Rephonic
Artwork for The Realist Lens

The Realist Lens - For Researchers Who Keep It Real

Alejandro Arguelles Bullon
Realist Evaluation
CMO Configuration
Implementation Science
Realist Thematic Analysis
Global Health
Realist Trials
Randomized Controlled Trial
Mechanisms
Physiotherapy
Middle Range Theory
Mental Health Education
RAMESES Standards
Context
Program Theory
Programme Theory
Generalization
Realist Thinking
Critical Realism
Health Systems
Indigenous Communities

The Realist Lens is a podcast that makes realist evaluation and synthesis accessible and easy to follow. Through relaxed conversations with expert guests, students, and practitioners, we explore key realist concepts like mechanisms, context, and outcomes. Whether you're new to realist approaches or more experienced, this podcast offers practical insights, real-world examples, and thoughtful reflec... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes32Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationHow To

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Realist Lens

Latest Episodes

What happens when realist approaches meet other research traditions, disciplines and ways of knowing? And how can researchers work across different assumptions about evidence, causation, truth, knowledge and equity without flattening, absorbing or pr... more

How can realist evaluation help us understand health systems, inequality, and social change in marginalised and ecologically sensitive contexts? And what happens when realist thinking moves beyond academic projects and becomes part of long-term, part... more

How can realist synthesis help us understand digital forums, online communities, and living libraries? And what happens when lived experience, story sharing and peer support take place in dynamic online or hybrid spaces where safety, connection and m... more

How can realist evaluation help make sense of government policy, complexity, and decision-making? And what happens when realist ideas move beyond academic journals and into fast-moving, politically shaped, resource-stretched environments where people... 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.

Recent Guests

Kenneth Yakubu
Researcher at the intersection of health systems, global health governance, implementation research, health equity and realist thinking
George Institute for Global Health
Episode: Episode 31 – Realist Research Across Ways of Knowing with Kenneth Yakubu
Prashanth Srinivas
Guest expert in realist evaluation and health systems research
Institute of Public Health, Bangalore
Episode: Episode 30 – Realist Evaluation and Health Systems with Prashanth Srinivas
Paul Marshall
Guest researcher focused on realist methods in digital forums and living libraries
Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, Lancaster University
Episode: Episode 29 – Realist Synthesis, Online Forums and Living Libraries with Paul Marshall
Finlay Green
Evaluation practitioner focused on government; leads Open Innovation Team and formerly Evaluation Services Unit
UK Government
Episode: Episode 28 – Realist Evaluation in Government and Policy with Finlay Green
Katherine Zippel
General practitioner with remote Aboriginal health practice, researcher in realist evaluation and synthesis
Independent clinician-researcher (contextual, Aboriginal health)
Episode: Episode 27 – Remote Aboriginal Health and Realist Approaches with Katherine Zippel
Louisa Peters
Artist, psychologist, and researcher applying realist thinking to community arts and mental health
Independent/Academic interlocutor
Episode: Episode 26 – Realist Approaches in Arts and Mental Health Recovery with Louisa Peters
Leah Morris
Physiotherapist and researcher focusing on realist evaluation in physiotherapy
University of the West of England
Episode: Episode 25 – Realist Approaches in Physiotherapy with Leah Morris
Ian Maidment
Pharmacist, senior academic, NIHR-funded realist researcher
University/NIHR projects (as discussed)
Episode: Episode 24 – Realist Approaches in Dementia Care: Understanding Medication Management with Ian Maidment
Brynne Gilmore
Assistant Professor and Head of Subjects for Health Systems at University College Dublin
University College Dublin
Episode: Episode 23 - Lessons from Realist Evaluation in Global Health with Brynne Gilmore

Host

Alejandro
Host with long-running affiliation to The Realist Lens network; appears across multiple episodes.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 9 ratings
  • Easy language and engaging

    Just finished this first episode - where was this podcast when I started getting into realist methods?!? I will absolutely be recommending this to aspiring realist researchers - thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LeahFullegar
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

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

Excellent synthesis of methods with real-world examples.
Guests bring practical field experience to theory.
High-quality, research-focused conversations that are useful for practitioners.
Clear, accessible discussions of complex realist ideas.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#109
United Kingdom/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#199
France/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#179
Brazil/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#204
Belgium/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#210
Norway/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#217
Denmark/Education/How To

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 6 - Making Realist Research Accessible with Kev Harris
Q: What are Kev Harris's top strategies for making realist approaches accessible to practitioners and students?
Build strong relationships, translate concepts into down-to-earth language, and remain open to innovative methods while maintaining rigor and equity in the process.
Episode 12 - Thinking Like a Realist: A Conversation with Ray Pawson
Q: What are two practical tips for beginners starting a realist project?
First, begin with CMO hypotheses and, under each heading, generate several plausible alternatives to seed your inquiry. Second, throughout the study, consistently apply realist thinking to any circumstance, treating policy and programs as theories to be tested and refined rather than fixed rules.
Episode 12 - Thinking Like a Realist: A Conversation with Ray Pawson
Q: What are the key differences between realist evaluation and realist synthesis, and when might you choose one over the other?
Realist synthesis differs from evaluation in that it looks across many cases to understand the spectrum of instances and identify generalizable patterns, rather than drawing conclusions from a single program. Synthesis aggregates across contexts to answer 'what works for whom, in what circumstances, and in what respects,' whereas evaluation often examines a specific instance. Start with theory and use synthesis to broaden understanding across cases.
Episode 12 - Thinking Like a Realist: A Conversation with Ray Pawson
Q: Can you describe how realist evaluation moved from its early outsider days to becoming a normalized approach in social science?
The field gradually gained traction as the importance of program theory and the idea that outcomes depend on context and mechanisms became central, with healthcare becoming a major driver due to its scale and complexity. This shifted the focus from evaluating programs to evaluating the theories behind them, leading to what many see as a form of 'normal science' in realist methods.
Episode 9 – Analytical Strategies in Realist Evaluation: Insights with Steffen Bohni
Q: What are your top three tips for researchers deciding on analytical strategies in realist work?
Plan the analytical approach as early as possible, ensure mythological congruence and convergence between your data and design, and choose a manageable number of CMOs to focus on given time and resource constraints.

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 Realist Lens

What is The Realist Lens about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on realist evaluation and synthesis, translating theoretical ideas into practical, real-world applications across health, public policy, global health, and community projects. Episodes consistently explore mechanisms, context, and outcomes, with guests ranging from clinicians and researchers to government practitioners and artists who apply realist thinking to complex settings. A standout trait is the emphasis on participatory methods, co-production, and ethical engagement with diverse communities, alongside actionable guidance for researchers pursuing realist approaches in global health, policy, and implementation. Listeners are likely researchers, evaluators, and policy professionals seeking rigorous, theory-driven metho... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Realist Lens?

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

How many listeners does The Realist Lens get?

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

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Realist Lens, 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 Realist Lens have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Realist Lens 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 Realist Lens?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Realist Lens:

1. Empire: World History
2. The Rest Is History
3. ZOE Science & Nutrition

How many episodes of The Realist Lens are there?

The Realist Lens launched a year ago and published 32 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 Realist Lens?

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 Realist Lens?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Realist Lens 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 Realist Lens?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Realist Lens. 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 Realist Lens?

Recent guests on The Realist Lens include:

1. Kenneth Yakubu
2. Prashanth Srinivas
3. Paul Marshall
4. Finlay Green
5. Katherine Zippel
6. Louisa Peters
7. Leah Morris
8. Ian Maidment

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