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One man's odyssey into the weird world of religious satire
Episodes
Sunday Mar 14, 2021
Sunday Mar 14, 2021
Part I
Show notes:
Features my interview with Peter Hinchliffe and Michael Nugent from Atheist Ireland. We discuss a controversial sketch about the arrest of God for rape by the Irish parody news group Waterford Whispers News. The sketch was part fo RTE's New Year's Eve programming and garnered over 1000 complaints and was eventually removed. We also discuss blasphemy laws and the effects of censorship on free speech.
Includes my own take on satire/censorship as well as special guest co-host Sean Lynch. Sean and I also discuss corporate censorship, his time working on CELEBRITY DEATH MATCH, and Jewish Space lasers. My friend Ian Harris calls in from LA to complain about people who don't understand the need for raising the minimum wage.
Additional resources:
- Find the Comical Heathen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comicalheathen
- Our website: https://comicalheathen.podbean.com/
- Email us with comments or questions for our upcoming April 11 live Q&A: comicalheathen@gmail.com
- Michael Nugent's website: https://www.michaelnugent.com/?fbclid=IwAR3NL8IjHk_oAnruh5oRG9W6uJHpwTu-raeRZKhhbkUZtUzCOhwGPWEEBfA
- Peter Hinchliffe's FB: https://www.facebook.com/peterhinchliffe1234
- Peter's account of the Waterford Whispers News controversy: https://atheist.ie/2021/01/rtes-blasphemous-comedy-sketch/?fbclid=IwAR0K2u_Ka6Jclcccg7Vk7VL6Yz_7YOHSClR_L564VdUaMqx0fQ61u4-8wqk
- Atheist Ireland website: https://atheist.ie/
- Waterford Whispers News: https://waterfordwhispersnews.com/
- Youtube version of sketch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-xK5sLdltE
- Irish Times "RTÉ apologises for ‘blasphemous’ sketch after 1,100 complaints" by Ellen O'Riordin: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/rt%C3%A9-apologises-for-blasphemous-sketch-after-1-100-complaints-1.4449042
- This is an ad-free and independently produced podcast. Please consider donating via this link (to our other podcast): https://www.goldstarclassroom.com/
- A "Comical Heathen" coffee mug can be purchased via Jerry's comedy merch shop on ETSY: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JerryJaffeComedyShop?ref=seller-platform-mcnav
Friday Nov 06, 2020
Friday Nov 06, 2020
Here is the published and slightly edited version of the live broadcast I did Oct 15 with friend and co-host Joh Hensler. We talk about conspiracy theories (or "stories" as they're not really theories in the proper sense of the word), climate change skeptics (or "deniers" as they are not really skeptics in the proper sense of the word), and why the doors at 24-hour convenience stores have locks on them, among other things! We hope you enjoy!
Here are a few links to things we discussed:
Fish eye evolution (just an example, you can find more (easily, if you try)): https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080107120911.htm
Michael Shermer's book Why people Believe Weird Things: https://www.amazon.com/People-Believe-Weird-Things-Pseudoscience/dp/0805070893/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3U0WGKRVLQCKG&dchild=1&keywords=michael+shermer+why+people+believe+weird+things&sprefix=michale+shermer%2Caps%2C568&sr=8-1:
John Hensler's FB page: https://www.facebook.com/john.hensler.10
email us at: comicalheathen@gmail.com
Tuesday Jul 21, 2020
Tuesday Jul 21, 2020
In this special Q&A edition of the podcast, with the help of guest co-host John Hensler, I answer some of the questions we collected through social media, including: "Is there a god?", "If there is no afterlife, why not just go all MAD MAX?!", and "Who should be added to the list of gods, besides yourself?" And many more! Join in on the fun. This was our second ever-live show, originally broadcast July 19 2020 (this is edited for clarity and time).
If you have a question you'd like me tackle on a future edition, email us at:
Find this podcast on ITunes, Stitcher, and now Spotify.
You can support this podcast with donations using the donate button on this website (which is for my other podcast, GOLD STAR CLASSROOM!): http://www.goldstarclassroom.com/
Follow Jerry and John on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Our theme music is Bahc played ont he organ by Mark Bell.
Thank you to Jeff Gedert for all of his audio production advice.
