Best Ppf Podcasts (2025)

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PPF+: More of What You’ve Been Missing! 1:01:11

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8d ago1:01:11

1:01:11

In today’s episode some more highlights from the PPF+ archive of 35 bonus episodes and counting: here are a few more excerpts we think you might enjoy. In this episode you’ll hear David talking about In the Loop and the question of why politicians do and don’t resign; Robert Saunders on the legacy of Brexit for politics in 2025; Shannon Vallor on w…

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How to Deal With Angry Customers? Also, Removing Old PPF Episode #918 46:23

23d ago46:23

46:23

In this conversation, Marshall Hill and Nick Walters discuss the impact of the back-to-school season on the detailing industry, emphasizing the importance of adapting services to meet customer needs. They delve into the effectiveness of fabric protectants, the challenges of handling customer complaints, and the significance of face-to-face communic…

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Fixing Democracy: Electoral Reform 59:04

33m ago59:04

59:04

For the first episode in a new series about the ideas that could help democracy work better David talks to David Klemperer of the Constitution Society about proportional representation. How did nineteenth-century advocates of PR think it could improve democratic representation? Why did PR get adopted in some places but not in others during the twen…

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Indignity w/Lea Ypi 1:06:48

13h ago1:06:48

1:06:48

David talks to Lea Ypi about her new book Indignity: A Life Reimagined, which tells the story of her grandmother’s extraordinary life and in doing so uncovers the hidden history of mid-twentieth-century Europe. But it is also a book about the different philosophies of dignity and how those ideas can shape, make and break individual human lives. A c…

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When Should You Hire Team Members? Plus, What is Necessary On A Road Trip? Episode #920 1:17:04

5d ago1:17:04

1:17:04

In this conversation, Marshall and Nick discuss various aspects of car care, detailing, and the challenges of hiring in the automotive industry. They share personal experiences related to road trips and car maintenance, emphasizing the importance of quality products and professional help. The discussion also delves into the financial implications o…

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The science of biofoul and making the most of a bad thing (FTS)

2d ago

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From shellfish and seaweeds to tiny amphipods, biofouling is the stubborn layer of life that clings to boats and marine structures, creating costly maintenance challenges. While some chemical treatments can help control biofouling, many of these chemicals pose risks to other marine life. This week, host Julie Blommaert speaks with Research Technolo…

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Dignity and Indignity w/Lea Ypi 59:59

4d ago59:59

59:59

Today’s episode is the first in a three-part conversation with philosopher and writer Lea Ypi about the idea of dignity and its role in the history of ideas and in the story of our lives. What is the difference between dignity and dignitas? How does our conception of dignity shape the ways that we think about death? And why is Kant so important for…

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Politics on Trial: Hitler vs Weimar 1:05:08

11d ago1:05:08

1:05:08

Today’s epic political trial is the one that should have been the end of Adolf Hitler but ended up being the making of him: his treason trial in 1924 for the so-called Beer Hall Putsch. How close did Hitler’s attempted coup come to succeeding? Why was he allowed to turn the court that tried him into a platform for his poisonous politics? What were …

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Politics on Trial: Easter Rising 1916 w/Fintan O’Toole 59:09

14d ago59:09

59:09

Today it’s the first of two episodes with journalist and historian Fintan O’Toole about the trials that followed the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland. What did the leaders of the rising hope to achieve, with or without German help? How and why did the British get it so wrong by court martialling the supposed ring leaders in secret? Were those trials a…

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Future Of Auto Detailing Products. Pro Grade Chemicals vs Products For DIY User. Episode #919 1:00:58

19d ago1:00:58

1:00:58

In this conversation, Marshall Hill and Nick Walters discuss various topics related to car detailing, including personal confessions about shopping habits, effective cleaning techniques, the evolving role of extractors in the industry, risks associated with sanding and paint correction, and the importance of using professional-grade chemicals. They…

