Best David Runciman Podcasts (2025)

1
Responsible Investing: A Year of Progress with RIAA's Estelle Parker 17:35

2h ago17:35

17:35

In this episode of The Greener Way, host Michelle Baltazar, Director of Media at FS Sustainability, speaks with Estelle Parker, Co-Chief Executive of the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA). They discuss the surge in public awareness and demand for responsible investments in Australia, the success of RIAA's Sustainable Classificat…

1
The History of Revolutionary Ideas: Darwin w/Adam Rutherford 54:38

21m ago54:38

54:38

David talks to geneticist and science writer Adam Rutherford about the book that fundamentally altered our understanding of just about everything: Darwin’s On The Origin of Species (1859). What made the idea of natural selection so different from the theories of evolution that preceded it? How did Darwin arrive at it? What changed when he published…

1
Nobel Prizewinner Abdulrazak Gurnah on Theft, Love, and the Power of Fiction 48:45

6d ago48:45

48:45

Nobel Prize-winning author Abdulrazak Gurnah sits down with Adam Biles in store to discuss his new novel, Theft. Their conversation delves into the intricate interplay between personal history and the enduring legacy of colonialism, examines the complex dynamics of family and servitude, and discusses the challenge of transcending inherited narrativ…

1
The History of Revolutionary Ideas: The Taiping Revolution 1:06:48

1h ago1:06:48

1:06:48

Today’s revolutionary ideas come from China: David talks to historian Julia Lovell about the Taiping Revolution, another massive mid-19th-century upheaval that nearly overturned the established order. How did Christianity inspire an uprising against the Qing dynasty? Was it a revolution or a civil war? What was the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom? And whe…

1
Innovation vs. Regulation: Navigating the Future of Decarbonization 10:40

3h ago10:40

10:40

Join host Michelle Baltazar as she interviews Rob Langrick, CFA Institute's Chief Product Advocate, on the evolving landscape of sustainable finance and investing. Learn about the CFA program's integrated approach to sustainability education, the impact of recent U.S. regulatory rollbacks, and the innovative advancements making decarbonisation more…

1
The History of Revolutionary Ideas: 1848: The Radical Revolution w/Chris Clark 53:30

2d ago53:30

53:30

In our second of three episodes on the revolutions that swept through Europe in 1848 David and Chris Clark explore the forces demanding radical change. What was ‘the Social Question’ and who was asking it? Where did the violence that erupted in the summer of 1848 come from? What, if anything did it achieve? And who paid the price? Out tomorrow: a f…

1
The History of Revolutionary Ideas: 1848: The Liberal Revolution w/Chris Clark 56:55

14d ago56:55

56:55

In the first of three episodes about the revolutions that swept through Europe in 1848 David is joined by historian Chris Clark to explore the ideas behind this continental upheaval. We start with the ‘Liberal Revolution’: Who were the liberals and what had turned them into revolutionaries? How did the original French Revolution overshadow their ho…

1
BONUS: Jeremy Pelt on Preserving Jazz Through Storytelling 54:10

14d ago54:10

54:10

For this bonus episode, the Shakespeare and Company podcast welcomes Jeremy Pelt, renowned jazz trumpeter and author of Griot: Examining the Lives of Jazz Great Storytellers. In conversation with Alex Freiman, Pelt discusses the evolution of jazz, the influence of oral traditions, and the importance of documenting firsthand accounts from legendary …

1
From Standards to Strategy: Understanding Climate Reporting 18:12

23m ago18:12

18:12

In this episode of The Greener Way, host Michelle Baltazar, Director of Media at FS Sustainability, discusses the newly implemented climate-related financial disclosure standards in Australia with Nicholas Guest, co-lead of HLB Mann Judd's Sustainability Steering Committee. They explore the phased approach of the new regime, its impact on small to …

