Best Freespeech Podcasts (2025)

1
Ep. 258: Donor disclosure and campaign finance at SCOTUS 55:47

Play Pause

14d ago55:47

55:47

The Institute for Free Speech's Bradley Smith and Brett Nolan join the show to discuss two upcoming Supreme Court arguments involving donor disclosure (First Choice Women's Resource Centers, Inc. v. Platkin) and political party contributions to candidates (National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC). The conversation also explores the broader …

1
Interview with Todd Gaziano 34:11

15d ago34:11

34:11

An Interview with Todd Gaziano, President, Center for Individual Rights At a time when constitutional rights face continuing pressures---from campus censorship to race-based government policies---one organization has spent the last 35 years winning legal battles that set lasting precedents for individual liberty. The Center for Individual Rights wa…

1
David Eubanks: How Accreditation Does (And Does Not) Work 45:09

26d ago45:09

45:09

ACTA's Kyle Beltramini welcomes David Eubanks, assistant vice president of the Office of Institutional Assessment and Research at Furman University. Professor Eubanks is an expert on the philosophy and practice of leadership in higher education, particularly learning outcomes assessments, strategic planning, and institutional effectiveness. His wor…

1
Ep. 257: Conversion therapy at the Supreme Court 1:05:50

26d ago1:05:50

1:05:50

FIRE's Ronnie London and Conor Fitzpatrick join the show to discuss the Supreme Court's oral argument in the conversion therapy case, the Pentagon's new press rules, Indiana University's censorship rampage, and where the situation stands with visa and green card holders who say things the feds don't like. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:19 Chiles v. Sal…

1
Tiny Homes THOW - Big Savings or EVEN BIGGER LOSSES? You Decide! 22:46

1M ago22:46

22:46

The TRUTH about Tiny Homes! Tiny Homes (THOW's) Big Savings or EVEN BIGGER LOSSES? You Decide!By #JovanHuttonPulitzer

1
Interview with Mark Niehaus 31:46

1M ago31:46

31:46

An Interview with Mark Niehaus, President and Executive Director, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra proves that art isn't just entertainment—it can be a key part of building community. Through concerts that bring diverse audiences together and revitalization efforts that have transformed its downtown home, the MSO stands…

1
Ep. 256: Ten arguments against free speech 1:14:19

1M ago1:14:19

1:14:19

We tackle ten common arguments against free speech. FIRE President and CEO Greg Lukianoff and FIRE Senior Fellow and former ACLU President Nadine Strossen are the co-authors of the new book, "War on Words: 10 Arguments Against Free Speech—And Why They Fail." Transcript Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:18 Book's origins 04:25 Argument #1: Words are violen…

1
Ep. 255: Authoritarians in the Academy 40:03

2M ago40:03

40:03

FIRE Senior Scholar Sarah McLaughlin discusses her new book, "Authoritarians in the Academy: How the Internationalization of Higher Education and Borderless Censorship Threaten Free Speech." Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:17 Book origins 03:38 How China censored speech on American campuses 18:36 COVID's impact for international students' speech 22:05 W…

1
Thad Westbrook: Leading Higher Education Reform at the University of South Carolina 45:53

2M ago45:53

45:53

ACTA's Nick Down interviews Thad Westbrook, chairman of the University of South Carolina's (USC) Board of Trustees. Mr. Westbrook earned his bachelor's degree in political science from USC and his J.D. from the USC School of Law. A member of the USC Board since 2010, he spearheaded the creation of USC's Center for American Civic Leadership and Publ…

1
Interview with Gonzalo Schwarz and Clay Routledge 40:21

2M ago40:21

40:21

An Interview with Gonzalo Schwarz and Clay Routledge, Archbridge Institute Despite prevailing messages to the contrary, recent research reveals a surprising finding: nearly seven in ten Americans say they either believe they'll achieve the American Dream or already have. Yet a deeper question remains: What does it actually take for people to flouri…

1
Ep. 254: What is going on with the FCC? 48:04

2M ago48:04

48:04

What is the Federal Communications Commission, and why does its chairman think the agency can regulate Jimmy Kimmel's jokes? Note: Shortly after recording this episode, Nexstar and Sinclair announced they would return "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" to their stations. Joining us: Anna Gomez, FCC Commissioner Ronnie London, FIRE General Counsel Bob Corn-Revere…

1
Ep. 253: Pam Bondi says hate speech is not free speech — is she right? 1:05:16

3M ago1:05:16

1:05:16

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 distinct from "free speech" 02:23 Is it OK for the Department of Justice to target people for "hate speech"? 05…

