53. David B McLaughlin on Five Humanistic Values for Living Well

“Human dignity is really the foundation for reasoned morality — there’s nothing we can do to increase it or decrease it. Even the worst people still deserve it simply because they’re human.”  - David B. McLaughlin David B. McLaughlin, leadership coach and author of Humanism: Five Values for Living Well, joins us to map a practical, hopeful framework for meaning without dogma. From life in the U.S. Bible Belt to boardrooms wrestling with equity, we explore how meaning, dignity, reason, compassion, and justice work together to guide everyday choices and systemic change. Connect with David B. McLaughlin Website – pendulumcoaching.com Newsletter – exploringhumanism.substack.com LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/in/davidbmc Topics we cover Dignity as a moral floor you can’t earn or revoke Spotting dehumanisation and resisting it The Pillar Model of meaning Rituals beyond religion: building habits that anchor values Reason + compassion: escaping autopilot and widening concern Justice at work: equity, fair policies, and psychological safety Seeing hidden power: systemic awareness for better decisions The “reverse wager of humanism”: urgency to do tangible good now Resources & further reading Humanism: Five Values for Living Well – David B. McLaughlin  – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Humanism-Five-Values-Living-Well/dp/B0FNRP5GKR Pendulum Coaching Podcast – Conversations on modern leadership – https://www.pendulumcoaching.com/podcast “Pale Blue Dot,” Voyager 1 image & essay – background on Sagan’s perspective – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale_Blue_Dot Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community! Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe. Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or [email protected]: Blossom by Light Prism Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices