The Sound of Politics

How do children and young people make sense of politics? As the UK prepares to extend voting rights to 16-year-olds, questions about political literacy, civic engagement and democratic participation have become increasingly important. But how do younger audiences actually understand the political world around them? In this episode, Professor Stephen Coleman explores how children learn about politi...

Why do politicians rarely talk about class anymore? Social class remains one of the strongest influences on people's life chances, shaping everything from income and education to health and housing. Yet despite its continuing importance, class has become far less visible in political language and public debate. In this episode, Professor Stephen Coleman explores the changing role of class in p...

What happens to democracy when local journalists disappear? Across the UK and beyond, newsrooms have shrunk, local newspapers have closed, and fewer reporters are attending council meetings, court hearings and community events. But what does this mean for accountability, transparency and public trust? In this episode, Professor Stephen Coleman explores the growing crisis in local journalism and as...

Are universities becoming less open to controversial ideas, or has concern about free speech on campus been exaggerated?  Debates about academic freedom, student protest and so-called "cancel culture" have become increasingly prominent in public life, raising important questions about what universities are for and how disagreement should be managed. In this episode, Professor Stephen Col...

How does language shape the way we understand Islamophobia? Political debates are influenced not only by the issues being discussed, but also by the words used to describe them. Terms such as prejudice, discrimination, extremism and Islamophobia carry powerful meanings that shape public understanding and political responses. In this episode, Professor Stephen Coleman explores the language of Islam...

How do we talk about antisemitism in political and public life? Discussions about antisemitism often involve questions of language, history, identity and political responsibility. Yet disagreements frequently arise over how antisemitism is defined, recognised and communicated. In this episode, Professor Stephen Coleman explores the language of antisemitism and asks how politicians, journalists and...

Is free speech under threat, or are we witnessing a moral panic about free expression? Debates about censorship, cancel culture and academic freedom have become increasingly prominent in public life, but how much of the conversation is driven by evidence and how much by perception? In this episode, Professor Stephen Coleman explores the growing debate around free speech and asks why concerns about...

Why is it often easier to talk about football than politics?  Supporters of rival clubs can argue passionately about tactics, managers and performances while sharing a common understanding of the game. Political debate, by contrast, can often feel inaccessible, overly technical or disconnected from everyday experience. In this episode, Professor Stephen Coleman asks what politicians might learn fr...

In this episode Professor Stephen Coleman thinks aloud about what we mean when we speak of political moods and vibes. His guest to discuss this is Dr Robert Topinka from Birkbeck University of London. Presenter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠⁠⁠ Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Carl Hartley⁠⁠ We'd love to hear from you. Share your thoughts, suggest topics to cover, or ask questions. Leave a comment below or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www....

In this episode Professor Stephen Coleman looks at the role of Prime Minister’s Questions which he discusses with his guest, the Labour MP, Alex Sobel.  Presenter: ⁠⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠⁠ Producer: ⁠⁠⁠Carl Hartley⁠ We'd love to hear from you. Share your thoughts, suggest topics to cover, or ask questions. Leave a comment below or visit ⁠⁠⁠www.thesoundofpolitics.com⁠⁠⁠ . And if you like this podc...

In this episode Stephen Coleman asks whether politicians and the administrators who run local and national government speak the same language. His guest to discuss this is Ed Whiting, the Chief Executive of Leeds City Council. WARNING: One use of bad language. Presenter: ⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠ Producer: ⁠⁠Carl Hartley We'd love to hear from you. Share your thoughts, suggest topics to cover, or as...

In this episode Stephen Coleman reflects upon political rumours. His guest to discuss this is Adam J. Berinsky, professor of political science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Presenter: ⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠ Producer: ⁠⁠Carl Hartley We'd love to hear from you. Share your thoughts, suggest topics to cover, or ask questions. Leave a comment below or visit ⁠⁠www.thesoundofpolitics.com...

