The promise we make to you at The Free Press is simple: we produce honest, fiercely independent journalism—with the quality once expected from the legacy press, but the fearlessness of the new.
It’s hard to think of a project that better fulfills that mission than The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling.
Since we launched the podcast late last month, it’s reached a bunch of milestones, including the top five most-listened to podcasts in the U.S. on Apple and Spotify, and the No. 1 most listened to in Apple’s Society and Culture category.
But more than those metrics, we’re deeply gratified to see the conversation it’s inspired.
Since we dropped the first episode, the podcast has generated over 140 articles, including in The New York Times, Times of London Radio, NewsNation, BBC Radio 4, and everywhere else you can think of.
It’s also sparked good-faith debate among listeners the world over, from Australia to Zimbabwe—and even podcast clubs. (Speaking of. . . if anyone here decides to organize a podcast club, our host Megan Phelps-Roper is all ears!)
In a discussion that is so often surrounded by toxicity, Witch Trials is blazing a path for real engagement among people on all sides of the conversation.
Also, we took out some billboards in the American city that felt apropos. . .
The latest episodes of the show—TERF Wars (what is a TERF and why do so many despise them?); The Tweets (why did J.K. Rowling wade into the sex and gender firestorm?); and Natalie and Noah (in which transgender fans of Harry Potter share their criticism of J.K. Rowling)—speak directly to the most contentious subject in our culture: sex and gender.
You can binge the first six episodes now on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Or just click right here:
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Eat well—and stand with the American family farm. Visit: moinkbox.com/witchtrials.
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We have got to stop playing along with people’s psychopathologies. We have got to stop affirming untruths as though it’s compassionate. We don’t agree with anorectics that they are fat and need to keep dieting, or even have their intestines excised, do we? They have a body image dysphoria and need counseling. All these other versions of body image dysphoria are a symptom of a deeper problem. We also have kids identifying as having autism or some other psychological problem. Why? The situation is screaming at us. Our kids are messed up. They lack purpose and meaning, they need something to believe it. They don’t see anything. So they create something to give their lives meaning, to get attention and belong to a group.
JK Rowling is brave to push back, but she doesn’t go far enough. The trans movement has gone way too far now, into child mutilation and gaslighting of little kids. Enough.
This has quickly become one of my favorite podcast series. The interview with Natalie was another great episode. I think Natalie is an intelligent, caring, and articulate person, but her argument ultimately left me unconvinced. The final nail in the coffin for me was when she called on J. K. Rowling to leave her position of feeling hurt and victimization to try and consider the other side’s opinion. What’s truly astounding about this is it is exactly what the trans activist side refuses to do! I’ve listened to and considered their arguments, and Rowling has made it clear she’s done far more listening to the “other side” than any of the people cancelling her could claim to have done. They make the same vague statements toward victimization and justifications for silencing others every time. Stop with the talk of “responsibility that comes with your platform” (aka agree with us or be silent) and “we’re just fighting for the right to participate in society”. No, you’re wrong. Full stop. You are not being stopped from meaningfully participating in society in any way and are trying to impose your self-identity on everyone, with real-world consequences.
Megan is an excellent host and her compassion, patience, and understanding are truly commendable. Giving Natalie this platform to express the trans’ perspective was enlightening and an important step to giving the full picture on this complicated issue. I’ve expressed my doubt about the Free Press’ ability to reach an audience beyond conservatives and disaffected liberals, to reach the far left activists who most need to have a mirror held up in front of them. I think this podcast, and this episode in particular, could be the most effective attempt to do so thus far.