Rephonic
Artwork for Bureau of Lost Culture

Bureau of Lost Culture

Stephen Coates
Counterculture
The Incredible String Band
Mental Health
Dreaming
British Underground
Perversion
Black Panthers
Allen Ginsberg
International Poetry Incarnation
Sexuality
Music
Homosexuality
Music Activism
Lucid Dreaming
Paul Mccartney
Christianity
Consent
Activism
Huey P. Newton
Psychedelics

*The Bureau of Lost Culture broadcast rare, countercultural stories, oral testimonies and tales from the underground.*Join host Stephen Coates and a wide range of guests including musicians, artists, writers, activists and commentators in conversation.*Listen live on London’s premier independent station Soho Radio or via all major podcast providers. The Bureau is collected at The British Library S... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes159Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHistory

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Bureau of Lost Culture

Latest Episodes

If you had been at the Glastonbury Festival in 1987,  you may have seen a familiar silhouette emerging in the dawn light  - upright monoliths arranged in a circle. Was it Stonehenge - magically transferred here across the Salisbury plain?

No, it was... more

YouTube

In the heart of London’s Bloomsbury, behind a scruffy turquoise door, the world lies folded into drawers.

Here are maps that survived wars, regimes, and revolutions — not because they were valued, but because they were forgotten.

 

Some were reused ... more

YouTube

This is the second part of a conversation with Alaura O’Dell / Mistress Mix, formerly known as Paula P-Orridge.

In the first part, we traced Alaura’s journey from meeting the musician and cultural provocateur Genesis P-Orridge, as a 15-year-old scho... more

YouTube

Over the last century, the word Shaman has been embraced by artists, hippies, psychonauts and spiritual rebels.

In the 1960s and 70s, shamanism had become a kind of countercultural shorthand for altered states, secret, magical knowledge, and ways of... 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.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Weird Studies
Weird StudiesSpectreVision Radio
Backlisted
BacklistedBacklisted

Recent Guests

Joe Rush
Artist and leader of the Mutoid Waste Company
Mutoid Waste Company
Episode: 20th Century Mutoid Man: Joe Rush - Part 1
James Cheshire
Britain's only professor of geographic information and cartography, leading contemporary map making
University College London
Episode: The Library of Lost Maps
Alaura O'Dell
Formerly known as Paula P-Orridge, a key figure in Psychic TV and TOPY, now a music artist and educator
Episode: In + Out of Thee Temple Ov Psychick Youth - Part 2
Max Carocci
Social anthropologist focused on indigenous cultures and shamanism
Episode: What is a Shaman?
Karl Bell
A British cultural historian focused on the connection between environment and supernatural beliefs.
Episode: A Supernatural History of the Atlantic
Kevin Foakes
DJ Food and member of the Openmind Collective
Ninja Tune
Episode: Tales from the Ambient Underground
Tom Bolton
Writer and psychogeographic explorer
Author of Atomic Albion
Episode: Geiger-Counterculture: A Journey Through Atomic Albion
John Higgs
Writer and cultural historian, author of Lynchian, The Spell of David Lynch
Episode: The Spell of David Lynch
Penny Rimbaud
Artist, poet, musician, and co-founder of the band Crass
Episode: This is Penny Rimbaud - Part One

Host

Stephen Coates
Host of the show; longtime curator of counterculture content and conversations with musicians, artists, writers, and scholars

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 268 ratings
  • You can’t get lost.

    For the sake of not losing the knowledge about any remarkable culture.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wandowaiato
    Germany2 months ago
  • Excellent

    Really enjoy this pod, thoughtful and engaging - highly recommended

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bong
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Excellent

    Devouring these episodes. Trying not to rush them.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NedW1983
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • Superb

    This was recommended to me as I love all things counter cultural. I’m on my second episode and I love it. Well structured, well researched, informed and thought provoking 👏🏼

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nigey B
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • The podcast this 90s kid needed!

    Podcast was suggested via a friend & I’m so glad she did.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    No App No Pizza
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

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

Insightful, deeply researched and rare perspectives on underground culture.
Charming and erudite host with a knack for drawing out nuanced stories from guests.
Thoughtful, well-structured conversations that stay engaging across topics.
Essential listening for anyone into counterculture and archival storytelling.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#163
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#250
Ireland/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

In + Out of Thee Temple Ov Psychick Youth - Part 2
Q: What prompted you to reclaim your story and experiences from your time in Psychic TV?
After going through my master's program, I felt compelled to write about my life in the music business. It was a way to articulate my identity and contributions which had often been overshadowed.
In + Out of Thee Temple Ov Psychick Youth - Part 2
Q: How did you cope financially after separating from Jen?
I struggled financially for years, working odd jobs and dealing with the stress of the divorce process, but eventually I found a way to support myself musically and through teaching.
In + Out of Thee Temple Ov Psychick Youth - Part 2
Q: What was the turning point for you in leaving the relationship with Jen?
It was a culmination of factors, including controlling behavior and my need for personal growth. I felt trapped and realized that I needed to change my life at age 29.
What is a Shaman?
Q: What is the role of psychoactive plants in shamanism?
While often used to aid in trance states, the ingestion of psychoactive plants is not a requirement for shamanism, as one can enter a trance without them.
What is a Shaman?
Q: How do shamans induce trance?
Shamans can enter trance states through various methods, including drumming and other repetitive actions, but it also requires deep concentration and sensory deprivation.

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 Bureau of Lost Culture

What is Bureau of Lost Culture about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show explores rare, countercultural stories, often anchored in art, music, history, and fringe perspectives. Episodes frequently center on underground movements, archival curiosities, and the social or technological forces that shape counterculture, from map-making and cryptic folklore to experimental music scenes and influential dissidents. It tends to attract guests who operate at the edges of culture—artists, historians, scholars, activists, and musicians—who bring vivid first‑hand accounts, oddball histories, and thoughtful commentary. A standout quality is the breadth of topics, delivered with a calm, inquisitive interviewing style that invites nuanced storytelling and deep dives into niche subjects. This makes it appealing to list... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Bureau of Lost Culture?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Bureau of Lost Culture. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Bureau of Lost Culture and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Bureau of Lost Culture get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Bureau of Lost Culture, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Bureau of Lost Culture?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Bureau of Lost Culture, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Bureau of Lost Culture have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Bureau of Lost Culture has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Bureau of Lost Culture?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Bureau of Lost Culture:

1. Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt
2. Weird Studies
3. Backlisted
4. The Harry Hill Show
5. The Louis Theroux Podcast

How many episodes of Bureau of Lost Culture are there?

Bureau of Lost Culture launched 5 years ago and published 159 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Bureau of Lost Culture?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Bureau of Lost Culture?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Bureau of Lost Culture from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Bureau of Lost Culture?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Bureau of Lost Culture. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Bureau of Lost Culture?

Recent guests on Bureau of Lost Culture include:

1. Joe Rush
2. James Cheshire
3. Alaura O'Dell
4. Max Carocci
5. Karl Bell
6. Kevin Foakes
7. Tom Bolton
8. John Higgs

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days