top of page
David Runciman

The History of Ideas Podcast
with David Runciman

Find us wherever you get your podcasts

  • Spotify
  • Apple Music
  • Amazon

Follow us

  • Bluesky

A bi-weekly podcast exploring the history of ideas from politics to philosophy, science to fiction.

Latest episode

The History of Revolutionary Ideas: Lenin and Trotsky

24 April 2025

00:00 / 01:04

To conclude this part of our revolutionary ideas series, we explore the overlapping lives and thinking of two emblematic twentieth-century revolutionaries: Lenin and Trotsky. David talks to historian of Russia Edward Acton about what inspired them, what connected them and what divided them. How were they radicalised? How did they interpret the failure of the 1905 revolution? How did they make the 1917 revolution happen?

Available from Saturday on PPF+: Lenin and Trotsky part 2, taking the story on from 1917 to explore civil war, the rise of Stalin and the re-invention of Trotskyism. To get this and all our bonus episodes plus ad-free listening sign up now to PPF+ https://www.ppfideas.com/join-ppf-plus

Out tomorrow a new edition of our free fortnightly newsletter with links, clips and guides to all our recent episodes. Join our mailing list https://www.ppfideas.com/newsletters

Next time the start of a new series: The History of Globalisation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5-million_dark 16x9.png

More episodes

PPF Live Special: Churchill – The Politician With Nine Lives w/Robert Saunders

20 April 2025

00:00 / 01:04

The History of Revolutionary Ideas: The Rite of Spring w/Dominic Dromgoole

17 April 2025

00:00 / 01:04

The History of Revolutionary Ideas: Ubu Roi w/Dominic Dromgoole

15 April 2025

00:00 / 01:04

Delve deeper

Sign up to our newsletter to delve deeper into the ideas explored in our podcast, with new editions delivered free, fortnightly, to your inbox.

Thanks for signing up!

Join PPF+

Get ad-free listening, 24 bonus episodes a year, and support the podcast. All for just £5 a month or £50 a year!

bottom of page