TTA Podcast 96- A Conversation with Matt Dillahunty

[@AtheistComet80]

"I think we were worth talking to." I don't know why, but that made me tear up. Can I get a thumbs up from all my ex-Christian brothers and sisters?

[@kalilkash973]

The Atheist Experience is one of the main reasons why I decided to become an atheist, and The Thinking Atheist is one of the things keeping me confident in my choice.

[@SlideRulePirate]

"The Atheist Experience" is an anagram of "Cite Heathen Expertise". How cool is that?

[@TcGamerP116]

“One nation under educated” I Fukin LOVE this

[@scotty]

I love Matt he's got a great mind reasonable and articulate. Love listening to him. We need more of his sort he's doing a tremendous job.

[@eddieking2976]

I consider it an honor to be called a blasphemer. It's much better than worshiping a God to promotes rape, murder, slavery, and ethnic cleansing. I'm reminded of a bumper sticker " It's your hell, you burn in it." Thanks Matt and Seth for all your hard work.

[@detfan100]

Except that it is better to worship the True God and His son Jesus Christ, because the One True God that Christians follow, and all others should, is one of love, grace, and forgiveness.

[@eddieking2976]

detfan100 I have read six translations of the KJV so I think I can say with confidence that your God is a wicked and capricious dictator of the worst lot. I would not sacrifice one of my children if I heard a voice saying I must do so to show my love and obedience. There is zero evidence to support your belief in this deadbeat deity.

[@detfan100]

Eddie King You've reads six translation's of the same version? Sorry. Maybe you have read six different versions of the Bible. In any case, if that was true you would exclaim Jesus Christ as your Savior and live in peace, love, grace, and forgiveness. Or it is possible that you just have a reading comprehension issue. You are lying, intentionally or from ignorance, when you say that there is no evidence in the factual one True God. Maybe you should research a little more.

[@detfan100]

***** My life.

[@charcharmunr]

detfan100 More atheists have read the Bible than have Christians.

[@DutchSkeptic]

1:13:00 "I had the craziest dream ever. You, Matt [Dillahunty], were the chauffeur of Christopher Hitchens, who happened to be my landlord." Awesome.

[@BloodRedLegend]

I thought this was a really good show. The audio "problems" weren't a problem. Thanks, as always.

[@yorkiesa]

Honestly, the sound quality doesn't detract from the show. Great stuff.

[@Wistful77]

2013- Wow this is older-but you can still learn a lot from Matt and Seth!

[@Onlythebesttracks]

Matt and Seth.....Best podcast ever!

[@myeshacbj]

The audio sounds fine to me....

[@MrWINNSLAW]

"I would love to be on this show to display the rise of atheism in the African American Community. Now that would be quite a show!"

[@StaceyC123]

One of your most enjoyable episodes, Seth, but I enjoy every one :-)

[@atheistpsyconaut42]

I got to hug matt and his wife... They were awesome persons.

[@Optimatorz]

Great show! I love it when you bring guests on the air...

[@samuelmilton1436]

Matt Dillahunty is AWESOME!!!! THANKS for having Matt on the show Seth!!!! Keep up the GREAT work Seth!!!!

[@alphacause]

Thank you so much Seth for doing this interview! I am from Texas, and though it is rare that I can say that I am proud of my state, especially with the rampant anti-intellectual and anti-rational ideology that runs rampant here, one of the few times I can stand proud to be a Texan is because I can say that Matt Dillhunty is one of us. This was one of your best interview podcasts. Great job!

[@FrankLightheart]

Wonderful episode. Good topics, great calls.

[@gangrenouslimb]

Seth's voice is fucking awesome

[@OCDTraci]

2018 and I STILL can't figure out what is sticking out of Matt's jacket.

[@personathree]

OCDTraci 2019 and I still don’t know either.

[@MymilanitalyBlogspot]

It looks to me like a little stuffed animal of a manatee.

[@NeedsEvidence]

Matt and Seth, keep up the good work!

[@greenjelly01]

Great podcast! You should do one with Russel and Tracie from TAE. Russel has a great sense of humor, and Tracie can beautifully simplify almost any complex argument.

[@MrOnionterror]

This podcast is like a dream come true.

[@ABitOfTheUniverse]

Seth -"Is it secret service that handles the governor? I don't know." Matt - "It's probably Texas Rangers." Imagine a dozen Chuck Norris' surrounding Rick Perry. All costumed as Braddock.

