The Sound of Politics

Laughing at politics in the era of the meme

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

The Politician as one of us

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

Politicians and their language around war

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.

The personality politician

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 Downing Street when he was the Prime Minister, during the partygate scandal. 
 
Presenter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Carl Hartley

Speaking in public when you've never done it before

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 University of Manchester and now at Queen’s University Belfast.
Presenter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Carl Hartley

The rise in transgressive communication in politics

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

When journalists take on the politicians!

In the first episode of series 3, Professor Stephen Coleman 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

'Make America Great Again' - What does that slogan actually mean?'

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

Uncivil Political Conversation

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.
Presenter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Coleman⁠⁠⁠⁠
Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Carl Hartley

When politicians claim "I did that!"

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