In this episode of Free to Speak, Dane is joined by University of Auckland academic David Cumin to unpack the free speech flashpoints that follow moments of national shock. 

They start with the Adelaide Writers’ Festival controversy - where Palestinian activist Randa Abdel-Fattah was disinvited, sparking a mass boycott - and dig into what “principled” free speech looks like when the same institutions have previously sidelined pro-Israel voices. 

From there, they examine how Australia rushed through new hate speech laws after the Bondi attack, why fast-tracked censorship powers often backfire, and how “hate speech” frameworks tend to become partisan tools rather than genuine protections. 

The conversation ranges across hypocrisy, public funding and cultural gatekeeping, the unintended consequences of criminalising speech, and why open debate remains the best antidote to extremism - even when the views in question are ugly.

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This first “board roundup” episode focuses on a bigger pattern: regulators trying to extend their reach into online speech and private life. 

The board unpacks the Broadcasting Standards Authority’s attempt to assert jurisdiction over internet live-streaming and podcasts (sparked by a complaint involving Sean Plunket), and what that would mean for alternative media and even ordinary people livestreaming online. 

They then turn to The Telecommunications Amendment Bill they argue quietly expands interception and regulatory powers in ways that could undermine encryption and build “censorship-by-infrastructure” with weak oversight. 

Finally, they discuss the Nursing Council’s proposed code of conduct and the Cath Simpson case as examples of professional regulators moving to punish lawful personal speech. 

With: Jillaine Heather, Ani O'Brien, Douglas Brown & Stephen Franks 

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Lawyer and Free Speech Union council member Douglas Brown joins the Free to Speak podcast to unpack the growing fight over who governs the internet - and why it matters for free expression in New Zealand. 

Using InternetNZ and its recent board election as a case study, Douglas and host Dane Giraud trace how internet governance decisions (often quietly) shape what can and can’t be said online, and why Western democracies are increasingly flirting with restrictions - from platform regulation to debates over bans on services like X.

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In part two of this Free Speech Union Podcast, we follow Giles Brant and Peter Hardy to the end of their legal battle with the New Zealand Law Society. From a single email complaint to landmark rulings in the High Court and Court of Appeal, this episode traces their fight for free speech within the legal profession. Listen as they reflect on the principles at stake, the reality of challenging powerful institutions, and what it means to stand for truth and justice under intense scrutiny. Part two of two.

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In this episode of the Free Speech Union Podcast, council member Thomas Newman sits down with lawyers Giles Brant and Peter Hardie to unpack a chilling story of professional scrutiny and the fight for free speech. Hear how a simple email exchange triggered a gruelling disciplinary process with the Law Society — and what their ordeal reveals about the state of professional regulation today. This conversation explores the balance between professional ethics, personal freedoms, and the ever-present threat of censorship. Essential listening for anyone interested in where free speech and professional standards collide. Part one of two.

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In this episode, Nick and Steph sit down with Shamubeel Eaqub—an economist, author, and commentator—to discuss the findings of his recent study on social cohesion. They explore the various trends and factors contributing to a rise in people feeling less connected, and how we might move forward through free speech.

For more information about Shamubeel, check out his website: www.eaqub.com.

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In this episode, Nick is joined by Eric Heinze, Professor of Law and Humanities at Queen Mary, University of London. A leading voice in legal philosophy, human rights, and the law-and-literature movement, Heinze unpacks the ideas in his latest book, Coming Clean: The Rise of Critical Theory and the Future of the Left. Together, they explore the intersections of free speech, critical theory, and the ongoing battles in today’s culture wars.

You can find more information about Eric at www.ericheinze.com

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Revisit Dr. James Lindsays talk from the Wellington event of his New Zealand tour with the Free Speech Union. Dr. Lindsay shares his thoughts, fears and concerns about the rising treats of “woke” on the right and the communist and socialist undertones driving woeness, cancel culture and various attacks on western liberal democracy. 

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Jacob Mchangama is the Founder and Executive Director of The Future of Free Speech, a research professor at Vanderbilt University, and a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). A valued friend of the FSU, he joins Nick in this episode to discuss his recent global survey on the state of free speech.

Learn more about Jacob’s work at futurefreespeech.org

The Global Survey can be found here: futurefreespeech.org/who-supports-free-speech-findings-from-a-global-survey

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In this episode of the Free Speech Union podcast, Nathan and Nick discuss free speech challenges. They unpack media coverage, police conduct around protest, and the role of churches in protests, while calling for balanced law enforcement and peaceful discourse amid rising tensions.

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