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Intellectual property in science (BTS)

17d ago

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How do you take a brilliant scientific idea and turn it into something that makes a real difference in the world? The answer often starts with intellectual property (IP). For decades, Plant & Food Research, part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute, has been protecting and growing the value of its science through IP, helping discoveries move from th…

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PPF+: A Taste of What You've Been Missing! 55:27

18d ago55:27

55:27

Today’s episode is something a little bit different – it is nearly 18 months since we started PPF+ and there are now 34 bonus episodes waiting for you as soon as you sign up. It costs £5 per month or £50 per year and you will get two new bonus episodes every month along with ad-free listening, automatic sign-up to our newsletter and access to the w…

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Politics on Trial 100th Anniversary Special: Franz Kafka’s The Trial 59:20

21d ago59:20

59:20

Today’s episode in Politics on Trial is about the most famous trial in literature and one that never actually takes place. David talks to writer and literary scholar Ian Ellison about Franz Kafka’s The Trial, first published in 1925. What is the meaning of a book about a legal process that never happens? How was it inspired by Kafka’s failed love l…

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Politics on Trial: Dreyfus vs the Conspiracy Theory 1:06:31

25d ago1:06:31

1:06:31

Today in Politics on Trial David tells the tale of the Dreyfus Affair that split France down the middle at the turn of the last century and revealed the grip of a whole host of conspiracy theories. Across a series of courts martial, libel trials, treason trials and parliamentary commissions, the story of a letter found in a wastebin turned into a s…

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Politics on Trial: Oscar Wilde vs the Philistines 1:03:23

28d ago1:03:23

1:03:23

Today’s episode in Politics on Trial is about three trials that took place over two months in the late spring of 1895 that brought about the destruction of Oscar Wilde. Why did Wilde trigger his own doom by suing his nemesis Lord Queensbury for libel? What did he fail to understand about how he would come across in a courtroom? And how did the pers…

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Using AI and How It Can Help or Hurt Your Business? Is APC Necessary? Episode #917 52:46

1M ago52:46

52:46

In this conversation, Marshall Hill and Nick Walters discuss the therapeutic aspects of cleaning, the evolution of cleaning products, and the risks associated with using all-purpose cleaners. They delve into steam cleaning techniques and the use of ozone treatment for odor removal. The discussion also highlights the importance of authenticity in co…

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Silent Spring, Star Wars, and sustainable business (PPF)

1M ago

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What is sustainability, and how can businesses contribute to it? Why do many larger organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand align with the Sustainable Business Council (SBC)? In this episode, host Roger Robson-Williams is joined by Jay Crangle and Mike Burrell from the SBC to explore these questions, sparked by the recent merger of four Crown Researc…

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Now & Then with Robert Saunders: Whatever Happened to Unemployment? 1:04:50

1M ago1:04:50

1:04:50

Today’s episode is the first in a new strand with the historian Robert Saunders looking at significant political anniversaries and their meaning for today. Summer 2025 is 70 years since the UK recorded its lowest ever unemployment rate in peacetime: just 1% (or 215,800 people) in July 1955. David and Robert explore the history of unemployment: how …

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Politics on Trial: Charles Parnell vs the English 58:54

1M ago58:54

58:54

For today’s episode in Politics on Trial it’s two trials for the price of one, which between them changed the course of British and Irish history. In 1889 the leading Irish politician Charles Parnell was cleared of any involvement in the notorious Phoenix Park murders by Irish republican terrorists seven years earlier. In 1890 Parnell was found to …

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How To Be Faster Laying Ceramic Coating? Cleaning Hot Glass when Trying to Get Perfect Finish. Episode #916 52:10

1M ago52:10

52:10

In this conversation, Marshall Hill and Nick Walters discuss various challenges and techniques in car detailing, focusing on practical solutions and insights from their experiences. They cover topics such as cleaning modern vehicles, effective glass cleaning methods, the nuances of rinseless and waterless washing, troubleshooting key fob issues, an…

