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The Audio Long Read

The Guardian
Chimpanzees
Nespresso
Sustainability
Environmental Impact
Coffee Industry
Ethics Of Animal Captivity
Nestlé
Brazil
George Clooney
Consumer Behavior
Public Reaction
Animal Welfare
Zoos
Corporate Branding
Aluminium Recycling
Israel
Andrew Wylie
Sweden
Emergency Response Protocols
Black Unity Bike Ride

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes624Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Audio Long Read

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 2022: Austerity, the pandemic and now the cost of living crisis have left many schools in a parl... more

Innocent people are being frozen out of basic banking services – and it all traces back to reforms rushed through after 9/11 By Oliver Bullough. Read by Elis James. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="www.theguardian.com/longr... more

In spring 2003, exuberance at the fall of Saddam was swiftly followed by a descent into deadly chaos. Whether moving independently or embedded with troops, Guardian reporters witnessed the violence on the ground By Ian Mayes. Read by Karl Queensborou... more

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 2021: Growing up in Essex, my summers in Iran felt like magical interludes from reality – but it... more

Key Facts

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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Celia Brayfield
Journalist and author who discussed the media environment and women's movement in the 1960s–70s
Former journalist/author
Episode: ‘Pretty birds and silly moos’: the women behind the Sex Discrimination Act
Paul Gilroy
Preeminent scholar of race, culture, and nationalism.
UCL and various academic institutions
Episode: From the archive: The last humanist: how Paul Gilroy became the most vital guide to our age of crisis
Dito Isala
Local resident of Tuvalu
Episode: Best of 2025: Life in a ‘sinking nation’: Tuvalu’s dreams of dry land
Metia Lotuala
Owner of Fila Mona Lodge in Tuvalu
Episode: Best of 2025: Life in a ‘sinking nation’: Tuvalu’s dreams of dry land
Simon Kofi
Former Foreign Minister of Tuvalu
Government of Tuvalu
Episode: Best of 2025: Life in a ‘sinking nation’: Tuvalu’s dreams of dry land
Grace Marley
Youth delegate to COP28 from Tuvalu
Government of Tuvalu
Episode: Best of 2025: Life in a ‘sinking nation’: Tuvalu’s dreams of dry land
David Pakiwa
A resident of Sierra Leone who has experienced the changes in aid dynamics over decades and offers insights on its effects on local communities.
Episode: ‘They take the money and go’: why not everyone is mourning the end of USAID
Peter Betts
Climate diplomat and negotiator for the COP conferences
Episode: Counting down to zero: the final warning from a climate diplomat
Ben Giles
Britain's greatest extreme cleaner with 25 years of experience in stain removal.
Ultima Cleaning
Episode: The human stain remover: what Britain’s greatest extreme cleaner learned from 25 years on the job

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 5.2k ratings
  • Please be honest…

    I have one simple question. Please answer honestly. Was the latest episode about what we risk losing by using A.I. actually voiced by A.I.? (I have temporarily given 3 stars as a neutral vote… )

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    theCOLLECTOR
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Consistently good

    Always a great listen

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TeAWL
    New Zealand3 months ago
  • A true delight

    With its insightful reporting and delightful to listen to while working, it provides the best slightly busy atmosphere to work to. With its information dense episodes it kicks my brain right into overstimulating overdriving, perfect for creating a nice workflow.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Mavarieus
    Netherlands4 months ago
  • Unlistenable

    This used to be good, but is now ruined by AI “narration” which has rendered it unlistenable.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Radionoush
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Yeehaw

    I am a right wing bot who’s been convinced to reassess my political views.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    shdudjeh
    New Zealand6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Many praise the human narration and high editorial standards, though a few wish for more new content.
Listeners praise deep, well-researched reporting and thoughtful storytelling.
Some listeners complain about AI narration and monotone delivery.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#52
United Kingdom/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#241
Canada/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#116
Australia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#171
Italy/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#235
Germany/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#45
Ireland/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

From the archive: Inspired by nature: the thrilling new science that could transform medicine
Q: How did Karp's background influence his work?
Karp's connection to nature during childhood and his experiences observing wildlife fostered his approach to bio-inspiration and innovative problem-solving in medical devices.
From the archive: Inspired by nature: the thrilling new science that could transform medicine
Q: What was the initial problem Karp aimed to address with his inventions?
Karp aimed to solve the challenges associated with surgical procedures, particularly in sealing wounds effectively and reducing complications from traditional methods like sutures and staples.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About The Audio Long Read

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

The show curates long-form journalism across politics, culture, philosophy, science, and current affairs in audio form, featuring in-depth reporting, personal narratives, and investigative storytelling. Episodes frequently explore global happenings, historical context, and nuanced perspectives, often anchored by renowned writers and journalists. Listeners are likely drawn to carefully researched narratives, thoughtful analysis, and connections across disciplines, with occasional debates about narration quality and pacing. A notable strength is the lineup of established journalists and writers who bring clear storytelling, rigorous reporting, and a willingness to tackle challenging subjects from multiple angles.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Audio Long Read?

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

How many listeners does The Audio Long Read get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Audio Long Read, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Audio Long Read?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Audio Long Read, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Audio Long Read have?

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. The Story

How many episodes of The Audio Long Read are there?

The Audio Long Read launched 13 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?

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

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Audio Long Read?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Audio Long Read. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Audio Long Read?

Recent guests on The Audio Long Read include:

1. Celia Brayfield
2. Paul Gilroy
3. Dito Isala
4. Metia Lotuala
5. Simon Kofi
6. Grace Marley
7. David Pakiwa
8. Peter Betts

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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