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The Explanation

BBC World Service
Ukraine
Russia
Five Eyes
World Bank
United States
China
Israel
Saudi Arabia
Sportswashing
Poverty
Human Rights
IMF
Edward Snowden
World Health Organization
Corruption
Climate Change
Western Sanctions
Australia
United Kingdom
Canada

Where the world is explained. Making sense of the big stories - looking behind the spin. Exploring the important questions about long-running stories and the latest global news. An honest, unvarnished, explanation of the world.

Featuring new episodes of The President's Path, Unspun World with John Simpson, and The Media Show.

PublishesDailyEpisodes294Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsSociety & CultureNews CommentaryDocumentary

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Artwork for The Explanation

Latest Episodes

Sumi Somaskanda, Caitriona Perry and Bernd Debusmann discuss the latest on the US-Israel war with Iran. They take stock of the Trump administration’s changing messaging on timelines, and unpack the broader consequences we’re seeing - with the Gulf re... more

Caroline Hawley, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, explores what life in Iran is like as the war intensifies, analyses what the US objectives are for the war and whether they are obtainable, and examines the... more

Ros Atkins is in Washington DC speaking to some of the most influential voices in American journalism. Together, they reveal how very different media organisations are covering President Trump’s war with Iran and how they see the US media landscape a... more

The Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway that carries 20% of the world’s oil — is now an active war zone. What in the World tracks the disruption and explains who’s feeling the impact. To hear more, search What in the World wherever you get your BB... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Baran Abbasi
Senior Reporter at BBC Persian
BBC Persian
Episode: Unspun World: What do people in Iran think about the war?
Sarah Smith
BBC North America Editor
BBC
Episode: The Media Show: Who’s shaping American media?
Johnny Harris
Creator of Newpress and independent media producer
Newpress
Episode: The Media Show: Who’s shaping American media?
Nick Marsh
BBC business reporter in Asia
BBC
Episode: The Strait of Hormuz
Kayleen Devlin
From BBC Verify, a fact-checking journalist
BBC Verify
Episode: The Strait of Hormuz
Ami Daniel
Watches Shipping Trends
Shipping Trends
Episode: The Strait of Hormuz
Sarah Schifling
Energy market expert
Independent/Consultant (energy markets)
Episode: The Strait of Hormuz
Amita Sen
Energy markets expert
Episode: The Strait of Hormuz
Paham Khobadi
BBC Persian senior reporter
BBC Persian
Episode: Unspun World: Can Iran hold out against US-Israeli strikes?

Hosts

Caitríona Perry
Host of The President's Path, focusing on political narratives and analyses.
Katie Razzall
Co-host of The Media Show, engaging in critical discussions on media coverage.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 161 ratings
  • Rightful

    •SERIES: The President’s Path. Annoying Panellist Catchphrase: “Right?” (Even mid-sentence).

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    (Gibberer)
    Australia4 months ago
  • Not so unvarnished

    I want to hear both sides, but am finding their coverage more and more sympathetic to dark themes. For instance: describing people celebrating CK’s death as disgusting, and his ‘work’ as challenging opinions. Publicly, at least, this man was not a good person. Openly hateful talk is disgusting. Has the BBC entered the upside down world??

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Anneli Veronica
    Canada6 months ago
  • Superb podcast

    Podcast Addict
    5
    cougar
    2 years ago
  • The explanation-the Grain deal

    Just heard you Grain deal special Podcast.

    It was disappointing that programme was trying to EXPLAIN the Deal:

    •With Help of Expert from Kiev-Ukraine

    •BBC Monitoring service

    Wondering why you could not get experts based in Russia, I am sure Phone lines are open there!

    One cannot at the end feel that the EXPLANATION was ONE sided view

    It defeated the basic remit of the Programme

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    pilot-without-runway
    New Zealand2 years ago
  • Hugely informative

    This podcast demonstrates how the BBC World Service wears its vast, collective and professional knowledge so very lightly. A masterclass !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    aged librarian
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Critics have pointed out moments of inconsistency in depth when covering multiple themes, suggesting a desire for more focused discussions.
There are mixed feelings regarding the balance of viewpoints, with some suggesting a perceived bias towards sympathetic portrayals of certain narratives.
Listeners appreciate the insightful and thoughtful analyses of complex issues, often highlighting how the hosts manage to simplify intricate topics without losing depth.
Many praise the smooth presentation and engaging style of the hosts, noting a consistent high-quality production and informative content.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Unspun World: What do people in Iran think about the war?
Q: How might Iran respond or adapt if the leadership transition consolidates power or shifts policy?
The discussion suggests the new leader could pursue a hard-line stance while the IRGC enhances domestic messaging and external influence, with a cautious approach to avoid further destabilizing Iran while managing internal dissent.
Unspun World: What do people in Iran think about the war?
Q: What would constitute victory for the Americans in this war and are those aims achievable?
The guest explains that official aims include destroying Iran's missile capabilities and its naval and nuclear ambitions, with air superiority and extended conflict pressures likely, but emphasizes that the regime's survival and potential for escalation complicate achieving a decisive victory.
Unspun World: What’s the future of US-Europe relations?
Q: What happens if an area on the border inside NATO claims to want to associate more closely with Russia?
There's uncertainty whether the U.S. president would act under NATO's treaty obligations, potentially leaving Europe to handle it themselves.
The Media Show: MTV’s co‑founder on reshaping pop culture
Q: Tom, you were mentioning that on that day when you were fired from Viacom, you were sitting in the car driving home and thinking, okay, it's time to think about a third chapter in my career.
Freston reflected on feeling humiliated but hoped the fall would lead to new opportunities.
The Media Show: Reporting the Venezuela operation
Q: Did it surprise you?
Larisa Brown stated it did not surprise her, as she had similar experiences where publishing could threaten lives.

Audience Metrics

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

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Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Explanation

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

This podcast provides insightful analysis of pressing global stories, focusing on the nuances behind major headlines and long-standing issues. The episodes often feature expert guests and in-depth discussions that unravel complex political, social, and cultural narratives. A distinctive aspect of this content is the commitment to presenting balanced views while addressing the often contentious dynamics surrounding current events, such as political upheaval, media critique, and social unrest.

Listeners can expect a diverse range of topics, from U.S. political controversies, including the dynamics within Congress and implications of the Trump administration, to international relations and humanitarian crises, particularly in conflict zones l... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Explanation?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Explanation:

1. The Documentary Podcast
2. The Global Story
3. The Audio Long Read
4. Witness History
5. Americast

How many episodes of The Explanation are there?

The Explanation launched 3 years ago and published 294 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Explanation?

Recent guests on The Explanation include:

1. Baran Abbasi
2. Sarah Smith
3. Johnny Harris
4. Nick Marsh
5. Kayleen Devlin
6. Ami Daniel
7. Sarah Schifling
8. Amita Sen

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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