Explore every episode of the podcast Software Freedom Podcast

Have you heard about this wonderful programming competition for teenagers from all over Europe? Haven't you? Join us to find out everything you need to know about "Youth Hacking 4 Freedom"! Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

Although 42 is the answer for everything we tried to get it into helping us to achieve digital sovereignty in the public infrastructure. However there is an answer out there: digital sovereignty is only possible by empowering people and, therefore public institutions, to control their technology and own infrastructure. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

Remember that from the 7 November until 8 November, the FSFE has been at the well known and established South Tyrol Free Software Conference (SFSCON) in Bozen / Bolzano? Together with more than 1,000 participants, the FSFE discussed the current topics in the Free Software ecosystem and had a special focus on the main topic of this year's SFSCON: Ethics. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

It took us some time but we are finally there: The Software Freedom Podcast episode is releasing its 40th episode! In this one Johannes and Bonnie talk about Openwashing. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

We are talking about the Cyber Resilience Act and the challenges, you, our community, and many others, pointed out. With our 39th episode Bonnie and Alex follow up on the questionnaire we put to you for the Cyber Resilience Act and present the key findings. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

During the debate on digital sovereignty, the term “software stack” started to float around. This term quickly started to fill up with different ideas, and a discussion about it took root. Follow Alex and Bonnie in this episode to learn more about Free Software Software stacks and their connection with public administration. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

Most of you have heard of the famous Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), a legislation introducing CE labels for digital products. In our latest episode of the Software Freedom Podcast Bonnie and Alex have a easy to follow conversation about the CRA and what will be happening next. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

In August 2025 the first part of the European Artificial Intelligence Act enters into force. For our 36th episode of the Software Freedom Podcast Bonnie and Alex break down the current discussion about it and shed light on the arguments. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

And we are back for our 35th episode of the Software Freedom Podcast with our monthly update on policy decisions, votes and discussions in the European Union! Together Bonnie Mehring and Alexander Sander talk about one specific policy topic in regard to Free Software. This month they sat down and covered the vote on the Tech sovereignty INI in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

Dive with us into the inner workings of the European Parliament and learn about their approach on technological sovereignty. In this 34th episode of the Software Freedom Podcast Alex and Bonnie discuss the current debate in the European Union and pay special attention to the current European technological sovereignty and digital infrastructure INI. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

Recently, the German coalition treaty from the CDU/CSU and SPD has been published with over 140 pages. In our latest episode Alexander Sander and Bonnie Mehring talk about the coalition treaty and break down the standing of Free Software in it. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

Have you ever used your personal router to connect to the internet? Recently we achieved a major win in Germany for Router Freedom. In this 32nd episode of the Software Freedom Podcast, Bonnie Mehring, Alexander Sander, and Lucas Lasota talk about Router Freedom and our work to protect freedom of choice regarding internet devices. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

In our 31st episode of the Software Freedom Podcast, Alexander Sander and Bonnie Mehring discuss the highlights of the two Devrooms that the FSFE co-organized during FOSDEM 2025: the 'Legal and Policy Issues DevRoom' and the 'Funding the FOSS Ecosystem DevRoom'. Find out more about the topics discussed there and tips about what to re-watch. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

At FOSDEM, Bonnie Mehring and Marc Prud'hommeaux met to talk about Marc's Free Software initiative, The App Fair Project. This project is a marketplace for all devices and especially also for iOS devices that only distributes Free Software applications. Its goal is to foster a more accessible and inclusive Free Software ecosystem. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

For our 29th episode we have something very special for you. Marta Andreoli, the Italian deputy coordinator, talks to Paolo Dongilli about the FUSS project. Together they unravel how FUSS is helping the schools in South Tyrol take a step towards software freedom. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

FOSDEM, Europe's largest Free Software conference, is just around the corner! In this episode of the Software Freedom Podcast, Bonnie Mehring and Alexander Sander discuss the two DevRooms organised by the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE). Learn all about the Legal and Policy Issues DevRoom and the Funding the FOSS Ecosystem DevRoom. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

Alexander Sander, the FSFE's Senior Policy Consultant, and Bonnie Mehring meet for their monthly update on the current policy topics. In this episode they talk about the Free Software hearing in the German Bundestag. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

Join this new episode of our Software Freedom podcast in which Bonnie Mehring and Alexander Sander discussing current topics affecting Free Software in the European Union. In this episode we focus on the 27 million euros cut of funding of the Next Generation Internet initiative (known as NGI). Alex and Bonnie shed some light on the history of this European project and share the newest developments in this case. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

For our 25th episode of the Software Freedom Podcast we are happy to welcome Hannes Mehnert, one of the MirageOS core developer. Matthias Kirschner, president of the FSFE, and Hannes talk about MirageOS. This episode gives an overview of everything from the basics to the future of MirageOS. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

Have there been any changes for Free Software in Europe or the USA in the last year? How is Free Software viewed by legislators? What can we do to support software freedom? Karen Sandler and Alexander Sander are active in the Free Software movement and share their views on the current status of Free Software in our society. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

These days are quite special, right? So is our Christmas Software Freedom Podcast episode! In this 23rd episode, the FSFE goes crazy and has fun playing a guessing game with terms related to Free Software. This is the perfect episode for you to learn more about your favourite type of software: Free Software! Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

In our 22nd Software Freedom Podcast episode, we talk with Johannes Näder, Senior Policy Project Manager at the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE), about "Public Money? Public Code!". Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

