Reason & Religion: Austin DiValentino

What happens when reason starts questioning itself? In this episode of Almost Awakened, Britt Hartley and Bill Reel sit down with Austin DiValentino, creator of the rapidly growing platform Reason & Religion (@austindivalentino). Austin has built a large following by exploring philosophy, belief, atheism, morality, and meaning—often asking the questions most people quietly avoid. While he has identified as an atheist, his thinking continues to evolve, and this conversation dives straight into the tension between certainty, doubt, and what it actually costs to pursue truth.

Together, we explore:

• What led Austin to begin creating content around religion, philosophy, and critical thinking
• When belief or disbelief stops being theoretical and becomes deeply personal
• Whether reason and religion are truly opposed—or falsely framed as enemies
• Why modern humans vastly overestimate how rational we actually are
• Where reason genuinely helps us—and where it completely breaks down

We also wrestle with some of the biggest existential questions people face after faith shifts:

• Can morality exist without God or a transcendent framework?
• Is losing belief in God harder—or losing belief that the universe “cares”?
• Is it always good to know what’s true, even if truth destabilizes hope and meaning?
• Should everyone be exposed to ideas that may unsettle mental health—or should some stories be handled with care?

Austin also reflects on:

• The emotional cost of studying philosophy deeply
• Whether there are ideas that feel beautiful even if they may not be true
• What modern people most avoid asking because the answers might change them
• What he ultimately hopes people take away from his work beyond simply “being right”

This is an honest, human conversation about meaning after certainty—about what remains when belief loosens, and how we learn to live anyway. If you’re navigating belief, disbelief, or somewhere painfully in between, this episode is for you.

Follow Austin DiValentino
— Reason & Religion Instagram: @austindivalentino

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