Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchThe History of Bad Ideas: Meritocracy
Season 5 Episode 198
Today’s bad idea is one that started out as satire and ended as a political slogan. David talks to historian of ideas Ben Jackson about meritocracy and its origins in Michael Young’s book The Rise of…
Published on 2 months, 1 week ago
The History of Bad Ideas: Charisma
Season 5 Episode 197
For today’s episode in the history of bad ideas David talks to cultural historian Tom Wright about charisma, a term that often feels essential for understanding modern politics but which ends up obsc…
Published on 2 months, 1 week ago
The History of Bad Ideas: The Decisive Battle
Season 5 Episode 196
In today’s episode about the power of bad ideas, David talks to historian and podcaster Dan Snow about the myth that wars are settled on the battlefield. Why are we so drawn to the idea of the decisi…
Published on 2 months, 2 weeks ago
The History of Bad Ideas: Genius
Season 5 Episode 195
Today’s bad idea is ‘genius’, the label that has enabled all sorts of terrible behaviour through the ages. Writer and broadcaster Helen Lewis explains how and why the idea of genius gets misapplied t…
Published on 2 months, 2 weeks ago
The History of Bad Ideas: Austerity
Season 5 Episode 194
For the first episode in our new series about how bad ideas take hold, David talks to economist Mark Blyth about austerity, the cost-cutting idea that refuses to die. Why is it an article of faith th…
Published on 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Politics on Trial: Charles I vs Parliament
Season 13 Episode 193
Today’s political trial is perhaps the most consequential in English history: the trial and execution of King Charles I for treason in January 1649. How could a king commit treason when treason was a…
Published on 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Politics on Trial: Galileo vs the Inquisition
Season 13 Episode 192
Today’s trial is one of the most notorious in history but also one of the most misremembered. Galileo’s epic confrontation with the Catholic Church over the question of whether the earth moves round …
Published on 3 months ago
50th Anniversary Special: The 1975 European Referendum w/Robert Saunders
Season 6 Episode 191
Today’s episode is about a pivotal event in British history that took place exactly 50 years ago: the 1975 referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Community. David talks to historian Rober…
Published on 3 months ago
Politics on Trial: Mary Queen of Scots vs the Secret State
Season 13 Episode 190
In today’s episode an extraordinary political trial that culminated in the execution of one queen at the behest of another: Mary Queen of Scots, convicted of treason in 1586 and beheaded in 1587. But…
Published on 3 months, 1 week ago
Politics on Trial: Thomas More vs the King
Season 13 Episode 189
In today’s episode another trial that forms the basis for great drama: the case of Thomas More, tried and executed in 1535, events dramatised by Robert Bolt in A Man for All Seasons and Hilary Mantel…
Published on 3 months, 1 week ago