Todd Stiefel has been a cornerstone in the Rock Beyond Belief movement from the very beginning. Over 5 months ago Todd’s organization, the Stiefel Freethought Foundation, pledged $10,000 to make our event a reality. Todd has shared the stage with Richard Dawkins, and has spoken across the globe on behalf of the growing secular movement. We are proud to have him speak at our event.

Todd Stiefel lives in Raleigh, NC. He is a secular humanist, an atheist and full-time freethought activist. Todd currently serves as the Vice President of the Secular Coalition for America and in many other roles in the Freethought Movement. He has given over $3 million dollars to charities in the Freethought Movement. This is highlighted by $2 million to found the Stiefel Freethought Foundation and $500,000 to the Secular Coalition for America Education Fund.

Philanthropy is certainly alive and well in the atheist movement, and Todd Stiefel has been behind a lot of the stories that you’ve likely read about in the last few years. Check out this impressive list of influential donations.

Todd Stiefel comes from a musical family, and his band, Words Such As Burn have agreed to help energize the crowd at Rock Beyond Belief. Though less than a year old, they have already begun getting some local attention. Their mix of covers and originals stays true to rock ‘n roll, but aren’t afraid to explore the underground territories of indie rock and early punk. Bruce, the lead singer / bass player for Words Such as Burn is also very active in the festival, so we are proud to bring you quasi-nepotism at it’s best!

Listen to the band – comprised of Bruce Harris (vocals/bass), Charles Stiefel (keyboards), Chris Holcomb (lead guitar), Sammy Harris (drums) and Todd Stiefel (rhythm guitar):

I Got Mine by The Black Keys by Words Such As Burn

The timing is perfect, because we had needed to put more ‘rock’ in the Rock Beyond Belief. Let me recount a recent harsh, but funny conversation I had.

“Dude, when are you going to change the name of the festival to Talk Beyond Belief?” – Daniel Broach (friend of RBB)

“Hahahahaha… Shut up, you!” – Justin Griffith

We are excited to have Todd Stiefel, and Raleigh-based rockers Words Such As Burn rock out with us at Fort Bragg.