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Emcee and Speakers
Ricky Brock
"CaptainDadPool" and
American Atheists, PA State Director
Ricky, better known as "CaptainDadPool", is an Army veteran, Stay-at-home Dad, and former evangelical Christian who became an Atheist after graduating from Bible college.
Now he creates content, primarily on TikTok, that aims to educate the public on Biblical and early Church history, as well as offer advice on deconstructing from religion, healing from religious trauma, and a variety of other topics.
Ricky also conducts live interviews with scholars, authors, and experts in various fields on YouTube to promote public awareness to modern scholarly discourse.
đź”— Follow Ricky through his Beacons links (https://beacons.ai/captaindadpool).
đź“… Ricky will be our emcee throughout the main event on Sunday and a guest at our Supporters' Reception.
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Dr. Anthony Pinn
Professor and Author
Anthony received his BA from Columbia University and PhD in the study of religion from Harvard University. He is currently the Agnes Cullen Arnold Distinguished Professor of Humanities and professor of religion at Rice University.
He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a professor extraordinarius at the University of South Africa.
Anthony is the founding director of the Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning also at Rice University. In addition, he is Director of Research for the Institute for Humanist Studies – a Washington, DC-based think tank. Pinn’s research interests include humanism and hip hop culture.
He is the author/editor of over 35 books, including When Colorblindness Isn’t the Answer: Humanism and the Challenge of Race (2017); Humanism: Essays in Race, Religion, and Cultural Production (2015); Writing God’s Obituary: How a Good Methodist Became a Better Atheist (2014); Dale McGowan and Anthony B. Pinn, editors. Everyday Humanism, Equinox (2014); African American Humanist Principles: Living and Thinking Like the Children of Nimrod (2004), and the novel, The New Disciples (2015). 🔗 Follow Anthony on Twitter/X (@anthony_pinn) and Facebook (@anthonypinn). 📅 Anthony will be the first speaker of the main event on Sunday and a guest at our Supporters' Reception.
He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a professor extraordinarius at the University of South Africa.
Anthony is the founding director of the Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning also at Rice University. In addition, he is Director of Research for the Institute for Humanist Studies – a Washington, DC-based think tank. Pinn’s research interests include humanism and hip hop culture.
He is the author/editor of over 35 books, including When Colorblindness Isn’t the Answer: Humanism and the Challenge of Race (2017); Humanism: Essays in Race, Religion, and Cultural Production (2015); Writing God’s Obituary: How a Good Methodist Became a Better Atheist (2014); Dale McGowan and Anthony B. Pinn, editors. Everyday Humanism, Equinox (2014); African American Humanist Principles: Living and Thinking Like the Children of Nimrod (2004), and the novel, The New Disciples (2015). 🔗 Follow Anthony on Twitter/X (@anthony_pinn) and Facebook (@anthonypinn). 📅 Anthony will be the first speaker of the main event on Sunday and a guest at our Supporters' Reception.
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Jason Torpy
Former Army Captain, President MAAF
Since enlisting in 1994, Jason has been active with the nontheist community. He has addressed issues of separation of church and state and equal opportunity for nontheistic service members in Army basic training, Army parachutist training, military academy programs, and while deployed to Iraq with the Army's 1st Armored Division.
His education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Management from West Point and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from The Ohio State University.
Jason has served on the boards of the Secular Coalition for America, the American Humanist Association, the Humanist Society and other movement organizations.
đź”— Learn more about MAAF at militaryatheists.org and on YouTube (@militaryatheists) and Facebook (@maafofficial).
đź“… Jason will be one of our last speakers on Sunday.
đź“… Jason will be one of our last speakers on Sunday.
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Rob Boston
Writer, Advocate, Activist
Rob is Senior Adviser at Americans United for Separation of Church and State and former Editor of Church & State, AU’s monthly membership magazine. He is also the chief writer for AU’s “Wall of Separation” blog.
Rob, who has worked at Americans United since 1987, is the author of four books: Close Encounters with the Religious Right: Journeys into the Twilight Zone of Religion and Politics (Prometheus Books, 2000); The Most Dangerous Man in America? Pat Robertson and the Rise of the Christian Coalition (Prometheus Books, 1996); Why the Religious Right Is Wrong About Separation of Church and State (Prometheus Books, 1993; second edition, 2003) and, most recently, Taking Liberties: Why Religious Freedom Doesn’t Give You The Right To Tell Other People What To Do (Prometheus Books, 2014).
Rob has appeared in three documentaries: “We Believe in Dinosaurs,” (2019), “American Heretics” (2019) and “God & Country” (2024). 🔗 Learn more about AU at au.org and follow them on Instagram (@americansunited), TikTok (@au.org), and YouTube (@audotorg). You can also follow Rob on Twitter/X (@RobBoston1) and Facebook (@rob.boston). 📅 Rob will be speaking at our main event on Sunday afternoon and will be a guest at our Supporters' Reception.
Rob, who has worked at Americans United since 1987, is the author of four books: Close Encounters with the Religious Right: Journeys into the Twilight Zone of Religion and Politics (Prometheus Books, 2000); The Most Dangerous Man in America? Pat Robertson and the Rise of the Christian Coalition (Prometheus Books, 1996); Why the Religious Right Is Wrong About Separation of Church and State (Prometheus Books, 1993; second edition, 2003) and, most recently, Taking Liberties: Why Religious Freedom Doesn’t Give You The Right To Tell Other People What To Do (Prometheus Books, 2014).
Rob has appeared in three documentaries: “We Believe in Dinosaurs,” (2019), “American Heretics” (2019) and “God & Country” (2024). 🔗 Learn more about AU at au.org and follow them on Instagram (@americansunited), TikTok (@au.org), and YouTube (@audotorg). You can also follow Rob on Twitter/X (@RobBoston1) and Facebook (@rob.boston). 📅 Rob will be speaking at our main event on Sunday afternoon and will be a guest at our Supporters' Reception.
Fish Stark
Executive Director, American Humanist Association
Fish is an organizer, educator, social entrepreneur, and, prior to joining the AHA as Executive Director, served as the Director of Programs at Peace First, a global nonprofit that provides training and funding to youth social justice activists.
His other professional experiences include managing progressive political campaigns, building a nationally recognized peer-to-peer bullying prevention program, and teaching students from pre-school to high school.
A self-proclaimed developmental psychology nerd who is passionate about giving everyone the tools to live lives of meaning, service, and self-determination, Fish holds a Master’s in Education with a concentration in child development and psychology from Harvard University, and a Bachelor’s from Yale University with a certificate in Education Studies.
Fish lives in Maryland, where he moonlights as an award-winning stand-up comedian and has performed in 13 states. đź”— Learn more about the AHA at americanhumanist.org, on Instagram and Facebook (@americanhumanist) and X (@americnhumanist).
đź“… Fish will be our final speakers on Sunday and a guest at our Supporters' Reception.
His other professional experiences include managing progressive political campaigns, building a nationally recognized peer-to-peer bullying prevention program, and teaching students from pre-school to high school.
A self-proclaimed developmental psychology nerd who is passionate about giving everyone the tools to live lives of meaning, service, and self-determination, Fish holds a Master’s in Education with a concentration in child development and psychology from Harvard University, and a Bachelor’s from Yale University with a certificate in Education Studies.
Fish lives in Maryland, where he moonlights as an award-winning stand-up comedian and has performed in 13 states. đź”— Learn more about the AHA at americanhumanist.org, on Instagram and Facebook (@americanhumanist) and X (@americnhumanist).
đź“… Fish will be our final speakers on Sunday and a guest at our Supporters' Reception.