Quote Originally Posted by bigsix View Post
Well Paul, unfortunately it is legal is a lot of states. It's amazing what employers are asking for these days before they hire you and/or promote you to certain positions, but that's how it is now. I also think that people get mixed up on what the first amendment is all about and what it protects against. Sure you can say what you want (not slandering), but what you say has consequences. For the most part, the first amendment protects us from retributions against speaking out against the government, not necessarily saying what you want and/or what you believe. So what what you say b/c there are plenty of examples of people being fired or disciplined for things they say, even though it's their own beliefs and/or personal opinions. Just my 2 cents worth.
I would say around 75% of all people living in the States misunderstand the first amendment. Everytime someone says something and gets fired/suspended from their high profile job (take the Duck Dynasty stuff for instance, or anytime a broadcaster gets caught speaking a controversial thought that becomes national headlines)... The first thing everyone says is... "First Amendment!"... "Free Country"... they have no idea that first amendment protects against a lot, but your employer is not one of them. No one is coming to arrest them for speaking out, but they sure will get suspended, fired, etc.

So sadly, the employer has every right to fire whoever they want in a lot of states for no reason at all. So... with that being said, podcast at your own risk. It makes it easier if this has become a full time job, then you only have to answer to yourself (or possibly advertisers if you say something that pisses them off), but overall anyone else is at risk.