Mentioned in this episode:
The Church of the Invisible Product tin the Sky, on the satiric news site, The Trillion Dollar Dreadful: https://trilliondollardreadful.com/2020/05/22/the-church-of-the-invisible-product-supports-ohio-pastors-in-banning-yoga-from-public-schools/?fbclid=IwAR1zXQMGjM6YWtLVDJhOGQBlQW2TUV4EIOaEOFVE_0ynSTc8iBTSTw6mBBI
Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool by Emily Oster: https://www.amazon.com/Cribsheet-Data-Driven-Relaxed-Parenting-Preschool/dp/0525559272/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3V3VU8A048R1Z&dchild=1&keywords=cribsheet+a+data-driven+guide+to+better%2C+more+relaxed+parenting&qid=1595351776&sprefix=data+driven+guide+to+parenting%2Caps%2C188&sr=8-1
"Cross-National Correlations of Quantifiable Societal Health with Popular Religiosity and Secularism in the Prosperous Democracies A First Look" by Gregory S. Paul: http://moses.creighton.edu/JRS/2005/2005-11.pdf
Pew Research on the rise of the "Nones": https://www.pewforum.org/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/
Friday May 29, 2020
Friday May 29, 2020
This episode features my interview John Fugelsang! John is a Drama League nominated actor, comedian & broadcaster who hosts the acclaimed "Tell Me Everything" series on SiriusXM Insight. Bill Maher called him "One of my favorite comedians." As 1/3 of 'Stephanie Miller's Sexy Liberal Comedy Tour' he's played to sold-out houses around the country, including The Chicago Theater, LA's Pantages Theater & New York's Beacon Theater. We discuss satire, parody, religion, propaganda as well as getting some background into John's life and career. This episode also includes an update from the rabbit hutch and my rant about how a whistleblower has accused the Mormon Church of being tax cheats! Plus, more details about upcoming performances of the Comical Heathen Live Show.
John’s website: http://www.johnfugelsang.com/
John’s TedTalk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh1Sv3JbKSs&feature=emb_logo
John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnFugelsang?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Newsweek article of Mormon whistleblowers: "Mormon Church Stockpiled $100 Billion Intended for Charities and Misled LDS Members, Whistleblower Says". BY PAUL GLADER
Video on controversy produced by Lars Nielsen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXOWRN19i-4
Wikipedia entry on the Parable of the Talents: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_talents_or_minas
Kansas City Fringe website: https://kcfringe.org/
Donations are humbly accepted through the website of my other podcast, Gold Star Classroom: https://www.goldstarclassroom.com/
Email us at: comicalheathen@gmail.com
Sunday Apr 26, 2020
Sunday Apr 26, 2020
Had a great time Skyping with Alice Fraser, comedian and podcast. From Australia, but based in London, she is a regular panelist on The Bugle podcast, hosts her own daily news satire podcast called The Last Post, and just released a new special on Amazon Prime called Savage. In addition to discussing satire, religion, and all fo her projects, she describes how comedy has shifted over the years be more concerned about comedy might be affecting some people negatively and also we discuss the difference between American style comedy club comedy and Festival style solo show comedy (like Edinburgh Fringe, where she regularly appears). This episode also includes an update from the rabbit hutch and my rant about how different religious groups are responding to the coronavirus by either not meeting (faith healers) or meeting anyway (some evangelicals). Plus, more details about upcoming performances of the Comical Heathen Live Show.
Alice’s website: http://www.alicecomedyfraser.com/
Alice’s TedTalk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=M4MlaRGcFHI&feature=emb_logo
Trailer for Savage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2fb0InQS1I
Faith Healers cancel meeting: https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/03/17/faith-healers-had-to-postpone-an-event-due-to-the-coronavirus/
Solid Rock Church story: https://www.journal-news.com/news/local/solid-rock-church-continues-public-worship-services-during-coronavirus-outbreak/SmzNNNAitDfm2oetMWJRpI/
Email us at: comicalheathen@gmail.com
Monday Mar 23, 2020
Monday Mar 23, 2020
In this special Q&A edition of the podcast, with the help of guest co-host Gaz Simmons, I answer some of the questions I've been hearing at my live shows (which includes a Q&A session). Some of the questions tackled include: 1) Is Jedi a religion? 2) What is the worst defense of believing in god you've ever heard? 3) As a person from a Jewish family, how does your family feel about you being an atheist? 4) Can I tie you to a spinning table and throw knives at you? And many more! Join in on the fun.
This was also our first ever-live show, originally broadcast March 22 2020.
