Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's Podcast
Samuel Woodall
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About This Podcast
Welcome to Beyond the Text, a podcast series dedicated to delving into intellectual history with depth and context. In a world saturated with quick takes, Beyond the Text goes the extra mile. Paying homage to Skinner's insights on the importance of context, this podcast unveils overlooked aspects of historical and intellectual narratives.
Co-hosted by Samuel Woodall and Jack Thomson, Beyond the Text explores the profound impact of thought and ideas throughout human history—forces that have driven change, shaped societies, and sparked revolutions. Beyond the mere words on the page, this podcast unravels the layers surrounding pivotal concepts and moments. Each episode meticulously examines the connections, influences, and societal currents that contribute to their evolution.
Join us on this journey to grasp the true significance of intellectual history. Whether you're an enthusiast, a curious mind, or someone intrigued by the myriad forces shaping our world, Beyond the Text provides a space for nuanced exploration. Tune in and venture beyond the surface to understand the rich tapestry of our intellectual heritage.
Samuel Woodall is a PhD candidate in Intellectual History at the University of Buckingham. He previously earned an MLitt in Intellectual History from the University of St. Andrews and a BA (Hons) in History and Politics from the University of Exeter.
Jack Thomson holds an MA in Philosophy from the University of Buckingham and brings a philosophical lens to the exploration of ideas, ensuring each discussion is both rigorous and thought-provoking.
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Recent Episodes
Beyond the Text: Edmund Burke and the Moral Imagination
Send us Fan Mail💭 Can feeling and imagination preserve what reason alone cannot? In this episode, Jack Thomson explores the political vision of Edmund Burke and the enduring power of moral…
Beyond the Text: Moderation and Memory: Rapin de Thoyras and the Making of English Party
Send us Fan Mail🎓 A milestone moment in the PhD journey…Last term, I had the privilege of delivering my first presentation of my doctoral research at the Humanities Research Day at the University of…
History of Ideas Clubs: Industrialisation and Karl Marx
Send us Fan MailStep into the upheaval of the long nineteenth century in this History of Ideas Club recording 🎙️“Industrialisation and Marx: The Making of Modern Society” explores a world transformed…
History of Ideas Club: The Birth of the Modern Republic: France, America, Haiti
Send us Fan MailStep into one of the defining political transformations of modern history in this History of Ideas Club recording 🎙️“The Birth of the Modern Republic: France, America, Haiti” explores…
History of Ideas Club: Revolution of Modernity: Descartes, Kant, Hegel
Send us Fan MailStep into one of the most transformative moments in intellectual history in this History of Ideas Club recording 🎙️“Revolution of Modernity: Descartes, Kant, Hegel” explores the deep…
Beyond the Text: Joseph de Maistre: Order, Authority, and the Counter-Revolution
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Beyond the Text, Sam Woodall and Jack Thomson explore the provocative political thought of Joseph de Maistre, one of the most formidable critics of the…
History of Ideas Club: The Copernican Revolution in Astronomy
Send us Fan MailCopernicus demonstrated for the first time that the Earth orbits the sun, and not the reverse as was previously thought. Previous measurements had lended themselves to the latter…
Beyond the Text: Augustine’s City of God
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Beyond the Text, Jack and Sam return to one of the foundational works of Western intellectual and political thought – City of God by Augustine of Hippo – as part of…
History of Ideas Club: The English Civil War
Send us Fan MailThe conflict between monarchical and republican visions of the state reflects far deeper disagreements about the human person - especially the nature of freedom, authority, and the…
History of Ideas Club: The Gregorian Reforms and the Protestant Reformation: Changing Concepts of Law and State
Send us Fan MailIn the eleventh century, the Gregorian Reforms sought to impose coherence on ecclesiastical or canon law and to clarify the relationship between Church and State. At their heart lay a…
History of Ideas Club: Rome: From Empire to Republic (and Back Again)
Send us Fan MailHow did Rome move from kingship to republic, and from republic to empire? In this episode, we explore the political evolution of Rome through the lens of classical political thought…
History of Ideas Club: 'And the Word Became Flesh…’: Christianity’s Emergence and Impact
Send us Fan MailChristianity emerged from a world already shaped by Jewish law and Greek philosophy, yet it introduced one of the most radical ideas in intellectual history - that God became flesh.…
S2 History of Ideas Club: Disraeli and Oakeshott
Send us Fan Mail💭 Can politics be an art of belonging rather than a science of control? In this final instalment of the Heritage Series, Samuel Woodall explores the enduring legacy of Benjamin…
S2 History of Ideas Club: Roger Scruton
Send us Fan Mail💭 Can conservatism be a culture of love rather than fear? In this episode, Jack Thomson explores the life and thought of Sir Roger Scruton (1944–2020) — philosopher, writer, musician,…
S2 History of Ideas Club: Edmund Burke and the Romantic Poets
Send us Fan Mail💭 Can feeling and imagination preserve what reason alone cannot? In this episode, Jack Thomson explores how Edmund Burke’s political vision of order, tradition, and moral imagination…
S2 History of Ideas Club: Joseph de Maistre
Send us Fan MailWelcome to the third instalment of our Heritage Series, part of the History of Ideas Reading Club, hosted by Jack Thomson (MA Philosophy, University of Buckingham).In this session, we…
S2 History of Ideas Club: Augustine's City of God
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the History of Ideas Club, Jack Thomson (MA Philosophy, University of Buckingham) leads a discussion on St Augustine’s The City of God. We explore Augustine’s…
Beyond the Text: Plato's Republic
Send us Fan MailIn 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…
History of Ideas Club: Plato's Republic
Send us Fan MailIn 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…
S2E36 Beyond the Text: Rawls and Sandel
Send us Fan MailIn 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…
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Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's Podcast has published 59 episodes since August 2023, covering topics in Arts, Books.
Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's Podcast is currently sporadic with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 50m.
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