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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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.
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The Global Jigsaw: Contested waters: Helmand
Sun 24 Mar 2024
How the waters of the Helmand river have driven tensions between Afghanistan and Iran
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Unspun World: What's next for President Putin after winning re-election?
Sat 23 Mar 2024
Plus, as Biden and Trump compete for the presidency, is the US close to civil unrest?
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The Global Jigsaw - Contested waters: Crimea
Sun 17 Mar 2024
How water is used as a weapon of war following Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine
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Unspun World: Has Russia turned the tide in its war in Ukraine?
Sat 16 Mar 2024
Plus, gang violence in Haiti, and the possibility of unmanned ships on the oceans
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The Global Jigsaw: What hope for Haiti?
Sun 10 Mar 2024
Gang violence has turned the small Caribbean nation into a 鈥渓iving nightmare鈥�
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Unspun World: What's life like on the ground in Gaza and the West Bank?
Sat 9 Mar 2024
What will it take to bring peace to both Gaza and Ukraine?
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Unspun World: Is a ceasefire in Gaza within reach?
Sat 2 Mar 2024
Plus, Donald Trump's legal problems, and European farmers protest
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Unspun World: What Alexei Navalny's death means for Vladimir Putin's grip on Russia
Sat 24 Feb 2024
Two years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, can Putin keep control?
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Unspun World: Can Israel win its war in Gaza?
Sat 17 Feb 2024
John Simpson analyses Israel offensive in Gaza, China's economy and Indonesia's election
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Unspun World: How Russia's economy has survived despite sanctions
Sat 10 Feb 2024
Plus, examining the US military's role in the Middle East
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Unspun World: Is Ukraine losing Western support?
Sat 3 Feb 2024
Plus, how might the International Court of Justice鈥檚 ruling affect the war in Gaza?
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Unspun World: Is the war in Gaza slipping away from Israel?
Sat 27 Jan 2024
Plus, the implications of Iran鈥檚 missile strike on Pakistan
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Unspun World: What's the West's strategy for the Houthis?
Sat 20 Jan 2024
Have US and UK-led attacks on the Houthis in Yemen backfired?
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What does the World Bank do?
Sat 6 Jan 2024
Michelle Fleury on the origins and purpose of the global financial institution
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What is sportswashing?
Sat 30 Dec 2023
Dan Roan on why oil-rich nations are investing huge amounts of money in global sport
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What is BRICS?
Sat 23 Dec 2023
Can a group of emerging economies change the existing global economic hierarchy?
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How does the World Health Organization work?
Sat 16 Dec 2023
Tulip Mazumdar looks at the successes and failures of the WHO
