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The Free Speech Union

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

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
NewsPolitics

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Artwork for The Free Speech Union

Latest Episodes

Investigative reporter Nick Wallis played a leading role in exposing the Post Office scandal. His BBC documentaries helped uncover the biggest miscarriage of justice in British legal history and led to a public inquiry. Now Nick's turning his journal... more

Former UK government Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho MP reveals how civil service "group think" stopped questioning of Net Zero. From misleading costings to attempts to silence dissent, Coutinho reveals why she believes the Climate Change Act needs ... more

Is the 'vibe shift' real? Or are we kidding ourselves that we are past “peak woke”?

Bestselling novelist Lionel Shriver joins the Free Speech Union’s general secretary Lord Young to explain why the 'long war' on free speech is just beginning.

They ... more

Ex-cop Rick Prior worked in the Met police's Culture, Diversity and Inclusion department. He reveals how he witnessed the adoption of the sort of woke ideologies that lead to two-tier policing and situations like the arrest of dying victim Henry Nowa... more

Key Facts

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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

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
Rick Prior
Former chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation and police veteran
Metropolitan Police Federation
Episode: POLICE WHISTLEBLOWER: CRITICAL RACE THEORY at the Met
Rob Burley
Former BBC News editor; author of Unherd piece on BBC and trans issues
BBC News (former); Unherd contributor
Episode: Former BBC Editor ROB BURLEY on TRANS IDEOLOGY, Impartiality and Institutional Capture
Janet Murray
Journalist who spoke publicly after her choir was cancelled; gender-critical views advocate
Freelance journalist, previously The Guardian education correspondent
Episode: Dropped by charity for her gender critical views: JANET MURRAY
John Edwards
Independent councillor for Sandhurst
Sandhurst, Bracknell Forest Council
Episode: Councillor John Edwards vs Bracknell Forest Council
John McDonnell
Member of Parliament, former Shadow Chancellor
Labour Party
Episode: JOHN MCDONNELL MP: We need an inquiry into Labour Together now
Katie Lam
Member of Parliament, Conservative Party, MP for Kent Weald (elected 2024)
Conservative Party / Parliament
Episode: KATIE LAM MP: Speaking the truth about grooming gangs
Samiksha Bhattacharjee
President of the UCL Libertarian Society
UCL Libertarian Society
Episode: UCL fresher who opposed the TRANS ORTHODOXY

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

4.8 out of 5 stars from 49 ratings
  • Excellent!

    Always love listening to this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Helenatam
    United Kingdom4 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
  • New Listener

    I got signposted to this via another podcast (Weekly Sceptic) after hearing it was now available on Apple podcasts.

    Keep up the good work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KarateLass
    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
#84
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#191
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#111
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#224
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#74
Norway/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#148
South Africa/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

POLICE WHISTLEBLOWER: CRITICAL RACE THEORY at the Met
Q: Do you think the death of George Floyd turbocharged the shift toward equity-focused policing?
Yes. The guest argues that Floyd's death amplified attention to equality-based policies, contributing to the shift from equality of treatment and opportunity to equity of outcome, and notes the introduction of critical race theory ideas within policing.
POLICE WHISTLEBLOWER: CRITICAL RACE THEORY at the Met
Q: So tell me a bit more about why you said those things in the GB News interview.
The guest explains that speaking out was an attempt to highlight the lack of public debate inside the police service about equity ideology and its impact on policing; he describes his suspension process, the involvement of the Free Speech Union, and the subsequent High Court victory protecting his right to express concerns.
NET ZERO has become a religion | Claire Coutinho
Q: What would you do differently in government regarding civil service reform to reduce ideological capture and improve decision-making?
Push for clearer hiring/firing, bring in private-sector experts, foster a culture of testing policies 'to destruction' with external reviews, and ensure the objective remains cheaper energy and better living standards for the public.
NET ZERO has become a religion | Claire Coutinho
Q: Why has there been so little open debate around climate and energy policy, and what has changed recently to encourage more scrutiny?
The culture of cancel culture and labeling dissent as denial or harmful has stifled debate; documenting and exposing misrepresentations about costs, alongside calls for greater transparency and red-teaming, can restore robust discussion.
NET ZERO has become a religion | Claire Coutinho
Q: You've built a reputation as a minister against groupthink. Can you explain how you approached challenging the orthodoxies in energy policy?
I started with a reset focused on affordability and data, insisting on proving cost assumptions, and pushing back against consumer bans while maintaining a framework, ultimately arguing that many decisions were driven by ideology rather than evidence.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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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 spiked podcast
2. The Sceptic
3. New Culture Forum
4. Last Orders - a spiked podcast
5. The Brendan O'Neill Show

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. Claire Coutinho
2. Lionel Shriver
3. Rick Prior
4. Rob Burley
5. Janet Murray
6. John Edwards
7. John McDonnell
8. Katie Lam

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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