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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
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
Academic Freedom
Social Media
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 weeklyEpisodes100Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPolitics

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Artwork for The Free Speech Union

Latest Episodes

Former BBC editor Rob Burley talks about his recent Unherd investigation: "Inside the capture of the BBC How transgenderism killed impartiality."

This is an insider account of how bosses at one of Britain’s most important institutions became scared ... more

Journalist Janet Murray tells Connie Shaw how her views about trans impacted her community choir. The "Singing Striders" were dropped by disability charity Scope from performing at the London Marathon. Scope objected to Janet's views, even though the... more

After Independent Councillor John Edwards asked questions about a scheme for housing Afghan migrants, he found himself under investigation by the local council. Even though he was cleared by an independent investigator, he still faces a hearing and h... more

The Labour MP and lifelong socialist reveals his fears about censorship, corporate spies and attempts to undermine democracy. #freespeech #pressfreedom #ukpolitics

Plus, the Free Speech Union’s David Rose shares his exclusive investigation into a pro... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

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
Dr. Shahrar Ali
Former deputy leader of the Green Party
Green Party
Episode: The Green Party is a DANGER to society: Dr Shahrar Ali
Brodie Mitchell
Student at Royal Holloway University of London, activist
Royal Holloway University of London
Episode: EXCLUSIVE: Student faces PROSECUTION for calling Hamas scarf a tea towel
Fiyaz Mughal
Founding Director of Faith Matters; former head of Tell MAMA
Faith Matters / Tell MAMA
Episode: Muslims should OPPOSE an Islamophobia definition: Fiyaz Mughal

Hosts

Connie Shaw
Co-host of That's Debatable! and a long-time host associated with the Free Speech Union.
Jan Macvarish
Co-host of That's Debatable!; Education and Events Director at the Free Speech Union.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 42 ratings
  • Excellent!

    Always love listening to this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Helenatam
    United Kingdom3 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 Kingdoma year 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 listeners feel episodes can be heavy on theory and controversial takes without enough actionable examples.
New listeners frequently discover the show via related media and sponsor segments.
Listeners praise the rigorous, unapologetic stance on free speech and the practical policy focus.
A portion of reviews note strong guest lineups and willingness to challenge official narratives.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#96
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#210
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#99
Ireland/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#190
Ireland/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

UCL fresher who opposed the TRANS ORTHODOXY
Q: How has the experience affected your views on free speech and campus culture going forward?
Samiksha reflects on the importance of allowing debate, recognizing the risks of harassment, and hoping to inspire other students to engage in dialogue despite potential consequences.
UCL fresher who opposed the TRANS ORTHODOXY
Q: What was the reaction from the Student Union and the administration when the event was announced?
She notes the talk was facilitated grudgingly, with the free speech compliance team handling security well, while elected officials and some journalists seemed reluctant to support it publicly.
UCL fresher who opposed the TRANS ORTHODOXY
Q: How did you get involved with the Libertarian Society and decide to host controversial talks about free speech and women's rights?
Samiksha explains she wanted a space where students could discuss free markets, free speech, and free minds and that organizing the talk was a way to bring those ideas into campus discourse despite anticipated backlash.
KATIE LAM MP: Speaking the truth about grooming gangs
Q: How has pushback from Muslim lobby groups affected your stance on grooming gangs?
Lam notes that there is pushback but emphasizes that the acceptance of the facts has grown due to victims, whistleblowers, and historians, allowing more honest discussion while acknowledging sensitivities around ethnicity and religion.
KATIE LAM MP: Speaking the truth about grooming gangs
Q: Tell me a little bit about how you got into politics.
Lam discusses her university and early political activity, how she was recruited to work with Andrew Griffith, and her family history that motivation to stand up for her beliefs and speak freely.

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 sharp, policy-focused discussion platform centered on free speech, governance, and civil liberties. Episodes frequently dissect government definitions around Islamophobia, jury trials, regulation of speech, and the balance between public safety and open debate, often featuring legal scholars, politicians, journalists, and advocacy voices. Notable for its candid critiques of policy, willingness to challenge institutional narratives, and a willingness to sponsor and cross-promote related media, this show tends to attract listeners who value robust free-speech principles and practical policy implications. It often leans into controversial topics with a defender-of-free-speech stance, while highlighting real-world cases, debates, and the huma... 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. Planet Normal
5. New Culture Forum

How many episodes of The Free Speech Union are there?

The Free Speech Union launched 2 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. Rob Burley
2. Janet Murray
3. John Edwards
4. John McDonnell
5. Katie Lam
6. Samiksha Bhattacharjee
7. Dr. Shahrar Ali
8. Brodie Mitchell

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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