Free Kiwis!

Jacob Mchangama is a lawyer, writer, and the founding Director of Justitia, a Copenhagen-based think tank. Has history, at least in the West, been a continual record of progress towards more and freeer speech? Or is the history of this ideal marked, rather, by constant setbacks, reversals, and even betrayals? And what might all this tell us about the prospects for free speech today? Jacob's b...

The New Zealand Free Speech Union recently released its first annual free speech ranking of the country's universities. We talked to the NZFSU's Chief Executive Jonathan Ayling about the report and about free speech at NZ universities more broadly. The full report: https://assets.nationbuilder.com/free... SHOW LESS

Elizabeth Rata is a professor in the School of Education and Social Work at the University of Auckland. We talked to her about the nature of science; her theory of 'neo-tribal capitalism'; and why 'partial loyalty' might be crucial to liberal democracy. Elizabeth's 2003 book A Political Economy of Neotribal Capitalism: https://www.booktopia.com.au/a-politi...

Michael, James, and two guests discuss distinguished Kiwi legal philosopher Jeremy Waldron's book The Harm in Hate Speech and his conception of hate speech as 'group libel.' Waldron, The Harm in Hate Speech: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.p...

Dr. Catherine Churchman is Lecturer in the Asian Studies Programme in the School of Languages and Cultures. We talked about the mysterious bronze drum culture; Chinese languages, both within and outside of China; and to what extent the CCP is impacting academic freedom in New Zealand. Catherine's book on the bronze drum culture: https://www.amazon.com/People-between... Salvatore Babones'...

Dane Giraud is a comedy writer with a background in performance (music and acting). He's also an active member both of the NZ Jewish community and of the NZ Free Speech Union. We talked to him about the government's proposed 'hate speech'  laws, the importance of free expression in the arts, and how things have changed since the days of Monty Python. Join the NZ Free Speech Uni...

Prof. Kendall Clements is a leading fish biologist who teaches at Auckland University. He has also contributed to the ongoing debate about science and mātauranga Māori (Māori traditional lore). We talked to him about his research, the nature of science, and academic freedom in New Zealand. The largest bacterium in the world: https://app.dimensions.ai/details/pub... The Listener letter (scroll down...

What do we mean by scientific truth? And how is it different to what we mean when we say a story rings true? Michael and James try to figure this out, touching on everything from mythology to neurons along the way. The Popperian podcast with Maarten Boudry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtHlNHQdoPo James on the Milesians: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjwaeoO0GZw&t=12s James on Heraclitus:...

In the inaugural episode of Free Kiwis!, recorded in August 2020, James asks Michael about his research into mental imaging, single-sex schools, and much more besides. 

In January 2021 we talked to the philosopher and commentator Dr. Jamie Whyte about the climate for free expression in universities, the past and future of ACT, and his vision of a 'libertarian populism.'

Michael and James discuss some of the complexities of free speech, and how it might be linked to both democracy and rationality.

We talk to NYU professor and academic psychologist Jonathan Haidt about safetyism, resilience, and the future of universities.