No More Infidel Guy?

Reggie Finley, a.k.a. The Infidel Guy, has been around for nearly eight years. His online radio show/podcast was the first exposure to atheism that many people had. Finley was also one of the few people included in the Godless Who’s Who list compiled by Beliefnet.com.

He was also in the public eye when he and his family appeared on an episode of ABC’s show Wife Swap.

On a personal note, Reggie called me up to be a guest on his show when the eBay story broke. When I went to Iceland over the summer for an international atheist conference, many of the locals said they knew who I was only because they had heard me on The Infidel Guy.

Now, it appears the show is done.

While this isn’t cited as a reason, Reggie’s had a lot of competition in the Freethought radio world lately. The Center for Inquiry has a well-produced and popular podcast called Point of Inquiry and the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) also has a show that is actually on broadcast radio in Madison, WI. It’s a hard sell to ask people to pay for premium membership to The Infidel Guy show when they can get similar content for free elsewhere.

Reggie posted this (blunt) message on his message board as an explanation for his decision:

… InfidelGuy.com has been in existence for 8 years. Tons of lives have been changed because of it, engagements, marriages and change of minds. However, there has been no growth in over 3 years as far as income. The expenses keep piling up while people cancel because they are bored with the same ol’ programming. The “Infidel Guy” has less market appeal than a guy eating crap on national TV. There simply is not much money in freethought. I got a regular job and immediately the website started to suffer. I realized that, the Infidel Guy, as the entity, must change, or die. If it all dies after my best efforts, then so be it.

Here is my dilemma. My former program as just “The Infidel Guy” only had so much reach and appeal. Someone erroneously thought the show was “about to take off” so he couldn’t understand the change. Apparently, he hasn’t been around very long. After Wifeswap aired.. I lost money! The public at large had only a piddly interest and freethinkers just aren’t as generous as church groups. So, to preserve my peace-of-mind and health, the show MUST change.

I decided to create debatehaven.com as a more inclusive program where people of ALL walks of life can hash out ideas and debate points and issues that we were used to at infidelguy.com. The Infidel Guy, as a name, just wasn’t doing very much for me and the show started losing popularity when programs that I helped get a leg up started getting popular as well. There is only so much money in the freethought community. I have lost a huge chunk of that pot to other freethought broadcasters.

There simply wasn’t as much interest as in the past and my bottom line is feeling it. Someone demanded that I bring IG back. IG.com had tons of bugs too. Gotcha is simply too busy to be there when I need him most, so I decided to take things into my own hands. I cannot sit here trying to please everyone while my family is eating Ramen Noodles.

I’m sticking by my decision. This new format has more widespread appeal I thought as well. I was hoping to provide you all with even more content with different topics. I mean, wasn’t it all beginning to sound like the same ol’ shit?

The emails and PM’s I am getting are atrocious. I am ashamed to say I even know some of you.

There’s more going on here than you all realize. I can only say so much. Please continue to post what bugs you are all having and I will try to do what I can within my ability to fix it.

Visit the splash page here to see what I have in the works. http://www.infidelguy.com/splash

The IG Meister is still here guys, for now.. but I’m trying to expand the business. InfidelRadio.com will be my successor. I’m unsure who will host the show for me at this time though I do have a few candidates. They are smarter than me and hopefully they have the personality as well. A few people I have in mind are Jamilla Bey, Richard and Kevin Currie. However, it’s ultimately up to them.

I will still be broadcasting. My new show is Debate Haven. Where I will try to have to guests on with opposite views/takes on issues. Religious issues of course will be a huge part but I will not be taking positions as much as I had in the past.

So, in effect, I am trying to offer you tons more content! Please be patient while we try to get everything working. I have been working hard for 2 weeks straight with only 3 to 4 hours of sleep a day. My wife is divorcing me and I am getting tons of rude demands that are simply overwhelming. Though Amber and I are finished as a happy married couple, she is helping me add all of the gold members. Keep in mind however, it will take a few days.

I am not purposefully trying to hurt any of you. I feed my kids based on what you think of my work. That’s the last thing I want you to think.

Please.. be patient.

Feel free to direct people with questions here so that know what’s going on.

Lastly, IG.com’s email function to contact all gold members was broken, so I couldn’t email you all. I’m so sorry… I was hoping you’d all appreciate the effort. I’m trying to go more mainstream as well. Which is what I thought many of you wanted me to do. “The Infidel Guy” simply is NOT going to be that entity.

IG’s stronger atheist community has moved to my other site: http://www.atheistforums.com

I am always thinking of you all. Please think of me too sometimes.

If you missed that last bombshell, there’s a divorce in the works as well. The man’s going through a rough patch right now. However, he was an entrepreneur to begin with, and I’m sure his new projects will be even better than before.


[tags]Infidel Guy, Reggie Finley, Reginald Finley, atheist, Christian, DebateHaven, BeliefNet.com, Godless Who’s Who, ABC, Wife Swap, Iceland, Point of Inquiry, Center for Inquiry, Freedom From Religion Foundation, Madison, Iceland, Infidel Radio, Jamila Bey, Richard Currie, Kevin Currie, podcast[/tags]