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The Explainer

The Journal
Yemen
Golden Globes
Houthis
Palestine
Northern Ireland
Irish Actors
Saudi Arabia
Earthquake
Stormont
Dublin
Gardaí
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes400Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Latest Episodes

With the EU Presidency looming and a massive funding shortfall in the Department of Defence, a new plan proposes something unprecedented: asking British and French navies to help patrol Irish waters. News Correspondent Niall O’Connor joins us to exam... more

It’s a debate that is taking place at kitchen tables across the country: are smartphones and social media apps doing more harm than good for our children? Ireland is following in the footsteps of Australia and plans to restrict social media access fo... more

Internal HSE figures obtained by The Journal Investigates reveal that hundreds of people have died by suspected suicide within weeks of being in contact with healthcare services. Families who have lost loved ones say the system is overwhelmed, and th... more

It's a heartbreakingly familiar cycle: devastated homeowners, ruined businesses, and politicians promising defences are on the way. For towns like Midleton and Enniscorthy, those promises have turned into years of waiting. With Storm Chandra bringing... more

Key Facts

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Philip Arneill
Head of Communications and Research with CyberSafeKids
CyberSafeKids
Episode: Will a social media ban for under-16s actually work?
Dr. Fiachra O'Loughlin
Assistant Professor at UCD School of Civil Engineering and Director of the Duke Centre for Water Resources Research
UCD School of Civil Engineering
Episode: What's stopping flood defences from being built?
Conor Faughnan
Independent motoring expert at Carzone and former spokesperson for AA Roadwatch
Carzone
Episode: What exactly are the rules for scramblers and e-scooters?
Kate Demolder
Arts and culture journalist and co-host of the Culture Pigs podcast
Culture Pigs podcast
Episode: Has Brand Beckham been destroyed by their own son?
Dr. Paola Rivetti
Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at Dublin City University, co-director at the Genders and Sexuality Institute
Dublin City University
Episode: Is this the end of the Islamic Republic?
Jennifer Darmody
Media Communications Manager at the CCPC
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
Episode: Can you get a cash refund for a gift you don't want?
Gráinne Mullins
Founder and CEO of Grá Chocolates
Grá Chocolates
Episode: Is your favourite chocolate still actually 'chocolate'?
Diarmuid Torney
Associate Professor in the School of Law and Government at DCU, and Director of the University's Institute for Climate and Society
Dublin City University
Episode: What did the world actually agree to at COP30?
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?

Host

Lauren Bolan
Stand-in host, often featuring as a primary host when Laura Byrne is unavailable. Has a history of engaging with various news topics that require in-depth examination and analysis.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 307 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
    Irelanda year 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.

Listeners appreciate the informative and well-researched content, often highlighting it as a valuable resource for understanding current affairs in Ireland.
Some listeners suggest that while the journalism is important, the presentation could be improved to enhance engagement and relatability.
The podcast is praised for its engaging discussions that break down complex issues into understandable formats, making it accessible for a broader audience.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#159
Ireland/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why are hundreds of suspected suicides invisible in official stats?
Q: What is Adam's Protocols proposing as an alternative to the current system?
Adam's Protocols propose standalone 24-7 mental health emergency units, staffed by psychiatric teams, separate from general emergency departments.
Why are hundreds of suspected suicides invisible in official stats?
Q: What exactly did you find regarding the number of suspected suicides?
The investigation revealed 449 suspected suicides recorded internally by staff of patients who died between 2022 and 2024 after having contact with medical services.
What's stopping flood defences from being built?
Q: Is it a policy failure here or is this about engineering capacity?
Engineering solutions are costly and require a benefit-to-cost calculation that can sometimes deprioritize certain flood defenses.
What's stopping flood defences from being built?
Q: How do you balance the concerns about the freshwater pearl mussel and then the local community?
There's a need for elected officials to make informed decisions balancing environmental concerns with societal benefits.
What's stopping flood defences from being built?
Q: Can you actually stop flooding? Or is the goal always just mitigation?
It's almost impossible to stop flooding, but engineering can help mitigate and manage the risk.

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?

A weekly podcast that takes an in-depth look at major current events, offering listeners a textured understanding of the most pressing news stories. Each episode focuses on pivotal news topics, ranging from climate agreements and political scandals to social issues and significant government decisions, providing context and expert insights. The show features discussions with knowledgeable guests from various sectors, such as academia, journalism, and politics, which helps to unpack complex issues and deliver nuanced perspectives. It stands out for its commitment to fact-based reporting and insightful analysis, making it a valuable resource for listeners seeking to stay informed about significant national and global developments.

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?

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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. Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan
3. The Indo Daily
4. Documentary on One Podcast
5. The David McWilliams Podcast

How many episodes of The Explainer are there?

The Explainer launched 7 years ago and published 400 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. Philip Arneill
2. Dr. Fiachra O'Loughlin
3. Conor Faughnan
4. Kate Demolder
5. Dr. Paola Rivetti
6. Jennifer Darmody
7. Gráinne Mullins
8. Diarmuid Torney

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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