Writer’s Voice: compelling conversations with authors who challenge, inspire, and inform
Episode Summary
Today, a double episode on press freedom under siege.
Investigative journalist and author Will Potter joins us to talk about Little Red Barns: Hiding the Truth, from Farm to Fable. It’s a powerful exposé of how the agriculture industry attacks journalism to hide the brutal reality of factory farming—and how far it goes to silence those who speak out.
“Environmental and animal rights movements are threatening not just because of what they do—but what they represent: empathy, solidarity, and a challenge to human exceptionalism.” — Will Potter
Then, we speak with Andy Lee Roth and Shaleigh Voitl of
Project Censored about the group’s annual yearbook
State of the Free Press 2025. We dive into the stories the corporate media ignored—from suppressing reporting on the climate catastrophe and on Gaza to nonprofit journalism in the crosshairs.
“In 2024, the U.S. ranked 55th in global press freedom. That’s a five-point drop.” — Shaleigh Voitl
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Key Words: Will Potter, Little Red Barns, ag-gag laws, factory farming, press freedom, Project Censored, State of the Free Press 2025, Andy Lee Roth, Shaleigh Voitl, Gaza protests, nonprofit journalism, white nationalism, animal rights, environmental activism, censorship laws,
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STATE OF THE FREE PRESS 2024,
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Segment 1: Will Potter on Little Red Barns
Will Potter explores the mythology of the “Little Red Barn” and how it shapes Americans’ understanding of food, farming, and identity. He reveals how this image is weaponized by agribusiness to reinforce consumer complacency while hiding systemic cruelty.
Potter outlines how
“ag-gag” laws—designed to criminalize undercover footage and whistleblowing—have spread globally and set a dangerous precedent for corporate censorship. He also unpacks the disturbing links between factory farming, white nationalist rhetoric, and authoritarian crackdowns on protest.
Through firsthand experience and personal reflection, Potter makes the case that food justice and press freedom are fundamentally intertwined.
Key Topics:
* The myth of the family farm and cultural indoctrination
