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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
Canada
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.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes228Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentaryNews CommentaryNewsSociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

President Trump’s visit to the UK tests Sir Keir Starmer’s handling of the “special relationship” - but the bigger test comes next, at the UN General Assembly.

On this episode, Caitríona Perry, Courtney Subramanian, and Bernd Debusmann Jr unpack Tru... more

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC’s unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines the relationship between Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump, analyses whether Israel’s strike on Qatar has played into Iran’s hands, and looks at the w... more

The killing of US conservative commentator Charlie Kirk has raised questions about how the media should report on controversial figures while still showing respect to victims and their families. Meanwhile in London, more than one hundred thousand peo... more

The killing of Charlie Kirk triggers shockwaves through the US, sparking grief, anger, and debate over politics, political violence and America’s future.

On this live episode, Caitríona Perry, Courtney Subramanian, and Bernd Debusmann Jr discuss the... more

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The InquiryBBC World Service
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The InterviewBBC World Service
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NewshourBBC World Service

Recent Guests

Eva Hartog
Russia reporter for Politico Europe
Politico Europe
Episode: The Media Show: Super Mario Bros at 40
Dr. Nayana Prakash
Research fellow at Chatham House
Chatham House
Episode: The Media Show: Super Mario Bros at 40
Paola Sedda
Associate Professor of Information and Communication Sciences at the University of Lille
University of Lille
Episode: The Media Show: France’s political crisis
Richard Evans
Author of a new book about George Ward Price, examining journalistic integrity and access to power
Episode: The Media Show: France’s political crisis
Jacob Furedi
Editor of Dispatch, who uncovered the story of the fictional journalist Margaux Blanchard.
Dispatch
Episode: The Media Show: The mystery freelancer
Dr. Glenda Cooper
Head of Journalism at City St George's at the University of London.
City St George's University of London
Episode: The Media Show: The mystery freelancer
Minal Modha
Head of Sports Media Rights, Sponsorship and Consumer Research at Ampere Analysis.
Ampere Analysis
Episode: The Media Show: The mystery freelancer
Graham Scott
Football columnist and former Premier League referee.
The Telegraph
Episode: The Media Show: The mystery freelancer
Jeff Wilson
Producer and director of the BBC natural history series 'Parenthood'.
Silverback Films
Episode: The Media Show: The mystery freelancer

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 147 ratings
  • 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
  • John Simpson is a legend

    Listen if only for John Simpson’s pithy, deeply felt wrap up monologue.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    avm1406
    United States2 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.

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.
The Media Show: Super Mario Bros at 40
Q: What do we know about how widely used Max is?
According to its creators, Max has 30 million users, but WhatsApp is still the most popular in Russia with about 98 million users.
The Media Show: The mystery freelancer
Q: If someone came to you, maybe one of Glenda's students and said, I'm interested in a gig, would they need to have AI skills?
Jacob Furedi mentions that while it's not necessary, understanding AI is crucial as it is a fact of modern journalism.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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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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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. The Interview
5. Newshour

How many episodes of The Explanation are there?

The Explanation launched 2 years ago and published 228 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. Eva Hartog
2. Dr. Nayana Prakash
3. Paola Sedda
4. Richard Evans
5. Jacob Furedi
6. Dr. Glenda Cooper
7. Minal Modha
8. Graham Scott

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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