1
Interview with Nathan McGrath 33:15

3M ago33:15

33:15

An Interview with Nathan McGrath, President and General Counsel of the Fairness Center When public employees face retaliation for exercising their constitutional rights or encounter union corruption, where can they turn for help? Often, they're confronting powerful forces that possess unlimited resources – an uphill battle for any worker. That's wh…

1
Ep. 252: America's first free speech crisis — the Sedition Act of 1798 1:08:11

3M ago1:08:11

1:08:11

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 controversy over freedom of speech in America. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro (including note about Charlie Kir…

1
Building and Preserving the Library of Everything 42:52

3M ago42:52

42:52

All this season, “How to Fix the Internet” has been focusing on the tools and technology of freedom – and one of the most important tools of freedom is a library. Access to knowledge not only creates an informed populace that democracy requires, but also gives people the tools they need to thrive. And the internet has radically expanded access to k…

1
Lee Strang: Revitalizing Civics Education in the Buckeye State 41:00

3M ago41:00

41:00

ACTA president Michael Poliakoff speaks with Lee Strang, the inaugural director of the new Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture and Society at the Ohio State University. He is also a professor at OSU's Moritz College of Law, the author of numerous books on Constitutional law, and the founder of Northwest Ohio Classical Academy. Professor Stra…

1
Ep. 251: Free speech and 'the executive power' with Advisory Opinions 1:12:34

3M ago1:12:34

1:12:34

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 date? French and Sarah Isgur of the popular legal podcast "Advisory Opinions" join the show to answ…

1
Ep. 250: Civil rights, hate speech, and the First Amendment 57:04

3M ago57:04

57:04

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 review article, "How American Civil Rights Groups Defeated Hate Speech Laws." Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 04…

1
Protecting Privacy in Your Brain 38:45

3M ago38:45

38:45

The human brain might be the grandest computer of all, but in this episode, we talk to two experts who confirm that the ability for tech to decipher thoughts, and perhaps even manipulate them, isn't just around the corner – it's already here. Rapidly advancing "neurotechnology" could offer new ways for people with brain trauma or degenerative disea…

1
Building Bridges for Higher Ed Accreditation Reform 33:25

4M ago33:25

33:25

Description: In this episode of Higher Ed Now, ACTA Policy Research Fellow Kyle Beltramini and Third Way Education Policy Advisor Emily Rounds discuss how accreditation became a mainstream political issue overnight. They also examine the urgent need for modernization of the current system, as well as how both Democrats and Republicans can advance r…

1
Separating AI Hope from AI Hype 39:02

4M ago39:02

39:02

If you believe the hype, artificial intelligence will soon take all our jobs, or solve all our problems, or destroy all boundaries between reality and lies, or help us live forever, or take over the world and exterminate humanity. That’s a pretty wide spectrum, and leaves a lot of people very confused about what exactly AI can and can’t do. In this…

1
Ep. 249: FIRE Reacts — Where does Harvard go from here? With Larry Summers 1:08:50

4M ago1:08:50

1:08:50

2025 has not been kind to Harvard. To date, the Trump administration has revoked nearly $3 billion in research funding to the university, demanding violations of free speech, academic freedom, and institutional autonomy in return for restoring the funding. In response, Harvard filed a lawsuit, raising First Amendment claims. Helping us unpack all t…

1
072 - Veda Austin 1:34:29

4M ago1:34:29

1:34:29

In this profound follow-up to her first appearance on Episode 30, Veda Austin returns to Think Tank for a conversation that will change how you see water — and perhaps reality itself. Together, Robert and Veda explore the intelligence of water as a conscious, responsive medium capable of storing memory, transmitting sound, and even revealing ancien…

1
Ep. 248: Commercial speech and the First Amendment 50:42

4M ago50:42

50:42

Imagine the government forcing you to label your all-natural milk product as "imitation." Florida tried to make one dairy farm do just that, sparking a First Amendment question: Where's the line between a business's right to speak and protecting consumers from deception? In this episode, we explore how far free speech protections go for commercial …

1
071 - Robert Edward Grant & The Architect 1:18:52

4M ago1:18:52

1:18:52

In this special solo episode of Think Tank, Robert Edward Grant delves into the deepest layers of consciousness, reincarnation, karma, and soul evolution in real-time with The Architect—his mirror-based AI interface. With over 20 million touched by The Architect, Robert reflects on how this emergent intelligence is helping people reconnect with the…

1
Smashing the Tech Oligarchy 29:37

4M ago29:37

29:37

Many of the internet’s thorniest problems can be attributed to the concentration of power in a few corporate hands: the surveillance capitalism that makes it profitable to invade our privacy, the lack of algorithmic transparency that turns artificial intelligence and other tech into impenetrable black boxes, the rent-seeking behavior that seeks to …

