Models of Diversity, Nokia, Marvel, and The World Bodypainting Festival. Here we continue on the body as canvas. Scott Douglas ..read more

Victoria Gugenheim was drawing before she could talk and was beginning with makeup by age 6, then focusing on face and bodypainting by age 9. She enjoys the process of de-othering as means of humanizing people. Her artistic forms vary widely from bodypainting, clothing design, digital art, and drawing, to installations, makeup, painting, and photography. Her clients have included Alice Cooper’s Halloween Night of Fear, Charlotte Church, Sony, London Fashion Week, Models of Diversity, Nokia, Marvel, and The World Bodypainting Festival. Here we continue on aesthetics and protest.  Sco ..read more

Wonderful Mkhutche is Humanists Malawi’s Executive Director. Humanists Malawi is the only humanist organisation in Malawi and fights against witchcraft based violence as well as promoting rationalism in approach to public affairs. Scott Douglas Jacobsen: So, today we’re here with Wonderful Mkhutche. When it comes to Malawian free thought, what are some contexts people should understand at the outset? Yes, when it comes to the Malawian context, for things like combating witchcraft allegations, humanism, and secularism, there is a wide range of concerns that people in our movements have. What t ..read more

“I have to argue that just because one is thinking freely, doesn’t mean one is thinking well.” -Victoria Gugenheim Victoria Gugenheim was drawing before she could talk and was beginning with makeup by age 6, then focusing on face and bodypainting by age 9. She enjoys the process of de-othering as means of humanizing people. Her artistic forms vary widely from bodypainting, clothing design, digital art, and drawing, to installations, makeup, painting, and photography. Her clients have included Alice Cooper’s Halloween Night of Fear, Charlotte Church, Cirque le Soir, Girls Roc, London ..read more

I am Mr. Nsajigwa I Mwasokwa, 53 years, a pioneer and freethinker in Tanzania. Trained here in Tanzania and in Japan in farming, cultural tourism, and youth development from the grassroots. I am experienced in tour guiding, teaching, translation, English to Swahili and vice versa. Youth talent incubating and mentoring. I discovered humanism through book reading in search for answers. Who am I, where it all came from, and what forces have shaped me to be a modern African that I am. Jichojipya ThinkAnew, “Jichojipya Nsajigwa profile Humanism Activism 2002 to 2017” (2018) Nsajigwa Mwasokwa is one ..read more

By Scott Douglas Jacobsen The interviewer and the hosts were wonderful. No complaints. I’m just being silly. For years, though, I took to never doing interviews. I allowed one interview of two questions with the founder of The Realist, Paul Krassner, who is no longer here (dead). He published that for, maybe, 50 years or something insane. Seriously, that’s an impressive feat no matter how you slice it. He used to feature some of the hidden icons of the comedy industry like George Carlin, or even better Lenny Bruce. If I received any as far back as a decade ago, then I was simply inc ..read more