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Politics on Trial: The Haymarket Eight vs the Police 57:11

1M ago57:11

57:11

Today’s political trial is one of the most notorious in American history: eight men charged with and convicted of murder in 1886 for a terrorist outrage that none of them committed. A bomb had been thrown at the police during a workers’ rally in Chicago but this trial was not about punishing the person who threw it. Rather it was a witch hunt of th…

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Politics on Trial: John Brown vs Slavery 58:23

1M ago58:23

58:23

Today’s great political trial concerns the prosecution and execution of John Brown in 1859 for his raid on Harper’s Ferry in the attempt to free America’s slaves, an event that helped precipitate the American Civil War. It was also a trial that produced three of the greatest speeches in American history: by Brown himself, by Henry Thoreau and by Fr…

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Ceramic Coating PPF. Plus, What is Burn Out and Are Your Burned Out? Episode #915 51:27

2M ago51:27

51:27

In this conversation, Marshall and Nick discuss the complexities of customer expectations in detailing, particularly regarding the use of ceramic coatings on paint protection film (PPF). They explore the importance of proper product application and the confusion surrounding PPF maintenance. The discussion also delves into the challenges of bug remo…

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Sue Muggleston: Protecting ideas, powering discovery (SLFM)

2M ago

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Securing intellectual property (IP) for our research is now a vital aspect of science delivery in Aotearoa New Zealand, though this was not always the case.In this episode of Scigest, Hilary Ireland speaks with Sue Muggleston, the recently retired IP Manager at Plant & Food Research, who played a key role in shaping the organisation’s approach to p…

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Politics on Trial: Aaron Burr vs the Constitution 55:25

2M ago55:25

55:25

For today’s epic political trial, David talks to American historian and PPF regular Gary Gerstle about the treason trial of Aaron Burr in 1807. Why was Burr not put on trial for killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel? Was Burr really planning to invade Mexico or was it a set-up? Why was President Thomas Jefferson so determined to bring Burr down? Why…

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Politics on Trial: Louis XVI vs the People 59:29

2M ago59:29

59:29

Today’s epoch-making political trial concerns the interrogation, conviction and execution of Louis XVI at the heart of the French Revolution in 1792-3. For many at the time and since this event had powerful echoes of the trial and execution of Charles I - but in fact the trial of Louis was very different in almost every way. Why and how did Louis c…

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Washing Ceramic Coated Vehicles. What Pads To Use For Paint Correction? Episode #914 49:15

2M ago49:15

49:15

In this conversation, Nick Walters and Marshall discuss various aspects of the detailing industry, including personal anecdotes, professional collaborations, and the importance of proper techniques and equipment. They delve into the challenges faced by detailers, such as dealing with road paint and the significance of using the right products and t…

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Politics on Trial: Warren Hastings vs the British Empire 1:03:14

2M ago1:03:14

1:03:14

To start our new instalment of episodes about the most consequential political trials in history David explores the trial of the eighteenth century: the impeachment of Warren Hastings that ran in the British parliament from 1788-95. Hastings had been Governor-General of Bengal, controlling much of India for Britain and for the East India Company an…

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The History of Bad Ideas: Identity 1:01:35

2M ago1:01:35

1:01:35

For the final episode in our current series on the history of bad ideas, David talks to philosopher Alexander Douglas about the damage that can be done by the idea of identity. Why is the search for a distinctive personal identity such a futile quest? How does it lead to an identity politics of exclusion and violence? What can we learn from the phi…

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Easiest Way To Grow Your Business .Detailing Techniques In The Heat. Episode #913 1:04:38

2M ago1:04:38

1:04:38

In this conversation, the hosts discuss various aspects of the detailing industry, focusing on the importance of uniqueness, timeliness, and effective communication with customers. They explore common challenges faced by detailers, the significance of deposits, and the necessity of understanding chemical interactions in detailing products. The conv…