In this episode Professor Stephen Coleman thinks aloud about the sound of statesmanship and considers two quite different approaches to the role.  (PIC: Created with A.I.) Presenter: ⁠Stephen Coleman⁠ Producer: ⁠Carl Hartley We'd love to hear from you. Share your thoughts, suggest topics to cover, or ask questions. Leave a comment below or visit ⁠www.thesoundofpolitics.com⁠ . And if you like t...

In this episode Stephen asks what’s happening to political language in an age of artificial intelligence. His guest to discuss this is Professor Gunn Enli from the University of Oslo. Presenter: ⁠Stephen Coleman⁠ Producer: ⁠Carl Hartley We'd love to hear from you. Share your thoughts, suggest topics to cover, or ask questions. Leave a comment below or visit ⁠www.thesoundofpolitics.com⁠ . And i...

How much can voters learn from a politician's body language? From facial expressions and hand gestures to posture and eye contact, non-verbal communication plays a powerful role in shaping public perceptions of political leaders. In this episode, Professor Stephen Coleman explores how politicians communicate beyond words and asks how body language influences trust, leadership and voter decisio...

Can rap music shape political debate? From protest movements to election campaigns, rap has long provided a platform for communities whose voices are often overlooked by political institutions. Professor Stephen Coleman explores the relationship between rap, politics and political communication, examining how music can challenge power, influence public opinion and amplify marginalised perspectives...

In this episode Professor Stephen Coleman explores the role of rumours in politics - looking at how they influence public opinion, campaign strategy, and political decision-making. He's joined by Conservative MP Simon Hart, who served as Secretary of State for Wales under Boris Johnson (2019–2022), and more recently Chief Whip in Rishi Sunak’s government (2022–2024). Presenter: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Step...

In this episode Professor Stephen Coleman explores political satire. What’s funny about politics? Should it be funny? How is political humour being democratised in the age of the online meme? Helping to make sense of it all is Dr Ros Southern of the University of Liverpool. Presenter: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Producer: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Carl Hartley Guest: Ros Southern We'd love to hear fro...

In this episode we ask whether voters really want to be represented by politicians who sound ‘just like them’. To help explore this question, Stephen is joined by Professor Peter Allen from the University of Bath, author of the book,  The Political Class: Why It Matters Who Our Politicians. Presenter: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Producer: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Carl Hartley Guest: Peter Allen We'd lov...

In this episode we consider how politicians tell stories about war and how journalists re-tell those stories. To help, Professor Stephen Coleman is joined by award-winning Sunday Times war correspondent, Louise Callaghan. Presenter: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Producer: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Carl Hartley Guest: Lousie Callaghan We'd love to hear from you. Share your thoughts, suggest topics to cover,...

In this episode, Professor Stephen Coleman explores the role of personality in politics and asks does it help or hinder democracy? He's joined by the former BBC political journalist and current political strategist, Guto Harri. Guto was at university with the former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He worked for him has his director of communication when Boris was the Mayor of London and in Downi...

In this episode we consider how non-politicians, many of whom have important experiences and ideas to impart, make their voices heard in the political arena. What is it that makes people feel unconfident about speaking in public? How can these fears be overcome? Why is it is important for every voice to count? To discuss this, Professor Stephen Coleman is joined by Dr Sarah Weston, formerly of the...

In this episode Professor Stephen Coleman looks at the rise of illiberalism in politics. He's joined by Professor Lance Bennett from the University of Washington, Seattle, to explore how transgressive communication is the leading edge of democratic erosion. Presenter: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Producer: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Carl Hartley Guest: Lance Bennett We'd love to hear from you. Share your tho...

In the first episode of series 3, Stephen explores the art of interviewing politicians with his guest, Times Radio's Darryl Morris . From MPs who storm out to the journalists who ask, ask and ask again. But are they getting it right? What should be the role of the political journalist? Presenter: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Producer: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Carl Hartley Guest: Darryl Morris We'd love to hea...

In this episode Professor Stephen Coleman explores the language of MAGA (Make America Great Again) and talks about the rhetoric of the recent US election with Professor of Rhetoric, Casey Ryan Kelly. Presenter: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Producer: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Carl Hartley