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The Audio Long Read

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

Still largely viewed as a peaceful philosophy, across much of south-east Asia, the religion has been weaponised to serve nationalist goals By Sonia Faleiro. Read by Dinita Gohil. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="www.theguar... 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: the Strava app offers community, training data and motivation to millions of athletes. Eve... more

Twenty-five years after I revealed the practices of the industrial food giants, the profits – and dangers – of mass producing meat and milk have only grown Written and read by Eric Schlosser. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https:... more

After I was paralysed in a climbing accident, I discovered how inconsiderate, illogical and incompetent many wheelchair providers can be By Paul Sagar. Read by Felipe Pacheco. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="www.theguardia... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Similar Podcasts

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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

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
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
Dito Isala
Local resident 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
Song-Chun Zhu
A prominent AI scientist and professor known for his pioneering work in artificial intelligence.
Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence
Episode: ‘I have to do it’: why one of the world’s most brilliant AI scientists left the US for China
Daniel Rothman
A mathematician at MIT studying complex systems and the Earth's carbon cycle.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Episode: ‘A climate of unparalleled malevolence’: are we on our way to the sixth major mass extinction?

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 5.2k ratings
  • Consistently good

    Always a great listen

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TeAWL
    New Zealand14 days 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
    Netherlands2 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 Kingdom3 months ago
  • Yeehaw

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    shdudjeh
    New Zealand3 months ago
  • Podcasting's most thoughtful content

    I listen to a lot of podcasts, always looking for measured, well-researched pieces that meet high journalistic standards. I should explore more beyond legacy media -- we know the NYT's chasing clicks and favors -- but the Guardian's longreads are thoughtful, historically-informed and draw unexpected connections. Great content, always learn something new

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    neworleansditty
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners express frustration with AI narration, feeling it detracts from the quality of journalism.
Many appreciate the high-quality storytelling and depth of reporting, often describing the content as insightful and informative.
There are critiques about the repetition of archival content rather than fresh material, which has led to disappointment among long-time listeners.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#236
United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#31
United Kingdom/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#169
Canada/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#97
Australia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#139
Italy/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#221
Germany/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?

This podcast offers an engaging audio format for the Guardian's in-depth longform journalism, bringing captivating narratives to listeners three times a week. Covering a diverse array of subjects such as politics, culture, philosophy, and sport, the episodes often feature investigative reporting and discussions surrounding current affairs, providing listeners with a rich exploration of significant topics. The unique approach combines thorough research with a focus on storytelling, making complex subjects both accessible and thought-provoking. Notably, the podcast strives to illuminate lesser-known perspectives and deep dives into pressing societal issues, appealing to those who value well-researched content.

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 UK
5. Politics Weekly America

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. Grace Marley
2. Metia Lotuala
3. Simon Kofi
4. Dito Isala
5. David Pakiwa
6. Peter Betts
7. Ben Giles
8. Song-Chun Zhu

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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