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The Audio Long Read

The Guardian
Climate Change
Syrian Civil War
Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Donald Trump
Trump Administration
The Guardian
Maternal Health
Mental Health
Artificial Intelligence
Syria
Aleppo
Bashar Al-Assad
United States
Corruption
Baader-Meinhof Gang
Assad Regime
NHS Wheelchair Service
Theory Of Evolution
China
Christianity

Three times a week, The Audio Long Read podcast brings you the Guardian’s exceptional longform journalism in audio form. Covering topics from politics and culture to philosophy and sport, as well as investigations and current affairs.

PublishesDailyEpisodes624Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Latest Episodes

We are raiding the Guardian long read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors This week, from 2023: For centuries, fictional narratives have used outer difference to telegraph inner monstrosi... more

The Emirati royal is increasingly influential on the world stage. Some see him as a visionary. Others compare him to a Bond villain. Who is he? By Jack Shenker. Read by Selva Rasalingam. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="www... more

Are we doomscrolling our way into a democratic crisis? That’s what the playwright James Graham fears may be happening, as he suggests that our algorithms have led us into ‘a massive crisis of the new’ and are preventing us from imagining a different ... more

I felt a duty to write about the Tang dynasty and its incredible social and cultural sophistication – but also to connect my Chinese past with my child By Xiaolu Guo. Read by Elizabeth Chan. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https:/... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Joshua Leifer
Author and journalist who wrote the article on Benjamin Netanyahu's political legacy
Episode: The Netanyahu doctrine: how Israel’s longest-serving leader reshaped the country in his image
Michael Gove
Former Conservative government minister and editor of The Spectator
The Spectator
Episode: ‘Austerity is inevitably painful’. How Michael Gove justifies his politics | Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty
Gavin Francis
General practitioner and author
Episode: From the archive: ‘Voters are unhappier with the NHS than they’ve been for 30 years. As a GP, I feel the same’
Astra Taylor
Author and activist
Author and organizer
Episode: Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor | Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty
Naomi Klein
Author and activist
Author, theorist on capitalism and climate justice
Episode: Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor | Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty
Yanis Varoufakis
Former Minister of Finance of Greece (2015)
Former Greek government
Episode: Introducing Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty
Betsy Stanko
Criminologist
Various academic and policing institutions (profile subject)
Episode: From the archive: ‘I know where the bodies are buried’: one woman’s mission to change how the police investigate rape
Dr. James H. Brand
Colleague of Kate Spencer at QMUL
QMUL
Episode: From the archive: The rubbishscapes of Essex: why our buried trash is back to haunt us
Professor Kate Spencer
Environmental geochemist at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL)
QMUL
Episode: From the archive: The rubbishscapes of Essex: why our buried trash is back to haunt us

Host

Claire Longrigg
Deputy Editor, Guardian Long Read / Host of The Guardian Long Read

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 5.4k ratings
  • Good

    Well narrated and good variety of topics are covered. Wish there were more positive stories as well though.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    grande fromage big cheese
    Australiaa month ago
  • Highly recommend

    As a Brit living abroad I really appreciate that I can still keep up on some of the Guardian’s reporting… such a wide range of topics and I appreciate their perspective

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Healing&Growing
    United States2 months ago
  • Hope does not die

    but I haven‘t heard a more names dropping guy called himself King about Tokyo knowing nothing about the subject in spite of 10 years in the city …

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Tippfehlerteufel
    Germany4 months ago
  • I love the Guardian…

    But hearing a 42 min puff piece from the editor, I do have my limits. Points about the information crisis were mainly taken from Alderman’s book and then the solutions offered were an advert for the Guardian (which I guess is somewhat fair). The article could have been a lot stronger given the real issues we are facing about how we process information and how information is received.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EleanorCr
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Why must there be music played in the background?

    I really wanted to listen to one of these long reads which came up when I was searching for podcasts about a particular subject matter, but quickly realised that the whole thing was underlaid by music, why? It makes it impossible to listen to!

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Ruthieroo123
    United Kingdom6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critiques focus on narration quality, including debates over AI narration versus human voices.
Listeners praise deep, well-researched reporting and thoughtful narration.
Fans appreciate the show's rigor and variety, from global politics to culture.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#64
United Kingdom/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#175
Canada/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#129
Australia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#147
Italy/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#186
New Zealand/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#246
Singapore/Top Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

‘Austerity is inevitably painful’. How Michael Gove justifies his politics | Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty
Q: So 10 years on, Michael, tell me, tell me honestly, are you feeling galvanized, liberated, empowered?
Gove says yes, arguing that Brexit was a moment of democratic renewal because it gave Britain the opportunity to shape its economic future through policies and regulatory choices unavailable within the EU.
‘Austerity is inevitably painful’. How Michael Gove justifies his politics | Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty
Q: What's Michael Gove's overarching mission?
Gove says his mission is tackling inequality, using the power of the state to remove barriers that prevent people from leading fuller lives.
Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor | Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty
Q: How should the center respond to perceived leftward shift in public mood?
The guests suggest embracing transformative policies that meet people's needs, building broad coalitions, and reframing the discourse to emphasize human welfare and communal security over technocratic moderation.
Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor | Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty
Q: What practical steps can people take to counter end times fascism?
They advocate universal social protections, public investment in human-centered services, and organized pressure to curb corporate power, including proposals like nationalizing or rethinking AI infrastructure for public good.
Stateside with Kai and Carter: Stacey Abrams on why gutting of the US Voting Rights Act is ‘evil’
Q: What does it mean that the Voting Rights Act has been gutted, and what comes next?
Abrams explains that the two-pronged enforcement approach has been hollowed out, requiring renewed legal action, constitutional safeguards, and sustained grassroots organizing to protect and expand voting access.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Audio Long Read

What is The Audio Long Read about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The Audio Long Read offers immersive, longform journalism in audio form, mainly focused on in-depth reporting, political analysis, global affairs, and cultural explorations. Episodes feature careful storytelling around investigations, feature profiles, and narrative essays, often anchored by Guardian writers or external narrators who provide context, archival material, and thoughtful interpretation. Listeners can expect well-researched pieces on topics like geopolitics, migration, language and identity, health, technology, and culture, all delivered in a measured, reflective tone with an emphasis on nuance and context. The show stands out for its high journalistic standards, deep-dive storytelling, and a consistent commitment to humanizing ... more

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To see how many followers or subscribers The Audio Long Read 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 Audio Long Read?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Audio Long Read:

1. Today in Focus
2. Science Weekly
3. The Slow Newscast
4. The Documentary Podcast
5. Politics Weekly UK

How many episodes of The Audio Long Read are there?

The Audio Long Read launched 14 years ago and published 624 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 Audio Long Read?

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 Audio Long Read?

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What guests have appeared on The Audio Long Read?

Recent guests on The Audio Long Read include:

1. Joshua Leifer
2. Michael Gove
3. Gavin Francis
4. Astra Taylor
5. Naomi Klein
6. Yanis Varoufakis
7. Betsy Stanko
8. Dr. James H. Brand

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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