The EI Podcast

Alastair Benn, Jack Dickens, Paul Lay

Booking Overview

This weekly history and ideas podcast features conversations with established writers, historians, thinkers, and authors, often focused on their latest books and on major themes in political, intellectual, and cultural history. Credible pitches include published historians, political philosophers, literary scholars, journalists, and authors with substantial expertise or a new serious work; booking is likely high difficulty because recent guests are prominent subject-matter experts and recognized authors.

Metrics

Episodes: 408

Frequency: Weekly

Rating: 4.6/5.0

Estimated listeners: 1,000 - 10,000

Listener location: United Kingdom

Contact Information

Publicly listed emails

editors@engelsbergideas.com

Looking for the right person? Join Podseeker to find direct host and producer contacts and manage your podcast outreach.

Host

Alastair Benn - Co-host of The EI Podcast, covering history, politics, and ideas through conversations with leading writers and thinkers.

Jack Dickens - Co-host of The EI Podcast, covering history, politics, and ideas through conversations with leading writers and thinkers.

Paul Lay - Co-host of The EI Podcast, covering history, politics, and ideas through conversations with leading writers and thinkers.

Booking Intelligence

Booking Requirements

high

Typical Credentials:

Published historians, writers, political philosophers, literary scholars, journalists, and other recognized experts with substantial subject-matter authority, often supported by a significant new book or body of scholarship.

Required Achievements:

Published serious nonfiction or literary works, Academic or scholarly expertise, Recognized journalism or commentary, Research or writing on major historical, political, literary, or intellectual subjects

Recent Guest Discussions

Emily Jones - Benjamin Disraeli, His Political Thought, And His Influence On Modern Conservatism

Simon Sebag Montefiore - The Historical Formation Of The Modern Middle East

Philip Hensher - The Development Of The Novel In Britain And Its Literary Tradition

Hannah Lucinda Smith - Europe’s Unfinished Frontiers And Political Gray Zones

Stephen Bowd - Niccolò Machiavelli’s Continuing Relevance As A Political Philosopher

Recent Topics

History, Intellectual History, Political Philosophy, Geopolitics, Literature

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on

The EI Podcast

Napoleon’s nest of vipers

October 08, 2026

Napoleon appointed a total of 26 Marshals between 1804 and 1815, and they became crucial to his military success. Yet only two of them fought alongside him at the Battle of Waterloo. Andrew Roberts sits down with Paul Lay to discuss his new book, ‘Napoleon and his Marshals’.Image: Napoleon near Borodino, by Vasily Vereshchagin (1897). Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Russia’s war on Ukrainian science

October 01, 2026

Earlier this week, a Russian drone strike hit the National Academy of Sciences in central Kyiv, bringing terror to the historic centre of Ukraine’s capital and damaging a symbol of national independence. Paul Josephson speaks to Jack Dickens about why Vladimir Putin is targeting Ukraine’s leading research institutes.Image: The Soviet-era Duga radar near Chernobyl, Ukraine. Credit: Alamy

Space and the new clash of civilisations

September 24, 2026

Earlier this month, the US confirmed for the first time that it had deployed a space weapon in Earth’s orbit. John B. Sheldon and Jack Dickens discuss the fight for extraterrestrial supremacy. Image: A mural of a Soviet-era cosmonaut in Ukraine. Credit: Alamy

Frequently asked questions

Here's some frequently asked questions for

The EI Podcast

How do I get in touch with The EI Podcast?

The EI Podcast is hosted by Alastair Benn and Jack Dickens. Its publicly listed email is editors@engelsbergideas.com. For guest bookings, the host or producer is usually the best person to reach. Podseeker helps you find direct host and producer contacts and pitch from your own inbox.

What is the email for The EI Podcast?

The publicly listed email for The EI Podcast: editors@engelsbergideas.com.

How many listeners does The EI Podcast have?

Podseeker estimates The EI Podcast reaches 1,000 to 10,000 listeners per episode. Only the publisher has exact numbers.

Who is an ideal guest for The EI Podcast?

The EI Podcast typically books well-known public figures. Typical guest background: Published historians, writers, political philosophers, literary scholars, journalists, and other recognized experts with substantial subject-matter authority, often supported by a significant new book or body of scholarship. Common among recent guests: Published serious nonfiction or literary works; Academic or scholarly expertise; Recognized journalism or commentary. Recent guests include Emily Jones, Simon Sebag Montefiore, and Philip Hensher.

How hard is it to get booked on The EI Podcast?

High. It mostly books established leaders in its field.

What topics does The EI Podcast cover?

Recent episodes cover History, Intellectual History, Political Philosophy, Geopolitics, and Literature. Pitch an idea tied to one of these topics and mention a recent episode.

Publicly listed emails

editors@engelsbergideas.com

Looking for the right person? Join Podseeker to find direct host and producer contacts and manage your podcast outreach.

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