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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

The History of Bad Ideas: Political Leadership is What Counts

22 July 2026

00:00 / 01:04

Today’s bad idea is a pervasive political myth: the notion that what really matters at election time is political leadership. David talks to political scientist Jane Green about why leaders are less important than they – and we – tend to think. What does shape how people choose to vote? Why do we consistently overstate what leaders can do? Did Blair or Johnson or Starmer really ‘win’ their elections? Can Andy Burnham buck the trend?

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 including PPF+ bonus episodes on our website https://www.ppfideas.com

Next Time in The History of Bad Ideas: Utilitarianism

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More episodes

The History of Bad Ideas: Celebrity

19 July 2026

00:00 / 01:04

The History of Bad Ideas: Deliverism

15 July 2026

00:00 / 01:04

The History of Bad Ideas: Narrative History

12 July 2026

00:00 / 01:04

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