- D. J. Grothe
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D. J. Grothe 
Grothe at The Amazing Meeting, London, 2010Born Douglas James Grothe
June 25, 1973
St. Louis, Missouri, USAResidence Hollywood, California, USA Nationality American Alma mater Washington University Occupation President of the James Randi Educational Foundation, Magician, writer, skeptic Religion Atheist Spouse Thomas Donnelly-Grothe Website www.randi.org 
Grothe at a conference
Douglas James "D. J." Grothe (born June 25, 1973 in St. Louis, Missouri) is an American writer and public speaker who talks about issues at the nexus of science, critical thinking, secularism, religion and the paranormal. He is president of the James Randi Educational Foundation. Until the end of 2009, he was Vice President and Director of Outreach Programs at the Center for Inquiry, a "think tank that advances science, reason and secular values in public affairs and at the grassroots."[1] He is contributing editor of Skeptical Inquirer magazine, and lectures throughout North America at colleges and universities. He edited On the Beauty of Science,[2] about the worldview and life's work of Nobel Laureate Herbert Hauptman. He formerly hosted the nationally popular radio show[3][4] and podcast Point of Inquiry which features leading thinkers in the sciences, skepticism and humanism, and now hosts For Good Reason, a similar interview program. He is a former professional magician and "psychic entertainer." D.J. attended the Worldwide Church of God in the St. Louis areas for a number of years, beginning as a teenager, and later attended Ambassador College, which was sponsored by the church.
Contents
The Center for Inquiry
Grothe first became involved in the Center for Inquiry, a rationalist think-tank in Buffalo, New York, through one of its affiliated organizations, the Council for Secular Humanism, while he was studying as a graduate student at Washington University.[5] He was involved in a student freethought group there called WULF, the Washington University League of Freethinkers.
Magic
Grothe also lectures about the intersection of magic and skepticism,[6] having been involved with both movements and enterprises for years: he formerly worked as a professional magician who did shows for corporations and other private clients.[7]
James Randi Educational Foundation and For Good Reason
On December 7, 2009, Grothe was appointed President of the James Randi Educational Foundation, replacing astronomer and Discover Magazine blogger Phil Plait.[8] He assumed the post on January 1, 2010.
He hosted a short-lived radio show [9] and podcast for the foundation called For Good Reason.[10] His guests included James Randi talking about the importance of the JREF and another episode of Randi coming out of the closet, also Daniel Loxton on a book about evolution for children, the social psychologist Carol Tavris talking about dissonance theory, and Richard Dawkins talking about Darwin Day and creation and evolution in public education.
References
- ^ "Point of Inquiry Introduction". Center for Inquiry. 2007-12-08. http://media.libsyn.com/media/pointofinquiry/POI_2007_12_7_Richard_Dawkins.mp3. Retrieved 8 December 2007.
- ^ On the Beauty of Science Amazon.com book page
- ^ "Point of Inquiry Upcoming Schedule". WPRR 1680AM Grand Rapids, Michigan. http://www.publicrealityradio.org/upcoming.php?ID=41. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
- ^ "Freethought Radio Network". http://www.freethoughtradio.com/. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
- ^ "CSH Welcomes New Staffers". Secular Humanist Bulletin, Volume 17, Number 3. August, 2001. http://www.secularhumanism.org/library/shb/new_staffers_17_3.html. Retrieved 16 December 2007.
- ^ "Magic & Illusion". About.com. http://magic.about.com/b/2006/10/28/illusionist-makes-magic-a-science.htm. Retrieved 27 December 2007.
- ^ "Magic & Mentalism". DJGrothe.com. http://djgrothe.com/Magic%20%26%20Mentalism.html. Retrieved 3 June 2009.[dead link]
- ^ "James Randi Educational Foundation Names New President". randi.org. December, 2009. http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/jref-news/797-james-randi-educational-foundation-names-new-president.html.
- ^ "For Good Reason". publicrealityradio.org. April, 2010. http://www.publicrealityradio.org/programs/for-good-reason.
- ^ "For Good Reason". http://www.forgoodreason.org/about. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
External links
- For Good Reason with D.J. Grothe
- Skeptic’s Million Dollar Challenge To Be More Open and Transparent Says JREF President, D.J. Grothe - Skeptiko with Alex Tsakiris (audio interview)
- A Conversation with D.J. Grothe: Nobody's Fool - by Jeanette Cooperman (magazine interview)
- Critical Thinker Explains Skepticism vs. Cynicism - By Peter M. Nardi (newspaper interview)
- James Randi Educational Foundation
Categories:- 1973 births
- American activists
- American atheists
- American humanists
- American podcasters
- American skeptics
- Atheism activists
- Living people
- Washington University in St. Louis alumni
- LGBT people from the United States
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