Meet Our Speakers & Presenters
Thought leaders, content creators, and activists bringing reason to Huntsville
Conference Organizers
Rocket City Reason is brought to you by dedicated community organizers passionate about creating spaces for rational discourse and secular fellowship in the heart of Alabama.
John Gleason
he/him
Organizer
Godless Engineer
John Gleason, known as Godless Engineer, is a driving force behind Rocket City Reason. His passion is building an empowering online activist community and uniting voices for positive change. John’s vision centers on equipping people to create content, speak out, and use their platforms to make a difference—amplifying the collective impact of secular creators everywhere. As an organizer, John is committed to fostering real connections and helping everyone find the courage and resources to stand up and be heard.
John Gleason
she/her
Organizer
Godless Engineer
Kaitlyn Chloe “KC” Gleason serves as a cornerstone organizer for Rocket City Reason, dedicated to creating a welcoming space where diverse voices are celebrated and empowered. KC’s motivation is to unify and uplift online activists, encouraging everyone to stand up , use your voice, and support one another in building an impactful community. Her leadership is driven by the belief that every perspective adds strength, and through collaboration, attendees and creators alike can become catalysts for change.
Your Hosts for the Day
Our emcees will guide you through an exciting day of presentations, panels, and community connection.
Chris Mallard
he/him
Emcee
The Daily Atheist Morning Show
Chris Mallard, host of The Daily Atheist Morning Show, co-hosted by TikTok’s Rion Cultastic, provides a dynamic program that engages viewers with conversation and commentary focused on atheism, critical thinking, and secular living. Chris brings a lively and humorous perspective to topics surrounding religion and reason, fostering dialogue and community for skeptics and nonbelievers.
Sydney Davis Jr. Jr.
she/her
Emcee
Growing Up Fundie
Sydney Davis Jr. Jr. is a comedian, podcast host, and professional debater whose comedy special “TRASH,” is available for streaming on Amazon Prime, and whose podcast Growing Up Fundie is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Music, and YouTube. Videos of her debates have ammassed more than 5 million views (and 61,000 shares) across Tiktok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram as of 2025. Sydney holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction.
Keynote Presenters
Our keynote speakers bring decades of experience in secular activism, science communication, and community building.
Seth Andrews
he/him
Opening Keynote
Saturday 9:15 – 10:15 AM
The Thinking Atheist
Seth Andrews is a former evangelical and Christian broadcaster who now hosts The Thinking Atheist…one of the most popular podcasts and online atheist communities in the world. The Thinking Atheist is not a person. It is an icon that encourages all to reject faith and to pursue reason and evidence.
Seth has authored six books and also hosts a second podcast, “True Stories with Seth Andrews.”
With a mix of humor and heart, Seth Andrews has spoken for audiences large and small in the U.S, Canada, Europe, and Australia about his former faith, the promotion of science and skepticism, the importance of Humanism in this often crazy world, and why we should all pursue a personal relationship with reality.
Forrest Valkai
he/him
Science Communication & Debunking Misinformation
Saturday 3:30 – 4:45 PM
Renegade Science Teacher
Forrest is a biologist and science communicator known for his infectious enthusiasm and boundless love for life. Renowned for his engaging presence on YouTube and TikTok, his dynamic presentations at conferences and conventions, and hosting shows like SkepTalk and The Atheist Experience, Forrest brings together captivating science lessons, thought-provoking discussions on skepticism, and heartfelt advocacy for social progress.
Over the course of his online career, Forrest has championed science and reason, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity, and taught audiences of all ages to be kind, stay curious, and never stop learning!
Erika
she/her
Science Communication & Debunking Misinformation
Saturday 3:30 – 4:45 PM
Gutsick Gibbon
Erika is a science communicator on YouTube focusing on Human Evolution and related topics. She received her BSA in Pre-Professional Animal Science from the University of Arkansas and her MRes in Primate Biology, Behavior, and Conservation from the University of Roehampton. She (hopefully by this time) just received her doctorate in Biological Anthropology.
Panel Discussions
Dive deep into critical topics with our expert panelists. From content creation to activism, these discussions explore the challenges and opportunities facing the secular community.
Content Creation Panel
Saturday 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM
Strategies, challenges, and best practices for creating secular content that reaches and resonates with diverse audiences.
The SkepTick
he/him
Panel Host
The SkepTick
The Skeptick is British guy living in the USA. Pointing out the silly reasons people believe in silly things. His experience in content creation, humor, and friendly personality make him the perfect host for this panel.
