So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast

On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, host Nico Perrino is joined by Richard Ovenden to discuss his new book, “Burning the Books: A History of the Deliberate Destruction of Knowledge.”Ovenden is the Director of the Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Balliol College. In 2019, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire. Show notes: Transcript 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

On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, we are joined by FIRE’s Robert Shibley and Adam Goldstein to discuss recent cases of censorship — and a case of racial segregation — on campus. Show notes: Teaching history not permitted: St. John’s bulldozes academic freedom, punishes professor for posing question about ‘Columbian Exchange’ Portland’s Lewis & Clark College mandates racial segregation in orientation programming Dear University of North Texas: The ‘Heckler’s veto’ is not a good thing University of Northern Iowa administration must correct its student government’s refusal to recognize ‘hate group’ Students for Life 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

On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, we are joined by Senior Circuit Judge Douglas H. Ginsburg for a masterclass on the history of the U.S. Constitution. Judge Ginsburg was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in 1986 and served as that court’s Chief Judge from 2001-2008. He is also a Professor of Law at George Mason University and the host of the new PBS television series about the U.S. Constitution, “A More or Less Perfect Union, A Personal Exploration by Judge Douglas Ginsburg.” Show notes: Transcript “A More or Less Perfect Union” is available via Amazon (Prime), the Free to Choose Network, and PBS. Judge Ginsburg recommended book: From Parchment to Power: How James Madison Used the Bill of Rights to Save the Constitution Judge Ginsburg in conversation with America’s founding fathers (video) New FIRE documentary, “Mighty Ira: A Civil Liberties Story,” now streaming via Amazon (Prime), iTunes, Google Play, and YouTube Movies. 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

Since 1980, the Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Awards have recognized those who go above and beyond to protect and enhance First Amendment rights. On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, we are joined by Christie Hefner, who founded and chairs the awards, to discuss the awards’ origins and this year’s awardees in the categories of law, book publishing, journalism, arts & entertainment, education, and lifetime achievement. From 1988 to 2008, Christie Hefner — daughter of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner — was Chairman and CEO of Playboy Enterprises, making her the longest-serving female CEO of a U.S. public company. For three years, she appeared on Forbes’ “100 Most Powerful Women” list. Show notes: Attend: 2020 Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Awards, Oct. 19 6 p.m. ET 2020 Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment awardees MightyIra.com (Ira Glasser documentary) “Rap on Trial: Race, Lyrics, and Guilt in America” (So to Speak podcast) Immigration Nation documentary 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

Watch-along as Co-Director Nico Perrino narrates the new documentary film about the life and career of former ACLU Executive Director Ira Glasser, “Mighty Ira: A Civil Liberties Story.” Show notes: MightyIra.com Watch Mighty Ira in virtual cinema through Angelika Film Center 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

Former ACLU Executive Director Ira Glasser discusses the new film about his life and career, “Mighty Ira: A Civil Liberties Story.”The film, now in “virtual cinema,” makes the case for robust free speech protections amidst the “tough” cases, including the 1978 Skokie case and Charlottesville. Along the way, viewers will also learn about Glasser’s growing up in Brooklyn, his friendship with William F. Buckley Jr., his path to the ACLU, which led through Senator Bobby Kennedy’s office, and more.A May 2017 So to Speak interview with Glasser was the inspiration for the Mighty Ira documentary, and this interview is a reflection on some of what has happened since. Show notes: Transcript MightyIra.com Watch Mighty Ira in virtual cinema through Angelika Film Center “Traveling Hopefully,” 1981 documentary about ACLU Founder Roger Baldwin “Inherit the Wind,” 1960 film about ACLU “Scopes monkey trial” case Watch-along episode as Co-Director Nico Perrino narrates Mighty Ira 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

On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, FIRE Senior Research Fellow Sean Stevens joins us to discuss the “2020 College Free Speech Rankings: What’s the Climate for Free Speech on America’s College Campuses?” The rankings are based on the largest free speech survey of college students ever performed, which collected the views of 20,000 students. We discuss the best and worst colleges for free speech and other interesting data points from the survey: For example, 31% of students don’t believe President Donald Trump should be allowed on campus to share his views. And 22% said the same of former Vice President Joe Biden. Show notes: Explore the rankings Read the report View the press release 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

He is most widely known for his role as lead attorney in what’s simply become known as “the Skokie case.”  But David Goldberger’s storied legal career goes far beyond his representation of neo-Nazis who wanted to rally in a village where a large number of Holocaust survivors lived. On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, we are joined by Goldberger to discuss his half century of practice in First Amendment law —  including his four (successful) trips to the U.S. Supreme Court. Show notes: Transcript Anew FIRE documentary film, “Mighty Ira: A Civil Liberties Story” (featuring David Goldberger) “The Skokie case: How I came to represent the free speech rights of Nazis” by David Goldberger Cutter v. Wilkinson (2005) McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission (1995) Capitol Square Review and Advisory Bd v. Pinette (1995) 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

On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, we are joined by FIRE’s Robert Shibley and Samantha Harris to discuss a whirlwind summer: FIRE has fielded a record number of requests for help, and this week the Department of Education’s much-anticipated new Title IX regulations go into effect. There’s also “cancel culture.” Show notes: FIRE’s recent cases “Law alone can’t protect free speech” by Greg Lukianoff and Adam Goldstein “In memoriam: Professor Mike Adams, 1964-2020” by Robert Shibley “What do you think of cancel culture?” by Nick Cave 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

Princeton Professor Peter Singer has been called “the world’s most influential living philosopher.” But he may be as controversial as he is influential.  It’s perhaps fitting then that he is a founding editor of a new academic publication called the Journal of Controversial Ideas. The journal claims to be the world’s “first open access, peer-reviewed interdisciplinary journal specifically created to promote free inquiry on controversial topics.” On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, we are joined by Professor Singer to discuss the journal, academic freedom, and his own personal brushes with controversy. A transcript of this episode can be found at this link. 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