[@-Zer0Dark-]

I was waiting for this!!! A few months ago, I thought "Surely Seth has had Matt on at some point...", but I was disappointed that I couldn't find any podcast episode featuring him. So I decided that he would almost certainly be on in the future. You're right, christians. God *does* answer prayers. ;-)

[@Neanderthalcouzin]

Hi Thinking Atheist, a technical question: what type of mic do you use in the studio? Cheers!

[@dfadden62]

I love it that some callers to The Atheist Experience have become atheists. Right on! :)

[@captaindutchie]

Is this recorded somewhere? or would you care to explain how evolution is a religion? I'm interested in the arguments you use to support that statement. (If you are going to explain it, maybe switching to the message system from the comment system might be nice.) ;)

[@DavidKirwanirl]

I wouldn't recognise Matts voice in this interview, amazing how a tiny improvement in audio quality can affect the accent so much.

[@Neanderthalcouzin]

Thanks! I could be wrong but I think the Shure SM7 or something close to it was used in Michael Jackson's Thriller album. Nerdy fact. I can afford it, now if only I can master a voice as epic as yours. Keep up the great work sir!

[@dresinss]

Please make a whole new series together.

[@ABitOfTheUniverse]

I got a lot of hugs (and autographs) at the American Atheist convention in D.C.. But I don't recall seeing Matt there. I did get Seth's autographs and several good hugs from David Silverman. For anyone who can make it to the 50th American Atheist convention, don't pass it up. There is a wonderful sense of security that comes from being among active participants of this family. Spend your time with the people you love most. It's quite a refreshing change of pace from the digital world.

[@jmlidea]

What's in Matt's shirt?

[@MadMonticus]

Looks like a Manatee.

[@TheLesso111]

Sacred sea cow

[@MsCryptoknight]

"Oh, the hugh-manatee"?

[@subrosa4792]

Sock puppet 🧦

[@benadams3569]

Up until a few months ago, I didn't really want to say "I am an atheist." Following people like Seth on KZbin and Facebook as well as Matt and hearing them speak in a calm "non-angry" tone about how they find religion as silly and illogical as I do made it easier for me to say "YEAH! That's what I've been trying to say!" Other atheists I have come across in media or in real life are the stereo type with yelling and childish name-calling. Seth, Matt as well as Aron Ra (and a few others Seth has introduced me to) are the complete opposite. They try to help people to "start thinking" (say that in that voice of the intro voice of TTA broadcast).

[@DoggoWillink]

I'm really surprised that the crowd which thumbs down all of Matt's videos hasn't made it here yet.

[@youisa1]

Another really good microphone to use is the Blue Yeti Pro. I've used his mic for about a month now and for the price I don't think you can beat it.

[@robinvan1983]

just to make it clear. When i apply A+ in Nepal... what responsibility do i have on what is happening online on a forum exactly?

[@unstoppableify]

..... does mat have a fcuking sock puppet sticking out of his jacket?.....seriously...i've been looking at that and trying to figure it out THE WHOLE TIME

[@taurak84]

+unstoppableify SQUIRREL!!??!!! That is Squirrel the ADHD Mascot. Now as I was saying OOO piece of candy, OOO piece of candy, OOO piece of candy. Huh What are you looking at? Can I help you?

[@IamtheLexx]

+unstoppableify It's a manatee plushie.

[@unstoppableify]

Agathe Dallaire jesus I doubt it....

[@kararakun]

+unstoppableify It is definitely a manatee.

[@unstoppableify]

ShadeyBladey I still don't know wtf this is!! Matt Be trollin like all hell.

[@stanchik25]

One of the best podcasts.

[@umbraterra]

TBH, I haven't listened to this show in quite awhile. But when I saw that Matt was the guest on this episode, I simply HAD to dive back in. No audio issues could keep me away.

[@ericwilkes83]

thanks for that argument about wiping our memory in heaven matt. I posted it on debate faith on facebook and it started a firestorm lol

[@SephTunes]

Do you have FM radio channels, or are you itunes radio?

[@joshafool]

I'm only 4 minutes in but does anyone know if Matt says why the atheist experience youtube video is no longer uploading?

[@jrusselison]

I think the reason why the best atheists come from ex-religious zealots is because they are the one who loved their gods the most and really wanted to know them but as soon as they really know them they realize the foolishness of worshipping such gods. The common religious people are just going through the motions of their religion and don’t realize the truth.

