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 | Daily | Episodes | 317 | Founded | 3 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | NewsHistoryPolitics | |||
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Latest Episodes
Today’s episode in our occasional series looking at significant political anniversaries explores the causes and consequences of the Brexit Referendum, which took place 10 years ago this week. David talks to historian Robert Saunders about why the ref... more
Today’s episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the Cheltenham Science Festival: David talks to Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales about what we can learn from the astonishing success of an encyclopaedia built by its users. When and how did pe... more
Our final great political fiction (for now!) is a meta-fiction and auto-fiction that is also a compelling work of historical reconstruction. Laurent Binet’s HHhH (2010) tells the story of Operation Anthropoid, the mission that led to the assassinatio... more
The penultimate great political fiction in this series is not strictly a fiction: it’s Annie Ernaux’s retelling of her own life in The Years (2008), thereby recapturing the story of France in the second half of the twentieth century. How can one woma... more
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Reviews
- Wonderfully eclectic
I’m listening from Australia and enjoy the wide scope of topic. It is fascinating and intellectually stimulating with nice touches of quizzical humour and paradoxical musings.
Apple Podcasts5KimLizzy64
Australia2 months ago - Welcome return of Helen Thompson
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.
Apple Podcasts5Kit_44
United Kingdom5 months ago - Horrible Ads Break Into the Conversation
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.
Apple Podcasts1A Turned-off Listener
United States5 months ago - I adore this podcast!
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.
Apple Podcasts5Foresthillbilly95United Kingdom5 months ago - Would’ve been so much better without the propaganda
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.
Apple Podcasts1Sw1200United Kingdom6 months ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #156 | United States/History |
Apple Podcasts | #28 | United Kingdom/History |
Apple Podcasts | #95 |  Canada/History |
Apple Podcasts | #54 | Australia/History |
Apple Podcasts | #73 |  Germany/History |
Apple Podcasts | #118 |  France/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 thoughtful, idea-forward program that foregrounds history of ideas through conversations with historians, journalists, scientists, and philosophers. Episodes frequently explore politics, culture, technology, and governance, often tying historical context to contemporary questions about democracy, media, and the future. Notable strengths include high-level, interdisciplinary discussions and a steady stream of expert guests, with a clear inclination toward rigorous analysis and long-form storytelling. Potential listeners include academics, policymakers, and intellectually curious professionals seeking historical perspective on current issues and big ideas that shape the future. The show often features live discussions, historical case studi... more
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Which podcasts are similar to Past Present Future?
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1. The LRB Podcast
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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 317 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. Catherine Taylor
2. Helen Lewis
3. Hannah White
4. Rob Ford
5. Sarah O'Connor
6. Misha Glenny
7. Alec Ryrie
8. Paul Sagar
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