Advertise on podcast: Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning

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★★★★☆

4.1

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Free State is a podcast for the curious that stimulates, provokes, challenges and entertains, while never taking itself too seriously. Free State covers topics from sport to politics, love to loss, the human condition and how to fix the world, with guests from across the planet including Nigerian princes, former Prime Ministers, ex convicts, footballers, boxers and extraordinary people from every walk of life. Free State is presented by Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning. Brolly is a barrister, an original thinker with a fascinating backstory, who donated a kidney to a stranger and then led a crusade to transform organ donation on the island of Ireland, and Fanning is an award-winning interviewer and author. They are not motivational gurus or life coaches. They will never try to sell you a penis scented candle. They are two people from very different worlds, with one core belief uniting them - this is not a high performance podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Check latest episodes from Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning podcast

Thoughts and Prayers. Why Ireland WILL play Israel.

2026/02/17

When the Irish football team was drawn against Israel last week, many people in Ireland immediately hoped the game wouldn’t happen. Instead as the days have passed, the game seems more likely not less. On Free State today we look at what has stopped Israel being banned from sport while Russia have been. Dion wonders what a boycott would achieve and explains how Uefa and Fifa have failed to act. Joe disagrees and calls on the Ireland team to represent the Irish people and take a stand. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How the CIA really operates with David McCloskey

2026/02/14

David McCloskey says he was once a clandestine journalist. Another way of putting it is that he once worked for the CIA. McCloskey is now a spy novelist. His first book took readers inside the CIA, now he is exploring Mossad, Israel and Iran in his new novel The Persian. On Free State, he talks about the shadow war between Israel and Iran. He explains what has happened to agencies like the CIA under Trump and why as more true Trump believers are appointed, the demand is not for truthful intelligence. They do not just believe what they see, they only see what they believe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Democracy Dies in Darkness - Trump’s dismantling of the US media

2026/02/12

‘Doors open at the Watergate’. Those words in June 1972 signalled a break in at the Democratic National Committee in the Watergate Building. They were picked up on a police scanner by a reporter at the Washington Post. They began a chain of events which would eventually bring down a president. Last week the paper of Woodward and Bernstein, of Ben Bradlee and publisher Katharine Graham, laid off a third of its staff. The paper that stood up to the White House and took down a president now has an owner in Jeff Bezos who can’t do enough to be a supplicant. On Free State today we look at how democracy dies in the darkness. We explore how history has a lesson for what happens when oligarchs and authoritarians come together and why it isn’t only democracy that ultimately dies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Derry or Londonderry? The DUP’s doomed war on reality.

2026/02/10

When Gregory Campbell approached President Connolly in Derry last week, what was the purpose of his intervention? Was he trying to make a good faith case for Protestant and unionist people in Derry or was he just throwing some red meat to his base? On Free State today Dion and Joe look at the life and times of Gregory Campbell. Dion and Joe argue about the merits of his argument and whether who is saying it matters. Joe explains how progressive unionism has been denied oxygen while Dion offers Gregory Campbell an invitation to come dance with him in Ireland - or at least south Dublin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Sacred Vows

2026/02/07

In Ireland, we like to think that the class system is something that dominates Britain. But it shapes this country too. RTE’s new comedy drama These Sacred Vows is a series which challenges what we believe about class, identity and religion in Ireland in 2026. On Free State today, the show’s creator John Butler talks about what he wanted to say in the series about the middle class, the priesthood and homosexuality. He explains how he was only now able to write comfortably as a gay man about Ireland and he talks with Dion about their own school days and the oppressive culture of the time. They also consider the new conformity. They wonder what has really changed and ask what it tells us about the country when the religion of old has now been replaced with saunas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Mandelson and Epstein’s island. The spider in the elites’ global web

