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The Explainer

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

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes380Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Latest Episodes

It was something many people noticed on Monday: the internet was slow to load, maybe your banking app was acting up, or you weren’t able to complete your daily DuoLingo. You check your WiFi, but the problem isn't in your house. It’s actually a proble... more

After months of intense conflict, genocide, and a devastating humanitarian crisis, what seemed at times impossible has been achieved: a ceasefire in Gaza. The news is a welcome relief, but tempered by concerns over whether it will last. There are als... more

It's the political paradox of Budget 2026: a multi-billion euro package that seems to have left almost everyone underwhelmed. The government has announced major spending on housing, infrastructure, and social welfare, but from farmers to homeless cha... more

The government’s Core Funding scheme was designed to keep childcare affordable by giving providers government funding in exchange for them agreeing to freeze their fees, meaning they wouldn’t increase costs for parents. However, childcare providers a... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Dr. Brendan Ciarán Browne
Associate Professor in Conflict Resolution at Trinity College Dublin
Trinity College Dublin
Episode: After the ceasefire, what now for the people of Gaza?
Conor O'Carroll
Reporter for The Journal Investigates
The Journal
Episode: Is the government's childcare funding scheme falling apart?
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?
David Mac Redmond
Reporter for The Journal who has extensively covered the recognition of Palestine
The Journal
Episode: Will more countries recognising Palestine make a difference?
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?

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
    Ireland9 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
#197
Ireland/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How did one glitch break half the internet?
Q: Is there a better way of doing this or are we locked in now to the current system?
The current system is problematic due to monopolies, but there is room for more distribution and options to enhance reliability.
How did one glitch break half the internet?
Q: Could you tell us what is Amazon Web Services?
Amazon Web Services is the real profit maker at Amazon, providing cloud services that account for 30% of the market share, and it's heavily relied upon by major platforms like Netflix and Spotify.
How did a Budget with billions in spending leave people unhappy?
Q: Were there any big new ideas to come out of this budget?
Emma concludes that the budget lacks new and innovative policies, preferring to extend current measures without creativity.
How did a Budget with billions in spending leave people unhappy?
Q: What more could be done about childcare?
Childcare affordability is highlighted as a critical issue, with a focus on increasing availability without adequately addressing costs.
How did a Budget with billions in spending leave people unhappy?
Q: What was introduced for housing yesterday in the budget?
Emma discusses the VAT cuts for new apartments and changes to taxes on derelict sites but expresses skepticism about their overall effectiveness.

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 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. Path to Power
4. ELECTION DAILY - Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan
5. The Group Chat

How many episodes of The Explainer are there?

The Explainer launched 7 years ago and published 380 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.

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 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. Brendan Ciarán Browne
2. Conor O'Carroll
3. Dr. Theresa Reidy
4. Elaine Burke
5. Alma McCarthy
6. David Mac Redmond
7. Dr. Emma Howard
8. Dr. Joanna McHugh Power

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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