# Ep. 260: Remembering 'free-thinking' writer Nat Hentoff

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/so-to-speak-the-free-speech-podcast-705607/ep-260-remembering-free-thinking-writer-nat-hentoff
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/so-to-speak-the-free-speech-podcast-705607/ep-260-remembering-free-thinking-writer-nat-hentoff.md
Podcast: [So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/so-to-speak-the-free-speech-podcast-705607)
Published: 2025-12-19T16:16:00+00:00
Episode link: https://sotospeak.libsyn.com/ep-260-remembering-free-thinking-writer-nat-hentoff
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sotospeak/FC_DAVID_NICK_02.mp3?dest-id=601059
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/so-to-speak-the-free-speech-podcast-705607/episodes/ep-260-remembering-free-thinking-writer-nat-hentoff
Duration seconds: 3515

## Resource

On January 7, 2017, The Associated Press announced that "Free-thinking author and columnist Nat Hentoff is dead at 91." For well over 60 years, Hentoff was a one of America's foremost public intellectuals and a familiar byline to free speech advocates and jazz aficionados. The First Amendment was a way of life for Nat Hentoff. He would have been 100 years old this year. To reflect on his life and legacy, we are joined by his son Nick Hentoff and filmmaker David Lewis, whose 2013 documentary, " The Pleasures of Being Out of Step ," explored Nat Hentoff's embodiment of free expression as the defining characteristic of the individual. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:52 Who was Nat Hentoff 03:48 Nat's early life & influences 18:20 Jazz, writing, & finding his voice 31:24 Free speech as a way of being 35:15 Being out of step: Controversy, courage, and consequences 41:56 Rage, compassion, & moral clarity 51:53 Nat Hentoff's legacy of dissent 55:20 Outro Read the transcript here. Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today and get exclusive content like member webinars, special episodes, and more. If you became a FIRE Member through a donation to FIRE at thefire.org and would like access to Substack's paid subscriber podcast feed, please email sotospeak@thefire.org .

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## Transcript

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