The Sound of Politics

In this episode, Professor Stephen Coleman explores how political talk has become so angry and uncivil. He's joined by Robert C. Rowland, Professor of Rhetoric at the University of Kansas. Guest: Robert C. Rowland Presenter: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Producer: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Carl Hartley

In this episode, Professor Stephen Coleman looks at the claims politicians make, how they sometimes overclaim their achievements, and discusses whether this is always the best plan. He's joined by top legal scholar, Peter Shane. Presenter: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Producer: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Carl Hartley

In this episode Stephen is out of the studio and at home as we wanted to get the episode produced as soon as possible ... In the second part of this episode Professor Stephen Coleman gives his reaction to the debate and explores whether it was good for democracy.

In this episode, Professor Stephen Coleman considers the coming US presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. He's joined by debates’ expert, Alan Schroeder. Stephen shares four questions every viewer of the debate should consider while watching it on the 10th September. There'll be reaction to the debate and additional material after it's aired. Guest: Alan Schroeder...

In this episode Professor Stephen Coleman discusses the U.S. election campaign and asks the question how has it got to the point that a man tried to kill Donald Trump? He's joined by Professor Robert Asen from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an expert in Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture. Presenter: ⁠ ⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠ ⁠ Producer: ⁠ ⁠⁠Carl Hartley

In this episode Professor Stephen Coleman looks at the speeches the leaders make before heading in to 10 Downing Street for day one as prime Minister. Presenter: ⁠ ⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠ ⁠ Producer: ⁠ ⁠⁠Carl Hartley

In this short bonus episode, Professor Stephen Coleman looks at the way the Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, communicates and asks what is his appeal? Presenter: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Producer: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Carl Hartley

In this short bonus episode, Professor Stephen Coleman looks at the communication styles of the Prime Minister and Conservative leader, Rishi Sunak, and leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer. Presenter: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Producer: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Carl Hartley

In this episode of The Sound of Politics, Professor Stephen Coleman explores the four voices of the 2024 election campaign and talks with Dororthy Byrne, former Head of News and Current Affairs at Channel 4. ** Please note there is the use of one explicit word during this episode. Guest: Dorothy Byrne Presenter: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Producer: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Carl Hartley

In the first episode of series 2, Professor Stephen Coleman explores the TV election debates - and he talks to the former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Tim Farron, who took part in one in 2017. Guest: Tim Farron Presenter: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Producer: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Carl Hartley

In this episode Professor Stephen Coleman hears from people in the street talking about what they think of their political representatives. Why is it that most (but not all) people’s first response to the sound of politicians’ voices is negative? He's also joined by James Johnson, who worked for former Prime Minister Theresa May, and who is now a leading pollster in the UK and U.S. *Please not...

In this episode we take a look at the role of politicians as storytellers. We listen to some moving examples of political narrative in action, asking what it is that makes some stories resonate while others just sound strategic. And Stephen's joined by Alan Finlayson, Professor of Political and Social Theory. Guest: Alan Finlayson Presenter: ⁠ ⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠ ⁠ Producer: ⁠ ⁠⁠Carl Hartley

In this episode Professor Stephen Coleman looks at changing styles of sounding authoritative. As old bombastic forms of address have come to seem arrogant and even foolish, how do contemporary politicians convey a sense of authority? Stephen’s guest is Professor Deborah Cameron, Emeritus Professor of Language and Communication at the University of Oxford. Guest: Deborah Cameron Presenter: ⁠ ⁠Steph...

In this episode Professor Stephen Coleman examines how we make judgments about voices. Are there certain tones of voice that are more attractive, persuasive or annoying than others? Stephen’s guest is Tom Wright, Reader in Rhetoric at the University of Sussex and Principal Investigator on the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s Speaking Citizens project. Presenter: ⁠ ⁠Stephen Coleman⁠ ⁠ Produce...

In this episode Professor Stephen Coleman gets to grips with the elusive concept of vocal tone. This gets to the core of how people express themselves rather than simply focusing upon what they say. Stephen’s guest is the renowned scholar of rhetoric, Roderick Hart who holds the Allan Shivers Centennial Chair in Communication at The University of Texas in Austin. Presenter: ⁠Stephen Coleman⁠ Produ...

In this pilot episode, Professor Stephen Coleman considers four different kinds of appeal that politicians try to make and how difficult it is to balance them. Stephen’s guest is Ric Bailey, former editor of the BBC Question Time programme, and now chief political adviser to the BBC. Presenter: Stephen Coleman Producer: Carl Hartley

Meet Stephen Coleman, a Professor of Political communication at the University of Leeds, and the host of 'The Sound of Politics'.