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The Audio Long Read

The Guardian
Climate Change
Syria
Stephen David Jones
Bashar Al-Assad
Mental Health
Syrian Civil War
Aleppo
Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Donald Trump
Colonialism
The Guardian
Human Rights
Trump Administration
Corruption
Maternal Health
British Museum
London
Israel
Japan
Afghanistan

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

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Artwork for The Audio Long Read

Latest Episodes

In this age of crisis, technology is pulling us apart. At its best, journalism can bring us together again. Written and read by the Guardian editor-in-chief Katharine Viner. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="www.theguardian.... more

The US supreme court demolished the 1965 Voting Rights Act when they ruled in Louisiana v Callais in April that states can’t consider race in redistricting. Southern states from Tennessee to Alabama have rushed to erase majority Black districts, spar... more

Lawrence Bishnoi has been in high-security custody for more than a decade. During that time, he has been linked to multiple high-profile killings, both in India and as far afield as Canada. What explains his seemingly undimmed power? By Atul Dev. Rea... 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 2020: Travel bloggers have flocked to Pakistan in recent years – but have some of them become to... more

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Today in Focus
Today in FocusThe Guardian
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Science WeeklyThe Guardian
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The Slow NewscastThe Observer
Politics Weekly UK
Politics Weekly UKThe Guardian

Recent Guests

Stacey Abrams
Georgia politician and voting rights advocate
Founder of Fair Fight Action; political leader
Episode: Stateside with Kai and Carter: Stacey Abrams on why gutting of the US Voting Rights Act is ‘evil’
Atul Dev
Author of the longread, law-and-order narrative on Lawrence Bishnoi
Guardian
Episode: ‘Lawrence is karma’: the gangster who became an icon of Modi’s India
Daniel Trilling
Author of the piece
The Guardian
Episode: The impossible promise: are we witnessing the return of fascism?
Stuart McGurk
Author of the Guardian Long Read piece
The Guardian
Episode: 35,000 pints of stolen Guinness, 950 wheels of pilfered cheese: can the UK’s cargo theft crisis be stopped?
Marcelo A. Canuto
Archaeologist, Tulane University
Tulane University
Episode: Apocalypse no: how almost everything we thought we knew about the Maya is wrong
Kenneth E. Seligson
Associate professor of archaeology
California State University
Episode: Apocalypse no: how almost everything we thought we knew about the Maya is wrong
Sonia Gutiérrez
Lawyer and Maya rights advocate
WINAC, Guatemalan parliament
Episode: Apocalypse no: how almost everything we thought we knew about the Maya is wrong
Alma Vasquez
Forensic anthropologist
FAFG (Forensic Anthropology Foundation of Guatemala)
Episode: Apocalypse no: how almost everything we thought we knew about the Maya is wrong
Claudia Pazipas
Attorney general/legal figure
Costa Rica-based/Guatemala context
Episode: Apocalypse no: how almost everything we thought we knew about the Maya is wrong

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 5.3k ratings
  • 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 Kingdom8 days ago
  • 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 Kingdom3 months ago
  • Consistently good

    Always a great listen

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TeAWL
    New Zealand5 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
    Netherlands6 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 Kingdom7 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
#219
United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#28
United Kingdom/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#118
Canada/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#70
Italy/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#103
Australia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#173
Germany/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
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. Politics Weekly America
5. Politics Weekly UK

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. Stacey Abrams
2. Atul Dev
3. Daniel Trilling
4. Stuart McGurk
5. Marcelo A. Canuto
6. Kenneth E. Seligson
7. Sonia Gutiérrez
8. Alma Vasquez

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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