1
The History of Revolutionary Ideas: The Bayesian Revolution w/David Spiegelhalter 1:01:36

9d ago1:01:36

1:01:36

Today’s revolutionary idea is something a bit different: David talks to statistician David Spiegelhalter about how an eighteenth-century theory of probability emerged from relative obscurity in the twentieth century to reconfigure our understanding of the relationship between past, present and future. What was Thomas Bayes’s original idea about doi…

1
The History of Revolutionary Ideas: Slave Uprising: The Haitian Revolution 58:01

1d ago58:01

58:01

Today’s episode is about a very different revolution from any we’ve discussed so far: David talks to historian Hank Gonzalez about the Haitian Revolution, which for the first time in history saw a slave revolt result in an independent free state. How did the Haitian Revolution intersect with the American and French Revolutions that preceded it? Why…

1
Reimagining Moby-Dick, with Xiaolu Guo 57:03

21d ago57:03

57:03

In this episode, we’re joined by novelist and filmmaker Xiaolu Guo to discuss her latest novel, Call Me Ishmaelle. A bold reimagining of Moby-Dick, Guo's novel audaciously swaps the gender of Melville’s narrator and plunges into a world of hidden identities, maritime adventure, and cultural collision. With host Adam Biles, Guo reflects on her perso…

1
Mining and Microbes: A New Era of Environmental Solutions 19:55

2d ago19:55

19:55

Harnessing Synthetic Biology for Sustainable Mining and Pollution Mitigation. In this episode of The Greener Way, guest host Michelle Baltazar interviews Nicole Richards, CEO of Allonnia, about the company's use of synthetic biology to address sustainability issues. The discussion covers Allonia’s work in accelerating nature's process of breaking d…

1
The History of Revolutionary Ideas: French Revolution 3: Paine 59:25

25d ago59:25

59:25

For our third episode on the ideas behind the French Revolution, David talks to Richard Whatmore about the ubiquitous Thomas Paine, the Englishman who championed revolutionary politics around the world. How did Paine come to see France as the locus of all his revolutionary hopes? How were those hopes ultimately disappointed? And what happened to Pa…

1
The History of Revolutionary Ideas: French Revolution 2: Robespierre 54:35

27d ago54:35

54:35

For our second episode on the people and ideas behind the French Revolution David talks to historian and biographer Ruth Scurr about the man who came to embody the revolution in all its radicalism and all its terror: Maximilien Robespierre. Who was he and how did he rise so fast once the upheaval was underway? How did he harness the power of the Ja…

1
Are founder-led companies a risk? With Lawrence Lam 15:21

22d ago15:21

15:21

Today we are going to talk about founder-led companies, which can provide high returns for investors – but also be high risk. From Uber's aggressive expansion tactics under Travis Kalanick, Theranos's fraudulent blood testing under Elizabeth Holmes, and WeWork's unsustainable growth under Adam Neumann, founder-led companies can be more at risk of c…

1
The History of Revolutionary Ideas: French Revolution 1: Sieyès 58:35

1M ago58:35

58:35

In the first of three episodes about the people and ideas behind the French Revolution, David talks to Lucia Rubinelli about the man who helped kickstart it all: the Abbé Sieyès. How did an obscure cleric galvanise a nation? What did he mean by the Third Estate and why did he think it was everything? What went wrong with his idea of a new constitut…

1
The History of Revolutionary Ideas: American Revolution 2: The Constitution 1:04:53

1M ago1:04:53

1:04:53

In the second of our two episodes about the American Revolution David talks to historian Eric Nelson about the ideas that shaped the US Constitution. Was the office of President a victory for the people who still wanted a king or for those who never wanted one again? What was old and what was new about the idea of the separation of powers? What rea…

1
2016: The Year That Broke Us - with poet and oral-historian Sarah Hesketh 1:02:24

1M ago1:02:24

1:02:24

In this thought-provoking discussion, poet and oral historian Sarah Hesketh discusses her latest book, 2016 (CB Editions), a powerful exploration of one of the most pivotal years in recent history. Through a poetic and documentary approach, she captures the voices of twelve individuals reflecting on key events that shaped the world—Brexit, Trump’s …

