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Artwork for The Free Speech Union

The Free Speech Union

The Free Speech Union
Free Speech Union
Free Speech
Islamophobia
Political Correctness
Non-Crime Hate Incidents
Gender Identity
Freedom Of Speech
Cancel Culture
Higher Education Freedom Of Speech Act
Censorship
Hate Crime Act
Scottish Hate Crime Act
Transgender Issues
Grooming Gangs
Academic Freedom
Social Media
Keir Starmer
Racism
Online Safety Act
Employment Rights Bill

Welcome to the Free Speech Union's podcast. Listen to our weekly episodes with great guests speaking about the cornerstone of our democracy which is under attack.

The Free Speech Union is a non-partisan, mass membership public interest body that stands up for the speech rights of its members and campaigns for free speech more widely. We champion the right of people from all walks of life to expr... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes100Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for The Free Speech Union

Latest Episodes

Collin May had a successful academic and professional career, culiminating in his appointment in 2022 as chair of the Human Rights Commission for the Canadian province of Alberta.

But May's 2009 review of an academic book about Islam was about to de... more

The Charlie Hebdo attack divided Prof Matei Candea's friends. It also prompted him to embark on an anthropological study of free speech.

The result is "Reason, Carnival and Honour: An Anthropology of Free Speech", a book which explores the hidden as... more

Comedian, author and commentator Andrew Doyle joins FSU General Secretary Lord Young to discuss a little-noticed government-commissioned report on misinformation and its implications for public debate.

The report's Orwellian proposals include "psych... more

Sentenced to 31 months in prison for a tweet posted in anger after the Southport murders in 2024, Lucy Connolly pleaded guilty to inciting racial hatred. But should she have opted for a jury trial instead? One year after her release from prison, she ... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Matei Candea
Professor of Social Anthropology, Cambridge University
Cambridge University
Episode: An Anthropology of Free Speech with Prof Matei Candea
Andrew Doyle
Comedian and free speech campaigner
Self-employed / Campaigner
Episode: ANDREW DOYLE: New "Misinformation" Plan By Government Advisors Is Deeply Orwellian
Lucy Connolly
Free speech campaigner and former defendant in the Southport case
The Free Speech Union
Episode: LUCY CONNOLLY: free speech campaigner
Paul Holden
Investigative journalist and author
Author of The Fraud; former Labour Party investigative work
Episode: PAUL HOLDEN: Investigative Journalist on his fears for free speech under BURNHAM
Lord Young
General Secretary of The Free Speech Union
The Free Speech Union
Episode: PAUL HOLDEN: Investigative Journalist on his fears for free speech under BURNHAM
James Esses
Founder of Just Therapy, conservative counsellor and campaigner on gender identity and child safeguarding
Just Therapy, The Free Speech Union
Episode: JAMES ESSES: campaigner, therapist and parent
Nick Wallis
Award-winning journalist known for Post Office scandal and trans debate coverage
BBC (former), investigative journalist
Episode: NICK WALLIS: From the Post Office Scandal to the Trans Debate
Claire Coutinho
Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Shadow Equalities Minister, Conservative Party
Conservative Party
Episode: NET ZERO has become a religion | Claire Coutinho
Lionel Shriver
Bestselling novelist, author of A Better Life
Episode: LIONEL SHRIVER’S chilling warning to free-speech defenders

Hosts

David Rose
Director of Research and Policy at The Free Speech Union; frequent host of the program.
Connie Shaw
Host of The Free Speech Union's podcast; long-time facilitator of conversations.
Toby Young
Host of The Free Speech Union podcast; prominent commentator and author.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 56 ratings
  • Thumbnail

    There’s an “e” missing from the website address on your thumbnail for the podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Svart Måken
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Excellent!

    Always love listening to this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Helenatam
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Frustrated

    Nocaponpodsfrfr has written a very thoughtful review which expresses much better than I ever could my thoughts on this podcast.

