Past Present Future Podcast

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!

Today’s political trial is one of the most notorious in American history: eight men charged with & convicted of murder in 1886 for a terrorist outrage that none of them committed. A witch hunt of the movement that was thought to have inspired it.

Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!

Today’s political trial is one of the most notorious in American history: eight men charged with & convicted of murder in 1886 for a terrorist outrage that none of them committed. A witch hunt of the movement that was thought to have inspired it.

Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!

Today’s great political trial concerns the prosecution and execution of John Brown in 1859 for his raid on Harper’s Ferry in the attempt to free America’s slaves, a trial that produced three of the greatest speeches in American history.

Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com

Postwar: 1. The Rejection Poddavsnitt · Politically · S4 A1 · 15 min

This series is absolutely fantastic. In my ignorance I knew very little about the VE Day election except that Atlee’s Labour unexpectedly beat Churchill’s Tories. It’s good to fill in the blanks here. Runciman is a great communicator.

podcasts.apple.com/se/podcast/p...

Churchill vs Attlee: The Election That Changed Britain Podcast Episode · Dan Snow's History Hit · 27/07/2025 · 44m

David joins @thehistoryguy.bsky.social to chew over the 1945 election, one of the most dramatic political upsets in British history ⬇️
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/d...

Churchill vs Attlee: The Election That Changed Britain Podcast Episode · Dan Snow's History Hit · 27/07/2025 · 44m

David joins @thehistoryguy.bsky.social to chew over the 1945 election, one of the most dramatic political upsets in British history ⬇️
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/d...

Thanks Macca!

Thanks Jordan. Rivonia Trial coming up!

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!

For today’s epic political trial, David talks to American historian Gary Gerstle about the treason trial of Aaron Burr in 1807. Why was Burr not put on trial for killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel? Was Burr really planning to invade Mexico?

Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com

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Newsletters

🚨 New Newsletter out now!

All the nuggets to accompany our most recent episodes, plus David writes on the physicality of the political trials he's been exploring.

You can sign up right here: it's fortnightly & free! ⬇️

www.ppfideas.com/newsletters

I proudly told my wife this morning I’d caught up on PPF. Glanced down at the car dashboard and “Oh.” 😆 Looking forward to it, though. This podcast series is the gift that keeps on giving

🤣 So nearly there!!

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!

Today’s epoch-making political trial concerns the execution of Louis XVI at the heart of the French Revolution in 1792-3. Powerful echoes of the trial & execution of Charles I - but in fact the trial of Louis was different in almost every way.

Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com

Why Are We Drawn to Dictators? Podcast Episode · Dan Snow's History Hit · 05/05/2024 · 49m

"Why Are We Drawn to Dictators?"

With a Telegraph columnist "hoping for a military coup", this might be a good moment to repost this episode of Dan Snow's "History Hit".

Featuring me, @anneapplebaum.bsky.social, David Runciman and @thehistoryguy.bsky.social.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...

Brilliant episode.

Increasingly finding that supporting Past Present Future and Origin Story @originstorypodcast.bsky.social are my best monthly investments.

This is what we like to hear Anna!

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NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!

To begin our new instalment of episodes about the most consequential political trials in history David explores the trial of the 18th century: the impeachment of Warren Hastings that ran in the British parliament from 1788-95.

It's a blockbuster.

Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com

Enjoy your PPF+ subscription DM, and don't forget there are already 32 other bonus eps awaiting you! 🎁

BONUS EPISODE OUT NOW!

Today’s bonus episode on PPF+ is the 2nd part of David’s conversation with @axdouglas.bsky.social looking at how the ideas of the French philosopher René Girard got taken up and corrupted by Silicon Valley.

Join PPF+ here for all our bonuses: www.ppfideas.com/join-ppf-plus

BBC Radio 4 - Politically, Postwar: Omnibus 1 David Runciman tells the story of the 1945 election and the dawn of a new age.

9pm TODAY on ⁦‪@BBCRadio4‬⁩

Politically, Postwar
Omnibus 1 (of 4)

David Runciman tells the story of one of the biggest shocks in British parliamentary history: the 1945 election and the dawn of a new age

#History #Politics

I really enjoyed my conversation with David, who asked very deep and difficult questions!

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!

For the final ep in our current series on the history of bad ideas, David talks to philosopher @axdouglas.bsky.social about the damage that can be done by the idea of identity. Why is the search for a distinctive personal identity a futile quest?

Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com

BBC Radio 4 - Politically, Postwar, 1. The Rejection Why did Winston Churchill find himself so decisively rejected by the electorate?

Postwar - Have been completely riveted by this @BBCRadio4 series from David Runciman and producer Martin Williams. Not only fascinating history, but a light on current times. Whole series available @BBCSounds www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!

In today’s episode of the history of bad ideas, David talks to political philosopher @profafinlayson.bsky.social about behaviourism. How did we get from Pavlov’s Dog to a prescription for a better society?

Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com

If ONLY!!

Thanks Andrea!

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!

Today’s bad idea is one with a short history but a big reach. David talks to historian Gary Gerstle about how it was originally conceived, what its current vogue says about the times in which we live and whether this really is a polycrisis.

Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com

The History of Ideas. David Runciman. Profile Books, 2024

Ordered Sunday evening, arrived today. From @foxlanebooks.bsky.social, signed too. I’m a big fan of @ppfideas.bsky.social pod. Looking forward to dipping into this; starting with Rosa Luxemburg.