“We surely live in the stupidest possible era of debate about free speech,” says Ian Dunt. When a key arbiter of free expression is the smirking tech bro who owns Twitter, he might be right. How did the right to express yourself freely get hijacked by reactionaries? Are progressives really a threat to freedom of speech?Dorian Lynskey and Ian delve back in time from the printing press and its early “paper bullets” via the surprisingly racy life of John Stuart Mill right up to the First Amendment of the US Constitution and our current panics over woke, hate speech and cancel culture. How did shouting “free speech” become an instant way to shut down debate?Support Origin Story to get extra episodes and more at https://www.patreon.com/originstorypod “If somebody tries to make their point about freedom of speech by using a cartoon on the internet, they’ve probably simplified it a bit.” – Dorian Lynskey “There is a choice not between order and liberty, it is between liberty with order and anarchy without either.” – Justice Robert H Jackson “The whole story of free speech is the story of doubt.” – Ian Dunt Reading ListFrom IanJacob Mchangama – Free Speech: A Global History From Socrates To Social MediaJohn Rees – The Leveller RevolutionJohn Stuart Milll – On LibertyThe Complete Works Of Harriet Taylor Mill – Editor Jo Ellen JacobsRichard Reeve – John Stuart Mill: Victorian FirebrandFrom DorianAnthony Lewis — Freedom for the Thought That We Hate: A Biography of the First AmendmentSuzanne Nossel — Dare to Speak: Defending Free Speech for AllNat Hentoff – Free Speech for Me But Not for Thee: How the American Left and Right Relentlessly Censor Each OtherStanley Fish — There’s No Such Thing as Free SpeechSamuel P Nelson — Beyond the First Amendment: The Politics of Free Speech and PluralismKarl Popper — The Open Society and Its EnemiesFlemming Rose — Tyranny of SilencePE Moskowitz — The Case Against Free SpeechRichard Delgado and Jean Stefancic — Must We Defend Nazis?: Why the First Amendment Should Not Protect Hate Speech and White SupremacyHenry Louis Gates Jr — Let Them TalkGeorge Orwell — Freedom of the ParkHerbert Marcuse — Repressive ToleranceWritten and presented by Dorian Lynskey and Ian Dunt. Audio production and music by Jade Bailey. Logo art by Mischa Welsh. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Origin Story is a Podmasters production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Author Dorian Lynskey discusses apocalyptic themes throughout history, from literature to movies, exploring societal fears and human psyche. He delves into the impact of the atomic bomb on science fiction and the evolution of the last man genre, highlighting the fascination with destruction and the end of the world.

Ian Dunt and Dorian Lynskey discuss the political nature of zombies, exploring their symbolism in relation to war, terrorism, capitalism, and disease. They trace the origins of the zombie term to Voodoo and its connection to Caribbean and Southern US folklore. The podcast also explores the evolution of zombie movies, George Romero's influence, and the themes they portray. The hosts delve into the significance of zombies in popular culture, examining their metaphorical representation of societal fears and frustrations. They conclude by discussing the changing interpretations of zombies throughout history.

Don't call them one-hit wonders. And don't you dare try to knock them down.This week, Rob's covering the career of the British anaracho-punks Chumbawamba, including their massive hit "Tubthumping," which took over the world for a spell in 1997. Later, Rob's joined by journalist and critic Dorian Lynskey to try to contextualize the hard-to-contextualize band.Preorder Rob's new book, 'Songs That Explain the '90s,' here:https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/rob-harvilla/songs-that-explain-the-90s/9781538759462/?lens=twelveGuest: Dorian LynskeyProducers: Kevin Pooler and Justin SaylesAdditional Production Support: Chloe Clark Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rob explores Britpop band Pulp’s signature anthem “Common People” by discussing the layers of class criticism in its lyrics and the exciting but combative Britpop moment of the ’90s.This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you get your music.Host: Rob HarvillaGuest: Dorian LynskeyProducers: Isaac Lee and Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices