So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast

FIRE

Free Speech

First Amendment

Freedom Of Conscience

Cultural Norms

Cancel Culture

Academic Freedom

Political Philosophy

Section 230

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Backpage

Netchoice Cases

Social Media Censorship

Murthy V. Missouri

NRA V. Vullo

Supreme Court Cases

IHRA Definition Of Anti-Semitism

Anti-Semitism Awareness Act

Jeff Kosseff

Misinformation

Anarchism

So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast takes an uncensored look at the world of free expression through the law, philosophy, and stories that define your right to free speech. Hosted by FIRE's Nico Perrino. New episodes post every other Thursday.

245 ratings

Publishes	Twice monthly	Episodes	257	Founded	9 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	PoliticsNews CommentaryNews

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Latest Episodes

Ep. 253: Pam Bondi says hate speech is not free speech — is she right?

FIRE staff also take your questions on Charlie Kirk's assassination, President Trump's lawsuit against The New York Times, cancel culture, and more.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:42 Attorney General Pam Bondi's comments that "hate speech" is disti... more

16 Sep 2025 • 1 hr 5 min

Ep. 252: America’s first free speech crisis — the Sedition Act of 1798

We’re joined by award-winning author, Charles (Charlie) Slack, to discuss his book, Liberty’s First Crisis: Adams, Jefferson and the Misfits Who Saved Free Speech.

Slack focuses on the infamous Sedition Act of 1798, which sparked the first major... more

15 Sep 2025 • 1 hr 8 min

Ep. 251: Free speech and ‘the executive power’ with Advisory Opinions

What are the limits of presidential power? How many days has it been since President Trump’s TikTok ban moratorium went into place? What is the state of the conservative legal movement? And where did former FIRE president David French go on his first... more

4 Sep 2025 • 1 hr 12 min

Ep. 250: Civil rights, hate speech, and the First Amendment

We know the First Amendment protects hate speech. But has it always done so? And how have civil rights groups responded when their members are the target of hate speech?

University of Iowa Law Professor Samantha Barbas is the author of a new law re... more

28 Aug 2025 • 57 min

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Recent Guests

Charlie Slack

Award-winning author of Liberty's First Crisis

Episode: Ep. 252: America’s first free speech crisis — the Sedition Act of 1798

Samantha Barbas

University of Iowa law professor and author of an article on hate speech laws

University of Iowa

Episode: Ep. 250: Civil rights, hate speech, and the First Amendment

Larry Summers

Former President of Harvard University and U.S. Treasury Secretary

Harvard University

Episode: Ep. 249: FIRE Reacts — Where does Harvard go from here? With Larry Summers

Justin Pearson

Constitutional lawyer and Managing Attorney at the Institute for Justice

Institute for Justice

Episode: Ep. 248: Commercial speech and the First Amendment

Eugene Volokh

Professor of Law at UCLA specializing in First Amendment law

UCLA

Episode: Ep. 248: Commercial speech and the First Amendment

Justin Amash

Former U.S. Congressman from Michigan who is a strong advocate for civil liberties and free speech.

Episode: Ep. 247: Justin Amash

Lee Levine

Former senior counsel at Ballard Spahr

Episode: Ep. 244: Censoring lawmakers, T-shirts, and seashells

Heather MacDonald

Thomas W. Smith Fellow at the Manhattan Institute

Manhattan Institute

Episode: Ep. 243: Heather Mac Donald on Trump and free speech

Greg Lukianoff

President and CEO of FIRE, author of Coddling of the American Mind

FIRE

Episode: Ep. 242: Is cancel culture dead?

