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Academy of Ideas

academyofideas
Labour Party
Brexit
Diversity
Football Governance Bill
Assisted Dying Bill
Premier League
Identity Politics
Free Speech
Uk-Eu Relations
Social Media
Online Safety Bill
Censorship
Equality Act
Antisemitism
VAR
Diversity and Inclusion
Multiculturalism
United Kingdom
Children's Mental Health
Algorithm Regulation

The Academy of Ideas has been organising public debates to challenge contemporary knee-jerk orthodoxies since 2000. Subscribe to our channel for recordings of our live conferences, discussions and salons, and find out more at www.academyofideas.org.uk

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes412Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsArtsPoliticsBooks

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Artwork for Academy of Ideas

Latest Episodes

Recorded at the Battle of Ideas festival 2025 on Sunday 19 October at Church House, Westminster.

ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION

‘I have the feeling that this competition is going to be as important, if not more important, than the Champions League’, said Ch... more

Recorded at the Battle of Ideas festival 2025 on Saturday 18 October at Church House and the Abbey Centre, Westminster.

ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION

Jane Austen turns 250 this year, prompting the question: is one of the world’s greatest female novelists s... more

Lots of people are converting to Christianity and, across the country, church attendance is increasing. While the numbers vary, one survey shows the number of people attending church at least once a month is up from eight per cent in 2018 to 12 per c... more

Recorded at the Battle of Ideas festival 2025 on Saturday 18 October at Church House and the Abbey Centre, Westminster.

ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION

Genocide, Holocaust, Never Again. Phrases that once conjured up only one image: the Nazis’ systematic atte... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Hilary Salt
Actuary STP member and Season Ticket Holder at Old Trafford
Academy of Ideas
Episode: World Cup Podcast of Ideas: episode 1
Paul Finch
Originator and program director of the World Architecture Festival
World Architecture Festival
Episode: Rebuilding Britain: the infrastructure crisis
Christopher Worrall
Industry fellow at Onward, housing and planning focus
Onward
Episode: Rebuilding Britain: the infrastructure crisis
Ben Flatman
Architectural editor of Building Design Magazine
Building Design Magazine
Episode: Rebuilding Britain: the infrastructure crisis
Shelagh McNerney
Head of regeneration for Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council
Episode: Rebuilding Britain: the infrastructure crisis
Stephen Balloch
Chair of the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party
Episode: Rebuilding Britain: the infrastructure crisis
Tim Samuels
Award-winning documentary filmmaker, broadcaster, and author
BBC, National Geographic TV, Free Press
Episode: Racial grievance politics: how did we become so divided?
Sonya Douglas
Artist and poet focusing on women's rights and free speech
Dont Divide Us
Episode: Racial grievance politics: how did we become so divided?
Albie Amankona
Broadcaster, financial analyst
BBC, Times Radio, LBC; GB News contributor
Episode: Racial grievance politics: how did we become so divided?

Hosts

Rob Lyons
Host of the World Cup Podcast discussion; Economy forum host; convolver for the Academy of Ideas
Claire Fox
Host of sessions; Director of the Academy of Ideas; prominent public commentator

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 67 ratings
  • Breath of Fresh Air

    In a world of extreme views and vicious personal attacks Claire Fox and the Academy of Ideas is a refuge where decency and intellectual enquiry prevail.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jeffdaleshaw
    South Africa2 years ago
  • Hit and miss

    Occasionally some interesting debates but too much time given to justifiably marginalised speakers who are amusingly unaware that no one’s listening because their ideas are inherently contradictory or willingly ignorant. The unearned arrogance is borderline comic.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Benjy Canada
    United Kingdom6 years ago
  • Academy of Claire

    Generally like the podcast when they have a variety of speakers. Hate when Claire’s appointed staff get together to generally regurgitate one idea ... no diversity of ideas there

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Enuf1
    Canada6 years ago
  • Original, relevant, and stimulating discussions

    These discussions are almost always lively, interesting, and full of intelligent points that make you think.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jakebr
    United Kingdom7 years ago
  • A parade of platitudes

    The topics are often pertinent but I’m afraid the analysis and information offered rarely confronts the subject properly. The Institute of ideas is not as original as pretends to be.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    849121
    United Kingdom8 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Thoughtful yet provocative; sometimes limited by speaker repetition
Lively and challenging discussions with intelligent points
Occasionally uneven pacing and focus but often stimulating
Balanced, thought-provoking debates with credible guests
Great antidote to sensationalism in current affairs

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#185
Singapore/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Racial grievance politics: how did we become so divided?
Q: Do you think race is the sole source of division, or are there broader cultural and structural factors at play?
The panelists suggest a mix of race, culture, and social structure, with some arguing that integration failures, media narratives, and institutional practices contribute as much as explicit racial attitudes.
Women and gender: Supreme Court ruling, one year on
Q: What was the main legal takeaway from the Supreme Court ruling?
The ruling affirmed that sex is biological and cannot be changed by gender identity in law, reinforcing sex-based protections and the primacy of biological sex in regulating sports and single-sex spaces.
The rise of the workplace speech police
Q: So the question for me is, what is it that leads progressives to want to silence their colleagues in the workplace?
Discussions pointed towards a perception that progressive ideologies promote moral certainty and suppress dissenting views, leading to increased authoritarianism within workplaces.
The rise of the workplace speech police
Q: Is HR for the people or is it for the employers?
Respondents questioned the central role of HR in balancing the interests of employees versus employers, revealing that this often creates friction regarding workplace policies.
Rape gangs, Post Office and Scottish self-ID: an anatomy of three scandals
Q: Do we have to sue bloody everybody?
Unfortunately, at the moment, yes, because it's the only way we're getting them to do anything.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Academy of Ideas

What is Academy of Ideas about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A climate of brisk, multi-voice debates spanning politics, public policy, culture, and economics. Panels mix academics, journalists, policymakers, and think-tank voices to probe timely topics such as infrastructure and housing, energy policy, national identity, free speech, and bioethics, often featuring contrarian or challenging viewpoints. Noteworthy is the emphasis on civil discourse and open inquiry, with specialists from think tanks and public institutions joining to test ideas and expose assumptions, making it a potential fit for listeners who crave rigorous discussion that pushes beyond conventional orthodoxies.

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Which podcasts are similar to Academy of Ideas?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Academy of Ideas:

1. The spiked podcast
2. Last Orders - a spiked podcast
3. The Sceptic
4. The Brendan O'Neill Show
5. Planet Normal

How many episodes of Academy of Ideas are there?

Academy of Ideas launched 12 years ago and published 412 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Academy of Ideas?

Recent guests on Academy of Ideas include:

1. Hilary Salt
2. Paul Finch
3. Christopher Worrall
4. Ben Flatman
5. Shelagh McNerney
6. Stephen Balloch
7. Tim Samuels
8. Sonya Douglas

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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