Philosophy · Politics · Intellectual History

Ideas
Matter.

A podcast exploring the great thinkers of philosophy, politics, and intellectual history — making big ideas accessible without dumbing them down.

Hosted by Louis Devine

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New episodes every few weeks

Latest Episodes

Rated 4.9 ★ on Spotify · 103 reviews

Dec 2025
What Post-Liberals Get Right (and Wrong) About Liberalism
Political theorist Paul Kelly of the LSE joins to make sense of post-liberalism and expose its internal contradictions — uniting figures as disparate as JD Vance and Patrick Deneen.
Paul Kelly1 hr 4 min
Sep 2025
Chinese Cosmopolitanism — An Interview with Shuchen Xiang
Professor Xiang argues China has a rich cosmopolitan tradition that embraces difference — a sharp contrast to the West's history of colonialism and imperialism.
Shuchen Xiang1 hr 12 min
Jun 2025
A History of Trade Unionism in Australia
Dr Liam Byrne walks through the values of unionism, how the labour movement survived the neoliberalism of the 1980s, and Australia's unique industrial relations framework.
Dr Liam Byrne1 hr 28 min
Feb 2025
Liberal Socialism: Oxymoron or Overdue Ideology?
Matt McManus argues for merging strong individual liberties with a more democratic, redistributive economy — drawing on Mill, Rawls, and Mouffe.
Matt McManus57 min
Jan 2025
Incels, Masculinities and the Manosphere
PhD Candidate Claudia Young unpacks what it means to be red-pilled vs black-pilled, and how figures like Tate and Peterson are mainstreaming misogynistic ideologies.
Claudia Young1 hr 13 min
Oct 2024
Liberalism as a Way of Life
Professor Alexandre Lefebvre argues that becoming a better liberal can actually increase your wellbeing — doubling down on liberal ideals rather than despairing at them.
Alexandre Lefebvre45 min
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"No topic is off limits: the theology of Saint Augustine, Lenin's revolutionary theory, Marx's critique of capitalism, Platonic discussions on love, or Nietzsche's metaphysical musings."

Ideas Matter · Philosophy, Politics & Intellectual History

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About the show

What is Ideas Matter?

Ideas Matter is a podcast dedicated to exploring the great thinkers of philosophy, politics, and intellectual history. Each episode is structured around the work of a particular thinker or idea — making complex arguments accessible without dumbing them down.

No topic is off limits: the theology of Saint Augustine, Lenin's revolutionary theory, Marx's critique of capitalism, Platonic discussions on love, or Nietzsche's metaphysical musings.

The show brings together academics, authors, and scholars to explore ideas that have shaped the modern world — and continue to shape it today.

ideasmatterpod@gmail.com

Your host
Louis Devine
Louis Devine
Host & Producer

Hi, I'm Louis Devine — a PhD Candidate in Political Theory at the University of Melbourne. I'm fascinated by the intersection of philosophy and geopolitics. From a young age, I've been captivated by Chinese history, philosophy, and above all, martial arts. My academic research focuses on liberalism, Confucianism, and international political theory. I'm also an AusPol tragic. You can follow my writing on Australian politics over on Substack. Alternatively, follow me on Bluesky @louissdevine.

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