[@benadams3569]

If Seth hadn't spoken about the audio "issues" (and posted about in the description), I would just excuse it as it as "it was six years ago."

[@Jay-ate-a-bug]

56:30 Matt Flushes his toilet. Hellbound!!!!

[@ngusumakofu1]

Matt and Seth, by far two of the biggest guns. This gotta be entertaining. Where's the popcorn?

[@ABitOfTheUniverse]

@ 58:00 Matt mentions taking kids to the museum to encourage them to question things and explore. I would love to add to places you can take a kid to encourage them to think, a place of Higher Learning! If they are in elementary school, take them to a Junior High, a High School or better yet a College or University. It's NEVER too early to take a kid to the nearest college or university campus and take them on a tour. If you see students who aren't in a hurry, get them to interact with the kid.

[@GrecoWrestlerNJ70]

There would be nothing more awesome than Seth co-hosting The Atheist Experience.

[@JethroTClampet]

Looks like an interesting book, no I haven't read it. Years ago I read the 'The Book of the Secrets' by Rajneesh Bhagwan. The book claimed there were techniques for instantaneous enlightenment, I called it's bluff, and I was wrong. I got perspective that was humbling and on another level. I have heard of Drunvalo Melchizedek before. His claims about Atlantis are true.

[@robinvan1983]

So if someone is deemed trolling and censored, is that dogma? because you are really being vague on this. Besides, It has nothing to do with the principle of A+. Because if some website is doing some sort of censorship in the name of A+ you can still be still support A+ without supporting the website. Those 2 aren't connected.

[@sandysutherland2182]

A couple of splendid men!

[@ABitOfTheUniverse]

Agreed. One of the oldest arenas on the internet for counter attacks against religious claims. They've mentioned talk.origin many times on the Atheist Experience. I think it's been brought up in at least half of their shows!

[@jimkordahl9490]

The audio wasn't so bad... Great show Seth.

[@julzabro]

I luv The Atheist Experience...BIG fan! ;) I would luv to see that on national TV every Sunday...lol~ Always wanting more of that. More Matt, Jeff, Tracie and all the hosts AND more real xians/theists. Matt answered my question as to whether he ever gets confirmation that debate/conversation makes a difference. I truly believe it does but it takes a lot of time. Hope they all keep doing doing this ( u 2 Seth) cuz it IS important! If anything, you're all friends of truth! l)

[@gigisdad]

Caller Jason 36:22 sounds just like Chumley from Pawn Stars.

[@mechanoid2k]

how do you feel about sennhieser (wrong spelling)

[@primitivepatriot]

They forgot to mention TalkOrigins' site. It's a great resource for arguments focusing on evolution and human origins. Google it!

[@samuelmilton1436]

LOVE THE SHOW Seth!!!!

[@BlackMagister]

No problems Seth. It wouldn't be a podcast with the host of AE without the technical difficulties.

[@ABitOfTheUniverse]

In conversation I take this approach, and I have been growing exponentially thankful for the internet over the last 20 years. But there have been long stretches of time when I have found myself disconnected and in those moments I tend to seek immediate satisfaction which has often lead to aggressive conversations in bars and coffee shops or even destructive tendencies of the physical objects in the world that stand in place of religious ideologies and I deface or destroy them instead.

[@AdamRainStopper]

13:49 The reverb you added for that spiel about being a "firebrand" was very clever....(shhhhh! YOU MEANT to do that!)... It was an excellent theatrical effect...

[@bensteinundknochen9404]

He was probably on speakerphone for a minute

[@SAsgarters]

Why would I need to name anything? You do get the difference between is and ought, right?

[@robinvan1983]

so when the word what made...what did it define back then? because it described the movement at that time. Or did it mean something else back then

[@isgdre]

One of your best shows ever, What a show to have bad audio on. Sheesh. I bet you hated that.

[@MsGodlessDragon]

It's my birthday, too, Matt. Happy Birthday!

[@Grnvolpe]

"Look at the trees" reminds me of "Tide comes in, tide comes out; never a miscommunication".

[@nickydaviesnsdpharms3084]

I think of those two statements as a wonderful example of the argument from ignorance and argument from personal incredulity fallacies.

