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What in the World

BBC World Service
Climate Change
Iran
Gen Z
United States
Artificial Intelligence
China
World Cup
Tiktok
Social Media
South Africa
India
Birth Order
Mental Health
Strait Of Hormuz
Voice Notes
Menstrual Cycle
BBC World Service
2026 Winter Olympics
Bhajan Clubbing
Measles

Helping you make sense of what’s happening in your world. Big stories, small stories and everything in between. Understand more, feel better. Five days a week, Monday to Friday.

PublishesDailyEpisodes859Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Daily NewsNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for What in the World

Latest Episodes

Russell Brand started off as a comedian and presenter in the UK, known for his back-brushed hair and self-proclaimed sex addiction. After fame in the US and a short marriage to Katy Perry, he’s now a big religious influencer.

He’s also now been foun... more

YouTube

You might’ve seen lots of chat online about ‘ferritin face’ alongside zoomed in before and after pics of people’s faces. Some claim that changes in their appearance, like pale skin and hair loss, are down to having low ferritin levels.

But what eve... more

YouTube

Democrats in the US have won control of Congress in the midterm elections. They’ve done better than even the polls suggested - winning seats held by Republicans for decades. But what does that actually mean?

BBC reporter and What in the World’s res... more

YouTube

While job hunting have you ever spotted a job ad that never seems to go away? When you apply you don’t get a reply, let alone a rejection. You may have spotted a ghost! Or a ghost job.

In fact, it’s happening so much ‘ghost jobs’ was on the shortlis... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Jacob Evans
BBC journalist and first-time Hyrox competitor
BBC
Episode: Hyrox could become an Olympic sport
Annabel Rackham
BBC Health reporter and Hyrox athlete
BBC
Episode: Hyrox could become an Olympic sport
Emma Sunny
Sports journalist and netball fan
Episode: Hyrox could become an Olympic sport
William Lee Adams
Member of the What in the World team
BBC World Service
Episode: Would you use an 'Etsy witch'?
Kerry Allen
BBC China media analyst
BBC
Episode: Why Kylian Mbappe has been cancelled in China
Esme Stallard
BBC climate reporter
BBC
Episode: What Bukangi the shark in South Korea tells us about climate change
Jake Kwon
BBC correspondent reporting from Busan
BBC
Episode: What Bukangi the shark in South Korea tells us about climate change
Mina Radovanović
Student supporter of the Student List movement
Episode: How student protesters won against Serbia's Vučić
Nick Thorpe
BBC correspondent
BBC
Episode: How student protesters won against Serbia's Vučić

Hosts

Hannah
Host of What in the World
Hannah Gelbart
Host of What in the World

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 441 ratings
  • Fantastic

    This podcast is super interesting! I do enjoy listening to it !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Miglioremary83
    Italya year ago
  • .

    Good but they speak verry fast and I don’t understand the half.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Meeeee the best 😝
    Francea year ago
  • No depth

    So short. I don’t feel you answer many questions about the topic.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Jake90985
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • How the search for Miss South Africa turned ugly

    Please report accurately on the eligibility of contestants

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mpho Tshukudu
    South Africa2 years ago
  • Amazing podcast on Korean Shamans!

    I thought Soo Min Kim provided a captivating exploration of the evolution of shamanism over time. It was interesting to see the historical shifts and understand how these traditions have adapted to modern society.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Benthomas315
    United Kingdom3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests and topics are varied and timely, with strong on-the-ground reporting.
Balance of science, tech, and world affairs keeps it useful for professionals.
Pacing can be fast but keeps content tight and engaging.
More guest diversity could broaden perspectives.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#211
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#48
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#67
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#81
Italy/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#94
France/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#94
Germany/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Kylian Mbappe has been cancelled in China
Q: Do we know what younger people in China think of this degree of censorship and cancelling people who express certain views, or are they more accepting of those views?
Allen says many young people find repeated boycott campaigns difficult to keep up with, while some may still privately support Mbappé despite media pressure.
Why Kylian Mbappe has been cancelled in China
Q: Why has it hit such a strong nerve?
Kerry Allen explains that Mao is a revered figure and that China's government-controlled media environment treats negative comments about past or present officials as highly sensitive.
What Bukangi the shark in South Korea tells us about climate change
Q: What might Bukangi's appearance tell us about climate change and changes in the ocean?
Esme Stallard says warming seas can shift animal ranges and fish populations, but stresses that one shark is not proof of a climate trend and other human impacts also affect the ocean.
Would you use an 'Etsy witch'?
Q: Why do you think that witchcraft is getting so popular?
William Lee Adams connects its growth to economic uncertainty and the accessibility of online platforms and social media, which make practitioners easier to find.
Hyrox could become an Olympic sport
Q: What did the people that you spoke to say about that?
Rackham says Hyrox can be expensive because participants pay for tickets, specialist trainers, gym membership and travel. The events also require costly equipment, venues and staffing.

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 What in the World

What is What in the World about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show delivers concise, news-driven conversations across a wide range of topics, from science and technology to culture, politics, and global events. Episodes tend to pair expert guests with informed hosts to unpack complex issues—think attachment theory, climate dynamics, AI safety, energy geopolitics, and social trends—often weaving in real-world implications for daily life, policy, and industry. A standout is the willingness to explore multidisciplinary angles with on-the-ground reporting, academic insight, and industry context, which makes it useful for listeners who want clear takeaways and practical nuance in a short, digestible format.

Where can I find podcast stats for What in the World?

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

How many listeners does What in the World get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for What in the World, 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 What in the World?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for What in the World, 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 What in the World have?

To see how many followers or subscribers What in the World 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 What in the World?

These podcasts share a similar audience with What in the World:

1. Asia Specific
2. Learning English from the News
3. Business Daily
4. Global News Podcast
5. The Documentary Podcast

How many episodes of What in the World are there?

What in the World launched 3 years ago and published 859 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 What in the World?

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 What in the World?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for What in the World 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 What in the World?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of What in the World. 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 What in the World?

Recent guests on What in the World include:

1. Jacob Evans
2. Annabel Rackham
3. Emma Sunny
4. William Lee Adams
5. Kerry Allen
6. Esme Stallard
7. Jake Kwon
8. Mina Radovanović

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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