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Sensemaker

The Observer
Donald Trump
Gaza
Climate Change
Jeffrey Epstein
Mental Health
Israel
Iran
Ukraine
Labour Party
Keir Starmer
Venezuela
Tiktok
United Kingdom
Hamas
Social Media Ban
Russia
Australia
Peter Mandelson
London
Artificial Intelligence

The Sensemaker from The Observer - one story every day to make sense of the world.

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A daily edition, curated by our editors 7 days a week

Puzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crossword

Recipes for every occasion

Free tickets to join Obse... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1415Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsNews CommentaryDaily News

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Artwork for Sensemaker

Latest Episodes

The police’s treatment of Henry Nowak, who was handcuffed after he had been stabbed, has prompted riots in Southampton, and allegations of a two-tier policing system. 

Writer: Poppy Bullard

Producer: Poppy Bullard

Host: Madeleine Parr

Episode pho... more

As Donald Trump ramps up pressure on Cuba, the island is facing fuel shortages, economic collapse and mass emigration. But will these threats form the US president back fire?

Host: Ada Barumé

Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland

Episode Photography... more

More than a dozen people have died trying to cool off during the May heatwave. When does swimming in cold water become fatal?

Writer: Ada Barumé

Producer: Ada Barumé

Host: Ada Barumé

Episode photography: Joe Mee

Editor: Jasper Corbett Hosted on... more

Last week Pope Leo chose to focus on the dangers of artificial intelligence during his first major teaching. Why did he decide to concentrate on AI?

Writer: Jonathan Lewis

Producer: Jonathan Lewis

Host: Jonathan Lewis

Episode photography: Joe Mee... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Slow Newscast
The Slow NewscastThe Observer
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Today in FocusThe Guardian
The Story
The StoryThe Times

Recent Guests

Adam Scaife
Professor and head of long-range forecasting at the UK Met Office
UK Met Office
Episode: Will an El Niño event cause even hotter summers?
Alistair Grant
Political editor of The Scotsman
The Scotsman
Episode: Peter Murrell’s embezzlement scandal
Catherine Barnard
Professor of European law
University of Cambridge
Episode: Will the UK rejoin the EU?
Trudy Lang
Professor of Global Health Research at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
Episode: How serious is the new Ebola outbreak?
Samuel Roger Cambour
Health Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Episode: How serious is the new Ebola outbreak?
Paul Lewis
Solicitor, partner and head of crime at DPP Law
DPP Law
Episode: Smart glasses: the new era of covert recordings
Shane Ryan
Elite swimmer, Olympian for Ireland
Shane Ryan (athlete)
Episode: Why are elite athletes doping for the Enhanced Games?
Simon Calder
Travel journalist and broadcaster
Travel journalism and broadcasting
Episode: Will jet fuel prices ruin your holiday?
Andrew Pollard
Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford, Oxford Vaccine Group
Episode: How worried should we be about hantavirus?

Hosts

Casey
Host of Sensemaker segment on The Observer network
Ada Barumé
Host of Sensemaker

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 825 ratings
  • Diary of a CEO

    No one is talking about declining birth rates. Everyone is talking about SB suggesting an intervention to get incels laid so they can pass on their surnames. But sure, Sensemaker, miss the whole point again.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Will switch posh men off.
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Too short

    Hi, love the show but feel you always break it off when it gets interesting. Does it have to be so short?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Judith21304
    Austria7 months ago
  • Of course it’s not enough!

    Israel is using starvation as a military tactic.They want Palestinians dead or outside Palestine.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    veganman1961
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • I don’t like The Observer.

    I don’t like the Observer. All those boring privileged columnists moaning about how lucky they are. I stopped listening to the Guardian podcast a few years ago. I really liked Tortoise. It felt like a fresh take and it looked at things differently. I understand the Observer was a loss but I wish it hadn’t come to Tortoise.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Will switch posh men off.
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Too much advertising too short a content

    Im a huge Tortoise fan and listen to everything they produce. But there’s no point in promoting Sensemaker as a less than 10-min curated news content when the content itself represents the smallest portion of the podcast. This is really annoying and frankly misleading fr your listeners.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Molylu
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some feel ad breaks interrupt the flow and detract from content.
A few listeners want deeper exploration beyond quick summaries.
Positive feedback for informative guests and clear explanations.
Listeners appreciate the concise, fast-paced briefings.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Will the UK rejoin the EU?
Q: Are you in favour of rejoining the European Union?
The guest/subject answer indicates a long-term feasibility with caveats, suggesting focus on domestic issues now but acknowledging a potential case for rejoining in the long term.
How could the government tackle antisemitism?
Q: So how has the government responded to this wave of antisemitic violence?
The host introduces the topic and the guest explains that funding announcements have occurred, but there is concern that the funds may not fully address the problem, signaling a need for broader, multi-faceted approaches including security, education, and enforcement.
Will the government’s plan to stop young people smoking work?
Q: What benefit is this going to do for young people now, rather than over the course of the coming decades?
The policy is expected to reduce youth initiation and smoking prevalence, with evidence from age restrictions and international experiences suggesting fewer young people will start smoking, while also considering the broader health and productivity gains over time.
Why your hayfever is getting worse
Q: Why is hay fever getting worse now?
Rising temperatures, higher carbon dioxide levels, and increasing air pollutants are extending pollen seasons and boosting pollen production, leading to more widespread and severe symptoms.
Is shared ownership housing really an affordable option?
Q: Is the government doing anything to better regulate the sector?
Yes, there have been conversations with the housing minister and efforts to get more housing associations to sign up to a formal code, signaling a push for greater oversight and standardized practices.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Sensemaker

What is Sensemaker about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A daily, compact briefing that translates complex global and domestic affairs into accessible takeaways. Episodes consistently cover geopolitics, economics, immigration policy, public sector issues, and media dynamics, often featuring expert guests and policy-focused analysis. The format tends to mix investigative angles with practical implications for businesses and policymakers, and the show frequently relies on on-the-ground reporting and academic perspectives to illuminate timely issues. Noteworthy is its willingness to spotlight policy failures, industry crises, and regulatory debates through a concise, fast-paced lens, which can be especially valuable for listeners who need fast, smart context for decision-making or pitching guests. P... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Sensemaker?

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How many listeners does Sensemaker get?

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What are the audience demographics for Sensemaker?

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How many subscribers and views does Sensemaker have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Sensemaker has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Sensemaker?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sensemaker:

1. The Slow Newscast
2. The News Meeting
3. Today in Focus
4. The Story
5. File on 4 Investigates

How many episodes of Sensemaker are there?

Sensemaker launched 5 years ago and published 1415 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Sensemaker?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Sensemaker?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Sensemaker from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Sensemaker?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Sensemaker. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Sensemaker?

Recent guests on Sensemaker include:

1. Adam Scaife
2. Alistair Grant
3. Catherine Barnard
4. Trudy Lang
5. Samuel Roger Cambour
6. Paul Lewis
7. Shane Ryan
8. Simon Calder

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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