The Friendly Atheist: Hemant Mehta on Religion, Politics, and Jeopardy!

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] does it mean to be an atheist in a world where faith and politics are deeply intertwined? In this episode, we sit down with Hemant Mehta, author, speaker, and creator of The Friendly Atheist blog and podcast. Mehta shares his journey from Jainism to atheism, his experiences visiting churches for his book I Sold My Soul on eBay, and his thoughts on the increasing political influence of religious groups in America.We also discuss why Christian nationalism is on the rise, how churches use community as a powerful tool, and what patterns he sees emerging in the fight for secularism. Plus, Mehta shares his surprising experience as a Jeopardy!champion and how it changed his perspective on cultural unity. Whether you're a believer, skeptic, or somewhere in between, this conversation challenges assumptions and offers insight into one of the most pressing cultural debates of our time.Guest Bio:Hemant Mehta is a writer, speaker, and content creator known for his work on atheism, religion, and politics. He is the author of I Sold My Soul on eBay and The Young Atheist’s Survival Guide and runs The Friendly Atheist blog and podcast. Mehta has appeared on CNN, Fox News, and other major media outlets, and he is also a Jeopardy! champion.Resources & Links:The Friendly Atheist Blog & Substack: FriendlyAtheist.comThe Friendly Atheist Podcast: FriendlyAtheistPodcast.comBooks by Hemant Mehta:I Sold My Soul on eBay - https://www.amazon.com/Sold-My-Soul-eBay-Atheists/dp/1400073472The Young Atheist’s Survival Guide - https://a.co/d/3soDfHg Support Sarah Stankorb’s work and preorder Damned If She Does: Why Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion, Releases September 15, 2026.  Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9798889837091Website: https://www.sarahstankorb.com/Support the showKeep the conversation going.Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, suggest a future guest, or connect with us directly?Visit our website:faithfulpoliticspodcast.comBrowse our bookstore, featuring books from many of our guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstoreSupport the show and help us keep these conversations going:patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPoliticsSubscribe for behind-the-scenes content, reflections, and updates:faithfulpolitics.substack.comContact the hosts:Josh Burtram, Faithful Host: [email protected] Wright, Political Host: [email protected] Faithful Politics:Instagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast