So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 98 'The First Amendment in the Trump Era' w/ Professor Timothy Zick Nov 14, 2019

Show notes

On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, we are joined by William & Mary Law School Professor Timothy Zick to discuss his new book, "The First Amendment in the Trump Era."

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Ep. 97 There's no such thing as free speech, argues Stanley Fish Oct 31, 2019

Show notes

Does free speech exist?

According to Cardozo Law Professor Stanley Fish, it does not.

On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, we dig into what the colorful professor means by this assertion and discuss his forthcoming book, "The First: How to Think About Hate Speech, Campus Speech, Religious Speech, Fake News, Post-Truth, and Donald Trump."

Show notes:

Podcast transcript
"There's No Such Thing As Free Speech: And It's a Good Thing, Too" by Stanley Fish
"Areopagitica" by John Milton
"Leviathan" by Thomas Hobbes
New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)
"Absence of Malice" (1981) movie
"Inherit the Wind" (1960) movie
"The Structure of Scientific Revolutions" by Thomas S. Kuhn
"In defense of the NBA: The league has every right to come down hard on critics of China who work for it" by Stanley Fish

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Ep. 96 Who was Hayden C. Covington? Oct 17, 2019

Show notes

He brought 45 First Amendment cases to the United States Supreme Court between 1939 and 1955. His success rate before the court was second only to future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. He handled as many as 50 major cases a year and is responsible for much of the First Amendment doctrine we take for granted today. Who was this man — and why have most free speech scholars and activists never heard of him?

On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, we discuss the life and legacy of Hayden C. Covington, who for many years was legal counsel for the Jehovah's Witnesses. We are joined by distinguished First Amendment scholar and recurring So to Speak guest Ronald K.L. Collins. Collins is the author of the Florida International University Law Review article "Thoughts on Hayden C. Covington and the Paucity of Litigation Scholarship."

Show notes:

Podcast transcript
Video of podcast interview
"Thoughts on Hayden C. Covington and the Paucity of Litigation Scholarship" by Ronald K.L. Collins
Cases discussed: Minersville School District v. Gobitis (1940), Chaplinksy v. New Hampshire (1942), West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943), Virginia State Board of Pharmacy v. Virginia Citizens Consumer Council (1976)
Ronald K.L. Collins' First Amendment News
"First Things First: A Modern Coursebook on Free Speech Fundamentals" by Ronald K.L. Collins, Will Creeley, and David Hudson (managing editor, Jackie Farmer)
"We Must Not Be Afraid to Be Free: Stories of Free Expression in America" by Ronald K.L Collins & Sam Chaltain

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Ep. 95 Twenty years of FIRE with co-founder Harvey Silverglate Oct 03, 2019

Show notes

In 1999, criminal defense attorney Harvey Silverglate joined with University of Pennsylvania Professor Alan Charles Kors to found the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.

On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, we connect with Silverglate at his office in Cambridge, Mass. to discuss FIRE's founding, the origins of his interest in campus civil liberties, and what he sees for his creation's future.

Join FIRE in celebrating our 20th anniversary in New York City on Oct. 24. The event will feature a keynote address from author Salman Rushdie.

Show notes:

Podcast transcript
Short, FIRE-produced documentary about Harvey Silverglate
"The Shadow University: The Betrayal of Liberty on America's Campuses" by Alan Charles Kors and Harvey Silverglate
"Three Felonies A Day: How the Feds Target the Innocent" by Harvey Silverglate

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Ep. 94 Kevin Williamson's 'The Smallest Minority' Sep 16, 2019

Show notes

On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, journalist Kevin Williamson joins us to discuss his new book, "The Smallest Minority: Independent Thinking in the Age of Mob Politics."

Williamson is the roving correspondent for National Review and co-host of the podcast Mad Dogs & Englishmen.

Show notes:

Podcast transcript
"When the Twitter Mob Came for Me" by Kevin Williamson
FIRE's High School Curriculum
FIRE's Free Speech Essay Contest

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Ep. 93 'Coddling' one year later Sep 05, 2019

Show notes

One year ago this week, "The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure" was published.

On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, we sit down with FIRE President & CEO Greg Lukianoff, who co-authored the book with Jonathan Haidt, to reflect on what's changed — or hasn't changed — in the intervening year.

Show notes:

TheCoddling.com
"College suggests students respond to 'offensive' language with 'ouch!'"
Media coverage of Greg's talk in Italy (in Italian)
"Five ways university presidents can prove their commitment to free speech" by Greg Lukianoff
Study: "The Hidden Tribes of America"
Documentary: "Can We Take a Joke?"

Greg's book references/recommendations:

"Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis" by Robert Putnam
"Love, Money & Parenting" by Matthias Doepke and Fabrizio Zilibotti
"Achtung Baby" by Sara Zaske
"So You've Been Publicly Shamed" by Jon Ronson

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Ep. 92 Free speech, privacy, and President Trump's Twitter account w/ Alex Abdo Aug 22, 2019

Show notes

On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, we are joined by Knight First Amendment Institute Litigation Director Alex Abdo to discuss free speech, privacy, and President Donald Trump's Twitter account.

Show notes:

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Ep. 91 'The Grievance Studies Affair' Aug 08, 2019

Show notes

Last fall, three writers and scholars announced they had submitted 20 fake papers to academic journals to test whether — as they suspected — certain fields of study lacked scientific and academic rigor.

Of the 20 papers they submitted before revealing their hoax, seven were accepted, four published, seven were "still in play," and six were retired. The result is what's become known as the "Grievance Studies Affair."

But what does their experiment prove, exactly?

On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, we put this question directly to Jim Lindsay, Helen Pluckrose, and Peter Boghossian, who authored the controversial papers.

Show notes:

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Ep. 90 'David French-ism' Jul 24, 2019

Show notes

National Review senior writer and former FIRE President David French has become an "-ism."

On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, French joins us to discuss "David French-ism" and "the battle dividing conservatives" over civil liberties.

Also joining us is FIRE's current President & CEO Greg Lukianoff, author of The New York Times bestseller "The Coddling of the American Mind," due out in paperback on Aug. 20.

Show notes:

Podcast transcript
Podcast video
"Against David French-ism" by Sohrab Ahmari
"In defense of French-ism" by David French
"Against conservative cultural defeatism" by David French
"How free speech died on campus" by Sohrab Ahmari
Greg's book recommendations: "The Shadow University" by Alan Kors and Harvey Silverglate, "Mere civility" by Teresa Bejan, "The Hollow Men" by Charles Sykes

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Ep. 89 Prof. Samuel Abrams wrote an op-ed encouraging viewpoint diversity. Then came the fallout. Jul 11, 2019

Show notes

His office door was vandalized. He was accused of causing "harm" to his "college community." There was even a demand — supported by dozens of his faculty peers — to review his tenure.Why? Because he wrote an op-ed in The New York Times arguing for more viewpoint diversity at his campus.

On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, Sarah Lawrence College professor Samuel Abrams joins us to discuss the response to his op-ed and the future of academic freedom, viewpoint diversity, and the role of faculty in college life.Also joining us is FIRE President & CEO Greg Lukianoff, author of The New York Times bestseller "The Coddling of the American Mind," due out in paperback edition on Aug. 20.

Show notes:

www.sotospeakpodcast.com Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/freespeechtalk Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sotospeakpodcast Email us: sotospeak@thefire.org

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