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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

Live Film Special: The Third Man w/Misha Glenny

10 May 2026

00:00 / 01:04

Today’s episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the Regent Street Cinema in London: David talks to the writer and broadcaster Misha Glenny about Carol Reed’s 1949 masterpiece The Third Man, written by Graham Greene and featuring a notorious film-stealing performance from Orson Welles. It’s a film about friendship and betrayal, double-crosses and double lives, divided loyalties and dubious moralities. It is also all about Vienna, a city with a double life of its own. Everyone involved in this film had something to hide: the question is, what?

Join us on Wednesday 20th May at the Regent Street Cinema in London for the next film in our spring and summer season: a screening of George Clooney’s Good Night, and Good Luck followed by a live podcast recording with David and writer and broadcaster Helen Lewis. Tickets available now https://bit.ly/4wfM5tb 

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: Where Are We Going? The Future of Work

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More episodes

Now & Then with Robert Saunders: The General Strike @100 Part 2

6 May 2026

00:00 / 01:04

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

3 May 2026

00:00 / 01:04

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

29 April 2026

00:00 / 01:04

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