1
Green careers in silent crisis: The biggest challenges facing sustainability professionals with Heather Lynch 18:25

1M ago18:25

18:25

Recent research has revealed that sustainability professionals are fighting anxiety, loneliness, imposter syndrome. 43% of green professionals are the sole staff member responsible for sustainability within their organisation, according to a UK study out of the University of St Andrews and the University of Strathclyde. Here to discuss is Heather L…

1
The History of Revolutionary Ideas: American Revolution 1: The Declaration of Independence 1:01:02

24d ago1:01:02

1:01:02

Today it’s the first of two episodes about one of the most significant revolutions of all: the American Revolution. David talks to historian Eric Nelson about the ideas behind America’s Declaration of Independence in 1776. How did a fight with the British parliament become a repudiation of the British king? What turned royalists into republicans? W…

1
The History of Revolutionary Ideas: The Industrial Revolution 54:23

22d ago54:23

54:23

Today’s episode is about a revolution that started 250 years ago and is still going on (in the form of the digital revolution): the Industrial Revolution. David talks to economic historian Alexis Litvine about how new ways of making things changed human understanding of the world around us. Did the Industrial Revolution invent the idea of progress?…

1
Decommissioning offshore oil and gas with Joshua Runciman 15:47

23d ago15:47

15:47

Oil spills, leaks and contaminants can wreak havoc on marine life, and abandoned and decaying platforms and pipelines can cause large-scale damage through chemical and heavy-metal pollutants. With LNG markets declining and ageing offshore oil and gas infrastructure representing an environmental safety risk, titleholders are now having to decommissi…

1
The History of Revolutionary Ideas: English Revolution 2: 1688 57:03

25d ago57:03

57:03

In the second of our episodes with historian Clare Jackson on the English revolutions of the 17th century we discuss the one that usually gets called ‘Glorious’: the revolution of 1688. Was it a revolution or was it an invasion? What rights did parliament win and what powers did it acquire? Was this the beginning of the modern military state? And d…

1
The History of Revolutionary Ideas: English Revolution 1: Civil War 57:42

27d ago57:42

57:42

Today’s episode in our history of revolutionary ideas is about the event that is sometimes – but not always – called the English Revolution: the Civil War of the 1640s and the short-lived republic that followed. David talks to historian Clare Jackson about whether this really was a revolution and about the thinking that inspired it. What was old, w…

1
The Power of Voice – Sulaiman Addonia on The Seers 49:28

2M ago49:28

49:28

In this special live recording we dive into The Seers, the mesmerising new novel by Sulaiman Addonia. In conversation with Adam Biles, Addonia shares the story behind his bold, unfiltered novel—written as a single, unbroken paragraph—through the voice of Hannah, an Eritrean refugee navigating love, loss, sexuality, and identity on the streets of Lo…

1
Ultra wealthy look to sustainability and impact in an increasingly anti-ESG world with Amanda MacDonald 17:04

2M ago17:04

17:04

When you think of high-net-worth investors, you probably think of fast cars, designer bags and all-inclusive vacations. The last place your mind likely turns to is their interest in sustainable investing. But according to Amanda MacDonald, high-net-worth investors are increasingly looking to make an impact in their portfolios. But the global sustai…

1
The History of Revolutionary Ideas: The Scientific Revolution 1:06:40

2M ago1:06:40

1:06:40

Today’s episode is about a revolution that took centuries to happen if it ever really happened at all: The Scientific Revolution. David talks to historian of science Simon Schaffer about what changed in human understanding – and what didn’t – in the age of Galileo and Newton. Was the new science a revolution of ideas or of practices? What did it me…

1
The History of Revolutionary Ideas: The Reformation (part 1): Luther 57:07

1M ago57:07

57:07

Today’s revolutionary thinker is Martin Luther, the man who upended the religious, political and intellectual life of Europe, maybe without entirely meaning to. David talks to historian Alec Ryrie about how a German monk took on the entire authority of the Catholic Church and survived the experience. What did he hope to achieve? Who were his princi…

1
Ending the 'Tyranny' of Pregnancy (2024) - Luara Ferracioli, Brigitte Gerstl, Mianna Lotz & Kathryn MacKay 1:02:14

1M ago1:02:14

1:02:14

Since the dawn of time, our pro-natalist society has implemented certain systems, norms and lenses in which we view child rearing. These often oppressive and coercive conditions make it difficult for many to think about their reproductive options. But with the emergence of artificial wombs and womb transplants, what impact could this have on reprod…

1
Uncancelled Culture (2024) - David Baddiel, Roxane Gay, Andy Mills, Megan Phelps-Roper & Tim Dean 1:01:20

1M ago1:01:20

1:01:20

Throughout history we have found ways to regulate human behaviour through the threat of social exclusion. But while the idea of ‘cancellation’ is not new, the online sphere has radically shifted the way we hold people to account and punish perceived wrongdoing. Is redemption possible in the digital age? And can narratives of growth and forgiveness …

1
Democracy is Not Worth Dying for (2024) - Geraldine Doogue, Masha Gessen, Paul Ham & David Runciman 1:00:53

1M ago1:00:53

1:00:53

Democracy has often been presented as an ideal, where citizens can participate and benefit from a fair society. But as we face growing inequality, political turmoil, and loss of faith in modern life, the price of preserving democracy might be proving too steep. Masha Gessen is an opinion columnist for The New York Times and a Distinguished Professo…

1
Jem Bendell (2024) - Breaking Together 39:32

2M ago39:32

39:32

The process of global collapse has begun – driven by the damage we have caused to the Earth’s natural systems. And governments and corporations aren’t going to save us. So are we going to cling to our old individual ways of fighting each other for the final scraps? Or should we adapt and support each other through this transition? Sociologist Jem B…

1
The biggest misconception fund managers have about stewardship with Rachel Alembakis 12:15

1M ago12:15

12:15

Today, Rachel Alembakis joins us on the show to discuss her role as stewardship manager at U Ethical. Alembakis pivoted from a career in journalism – including as the prior editor of FS Sustainability – and says that communication skills are one of the most important aspects of stewardship and engagement with companies to ensure they are following …

1
The History of Revolutionary Ideas: Humanism 1:00:47

2M ago1:00:47

1:00:47

Today’s episode in our history of revolutionary ideas is about a medieval movement that used the ancient past to rethink and reimagine the present and the future. David talks to historian Eric Nelson about humanism and its enormous impact on the history of ideas. How did humanism emerge out of catastrophe? What did it do to the hold of Church and E…

1
The History of Revolutionary Ideas: Magna Carta 1:07:04

1M ago1:07:04

1:07:04

Today’s episode in our history of revolutionary ideas is about a medieval document that is sometimes thought to contain a ground-breaking promise of basic political rights. David talks to historian Nick Vincent about Magna Carta (1215) and what it did and didn’t actually say. Why did the warring parties agree to it? Was it a constitutional charter …

1
Acts of Resistance: Amber Massie-Blomfield on the Power of Art to Shape a Better World 1:03:32

2M ago1:03:32

1:03:32

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with Amber Massie-Blomfield, author of Acts of Resistance: The Power of Art to Create a Better World. This conversation, recorded in store, dives into the profound role art plays in times of crisis. Amber shares stories of artists who defied oppressive regimes, like Claude Cahun's surrealist resistance i…

1
Net zero infrastructure, data centres and renewable integration with David Scaysbrook 12:59

2M ago12:59

12:59

With energy efficiency highlighted as a global priority at COP29, asset managers are faced with a big task: to align their strategies to meet new international standards. Joining us today is David Scaysbrook, co-founder and managing partner of Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners. With over 28 years in energy and renewables infrastructure, Scaysbrook …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

David Runciman Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide

zproxy.org

zproxy.org