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Sensemaker

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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1401Founded5 years ago
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Daily NewsNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for Sensemaker

Latest Episodes

The war in Iran, and its aftermath, threatens to cause widespread disruption to airlines while jet fuel prices could make summer holidays more expensive. What could it mean for summer holidays?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa... more

After an outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship led to the deaths of three people, health ministers are working to contain the virus. But how concerned should we be about the global health risk?

Producer: Madeleine Parr

Hosted on Acast. See acast.... more

Police forces across the UK are rapidly expanding their use of AI. How might AI improve policing? 

Host: Madeleine Parr

Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland

Episode Photography: Sofia Fenton

Executive producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See a... more

After disastrous election results, the Prime Minister is fighting to save his political career.

Writer: Poppy Bullard

Producer: Amalie Sortland

Host: Ada Barumé

Episode photography: Sofia Fenton

Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast... more

Key Facts

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

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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The StoryThe Times
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Today in FocusThe Guardian

Recent Guests

John Simpson
Home Affairs editor at The Observer
The Observer
Episode: How are the police using AI?
Xavier Greenwood
Editor at The Observer
The Observer
Episode: How could the government tackle antisemitism?
Sean Jacobs
Professor of International Affairs at the New School in New York; founder of Africa is a Country
New School; Africa is a Country
Episode: Why does South Africa have a xenophobia problem?
Seun Matiluko
Writer of the episode
Episode: Why does South Africa have a xenophobia problem?
Peter Creel
South African commentator
Episode: Why does South Africa have a xenophobia problem?
Madeleine Class
Broadcaster and campaigner for miscarriage awareness and reform
Campaigner, MBE recipient
Episode: How could thousands of miscarriages be prevented?
Ari Kumarasamy
Director at the pregnancy charity Tommy's
Tommy's
Episode: How could thousands of miscarriages be prevented?
Saskia Garner
Head of policy and campaigns at the Susie Lamploo Trust
Susie Lamploo Trust
Episode: Are stalking cases soaring in Britain?
Sarah Poolman
National policing lead for stalking and harassment
Police/Law enforcement
Episode: Are stalking cases soaring in Britain?

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 Kingdom4 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
    Austria6 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.

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.
How is the Iran war affecting our cost of living?
Q: So what is the government doing to ease the strain on households?
The episode notes forthcoming measures like energy bill relief and a price cap designed to provide certainty for bills, with discussions indicating targeted support for those most affected.

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?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Sensemaker. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Sensemaker and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

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. The Story
4. The Audio Long Read
5. Today in Focus

How many episodes of Sensemaker are there?

Sensemaker launched 5 years ago and published 1401 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.

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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. John Simpson
2. Xavier Greenwood
3. Sean Jacobs
4. Seun Matiluko
5. Peter Creel
6. Madeleine Class
7. Ari Kumarasamy
8. Saskia Garner

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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