Braver Angels Monthly Conversation Explores the Meaning of Free Speech
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Asia Tabb
AIRED; October 3, 2025
Listen to the podcast to hear the full conversation.
On this month’s Braver Angels segment on The Spark, the focus was on a principle often discussed but not always fully understood: free speech. Host Asia Tabb was joined by Wilt Wilkinson, host of the conservative podcast Derate the Hate and national Braver Angels leader, and Ron Chadwell, a retired Pennsylvania attorney and local Braver Angels organizer.
For Wilkinson, free speech sits at the foundation of democracy. “Free speech is the First Amendment for a reason. Without it, we probably don’t have any of the others,” he said. “The idea of speaking freely, fully, and without fear is one of the core tenets of the Braver Angels way.”
Chadwell reflected on his own experiences, recalling a Vietnam-era high school protest where students wore black armbands in silent dissent. The episode connected directly to the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Tinker v. Des Moines. “When there’s unpopular speech, that’s the time to say, ‘I don’t agree with this person, but they have every right to speak their piece,’” Chadwell explained. “That’s very important. We all have to remember that.”
Both guests noted how polarization has fueled misunderstandings about what free speech allows. “People tend to think, if I don’t agree with that, is there some way I can shut this person up?” Chadwell said. He emphasized that while government can regulate the time, place, and manner of expression, “they can’t regulate the what.”
Braver Angels, Wilkinson added, provides a structured space where people can disagree without fear. “We are not going to attack personally the person for what they’re saying. We’re going to both speak, but more importantly, listen with courage,” he said. “We may not always find common ground, but we will at least understand more about why we each believe what we do.”
The monthly Braver Angels conversations on The Spark continue to highlight how civil dialogue can bridge divides — even on topics as foundational and contentious as free speech.
