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Artwork for This Is Why

This Is Why

Sky News
Donald Trump
United States
Russia
Iran
United Kingdom
Ukraine
Andy Burnham
Keir Starmer
Strait Of Hormuz
Labour Party
NATO
China
Artificial Intelligence
Social Media
Brexit
European Union
Vladimir Putin
Reform UK
Jeffrey Epstein
Oil

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

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Artwork for This Is Why

Latest Episodes

There's been a rush to buy Sally Rooney's books after she said she can no longer sell them in the UK.

Rooney, known for best-selling novels Normal People and Conversations with Friends, said the decision was made with her publisher over her support... more

YouTube

PHP. The three little letters few people realised were so vital for most of the websites in the world.

But a vulnerability in a piece of programming virtually all of us had never heard of has affected everyone from small businesses to major governme... more

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Winter is coming. So, a decision to finally allow drilling at the controversial Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea should be welcome.

Well, not by environmental campaigners – who've accused the government of backtracking on its net zero commitments.... more

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Europe’s leaders are joining the fight for the Far North – but is it already too late?

The European Union has announced a new security strategy for the Arctic. Yet Russia and China already appear to have a huge advantage in the region.

Moscow is... more

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Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

Recent Guests

Robert Clark
Sky News military analyst
Sky News
Episode: Why Putin and Xi want to control the Arctic
Catherine Guilyardi
French journalist based in Paris
Episode: Why France protests are spreading across Europe
Greg Swenson
Chairman of Republicans Overseas UK
Republicans Overseas UK
Episode: Why didn’t Trump trust Katie Zacharia?
Anand Menon
Director of the UK in a Changing Europe think tank
UK in a Changing Europe
Episode: Why now? Burnham’s Brexit backtrack explained
Amy Dickman
Professor of Wildlife Conservation and Director of Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit
Oxford University
Episode: Why tiger death won’t stop zoo visits
Dinara Khalilova
Ukrainian independent journalist
Episode: Why Ukrainians are angry with Trump’s Russian diesel deal
John North
Investigative journalist, WBIR Knoxville
WBIR Knoxville
Episode: Why didn’t Christa Pike die?
Ed Conway
Economics and data journalist; commentator
Sky News
Episode: Why the UK is in trouble if the gas gets turned off
Jenny Phillips
Network Emergency Coordinator for the gas system
Gas infrastructure (implied)
Episode: Why the UK is in trouble if the gas gets turned off

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 973 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 Kingdom4 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 States4 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 Kingdom5 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 Kingdom7 months ago
  • One it was great and based, justened to the danish iv good god go woe

    Podcast Addict
    2
    Ogetsch
    a year 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
#227
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#20
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#102
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#177
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#68
Australia/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#156
France/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Ukrainians are angry with Trump’s Russian diesel deal
Q: What is happening to everyday life for Ukrainians at the current time?
Khalilova describes disrupted and evacuated train journeys, constant vigilance, limited shelter access, interrupted sleep and trauma. People continue working and making plans, but must adapt everyday routines to the threat of attacks.
Why Ukrainians are angry with Trump’s Russian diesel deal
Q: He suggests that Ukraine needs a new president at the same time as doing a deal to purchase Russian diesel with Vladimir Putin. How does that land with you?
Khalilova says the news did not surprise her, but angered her and many Ukrainians. She views the diesel deal as appeasing Russia and says Trump's call for a new president feels like interference in Ukraine's affairs.
Why now? Burnham’s Brexit backtrack explained
Q: What are the options on the table short of rejoining itself?
Menon outlines staying as things are, joining a customs union, joining the single market or rejoining the EU. Each option involves trade-offs in market access, independent trade policy, regulatory control, freedom of movement, budget contributions and representation.
Why tiger death won’t stop zoo visits
Q: What for you is the strongest argument for the presence of big cats in British zoos?
Dickman says big cats can inspire visitors to value wildlife, while zoos can convert that interest into support and funding for conservation in the wild.
Why now? Burnham’s Brexit backtrack explained
Q: What was lost, what was gained by our exiting the European Union?
Menon says the UK lost market access but gained political autonomy over areas such as immigration, trade deals and regulation. He adds that some industries value regulatory independence, while trade with the EU has become more costly and burdensome.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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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?

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How many listeners does This Is Why get?

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What are the audience demographics for This Is Why?

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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. 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.

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

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What guests have appeared on This Is Why?

Recent guests on This Is Why include:

1. Robert Clark
2. Catherine Guilyardi
3. Greg Swenson
4. Anand Menon
5. Amy Dickman
6. Dinara Khalilova
7. John North
8. Ed Conway

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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