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Artwork for Past Present Future

Past Present Future

David Runciman
Montaigne
David Hume
George Orwell
Susan Sontag
Quietism
Public Debt
Henry David Thoreau
James Baldwin
An Apology For Raymond Sabond
Civil War In France
Skepticism
Renaissance Philosophy
Suicide
Slavery
Mexican-American War
Civil Disobedience
Slavery In America
Joan Didion
Donald Trump
A Room Of One's Own

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes247Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryNewsPolitics

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Artwork for Past Present Future

Latest Episodes

Today’s episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the Cheltenham Literature Festival: David talks to Bruno Maçães and Sarah Wynn-Williams about who is winning in the fight for control between China and America, between state power and corpo... more

YouTube

In today’s episode the two Davids try to answer some of the hundreds of questions, comments and suggestions we have had in response to this series, ranging from the very broad to the very specific. How do we know if democracy is broken? Have we ever ... more

YouTube

For the final episode in this series David talks to historian Ayse Zarakol about the prospects for democracy in the age of strongman politics, from Trump to Erdogan, from Orban to Modi. Where did the strongmen come from? How unusual is this kind of p... more

YouTube

In our penultimate episode in this series David talks to writer Sam Freedman about whether democracy can cope with the demands of the social media age. Are we really more vulnerable to disinformation than we have ever been? Is the bigger problem our ... more

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Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

David Klemperer
Political historian from the Constitution Society
Constitution Society
Episode: Fixing Democracy: Compulsory Voting
Alan Renwick
Professor at University College London's Constitution Unit
University College London
Episode: Fixing Democracy: What’s Wrong with Referendums?
Claudia Chwalisz
Founder and chief executive of Democracy Next
Democracy Next
Episode: Fixing Democracy: Citizens’ Assemblies
Hannah White
Director of the Institute for Government.
Institute for Government
Episode: Fixing Democracy: Parliamentary Reform
Fintan O'Toole
Irish writer, broadcaster and historian
Episode: Politics on Trial: Easter Rising 1916 w/Fintan O’Toole
Gary Gerstle
Historian and regular guest on the podcast
Episode: Politics on Trial: Aaron Burr vs the Constitution
Alexander Douglas
Philosopher and author of 'Against Identity, The Wisdom of Escaping the Self'
Episode: The History of Bad Ideas: Identity
Dan Snow
Historian, broadcaster, and podcaster
Episode: The History of Bad Ideas: The Decisive Battle
Helen Lewis
Writer and broadcaster, author of The Genius Myth.
Episode: The History of Bad Ideas: Genius

Host

David Runciman
Host and creator of engaging intellectual discussions focused on the history of ideas, exploring topics related to politics, philosophy, culture, and technology.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.5k ratings
  • Consistently Superb

    Runciman is peerless.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ballysmuttan
    Ireland2 months ago
  • Near perfect delivery

    Superbly researched, detailed and succinct. Each podcast is a very well structured story. When he’s on his own, the pace, consistency and phrasing of his delivery is so excellent. Sounds like he must be reading it , but sounds like he isn’t

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    boomvalk
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • A Rambling Global North History Recap Of Its Supremacy

    It is often said that history is written by the victors. To that, we must now add: and reinforced by the so-called victors through the voices of academics from colonially advantaged institutions—now repackaging empire in the form of podcasts.

    The obsessive focus on Trump, while not entirely unwarranted, distracts from a far more damning truth: that the very wealth, political ideology, and proclaimed superiority of the Global North—alongside its exalted academic institutions—are structurally and... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Vitas7890
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • A great podcast

    I listen to this podcast to learn and delight in doing so.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Leopoldo Olavarría
    United States3 months ago
  • tiresome but handy

    host is insufferably pretentious and keeps inserting his own inane opinions on things into it but can be a useful quick summary if you bring a handful of salt.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Charon96
    United Kingdom3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The host's ability to engage with complex subjects in an accessible manner has garnered appreciation, making often-challenging content digestible for a wider audience.
Some critiques mention that the show can occasionally feel dense or overly verbose, suggesting a desire for more concise presentations.
Overall, there is a strong sentiment of gratitude among listeners for the intellectual stimulation and diverse perspectives offered in each episode.
Listeners praise the high-quality scholarly analysis and articulate delivery, often highlighting the depth of research and thoughtfulness in discussions.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#204
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#31
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#213
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#51
Italy/History
Apple Podcasts
#73
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#143
Germany/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Fixing Democracy: Confronting the Strongmen
Q: Is there a potential for a female strongman in politics?
While there are examples of female leaders with authoritarian tendencies, a true female strongman model, akin to male strongmen, is still not established in the contemporary context.
Fixing Democracy: Confronting the Strongmen
Q: What are the structural conditions allowing for strongmen to emerge?
The weakening of democratic norms and institutions has allowed for strongman leaders to take root across various systems.
Fixing Democracy Q&A w/David Klemperer: Oligarchy, Ageing Populations and How to Make Things Worse
Q: Should we restrict the franchise for older voters?
While the idea of restricting voting rights based on age might seem appealing, it fundamentally contradicts the egalitarian understanding of voting as a right.
Fixing Democracy Q&A w/David Klemperer: Oligarchy, Ageing Populations and How to Make Things Worse
Q: How can we remove money from politics? Will corporations rule going forward?
Money in politics equals corporate power, and while one could try to keep corporate money out of politics, democratizing corporations might allow citizens influence over corporate outcomes, which is beneficial for democracy.
Fixing Democracy Q&A w/David Klemperer: Oligarchy, Ageing Populations and How to Make Things Worse
Q: How do we know if democracy needs fixing?
It can be easy to treat outcomes of democratic processes we don't like as failures of democracy, but we also see clear evidence that democracy isn't functioning well around the world, including declining public trust and rising authoritarianism.

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 Past Present Future

What is Past Present Future about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Exploring the intersections of politics, philosophy, culture, and technology, a bi-weekly series invites listeners to engage with historical ideas that continue to shape contemporary discourse. With a variety of guests ranging from historians to scientists, the discussions unravel complex topics such as electoral reform, dignity, and the implications of political trials through history. The show often delves into how past events and ideologies inform present-day issues, offering a thought-provoking perspective on ideas that matter in understanding our future. Notably, the blend of diverse voices and rigorous analysis positions the series as a rich resource for those eager to deepen their understanding of the humanities and political landsca... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Past Present Future:

1. The LRB Podcast
2. Close Readings
3. Ones and Tooze
4. London Review Bookshop Podcast
5. The TLS Podcast

How many episodes of Past Present Future are there?

Past Present Future launched 3 years ago and published 247 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. David Klemperer
2. Alan Renwick
3. Claudia Chwalisz
4. Hannah White
5. Fintan O'Toole
6. Gary Gerstle
7. Alexander Douglas
8. Dan Snow

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