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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

An Ageing World: Simone de Beauvoir on Old Age

4 October 2026

00:00 / 01:04

For the final episode in our series on living in an ageing world David talks to Lyndsey Stonebridge about one of the most interesting and challenging of all writers on the subject of old age – Simone de Beauvoir. Why did Beauvoir believe that we are all duplicitous about the elderly? How did she experience her own ageing body and the prospect of her own death? What did she learn from watching Sartre age and die? And what makes her a prophet for the world we live in today?

Lyndsey Stonebridge’s 'Old Women: A History of Our Future' will be published next year.

Out now on PPF+: part two of David’s conversation with Samuel Moyn about the problem of gerontocracy. How can older people be encouraged to stop hoarding wealth and power? Is socialised care the solution? And is that ever going to happen in a place like America? To get this and all our bonus episodes plus ad-free listening – and to help support everything we do – subscribe to PPF+ no https://www.ppfideas.com/join-ppf-plus

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

Next Time: The Curious History of Transhumanism

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5 million downloads

More episodes

An Ageing World: The Problem of Gerontocracy

30 September 2026

00:00 / 01:04

An Ageing World: The Meaning of Death

27 September 2026

00:00 / 01:04

An Ageing World: Lifespan vs Healthspan

23 September 2026

00:00 / 01:04

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