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Bungacast

Bungacast
Neoliberalism
Nationalism
Populism
Brexit
China
European Union
Capitalism
Donald Trump
Globalization
Middle Class
United States
Artificial Intelligence
Ukraine
Russia
France
Democracy
Israel
Indonesia
State Capitalism
Millennial Left

The global politics podcast at the end of the End of History. Politics is back but it’s stranger than ever: join us as we chart a course beyond the age of ’bunga bunga’. Interviews, long-form discussions, docu-series.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes400Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureNewsDocumentaryPolitics

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Latest Episodes

On Roland Barthes' Mythologies.

(This is an unlocked episode from our Reading Club. Subscribe for more like this.)

Alex, George, and contributing editor Catherine Liu delve into Barthes' 1957 classic to understand the form of ideology critique it p... more

On writing the history of capitalism.

Political theorist Corey Robin talks to Alex H and Alex G about what is wrong with Sven Beckert's monumental new Capitalism: A Global History.

Have historians returned to writing about big themes and grand n... more

YouTube

On global shortages and their political consequences.

Benjamin Bradlow, assistant professor of sociology and international affairs at Princeton, talks to Alex and Lee about the world-historic impact of the Hormuz Strait closure.

How will shortag... more

YouTube

Audio from the live event held at Verdurin, London, on 28 May 2026.

The OG Bunga Boys - Alex, George, and Phil - present their takes, followed by responses from contributing editor Lee Jones and friend-of-the-pod Nina Power - and audience questions.... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Benjamin Bradlow
Academic and author discussed urban power and development; guest for this episode
Foreign Affairs contributor (article mentioned)
Episode: /553/ Energy Sovereignty = Political Independence? ft. Benjamin Bradlow
Costas Lapavitsas
Professor of Economics at SOAS, London; political economist
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
Episode: /550/ The New Dollar Imperialism ft. Costas Lapavitsas
Nina Power
Friend of the pod
Episode: History’s back, baby! (Event in London)
Ashley Frawley
Sociologist and senior editor at Compact
Compact
Episode: /549/ Why Has Politics Genderised? ft. Ashley Frawley
Szilárd Pap
Hungarian political analyst and editor
Partizan
Episode: /545/ Orbanism without Orban: the New European Centre? ft. Szilard Pap
Arash Azizi
Historian, The Atlantic contributor
The Atlantic
Episode: /544/ Iran War: Rogue State USA ft. Arash Azizi
Ran Heilbrunn
Writer and educator; author of Abolish Queer Theory
Munich, Germany / Wittenberg University (Munich campus)
Episode: /543/ Squeamish About Sex, Aroused By Identity ft. Ran Heilbrunn
Will Charles
Scholar who studies organizations and gig work
Academic/Researcher (Will Charles)
Episode: /542/ Letters to the Editors: March 2026
Jeff Schellenberger
Guest joining to discuss readings
Academic/Commentator (Jeff Schellenberger)
Episode: /542/ Letters to the Editors: March 2026

Hosts

Alex Hochuli
Host of Bungacast, Bungacast / Global Politics Podcast
George Hoare
Co-host of Bungacast, Host of Bungacast
Lee Jones
Contributing editor, professor of international politics

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 581 ratings
  • Sux

    Nina Power is fash. Catherine Liu is a red-brown hack. This podcast sux

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    asafoetida2026
    United Statesa month ago
  • Arash Azizi is a propagandist

    Really gross. Don’t trust these people.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ashelianderson
    United States3 months ago
  • Confusing

    Hard to understand but worth trying?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    @Brahmski
    United Statesa year ago
  • Try it

    You might like it

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LenBurr
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Catherine Liu is terrible

    You gotta cut Catherine. All she does is make petty complaints and try to dress it up as theory. Completely incomprehensible.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Bobbyowens_
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

A number of listeners highlight engaging discussions and actionable insights for guests seeking to appear on the show.
Listeners praise sharp, focused analysis and high-quality guests.
Some reviews note a challenging listen but value the depth and rigor.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#195
Sweden/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#233
Austria/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

/554/ Capitalism Is When the State... ft. Corey Robin
Q: What does Beckert actually mean by capitalism being born global, and is that not just a rhetorical flourish?
Robin argues that while Beckert offers a vivid spatial-temporal map, the claim lacks a coherent definition of capitalism that works across eras, making it hard to distinguish when the globe ceases to be non-capitalist and becomes capitalist.
/553/ Energy Sovereignty = Political Independence? ft. Benjamin Bradlow
Q: Is there a straightforward positive link between energy sovereignty and good foreign policy?
Bradlow explains that while energy sovereignty can enhance political autonomy, the causal link is not simple or guaranteed; dependencies and strategic choices (e.g., on technology, supply chains, or external actors) create nuanced outcomes and risks.
/550/ The New Dollar Imperialism ft. Costas Lapavitsas
Q: How does dollar dominance relate to mechanisms like sanctions and currency internationalization in Iran?
Sanctions and dollar-based leverage are tools to exert economic pressure without occupying territory, using financial networks, access to global liquidity, and chokepoints to influence behavior.
/546/ Reading Club: Are We All Post-Liberal Now? ft. Geoff Shullenberger
Q: Is MacIntyre a post-liberal, and how does his thought relate to liberalism and the New Left?
MacIntyre is treated as an anti-liberal with a strong communitarian critique, suggesting a post-liberal trajectory that goes beyond conventional liberalism and engages deeply with virtue ethics and community, though his exact placement varies—he is seen as more than a simple post-liberal and perhaps a bridge to later neo-communitarian currents.
/546/ Reading Club: Are We All Post-Liberal Now? ft. Geoff Shullenberger
Q: Was Bell and Lipset right in some sense that ideology had died by the 1950s?
The discussion suggests that while there was a tacit consensus and a supposed end to ideology, it was already an ideological stance itself, masking exclusions and unspoken inequalities, especially regarding race; later events showed the supposed end of ideology was premature as politics returned in more contentious forms.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Bungacast

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

A sharp, analytically driven discussion of global politics, economics, and culture with a left-leaning, academically informed lens. Episodes commonly dissect geopolitics, labor and capital, post-liberal theory, and the role of technology in society, often featuring rigorous guest perspectives from scholars, journalists, and policy experts. Live events, Q&A segments, and recurring debates about state power, capital, and legitimacy are hallmarks, alongside clear audience engagement and callouts to support ongoing work. A notable strength is the willingness to interrogate established ideas with countervailing viewpoints, making it a fitting pick for listeners who enjoy theory-grounded analysis paired with contemporary case studies and historic... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Bungacast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Bungacast:

1. Jacobin Radio
2. Politics Theory Other
3. American Prestige
4. Doomscroll with Joshua Citarella
5. What's Left of Philosophy

How many episodes of Bungacast are there?

Bungacast launched 9 years ago and published 400 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 Bungacast?

Recent guests on Bungacast include:

1. Benjamin Bradlow
2. Costas Lapavitsas
3. Nina Power
4. Ashley Frawley
5. Szilárd Pap
6. Arash Azizi
7. Ran Heilbrunn
8. Will Charles

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