The Centre for Free Expression Podcast

Centre for Free Expression
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Democracy is an ongoing public discussion about what is legitimate in our society — and what is not. That conversation doesn’t belong to any one group, and it cannot be settled once and for all. Democracy prospers when everyone has the right and opportunity to be informed and to participate in public discourse. Every two weeks, the Centre for Free Expression Podcast explores important questions people have about our society, their rights to be engaged, their opportunities to be informed, the challenges to these rights and opportunities, and how we can overcome those challenges.  For more information about us and the work we do visit our website: https://www.cfe.torontomu.ca Sign up for our newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/yc435tv9 FOLLOW US: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentreforFreeExpresssion Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/cfe_tmu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-free-expression Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cfe.tmu/

Episodes

  1. 5d ago

    "We can't teach a book with that word in it": Reflections on the role of literature in society

    When prominent Canadian novelist Lawrence Hill learned his award-winning The Book of Negroes had been banned from classrooms by the London District Catholic School Board because of its use of the N-word, he was deeply troubled. Join Lawrence Hill in his conversation with author and McGill University Canada Research Chair in Racial Inequality in Democratic Societies, Debra Thompson, exploring censorship and the role of literature in society. This conversation occurred on Feb. 5, 2025 and was co-sponsored by Edmonton Public Library, PEN Canada, The Writers’ Union of Canada, Toronto Public Library, and Vancouver Public Library.

    44 min

  2. May 19

    What does the Western media get wrong about the Middle East?

    In striving for balance and neutrality, does the Western mainstream media end up spreading misconceptions, myths and mistruths about the wars and conflicts in the Middle East? What are news consumers in the West missing about the war in Gaza, the turmoil in Lebanon, Syria, Afghanistan and elsewhere? How can we ensure better coverage of the raging conflicts that are shaping our world today?  Panelists: Hadeel Al-Shalchi (Editor, NPR’s Weekend Edition), Mohamad Bazzi (Director, Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies at New York University), Martin Lukacs (Managing Editor, The Breach), Ari Paul (Journalist, FAIR.org) Moderator: Julian Sher (Journalist, author & CFE Senior Fellow) This conversation occurred on October 16, 2025 and was co-sponsored by Canadian Association of Journalists and PEN Canada.

    1h 2m

  3. May 13

    Islamophobia on Canadian Campuses: Why and What to do?

    Islamophobia, like other forms of religious prejudice, racism and xenophobia, are everyday experiences on Canadian campuses despite efforts to eliminate it. Why does Islamophobia persist? What forms does it most commonly take on campus? What can be done to overcome it? Join a panel deeply engaged in eliminating Islamophobia as they explore these questions.  Panelists: Imam Yasin Dwyer (Executive Director, Muslim Chaplaincy of Toronto), Adel Iskandar (Associate Professor of Global Communication, School of Communication and Director, Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies, at Simon Fraser University), Maryam Laoufi (Advisor, Muslim Student Association at Concordia University), Basmah Ramadan (Student Advocacy Coordinator, National Council of Canadian Muslims; former President of the University of Toronto Muslim Students Association). Moderator: Amira Elghawaby (Canada’s former Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia) This conversation took place on May 5, 2026, and was co-sponsored by BCCLA, Muslim Employee Community Network, and PEN Canada.

    53 min

  4. May 5

    Can American Media Survive Trump and Billionaire Owners?

    The gutting of the Washington Post. Abrupt changes at CBS. Caving to extravagant but frivolous Trump lawsuits. Are some of the richest and most powerful corporate tycoons ruining American journalism — and will more takeovers make things even worse? Is democracy dying in broad daylight? Three frontline journalists look at the dangers and what lies ahead.  Tune in to this expert-led discussion with panelists Joe Davidson (Veteran former Washington Post columnist), Margaret Sullivan (Columnist for The Guardian US), and Max Tani (Journalist at Semafor), with moderator Julian Sher (Journalist, author & CFE Senior Fellow).  This conversation was co-sponsored by Canadian Association of Journalists, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, PEN Canada, and World Press Freedom Canada

    1h 2m
  • 4 Episodes

About

Democracy is an ongoing public discussion about what is legitimate in our society — and what is not. That conversation doesn’t belong to any one group, and it cannot be settled once and for all. Democracy prospers when everyone has the right and opportunity to be informed and to participate in public discourse. Every two weeks, the Centre for Free Expression Podcast explores important questions people have about our society, their rights to be engaged, their opportunities to be informed, the challenges to these rights and opportunities, and how we can overcome those challenges.  For more information about us and the work we do visit our website: https://www.cfe.torontomu.ca Sign up for our newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/yc435tv9 FOLLOW US: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentreforFreeExpresssion Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/cfe_tmu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-free-expression Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cfe.tmu/

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