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A natural defence for vineyard pests (BDIS)

2M ago

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Mealybugs may be tiny, but they’re causing big problems for Aotearoa New Zealand’s wine industry by spreading the destructive Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3). In this episode of Scigest, host and scientist Nicola Sullivan chats with fellow scientist Michelle Thompson about her Endeavour Fund research exploring whether some grapevine…

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The History of Bad Ideas: Behaviourism 1:04:17

2M ago1:04:17

1:04:17

In today’s episode of the history of bad ideas, David talks to political philosopher Alan Finlayson about behaviourism, a theory of psychology that has penetrated to the heart of politics. How did we get from Pavlov’s Dog to a prescription for a better society? What is the relationship between behavioural utopianism and contemporary economics? How …

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The History of Bad Ideas: Polycrisis 59:10

2M ago59:10

59:10

Today’s bad idea is one with a short history but a big reach: the term polycrisis only came into being at the end of the last century but now it seems to be everywhere. David talks to historian Gary Gerstle about how this idea was originally conceived, what its current vogue says about the times in which we live and whether this really is a polycri…

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Paint Correction and How To Get The Results You Want. Episode #912 57:49

2M ago57:49

57:49

In this conversation, Marshall and Hyperclean discuss the evolution of automotive detailing, focusing on paint correction, the understanding of paint damage, and the techniques involved in restoring vehicle surfaces. They explore the importance of terminology in the detailing industry, the impact of technology on detailing practices, and the signif…

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The History of Bad Ideas: Value-Free Tech 1:01:03

2M ago1:01:03

1:01:03

For today’s episode in the history of bad ideas David talks to philosopher Shannon Vallor about the myth that technology can be value free. It’s easy to see why Silicon Valley is so keen on the idea that it’s never the fault of the tech, only of the people who use it. But why do we let them get away with it? Where did this idea come from? How has i…

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The History of Bad Ideas: Monopoly 57:11

2M ago57:11

57:11

For today’s episode in the history of bad ideas David talks to economic historian Marc Palen about monopoly, an idea that has always had its defenders as well as its fierce critics. Why do monopolies arise even in supposedly competitive economies? How did the anti-monopoly movement of Henry George in the late-19th century argue that the monopolists…

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Compound, Polish, One-Step Is Here!!! Also, Ceramic Coating Maintenace. Episode #911 47:37

2M ago47:37

47:37

In this conversation, Marshall and Nick discuss the excitement surrounding the launch of new detailing products, including innovative abrasives designed to simplify the detailing process. They emphasize the importance of user experience, community engagement, and education in the detailing industry. The discussion also covers common issues faced by…

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Using AI to help create new plant proteins (NT)

3M ago

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In this episode of Scigest, we delve into the fascinating and ever-evolving world of utilising artificial intelligence in science. Host and senior scientist Dr Jay Jayaraman chats with researcher Sarah Philp-Wright about her work on developing novel plant proteins with the help of AI. They discuss powerful tools such as RoseTTAFold, AlphaFold, and …

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The History of Bad Ideas: Meritocracy 1:01:59

2M ago1:01:59

1:01:59

Today’s bad idea is one that started out as satire and ended as a political slogan. David talks to historian of ideas Ben Jackson about meritocracy and its origins in Michael Young’s book The Rise of the Meritocracy published in 1958. Young foresaw a populist revolt against the meritocratic elite in the year 2034. Was his vision prophetic? Why did …

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S2E15 - Why BMW M Won’t Build a Supercar or Join Formula 1 59:30

3M ago59:30

59:30

Join BMW M CEO Frank van Meel, Head of Design Oliver Heilmer, and factory racing legend Augusto Farfus as they tackle the hottest questions in the world of M—live, unscripted, and straight from the source. Topics: The real reason BMW M hasn’t built a supercar Why Formula 1 isn’t part of BMW’s current strategy The first-ever fully electric M3 What m…

