Topher Field - Good People Break Bad Laws: Civil Disobedience in the Modern Age

Shownotes and Transcript

On this episode of Hearts of Oak Podcast, we sit down with Topher Field, a prominent Australian libertarian commentator and activist. Topher shares his experience navigating the challenging landscape of media and activism during the COVID-19 lockdowns in Melbourne. He discusses the charges he faced for advocating peaceful protests against government actions and the importance of freedom of speech in the face of oppressive measures.
The interview delves into the impact of lockdowns on mental health and relationships, which fuelled Topher's increased activism. He provides a detailed account of the progression of protests in Melbourne, highlighting the power of grassroots movements in challenging authority. The conversation also touches on leaderless movements, accountability in COVID inquiries, and the need to resist oppressive policies.
Throughout the episode, Topher encourages listeners to question authority, uphold morality, and resist unjust laws and critiques the worship of government and the compliance of churches with oppressive regulations, advocating for spiritual autonomy and the purity of faith-based practices.

Over 15 years Topher Field has accumulated over 2 Million video views, over 150,000 regular followers, 14 film awards, 2 Libertarian awards, and released his first book in 2023.
But his proudest achievement is without doubt his two criminal charges for ‘Incitement’. During the world famous Melbourne Lockdowns Topher was awarded these charges by Victoria Police for encouraging people to exercise their Human Rights during the Covid era in 2021.
Topher is a renowned public speaker, interviewer, podcaster, writer, satirist, and champion of Human Rights.

Good People Break Bad Laws: Civil Disobedience in the Modern Age in paperback and e-book from Amazon amzn.eu/d/09MJazgR

Watch award winning 'Battleground Melbourne' battlegroundmelbourne.com

Connect with Topher...
WEBSITE topherfield.net
X/TWITTER x.com/TopherField
INSTAGRAM instagram.com/topherfield

Interview recorded 16.7.24

Connect with Hearts of Oak...
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WEBSITE heartsofoak.org/
PODCASTS heartsofoak.podbean.com/
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Transcript

(Hearts of Oak)

And I'm delighted to have someone from down under that I've seen the name quite a bit in my feeds over the last couple of years.

It's always great to talk to someone that you've watched from afar, and that's Topher Field. Topher, thank you so much for your time today.

(Topher Field)

Well, Peter, what a pleasure, and thank you for having me.

Not at all, it's great to have you on.

And obviously, people can follow you @TopherField on Twitter, and TopherField.net is your website.

And of course you're, I mean I've seen you on twitter quite a bit and whenever Sam Sobel connected us, and I thought I kind of recognized that name, because Topher is not a name that's very popular.

So, you're thinking that definitely sticks out but you're probably one of Australia's leading, I think most recognized libertarian political commentators.

And you've, it's it's your work in in the media and I know that's your background from when you were younger and now you've really made a name for yourself winning awards: libertarian awards.

Also that documentary Battleground Melbourne setting.

The madness that you faced there in Australia and author of Good People Break Bad Laws which is a fascinating topic.

I know we'll delve into that a little bit and loved, I think on your website you said that your proudest moment, proudest achievement is getting those incitements, those punishments for standing up against the COVID lockdown.

Not just punishments, criminal charges.

They chased me with criminal charges and tried to lock me away for two and a half years for the crime of encouraging people to exercise their human right to engage in peaceful political protest at a time when our government was violating human rights.

So yeah, that is honestly, that is my proudest achievement and, I hope never to have to repeat such a thing in my, in the future, but unfortunately you and I both know this fight is far from over.

Oh, absolutely.

Could I tell them, I mean, leading, leading up to that, what, you're also your, your background, I mean, you grew up with your dad being involved in media and your understanding a little bit about the business.

Some of us have been thrown into this and we've either sunk or swell or swum, but y...