2026/02/05

In the House of Commons, Keir Starmer said that Peter Mandelson had ‘betrayed our country, our parliament and my party’. But what was that betrayal and who was actually complicit? On Free State today we look at the rise and fall of Peter Mandelson. We explain why the election of a football mascot monkey as mayor in Hartlepool was an early sign of who Mandelson was. We explain how Mandelson worked to undermine Jeremy Corbyn and advance a corporate agenda where New Labour would be ‘intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich’. We also examine the link between Starmer’s right hand man Cork’s Morgan McSweeney and Mandelson. In the House of Commons Starmer said ‘if I knew then what I know now, Mandelson would never have been anywhere near government.’ We show how it was impossible not to know who Peter Mandelson was. Only more details have been revealed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Melania documentary. A lesson in presidential bribery

2026/02/03

‘If they showed this film on a plane, people would still walk out.’ As Melania, the documentary about the US First Lady, opened at the weekend, this line seemed to capture the feelings of critics. But, like so many things in Trumpland, even this line of criticism may not be all that it appears. On Free State today Dion and Joe look at what the Melania documentary tells us about the court of Donald Trump. Amazon has invested $75 million in the documentary, money they will never get back, at least not through the box office. But what is really at play here? A movie that is panned by the critics is not the story. A movie that flatters the sun king Trump and enriches his family has other advantages. This is how America works. The question is how will anyone stop it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Oborne - ‘Trump’s Board of Peace is a Board of War'

2026/01/31

In the Orwellian world we now live in, gaslighting is now standard. When Donald Trump creates a Board of Peace, we know that where it says one thing, the opposite is the truth. On Free State today Peter Oborne joins us to talk about how we reached this point in the Middle East. Peter’s new book Complicit looks at Britain’s role in sustaining the genocide in Gaza and why there might be consequences. He explains why the U.K. is moving from democracy to oligarchy. He also tells Dion about a book he has just finished on cricket. You can order his book here - COMPLICIT: Britain's Role in the Destruction of Gaza | Peter Oborne | OR Books. Email us your thoughts on the episode [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Allianz’s National Football League, Trump’s World Cup and the silencing of sporting integrity

2026/01/29

When the president of the German football club St Pauli said it was "clearly time to at least discuss a boycott" of the World Cup in the US this summer, he was quickly reminded of his station. "He hasn't been with us long," the president of the German football federation said. The idea of a boycott was completely "misguided" he said.But why? On Free State today, Joe and Dion look at why the World cup could be boycotted and, more importantly, why it won't.When FIFA created a peace prize, did they think about what would happen if they entered the peace business? Did they reflect that people might seriously ask them to consider peace, especially in a country which is going to war on everyone including its own people? They also look at Allianz's ongoing sponsorship of the National Football League and wonder why the protests have been so muted? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ICE Cold in America: The Execution of Alex Pretti

2026/01/27

“We have all seen the video and our eyes don’t lie,” a friend of Alex Pretti said in the aftermath of Pretti’s murder. He was speaking as Donald Trump’s administration advanced a lie, undeterred by what people had seen in the video which dismantled the story spun by ICE and their protectors. On Free State today, Joe and Dion look at the rise of authoritarianism in America and what comes next. As ICE rampage as the Black and Tans once did in Ireland, they also look at the money that is going to ICE and who has benefited. As people in Minnesota protest, what is the end goal for Trump and his goons? When people take to the streets will Trump step back or is this a deliberate step towards an American dictatorship. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

2026/01/24

What would it mean to be free of financial insecurity? Why does money scare us so much? On Free State today money expert Eoin McGee talks about how we can achieve financial freedom and faces one of his greatest challenges: Dion’s attitude to money. In doing so, he talks about things far more profound than money. What do we really want from life and Dion explains why your wedding day is not the best day of your life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump backs down on Greenland and is Tony Blair the world’s worst person?