If you have a question you'd like me tackle on a future edition, email us at:
Find this podcast on ITunes, Stitcher, and now Spotify.
As mentioned in this episode, you can support this podcast with donations using the donate button on this website (which is for my other podcast, GOLD STAR CLASSROOM!): http://www.goldstarclassroom.com/
Follow Jerry and Gaz on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Friday Dec 13, 2019
Friday Dec 13, 2019
Hanging with Curtis Cook while he headlined the 2019 Cleveland Comedy Fest. We started comedy at approximately the same time, 10 years ago in Cleveland. Since then, he has written for the Jim Jefferies Show and Crank Yankers, while appearing on Portlandia. We talk satire, writing, and I awkwardly explain his jokes back to him, like the giant dork I am. This episode includes an update from the rabbit hutch, my rant about the phony “War on Christmas” and an extra treat—my explanation of the song “Winter Wonderland.” Plus, more details about upcoming performances of the Comical Heathen Live Show.
Find out more about Curtis on his website: https://www.curtiscookcomedy.com/
Follow Curtis on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Curtis_Cook
Email us at: comicalheathen@gmail.com
Tuesday Oct 15, 2019
Tuesday Oct 15, 2019
For today’s episode I travel to the WMMS 100.7 studios in Cleveland Ohio to interview Bill Squire. Bill is co-host of The Alan Cox Show and a popular stand up comedian. He appears regularly at Hilarities and The Funny Stop as well as touring all over headlining. In this interview we discuss him being raised Mormon and his now historic missionary work. He describes his approach to religious satire, which is to disarm the audience and his approach to joking about religion on air, which is to mess with people! This episode includes my rant about evangelical preachers and an update from the rabbit hutch—Oct 13 is Kelvin’s gotcha day!
Bill’s website: https://billsquire.com/
Bill’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billsquire/
The Comical Heathen live show: https://www.clevelandcomedyfestival.com/product/the-comical-heathen/
Email us at: comicalheathen@gmail.com
Tuesday Sep 03, 2019
Tuesday Sep 03, 2019
Today’s weird and wonderful odyssey takes me to meet Dr. Peter McGraw, author of The Humor Code and host of the podcast I’m Not Joking. Director of the Humor Research Lab, McGraw is very influential in the field of comedy studies, in particular for the theory of Benign Violation! All of this will be explained—if you listen to the podcast!! As an influential humor researcher, Prof McGraw’s work is an important Lego block in my own research, and I was thrilled and delighted to speak with him.
This episode includes my rant about hypnotherapy, including a personal story of the time I was part of a stage hypnotist’s act, an important announcement about some upcoming live shows, and an update from the rabbit hutch!
The Humor Code website: https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/lance/correspondent/Couple-makes-printing-business-a-success-481947501.html
The Humor Research Lab: http://humorresearchlab.org/
Prof McGraw’s TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysSgG5V-R3U
Prof McGraw’s podcast, I’m Not Joking: https://www.petermcgraw.org/im-not-joking-podcast/
Article on Hypnotherapist: https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/lance/correspondent/Hypnotherapist-helps-clients-make-changes-513349251.html
Same journalist, same woman, different “at-home” business, one year earlier: https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/lance/correspondent/Couple-makes-printing-business-a-success-481947501.html
The Comical Heathen Live Show tickets: https://www.clevelandcomedyfestival.com/
The Comical heathen Live Show press release: https://comicalheathen.podbean.com/p/live-shows-1567482285/
Email us at: comicalheathen@gmail.com
Wednesday Jul 24, 2019
Wednesday Jul 24, 2019
I have been a fan of the science blog Pharyngula for many years, so it is with great pleasure that I was able to interview its host P.Z. Myers. P.Z. is a biology professor at the University of Minnesota-Morris campus and he is also the author of the book The Happy Atheist. We chat about science education, spiders, Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Atheism versus New Atheism, and the role of humor in the atheism debate. He describes meeting Tim Minchin at the 2012 Reason Rally (Jealous!). This episode also includes an update from the rabbit hutch and my rant about the flooding at the replica Ark at the Creation Museum (irony much!).
PZ Myer’s Blog Pharyngula: https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/
His Book: The Happy Atheist: https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Atheist-PZ-Myers/dp/0307739805
Ark Park Rain damage:
Florida charter schools teaching creationism: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/os-voucher-school-curriculum-20180503-story.html