Rephonic
Artwork for The Future of Our Former Democracy 

The Future of Our Former Democracy 

MED and Larj Media
Northern Ireland
Germany
Proportional Representation
The Troubles
Ireland
Voting Rights
Good Friday Agreement
Civil Rights Movement
United States
Power Sharing
Sunningdale Agreement
Ulster Unionist Party
Dublin City Council
Local Elections
Provisional IRA
Bloody Sunday
Immigration
Racism
Political Representation
Electoral Systems

After World War II, Germany redesigned its electoral system to prevent another faction like the Nazis from taking over the government ever again. In the new season of the award-winning podcast from More Equitable Democracy, we examine far-right movements in modern Germany and the U.S. to explore what lessons from German political history might mean for American democracy.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes20Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentHistory

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Future of Our Former Democracy 

Latest Episodes

In this bonus episode, Berit, born in East Germany, and Khuê, born in West Berlin, share their respective perspectives and stories of growing up during German reunification.

Special thanks to the experts featured in this episode:

- ⁠⁠⁠Dr. Berit Ebe... more

Throughout this season, we've heard excerpts from interviews and presentations that were part of a February 2025 learning tour organized by More Equitable Democracy. This tour brought US academics, racial justice advocates, and political reformers to... more

While Germany makes a continuous effort to grapple with their past and practice remembrance of historic atrocities, there are still significant tensions today about German identity: what a German sounds like, what a German looks like, and what it mea... more

In Germany, as in the United States and much of Europe, there has been a rising surge of support for far-right populism and anti-democratic forces. This is exemplified in the growth of the far-right political party "Alternative for Germany" (AFD).

I... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Daily
The DailyThe New York Times
Radio Atlantic
Radio AtlanticThe Atlantic
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion

Recent Guests

Khuê Pham
Author and journalist
Episode: Bonus: Berit and Khuê: Growing Up During German Reunification
Deb Otis
Representative, FairVote
FairVote
Episode: From the Black Forest to the Rose City: Seeding PR at Home
Kevin Deegan-Krause
Member, Voters Not Politicians
Voters Not Politicians
Episode: From the Black Forest to the Rose City: Seeding PR at Home
LaShanda Jackson
Philanthropic advisor promoting democracy
More Equitable Democracy
Episode: From the Black Forest to the Rose City: Seeding PR at Home
Spencer Overton
Founder, Multiracial Democracy Project, GW Law
GW Law School
Episode: From the Black Forest to the Rose City: Seeding PR at Home
Hesham Moadamani
refugee from Syria, tour guide and translator
Bard College Berlin
Episode: The "New Germans": Identity and Belonging in Modern Germany
Khuê Phạm
Vietnamese-German author and journalist
Independent/Author
Episode: The "New Germans": Identity and Belonging in Modern Germany
Dr Yaşar Aydın
sociology and economics professor, migration and integration researcher
University/Research
Episode: The "New Germans": Identity and Belonging in Modern Germany
Berit Ebert
Political science faculty member and Director of Public Programs and Strategic Initiatives at Bard College Berlin
Bard College Berlin
Episode: Alternative für Amerika: MAGA, AfD, and the Politics of Division

Hosts

Colin Cole
Director of Policy, Outreach and Communications. Co-host of the podcast.
George Cheung
Director of the non-profit advocacy group More Equitable Democracy. Co-host of the podcast.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 111 ratings
  • Incredible!

    I had never considered how malleable democracy was. The first season really brought that to light. This new season is so good! The production is amazing, I just loved feeling like I was getting an on the ground look at what’s happening in Germany. Five stars!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Micah Smarts 2012
    United States22 days ago
  • Thought-provoking look at elections

    The Future of Our Former Democracy is a thought-provoking podcast focusing on distilling learnings from other electoral systems around the world, Ireland (Season 1) and Germany (Season 2), and how the USA can improve our own electoral system to reach more representative and equitable outcomes. After listening to the discussions on Ireland's voting system, it motivated me to get involved with local organizations focusing on improving voter outcomes. I highly recommend this podcast to anyone who i... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    crahrig
    United Statesa month ago
  • Cursory conclusions

    Didn’t lay good foundation of explaining the 2 systems from the beginning. Episodes don’t delve deep enough into main points of episode. Cursory conclusions abound without adequate intellectual exploration.