[@TwistedTruffles]

@SoulThriveMusic I'm Brooke :) Thankyou so much!! That means a lot!

[@akizeta]

Did Seth ever get onto the Atheist Experience?

[@me25422]

Did Matt say a catholic work camp? Like a concentration camp? Anyone have info on this?

[@iomithelegend]

Actually, you sort of did say that... You said Matt is a good man to step into his shoes. Which implies he can carry on what Hitchens did... Unless you meant it more vaguely?

[@sphiedd]

this guy has such an epic voice, have you done commercials yet?! lol

[@ABitOfTheUniverse]

Seth; Matt, The answer to the issue brought up in the last 20 minutes is the same answer to the issue you brought up in the first 20, with what to do with family members. Love them, regardless. We are not all alike. Most of us are fringe elements outside a bubble. As such we look into it from different angles and approach it from our own perspectives. When we break the bubble and meet in the center, we may meet head on but when we do we can choose fusion or fission, compassion or condemnation.

[@frank0067]

how many times do i need to post it?

[@julzabro]

See that documentary Mea Culpa. It's playing on HBO currently. Very interesting/sad....Rattzinger's part is mentioned.

[@JaguarRonin]

Dealing with Family: I have two nephews. My sister appears to be anti-intellectual. She never by commission pushed Xtianity. However, our extended family is mostly various denominations of Xtian. For my nephews during young ages, I encouraged them to take on QUESTions, not be motivated by fear and not to use ignorance as an excuse. Now that they are adults, all bets are off.

[@turb0m0nk3y]

I believe as the youtube channel was not official (The owner uploaded from another site because TAE were not doing anything with YT at the time, they said they had plans but we never saw anything for years) the channel got a cease+desist email from TAE & a massive shitstorm kicked off because the channel owner thought he was doing them a service and expected a little more of a gracious request from them for what they did over the years, but TAE were a little blunt & so he responded in kind.

[@JessicaDuane]

Evolve Fish is literally the only ad I have clicked on voluntarily. And it's sitting next to my video player right now. *click*

[@SIMKINETICS]

Sorry to hear that. Consider moving to California; I've been to Iowa... you won't miss it!

[@Savarence]

can you tell me why please?

[@LaughinLoneStar]

Born and raised a JW, it's like having Stockholm syndrome your entire life.

[@ABitOfTheUniverse]

>When you open a forum to the public, it's not just yours any longer, your giving a piece of it to the community to share. Keep in mind they both come from christian backgrounds where a celestial dictator was the origin of their ideals. Somewhere inside them they both probably want to be the owners and directors of their own group of minds. For those that follow either of them religiously, I wish them the best. But there are just some basic ideas learned in youth, behaviors, that do not change.

[@alphacause]

I figured out, after many countless hours arguing against Creationists online, that such efforts were futile. They simply are going to believe what they are going to believe, not because the evidence points in their favor, but because they actually don't value real evidence.

[@2Pains1Love]

The Thinking Atheist Experience? Yea? Yea? :D

[@macmaasi79]

Although the idea is intriguing, I don't really think a show with Matt and Seth would really work. They are too different as hosts. But I absolutely love them both!

[@MravacKid]

***** Good cop bad cop... :) Or would that be good atheist bad atheist? :)

[@2Pains1Love]

MravacKid lol I guess Matt would be the *quote unquote* bad atheist?

[@Mockturtlesoup1]

2Pains1Love you do realize that when you are writing you don't have to literally write out the words, "quote unquote," you can just use the actual symbols, right? lol. j/k.

[@frank0067]

its recorded on voice but not sure about text i was engaging from text there

[@lukeconroy175]

fantastic show I am and always will be a follower and suporter

[@Voxel8or]

I wonder who was the first atheist. But more so what year the first atheist became.

[@robinvan1983]

so basically you are claiming that 1 website will generalize the Atheism position for something that you deem un-skeptical thinking. So what basis do you have this claim? Other than some online drama which has no ties on any real life movement

[@ABitOfTheUniverse]

The most important moment relevant to this was from 28:00 to 32:00, even more specifically Matt's sentences at 29:27 and 33:10. Except I feel we can talk about our opinions as to what is good and bad while keeping in mind our opinions are subjective and not objective. Our actions are certainly objective though. With their real world consequences, but we can only speculate on the effects our actions have in or on the future based on the course of events we've learned from the past.

