Past Present Future Podcast
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ppfideas.bsky.social
Past Present Future Podcast
@ppfideas.bsky.social

The History of Ideas Podcast. Every Wednesday and Sunday with David Runciman. Wherever you get your podcasts.

Find us at 🔗 www.ppfideas.com

David Walter Runciman, 4th Viscount Runciman of Doxford, is an English academic and podcaster who until 2024 taught politics and history at the University of Cambridge, where he was Professor of Politics. From October 2014 to October 2018 he was also head of the Department of Politics and International Studies. In April 2024 he decided to resign his position at the university to focus on his podcast full-time. He was subsequently made Honorary Professor of Politics. .. more

Political science 70%
Sociology 9%
Pinned
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!

For the 1st in a new series exploring the future that faces us all, David talks to S. M. Amadae about what nuclear weapons & the prospect of nuclear war have done to the human condition. Was 1945 the decisive watershed in the history of humanity?

Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com

😳

BONUS EPISODE OUT NOW!

In today’s PPF+ bonus David talks to Paul Sagar about how individual experiences shape our political and philosophical outlooks. Does good luck or bad luck change how we might feel about politics? And what really matters?

Join PPF+ now: www.ppfideas.com/join-ppf-plus

Reposted by David Runciman

Subscribed after listening to Paul Sagar's amazing episodes of @ppfideas.bsky.social, helping make sense of these strange political times, and where he somehow gave the old adage "sometimes it's darkest before the dawn" a renewed energy.
Diary of a Punter | Paul S | Substack
Coming to terms with severe spinal cord injury; recording the experience from acute hospital, through rehab, and hopefully beyond. Using voice dictation software due to residual hand function. Click t...
diaryofapunter.substack.com

🚨 Delighted to announce our upcoming Spring/Summer film season at the Regent Street Cinema in London.

Join us for a movie + live PPF recording!

Now on sale.

🎬 Metropolitan
🎬 South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
🎬 The Third Man
🎬 Good Night, and Good Luck.
🎬 Never Let Me Go

www.ppfideas.com/events
Events | Past Present Future
Join us for live events and podcast recordings
www.ppfideas.com

Reposted by David Runciman

Kemi Badenoch: "We weren't the ones stuffing government with hypocrites and paedophile apologists"

Reposted by Tariq Modood

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!

In today’s episode David and Paul Sagar explore the ideas of two late-twentieth-century thinkers - Bernard Williams and Judith Shklar. Is the fundamental political question about how to achieve the best or is it about how to avoid the worst?

Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com

🤣

Reposted by Duncan Bell

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!

In the third part of our series David and Paul Sagar explore what the German writer and sociologist Max Weber can teach us about the pitfalls of political life and political philosophy. Why is doing politics so hard?

Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com

Noted!

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!

In the second episode in our short series about how the history of ideas can help with the deepest puzzles of politics, David talks to political theorist Paul Sagar about the eighteenth-century polymath Adam Smith.

Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com

Thanks Richard, and welcome!

@lewisgoodall.com and the @newsagents.bsky.social team came to PPF HQ and you can take a look at the conversation here ⬇️

Reposted by David Runciman

Fascinating interview with David Runciman of @ppfideas.bsky.social and @lewisgoodall.com.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWEo...
Is British politics just ungovernable? | The News Agents
YouTube video by The News Agents
www.youtube.com

As huge and longtime fans of #duvetknowitschristmas this has made our day!
I don't, really! I'm pretty unadventurous and just listen to the usual suspects, but Past Present Future is terrific and I'd happily listen to Runciman talk about anything

Reposted by David Runciman

I don't, really! I'm pretty unadventurous and just listen to the usual suspects, but Past Present Future is terrific and I'd happily listen to Runciman talk about anything

We're just delighted by how many new listeners have found us this weekend. Welcome DPW and everyone... tuck in! 👋🏻
I listened to @ppfideas.bsky.social for the first time today on my very damp morning walk after hearing the recommendation from @newsagents.bsky.social

Working my mind and body together.

I think that would please Juvenal.

“Mens sana in corpore sano”.

Reposted by David Runciman

I listened to @ppfideas.bsky.social for the first time today on my very damp morning walk after hearing the recommendation from @newsagents.bsky.social

Working my mind and body together.

I think that would please Juvenal.

“Mens sana in corpore sano”.

Reposted by David Runciman

open.spotify.com/episode/27kO... @mrjamesob.bsky.social I think David Runciman perfectly explains visceral public dislike of KS which you have been puzzling over.
Is British politics just ungovernable?
open.spotify.com

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!

Today we begin a new series asking why contemporary political philosophy struggles to make sense of the deepest problems of politics and exploring how the history of ideas might help. Political theorist Paul Sagar suggests we start with Aristotle.

Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com

Reposted by David Runciman

Ep takes the form of extended conversation with the peerless David Runicman

On that, can I take a moment to recommend his superb Past Present Future podcast. If you’re interested in the history and philosophy of ideas, it can’t be bettered

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...
Politics on Trial: Dreyfus vs the Conspiracy Theory
Podcast Episode · Past Present Future · 17/08/2025 · 1h 7m
podcasts.apple.com

Reposted by David Runciman

WEEKEND NEWSAGENTS: want to do some eps which think a bit more deeply about the systemic problems now embeded in British politics. One of them seems to me that though recent PMs have power, they all seem to lack authority. Why?

Listen now

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Is British politics just ungovernable?
Podcast Episode · The News Agents · 30/01/2026 · 47m
podcasts.apple.com

You'd be surprised!

Since you're interested David wouldn't dream of using the title in a million years and self-identifies as not-a-viscount!

Reposted by David Runciman

@lewisgoodall.com and David Runciman on @newsagents.bsky.social is just a brilliant brilliant listen, thought provoking, and everyone interested should listen. The analysis of Starmer has got me thinking a lot

Reposted by David Runciman

“There’s something fraudulent about the mismatch between his sense of his own authority - and the complete absence of it in reality”.

Is Starmer’s lack of self-awareness to blame for his plummeting popularity?

@ppfideas.bsky.social

Reposted by David Runciman

"People sense something fraudulent in the mismatch between his sense of authority – and the complete absence in reality," author David Runciman tells Lewis Goodall.

From historic win to record low polling, how has it gone so wrong, so fast, for Starmer?

www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/how-...
How has Keir Starmer's political power been spent so quickly? | The News Agents
Author and academic David Runciman tells Lewis Goodall why he thinks Keir Starmer has plummeted in public opinion since coming to power – and where the PM’s strategy has failed.
www.thenewsagents.co.uk

A small purchase has been made for David’s upcoming birthday!!

🔔 Following up on our Politics on Trial series, your chance to tune in to see PPF regular and national treasure @robertsaunders.bsky.social live on 'Reforming the Jury System' 🔔

📅 Tuesday 3rd February
⏰ 12pm UK time
🎟️ Free to all, register online below ⬇️
Should jury trial be scrapped for most offences?

What can behavioural science tell us about how juries make decisions?

What can we learn from the history of the jury system?

Join our online panel to explore all this & more on Tuesday 3 February 12:00. All welcome!
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Should jury trial be scrapped for most offences?

What can behavioural science tell us about how juries make decisions?

What can we learn from the history of the jury system?

Join our online panel to explore all this & more on Tuesday 3 February 12:00. All welcome!
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...