    Audible
    1
    Ferguson
    United States2 months ago
  • Didn’t lay good foundation of explaining the 2 systems from the beginning. Episodes don’t delve deep enough into main points of episode. Cursory conclusions abound without adequate intellectual exploration.

    Audible
    1
    Ferguson
    United States2 months ago
  • Incredibly poor, superficial performance

    Herr im Himmel! I was really looking forward to this podcast. I worked as a political journalist in Germany for more than 20 years. I just returned to the States in November after my last tour, which lasted ten years. I also studied German history and speak German. So I like to think that I have a reasonable understanding of the situation in Germany.

    This podcast is just so inferior and poor.

    It is one thing that it is clearly biased from a far-left perspective. Well, if you know that, you c... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Chris-747
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critiques indicate a perceived bias in favor of progressive reforms, suggesting the need for balanced discussions.
The podcast is praised for its insightful historical context, connecting past events to current political challenges.
Many find the conversations accessible and engaging, highlighting both personal stories and expert opinions.
Overall, the production quality and content presentation receive positive remarks, making it a must-listen for those interested in democracy.
Listeners appreciate the timely and relevant analysis of electoral systems and their implications.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Project 1933: How to Dismantle a Democracy (and How to Rebuild)
Q: So is the judge saying you can only do this by constitutional means?
Yes, the judge confirms that Hitler could only proceed as long as he claimed to act within constitutional bounds, highlighting a dangerous edge where legal language is used to legitimize undemocratic goals.
Alternative für Amerika: MAGA, AfD, and the Politics of Division
Q: So Colin, the AFD, are they Nazis?
The guests and hosts discuss that while the AFD uses extreme nationalist rhetoric and has been labeled anti-constitutional by Germany's Verfassungsschutz, labeling them as Nazis is debated; some guests argue the party embodies Nazi-era methods and aims, while acknowledging it operates within a modern democratic framework.
Bonus: Pádraig Ó Tuama in Conversation
Q: What is the purpose of elections?
The purpose of elections is to choose temporary leadership to address contemporary concerns, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and compromise.
Bonus: Pádraig Ó Tuama in Conversation
Q: How have those conversations gone generally?
Ó Tuama notes that for some the Irish reunification is unwelcome, acknowledging varied perspectives and emphasizing the need for a moral reckoning around British presence in Ireland.
Bonus: A Conversation with Claire Hanna, MP for Belfast South and Mid Down
Q: What is the current political context regarding anti-immigrant sentiment?
Hanna notes that although Ireland has historically been a pro-immigration nation, the emergence of anti-immigrant sentiments and far-right candidates is concerning, though they did not achieve significant electoral breakthroughs.

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 The Future of Our Former Democracy 

What is The Future of Our Former Democracy  about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content focuses on the intersections of electoral systems, democracy, and historical context, particularly comparing the experiences of Northern Ireland to current issues in the United States. Episodes explore a range of topics, including the complexities of political representation, the importance of electoral reform, and the impacts of historical events on modern-day democracy. With a unique perspective, the discussions often feature insights from politicians, poets, and activists, enriching the narrative with personal stories and expert analyses. This podcast provides valuable lessons on how electoral change can foster inclusivity and mitigate political violence, making it a crucial listen for those interested in the future of democr... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Future of Our Former Democracy ?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Future of Our Former Democracy . 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 The Future of Our Former Democracy  and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Future of Our Former Democracy  get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Future of Our Former Democracy , 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 The Future of Our Former Democracy ?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Future of Our Former Democracy , 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 The Future of Our Former Democracy  have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Future of Our Former Democracy  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 The Future of Our Former Democracy ?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Future of Our Former Democracy :

1. Throughline
2. The Daily
3. KCRW's Left, Right & Center
4. Radio Atlantic
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of The Future of Our Former Democracy  are there?

The Future of Our Former Democracy  launched 2 years ago and published 20 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 The Future of Our Former Democracy ?

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 The Future of Our Former Democracy ?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Future of Our Former Democracy  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 The Future of Our Former Democracy ?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Future of Our Former Democracy . 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 The Future of Our Former Democracy ?

Recent guests on The Future of Our Former Democracy  include:

1. Khuê Pham
2. Deb Otis
3. Kevin Deegan-Krause
4. LaShanda Jackson
5. Spencer Overton
6. Hesham Moadamani
7. Khuê Phạm
8. Dr Yaşar Aydın

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days