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Interventions | The Intellectual History Podcast

Interventions
Intellectual History
Francis Bacon
Indigenous Intellectual History
John Locke
Political Theory
French Revolution
Colonialism
Liberty
Race
Empire
Liberalism
Democracy
Plato
Enlightenment
Political Thought
Republicanism
Shakespeare
Renaissance
Treaties
Carl Schmitt

What do intellectual historians currently investigate? And why is this relevant for us today? These are some of the questions our podcast series, led by graduate students at the University of Cambridge, seeks to explore. It aims to introduce intellectual historians and their work to everyone with an interest in history and politics. Do join in on our conversations!

PublishesInfrequentlyEpisodes36Founded9 years ago
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History

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Latest Episodes

Who will rule the rulers? Who will chaperone the chaperones? Who will guard the guardians? These questions are rarely associated with Plato. Usually seen as the arch-defender of the rule of the enlightened few over the ignorant many, he has not been ... more

Theophrastus was an ancient Greek philosopher. He wrote widely on topics including metaphysics, plant-life, dizziness, odours, and juice. Most notably, though, he was the author of a colourful text detailing the vices of thirty typical characters fro... more

Martin Crusius (1526-1607) spent most of his life in the Lutheran town of Tübingen. While there, he became Europe's foremost expert on Ottoman Greece. Drawing on hundreds of conversations he held with the Greek Orthodox alms-seekers who visited his h... more

By her death in 1797 at the age of 38, Mary Wollstonecraft had produced a body of work unmatched for its honesty and critical acumen. In a society where marriage often amounted to legal prostitution, Wollstonecraft confronted the ways in which proper... more

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Recent Guests

Melissa Lane
Class of 1943 professor of politics at Princeton University
Princeton University
Episode: Plato’s Political Ideas: From Limited Rule to Tyranny (with Melissa Lane)
Katie Ebner-Landy
Assistant Professor of Aesthetics at Utrecht University
Utrecht University
Episode: Sketching Characters: from Ancient Moralists to the Mansplainer (with Katie Ebner-Landy)
Mia Bay
Paul Mellon, Professor of American History
University of Cambridge
Episode: African-American Ideas about Race (with Mia Bay)
Quentin Skinner
Emeritus Professor of Humanities at Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London
Episode: Liberty as Independence (with Quentin Skinner)
Saliha Belmessous
British Academy Global Professor and fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford.
Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Episode: Indigenous Ideas: A Global Perspective (with Saliha Belmessous)
Mark Goldie
Emeritus Professor of Intellectual History at the University of Cambridge, and a Fellow of Churchill College
University of Cambridge
Episode: Slavery, Empire, and John Locke (with Mark Goldie)
Richard Serjeantson
Lecturer in History at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Episode: Francis Bacon: A Lion under the Throne (with Richard Serjeantson)
Richard Whatmore
Professor of Modern History at the University of St Andrews and co-director of the Institute of Intellectual History.
University of St Andrews
Episode: Big States, Small States, and the End of Enlightenment (Prof. Richard Whatmore)
Teresa Bejan
Professor of Political Theory at Oriel College, Oxford, and expert on political thought and intellectual history.
Oriel College, Oxford
Episode: Equality, Intellectual Traditions, and the Seventeenth Century (Prof. Teresa Bejan)

Hosts

Sam Tchorek-Bentall
Host of Interventions The Intellectual History Podcast
Sam Tragbental
Host of Interventions, The Intellectual History Podcast

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 77 ratings
  • Disappointing

    I used to really enjoy Interventioms, but since the changeover to the new hosts, the interviews have not been as insightful. Quite frankly, the new hosts sound so bored to the point of condescension to the guests. And the guests themselves sound like they don’t want to be there. I’m very disappointed, as this podcast was one of the few venues where I learned about new work in political thought and intellectual history in a serious and joyful way when I was at the beginning of my PhD ten years ag... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    AAC10592
    United States3 months ago
  • Have been looking for a podcast on this subject for ages!

    And so glad to hear such reputable scholars feature on the show

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tyrone, the destroyer
    Australiaa year ago
  • Insightful conversations with voices not often heard in other podcasts

    Engaging interviews with authors from across the fields of intellectual history, the history of ideas, and historically-inflected subfields of other disciplines.

    Thank you for creating, curating and sharing this ongoing archive! Aside from this podcast, there are very few venues and which people would be able to hear these voices discuss these ideas outside of specialized academic conferences and symposia.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Vegasitb
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Challenging but insightful show with rigorous academic guests.
Listeners appreciate accessible, thoughtful conversations bridging history and politics.
Positive reception for featuring reputable scholars and diverse voices in intellectual history.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Plato’s Political Ideas: From Limited Rule to Tyranny (with Melissa Lane)
Q: Why is it important that the end (telos) of rule is the good of the ruled?
Because it grounds political authority in the welfare of citizens, not the advantage of rulers, and it helps distinguish genuine governance from tyranny or mere administration.
Plato’s Political Ideas: From Limited Rule to Tyranny (with Melissa Lane)
Q: What is the 'juvenile conundrum' and how does Plato address it across these works?
It's the puzzle of how to keep rulers oriented toward the good unless there are robust, internal constraints and ongoing education that ensure rulers remain aligned with the telos rather than personal gain.
Plato’s Political Ideas: From Limited Rule to Tyranny (with Melissa Lane)
Q: Can you briefly introduce the three works and why you treat them together?
They form a coherent exploration of how politics is founded in speech, how offices relate to rule, and how education and guardianship shape a stable constitution, with each dialogue examining different facets of rule and the good of the ruled.
Sketching Characters: from Ancient Moralists to the Mansplainer (with Katie Ebner-Landy)
Q: Can we talk about this work as a piece of moral philosophy?
Theophrastus' sketches can be seen as both humorous and philosophical, offering insights into human behavior while also reflecting moral classifications.
African-American Ideas about Race (with Mia Bay)
Q: Can you explain the dilemmas black intellectuals faced in their attempts to refute white racial ideology?
They grappled with the mainstream scientific beliefs that categorized races hierarchically, often needing to use biblical narratives to counter these views.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Interventions

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

A scholarly, conversation-driven series that surveys intellectual history, philosophy, and political thought through episodes anchored in archival research, biographies, and key ideas. Across recent discussions, topics range from Theophrastus's vices and moral philosophy to the cultural histories of Crusius, Wollstonecraft, abolitionism, race, liberty, and political theory, often pairing junior researchers with established scholars. The format emphasizes rigorous analysis presented in accessible dialogues, highlighting how ideas from antiquity to modernity illuminate contemporary politics and culture. A notable strength is the blend of archival curiosity with clear, thoughtful discussion, making dense subjects approachable for curious liste... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Interventions?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Interventions:

1. The LRB Podcast
2. What's Left of Philosophy
3. Ones and Tooze
4. Past Present Future
5. Know Your Enemy

How many episodes of Interventions are there?

Interventions launched 9 years ago and published 36 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 Interventions?

Recent guests on Interventions include:

1. Melissa Lane
2. Katie Ebner-Landy
3. Mia Bay
4. Quentin Skinner
5. Saliha Belmessous
6. Mark Goldie
7. Richard Serjeantson
8. Richard Whatmore

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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