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Teresa MacBain is a former Methodist pastor and the first female member of the Clergy Project to publicly “come out” as a nonbeliever. She did that at the 2012 American Atheists convention.

She’s now the director of the Hotline Project, which offers callers who are grappling with their faith a chance to talk (anonymously) with an atheist about any questions or concerns. Their number is 1-84-I-Doubt-It (1-844-368-2848).

We spoke with her about how she began having doubts about religion while in the pulpit, the type of people who call the Hotline Project, and how to volunteer to be on the receiving end of that call.

***Update***: Since taping this episode, Teresa has temporarily stepped down from this position, but the Hotline is still available for those calling it.

We’re talking about the presidential race and how religion plays a role in it. We discuss our primary votes (hint: you can probably guess who we didn’t vote for), which Republican candidate would be the worst case scenario for atheists, and the openly atheist candidates running for state and federal office.

(Image via Shutterstock)

We’re celebrating our 100th episode with the conversation we never get to have because we’re always talking to other people.

Our goals for the near future are having more in-person interviews, talking to big-name guests, and making sure we’re always asking the questions you want answered.

Thank you for sticking with us and we hope you continue listening!

Anthony Magnabosco is best known as a Street Epistemologist. He’s like a preacher you might run across on your college campus, except he’s not trying to convert you. He just wants to ask you questions about religion and get you to think. He posts videos of these interactions on YouTube and they’re fascinating to watch, in part because he deconstructs what went right and wrong each time.

We spoke with Anthony about his surprising goals when it comes to chatting with people about religion, why people would ever talk to him at all, and whether debates about God are ever useful.