2026/01/22

When Donald Trump backed down on Greenland, he tried to make it sound like a victory. But what caused him to cave? Western leaders have tried to placate Trump and continued this approach at Davos until Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney laid out the truth about the world today. ‘The strong can do what they can, and the weak must suffer what they must,’ he said quoting Thucydides. This is the reality of the world and somebody naming it shook Trump. On Free State today we look at where he goes next and how Tony Blair remains part of the Gaza Peace Board. We look at Blair’s journey to the heart of power and wealth. Dion and Joe disagree on what drove him to this. Joe outlines how Blair moved closer to Israel during his time in power and why he has always sided with the strong while the weak suffer what they must. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump renounces pacifism and invites Putin to Gaza Board of Peace

2026/01/20

When the Senegal team walked off the pitch in the last seconds of the AFCON final, were we witnessing a moment of brave resistance or gamesmanship? Was this a stand against the technology which is destroying sport or a stroke? On Free State today we ask if injustice has to be part of sport? Joe makes his case for video evidence in Gaelic football. Joe and Dion also look at Trump’s determination to land the biggest real estate deal in American history as he pursues Greenland. Is this a negotiation or the actions of a narcissist? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'The two things DJ Carey looked for were attention and money’

2026/01/17

What drove DJ Carey? What did he believe of the fraud and deception that ended up with him being sent to prison? And as he faces life as a social pariah, what does he think today of his crimes? On Free State today Eimear Ni Bhraonain, author of The Dodger, the bestselling book about DJ Carey looks at what drove one of Ireland’s greatest sportsmen. She considers the childhood of excellence and isolation and what removed DJ Carey from the world around him and sent him into the field of deception and fraud. She looks at how DJ might redeem himself and considers the question that even asking makes some people angry: Is it ok to feel sorry for DJ Carey? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann - the musical wing of the IRA

2026/01/15

In August Belfast will host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. More than half a million people will visit the city from around the world for the festival which is a global event. Last year nearly a million people attended the Fleadh in Wexford. But be warned. All this music and culture is not what it appears. A DUP councillor has warned that a spin off event in Bangor has potential to cause ‘ill feeling’ because it takes place on the same day as the Ulster Championships for Pipe Bands. On Free State today Joe and Dion look at how a strand of unionism sees everything as a zero sum game. But it’s a game they are losing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Podcast reviews

Read Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning podcast reviews

4.1 out of 5

50 reviews

★★★★☆

Laggffy 2023/12/07

Good, bu-

Love the podcast, both hosts have insightful and thought-provoking things to say. For that reason, wish Joe didn’t roll over Dion so often

★★★★★

Outside knockmore man 2025/06/16

Tone it back Joe

The Saturday podcasts with Dion only are a joy the Roddy Doyle episode was excellent The weekday podcast are almost unlistenable as Joe just ramrods...

★★★☆☆

Toffee4Life 2025/06/11

Let Dion Speak

I did enjoy the show. I enjoyed the topics. We all know the knowledge and strong opinions joe Brolly has on matters but his reluctance to let Dion spe...

★★★★★

You talkin to me.. 2024/07/21

End of Unionism

Joe nobody is asking when is the English Government going to put Unionist out of their misery and tell them the game is up, that they can no longer s...

★☆☆☆☆

Gero11:11 2023/12/19

Out of touch with reality

The two lads are so far removed from what's going on in the real world it's a little frightening. Joe, a once prominent Irish sportsperson, demonstra...

★★★★☆

fpscully 2023/08/08

Free State

Good listen but really should be named the Dion Fanning tries to get a word in edgewise podcast!

★☆☆☆☆

Gruffindoooor 2023/10/24

It’s Bleak

Just call it Joes Soapbox. Had to stop listening . Bleak . Everything bleak . Joe seems to be of opinion he is the deciding authority on all matters ....

★★★★★

Eamo1236 2023/10/16

Free State

This podcast about Norin Ireland, Southern Ireland USA breath of fresh air. Honest, no holds barred gets at the truth and the difficulties people of b...

★☆☆☆☆

s37erasmus 2023/09/28

Joe, can you ever let Dion speak?

And the few times he does speak, can you ever acknowledge when he’s made a good point? I don’t think he’s content to be there as just your straight m...

★★★★★

Catalpa Dutch Courage 2023/08/22

Great Listen

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed everywhere that Dion and Joe have taken me. Highly recommended!!!

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