
Past Present Future is a bi-weekly History of Ideas podcast with David Runciman, host and creator of Talking Politics, exploring the history of ideas from politics to philosophy, culture to technology. David talks to historians, novelists, scientists and many others about where the most interesting ideas come from, what they mean, and why they matter. Ideas from the past, questions about the prese... more
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 280 | Founded | 3 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | NewsHistoryPolitics | |||

Today’s episode is the third and final of David’s conversations with S. M. Amadae about nuclear weapons and nuclear war, this time looking to the future. What are the prospects for nuclear disarmament in the 21st century? How does the risk of nuclear... more
In today’s episode David talks to S. M. Amadae about what happened when the nuclear age turned into an all-consuming arms race. What is the supposed logic and the terrifying illogic behind the idea of Mutually Assured Destruction? What is the differ... more
For the first in a new series of conversations exploring the future that faces us all, David talks to S. M. Amadae about what nuclear weapons and the prospect of nuclear war have done to the human condition. Was 1945 the decisive watershed in the his... more
Today’s episode explores the ideas of two late-twentieth-century thinkers who argued that political philosophy needs to be concerned with more than just justice. David talks to Paul Sagar about why Bernard Williams thought we should focus on question... more
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Brilliant to have Helen Thompson back with David on this important and fascinating topic. Makes me realise how much I’ve missed the old Talking Politics podcast and the coming together of these two brilliant thinkers and communicators. Much more please.
Great topics but the ads are horrible and there is no warning music to let the listener know that they are coming. Such a shame you ruined the listener experience! Please respect the listener and your guests and add some way to alert a listener to the upcoming ads. Take a clue from Ezra Klein on this.
I’ve become someone obsessed with this podcast. So erudite and wide-ranging. The series of deep dives into historical trials is one of the fascinating studies into the intersection of justice and politics that I’ve come across. I also thoroughly recommend subscribing; the bonus eps are just as riveting.
The Farage episode descended into left wing propaganda before long. Shame they couldn’t bring themselves to produce something impartial and succumbed to the left wing hysteria.
Thank you for making this podcast! 🙏
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
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Exploring a broad spectrum of ideas, the series engages listeners with intellectually stimulating conversations on topics ranging from politics and philosophy to culture and technology. By featuring diverse guests, including historians and novelists, it offers unique insights into the historical context of contemporary issues and their implications for our future. The engaging discussions approach complex subjects with clarity, making them accessible and thought-provoking for a wide audience. This series is distinctive for its blend of rigorous academic thought and conversational style, appealing to those eager to deepen their understanding of how past ideas shape the present and influence the future.
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Past Present Future launched 3 years ago and published 280 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 Past Present Future include:
1. Sonya Amadae
2. Sonia Amadae
3. Paul Sagar
4. Glen Rangwala
5. Beeban Kidron
6. Nikhil Krishnan
7. Lee Hall
8. Julian Jackson
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