Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning
Gold Hat ProductionsFree 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
| Publishes | Daily | Episodes | 423 | Founded | 3 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | PoliticsNewsSports News | |||
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Latest Episodes
On August 14, Jason Arday was found unresponsive at his home in Battersea in London.
In a statement, his family said they were "in shock to have lost this amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son".
They added that the “campaign of misinforma... more
"Can you tell us how he died, where and why?" On August 9, 2025, Mo Salah tweeted this above a Uefa post which said "Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the Palestinian Pele". Salah's tweet has been viewed 140 million times. On Free State today, Melissa R... more
Darragh McGee understands sport. As a Donegal man he understands the hold and the importance sport has across this land. So as an academic when he went to investigate the betting industry, he didn’t expect to discover all that he learned about its ho... more
David Hearn was once an Olympic canoeist. He was facing ten years in a federal prison for allegedly vandalising the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington DC before all the charges were dropped.
‘It’s a relief, but there’s a detachment to th... more
Key Facts
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Reviews
- 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 Podcasts5Daithios
Ireland2 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 Addict38 months agoSkrynesaver- 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 Podcasts5Fred and Friend
United Kingdom8 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 Podcasts5KnobheaderUnited Kingdom8 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 Podcasts1pokey marleyUnited Kingdom9 months ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #48 | United Kingdom/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #115 | United Kingdom/News |
Apple Podcasts | #215 |  Canada/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #136 |  Australia/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #189 |  Italy/News/Politics |
Spotify | #84 | Ireland/Top Podcasts |
Talking Points
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Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Free State
What is Free State about and what kind of topics does it cover?
A sharp, wide-ranging show that blends politics, sport, culture, and current affairs with provocative yet insightful commentary. Hosted by two distinct voices—one a barrister with a principled, data-driven approach and the other an accomplished interviewer and author—the conversations span political analysis, social issues, and human stories, often lampooning received wisdom while staying pointed and thoughtful. Guests tend to be journalists, authors, historians, and thought leaders who can illuminate complex topics with context and personal narrative, making the show engaging for curious listeners who crave principled debate with humor. A standout trait is the mix of rigorous analysis and candid, sometimes contrarian banter that keeps disc... more
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How many listeners does Free State get?
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What are the audience demographics 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. The GAA Social
2. Indo Sport
3. Indo GAA
4. The Football Pod
5. RTÉ GAA Podcast
How many episodes of Free State are there?
Free State launched 3 years ago and published 423 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. Michael Thomas
2. John Ware
3. Joseph O'Neill
4. Eamon Dunphy
5. Martin Sixsmith
6. Richard Fitzpatrick
7. Peter McDonald
8. Sinead Gibney
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.