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Free To Speak

Free Speech Union
Free Speech
New Zealand
Censorship
Broadcasting Standards Authority
Free Speech Union
Hate Speech
Hate Speech Laws
Freedom Of Expression
Internetnz
Education
Hate Crime Laws
New Zealand Free Speech Union
Freedom Of Speech
Frank Kameny
Democracy
Social Cohesion
Marxism
Civil Liberties
United States
Social Media

Free to Speak is the New Zealand podcast that goes beyond headlines to explore the principles behind our most contentious debates.Produced by the New Zealand Free Speech Union, it examines freedom of expression and why it matters to a free and democratic society.Expect interviews with guests from New Zealand and around the world, plus deep dives with our Council into the cases and policy work shap... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes194Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsSociety & CulturePoliticsPhilosophy

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Artwork for Free To Speak

Latest Episodes

"I have always been the big-mouth Māori that says things we're not supposed to say."

Corina Shields — better known online as Aunty Heihei (@AuntyHeihei) — returns to Free to Speak to talk with host Dane Giroud about her move from social-media commen... more

Is it now a criminal offence to pray for someone struggling with gender confusion? Could a parent face prosecution for affirming their child's biological sex? 

Bob McCoskrie of Family First joins Dane to unpack the Conversion Practices Prohibition L... more

Young men drifting to the Right is the half of the story everyone is reporting. The other half — young women radicalising Left at an even faster rate — is barely discussed. And when politics becomes completely gendered, Michael Johnston warns, it spe... more

Pulotu Tupe Solomon-Tanoa'I served four years on the Broadcasting Standards Authority. With the BSA now set to be abolished by the Coalition Government following the Sean Plunket / The Platform jurisdictional decision, she sits down with FSU Council ... more

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Recent Guests

Michael Johnston
Senior fellow at The New Zealand Initiative, education policy lead
The New Zealand Initiative
Episode: Young Men Right, Young Women Left - And Why That Spells Disaster | Michael Johnston
Pulotu Tupe Solomon-Tanoa'I
Former BSA board member
BSA (Broadcasting Standards Authority)
Episode: Former BSA Board Member on Why Abolishing It Was the Wrong Call - Pulotu Tupe Solomon-Tanoa'I
Peter Boghossian
American philosopher, author, educator
Not specified in transcript
Episode: Peter Boghossian: The Crisis of Honesty | Free Speech, Hard Conversations & What's Gone Wrong
David Inserra
Fellow for Free Expression and Technology at the Cato Institute
Cato Institute
Episode: Banning Teens From Social Media Pushes Them Into Darker Corners Online - David Inserra
László Molnárfi
Marxist writer and activist from Ireland/Hungary
Leftist movement participant, Trinity Students Union president
Episode: Karl Marx was a free speech warrior - with László Molnárfi
Dr. David Harvey
Leading authority on Internet Law and Digital Communications; retired District Court Judge; author of Internet Law, New Zealand
University of Auckland (academic) / Free Speech Union context
Episode: When Safety Becomes Policy Who Guards Freedom Of Speech - Dr David Harvey & Douglas Brown
Ben Saul
Professor, University of Sydney; UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism
University of Sydney; United Nations
Episode: What Happens When “Promoting Hatred” Becomes A Crime - Professor Ben Saul UN Special Rapporteur
William McGimpsey
political commentator
Episode: If You Cannot Criticise Your Side, You Do Not Have Free Speech - William McGimpsey
Steven Franks
Chair; respected lawyer
New Zealand Free Speech Union
Episode: How A 1989 Broadcasting Law Became An Internet Speech Rule - with Steven Franks

Host

Dane Giroux
Host of Free To Speak; Council Member, New Zealand Free Speech Union

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 57 ratings
  • If I could make one suggestion before you listen. Take 5 minutes to google the Free Speech Union, or Free Speech Alliance, The NZ Initiative, UK or Australia - add Tax Payers' Union to your search and then see if you're still interested in listening to anything these people have to say. If anything, it helps you put things into perspective.

    Podcast Addict
    1
    SpecialK
    2 years ago
  • A bunch of right wing twats.

    Podcast Addict
    1
    James
    3 years ago

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#67
New Zealand/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#215
New Zealand/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How A 1989 Broadcasting Law Became An Internet Speech Rule - with Steven Franks
Q: Why now, and has anything shifted in your view to justify action against online platforms?
He argues the Wellington professional class consensus is pushing for extending traditional broadcast rules to the internet, which could dampen free speech and escalate regulatory costs.
How A 1989 Broadcasting Law Became An Internet Speech Rule - with Steven Franks
Q: So, Steven, take it away. What are the implications here?
Franks explains the mismatch between a 1989 Broadcasting Act and today's internet, highlighting regulatory overreach and the challenge of applying broadcast standards to on-demand, online content.
The Day Police Failed To Let Women Speak: Posie Parker On Albert Park 3 Years Later
Q: This was your first event in New Zealand, wasn't it?
Yes, and there was a lot of planning with local allies, but everything escalated quickly due to police and security gaps, leading to an unprecedented level of disruption.
Greg Fleming MP: Te Reo, Politics and the Power of Listening
Q: Greg, can you tell us about your journey with Te Reo Māori?
Greg discusses how he began to learn Te Reo Māori after being encouraged by friends and the importance it holds in his political and personal life.
"The Most Human Right: Why Free Speech is Everything" with Prof Eric Heinze
Q: Why do you want human rights?
Human rights are foundational because they offer the greatest possibilities for overcoming systemic inequalities.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Free To Speak

What is Free To Speak about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The material showcases a show focused on free speech, regulatory policy, and civil liberties, anchored by conversations with legal scholars, practitioners, and advocacy figures. Episodes frequently explore how laws, regulatory bodies, and cultural norms shape what can be said online and in public life, often weighing safety against expression and highlighting real-world implications for journalists, academics, healthcare professionals, and activists. A standout trait is the sustained collaboration with the New Zealand Free Speech Union, bringing legal analysis, case studies, and policy critique to a broad audience. Listeners are likely drawn to rigorous debate about free speech, media regulation, and the balance between protecting vulnerabl... more

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1. The Sceptic
2. The Leighton Smith Podcast
3. TRIGGERnometry
4. The Brendan O'Neill Show
5. The spiked podcast

How many episodes of Free To Speak are there?

Free To Speak launched 7 years ago and published 194 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Free To Speak?

Recent guests on Free To Speak include:

1. Michael Johnston
2. Pulotu Tupe Solomon-Tanoa'I
3. Peter Boghossian
4. David Inserra
5. László Molnárfi
6. Dr. David Harvey
7. Ben Saul
8. William McGimpsey

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