
What are the real stories behind the most misunderstood and abused ideas in politics? From Conspiracy Theory to Woke to Centrism and beyond, Ian Dunt and Dorian Lynskey dig into the astonishing secret histories of concepts you thought you knew. Want to support us in making future seasons? There are now two ways you can help out: • Patreon – Get early episodes, live Zooms, merchandise and more from... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 148 | Founded | 4 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CultureNewsNews Commentary | |||

Welcome to Origin Story, the show about why we are where we are. This week we begin the story of evangelical Christianity and its influence on politics.
Starting in the 1730s, Protestants in colonial America replaced the dour strictures of the Purit... more
Welcome back to Origin Story and part two of the story of J.K. Rowling. In this episode we turn away from her life story towards her public statements and the information she is consuming.
In 2020, Rowling publishes her first full-length statement a... more
Hello and welcome to Origin Story. This week we begin the story of J.K. Rowling and how the world’s most beloved author became its most divisive. How did she become obsessed with trans rights and how did her colossal wealth and celebrity shape the ba... more
Hello and welcome to the final part of the story of European union, in which we finally see the European Union come to pass — and run into trouble.
The transition begins with Jacques Delors, a pragmatic idealist in the mould of Jean Monnet, orchestr... more
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I love the conversational style and choice of topics. I am learning a lot and loving it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thoroughly informative but so entertaining. This is a podcast I look forward to.
So informative well researched and fun to listen to. Worth it just for Ian’s incredible laugh alone. Only downside is you sometimes have to rewind to listen to a section again to work out who they’re talking about as it’s easy to lose track and they just refer to ‘he/him’ for whole sections at a time. But well worth a listen. Just make sure you are not distracted and able to fully concentrate before pressing play.
The flaccid liberalism of yesteryear
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Spotify | #32 | |
Apple Podcasts | #38 | |
Apple Podcasts | #65 | |
Apple Podcasts | #97 | |
Apple Podcasts | #109 | |
Apple Podcasts | #149 |
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Two hosts unpack the hidden histories behind popular political ideas, weaving rigorous history with sharp analysis and a healthy dose of humor. Episodes frequently explore how concepts like socialism, liberalism, nationalism, or urban design originated, evolved, and are deployed in present debates, often highlighting the people, institutions, and incentives that shaped them. The show stands out for its wide-ranging research, balanced skepticism, and engaging storytelling that makes complex ideas accessible without sacrificing depth. Listeners likely value well-sourced context, critical thinking, and lively conversation that can be humorous even when dissecting serious topics.
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1. Oh God, What Now?
2. The Bunker – News without the nonsense
3. Quiet Riot
4. This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler
5. Behind The Lines with Arthur Snell
Origin Story launched 4 years ago and published 148 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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Recent guests on Origin Story include:
1. Mujtaba Rahman
2. Zohran Mamdani
3. Zack Polanski
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