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 | 340 | Founded | 3 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | HistoryNewsPolitics | |||
Listen to this Podcast
Latest Episodes
Today’s episode in our series about twentieth-century philosophy and biography explores the life and thought of Elizabeth Anscombe (G. E. M. Anscombe), a remarkable and remarkably uncompromising philosopher. David talks to Nikhil Krishnan about Ansco... more
In the second part of David’s conversation with historian Robert Saunders about the impact of the Bulgarian crisis of 1876 on the course of British politics, they discuss how Gladstone used the controversy to plot his way back to power. What made his... more
In our occasional series with historian Robert Saunders about significant political anniversaries, we remember the appearance of a pamphlet exactly 150 years ago that changed the course of British politics. On 6th September 1876 William Gladstone pub... more
In today’s episode exploring how twentieth-century philosophy and biography intersect David talks to philosopher and biographer Kate Kirkpatrick about Jean-Paul Sartre, a thinker whose life has been as closely scrutinised as his ideas. What made Sart... more
Key Facts
Similar Podcasts
People also subscribe to these shows.
Recent Guests
Host
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
Germany24 days 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 Statesa month 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 Kingdoma month 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 States2 months ago - Superb
The world desperately needs good thinkers like David.
Apple Podcasts5Billybill1984United States3 months ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #225 | United States/History |
Apple Podcasts | #28 | United Kingdom/History |
Apple Podcasts | #118 |  Canada/History |
Apple Podcasts | #59 |  Australia/History |
Apple Podcasts | #107 |  France/History |
Apple Podcasts | #187 |  Italy/History |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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?
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.
Where can I find podcast stats for Past Present Future?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Past Present Future. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Past Present Future and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does Past Present Future get?
Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Past Present Future, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.
What are the audience demographics for Past Present Future?
Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Past Present Future, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.
How many subscribers and views does Past Present Future have?
To see how many followers or subscribers Past Present Future has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.
Which podcasts are similar to Past Present Future?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Past Present Future:
1. The LRB Podcast
2. Close Readings
3. The Econoclasts
4. London Review Bookshop Podcast
5. Ones and Tooze
How many episodes of Past Present Future are there?
Past Present Future launched 3 years ago and published 340 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
How do I contact Past Present Future?
Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.
Where can I see ratings and reviews for Past Present Future?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Past Present Future from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.
How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Past Present Future?
Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Past Present Future. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.
What guests have appeared on Past Present Future?
Recent guests on Past Present Future include:
1. Kate Kirkpatrick
2. Alex Carter
3. Sue Black
4. Suzanne O'Sullivan
5. Ian Ellison
6. Catherine Taylor
7. Jane Green
8. Greg Jenner
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.