The Role of Heresy in the Challenge to the Establishment

I don't think there has existed any golden age of freedom or freedom of speech particularly. There have been good moments in history and badmajamins in terms of freedom and reason. But I try my best to not fall down the rabbit hole of nostalgia because I think if you're always chasing a golden age that existed in the past, you take your eye at the ball of the future. How do we improve society from where it currently is so that younger people in particular have a better, freer, more comfortable life?