The Speakers

Meet the Speakers for NaNoCon 2025:

Seth Andrews

The Thinking Atheist podcast host, author, activist 

Seth is a video producer and former Christian radio broadcaster, now an atheist activist, author, and speaker. He is the creator and host of The Thinking Atheist online community, podcast, and YouTube channel. He has written 5 books, including Confessions of a Former Fox News Christian.   https://linktr.ee/SethAndrews

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Candace Gorham

American Humanist Association president, author, activist, counselor, The Clergy Project member

Candace is a former ordained minister turned atheist-humanist activist, researcher, and writer on issues related to race, religion, and mental health. She is the president of American Humanist Association, a member of the The Secular Therapist Project and a member of The Clergy Project. Candace is also the author of "The Ebony Exodus Project: Why Some Black Women Are Walking Out on Religion—and Others Should Too” and “On Death, Dying, and Disbelief.” 

Topic: Humanism for the 21st Century

How humanism can help us make meaning in our lives. 

Katherine Stewart

Award-winning author, investigative journalist

Katherine Stewart is the author of The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism and the new release Money Lies and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy  She writes about the intersection of faith and politics, policy, education, and the threat to democratic institutions. Her work appears in The New York Times, New Republic, and others. The 2024 documentary movie God & Country, produced by Rob & Michele Reiner, is based on her book The Power Worshippers. 

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April Ajoy

Author of "Star-Spangled Jesus," content creator on Christian nationalism, LGBTQIA+ rights, comedy 

April Ajoy is the author of Star-Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding a True Faith. She is also a content creator and podcast host who uses humor to shine light on harmful, toxic, and sometimes just weird traits of American Evangelicalism. After growing up an evangelist’s kid entrenched in Christian Nationalism and working in conservative Christian media, she saw the harm caused firsthand. Still a Christian, she uses her platform to expose the dangers of Christian Nationalism while promoting a more inclusive faith. April has been featured on Buzzfeed, CNN, Newsweek and more. She’s been married to Beecher for 10 years and they have two daughters together. 

Topic:   Star-Spangled Jesus: Inside Christian Nationalism

My background in Christian nationalism: what we believed, our goals and how it connects to modern christian nationalism in the Trump administration. Also talk about how I changed and my hopes for others to leave CN behind. 

Dan Barker

Freedom From Religion Foundation co-president, former preacher & evangelist, songwriter

A former Christian minister who preached for 19 years, Dan is now an atheist and co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. He is a co-founder of the Clergy Project and co-host of Freethought Radio and Freethought Matters (TV). 

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Melina Cohen

American Atheists, Director of Strategic Communications & Policy Engagement

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Gayle Jordan

Recovering from Religion executive director, lawyer, blogger

Gayle is a former Southern Baptist who left the faith 14 years ago. She ran twice for state senate as openly atheist, for which she was labeled "the most dangerous woman in Tennesse."  She is the Executive Director of Recovering from Religion, and the co-founder of NaNoCon and Murfreesboro Freethinkers. Gayle is an attorney and former personal trainer. She blogs about life, endurance event training, and secularism at Happy. Healthy. Heathen. https://gaylejordan.net/

Event MC, host