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David Runciman

The History of Ideas Podcast
with David Runciman

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

Latest episode

Now & Then with Robert Saunders: The General Strike @100

3 May 2026

00:00 / 01:04

In today’s episode David talks to historian Robert Saunders about the meaning of Britain’s one and (so far) only general strike on its hundredth anniversary. Was the strike a revolutionary event or an industrial dispute gone wrong? Who won and who lost the battle of ideas? Did it reveal something distinctive about Britain and its politics? Was this a divided nation or one that had more in common than it realised?

Join us at the Cheltenham Science Festival on Wednesday 3rd June for a live recording of the podcast with David in conversation with Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, to talk about trust, democracy and knowledge in a divided world. Tickets available now https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.org/events/the-politics-of-trust-lessons-from-wikipedia

You can find out everything you need to know about this podcast – who we are, what we do, plus merch, events and full lists of all episodes and PPF+ bonus episodes on our website https://www.ppfideas.com

Next time: The General Strike @100 Part Two - The Legacy

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More episodes

Live Film Special: South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut w/Beeban Kidron

29 April 2026

00:00 / 01:04

Talking … Peter Mandelson and New Labour w/Helen Thompson

26 April 2026

00:00 / 01:04

PPF+: A Taste Of What You’ve Been Missing (Taster 2)

24 April 2026

00:00 / 01:04

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