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Artwork for Understand

Understand

BBC Radio 4
HS2
Psychedelics
Psilocybin
Mental Health
U.S. Foreign Policy
Monroe Doctrine
Psychedelic Research
High Speed Two
Thames Water
Bush Doctrine
Truman Doctrine
Nixon Doctrine
Reagan Doctrine
Reading
Greenpeace
Extinction Rebellion
Humphrey Osmond
Neurodiversity
Water Industry
Boris Johnson

Understand from BBC Radio 4 - unravelling the complexities of the biggest stories and subjects that really matter right now.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes109Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsGovernmentNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Understand

Latest Episodes

Across three episodes, author and mental health academic Nathan Filer explores neurodivergence: what it means, how children live with it, and how adults navigate its impact in work, relationships and everyday life.

Episode three turns to adulthood, ... more

Across three episodes, author and mental health academic Nathan Filer explores neurodivergence: what it means, how children live with it, and how adults navigate its impact in work, relationships and everyday life.

Episode two asks what it means to ... more

Author and mental health academic Nathan Filer explores neurodivergence: what it means, how children live with it, and how adults navigate its impact in work, relationships and everyday life.

Episode one begins with the language of difference: as t... more

Nathan Filer explores the complex and shifting terrain of neurodiversity, and what it means to be different. From neurodivergence in childhood, to navigating adulthood.

Key Facts

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

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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The Bottom LineBBC Radio 4

Recent Guests

Labeebah Islaam
autistic individual interviewed at the start of the series
Episode: All Kinds of Minds: 1. The Language of Neurodiversity
Lucy Foulkes
research fellow at the University of Oxford, specializing in adolescent mental health
University of Oxford
Episode: All Kinds of Minds: 1. The Language of Neurodiversity
Naomi Fisher
clinical psychologist specializing in autism, trauma and alternative education
Episode: All Kinds of Minds: 1. The Language of Neurodiversity
Alex Partridge
early pioneer of social media content, ADHD advocate
Ladbible
Episode: All Kinds of Minds: 1. The Language of Neurodiversity
Nathan Filer
writer and leader of a university research center in mental health and creativity
Episode: All Kinds of Minds: 1. The Language of Neurodiversity
Zack Polanski
Leader candidate and political figure discussed in the episode
Green Party of England and Wales
Episode: Ten Fights That Made the Green Movement: 10. Rival Visions
Sarah Lunnan
Co-founded Just Stop Oil
Just Stop Oil
Episode: Ten Fights That Made the Green Movement: 9. Crackdown
Caroline Lucas
Former Green Party leader; MP for Brighton Pavilion
Green Party
Episode: Ten Fights That Made the Green Movement: 9. Crackdown
Rupert Read
Co-founder of The Climate Majority Project
The Climate Majority Project
Episode: Ten Fights That Made the Green Movement: 9. Crackdown

Hosts

Kate Lamble
Host of the BBC Radio 4 program and lead presenter for this series; known for guiding investigations and presenting narrative-driven reporting.
James Marriott
Host associated with the Understand series, moderating conversations and presenting episode-focused content.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 504 ratings
  • Your podcast brought me a lot of joy. A fantastic talented woman

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Nissim Cohen
    2 months ago
  • Love and hate

    Love the subject matter shame all podcasts are split into 15min and then have to listen to the promos for other irrelevant podcasts

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Frogslegs1
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Tim Hayward or Tim Harford?

    The show is billed as one Tim on the BBC podcast menu and show description, however it’s actually by another Tim, regardless it’s an excellent show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eldo19998
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • How to rate Understand? It consists of multiple series, each of varying quality, but usually above average. The same can be said of its individual episodes. The aim of Understand is to document the UK's post- Cold War consensus and resultant decline. Post-WW1, it was called the Great Depression, and Churchill kicked Britain out of that. After WW2, it was unionised sclerosis, and Thatcher kicked Britain out of that. Following the collapse of communism, it's mass immigration and the return to squa... more

    Podchaser
    4
    APODiatrist
    a year ago
  • I would describe this show as fast-paced, breezy, and chipper. I listened to three of the four series they put out, and I only really got anything out of the one about the history of Israel and Palestine. The others were too quick and superficial. I think you could get more out of reading the Wikipedia page about any of these topics than you will from the 10-minute episode about it. There are better tech or political explainers out there.

    Podchaser
    3
    Sarah B
    2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Deep dive into policy and governance with strong investigative storytelling.
The show makes complex topics accessible and engaging for a broad audience.
A few reviews question balance or depth on certain controversial topics.
Some episodes are very UK-centric and policy-heavy, which may not appeal to all listeners.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#37
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#84
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#137
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#45
Ireland/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#83
Netherlands/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#84
Brazil/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

All Kinds of Minds: Trailer
Q: Are you going to ask me to define neurodivergence?
Yes, the host signals that a definition might be on the table, inviting a clarifying discussion about how these terms are used and understood.

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 Understand

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

A journalist-led series that explores complex public-interest issues through a network of on-the-ground campaigners, policymakers, scientists, and investigators. The episodes center on environmental governance, water quality, privatization, debt in public utilities, and the power of data-driven activism to drive policy change. Across seasons, the show blends investigative storytelling with historical context, presenting whistleblowers, MPs, regulators, and NGO leaders as they untangle who bears responsibility for environmental outcomes and how accountability can be achieved in large public services. It's notable for its data-centric approach, strong field reporting, and a willingness to challenge established narratives in public utilities a... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Understand?

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

How many listeners does Understand get?

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What are the audience demographics for Understand?

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How many subscribers and views does Understand have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Understand 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 Understand?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Understand:

1. More or Less
2. The Briefing Room
3. From Our Own Correspondent
4. Radical
5. The Bottom Line

How many episodes of Understand are there?

Understand launched 4 years ago and published 109 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 Understand?

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 Understand?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Understand from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Understand?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Understand. 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 Understand?

Recent guests on Understand include:

1. Labeebah Islaam
2. Lucy Foulkes
3. Naomi Fisher
4. Alex Partridge
5. Nathan Filer
6. Zack Polanski
7. Sarah Lunnan
8. Caroline Lucas

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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