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Artwork for Politics on the Couch

Politics on the Couch

Larchmont Productions
Donald Trump
Brexit
Cooperation
Bangladesh
Labour Party
Social Media
Israel
Evolution
Awami League
British Politics
United States
Political Organization
Empathy
Covid-19
Populism
Public Services
Institutions
Conspiracy Theories
Misinformation
Political Chaos

Rafael Behr examines how our minds respond to politics and how politicians mess with our minds.

In each episode an expert from the world of politics, psychology, history or philosophy joins Raf on our 'couch' to discuss what's driving our political thought and behaviour.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Artwork for Politics on the Couch

Latest Episodes

Politics feels angrier, harsher and more tribal than it used to - but how much of the blame can be laid at the door of social media?

Rafael Behr talks to NYU Psychologist Professor Jay Van Bavel, about how our ancient group instincts collide with 'g... more

Rafael Behr talks to Dr. Tessa Buchanan, a former civil servant and now an academic at Cambridge’s Political Psychology Lab, about the psychology behind changing how some voters think about outsiders or immigrants, revealing why she believes attitude... more

Rafael Behr talks to Demos' CEO Polly Curtis about the urgent case for upgrading our democracy and repairing the broken relationship between citizen and state.

The conversation is loosely based around this new Demos paper released today (2 July) tha... more

Host Rafael Behr is joined by political scientist Prof. Michael Bang Petersen, whose research challenges the common belief that those who share misinformation are simply uninformed or gullible.

Instead, Petersen suggest that many of these individual... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Polly Curtis
Public Policy Expert and Head of Demos
Demos
Episode: How to break the ‘democratic doom loop’
Dr. Leor Zmigrod
Political psychologist and neuroscientist, author of The Ideological Brain.
Episode: 'The Ideological Brain' – Are Some People Hard-wired for Radicalisation?
Paula Surridge
Professor of Political Sociology at the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
Episode: Red Wall, Blue Wall, Grey Area - a conversation about voter volatility with Professor Paula Surridge
Sam Freedman
Former political advisor, senior fellow at the Institute for Government, author of 'Failed State'
Institute for Government
Episode: 'System Fail' - a conversation with Sam Freedman about the way Britain's broken politics can suffocate even the best intentions.
David Bergman
British-born investigative journalist and expert on Bangladeshi politics
Founder of Netra News
Episode: ‘The gen Z revolution’ - how a student protest toppled a corrupt and violent government
Nichola Raihani
Professor of Evolution and Behavior at the University of Auckland and author of 'The Social Instinct'
University of Auckland
Episode: Going Ape - a conversation about evolution, morality and political cooperation

Host

Rafael Behr
Host who examines how our minds respond to politics, engaging with experts to discuss political thought and behavior.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 254 ratings
  • Generally excellent podcast series and this episode is particularly enlightening. Worth more than one listen

    Podcast Addict
    5
    fatima
    a month ago
  • Thank you

    I find your podcast deeply smoothly and reassuring. Even if you can’t always have answers at least you are asking the questions that buzz around my head.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sophie Kumoi
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • Avant la lettre

    I always love to hear Rafael’s views on anything anywhere and these discussions with Philip Berman are so stimulating so thank you. Love your book, Guardian articles and contributions on OGWN, you always hit the nail on the head.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    annefnt
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • Dr Zmigrod interview

    I almost missed this episode.

    A really fascinating and informative discussion.

    I can’t recommend this podcast highly enough, I just wish there were more.

    Big fan of Rafael Behr (and now Dr Zmigrod too).

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stevibee
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • Really enjoy this podcast

    Podchaser
    5
    jimbaxteris
    a year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Reviewers note the podcast's ability to stimulate critical thinking about current political events and foster a deeper understanding of influenced behaviors.
Many praise the engaging and thought-provoking discussions, often highlighting the expertise of guests and the host's interviewing style.
Listeners appreciate the insightful analyses and the ability to address complex political situations with simplicity and depth.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#83
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#190
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#74
Denmark/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#83
Ireland/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#165
Brazil/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#189
Belgium/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

‘The gen Z revolution’ - how a student protest toppled a corrupt and violent government
Q: What were some of the mistakes made by the Awami League that triggered this uprising?
The Awami League's handling of the protests, including violent suppression and inflammatory remarks by the Prime Minister, incited public outrage.
‘The gen Z revolution’ - how a student protest toppled a corrupt and violent government
Q: Was there any clear opposition to the Awami League prior to this uprising?
The opposition parties were not strong enough to challenge them effectively due to manipulation of the electoral system and suppression of dissent.
‘The gen Z revolution’ - how a student protest toppled a corrupt and violent government
Q: Has there ever been a successful people's uprising in Bangladesh before?
Yes, the creation of Bangladesh itself was a result of a significant uprising against the Pakistani military.
‘The gen Z revolution’ - how a student protest toppled a corrupt and violent government
Q: What does this moment feel like for you?
It feels momentous; it's a people's revolution against a government that has been in power for 15 years, which has increasingly become autocratic.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Politics on the Couch

What is Politics on the Couch about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast explores the intricate relationship between politics and psychology, highlighting how our mental responses shape political behavior and decision-making. Each episode features discussions with experts across various fields such as politics, psychology, history, and philosophy, offering insights into the psychological drivers of voter behavior, trust, and civic engagement. Notable themes include the impacts of populism, voter alienation, and the challenges contemporary democracies face. The conversational tone allows listeners to understand complex political phenomena through a relatable lens, making the content both engaging and thought-provoking.

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How many listeners does Politics on the Couch get?

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What are the audience demographics for Politics on the Couch?

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How many subscribers and views does Politics on the Couch have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Politics on the Couch has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Politics on the Couch?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Politics on the Couch:

1. Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards
2. The Bunker – News without the nonsense
3. Quiet Riot
4. Oh God, What Now?
5. Daily Politics from the New Statesman

How many episodes of Politics on the Couch are there?

Politics on the Couch launched 6 years ago and published 53 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Politics on the Couch?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Politics on the Couch?

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What guests have appeared on Politics on the Couch?

Recent guests on Politics on the Couch include:

1. Polly Curtis
2. Dr. Leor Zmigrod
3. Paula Surridge
4. Sam Freedman
5. David Bergman
6. Nichola Raihani

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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