Past Present Future

David Runciman 335 - Forensics on Trial

Past Present Future is a bi-weekly History of Ideas podcast with David Runciman, host and creator of Talking Politics, exploring the history of ideas from politics to philosophy, culture to technology. David talks to historians, novelists, scientists and many others about where the most interesting ideas come from, what they mean, and why they matter. Ideas from the past, questions about the present, shaping the future. New episodes every Wednesday and Sunday.

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Episodes

16 Aug 2026

12 Aug 2026

09 Aug 2026

05 Aug 2026

02 Aug 2026

29 Jul 2026

26 Jul 2026

22 Jul 2026

19 Jul 2026

15 Jul 2026

12 Jul 2026

08 Jul 2026

05 Jul 2026

01 Jul 2026

28 Jun 2026

24 Jun 2026

21 Jun 2026

17 Jun 2026

14 Jun 2026

10 Jun 2026

07 Jun 2026

03 Jun 2026

31 May 2026

27 May 2026

24 May 2026

20 May 2026

17 May 2026

13 May 2026

10 May 2026

06 May 2026

03 May 2026

29 Apr 2026

26 Apr 2026

24 Apr 2026

23 Apr 2026

22 Apr 2026

19 Apr 2026

15 Apr 2026

12 Apr 2026

08 Apr 2026

05 Apr 2026

01 Apr 2026

29 Mar 2026

25 Mar 2026

22 Mar 2026

18 Mar 2026

15 Mar 2026

11 Mar 2026

08 Mar 2026

04 Mar 2026

Past Present Future

Episodes

Forensics on Trial

The History of Bad Ideas: Overdiagnosis

The History of Bad Ideas: Short-Form Video

The History of Bad Ideas: Decadence

The History of Bad Ideas: The Romantic Hero

The History of Bad Ideas: The Electoral College

The History of Bad Ideas: Utilitarianism

The History of Bad Ideas: Political Leadership is What Counts

The History of Bad Ideas: Celebrity

The History of Bad Ideas: Deliverism

The History of Bad Ideas: Narrative History

The History of Bad Ideas: Hysteria

Where Are We Going? The Future of the Future

Where Are We Going? The Idea of the Future

Live Film Special: Never Let Me Go w/Adam Rutherford

Now & Then with Robert Saunders: The Brexit Referendum 10 Years On

Live Special: Jimmy Wales on the Lessons of Wikipedia

The Great Political Fictions: HHhH

The Great Political Fictions: The Years

The Great Political Fictions: The Human Factor

The Great Political Fictions: The Dispossessed

The Great Political Fictions: The Golden Notebook Part 2 w/Catherine Taylor

The Great Political Fictions: The Golden Notebook

The Great Political Fictions: Brave New World

Live Film Special: Good Night, and Good Luck w/Helen Lewis

The Starmer Crisis in Historical Perspective – Part 2: What’s Next?

The Starmer Crisis in Historical Perspective – Part 1

Where Are We Going? The Future Of Work

Live Film Special: The Third Man w/Misha Glenny

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

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

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

Talking … Peter Mandelson and New Labour w/Helen Thompson

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

PPF+: A Taste Of What You’ve Been Missing (Taster 1)

PPF+: A Taste Of What You’ve Been Missing (Taster 3)

Orwell’s War: Frozen In Time (1942-43)

Orwell’s War: False Dawn (1940-41)

Orwell’s War: The Nightmare (1938-39)

Live Film Special: Metropolitan w/James Marriott

Political Conversions: Switching Sides in the 21st Century

Political Conversions: From Trotskyism to Neoconservatism

Political Conversions: Communism – The God That Failed

Political Conversions: Going Fascist

Live Special: Another American Civil War?

Live Special: Is This How Democracy Ends? w/Lyse Doucet, Chris Clark & Thant Myint-U

Now & Then with Robert Saunders: The Twists and Turns of the Special Relationship

Now & Then with Robert Saunders: Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ Speech @80

Where Are We Going? Societal Collapse – The Future

Where Are We Going? Societal Collapse – The Present Day