Rephonic
Artwork for This Is Why

This Is Why

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

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

As America marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terror attacks, a row has erupted between the man who led New York through its darkest moments and the city’s current mayor.

Rudy Giuliani became the face of New York’s resilience following... more

Don’t worry, AI’s not preparing to wipe out humanity with a Terminator-style nuclear Armageddon – that's just not its style.

But could it develop a virus that does the job instead? Well, that seems more of a possibility....

And speaking of odds, ... more

Less up, up and away... more stuck on the tarmac. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled and thousands of passengers stranded after yet another critical collapse of the country’s air traffic control system.

While a cyber-attack has been ruled out, ... more

Imagine your child has been the victim of a terror attack. Then imagine the most intimate details of their injuries being viewed and shared without your permission or knowledge.

A Sky News and Health Service Journal investigation has uncovered the e... more

YouTube

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.

Recent Guests

Dr Philippe Marliere
Professor in French and European Politics
University College London
Episode: Why Farage is courting rising star of the French far right
Ulrich Siegmund
Candidate for Minister President, AfD Saxony-Anhalt
Alternative for Deutschland (AfD)
Episode: Why Germany's far right is on the verge of its biggest win since WW2
Anna Iovine
Tech journalist who writes about the rise of dating apps
Mashable
Episode: Why Bumble's boss hopes AI is the future of dating
Yousra Elbagir
Sky News Africa correspondent
Sky News
Episode: Why Sudan's horrifying war is being ignored
Dolly Parton
Singer, songwriter, and philanthropist discussed as a guest
Episode: Bob Harris: Why Dolly Parton was loved by all ages
Will Guyatt
Technology commentator
Independent voice in tech commentary
Episode: Why can't TikTok just get rid of 'joyriding' videos?
Mary Aiken
Forensic Cyberpsychologist
University of East London
Episode: Why can't TikTok just get rid of 'joyriding' videos?
Ramon Pacheco Pardo
Professor of International Relations
King's College London
Episode: Why Trump’s split with South Korea is damaging his allies
Jo Tanner
communication strategist who spent years advising politicians and organizations on what to say when things get difficult
Episode: Why the government defended its wildfires alert

Hosts

Niall Paterson
Host of the show and interviewer, with a focus on skywatching and broader world affairs.
Mhari Aurora
Host of the episode and guide for interviews, with Sky News affiliation.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 966 ratings
  • Infuriatingly biased

    I expect a balanced view and proper measured journalism from This Is Why from Sky News. Instead the Miliband episode with Jon Craig and Nial Paterson was one sided and hyperbolic. Exasperating. I really thought this show was better than this.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ted97531
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • 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 States3 months ago
  • Bias

    Show regularly tilts one side of the story with deliberately weak evidence or comparisons. The type of news show for someone who likes to repeat someone else’s opinion in the office conversation to look like they are interesting. “Chat GPT, who should I vote for…..ok”

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    A.bratherton
    United Kingdom3 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 Kingdom6 months ago
  • One it was great and based, justened to the danish iv good god go woe

    Podcast Addict
    2
    Ogetsch
    10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Consistently high production quality and credible guests are noted.
Listeners praise the host's professionalism and depth of analysis.
Advertisment placement occasionally criticized for interrupting flow.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#246
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#16
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#75
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#83
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#83
Australia/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#131
Italy/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why borrowing costs are Burnham’s biggest problem
Q: Is this movement mostly global or are there UK-prompted factors in Burnham's announcements that are driving rates?
While it is a global phenomenon, the discussion notes that UK-specific promises and fiscal rules interact with the market, but the evidence suggests there isn't a clear, UK-only spike caused by domestic policy so far; markets are reacting to a global context with some national constraints.
Why borrowing costs are Burnham’s biggest problem
Q: Who is setting this interest rate? And actually, who are we getting this money from?
The market consists of millions of participants—financial advisors, asset managers, pension managers—collectively guiding where money goes, meaning decisions about lending to governments are made by a broad ecosystem rather than a single actor.
Why borrowing costs are Burnham’s biggest problem
Q: Can the Prime Minister keep all three of those promises? And if he can't, who ends up paying?
Ed Conway explains that while there is political will to reduce debt, the global rise in borrowing costs and the internal fiscal rules will shape what is feasible, potentially forcing difficult trade-offs and preserving the burden on taxpayers or public services.
Why Germany's far right is on the verge of its biggest win since WW2
Q: Ali, you're in Berlin at the moment, but you've just got back from Saxony-Anhalt. Tell me about the place, and what we're looking forward to on September 6th.
The region is a mix of pretty countryside and industry, with noticeable economic disparity that fuels AfD support; polling suggests the party could win a majority in the state elections due to coalition dynamics and the fear of losing votes to smaller parties.
Bob Harris: Why Dolly Parton was loved by all ages
Q: What made Dolly Parton a unifying figure across generations?
Her ability to blend authenticity with a larger-than-life image, while maintaining a charitable focus and relatable songs, kept her relevant across eras.

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 news podcast explains one timely story each weekday with clear, accessible context from Sky News' reporting team and expert guests. Episodes cover a broad range of topics—from higher education funding and immigration policy to AI, international diplomacy, climate risks, and technology—always tying back to why it matters for listeners. A notable strength is bringing together newsroom reporting, policy analysis, and expert explanations in compact, actionable segments that help non-specialist audiences understand complex issues. The show is likely to appeal to curious, time-conscious professionals who want reliable perspective and practical implications in under 20–30 minutes per day.

Where can I find podcast stats for This Is Why?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for This Is Why. 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 This Is Why and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does This Is Why get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for This Is Why, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for This Is Why?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for This Is Why, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does This Is Why have?

To see how many followers or subscribers This Is Why 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 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. Stuff Matters with Ed Conway

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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for This Is Why?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for This Is Why 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 This Is Why?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of This Is Why. 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 This Is Why?

Recent guests on This Is Why include:

1. Dr Philippe Marliere
2. Ulrich Siegmund
3. Anna Iovine
4. Yousra Elbagir
5. Dolly Parton
6. Will Guyatt
7. Mary Aiken
8. Ramon Pacheco Pardo

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days