About Me

About Me

Atlanta native, Reginald Vaughn Finley, Sr. (born in 1974) is a University Professor, Science Educator, Biology Tutor, Critical Thinking Educator, Consumer Health Advocate and an Evidence-Based Genealogist. He graduated from Walter F. George High School in Atlanta, GA., now called South Atlanta. He sang with an acapella group called Forte in high school that later went on to become 112. He is also a US Army Veteran and served overseas during Operation Able Sentry in 1995. In 1999, he also worked for a time as a “phone psychic” with the Psychic Network in which he learned first-hand how people fool themselves into believing the strangest of things. Dr. Finley gave a talk about his experiences at a Center for Inquiry conference in 2001 and later published his story in multiple languages which were read all over the world.

At age 24, while attending St. Leo College, he studied philosophy and religion and soon became interested in the ill effects of mal-thinking. In his community, he recognized a trend toward anti-intellectualism, a disdain for independent thought, and a general lack of respect for any scientific concept that went against the theological and cultural status quo. Seeing this imbalance in his community, Dr. Finley decided to take it upon himself to challenge what he saw as far too much “common-thinking”. He soon began identifying himself as an Infidel, Critical Thinking Advocate, Theological Noncognitivist, and many other wholesome identifiers. like, atheist! lol. 🙂

Lacking a formal education or even experience in radio, at age 25, Dr. Finley launched a 12-year internet media career (1999-2012) focusing on educating the public about science, philosophy, ethics, freethought, and the value of Critical Thinking. Dr. Finley’s Programs: “The Debate Hour” , “Freethought Media”, “Infidel Radio”, and “The Infidel Guy Show” featured personalities from across the scientific and philosophical spectrum, including scientists Michio Kaku and Richard Dawkins, lawyers Eddie Tabash and Michael Newdow, creationist Kent Hovind, Ali Sina of Faith Freedom International, biologists Massimo Pigliucci & Neil Shubin, seasoned skeptic Michael Shermer, and neurologist and philosopher Sam Harris. 

At its end, and at the age of 36, Dr. Finley produced over 500 programs and over 300 special features. “I.G.”, as friends and fans called him, frequently identified himself as just a regular guy. His shows were neither top quality nor were they designed to impress the intelligentsia, but he always had exciting and interesting guests that helped challenge and change the thinking of hundreds of thousands around the world, including his own. #vegan

He has also made a number of media appearances himself including being featured in the Sacramento Bee, CFI’s Television Show, ABC News, Cincinnati’s 700WLW, Michio Kaku’s Program (Visions), The Young Turks, Mythicist Milwaukee, and dozens more. Dr. Finley’s family appeared on ABC’s reality show Wife Swap on November 28, 2005, when his wife Amber (now divorced) switched places with the wife of a devout Christian pastor.

After the meteoric rise of Youtube and the Financial Crisis of 2007, Dr. Finley returned to corporate America and rarely conducted any more programs. After the death of his mother in 2011, he began to reinvent himself and created a new informal science education program called The Fun Scientists LLC.

Dr. Finley went on to achieve his formal education earning an Associate’s degree in General Studies from Ashworth College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development from Amridge University (2011), a Master of Education Degree from SUNY at Buffalo specializing in The Public’s Understanding of Science (2013), earned a Master of Science degree in Biology from Clemson University (2016), and earned a Ph.D. in Natural Science Education from the University of South Africa (2022). Dr. Finley is currently earning his third Master’s degree in Public Health (2024) from American Public University System.

Finley has volunteered and worked with numerous freethought and science-oriented organizations such as: The Atlanta Freethought Society, The Georgia Aquarium, The Skeleton Museum, and the Fernbank Museum of Natural History.

His latest projects include AmazingLife.Bio, a biology education website for grades 5 through 12 in which he educates visitors about the ‘Amazing’ diversity of biological life on planet Earth (book based on his site to be released Summer 2023). His other project, Cancer Cure Scams (in development), is a site devoted to protecting cancer patients against dangerous alternative medicine practitioners and educating the public on how to properly understand and interpret science. HealthandScienceFacts.com was created to combat science and medical disinformation online in the era of Covid.

He’s currently an adjunct Professor of Science Understanding and Literacy at Franklin University, A Senior Instructor with Ultimate Medical Academy, and a Science Educator in Coweta County, GA.

In his free time, Dr. Finley enjoys watching anime, singing, reading non-fiction (in particular science news), conducting research, hanging-out with fellow freethinkers, and studying as many science topics as he can at Alison, Coursera, EdX and Khan Academy.

Dr. Reginald Finley, 2021