Rephonic
Artwork for Free State

Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning

Gold Hat Productions
Ireland
Donald Trump
Gaza
Israel
Northern Ireland
World Cup
Gaelic Football
United States
Addiction
Palestine
Mental Health
GAA
Hurling
DJ Carey
Racism
Iran
Artificial Intelligence
United Ireland
Brexit
Immigration

Free State is a podcast for the curious that stimulates, provokes, challenges and entertains, while never taking itself too seriously. Free State covers topics from sport to politics, love to loss, the human condition and how to fix the world, with guests from across the planet including Nigerian princes, former Prime Ministers, ex convicts, footballers, boxers and extraordinary people from every ... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes458Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsSports News

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Artwork for Free State

Latest Episodes

Free State is going live this Christmas. The first (and probably last) Free State Live show will take place at Vicar Street on Dec 14th, with special guest, James McClean and much more. Tickets are available here - www.ticketmaster.ie/free-st... more

Free State is going live this Christmas. The first (and probably last) Free State Live show will take place at Vicar Street on Dec 14th, with special guest, James McClean and much more. Tickets are available here - www.ticketmaster.ie/free-st... more

Free State is going live this Christmas. Get your tickets here for the first (and probably the last) Free State Live show at Vicar Street on Dec 14th, with special guest James McClean. www.ticketmaster.ie/free-state-with-joe-brolly-and-dion-f... more

Free State is going live this Christmas. Get your tickets here for the first (and probably the last) Free State Live show at Vicar Street on Dec 14th, with special guest James McClean. www.ticketmaster.ie/free-state-with-joe-brolly-and-dion-f... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Rana Foroohar
Author of “See Change: The New Great Game in the Arctic Circle”
Episode: Why Trump wanted to invade Greenland
Stewart Kenny
Paddy Power co-founder and former psychotherapist
Paddy Power
Episode: Stewart Kenny. How the genius behind Paddy Power became gambling’s fiercest critic.
Dara Molloy
Former Catholic priest, Celtic monk and author of The Celtic Way
Episode: The priest who became a Celtic monk
Elif Shafak
Turkish novelist and author of *In One Brief Moment, All Eternity*
Episode: The Age of Anxiety and Anger with Elif Shafak
Damien Pearse
Psychologist, football fan and author of “Till I Die: Why Football Means Everything, Even When It Shouldn't”
Episode: Football's tribalism and why it matters
Jamie Bryson
Ulster loyalist activist and figure prominent in discussions about Orange Order marches
Loyalist community (as referenced in episode)
Episode: Jamie Bryson vs Joe Brolly: A Free State Special
Anne Cadwallader
Investigative journalist and novelist ( Crossing Over )
Journalist, Author
Episode: Zombie Drumcree and the march that died of shame
Ben MacIntyre
Author of Redwood, espionage historian
Author of Redwood
Episode: Iran, Erectile Dysfunction and the Cold War
Louise Kennedy
Author of Trespasses and Stations; writer
Author
Episode: 'I was annoyed for a long time about how a lot of Southerners other Northerners'

Hosts

Joe Brolly
Host of Free State; barrister; notable for strong, opinionated commentary and deep knowledge across sport and politics.
Dion Fanning
Co-host; journalist and author; regular interviewer with a sharp, investigative bent and strong editorial voice.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.5k ratings
  • A perfect spicy cocktail of politics, sport, social commentary

    Brolly and Fanning serve up a smart and hard hitting combination of politics, sport, and social commentary that’s honest, humorous and hard-hitting. Joe’s not to everyone’s cup of tea, but you can’t argue with his knowledge and experiences.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Daithios
    Ireland5 months ago
  • While generally an interesting chat. The petty squabbling, bickering and overtalking, often an annoying feature, was overwhelming today. A pity, as there's a lot to be said about the degree to which the rugby schools of south Dublin draw their ethos from the British empire and defer to the UK as a result. It may explain why our civil service is so keen to transpose UK law onto our statute books

    Podcast Addict
    3
    Skrynesaver
    a year ago
  • Give Eoin a job

    Just loved the recent show with Eoin O Broin, it is a travesty that someone with a vision, strategy and such a clear understanding how we got here and how to get out of the mess our housing policy is currently in. If FG and FF weren’t still mesmerised by Maggie Thatcher they would recognise housing for the nation emergency it is and go cross party and bring Eoin in. More chance of pigs taking flight or a full episode of your podcast with Dion being allowed to finish a sentence without Joe interr... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fred and Friend
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Go easy on us Joe

    Love the show and Joe is so straight talking that it makes me laugh out loud. But go easy on the doomsday stuff, we all need some hope. Joe try and look at what we need to do to get back to some sort of “rules based world “.

