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Artwork for This Is Why

This Is Why

Sky News
Donald Trump
Ukraine
Russia
United States
Labour Party
NATO
Iran
Keir Starmer
Jeffrey Epstein
United Kingdom
Andy Burnham
Sky News
Strait Of Hormuz
UK Budget
China
Social Media
Immigration
NHS
Artificial Intelligence
Shabana Mahmood

The world’s a pretty confusing place right now – so how do you make sense of it all? This Is Why takes one story every day, explains how we got here and why it matters to you. Sky News’ Niall Paterson speaks to experts and correspondents from around the world, getting simple answers to some complex questions. Available every weekday afternoon. This Is Why is a Sky News podcast – if you have a ques... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes2236Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Daily NewsNewsNews Commentary

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for This Is Why

Latest Episodes

Artificial intelligence is already changing how we work, communicate and find information. But could its biggest impact be on science?

Demis Hassabis is one of the most influential figures in AI. An artificial intelligence researcher and entreprene... more

UEFA has said it is not lifting its boycott of the World Cup after FIFA president Gianni Infantino held a crisis meeting in Morocco. This appears to be in defiance of the letter issued by FIFA at the end of the meeting, which said it would "no longer... more

Britain is on track for one of its worst harvests on record, according to new analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) think tank.

It's bad news for farmers whose businesses are struggling, bad news for consumers who could see h... more

The 33-year-old star has announced that she is taking a break from public life due to “endless scrutiny”. In recent years her weight and health have been the subject of much speculation and concern.

Grande has endured a series of traumatic events. I... more

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

Recent Guests

Sebastian Mallaby
Author of The Infinity Machine, journalist and biographer
Author
Episode: Why a British 'Silicon Valley outsider' is one of AI's biggest players
Martin Lines
Cambridgeshire farmer and CEO of the Nature Friendly Farming Network
Nature Friendly Farming Network
Episode: Why the drought could threaten national security
Sarah Ditum
Journalist and author of Toxic, Women, Fame And The Noughties
Episode: Why we should think before having a conversation about Ariana Grande
Alain Tolhurst
Chief Reporter at Politics Home
Politics Home
Episode: Why Reform is hardening its position on small boats
Rob Harris
Sky Sports correspondent (guest on the episode)
Sky News
Episode: Why is FIFA selling the World Cup?
Michael Bruce
Wildfire expert and managing director of Firebreak Services
Firebreak Services
Episode: Why the UK needs to learn from Europe’s wildfires
Martin Brunt
Sky's crime commentator providing expert context on the case
Sky News
Episode: Why was key evidence ignored in the Suzy Lamplugh case?
Rosa Prince
Political columnist for Bloomberg
Bloomberg
Episode: 'Burnham’s power broker': Why is Louise Haigh back at the heart of government?
Brian Eno
Producer, musician and member of Patriotic Millionaires UK
Patriotic Millionaires UK
Episode: Why millionaires like Gary Lineker want to pay more tax

Host

Niall Paterson
Host associated with Sky News, commonly steering political and current affairs discussions.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 965 ratings
  • Not great

    Right in the middle of a guest making a point it went to a commercial for ceiling repair. Proof this podcast has no interest in showing you the WHY of anything. Sensationalized nonsense.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    TV Food and Drink
    United States2 months ago
  • Poor Journalism

    I have been a listener to “Trump 100” ever since it started. It is a great podcast giving a professional, balanced analysis.

    On today’s edition of Trump 100 there was an advert for “This Is Why”, so I thought I would give it a go.

    The first edition I listened to this morning was

    “Why your fake fashion is funding organised crime”.

    Unfortunately I was very very unhappy about the quality of the journalism in this podcast.

    It focussed entirely on the potential for knock off product revenues to... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Diysteve345
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • One it was great and based, justened to the danish iv good god go woe

    Podcast Addict
    2
    Ogetsch
    9 months ago
  • Great Pod

    I love this pod. Great content. Great length. You need to get Niall Paterson back on the telly. One of the best presenters Sky News has

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ardwark
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Thatcher

    Thatchers legacy is tainted, The Belgrano, The Miners Strike she wanted, Orgreave, Hillsborough, Savilles knighthood, Right to buy, privatisation, the UK is a mess of her making. Evil.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WillyWonks66
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

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

Sound quality has been a recurring complaint in some episodes.
Many listeners find it a reliable, concise daily briefing on politics and policy.
Listeners appreciate the host's balanced, thorough approach and clear explanations.
Guests and topics are diverse, with strong analysis from experts but occasional criticisms of perceived bias.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#175
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#16
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#84
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#145
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#78
Australia/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#121
Italy/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Infantino is clinging on to power at FIFA
Q: If Infantino doesn't stand for re-election, or if someone challenges him, who would your money be on?
Rob Harris suggests potential rivals from CONCACAF and UEFA circles, noting regional power dynamics and the importance of a candidate who can command broad support across federations.
Why we should think before having a conversation about Ariana Grande
Q: What is the responsibility of social media and the industry in how celebrity health is portrayed?
The discussion argues for responsible portrayal and regulation of unhealthy imagery, noting that social platforms have a duty to limit content that promotes disordered eating, especially for young audiences.
Why we should think before having a conversation about Ariana Grande
Q: Are we justified in commenting on Ariana Grande's health given her public profile?
The speakers suggest there is a need to discuss health concerns while avoiding cruelty, with an emphasis on compassion and accountability from representatives and media platforms to prevent sensationalism.
Why a British 'Silicon Valley outsider' is one of AI's biggest players
Q: Can you explain the significance of AlphaFold in practical terms?
AlphaFold provided highly accurate predictions of protein structures, which previously required years of lab work; making these results openly available accelerates biomedical research worldwide and could hasten new medicines.
Why a British 'Silicon Valley outsider' is one of AI's biggest players
Q: So what was the point of founding DeepMind and pursuing AI from the Cambridge era onward?
The goal was to build powerful AI as a scientific instrument capable of accelerating discovery across disciplines, not just in computing, but in biology and medicine, with a focus on safety and thoughtful deployment.

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 This Is Why

What is This Is Why about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This daily geopolitical and policy briefing sheds light on one timely story per episode, explaining how it developed and why it matters. With expert guests and Sky News correspondents, the show translates complex events into practical context for decision-makers and informed listeners. It consistently covers politics, international relations, security, and economy through a concise, analytic lens, often featuring former officials, diplomats, and seasoned journalists. A standout trait is its mix of on-the-ground reporting, policy analysis, and careful consideration of multiple perspectives, making it helpful for audiences who want a clear understanding of current events and their real-world implications.

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Which podcasts are similar to This Is Why?

These podcasts share a similar audience with This Is Why:

1. TRUMP100
2. Cheat Sheet with Ridge & Frost
3. Politics At Sam and Anne's
4. Electoral Dysfunction
5. The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim

How many episodes of This Is Why are there?

This Is Why launched 12 years ago and published 2236 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 This Is Why?

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.

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What guests have appeared on This Is Why?

Recent guests on This Is Why include:

1. Sebastian Mallaby
2. Martin Lines
3. Sarah Ditum
4. Alain Tolhurst
5. Rob Harris
6. Michael Bruce
7. Martin Brunt
8. Rosa Prince

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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