Does personality matter more than policy in modern politics? Many voters say they are choosing leaders rather than political programmes, making personality a powerful political asset.

Professor Stephen Coleman explores how politicians build personal brands and asks whether charismatic leadership strengthens or weakens democratic politics. Why do some political figures attract loyal followings? And when does personality begin to overshadow policy?

Joining Stephen is political strategist and former BBC political journalist Guto Harri, who worked closely with Boris Johnson during his time as Mayor of London and Prime Minister. This episode explores political leadership, political personality, public opinion, persuasion and political communication.

Guest: ⁠Guto Hari

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 podcast then please follow to be the first to hear when a new episode is released.

The Sound of Politics is a podcast about political communication, political rhetoric, political leadership, democracy, public opinion and the language of politics. Hosted by Professor Stephen Coleman, each episode explores how politics is communicated and how citizens can better understand it.

Why are so many people afraid of speaking in public? In a healthy democracy, everyone should feel able to share their experiences, ideas and concerns. Yet many people lack the confidence to speak out.

In this episode, Professor Stephen Coleman explores the barriers that prevent people from participating in public discussion. Why does public speaking feel intimidating? How can confidence be developed? And what is lost when certain voices remain unheard?

Joining Stephen is Dr Sarah Weston, who discusses practical ways of helping people find their voice and participate more confidently in public life.

This episode explores public speaking, democratic participation, communication skills, civic engagement and political inclusion.

Guest: ⁠Sarah Westwood

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 podcast then please follow to be the first to hear when a new episode is released.

The Sound of Politics is a podcast about political communication, political rhetoric, political leadership, democracy, public opinion and the language of politics. Hosted by Professor Stephen Coleman, each episode explores how politics is communicated and how citizens can better understand it.

What happens when politicians deliberately break the rules of acceptable public behaviour? Across many democracies, increasingly provocative and transgressive forms of communication have become a feature of political life.

Professor Stephen Coleman explores the rise of illiberal political communication and asks why some leaders gain support by challenging democratic norms. Is transgressive rhetoric simply a communication strategy, or does it pose deeper risks to democratic institutions?

Joining Stephen is Professor Lance Bennett from the University of Washington, Seattle, who explains how transgressive communication can become a warning sign of democratic erosion.

This episode explores political rhetoric, democratic resilience, populism, public discourse and political leadership.

Guest: ⁠Lance Bennett

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 podcast then please follow to be the first to hear when a new episode is released.

The Sound of Politics is a podcast about political communication, political rhetoric, political leadership, democracy, public opinion and the language of politics. Hosted by Professor Stephen Coleman, each episode explores how politics is communicated and how citizens can better understand it.

What is the purpose of a political interview? Is it to challenge politicians, uncover new information, hold power to account, or help voters better understand important issues?

In the first episode of Series 3, Professor Stephen Coleman examines the art of interviewing politicians. Why do some politicians avoid direct answers? Why do some interviews generate headlines while others generate understanding? And how should journalists balance scrutiny with fairness?

Joining Stephen is Times Radio presenter Darryl Morris, who shares insights from conducting political interviews and explains the challenges journalists face when questioning powerful figures.

This episode explores journalism, political communication, accountability, media influence and democratic debate.

Guest: ⁠⁠Darryl Morris⁠

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 podcast then please follow to be the first to hear when a new episode is released.

The Sound of Politics is a podcast about political communication, political rhetoric, political leadership, democracy, public opinion and the language of politics. Hosted by Professor Stephen Coleman, each episode explores how politics is communicated and how citizens can better understand it.

How can three words become one of the most influential political slogans of modern times? "Make America Great Again" has shaped political identities, divided opinion and become a powerful symbol in American politics.

In this episode, Professor Stephen Coleman explores the language and rhetoric behind MAGA. Why do some political slogans resonate more than others? What emotions and ideas are embedded within them? And how do slogans influence political behaviour and public opinion?

Joining Stephen is Professor Casey Ryan Kelly, who examines the role of rhetoric and symbolism in contemporary US politics.

This episode explores political slogans, persuasion, political rhetoric, campaigning and political identity.

Guest: Casey Ryan

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 podcast then please follow to be the first to hear when a new episode is released.           

The Sound of Politics is a podcast about political communication, political rhetoric, political leadership, democracy, public opinion and the language of politics. Hosted by Professor Stephen Coleman, each episode explores how politics is communicated and how citizens can better understand it. 

