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The Explanation

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

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes254Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsDocumentarySociety & CultureNews Commentary

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Latest Episodes

Caitríona Perry, Courtney Subramanian, and Sumi Somaskanda look at how the Republicans and Democrats are using redistricting as a tool, and how it could affect the political geography of the US. Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the state ... more

A new Netflix documentary captures Ed Sheeran performing live across New York in a single continuous take. Its executive producer, Ben Winston, reveals how the show – One Shot – was made, and discusses some of his company’s other TV hits including Ca... more

Caitríona Perry, Courtney Subramanian, and Sumi Somaskanda look at the latest US strikes on Venezuelan vessels and what it could mean for future relations between the two countries. Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the state of US politic... more

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses why Russia is so keen to capture the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, explores how difficult it will be to rebuild Gaza, and looks at how quantum computing... more

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Recent Guests

Tina Brown
Legendary magazine editor for The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and other publications, currently writing a sub-stack called Fresh Hell
Substack
Episode: The Media Show: Trump’s billion-dollar BBC threat
Olga Ivshina
BBC Russian reporter conducting research on Russian losses in the war
BBC Russian
Episode: Unspun World: War-weariness in Russia
Mishal Husain
One of the UK's most recognisable news broadcasters
Bloomberg
Episode: The Media Show: Lessons from Top Gear
Andy Wilman
Producer behind global TV hits, including Top Gear and Clarkson's Farm
Episode: The Media Show: Lessons from Top Gear
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

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 150 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: War-weariness in Russia
Q: How has the information Putin receives about the war changed?
The chain of information from the front appears to become increasingly optimistic, diverging from the ground realities faced by soldiers and commanders.
Unspun World: War-weariness in Russia
Q: What is the extent of war weariness and disillusionment in Russia?
Many Russians are skeptical of the government's portrayal of the war's success, with a clear divide in sentiment between regions directly affected by the conflict, such as those near Ukraine, and more isolated areas like Moscow.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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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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 Interview
4. The Global Story
5. Witness History

How many episodes of The Explanation are there?

The Explanation launched 3 years ago and published 254 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.

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What guests have appeared on The Explanation?

Recent guests on The Explanation include:

1. Tina Brown
2. Olga Ivshina
3. Mishal Husain
4. Andy Wilman
5. Sara Denby
6. Dino Myers-Lamptey
7. Bettany Hughes
8. Paul Salopek

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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