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Artwork for The Free Speech Union

The Free Speech Union

The Free Speech Union
Free Speech Union
Free Speech
Scottish Hate Crime Act
Hate Crime Act
Political Correctness
Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Zero Tolerance Policy
Cancel Culture
Hate Crimes
Gender Identity
Transgender Issues
Wokeness
Matt Johnson
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Self-Censorship
Scottish Enlightenment
Thomas Aikenhead
Scotland
Censorship
Freedom Of Speech

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes100Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for The Free Speech Union

Latest Episodes

Brodie Mitchell was banned from campus by Royal Holloway for telling a student that her Palestinian scarf looked like a tea towel. Now he might be prosecuted. #palestine #islam #israel

Donate to the Free Speech Union's crowdfunder: freespeec... more

Fiyaz Mughal OBE is a Muslim community activist who opposes the government's recent decision to publish an official definition of Islamophobia — now repackaged as 'anti-Muslim hostility'. He tells David Rose, the FSU's director of research and policy... more

Former Prime Minister Liz Truss on Islamism and why she's woken up to the issue of free speech. #Islam #labour #freespeech

The Liz Truss Show: www.youtube.com/channel/UCpILxhwF4a1H-iBA6Apb0FQ

Join the Free Speech Union: freespeechun... more

Toby Young scrutinises US lawyer Preston Byrne on his draft Free Speech Act for the UK. Plus, Ofcom v, 4Chan. #FreeSpeech #censorshipdebate #onlinesafetyact

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

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
Liz Truss
Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Conservative Party
Episode: Liz Truss: Muslim public prayers: "part of a game plan and a playbook."
Preston Byrne
A radical American lawyer and Free Speech Union Legal Advisory Council member discussing the Free Speech Act and enforcement in the UK
Free Speech Union
Episode: Can the UK Ever Have American Free Speech?
Jacob Rees-Mogg
Former cabinet minister, conservative MP for Northeast Somerset; GB News presenter
Conservative Party; GB News
Episode: Jim Ratcliffe has CLEARED the path for others: Jacob Rees-Mogg
Karl Turner
Labour MP for Hull East, prominent backbench rebel on jury-trial policy
Labour Party
Episode: Karl Turner: Labour's Rebel Leader
Jack Anderton
Political campaigner for Reform UK and journalist
Reform UK
Episode: Jack Anderton: Debating society BANS Reform UK
David Rose
Director of Research and Policy, Free Speech Union
Free Speech Union
Episode: Why Labour's 'Islamophobia' definiton is WAY worse than you thought...
Lord Toby Young
General Secretary and Founder of the Free Speech Union
Episode: Toby Young: The unintended consequences for free speech if Peter Mandelson’s title is stripped
Brendan O'Neill
Chief political writer of Spiked
Spiked
Episode: Vibe-shift: it’s the twilight years for politics as we knew it: Brendan O'Neill

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 41 ratings
  • Excellent!

    Always love listening to this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Helenatam
    United Kingdoma month 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
#113
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#245
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#189
New Zealand/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Liz Truss: Muslim public prayers: "part of a game plan and a playbook."
Q: How should a country balance free speech with concerns about hate preachers or incitement?
The guest argues for strong protections of free speech while distinguishing between incitement and where to draw lines about who can enter the country or speak publicly.
Liz Truss: Muslim public prayers: "part of a game plan and a playbook."
Q: What are the main barriers to reform in government institutions?
The bureaucratic capture and fear of political and media repercussions prevent ministers from appointing aligned personnel and implementing changes.
Liz Truss: Muslim public prayers: "part of a game plan and a playbook."
Q: Do you think this groupthink within the blob is genuinely widespread or a loud minority?
The guest describes it as ideological and systemic, with a mix of true believers and people going along for advancement, while acknowledging pockets of dissent within civil service.
Why Labour's 'Islamophobia' definiton is WAY worse than you thought...
Q: What are the concerns about the composition of the working group and its advisors?
Rose outlines connections between group members and Islamist networks, questions the independence and representativeness of the advisors, and argues these ties could bias the definition and its application against free speech and critical discussion about Islam.
Why Labour's 'Islamophobia' definiton is WAY worse than you thought...
Q: Why is there a push to adopt a definition of anti-Muslim hostility rather than Islamophobia?
The guest explains that the government and some Muslim groups want a broader, potentially more enforceable framework that could be used by public bodies; they worry it would shield Muslims from hostility while also fearing the chilling effects and political pressures around redefining discrimination in law and policy.

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. The Current Thing
4. Last Orders - a spiked podcast
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. Fiyaz Mughal
2. Liz Truss
3. Preston Byrne
4. Jacob Rees-Mogg
5. Karl Turner
6. Jack Anderton
7. David Rose
8. Lord Toby Young

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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