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The History of Bad Ideas: Charisma 59:41

3M ago59:41

59:41

For today’s episode in the history of bad ideas David talks to cultural historian Tom Wright about charisma, a term that often feels essential for understanding modern politics but which ends up obscuring far more than it explains. How did an old idea from Christian theology get used to explain the hold that political leaders have over crowds? Why …

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Self Employment vs Business Ownership. What Product Bandwagon Did You Jump on Then Jumped Off? Episode #910 52:46

3M ago52:46

52:46

In this episode, the we discuss various themes surrounding sports fandom, particularly the concept of bandwagon fans, and how it relates to loyalty and team spirit. They transition into the detailing industry, exploring the evolution of tools and the impact of social media on practices and perceptions. The conversation also delves into the differen…

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The History of Bad Ideas: The Decisive Battle 1:00:07

3M ago1:00:07

1:00:07

In today’s episode about the power of bad ideas, David talks to historian and podcaster Dan Snow about the myth that wars are settled on the battlefield. Why are we so drawn to the idea of the decisive military showdown? Is Napoleon to blame? What are the forces that actually settle military conflicts? Plus: were Abba really so wrong that Waterloo …

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The History of Bad Ideas: Genius 56:07

3M ago56:07

56:07

Today’s bad idea is ‘genius’, the label that has enabled all sorts of terrible behaviour through the ages. Writer and broadcaster Helen Lewis explains how and why the idea of genius gets misapplied to people and things that just aren’t. Why are geniuses meant to be tortured? Why are individual geniuses prized over the collaborations that lie behind…

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Should You Use a Steamer? Also, Should You Believe Detailing On Social Media? Episode #909 59:29

3M ago59:29

59:29

In this conversation, Marshall and Nick discuss the complexities of Father's Day, the evolution of celebrations, and the changing landscape of automotive quality and detailing techniques. They explore the impact of supply chain issues on car manufacturing, the debate surrounding the use of steamers in detailing, and the importance of enzymes in cle…

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Up-beet about sustainable sugar (PPF)

3M ago

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Grab a cuppa and prepare to be recharged by this high-energy chat with Dr Vicky Foster about the British sugar industry. Vicky has held various leadership roles within the UK food system, most recently as Head of the British Beet Research Organisation. In this episode of People|Planet|Food, host Roger Robson-Williams talks with Vicky about how the …

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The History of Bad Ideas: Austerity 58:36

3M ago58:36

58:36

For the first episode in our new series about how bad ideas take hold, David talks to economist Mark Blyth about austerity, the cost-cutting idea that refuses to die. Why is it an article of faith that states need periodic purging to stop them getting too greedy? Why does this so often happen at times when it does most harm, from the 1930s to the f…

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Politics on Trial: Charles I vs Parliament 1:02:40

3M ago1:02:40

1:02:40

Today’s political trial is perhaps the most consequential in English history: the trial and execution of King Charles I for treason in January 1649. How could a king commit treason when treason was a crime against the king? How could a court try a king when a king has no peers? How could anyone claim to speak for the people after a civil war when s…

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Ruining Interiors With Dressings. How To Handle a Customer Asking For a Discount? Episode #908 50:14

3M ago50:14

50:14

In this conversation, Marshall and Nick delve into various topics related to automotive detailing, customer interactions, and product usage. They start with a light-hearted discussion about phone holders in cars, transitioning into a more serious conversation about how to handle customer requests for discounts. Nick shares his insights on maintaini…

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Politics on Trial: Galileo vs the Inquisition 1:04:43

3M ago1:04:43

1:04:43

Today’s trial is one of the most notorious in history but also one of the most misremembered. Galileo’s epic confrontation with the Catholic Church over the question of whether the earth moves round the sun – culminating with his interrogation and condemnation in Rome in 1633 – was not just a matter of truth vs ignorance or science vs superstition.…