Listen to our new Software Freedom Podcast episode with Lina Ceballos. Lina and Bonnie talk about everything related to Free Software in European Politics. Learn more about Lina's work at the Free Software Foundation Europe and how political decisions come to pass in the EU. Discover how best to advocate for Free Software, and especially, what the Interoperable Europe Act is all about and why the Free Software communities need to be on the lookout for the protection of software freedom. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

Join us for the 20th episode of the Software Freedom Podcast, where Bonnie Mehring and Lucas Lasota discuss Device Neutrality and Router Freedom. They cover the concepts and fundamentals of these initiatives and explain why end-users should have control over their devices. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

For this episode Bonnie Mehring met with Karen Sandler to talk about her relationship with Free Software. Karen depends on a medical device to keep her heart working. This led her to become an advocate for Free Software in medical devices. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

A cryptographer and privacy specialist Amandine Jambert, a.k.a. Cryptie, is our guest in the 18th Software Freedom Podcast episode. With her experience, Cryptie is the perfect person to tackle some basics about Security in Free Software. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

In this 17th episode of the Software Freedom Podcast Matthias Kirschner and Petter Joelson uncover how Free Software can be a tool for citizens to actively participate in their local community. Petter invites you into the world of Decidim and explains what citizen participation should look like. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

In this episode of the Software Freedom Podcast, Bonnie Mehring speaks with Hugo Roy about his long involvement with the FSFE. Hugo is also very active in the French Free Software community and gives us an overview of the standing of Free Software in France. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

In November 2021 the FSFE has launched the new campaign "Upcycling Android". If you haven't already upcycled your phone or you are curious to learn more about the campaign listen to our new Software Freedom Podcast episode with the campaigns manager Erik Albers. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

With this episode the Software Freedom Podcast opens the door to the fascinating and sometimes complex world of mesh networking. And who better than Elektra Wagenrad can take us on this journey? Elektra is one of the original developers of the B.A.T.M.A.N. protocol and of the Mesh Potato project. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

The upcoming "I Love Free Software Day" will focus on Free Software Games. One of the most famous Free Software games is "0 A.D.: Empires Ascendant". In this episode Bonnie Mehring talks with Stanislas Dolcini, the project leader of 0 A.D., about the game itself, the project, and how the game became Free Software. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

With our 12th episode of the Software Freedom Podcast we dig into the history and the beginning of enforcing Free Software licences, especially the GNU General Public License (GNU GPL). Together with Till Jaeger, who has been working alongside Harald Welte for enforcing the GNU GPL in the first court cases in Germany, we talk about the long way we have come since those early days. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

Max Mehl and Bonnie Mehring talk about the REUSE initiative and the newly launched REUSE Booster programme. This 11th episode of the Software Freedom Podcast is the perfect match for you if you are interested in Free Software licensing and curious about how REUSE and its tools make that easier for developers and users. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

In our 10th episode of the Software Freedom Podcast we talk with Elisa Lindinger from Superrr Lab. Together we discuss problems faced by Free Software projects and how to tackle them. In a broader frame we discover what would be needed for a more sustainable digital infrastructure and talk about the work Elisa does for this aim. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

For this episode of the Software Freedom Podcast we talk about the background of the "I Love Free Software Day" and how it all began 11 years ago. Discover together with Bonnie Mehring why Free Software developers, advocates, activists and contributors think this special day is so important for Free Software. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

In this Software Freedom Podcast episode Bonnie Mehring and Matthias Kirschner talk about the monetary costs of Free Software. On the example of a conversation Bonnie had with her mother, both discover ways of explaining the world of Free Software and how to answer common questions and misunderstandings about software freedom. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

For the seventh episode of our Software Freedom Podcast we talk with Vincent Lequertier about transparency, fairness, and accessibility as crucial criteria for artificial intelligence (AI) and why it is important for our society to release AI software under a Free Software license. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

We invited Miriam Ballhausen to talk with us about copyright enforcement. She is a German lawyer who focuses on software, data protection, copyright law and specifically Free Software copyright. This is the sixth regular episode of the Software Freedom Podcast for which we invite experts from our community. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

For our Software Freedom Podcast we talk with people who have inspiring ideas about software freedom. In this special episode, we talk with Dr. Luis Falcón and Dr. Axel Braun about the Free health and hospital information system GNU Health. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

For our Software Freedom Podcast we talk with people who have inspiring ideas about software freedom. In this episode, we talk with Professor Lawrence Lessig, founder of Creative Commons, about regulation of society, offline as well as online, about the different means of regulation, and shed light on regulations through code. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

In the monthly Software Freedom Podcast we talk with people who have inspiring ideas about software freedom. In this episode, we talk with Carmen Bianca Bakker about the REUSE project. By this we are covering the very broad topic of software licensing and the problems there, which REUSE is able to solve with three simple steps. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

Once a month, we talk with people who have inspiring ideas about software freedom. In this third episode, our guest is Harald Welte, Free Software programmer and activist. Harald discusses with us his current projects regarding mobile phone communication and the general status of Free Software in this area. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

We are back with the second episode of our Software Freedom Podcast! Once a month, we talk with people who have inspiring ideas about software freedom. In this episode, we talk with Lydia Pintscher from KDE about the development of the KDE community, the different KDE projects and the issues they will be tackling over the next two years. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

We have a Podcast! Starting with this episode, we will talk once a month with people who have inspiring ideas about software freedom. In our first episode of our Software Freedom Podcast, we address the issue of Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) together with Cory Doctorow, a British-Canadian writer, political activist, and co-editor of the blog boingboing.net. Cory Doctorow is a prominent supporter of software freedom and a less restrictive copyright law. His books are published under Creative Commons licenses. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast