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Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's PodcastPlato's RepublicSend us a textIn this episode of Beyond the Text, Samuel Woodall and Jack Thomson sit down for an in-depth discussion on Plato’s Republic—one of the most influential works in the history of political thought. Written against the backdrop of Athenian political upheaval and the trial of Socrates, The Republic presents Plato’s radical vision of justice, order, and philosophical rule.We explore Plato’s critique of democracy and his proposal for an ideal state ruled by philosopher-kings—those uniquely capable of grasping the Forms, especially the Form of the Good. Through the voice...2025-05-091h 22Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's PodcastRawls and SandelSend us a textIn this episode of Beyond the Text, Samuel Woodall and Jack Thomson take a deep dive into the thought of John Rawls, exploring his major contribution to liberal political philosophy and the critiques it provoked from both libertarian and communitarian perspectives.We begin with A Theory of Justice (1971), where Rawls develops his influential idea of "justice as fairness"—a theory grounded in the principles of liberty and equality, structured around the thought experiments of the "original position" and the "veil of ignorance." Rawls offers a bold moral argument for a redistributive we...2025-05-091h 17Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's PodcastHistory of Ideas Club: Plato's RepublicSend us a textIn this History of Ideas Club session, we turn to one of the foundational texts of Western political thought: Plato’s Republic. Written in the aftermath of Athens’ political turmoil and the execution of Socrates, The Republic reflects Plato’s deep skepticism toward democracy and his radical vision for a just society governed by wisdom rather than popular opinion.Plato (c. 427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, presents a powerful critique of Athenian politics through the voice of Socrates. In The Republic, he outlines a tripartite society led by philosop...2025-05-091h 07Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's PodcastHistory of Ideas Club: Rawls and SandelSend us a textIn this session of the History of Ideas Club, we dive into the thought of John Rawls, one of the towering figures of 20th-century political philosophy, and explore the debate he sparked with thinkers like Robert Nozick and Michael Sandel.Rawls’ seminal work, A Theory of Justice (1971), redefined liberal political thought with his concept of "justice as fairness"—a vision rooted in equality, individual liberty, and the famous thought experiments of the "original position" and the "veil of ignorance." His model of a just society aimed to balance freedom with social coop...2025-05-051h 21Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's PodcastF. A. Hayek: Law, Legislation, and LibertySend us a textIn this episode of Beyond the Text, we dive into Friedrich Hayek’s Law, Legislation, and Liberty, a profound exploration of legal philosophy, governance, and the limits of state power. Hayek draws a crucial distinction between law and legislation, arguing for the primacy of spontaneous order over centralized control. How do his insights shape our understanding of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law? And what relevance do they hold in today’s political climate? Join us as we unpack Hayek’s legacy and the enduring debate over law and liberty.2025-03-191h 31Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's PodcastThe History Of Ideas And Political Thought Reading Club Presents: Liberty Series, Hayek.Send us a textIn this session of the History of Ideas Reading Club, we explore Friedrich Hayek's influential ideas on knowledge, society, and governance. We discuss his distinction between scientific knowledge and knowledge about the operations of society, questioning how our ignorance of the complex systems of social interaction impacts freedom. 🤔🌍 Hayek's view that social institutions cannot be rationally constructed from scratch leads us to examine the concept of society as a ‘spontaneous order’ and consider whether there are disanalogies between societies and organisms. 🏛️🔄The session also tackles Hayek’s belief that the rules of just conduct must...2025-03-181h 24Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's PodcastThe French Existentialists: Sartre, De Beauvoir, CamusSend us a textIn this episode, we dive into the key ideas of Sartre, De Beauvoir, and Camus, exploring how French existentialism reshaped our understanding of freedom, responsibility, and justice.🔹 Jean-Paul Sartre – Being and Nothingness What does it mean to exist in a world without inherent meaning? We examine Sartre’s distinction between being-in-itself and being-for-itself, his concept of bad faith, and the ethical consequences of "existence precedes essence."🔹 Simone de Beauvoir – The Second Sex How does one become a woman? We discuss De Beauvoir’s challenge to g...2025-03-051h 17Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's PodcastThe History Of Ideas & Political Thought Reading Club Presents: Liberty Series French ExistentialismSend us a textHistory of Ideas Club (Live) | The French ExistentialistsIn this session of the Liberty series, hosted by Samuel Woodall and Jack Thomson from the Buckingham Political Thought Reading Club, we delve into the world of French existentialism. Join us as we explore the key ideas of Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Albert Camus—examining concepts like radical freedom, bad faith, authenticity, and the absurd. The discussion also covers existentialism's intersections with feminism, post-colonialism, and political ethics.Key texts discussed:Sartre's Being and Nothingnessde Beauvoir's Th...2025-01-271h 21Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's PodcastJohn Stuart Mill, Linchpin Between Classical and Modern LiberalismSend us a textJohn Stuart Mill (1806–1873) wasn’t just a brilliant thinker—he was the product of an intense intellectual environment, shaped from childhood by his father, James Mill, and the utilitarian circle of Jeremy Bentham. Trained rigorously in logic, philosophy, and economics, Mill was expected to carry forward the utilitarian mission of maximizing happiness through reason and reform. But this pressure came at a cost. By his early twenties, Mill suffered a crisis that led him to question everything he had been taught.In this episode, we explore:🔹 How did Mill’s upbringing...2025-01-201h 20Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's PodcastThe History Of Ideas And Political Thought Reading Club Presents: Liberty Series: John Stuart MillSend us a textJoin us as we delve into the life and legacy of John Stuart Mill (1806–1873), one of the most influential thinkers of the 19th century. This seminar explores how Mill's intellectual development was shaped by the close-knit network of families, mentors, and philosophical allies surrounding him. Raised under the rigorous tutelage of his father, James Mill—a key figure in the utilitarian movement—Mill was groomed to advance the utilitarian ideals of reason, reform, and social progress.We’ll examine Mill’s contributions to ethics, liberal political theory, and statecraft, alongside his engagement...2025-01-131h 15Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's PodcastJohn Locke, Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine - The Quest for LibertySend us a textIn this episode, Samuel Woodall and Jack Thomson explore the ideas of John Locke and Thomas Paine, building on and going beyond the discussion at the History of Ideas Club. Locke’s Two Treatises of Government argued that governments derive legitimacy from the consent of the governed, laying the groundwork for modern liberal democracy. Paine took this further, calling for radical action in Common Sense and The Rights of Man, rejecting monarchy and gradual reform in favor of immediate change.The episode also considers Edmund Burke, who saw Paine’s revolutionary zeal...2025-01-061h 19
Expat Property StorySeven Podcast Recommendations#191Following on from yesterday’s episode on the Seven best books I read this year, today, I have 7 podcasts for you:1. The Tim Ferriss Show Featuring Seth Godin2. How I Built This3. Revisionist History by Malcolm Gladwell4. The Blow Ins5. Benjamin Hardy's Concept6. Eventful Lives by Dodge Woodall7. High Performance by Jake Humphreys and Damien HughesListen to the show to find out how I arrived at my choice.Our investor list is full right now, but we'll be doing more...2024-12-2915 minBeyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's PodcastThe History Of Ideas And Political Thought Reading Club Presents: Liberty Series, Locke & Paine.Send us a textJohn Locke (1632–1704), a key figure of the Enlightenment, is known for his contributions to philosophy, politics, and epistemology. His Essay Concerning Human Understanding introduces the concept of the tabula rasa, arguing that the mind begins as a blank slate, acquiring knowledge solely through experience. This empiricist view challenged traditional notions of innate ideas, such as Plato’s Forms or the Christian doctrine of original sin.A Letter Concerning Toleration further advocated the separation of church and state, promoting religious freedom as essential to individual and societal well-being.Locke...2024-12-231h 11Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's PodcastRousseau's Social Contract and the Civic ReligionSend us a textIn this new episode of Beyond the Text, we're introducing an exciting format going forward! Join Samuel Woodall (PhD Candidate in Intellectual History) and Jack Thomson (MA in Philosophy), both from the University of Buckingham, as they team up to explore Jean-Jacques Rousseau's The Social Contract.Together, they delve into the revolutionary ideas of the General Will, the principles of civic religion, and Rousseau's vision of a political community. This engaging discussion blends historical insight with philosophical depth, offering fresh perspectives on one of the most influential texts in intellectual history.2024-12-1557 minBeyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's PodcastThe History Of Ideas And Political Thought Reading Club Presents: Liberty Series, Rousseau.Send us a textThis week's discussion will focus on Book 4 of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's The Social Contract. In this section, Rousseau delves into the complexities of the general will, the role of the sovereign, and the delicate balance between individual freedom and collective authority within the state. We'll explore Rousseau's arguments on the necessity of civil religion, the challenges posed by factions, and his provocative assertion that individuals may need to be "forced to be free." Our discussion will also consider Rousseau's thoughts on education, democracy, and the potential tensions between the majority's will and the rights...2024-12-081h 20Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's PodcastExplorations - The Plinian Society and the Birth of Evolutionary Science in 19th-Century EdinburghSend us a textWhat if the intellectual debates of 19th-century Edinburgh held the secrets to modern evolutionary science? Join us on Beyond the Text as we uncover the fascinating world of the Plinian Society, where influential minds like Robert Jameson and Robert Edmund Grant engaged in fiery discussions about Lamarckian theory amidst a thriving scientific and literary culture. Discover how the Enlightenment ideals of the time fueled groundbreaking ideas, with contributions from Abraham Gottlob Werner's Neptunism and James Hutton's uniformitarianism challenging the status quo of Earth's geological history.Get a front-row seat to Edinburgh's...2024-09-2012 min
Therapy WorksMINI: Trinny Woodall on Children Leaving Home and Embracing New BeginningsAs we're ramping up for Season 7 of Therapy Works, I wanted to share some of my favorite moments from our past episodes.In this episode with Trinny Woodall, we explore the emotional challenges of major life transitions, particularly when children leave home. Trinny reflects on the concept of a blended family and its deep personal significance. She shares her journey of coping with the impending departure of her daughter, Lyla, and the emotional aftermath of a car accident. We'll talk about themes of loss, responsibility, and the paradoxical theory of change, emphasizing the importance...2024-09-1117 minBeyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's PodcastAcademy to Arena - Rt Honourable Tom Brake (Lib Dem) on Constitutional Reform, Brexit and the UnionSend us a textThis episode is from an interview with the society I founded in 2021, Progressive Britain.In this episode, we are honoured to welcome the Director of Unlock Democracy, and former Liberal Democrat Chief Whip, Tom Brake. 🚀 His think tank is advocating for constitutional reform to engage citizens and close the participation gap nationwide. 🇬🇧Tom Brake, with his extensive experience as the Liberal Democrat spokesman for Environment, Transport, and Regions, Deputy Leader of the House under the coalition, and his work in the Treasury, brings wit and political insight to our lively di...2024-06-231h 16