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
Augustine’s City of God
Send a textIn 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 our…
History of Ideas Club: The English Civil War
Send a textThe 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 a textIn 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 a textHow 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 and…
History of Ideas Club: 'And the Word Became Flesh…’: Christianity’s Emergence and Impact
Send a textChristianity 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. In…
S2 History of Ideas Club: Disraeli and Oakeshott
Send a text💭 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 Disraeli…
S2 History of Ideas Club: Roger Scruton
Send a text💭 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, and…
S2 History of Ideas Club: Edmund Burke and the Romantic Poets
Send a text💭 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 found…
S2 History of Ideas Club: Joseph de Maistre
Send a textWelcome 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 turn…
S2 History of Ideas Club: Augustine's City of God
Send a textIn 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 response…
Plato's Republic
Send 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…
History of Ideas Club: Plato's Republic
Send 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…
S2E36 Rawls and Sandel
Send 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…
S2E35 History of Ideas Club: Rawls and Sandel
Send 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…
S2E34 F. A. Hayek: Law, Legislation, and Liberty
Send 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.…
S2E33 The History Of Ideas And Political Thought Reading Club Presents: Liberty Series, Hayek.
Send 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…
S2E32 The French Existentialists: Sartre, De Beauvoir, Camus
Send 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.🔹…
S2E31 The History Of Ideas & Political Thought Reading Club Presents: Liberty Series French Existentialism
Send 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…
S2E30 John Stuart Mill, Linchpin Between Classical and Modern Liberalism
Send 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…
S2E28 The History Of Ideas And Political Thought Reading Club Presents: Liberty Series: John Stuart Mill
Send 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…
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Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's Podcast has published 52 episodes since August 2023, covering topics in Arts, Books.
Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian's Podcast is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 50m.
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