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Artwork for Free State

Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning

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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes440Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsSports News

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Artwork for Free State

Latest Episodes

In Drumcree and in Debrecen, we were forced to consider different Irelands last weekend.

The determination of the Orange Order to parade down Garvaghy Road brought back memories for so many of the dark days in the north.

But does it really show how... more

Jon Ronson joins Dion on today's Free State to talk about the manosphere, his time with Ian Paisley and his new book, The Castle. Learn more about Jon's new book here - www.penguin.co.uk/books/455289/the-castle-by-ronson-jon/9780241754771

Ho... more

‘We’re not playing with genocide, we’re playing against genocide. We’re playing against Israel, we’re not playing with Israel.’

With these words, Irelqnd’s manager Heimir Hallgrimsson tried to rally support for his players before they play their fir... more

‘Three things come with taking a man’s life. The first one is the easy bit – going into a room and shooting somebody… The second is preparing yourself if you get caught coming or going and getting life in prison – could you do it? And the third and f... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Jill Lepore
Historian, author of The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State
Harvard University
Episode: All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace?
Paul Howard
Writer and comedian, author of A Nation Once Again
Author
Episode: Free State: Live in West Belfast
William Ralston
Author of The Impossible Job, The Truly Unbelievable World of Football Referees
Author
Episode: Why Nobody wants to be a Referee (and what it tells us about the world)
Philip O'Connor
freelance journalist who moved to Sweden in 1999
Journalism
Episode: ‘We used to be neo-Nazis but we're all right now’ - Why Sweden is a warning for Ireland's future
Annie Jacobsen
National security reporter and author of biological war scenario
Author of Biological War Scenario
Episode: How the world might end with Annie Jacobsen
Melissa Reddy
Author of Only Mo Salah
Author
Episode: Mo Salah: The Most Important Footballer in the World?
Michael Thomas
Writer and memoirist
Author
Episode: Writer Michael Thomas on breaking the chains of the past
John Ware
BBC journalist and author of Neither Confirm Nor Deny
BBC/author
Episode: How John Ware searched for the truth in the darkness of the Troubles
Joseph O'Neill
Great writer and author of Godwin, featured on the episode
Author/Writer
Episode: Joseph O'Neill on how the world got worse during the World Cup

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 1.8k 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
    Ireland3 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
    9 months 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 Kingdom10 months 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 Kingdom10 months 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 Kingdom10 months 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
#31
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#71
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#195
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#72
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#196
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#240
Germany/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How John Ware searched for the truth in the darkness of the Troubles
Q: Can you tell us first, John, we'll get to the details of this in a minute. Can you tell us for some of our listeners who may not know your own story in relation to Northern Ireland and when you first went there?
Ware discusses his long tenure reporting from Belfast starting in 1974, the early suspicions of covert units, and the gradual emergence of evidence about state involvement in illicit activities, setting the stage for deeper investigations.
Putin's Billions: The oligarchs and stolen riches
Q: What is the significance of the The Hague ruling for the Yukos case?
The Hague ruling established a historic precedent for international arbitration against a state for breaking international agreements, with Russia ultimately being ordered to pay billions to the Yukos successor, though enforcement remains contested and slow.
Putin's Billions: The oligarchs and stolen riches
Q: What happened to Yukos and its founders in the early 2000s?
Yukos was progressively crippled through inflated tax demands and asset seizures; its assets were transferred to Rosneft, and its founder Khodorkovsky was jailed, signaling a decisive move by the Kremlin against independent oligarchic power.
Putin's Billions: The oligarchs and stolen riches
Q: How did Putin respond to the oligarchs after taking office in 1999-2000?
Putin sought to curb the oligarchs' political influence by forcing them to stay out of government and by reining in their control over state assets, while some remained aligned with him if they accepted his terms.
Putin's Billions: The oligarchs and stolen riches
Q: What was the role of the oligarchs in Boris Yeltsin's 1996 re-election, and why did they back him?
The oligarchs backed Yeltsin to safeguard the windfall from privatizations and to ensure their wealth could be preserved from potential communist reversal, which they believed would be threatened by a returned political order.

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?

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Which podcasts are similar to Free State?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Free State:

1. Indo Sport
2. Indo GAA
3. The Football Pod
4. The Second Captains Podcast
5. The David McWilliams Podcast

How many episodes of Free State are there?

Free State launched 4 years ago and published 440 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. Jill Lepore
2. Paul Howard
3. William Ralston
4. Philip O'Connor
5. Annie Jacobsen
6. Melissa Reddy
7. Michael Thomas
8. John Ware

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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