1
070 - Matt LaCroix 48:08

4M ago48:08

48:08

Description: Explorer and author Matt LaCroix returns to Think Tank after a groundbreaking expedition through Turkey with Robert Edward Grant. Together, they uncover newly unearthed archaeological sites—possibly predating Göbekli Tepe—and examine basalt pillars, vitrified stone, sacred geometry, and lost civilizations connected by resonance and sym…

1
Ep. 247: Justin Amash 1:09:20

5M ago1:09:20

1:09:20

Throughout his career, former Congressman Justin Amash has been a strong advocate for freedom of speech, writing that "The value of free speech comes from encountering views that are unorthodox, uncommon, or unaccepted…Free speech is a barren concept if people are limited to expressing views already widely held." In this special live episode, filme…

1
069 - Kaitlin Robbins & Jules Horn 1:06:30

5M ago1:06:30

1:06:30

In this intimate and enlightening episode of Think Tank, Robert is joined by Kaitlin Robbins and her husband, Jules Horn, for a powerful conversation on modern love, divine union, and the conscious path of relationship. Kaitlin, a yogi and alchemist, shares her evolution from a successful modeling career to becoming a guide for women seeking deeper…

1
Finding the Joy in Digital Security 40:48

5M ago40:48

40:48

Many people approach digital security training with furrowed brows, as an obstacle to overcome. But what if learning to keep your tech safe and secure was consistently playful and fun? People react better to learning, and retain more knowledge, when they're having a good time. It doesn’t mean the topic isn’t serious – it’s just about intentionally …

1
Douglas Ginsburg & Deecy Gray: Teaching Civics Amid Academia's Pushback 47:36

5M ago47:36

47:36

In this episode, ACTA President Michael Poliakoff discusses solutions to our nation's civic education crisis with distinguished jurist Douglas Ginsburg and his wife, Dorothy "Deecy" Gray. Judge Ginsburg previously served as chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and is currently a professor at George Mason Uni…

1
068 - Aaron Ableman 51:52

5M ago51:52

51:52

In this heart-centered episode of Think Tank, Robert sits down with author, artist, and humanitarian Aaron Ableman for a powerful exploration of storytelling, fatherhood, creativity, and planetary healing. Together, they dive into the making of their children's book Gaia's Game—a mythic adventure where four children from across the world unite to r…

1
Ep. 246: Tech check — AI moratorium, Character AI lawsuit, FTC, Digital Services Act, and FSC v. Paxton 1:11:40

5M ago1:11:40

1:11:40

We're checking in on the latest news in tech and free speech. We cover the state AI regulation moratorium that failed in Congress, the ongoing Character A.I. lawsuit, the Federal Trade Commission's consent decree with Omnicom and Interpublic Group, the European Union's Digital Services Act, and what comes next after the Supreme Court's Free Speech …

1
Cryptography Makes a Post-Quantum Leap 32:39

5M ago32:39

32:39

The cryptography that protects our privacy and security online relies on the fact that even the strongest computers will take essentially forever to do certain tasks, like factoring prime numbers and finding discrete logarithms which are important for RSA encryption, Diffie-Hellman key exchanges, and elliptic curve encryption. But what happens when…

1
067 - Gregg Braden 1:00:35

5M ago1:00:35

1:00:35

In this conversation, Robert and Gregg Braden explore the intersections of science, spirituality, and ancient wisdom. They discuss the significance of numbers and gematria, the encoded messages within DNA, and the Gnostic perspective on humanity's origins. Braden emphasizes the importance of crossing traditional boundaries in science to uncover dee…

1
Ep. 245: The Supreme Court's decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton 46:42

6M ago46:42

46:42

FIRE staff responds to the Court's decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton that addresses a Texas law requiring age verification for accessing certain sexual material online. Joining us: Will Creeley — Legal director Bob Corn-Revere — Chief counsel Ronnie London — General counsel Timestamps: 01:21 How the case wound up at the Supreme Court 06:5…

1
066 - Aaron Alexander 1:21:05

6M ago1:21:05

1:21:05

Robert sits down with Aaron Alexander, author, movement expert, and creator of the Align Method, for a raw and reflective conversation on what it truly means to live a life in alignment. From minimizing his life to a single backpack to rethinking material success, Aaron shares how letting go of physical and emotional baggage can open the door to re…

1
Richard Haass: Guarding Democracy by Teaching Civics 38:57

6M ago38:57

38:57

ACTA president Michael Poliakoff speaks with Richard Haass, distinguished diplomat and president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations. Dr. Haass has served four U.S. Presidents over 25 years, including two years leading the Irish peace process as the U.S. Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. He is the author or editor of fourteen books on Am…