Humanism as Resistance: Live from the World Humanist Congress 2026 Part 1

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Something a little different this week. James Hodgson took Humanism Now on the road to the World Humanist Congress 2026 in Ottawa, hosted by Humanists International and Humanists Canada, where more than 500 attendees from over 60 countries gathered around a single theme: resistance. Between sessions, James grabbed five minutes each with fellow attendees, some returning guests and many new faces, to hear what brought them there and what they are building back home.

The result is a whistle-stop tour of the global humanist movement: civic participation and chaplaincy, coalition-building between atheists and humanists, humanist confirmations and ceremonies, and a first look at where the next Congress will be held.

"One of the ways we build power to ensure society better reflects our values is by coming together." — James Croft

Featured in this episode

Bob Reuter, president of the Alliance of Humanists, Atheists and Agnostics (AHA) Luxembourg and co-host of the radio show Iwwer Gott an d'Welt

James Croft, humanist chaplain and lead faith advisor at the University of Sussex

Nick Fish, president of American Atheists

Urtė Žukauskaitė-Zabukė, founder of HERE (formerly Happy Human Lithuania)

Christian Lomsdalen, president of the Norwegian Humanist Association

Maggie Ardiente, president of Humanists International

Highlights