Why does political disagreement so often turn into hostility? Political conversations increasingly seem to involve shouting rather than listening, with opponents treated as enemies rather than people with different views.

In this episode, Professor Stephen Coleman explores why political discourse has become more confrontational and asks what has happened to civil disagreement. How do politicians, media platforms and social media encourage conflict? And what are the consequences when democratic discussion becomes driven by outrage?

Joining Stephen is Professor Robert C. Rowland from the University of Kansas, a leading expert on rhetoric and political communication.

Together they explore political polarisation, public discourse, rhetoric, democracy and the future of political debate.

Guest: Robert C. Rowland

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 podcast then please follow to be the first to hear when a new episode is released.          

The Sound of Politics is a podcast about political communication, political rhetoric, political leadership, democracy, public opinion and the language of politics. Hosted by Professor Stephen Coleman, each episode explores how politics is communicated and how citizens can better understand it. 

How much credit should politicians take for events they don't fully control? Political leaders frequently claim responsibility for economic growth, successful policies and positive outcomes—but how accurate are those claims?

In this episode, Professor Stephen Coleman explores why politicians often present themselves as the architects of success and asks whether taking credit is an effective communication strategy. When does political confidence become overclaiming? And how do voters decide which achievements genuinely deserve recognition?

Joining Stephen is distinguished legal scholar Professor Peter Shane, who examines accountability, leadership and the relationship between political power and public expectations.

Together they discuss political communication, political accountability, leadership, persuasion and public trust.

Guest: Peter Shane

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 podcast then please follow to be the first to hear when a new episode is released.          

The Sound of Politics is a podcast about political communication, political rhetoric, political leadership, democracy, public opinion and the language of politics. Hosted by Professor Stephen Coleman, each episode explores how politics is communicated and how citizens can better understand it. 

Did the first debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris strengthen democratic discussion - or weaken it? Presidential debates are often described as essential moments in election campaigns, but do they genuinely help voters make informed decisions?

Recorded shortly after the event, Professor Stephen Coleman analyses the debate, reflects on the candidates' performances and considers what viewers learned from the encounter.

He also asks a broader question: what role should political debates play in a healthy democracy, and are they still achieving that goal?

This episode explores political communication, public debate, democratic engagement and election campaigning.

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 podcast then please follow to be the first to hear when a new episode is released.         

The Sound of Politics is a podcast about political communication, political rhetoric, political leadership, democracy, public opinion and the language of politics. Hosted by Professor Stephen Coleman, each episode explores how politics is communicated and how citizens can better understand it. 

What should viewers be looking for during a presidential debate? Political debates are about much more than policies and soundbites. They offer a unique opportunity to observe how candidates communicate under pressure.

Ahead of the first debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, Professor Stephen Coleman explores what makes political debates important and shares four key questions viewers should consider while watching.

Joining Stephen is debate expert Alan Schroeder, who explains how presidential debates can influence public opinion, media coverage and election campaigns.

This episode explores political debates, campaign communication, leadership, persuasion and electoral politics.

There'll be reaction to the debate and additional material after it's aired.

Guest: Alan Schroeder

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 podcast then please follow to be the first to hear when a new episode is released.        

The Sound of Politics is a podcast about political communication, political rhetoric, political leadership, democracy, public opinion and the language of politics. Hosted by Professor Stephen Coleman, each episode explores how politics is communicated and how citizens can better understand it. 

How does political disagreement become political violence? Following the assassination attempt on Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign, many people were left asking how democratic politics can become so hostile and polarised.

In this episode, Professor Stephen Coleman explores the relationship between political rhetoric, polarisation and democratic culture. How has political discourse changed in recent years? Why does public debate sometimes become more extreme? And what are the dangers for democracy when opponents are viewed as enemies rather than rivals?

Joining Stephen is Professor Robert Asen of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, whose research focuses on rhetoric, politics and democratic engagement.

Together they discuss political violence, democratic resilience, public discourse and political culture.

Guest: Professor Robert Asen

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 podcast then please follow to be the first to hear when a new episode is released.       

The Sound of Politics is a podcast about political communication, political rhetoric, political leadership, democracy, public opinion and the language of politics. Hosted by Professor Stephen Coleman, each episode explores how politics is communicated and how citizens can better understand it.