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The Take

Al Jazeera
Israel
Gaza
Iran
U.S. Military Spending
Jair Bolsonaro
UN Membership
Human Rights Abuses
Brazil
Far-Right Movement
West Bank
US Military Aid
CPAC
Donald Trump
Florida
Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva
Culture Wars
Covid-19
Mohsen Fakhrizadeh
Sudan
Palestinian Territory

The Take is a daily interview-driven international news podcast hosted by award-winning journalist Malika Bilal. Each episode focuses on conversations with journalists and people directly impacted by the news of the day, offering our listeners the context necessary to understand what's in the headlines.

With millions of global listens, it's clear the conversations we're having on The Take are wor... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes750Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsDaily NewsPolitics

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Artwork for The Take

Latest Episodes

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is operating in an unprecedented way during US President Donald Trump’s second term. The agency has existed for over 20 years, but now operates as a masked force. Imposters posing as agents have committed cri... more

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity committed during a violent crackdown in 2024. Amid an unstable political landscape, will Hasina’s sentencing be a step f... more

YouTube

The United States healthcare system is in crisis. With federal funding cuts and costs set to rise if government subsidies are allowed to expire, millions might not be able to afford health insurance next year. How did healthcare get to be so expensiv... more

This week: 39 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 260 Palestinians in Gaza. Palestinians from Gaza were sent to South Africa under unclear circumstances. Exchanges of remains continued between Hamas and Israel. Israel has killed more th... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Issa Amro
Palestinian human rights defender and non-violence activist in Hebron.
Youth Against Settlement
Episode: Another Take: Inside the West Bank’s surging settler violence
Paul Ford
President of an AI startup that builds software with AI
Episode: Is the AI bubble about to pop?
Soumaya Hamdi
Wife of detained journalist Sami Hamdi, advocating for his release while managing her three children.
Episode: Did the US detain British journalist Sami Hamdi over Palestine?
Mo Amer
Stand-up comedian, actor, writer and producer
Netflix
Episode: Why Mo Amer jokes to survive
Dallia Mohammed Abdelmoniem
A Sudanese citizen currently residing in Egypt, known for her advocacy, consultancy, and political commentary on Sudan.
Episode: What does the fall of el-Fasher mean for Sudan?
Sanae Takaichi
Japan's first female Prime Minister, previously a member of a heavy metal rock band, and an expert on U.S. policy with a nationalistic stance.
Liberal Democratic Party
Episode: Japan’s Iron Lady meets Trump
DJ Switch
Popular Nigerian musician known for her activism and participation in the NSARS protests
Episode: Another Take: Nigerians speak out to #EndSARS
Mohammed Ademu
Nigerian Inspector General of Police who made statements regarding the dissolution of SARS
Nigerian Police Force
Episode: Another Take: Nigerians speak out to #EndSARS
Belle Lin
Reporter for The Wall Street Journal covering business and technology
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: AWS outage: Are we too dependent on Big Tech?

Hosts

Malika Bilal
Host of the podcast, providing compelling interviews and insights into current events with empathy and depth.
Kevin Hirten
Producer and host associated with detailed coverage and contextual analysis in the podcast.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 979 ratings
  • Great show!

    In general, this show has great content about a wide range of topics. Have many good things to say about it. And one less-so. I was eager to listen to AI bubble episode of 13 November 2025. However, the host made more insightful commentary than the expert guest. If one truly listens to what is being said, the guest actually conveys very little analysis or information, certainly nothing that isn’t common understanding. AJ, please choose your guests based on their strength and depth of understand... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Babakoto
    South Africa7 days ago
  • Fantastic news stories every day

    This is a fantastic news podcast that provides a (relatively) deep eye into a wide and diverse range of stories. It’s become an integral part of my daily routine. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    H-Newall
    United Kingdom8 days ago
  • Honest news

    I love this podcast. I live in Australia so the news I get is very focussed on the west. This is a great alternative, and a much more honest, news podcast on stories that aren’t told by my local news sources.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Damianjb1
    Australia10 days ago
  • Simply heartbreaking

    No you get no justice as Isreal don’t even see Palestine as humans Implying they are sadistic and no other country is going to stop them

    It makes no sense other than USA and UAE are driving this agenda along with the other wars

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lovealways#
    United Kingdom11 days ago
  • Not news

    Simple propaganda

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    dudermcsauceman
    United States14 days ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the in-depth and nuanced approach to international news, finding the topics both timely and relevant.
The emotional depth and stories shared by guests are seen as compelling and impactful, facilitating a deeper understanding of complex issues.
There are mixed feelings regarding perceived biases, with some labeling the content as left-leaning or unbalanced, while others praise its commitment to diverse voices and stories.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#59
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#32
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#33
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#138
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#235
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#36
Australia/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why France is ready to pull the plug on Shein
Q: What is the antidote to Shein?
The antidote involves addressing broader issues like securing fair wages and legislating against overconsumption and unethical marketing.
Did the US detain British journalist Sami Hamdi over Palestine?
Q: How are you explaining this to the kids?
Soumaya shared that initially they tried to assure the kids that their father would be coming home soon, but the situation escalated into a nightmare as Sami was detained.
Is the AI bubble about to pop?
Q: What do you think the hype around AI replacing jobs gets right, and what is it missing?
While layoffs are partly due to overhiring during growth, advancements in AI are causing shifts in the job market, potentially leading to greater efficiency but also risking job losses.
Is the AI bubble about to pop?
Q: What lessons can we take from the dot-com bubble?
Historically, bubbles can result in people losing significant amounts of money, but they can also lead to a clearer, more open market in the tech industry.
Is the AI bubble about to pop?
Q: What's at stake for the industry, for the world economy, and for those of us using this new technology every day if the AI bubble does burst?
The burst could result in significant economic pain, particularly affecting retirement savings and investments, as AI is embedded in many sectors of the economy.

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 Take

What is The Take about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on current international news events, the content centers on in-depth conversations that include insights from journalists and individuals directly involved in the stories being covered. Common themes include the complexities of conflicts, humanitarian crises, and political developments. The tone tends to emphasize human experiences and perspectives, often illuminating narratives that are overlooked in mainstream discussions. This approach not only informs listeners about the headlines but also provides the context necessary for a deeper understanding of global issues. Given its emphasis on storytelling and authenticity, the podcast appeals to listeners who value nuanced explorations of pressing topics.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Take?

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

How many listeners does The Take get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Take, 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 Take?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Take, 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 Take have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Take 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 Take?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Take:

1. The Inside Story Podcast
2. Al Jazeera News Updates
3. The Listening Post
4. True Crime Reports
5. The Global Story

How many episodes of The Take are there?

The Take launched 7 years ago and published 750 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 Take?

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 Take?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Take 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 Take?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Take. 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 Take?

Recent guests on The Take include:

1. Issa Amro
2. Paul Ford
3. Soumaya Hamdi
4. Mo Amer
5. Dallia Mohammed Abdelmoniem
6. Sanae Takaichi
7. DJ Switch
8. Mohammed Ademu

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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