FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 24, 2025
All episodes now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and MsMagazine.com.
Ms. magazine announces the launch of a new podcast under the Ms. Studios banner: Speaking Freely: A First Amendment Podcast with Stephen Rohde.
At a time in which freedom of expression, academic freedom, and freedom of the press are being challenged, this illuminating new series offers important content and context. Prominent First Amendment expert Stephen Rohde, who has litigated and written about freedom of expression for decades, explores some of the most controversial free speech and free press cases decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. The episodes cover hot-button issues like hate speech, defamation, incitement, social media, obscenity, flag burning, espionage and academic freedom. Each episode is introduced by Ms. Studios executive producer Dr. Michele Goodwin, a highly acclaimed constitutional law expert.
Head to MsMagazine.com/series/speaking-freely/ for full episodes, transcripts, further reading and ways to take action.
Meet Stephen Rohde: Host Stephen Rohde is a lawyer who practiced civil rights, civil liberties and intellectual property law for nearly 50 years. Today, as a writer, lecturer and political activist, he continues to advocate for justice, civil liberties, and human rights. Rohde is the past chair of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California; past national chair of Bend the Arc, a Jewish Partnership for Justice; a founder and chair of Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace; and more. He is the author of American Words of Freedom: The Words That Define Our Nation and Freedom of Assembly, and co-author of Foundations of Freedom, published by the Constitutional Rights Foundation.
He is a contributor to Los Angeles Review of Books, American Prospect, Los Angeles Times, Ms. Magazine, Los Angeles Lawyer, LA Progressive, Truthdig, the First Amendment Encyclopedia, and other publications. Rohde’s work on civil liberties and freedom of expression has been recognized by the ACLU, the American Bar Association and Bend the Arc. He received his bachelor of arts in political science from Northwestern University and his juris doctor from Columbia Law School.
About Ms. magazine: Co-founded by Gloria Steinem in 1971 and published by the Feminist Majority Foundation since 2001, Ms. magazine has been a trusted, popular source for feminist news and information in print and online for nearly 50 years. Ms.’s time-honored traditions of an emphasis on in-depth investigative reporting and feminist political analysis have never been more relevant, bringing a new generation of writers and readers together to share news, analysis, research and strategies for fighting back and moving forward, for shaping the future.
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If you would like more information on Speaking Freely, or to schedule an interview with Stephen Rohde, please email press@msmagazine.com.
