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Academy of Ideas

academyofideas
Diversity
Assisted Dying Bill
Social Media
Labour Party
Antisemitism
Censorship
Online Safety Bill
Migration
Equality Act
Gender Critical Beliefs
Gaza
Israel
Psychological Harm
Duty Of Care
Algorithm Regulation
Children's Mental Health
User-To-User Platforms
Free Speech
VAR
Race

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes396Founded12 years ago
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Latest Episodes

The war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have focused attention on skyrocketing energy prices, leading to demands to encourage more output from the North Sea and causing travel chaos in Ireland. But bills were already high before this ... more

This debate was part of Battle of Ideas North on 7 March 2026 in Manchester.

ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION

The Supreme Court judgement in April 2025, in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers, was seen as a ‘landmark ruling’ in clarifying ... more

Following the vote in the House of Lords to approve the decriminalisation of women who have abortions after the legal limit of 24 weeks, the whole issue of abortion itself has once again become highly contested. In that context, this debate – recorde... more

With the war in Iran leading to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, preventing or restricting oil and gas being exported from many of the Gulf states, the UK's energy policy has come to the fore once more. Proponents of renewables claim that a rapid... more

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Recent Guests

Emma Hilton
Interim chair of the Board of Trustees of Sex Matters
Sex Matters
Episode: Women and gender: Supreme Court ruling, one year on
Bethany Hilton
NHS nurse, leader of Darlington Nursing Union
NHS/Darlington Nursing Union
Episode: Women and gender: Supreme Court ruling, one year on
Ella Whelan
Co-convener of the London Battle of Ideas; author and columnist
Battle of Ideas / The Telegraph
Episode: Women and gender: Supreme Court ruling, one year on
Barry Wall
Creator of the Winning Mindset Seminars and Court of the EJIDester on YouTube
Independent commentator
Episode: Women and gender: Supreme Court ruling, one year on
Gina (For Women Scotland)
Representative discussed in context of legal case and advocacy
For Women Scotland
Episode: Women and gender: Supreme Court ruling, one year on
Alex Crawcock
Former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Buckingham
University of Buckingham
Episode: Women and gender: Supreme Court ruling, one year on
Ann Furedi
Author and commentator of the Letters on Liberty pamphlet; expert on reproductive choice
Independent commentator/activist
Episode: Letters on Liberty: Abortion and the Freedom to Forge Our Own Fate
Ali Miraj
Managing director in infrastructure finance; national vice president of the Campaign to Protect Rural England
Ing; Campaign to Protect Rural England
Episode: Net Zero or ‘drill, baby, drill’? The future of UK energy
Ruari McCallion
DJ and freelance writer; contributor on energy topics
UnHerd; freelance writer
Episode: Net Zero or ‘drill, baby, drill’? The future of UK energy

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 65 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.

A useful antidote to mainstream coverage, with sharp, independent analysis.
Engaging and stimulating discussions with intelligent points that provoke reflection.
Some episodes feel insulated by a particular intellectual circle, with limited dissent.
Thoughtful, provocative debates with strong, well-prepared guests.
Varied viewpoints can feel repetitive or less open to dissent at times.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#150
Taiwan/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Rape gangs, Post Office and Scottish self-ID: an anatomy of three scandals
Q: Are these things cock-ups or conspiracies?
In a lot of the cases that we're looking at, I do think it is conspiracy, particularly when we have those family links that I'm discussing.

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 data-driven forum features sharp debates on energy policy, nationalism, geopolitics, and civil liberties, often with contrarian or outside-the-mainstream viewpoints. Guests range from energy economists and policy analysts to journalists and political commentators, typically challenging prevailing narratives with skepticism toward centralized policy, identity politics, and tech-enabled governance. The discussions tend to emphasize practical consequences—costs, energy security, deindustrialization, and rights—alongside broader questions about freedom of speech and national identity. Noteworthy is the willingness to stage provocative, multi-voiced panels that mix academic rigor with practitioner experience, making it a compelling listen for ... more

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1. Desert Island Discs
2. Moral Maze
3. New Culture Forum
4. The Rest Is Football
5. The spiked podcast

How many episodes of Academy of Ideas are there?

Academy of Ideas launched 12 years ago and published 396 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. Emma Hilton
2. Bethany Hilton
3. Ella Whelan
4. Barry Wall
5. Gina (For Women Scotland)
6. Alex Crawcock
7. Ann Furedi
8. Ali Miraj

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