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The Explainer

The Journal
Yemen
Golden Globes
Houthis
Palestine
Northern Ireland
Irish Actors
Saudi Arabia
Turkey
Stormont
Gardaí
Dublin
Ireland's Criminal Justice System
Climate Change
The Banshees Of Inisherin
Sinn Féin
Iran
Brexit
Immigration
UK Government
Knife Attack

The Explainer is a weekly podcast from The Journal that takes a deeper look at one big news story you need to know about. What's the background? Why is this in the news? Get the facts behind the story from Ireland's biggest news website.

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes376Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Latest Episodes

The murder of Charlie Kirk sent shockwaves through an already deeply divided America, and the fallout has become emblematic of the country's dangerously high tensions. As the US heads towards midterm elections, could this killing become a rallying cr... more

Israel's involvement in the Eurovision Song Contest has been the subject of protests for years, with calls for a boycott gaining significant momentum since 2023. Activists have called for Israel to be excluded completely, and now, state broadcasters ... more

The presidential election is just weeks away, but before candidates face the public, they must first find a way to get themselves on the ballot paper. How does the process of currying favour with local councils or members of the Oireachtas actually w... more

We’re joined by Elaine Burke, tech journalist and host of the For Tech’s Sake podcast to ask: are these new controls a meaningful step towards safety, or just a sticking plaster on a much deeper problem?

We’re all grappling with how to use new AI to... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Dr. Theresa Reidy
Political scientist in the Department of Government at UCC
University College Cork
Episode: Who gets to decide who can run for president?
Elaine Burke
Tech journalist and co-host of the For Tech's Sake podcast
For Tech's Sake podcast
Episode: Will ChatGPT's new parental controls actually work?
Alma McCarthy
Executive Dean of the College of Business, Public Policy and Law at University of Galway.
University of Galway
Episode: Why are bosses turning against remote work?
Dr. Emma Howard
Economist and lecturer at TU Dublin
TU Dublin
Episode: Is the EU-US tariff deal the best we could do?
Dr. Joanna McHugh Power
Chair of the Loneliness Taskforce Research Network and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Maynooth University
Maynooth University
Episode: Why are people in Ireland so lonely?
Niall O'Connor
News correspondent with The Journal
The Journal
Episode: What really happened on board the MV Matthew?
Louise Corrigan
Managing Attorney and Principal Solicitor at Louise Corrigan Law
Episode: What do new US visa rules mean for Irish travellers?
Dr. Paola Rivetti
Associate Professor in International Relations at the School of Law and Government in Dublin City University
Dublin City University
Episode: Can the Iranian regime survive a war with Israel?
Chris Stokel-Walker
Tech journalist and friend of The Explainer
Episode: Why is Google search so bad?

Hosts

Laura Byrne
Host of The Explainer
Lauren Boland
Standing in for Laura Byrne

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 303 ratings
  • What is Shein and what is it doing to the clothing industry?

    Another interesting and thought provoking ‘Explainer ‘ episode. I enjoyed this wide ranging and engrossing discussion re Shein and the clothing industry.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eclectas
    Ireland8 months ago
  • Very valuable source of information

    I appreciate the regular nature of this podcast . Is very informative . Good journalism in that tradition of seeking to inform in a relatively unbiased way . Thank you

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    mariachristine20
    Ireland2 years ago
  • Worth a listen!

    Nice gem of a podcast, Bertie explainer was excellent.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Review200012
    Ireland3 years ago
  • Important journalism but just a little dull

    Really appreciate getting fact based information regarding issues, processes and systems in Ireland, without bias. However, some podcasts I find are like sitting in a board meeting rather than painting a picture to a lay person that really makes us understand it. More engaging scripts would really help when all this amazing research is being done. Thanks for your work

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    ruthboot
    Ireland3 years ago
  • RSV explainer

    Excellent explainer from a consultant Pediatrician about RSV

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PeadarJosie
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

There are mixed feelings regarding engagement levels, with some suggesting that a more engaging presentation style could improve listener experience.
The podcast is described as a valuable source of fact-based reporting, particularly praised for addressing complex issues in an easy-to-understand format.
Listeners appreciate the informative and in-depth approach to current affairs, recognizing the expert insights provided during discussions.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#133
Ireland/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Will ChatGPT's new parental controls actually work?
Q: What does this tell us about the ways that people are using these tools?
Research indicates that a significant number of children are using chatbots for mental health inquiries, highlighting the inadequacy of traditional mental health services.
Will ChatGPT's new parental controls actually work?
Q: Can you tell us what exactly it is that OpenAI has announced this week?
OpenAI announced the introduction of parental controls for ChatGPT which will allow parents to link accounts and control features such as chat history and content filtering.
Who gets to decide who can run for president?
Q: Has there ever been any serious attempt to change or reform this system for how candidates are put on the ballot?
Not really, the nomination routes get a little bit of discussion but there's no large groundswell of opinion that they need reforming.
Who gets to decide who can run for president?
Q: Can the councils back just one candidate, or could they throw their weight behind several?
Each council can only nominate one candidate.
What is The Traitors' secret formula for turning a TV show into a global hit?
Q: Aoife, let's start with The Traitors, which let's face it, it's extremely compelling TV. But for anyone who hasn't watched it yet, could you give us a rundown of what it is and why it is that it's become such a global hit?
It is a very entertaining series. It's essentially a British reality TV series where contestants try to identify who among them are the Traitors while competing for a prize.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Explainer

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

The content consistently focuses on notable news stories and current events impacting Ireland and the broader world. Episodes delve into various topics, from political issues and international relations to societal trends, aiming to provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the underlying facts and implications. A key feature is the involvement of expert guests who add depth to discussions, making complex issues more accessible for listeners. This emphasis on clarity and expert insight is particularly noteworthy, as it distinguishes the show from many others in the news genre.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Explainer?

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

How many listeners does The Explainer get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Explainer, 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 The Explainer?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Explainer, 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 The Explainer have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Explainer 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 The Explainer?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Explainer:

1. In The News
2. The Indo Daily
3. Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan
4. Behind the Story
5. The Last Word with Matt Cooper

How many episodes of The Explainer are there?

The Explainer launched 7 years ago and published 376 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 The Explainer?

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 The Explainer?

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

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Explainer?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Explainer. 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 The Explainer?

Recent guests on The Explainer include:

1. Dr. Theresa Reidy
2. Elaine Burke
3. Alma McCarthy
4. Dr. Emma Howard
5. Dr. Joanna McHugh Power
6. Niall O'Connor
7. Louise Corrigan
8. Dr. Paola Rivetti

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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