    Keep it up guys.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Knobheader
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Monday Club

    This is dire….first time I’ve listened ,via this episode…I follow many podcasts…but truly the plodding self regarding dull “dialogue” is without compare….stick to the day jobs lads…🙄…10 mins of my life I won’t get back…

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    pokey marley
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Thought-provoking, sometimes polarizing but consistently provocative.
Insightful, sharp, and fearless; the blend of politics and sport hits hard.
Candid, entertaining takes with strong guest choices and engaging discussions.
A bold voice that sparks debate and reflects on current events with clarity.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#40
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#87
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#244
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#95
Australia/News/Politics
Spotify
#108
Ireland/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#53
Ireland/Top Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Stewart Kenny. How the genius behind Paddy Power became gambling’s fiercest critic.
Q: What are the things that can be done?
Kenny advocates increasing taxes on online casinos and slot machines, implementing gambling legislation, requiring separate accounts and mandatory deposit limits, and preventing bookmakers from steering sports bettors toward casino products.
Stewart Kenny. How the genius behind Paddy Power became gambling’s fiercest critic.
Q: Can you maybe just explain to us how we got to the stage where gambling has become normal and inextricably linked to our daily lives and grooming a whole generation of kids?
Kenny says gambling became more harmful as online access made it immediate and easy to repeat. He argues that bookmakers use sports betting to draw customers toward more addictive online casino games and slot machines, and recommends adding friction between products.
Why Trump wanted to invade Greenland
Q: What are people looking at now when they see it? When you're in the ship and you're looking at a map that sees it from the Arctic down, what are people seeing when they're there in terms of territory and power, if you like?
Scientists, intelligence professionals, and military personnel are mapping the seabed to navigate safely and identify potential energy resources. The information also supports states and companies seeking resource access, amid increased surveillance and military activity.
Why Trump wanted to invade Greenland
Q: Can you explain to our listeners what you feel is happening in the Arctic Circle and what has changed there to make it so important?
Climate change has opened shipping routes and access to resources, while global chokepoints and competition among major powers have made the Arctic a new arena of strategic rivalry.
The priest who became a Celtic monk
Q: So how would we reclaim it if we were to reclaim it, do you think?
Molloy suggests replacing the assumption that people are sinners with the idea that everyone has honor, while acknowledging that the implications for legal and social systems would need to be worked out.

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 State

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

summary: Free State delivers provocative, often sharp-edged conversations spanning politics, sport, culture, and personal life. With two Irish hosts who pull in guests from journalism, literature, sport, and public life, it blends hard-edged takes with humor and storytelling. Episodes frequently tackle social issues, national identity, and the economics and governance of sport, offering insight for listeners who enjoy interactions between opinion, history, and contemporary events. Notably, the hosts' chemistry and fearless, unapologetic takes tend to drive the show's distinctive voice, making it a strong fit for audiences that relish candid debate and cross-disciplinary analysis.

Where can I find podcast stats for Free State?

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How many subscribers and views does Free State have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Free State has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Free State?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Free State:

1. The GAA Social
2. Indo Sport
3. The Football Pod
4. Indo GAA
5. RTÉ GAA Podcast

How many episodes of Free State are there?

Free State launched 4 years ago and published 458 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Free State?

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What guests have appeared on Free State?

Recent guests on Free State include:

1. Rana Foroohar
2. Stewart Kenny
3. Dara Molloy
4. Elif Shafak
5. Damien Pearse
6. Jamie Bryson
7. Anne Cadwallader
8. Ben MacIntyre

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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