John Gleason
he/him
Panelist
Godless Engineer
John Gleason, known as Godless Engineer, emerged from a Christian upbringing where questioning beliefs and critical thinking were not encouraged, leading to the acceptance of ideas like a literal Adam and Eve or a global flood despite logical doubts. Experiencing isolation and embarrassment for these doubts, and lacking a support network in moving away from faith, inspired a commitment to ensure others do not feel alone when questioning religion or embracing irreligion. Godless Engineer now fosters a community where being “godless” is acknowledged as a point of history rather than shame, and all are encouraged to speak out and support others navigating similar journeys.
Kevin Crowe
he/him
Panelist
Jesus Unfollower
Kevin Crowe aka Jesus Unfollower is an atheist in the Bible Belt who provides comedic relief for nonbelievers in a largely monotheistic world, using satire and commentary to deconstruct religious arguments.
Black Atheist Rants
he/him
Panelist
Black Atheist Rants
My name is Black Atheist Rants but online everyone just calls me B.A.R.
I am on YouTube and all social media platforms and my goal is to be a messenger of truth. To spread the facts about history that get overlooked when debating on whether or not a god exists. To expose Black people to the truth about our history with Abrahamic religion and how it was used to demonize African cultures, colonize African lands, and oppress African people.
Talking To Theists Panel
Saturday 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Effective strategies for engaging in religious discussions and maintaining productive dialogue with believers.
Arden Hart
she/her
Panel Host
Call The Line
Arden is a producer and host on Call The Line, the leading atheist call-in channel on YouTube, discussing trans rights, religious criticism, and social justice with theists. her patience and compassion make her the perfect host for this panel.
Thinker
she/her
Panelist
Thinker
Thinker is known for her unapologetic approach to deconstructing faith, she challenges dogma while inspiring curiosity, empathy and critical thought. Through her TikTok and YouTube livestream audiences of over 330K followers, Thinker empowers others to embrace reason, question authority and build meaning beyond belief.
Sadie Carpenter
she/her
Panelist
Leaving Eden Podcast
Sadie Carpenter is a cult expert, educator, and co-host of the Leaving Eden Podcast. Having grown up in Christian Fundamentalism, Sadie is dedicated to promoting freedom of thought, freedom of mind, and freedom of (and from) religion. She shares her experience as well as that of other cult survivors on her podcast weekly to a broad audience of people dedicated to healing from and ending the influence of high control religions and cults.
Jasper Hoffman
she/her
Panelist
Plain Peoples Podcast
Jasper Hoffman is a former Mennonite, internationally recognized advocate against abuse in Amish and Mennonite communities, featured in the Peacock documentary Sins of the Amish and host of The Plain People’s Podcast. She is considered a leading expert on hidden abuse within Plain communities and founder of The Plain People’s Scholarship Foundation, empowering survivors through education and advocacy.
Activism and Community Building Panel
Saturday 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Building secular communities, organizing local activism, and creating support networks for atheists and freethinkers.
Phil Ferguson
he/him
Panel Host
The Phil Ferguson Show
Phil Ferguson is the host of The Phil Ferguson Show and a passionate advocate for activism and community building within the secular movement. He brings energy and insight to discussions about building inclusive communities and empowering nonbelievers to make a positive impact.
Mandisa Thomas
she/her
Panelist
Black Nonbelievers
Mandisa Thomas is the founder and president of Black Nonbelievers. She has been featured in documentaries including gODTalk and Contradiction, and numerous media appearances, including CBS Sunday Morning and CNN.com. Mandisa is also the recipient of several awards, and is a certified Humanist Celebrant.
Chad Harris
he/him
Panelist
ArchRadish
Chad Harris is a cult survivor and activist who grew up in the Institute in Basic Life Principles cult. His story is featured in Season 1 of the docuseries Shiny Happy People on Amazon. He is passionate about standing up to Christofascism, educating the public on the dangers of Christian Fundamentalism, and leaving the world a little better than when he found it.
Godless Granny
she/her
Panelist
Godless Granny
Godless Granny was a fundamentalist believer for 42 years, now an atheist, feminist, and trans – parent. She has a JD from Baylor University, now a YouTube activist and grandmother of 5.
Have a Panel or Presentation Idea?
We’re always looking for fresh perspectives and important topics to explore. If you have a panel idea, presentation suggestion, or topic you’d like to see discussed at future Rocket City Reason events, we want to hear from you!
The secular community thrives when diverse voices contribute their expertise and experiences. Whether you’re interested in speaking, moderating a panel, or simply have a topic suggestion, your input helps shape future conferences.
Get In Touch if you have a Panel or Presentation idea:
rocketcityreason@
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