Origin Story

They chart the origin of introvert and extrovert back to Jung and Freud and a dramatic 1907 meeting. They follow how Jung turned a clinical term into a popular personality binary. They examine how science later reframed traits with the Big Five and brain studies. They consider why people cling to labels and the costs and benefits of defining yourself this way.

They trace the rise of a hardline nativist strategist from provocative schoolyard antics to a central role shaping immigration policy. The conversation charts ties to far-right networks, key policy moves like family separation and the travel ban, and plans for an executive-driven future. They map how rhetoric translated into real-world enforcement and legal tactics.

A lively look at how the idea of walkable, mixed-use neighbourhoods turned into a culture-war lightning rod. The story traces thinkers from Clarence Perry and Jane Jacobs to Carlos Moreno and shows how pandemic fears, car identity, and online conspiracies warped a planning concept. It asks whether local urban design can survive the political backlash and why driving stirs such strong emotions.

Origin Story is live at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London on Weds 15th April 2026 - tickets selling fast, get yours here Welcome to a between-season bonus episode of Origin Story. We’ve missed you! This one emerged from our three-parter on the history of the Labour Party and one of the burning obsessions of British politics: the faction known as Blue Labour and its ubiquitous founder Maurice Glasman. As Keir Starmer’s government continues to alienate its base in order to chase the same socially conservative voters as Reform UK, fingers are pointing at chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and his connections to Blue Labour, turning Glasman into the party’s eminence grise. But how influential is Glasman really? And where did Blue Labour come from? The story begins in 2008, when the financial crisis coincides with the death of Glasman’s mother. The jazz-loving, City-hating, chain-smoking academic and community organiser invents Blue Labour: blue as in sad and blue as in “conservative socialism”. As New Labour falls to pieces, Glasman’s maverick vision of Labour’s long history and possible future intrigues heavyweights from across the party. He’s elevated from obscurity to the House of Lords by Ed Miliband but explodes on the launchpad after some provocative statements about immigration and Europe. Amid accusations of racism, misogyny and toxic nostalgia, Blue Labour Mark 1 burns out. When Blue Labour resurfaces with a vengeance in 2025, it has been thoroughly radicalised by a decade of Brexit and right-wing populism. Having been JD Vance’s personal guest at the second inauguration of Donald Trump, Glasman is now praising MAGA while waging all-out war on immigrants, liberals and the so-called “lanyard class”. Original Blue Labourite Marc Stears calls Blue Labour Mark 2 “a clear and present danger to our politics”. How did Blue Labour lurch from the party’s soft left to its hard right? Why do so many of the people who once found Glasman’s ideas stimulating now find them horrifying? Is Blue Labour, then and now, a symptom of a party in intellectual crisis? What exactly is Glasman’s connection to Morgan McSweeney and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood? And is the rogue peer really as significant as he, and his enemies, like to make out? Reading list Books Rowenna Davis – Tangled Up in Blue (2011) Ian Geary and Adrian Pabst – Blue Labour: Forging a New Politics (2015) Maurice Glasman, Jonathan Rutherford, Marc Stears and Stuart White – The Labour Tradition and the Politics of Paradox (2011) Maurice Glasman – Blue Labour: The Politics of the Common Good (2022) Gabriel Pogrund and Patrick Maguire – Get In: The Inside Story of Labour Under Starmer (2025) Articles • Philip Collins – ‘Maurice Glasman and the origins of Blue Labour’, Prospect (24 February 2025) • Julian Coman – ‘Maurice Glasman, architect of Blue Labour: “Labour needs to be itself again”’, The Observer (25 September 2022) • Rachel Cooke – ‘Maurice Glasman: Labour’s Trump Card’, The Observer (25 April 2025) • Ethan Croft – ‘Blue Labour is fighting for its future’, The New Statesman (26 November 2025) • Annabel Denham - Lord Glasman: ‘Shabana is like Elizabeth I – devoted to her job. She’s utterly unique’, The Telegraph (23 November 2025) • Jonathan Derbyshire – ‘Voice of the Heartlands’, The New Statesman (7 April 2011) • Maurice Glasman - Maurice Glasman: my Blue Labour vision can defeat the coalition, The Guardian (24 April 2011) • Toby Helm and Julian Coman – ‘Maurice Glasman – the peer plotting Labour’s new strategy from his flat’, The Observer (16 January 2011) • Preet Kaur Gill, ‘Labour Must Go Blue’, The Telegraph (6 January 2026) • Dan Hodges – ‘Exclusive: the end of Blue Labour’, The New Statesman (20 July 2011) ... Reading list continues on Patreon Written and presented by Ian Dunt and Dorian Lynskey. Producer: Chris Jones and Simon Williams. Music by Jade Bailey. Art by Jim Parrett. Logo by Mischa Welsh. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Origin Story is a Podmasters production  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The discussion explores socialism's journey since 1991, highlighting China’s embrace of market socialism and the rise and fall of Latin America’s Pink Wave. They delve into socialism's historical roots, examining key figures and movements, and ponder whether socialism can be strictly defined. Obstacles like internal factionalism and leadership challenges are analyzed, alongside the interplay of socialism and communism. The hosts reflect on socialism's achievements and its vision for the future amidst capitalism's recurring crises.

Delve into the astonishing collapse of the Soviet Union, a surprise even to historians. Discover how Gorbachev's ambitious reforms of perestroika, glasnost, and democratization accelerated the regime's downfall. Explore pivotal events like the Berlin Wall's fall and the failed coup attempt that unraveled decades of power. The narrative is filled with cultural shifts, economic crises, and political rivalries, culminating in a profound transformation that reshaped world politics. Gorbachev's legacy is a study in irony—his quest for freedom inadvertently dismantled the empire.

Explore the enigmatic life of Che Guevara, from his privileged upbringing to his revolutionary exploits. Discover his magnetic personality and the complex contradictions that defined him. The iconic photograph by Alberto Korda embodies youthful idealism and resistance. Delve into Guevara's radicalization, his role in Cuba's guerrilla war, and the harsh realities of revolutionary justice. Learn about his broader aspirations for a united Latin America and the global impact of his legacy as a martyr and a symbol of rebellion.

Explore the electrifying year of 1968 as global protests erupted, led by youth demanding change. Discover how iconic figures like John Lennon saw revolution on the horizon, despite the New Left's fragmentation. Learn about the rise of second-wave feminism and gay liberation, shifting the focus from class struggle to broader social movements. Delve into Antonio Gramsci's ideas on hegemony, which provided new strategies for activism. Reflect on the New Left's legacy, influencing modern politics, identity, and cultural rights.

Explore the fascinating evolution of the New Left, born from the discrediting of Soviet communism. Hear how Khrushchev's 1956 speech shattered communist credibility and fueled disillusionment. Delve into the vibrant youth-led movements of the 1960s that challenged societal norms and rallied for civil rights, particularly in the U.S. Discover the impactful ideas of thinkers like Herbert Marcuse and Frantz Fanon, who called for revolutionary change and the decolonization of minds. Plus, witness the ascent of Maoism and its global resonance.

Dive into the world of political insurgency as two radical right thinkers, James Orr and Curtis Yarvin, reveal their controversial views on nationalism and democracy. Explore how young socialist leaders like Zohran Mamdani and Zack Polanski are shaking up the left with their fresh, pragmatic ideas. The discussion critiques buzzphrases that dilute political discourse, touching on how 'optics' and 'woke' are misused. Finally, they tackle audience questions about inclusivity, patriotism, and the future of socialism—sparking thought and debate.