    I am a huge fan of the FSU and their work, and I really admire not only Toby Young but the team behind the organisation. They fulfill a vital function in our society and we are all better off for their efforts. But this podcast is not a good advertisement for all the team’s hard work.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Tomwoodhams
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Too much Ammo for NazBol attacks

    While the FSU does great work the presentation of this podcast does give plenty of inroads for the authoritarians to review bomb. There are a lot of ponderous references to the presenters’ classical educations. There’s a lot the pointless bob and curtsey of: ‘you first’ ‘no you first’ ‘no you first’. In other words talking about talking rather than communicating. It feels inwardly facing towards each other as colleagues rather than outwardly to the audience. I’d like to hear more directed conver... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nocaponpodsfrfr
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Absolute one eyed rabbit hole of a podcast

    Totally down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theory and it gets worse from week to week. Appallingly one sided - Listen with caution ⚠️

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MartyFarty
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critics feel the show can be inward-looking or preachy, and wish for more action-oriented, externally focused content.
Episodes are often dense with policy and legal references, which can be challenging for casual listeners.
Listeners appreciate rigorous defense of free speech and openness to controversial topics.
New listeners are drawn by high-profile guests and timely debates on politics and media.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#161
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#95
United Arab Emirates/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#195
India/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#210
South Korea/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#220
Denmark/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#232
United Arab Emirates/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

An Anthropology of Free Speech with Prof Matei Candea
Q: Do you want to start by just telling us a bit about yourself? What sparked your interest in free speech?
Matt describes his background as a social anthropologist and explains that the Charlie Hebdo controversy in 2015 sparked his interest in how people interpret free speech across cultures; he highlights the split in online communities and how opposing views can co-exist within a broader commitment to free speech.
LUCY CONNOLLY: free speech campaigner
Q: How has this affected your life after release?
It transformed me into a public advocate for free speech, leading to continued media appearances, speaking engagements, and involvement with the Free Speech Union to support others facing similar prosecutions.
LUCY CONNOLLY: free speech campaigner
Q: What was the most shocking aspect of the experience for you?
Being charged and imprisoned for a tweet, a public order offence framed around inciting racial hatred, and the sense that the system was disproportionately harsh for a non-violent utterance, especially during a highly charged political climate.
ANDREW DOYLE: New "Misinformation" Plan By Government Advisors Is Deeply Orwellian
Q: What would be the practical steps to prevent a state index of misinformation from becoming a reality?
Responses include ridiculing or debunking flawed proposals, revealing biased authoring and data sources, and stressing the importance of preserving open debate and resist authoritarian strategies that aim to control information.
ANDREW DOYLE: New "Misinformation" Plan By Government Advisors Is Deeply Orwellian
Q: How can we persuade policymakers or public figures like Andy Burnham to reconsider and avoid institutional censorship?
The guest argues that persuasion may be limited with ideologues, and emphasizes democratic processes—voting and political accountability—as the route to change, while also warning about the long-term risks of centralized censorship powers.

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 The Free Speech Union

What is The Free Speech Union about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A provocative, policy-focused show that centers on free speech, civil liberties, and how institutions shape discourse in the UK. Episodes typically feature outspoken guests—ranging from politicians and legal experts to campus activists and journalists—discussing topics like media bias, online safety, identity politics, and government policy on speech. The conversations often scrutinize power structures, court cases, and regulatory frameworks, with a clear stance in favor of robust free expression and accountability. Listeners likely value rigorous argumentation, principled advocacy, and timely analysis of current events that touch on democracy, censorship, and public debate. A notable strength is its ability to pair high-profile policy disc... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Free Speech Union?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Free Speech Union:

1. The Sceptic
2. The spiked podcast
3. Last Orders - a spiked podcast
4. The Brendan O'Neill Show
5. The Current Thing

How many episodes of The Free Speech Union are there?

The Free Speech Union launched 3 years ago and published 100 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 The Free Speech Union?

Recent guests on The Free Speech Union include:

1. Matei Candea
2. Andrew Doyle
3. Lucy Connolly
4. Paul Holden
5. Lord Young
6. James Esses
7. Nick Wallis
8. Claire Coutinho

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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