Fearless Speech (Foucault on Parrhesia)

Who, if anyone, is speaking truth to power these days?

In the Season 12 finale of Hotel Bar Sessions, we take a deep dive into Michel Foucault’s late lectures on parrhesia, the ancient Greek concept of "fearless speech." But don’t be fooled—this isn’t a dusty historical exercise. With campuses erupting in protest, free speech weaponized by the powerful, and truth-tellers increasingly under threat, parrhesia has never felt more urgent. What does it mean to speak truth to power today—and who is still brave enough to do it?

The HBS co-hosts unpack Foucault’s insights with characteristic wit and depth, drawing connections from Socrates to student protestors, from trans youth testifying in state legislatures to comedians canceled by the White House Correspondents’ Association. Is free speech still possible in a fractured political landscape? Can parrhesia survive in an age of rhetorical manipulation and moral cowardice? And what’s the difference between being “canceled” and actually being in danger?

This episode doesn’t just explain Foucault's concept of parrhesia—it performs it. If you’ve ever wondered whether truth-telling still matters in a time of disinformation, performative politics, and rising authoritarianism, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Tune in for our Season 12 send-off, and stick around to find out who we believe the real parrhesiastes are today.

Full episode notes available at this link:
https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-177-totalitarianism-with-peg-birmingham

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