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 | 352 | Founded | 4 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | HistoryNewsPolitics | |||
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Latest Episodes
In today’s episode for our series about the plight facing universities David talks to political theorist Alan Finlayson about what’s happened to higher education in the UK since 1945. It is a story of massive expansion in the number of universities a... more
Today’s episode is the second part of David's conversation with historian William Whyte about how universities have survived for nearly a thousand years and whether they can last much longer. How did the industrial revolution change what universities... more
We start a new series about the long history and current predicament of universities by going back to the beginning. David talks to historian William Whyte about the origin story of the university nearly one thousand years ago. What made universities... more
Today’s episode in our series about transhumanism and its astonishing influence looks at how it helped build Silicon Valley. David talks to Duncan Bell about what happened when California became the centre of transhumanist operations. Where do drug-t... 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
Germany2 months 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
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #144 | United States/History |
Apple Podcasts | #25 | United Kingdom/History |
Apple Podcasts | #96 |  Canada/History |
Apple Podcasts | #57 |  Australia/History |
Apple Podcasts | #112 | Germany/History |
Apple Podcasts | #201 |  Italy/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. Close Readings
3. Ones and Tooze
4. The Politics Show
5. London Review Bookshop Podcast
How many episodes of Past Present Future are there?
Past Present Future launched 4 years ago and published 352 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. William Whyte
2. Duncan Bell
3. Lyndsey Stonebridge
4. Samuel Moyn
5. Richard Coker
6. Adam Rutherford
7. Nikhil Krishnan
8. Robert Saunders
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