The Explanation Podcast
Where the world is explained. Making sense of the big stories - looking behind the spin.
Where the world is explained. Making sense of the big stories - looking behind the spin. Exploring the important questions about long-running stories and the latest global news. An honest, unvarnished, explanation of the world. Episodes from The Explanation, Unspun World, The Global Jigsaw and The Media Show.
Episodes to download
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The Media Show: How podcasts took over the world
Thu 20 Jun 2024
In the space of 20 years, podcasting has gone from hobby to big business
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The Global Jigsaw: The evolution of the Islamic State Group
Tue 18 Jun 2024
After a lull in activities, in 2024 IS claimed to be behind several major attacks
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Unspun World: Israel's war cabinet fragments
Fri 14 Jun 2024
Plus, why isn't economic growth having a greater impact on the US presidential election?
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The Media Show: How to interview a Prime Minister
Thu 13 Jun 2024
We speak to a journalist who sat down with Rishi Sunak
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Unspun World: The new threats to global peace and security
Fri 7 Jun 2024
Plus, why did the ANC fail to win a majority in South Africa?
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Unspun World: Will the UK's election change its place in the world?
Fri 31 May 2024
Plus, can Iran's governing elite win back popular support?
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The Media Show: Is this the TikTok election?
Thu 30 May 2024
Exploring the role of Big Tech in a crucial election year around the world
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Unspun World: How has the Russia-China relationship changed?
Fri 24 May 2024
Plus, what an assassination attempt tells us about Europe's politics
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The Media Show: Reporting ringside at Usyk v Fury
Thu 23 May 2024
Reporting on Usyk v Fury in Riyadh amidst allegations of 鈥榮portswashing鈥�
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Unspun World: Why are US-Israel relations at an historic low?
Fri 17 May 2024
Plus, Georgia's mass protests and China's influence on Western countries
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The Media Show: Netflix and the Baby Reindeer Fallout
Thu 16 May 2024
How a 鈥渢rue story鈥� is alleged to be something rather more complicated
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The Global Jigsaw: How China sees itself in Africa
Sat 11 May 2024
Beijing says it is building, not buying, Africa. Do people in Nairobi agree?
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What is the dark web?
Sat 11 May 2024
The origins of the dark web, cyber crime and internet censorship across the world
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Unspun World: What is Israel's plan for Gaza?
Fri 10 May 2024
Plus, the mood on the Ukrainian frontline and South Africa's general election
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The Media Show: Reporting the US campus protests
Thu 9 May 2024
Why student journalists have been crucial to the world鈥檚 understanding of the story
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The Global Jigsaw: Turkey's foothold in Africa
Sat 4 May 2024
Ankara is touting itself as a 鈥渘on-colonising鈥� alternative to Western powers
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Goodbye to the International Space Station
Sat 4 May 2024
It was a triumph of international collaboration - a laboratory for hundreds of astronauts
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The Media Show: Behind the information iron curtain
Thu 2 May 2024
How freedom of the press no longer exists in many parts of the world
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The Global Jigsaw: Deconstructing Iran鈥檚 鈥楢xis of Resistance鈥�: Part two
Sat 27 Apr 2024
The loose coalition of allies and proxies, sworn against Israeli and US influence
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Nuclear weapons - which countries have them?
Sat 27 Apr 2024
We look at the nuclear powers and those who want to join their club
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The Media Show: Secrets of the Celebrity Interview
Thu 25 Apr 2024
Coaxing megastars to say things they鈥檒l later regret, and can you teach creativity?
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The Global Jigsaw: How drones have changed war
Sat 20 Apr 2024
Drones have reshaped the battlefield in Ukraine - and created new challenges
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The Media Show: How Taylor Swift conquered the media
Thu 18 Apr 2024
A lesson in 鈥淪wiftonomics鈥� from the journalists who report on the pop phenomenon
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How does the New York Stock Exchange work?
Tue 16 Apr 2024
Valued at over $25 trillion, does it spread wealth or increase inequality?
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The Global Jigsaw: Sudan: A year of war
Sun 14 Apr 2024
Sudan faces the largest humanitarian and displacement crisis in the world
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The Media Show: Building Trump's social media app
Thu 11 Apr 2024
Billy Boozer tells the story behind the creation of Truth Social
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The Global Jigsaw: Deconstructing Iran鈥檚 'Axis of Resistance': Part one
Sun 7 Apr 2024
The origins of the Iran-cultivated alliance of like-minded states and groups.
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The Media Show: Fear, threats and intimidation
Thu 4 Apr 2024
Have US diplomats been targeted by Russian sonic weaponry?
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The Global Jigsaw: Moscow attack: disinfo wars
Sun 31 Mar 2024
Who is behind the Crocus City Hall attack? We track the blame game.
