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The Explanation

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

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes246Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentaryNewsNews CommentarySociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

The first big elections of Trump’s second term reveal how Americans are reacting to his presidency, and how Democrats are fighting to rebuild their brand. On this episode, Caitríona Perry, Courtney Subramanian and Sumi Somaskanda discuss the high-sta... more

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses President Trump’s approach to dealing with China, examines the United States’ rivalry with China in south-east Asia, and explores what the future hold... more

A row over comments by a British MP has reignited debate about who we see in adverts. Sara Denby from the University of Oxford and Dino Myers-Lamptey from The Barber Shop agency share their views on how the industry has changed. In the US, major stre... more

Demolition work has begun on part of the White House to make way for President Trump's new ballroom, as US government remains shut down. On this episode, Caitríona Perry, Courtney Subramanian, and Sumi Somaskanda discuss Trump’s decision to remodel t... more

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Recent Guests

Sara Denby
Director of the Oxford Future of Marketing Initiative at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
Episode: The Media Show: Advertising race row
Dino Myers-Lamptey
Founder of The Barber Shop, a creative agency advising brands on marketing budgets
The Barber Shop
Episode: The Media Show: Advertising race row
Bettany Hughes
Historian, author, and broadcaster
Sarlatone Global
Episode: The Media Show: Advertising race row
Paul Salopek
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist known for his long-form journalism and immersive storytelling project
Episode: The Media Show: When the Royals lose control of the story
Krishnan Guru-Murthy
Presenter for Channel 4 News
Channel 4 News
Episode: The Media Show: The Gaza Ceasefire
Bel Trew
Chief International Correspondent at The Independent
The Independent
Episode: The Media Show: The Gaza Ceasefire
Lee Edwards
Professor of Strategic Communications at the London School of Economics and Political Science
London School of Economics
Episode: The Media Show: The Gaza Ceasefire
Barbara Pletasha
BBC reporter, expert on Middle Eastern affairs
BBC
Episode: Unspun World: Is peace in Gaza now possible?
Parham Hobadi
BBC Persian analyst
BBC Persian
Episode: Unspun World: Is peace in Gaza now possible?

Hosts

Caitríona Perry
Host of The President's Path and a prominent journalist with experience covering significant political events.
Sumi Somaskanda
Chief Presenter and host with a focus on political journalism and global issues.
Katie Razzall
Co-host of The Media Show and experienced in discussing current affairs across various platforms.
Ros Atkins
Host of The Media Show and known for providing insightful commentary on journalism and media affairs.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 148 ratings
  • 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
    Canada2 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
  • Simon Drought

    Great to hear your voice Jon.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Simon Drought
    New Zealand2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the informative nature and clarity of the explanations provided.
The program is often described as being engaging and easy to digest, making complex topics accessible.
Some feedback highlights the richness of historical context added to current news stories, enhancing overall understanding.
A few listeners mention the occasional challenge of thematic variety in each episode, which can dilute focus.

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: Who will run Gaza?
Q: Without disarming Hamas, how could the governance of Gaza be achieved?
It is impossible for any Palestinian technocrat to work freely if Hamas retains its arms.
The Media Show: Reporting from Inside Putin’s Russia
Q: How do you protect them?
It's very difficult to develop sources now. In Russia, people are wary about speaking to us. So basically, I base my conclusions about what's happening in Russia on all kinds of things.
The Media Show: Super Mario Bros at 40
Q: Has Super Mario and Nintendo remained impactful over the years?
Yes, Nintendo has continued to innovate and maintain success, particularly with their latest consoles like the Nintendo Switch.
The Media Show: Super Mario Bros at 40
Q: How is India responding to social media scrutiny and changes in IT law?
India has changed its IT law to allow the government to request tech companies to take down content, with increasing compliance seen from these companies.
The Media Show: Super Mario Bros at 40
Q: Why did the Nepalese government want to ban these 26 social media platforms?
The Nepalese government claimed it was due to a failure of those platforms to register with the government, following a law that allows restricting content deemed as harmful.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Explanation

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

Offering concise insights into current events, this audio guide presents an analysis of the stories behind the headlines through conversations with experienced correspondents. By revisiting historical contexts and unpacking intricate narratives, listeners gain a well-rounded understanding of contemporary issues. The episodes focus on a range of topics including political developments, international relations, and social movements, often supported by compelling audio archives that enrich the storytelling experience. The format, described as 'snackable,' ensures that each episode is accessible, engaging, and informative.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Explanation?

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

How many listeners does The Explanation get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Explanation?

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How many subscribers and views does The Explanation have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Explanation 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 Explanation?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Explanation:

1. The Inquiry
2. The Documentary Podcast
3. The Global Story
4. Witness History
5. From Our Own Correspondent

How many episodes of The Explanation are there?

The Explanation launched 2 years ago and published 246 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 Explanation?

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 Explanation?

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

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What guests have appeared on The Explanation?

Recent guests on The Explanation include:

1. Sara Denby
2. Dino Myers-Lamptey
3. Bettany Hughes
4. Paul Salopek
5. Krishnan Guru-Murthy
6. Bel Trew
7. Lee Edwards
8. Barbara Pletasha

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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