[@SoulThriveMusic]

Brooke sounds like such a sweetheart. Very genuine and all around awesome girl!

[@MarcosLopez-ky5yg]

i think i remember Matt talking about manatees, but still it doesen´t explain why there is one coming out of his shirt

[@bertinouellet]

TTA used to rage against matt but he seems to understand him better now. Very glad.

[@ABitOfTheUniverse]

As much as I like creative expression, I've also come to accept some basic things about the universe. Erosion, entropy, etc.. These are characteristics that apply to everything and can be directed and employed in useful ways. I want people to know that just because they think they have god on their side does not mean they have the right to act as gods and dictate others. That we are not afraid to fight back and that they do not posses holy armor. On their way out they will resist violently.

[@weaksquare]

Atheism is not a proposition to be deemed true or false. It's the label applied to someone who has not found the evidence sufficient to believe a proposition is true. That does not mean they believe it's false.

[@mabusiambus8594]

very few humans are strong enough to uplift others.

[@iomithelegend]

No one can replace Hitchens, or even compare with his debating skills.

[@LobarRobotic]

Why is Dillahunty not antinatalist or vegan? Or both? I can't see any reason not to be both of those if one has a skeptical view about everything. The only reason I'm not is because I despise the people who class themselves as vegans and antinatalists. But I cannot for the life of me find a rational reason to reject those stances. I'd love to hear Matt's answers.

[@DorianMattar]

For the caller with rational dissonance, I would simply say that he can believe whatever he wants as long as he doesn't promote creationism. I'm an atheist, and that's my only beef with religion.

[@ConQuiX1]

What if he believes it - but says he doesn't / won't promote it? (Non sequitur no?)

[@DorianMattar]

ConQuiX Yes, I agree, if he actually believes it, but says he doesn't, then it's basically a lie, and does not follow with his basic premise which is that he believes. Yes, Non Sequitur.

[@AlbertaGeek]

The promoting of creationism is your *only* beef with religion? So the civil rights certain religions try to take and/or keep away from, say, gays and women is just fine with you?

[@DorianMattar]

AlbertaGeek I stand corrected, yes, every encroachments unto our constitutional rights are also my concern. I'm was talking to this guy about the science part of it, so I didn't think about that side of it at the moment. My apologies.

[@ConQuiX1]

I think it's probably worth considering the difference (if there is one) between believing something that is wrong (in that it is a belief that doesn't map reality) vs. believing something that is bad. To me - that is what the religion vs. reason thing is really about. Really it's red pill vs. blue pill (not for the people who are in the matrix and don't know it - but it's the position of Neo vs.Cypher to take the analogy the rest of the way). I have been considering this question in the context of different timescales, and I wonder about when and for how long it might be true that society would be better off if everyone believed a falsehood. Can you conceive of a situation where it would really be better off if everyone believed a lie, rather than simply having a deeper appreciation for the truth (or at least a set of reasonable beliefs derived by the scientific method which are not "TRUTH" but represent our best attempt to map it given our knowledge and observables to date). The example that is often trotted out there is the idea of how we don't publish the genetic sequence of influenza, polio or smallpox on the web - and how that's probably a good thing. There are certain matters of national security which given the context of today's world average citizens are probably better off not knowing (though granted, probably not as many secrets as governments tend to keep from the average citizen - and the optimal balance here is clearly changing rapidly). Also commonly argued is the idea that religion might function like a beneficial placebo effect for believers, giving them hope through dire situations. Wouldn't all of the above situations be even better off if they just knew more of the truth - or perhaps - the correct mix of the facts? Is this "correct mix" not a truth in and of itself? Can we really say that wrong is bad - what about the Watchmen, which was also the same theme (the movie from 2008)? I find this to be a particularly interesting moral question... I'd like someone to put forth an argument that could change my mind - because even in the Watchmen, I'm not sure the lie will really be worth it in the long run (and there's Rorschach too...). But I guess maybe it's possible to be backed into a corner for a time (like Churchill was with Coventry in WW2...) where lying or delusion really are the best moral options - it just seems to me that this sort of tactic could never become any kind of "lasting" scenario, that we'd have to sort of get back on reality's track again at the earliest opportunity... thoughts?

[@zencat999]

I think that he has a little "hot button" because he feels so strongly about realizing that he wasted a lot of his life not only believing this stuff, but also wasted a lot of time training to be one of "them". every body has baggage.