Past Present Future
David RuncimanPast 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 | 346 | Founded | 3 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | HistoryNewsPolitics | |||
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Latest Episodes
For the final episode in our series on living in an ageing world David talks to Lyndsey Stonebridge about one of the most interesting and challenging of all writers on the subject of old age – Simone de Beauvoir. Why did Beauvoir believe that we are ... more
In today’s episode for our series about living in ageing societies, David talks to historian and legal scholar Samuel Moyn about the problem of gerontocracy, aka the rule of the old. Why do older generations now have so much wealth and so much power?... more
In today’s episode of our series about the significance of longer human lives David talks to the doctor and writer Richard Coker about the meaning of the event that comes for all of us in the end: death. Are we finding it harder to talk about and fac... more
To start our new series about what it means to live in a world of ageing populations, David talks to geneticist Adam Rutherford about the benefits and pitfalls of increasing longevity. Are GLP-1s – drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro – miracle cu... more
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Reviews
- naiveté of the historian
Erudite, precise in claim & analysis, particular takes & perspective on given topos. But the total disability of this podcast to leave the apriori of identity of author & oeuvre, the simplicity of indentifying the word with the speaker ('s intention, to mind: One fo the very worst episodes was the one "History of Bad Ideas: Death of the Author", due to the parrot guest) is really very irritating indeed.
Apple Podcasts2Markus Wenninger
Germanya month ago - Superb
This is a fantastic show, interesting and highly educational. I’m amazed at how prolific David is, and with uniformly high quality.
Apple Podcasts5tridongo
United States2 months ago - Over diagnosis
Excellent discussion -I read Suzanne’s book It’s all in the Mind some years ago -fascinating researched really interesting from a neurologist
Apple Podcasts5Scot in England
United Kingdom2 months ago - Kind of a mess
I listened to most of the episode on deliverism, which was a tangled and confusing mess. The host and guest discussed deliverism for awhile but, at least as far as I got, never stated why it was a “bad idea,” and also failed to acknowledge that a huge part of left populism is delivering concrete promises—as in the “sewer socialism” of Mamdani (which so far has been quite successful, and so contradicts their idea of deliverism as “bad.”). Also, they fail to give an accurate historical definition ... more
Apple Podcasts2AmeliaInTheForestUnited States3 months ago - Superb
The world desperately needs good thinkers like David.
Apple Podcasts5Billybill1984United States4 months ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #178 | United States/History |
Apple Podcasts | #239 | United Kingdom/Top Podcasts |
Apple Podcasts | #23 | United Kingdom/History |
Apple Podcasts | #101 |  Canada/History |
Apple Podcasts | #48 |  Australia/History |
Apple Podcasts | #62 | Germany/History |
Talking Points
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Frequently Asked Questions About Past Present Future
What is Past Present Future about and what kind of topics does it cover?
A bi-weekly history-of-ideas program that threads politics, philosophy, culture, and technology through historical context and contemporary questions. Conversations commonly pair a probing host with historians, philosophers, writers, and scientists to unpack big ideas, tracing their origins and tracing their resonance in modern life. Episodes often center on how ideas travel, get contested, and shape public life, from biographies of thinkers to debates about media, democracy, and science. A notable strength is its interdisciplinary approach, turning complex histories into accessible, cross-cutting discussions that feel both rigorous and broadly relevant for policy, culture, and curiosity.
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Which podcasts are similar to Past Present Future?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Past Present Future:
1. The LRB Podcast
2. Ones and Tooze
3. Close Readings
4. London Review Bookshop Podcast
5. The Econoclasts
How many episodes of Past Present Future are there?
Past Present Future launched 3 years ago and published 346 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 Past Present Future?
Recent guests on Past Present Future include:
1. Samuel Moyn
2. Richard Coker
3. Nikhil Krishnan
4. Lyndsey Stonebridge
5. Kate Kirkpatrick
6. Alex Carter
7. Sue Black
8. Suzanne O'Sullivan
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