Host

Nico Perrino

Host of a podcast that takes an uncensored look at free expression, discussing its implications through law, philosophy, and real-world stories.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 245 ratings

Good
Good
Apple Podcasts
5
Jake11144
United States9 months ago
So excited this made iTunes top ten!
Nico is a great host and one of the better proponents of free speech. Very conversational style and doesnt over-use the legal jargon.
Apple Podcasts
5
Celia Rogers
United Statesa year ago
Dennis D. Karpf
Incisive and absence of cant. Free speech can not override free association, free religion, and free conscience and free movement. No doubt words/thought balance is sometimes gray. Law can prevent antisemitic action/behavior. However those circumstance in reality are rare. Speech codes are not the answer. Balance is needed between competing interests that does prevent threats to Jews. Threats and harassment are not speech. However make no mistake Islamist ideology and its red/green allies seek o... more
Apple Podcasts
5
dennis.karpf
United Statesa year ago
Produced by FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, the law firm and advocacy group fulfilling the role of defending free speech that has been abandoned by the ACLU. You can learn a lot about how governments in the US violate our freedoms and how some are fighting back.
Podcast Addict
5
Larryseltzer
2 years ago
A Fantastic Educational Resource
I’m currently working my way through the So to Speak catalogue, and I’m hoping to be fully caught up on episodes within a few weeks. It’s great to have a quality podcast that focuses exclusively on issues involving free expression. There are many popular podcasts out there that champion free expression, but in too many cases the hosts appear more interested in ranting and mocking their opponents than in educating their audience. This series is thoroughly educational, and it motivates me to learn... more
Apple Podcasts
5
fruits are lovely
Canada2 years ago

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Listeners Say

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

Some feel that while the content is enlightening, particular episodes may attract a more niche audience focused solely on free speech debates.

Listeners praise the podcast for its thorough exploration of free speech issues and its balanced approach to complex topics.

Reviewers appreciate the variety and expertise of the guests, enhancing the quality of the conversations.

The host is noted for creating a conversational and engaging atmosphere, making legal discussions accessible to a wider audience.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts	#186	Taiwan/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#231	Sweden/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep. 253: Pam Bondi says hate speech is not free speech — is she right?

Q: If someone responds to a social media post about the assassination of a political figure and says, quote, about damn time, now do Trump, close quote, is that protected by free speech?

The response would likely not meet the elements of a true threat or incitement, as it is talking rhetorically or hyperbolically, and is protected as free speech.

Ep. 250: Civil rights, hate speech, and the First Amendment

Q: Can you talk about the significance of the Brandenburg v. Ohio case in the context of hate speech?

The Brandenburg case established that speech cannot be prohibited unless it is likely to produce imminent lawless action, making it one of the most speech-protective decisions in Supreme Court history.

Ep. 247: Justin Amash

Q: Do you think that the USA is slowly losing the First Amendment with its recent actions?

I think that on balance, free speech protections are better today than they were 100 years ago or 100 years before that. But that doesn't mean that it's inevitable that it keeps going in that direction.

Ep. 247: Justin Amash

Q: What would you change about Congress and how it operates if you had the chance to?

I believe you need to change the way the Speaker of the House functions. The Speaker serves strangely as the de facto party leader, which it shouldn't be.

Ep. 247: Justin Amash

Q: What was it like to serve in Congress?

It's really bad. So if you think that it's dysfunctional on the outside, or doesn't work properly, or they don't know what they're doing, it's worse on the inside when you get there.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast

What is So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content explores the multifaceted nature of free speech, taking an analytical approach to issues like hate speech, the implications of legal rulings, and the role of governmental influence on academic freedom. It emphasizes historical events related to civil liberties, such as the Sedition Act of 1798 and contemporary challenges faced in educational institutions, making it particularly relevant for those interested in the intersections of law, politics, and societal values. Episodes often feature discussions about notable legal cases, the intricacies of first amendment rights, and responses to issues like cancel culture, providing listeners with a rounded perspective on the current state of free expression across various platforms and c... more

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Which podcasts are similar to So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast:

1. The Glenn Show
2. The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
3. Just Asking Questions
4. The Reason Roundtable
5. The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg

How many episodes of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast are there?

So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast launched 9 years ago and published 257 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 So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast?

Recent guests on So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast include:

1. Charlie Slack
2. Samantha Barbas
3. Larry Summers
4. Justin Pearson
5. Eugene Volokh
6. Justin Amash
7. Lee Levine
8. Heather MacDonald

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