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What in the World

BBC World Service
Climate Change
Iran
Social Media
United States
China
Donald Trump
Gen Z
Ukraine
Tiktok
BBC World Service
World Cup
Artificial Intelligence
Sudan
India
Venezuela
COP 30
Amazon Rainforest
Ultra-Processed Foods
Gut Microbiome
Jeffrey Epstein

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes798Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Daily NewsNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for What in the World

Latest Episodes

Orangutans are the world’s most endangered apes and they’re now even closer to extinction. They live on two islands in southeast Asia: Sumatra and Borneo. In November, an extreme weather event in the area killed more than 1,000 people there, plus abo... more

Heatwaves are uncomfortable for everyone. But people living with disabilities face additional and specific challenges that can compromise their health and well-being. Many of these issues - from struggling service dogs to overheating wheelchairs - ar... more

YouTube

Working from home has plenty of benefits: no commute, greater flexibility and the chance to catch up on household chores during your break. But for young people starting out their careers, could this extra freedom actually have a negative impact on c... more

YouTube

There’s a name for when people blare out music, scroll through social media on full volume or talk on loudspeaker in public - loudcasting. Surveys show that in the U.K. most adults find this behaviour irritating, but there’s also data suggesting that... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Dumibe Okwagwu
Clinical psychology researcher who shares personal experience with attachment styles
Academic researcher
Episode: Why everyone is talking about attachment theory
Dr. Amir Levine
Psychiatrist and researcher on attachment theory
Independent researcher / clinical psychologist
Episode: Why everyone is talking about attachment theory
Sarah Keith-Lucas
Meteorologist and BBC Weather presenter
BBC Weather
Episode: AMOC: Could the ocean system collapse?
Rogers by Mukama
Ugandan Football Federation official
Ugandan Football Federation
Episode: Why are we talking about the World Cup again?
Fleetwood Haeya
Malawi Football Federation president
Malawi Football Federation
Episode: Why are we talking about the World Cup again?
Jefferson Kim
Paleontologist in training
Paleontology field
Episode: Why are rich people obsessed with owning dinosaur bones?
Ashwathar Bajoo
Young paleontologist of India
Paleontology
Episode: Why are rich people obsessed with owning dinosaur bones?
Thomas Wolff
Co-founder of Hugging Face
Hugging Face
Episode: OpenAI went rogue. What now?
Azadeh Moshiri
BBC correspondent covering the protests from Delhi
BBC
Episode: A simple guide to India’s ‘cockroach’ protests

Host

Hannah Gelbart
Host of What in the World, BBC World Service

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 431 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 Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Episodes are often succinct and informative, with strong expert inputs.
Some listeners note the pace can feel fast and dense for new listeners.
Listeners praise the global perspective and breadth of topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#38
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#70
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#54
Italy/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#111
Australia/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#150
France/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#158
Germany/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why everyone is talking about attachment theory
Q: Can you talk me through the four attachment styles?
The four styles are anxious, avoidant, fearful avoidant, and secure. Anxious individuals worry about rejection; avoidants prioritize independence and struggle to open up; fearful avoidants want closeness but fear it; and secur e individuals balance closeness with independence. These patterns are better understood as tendencies that can vary with partners rather than fixed traits.
AMOC: Could the ocean system collapse?
Q: What time scale are we looking at for the scenarios you've outlined to actually happen?
Researchers expect any major slowdown or tipping-point changes in AMOC to occur gradually, over decades to centuries, rather than as a rapid, movie-style collapse. The atmosphere responds quickly, but the ocean responds slowly, so shifts in climate patterns would unfold over a long period, with gradual warming in some areas and cooling or altered rainfall patterns in others.
AMOC: Could the ocean system collapse?
Q: So we've been seeing this phrase AMOC all over social media. What is it?
AMOC stands for the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. It's a global ocean current system in the Atlantic that acts like a conveyor belt: warm, salty water moves north, cools and sinks in polar regions, then returns southward, distributing heat and nutrients around the ocean. The system is driven by temperature and salinity, and scientists study how changes in climate could slow it down.
Tyla removes Nigeria from her world tour dates
Q: Can you start off by reminding us what's been happening in South Africa? Talk us through these protests.
The protests have focused on undocumented migrants and calls for the government to tighten border controls, with tensions rising as neighboring countries report discriminatory and violent incidents; this has affected diplomacy, as shown by conversations between Nigeria, South Africa, and other African nations.
Why are rich people obsessed with owning dinosaur bones?
Q: What are the implications of copyright on fossils for museums and shops?
Copyright enables replicas and casts to be produced, which account for a sizable portion of museum revenue, meaning the value of a fossil extends beyond the original bone to its reproductions and merchandise.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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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 provides concise, globally minded analysis of major stories and trends across politics, tech, culture, health, and science, with a strong emphasis on how events unfold and affect everyday life. Episodes blend on-the-ground reporting, expert commentary, and audience perspective to unpack complex issues—from international diplomacy and market dynamics to digital privacy and social behavior. A notable strength is its ability to connect fast-moving developments to practical takeaways for travelers, professionals, and curious listeners, often featuring regional voices and data-driven context to illuminate both the big picture and quirky angles. The mix of accessible explanations, varied guest expertise, and timely topics makes it a go-t... more

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Which podcasts are similar to What in the World?

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

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

How many episodes of What in the World are there?

What in the World launched 3 years ago and published 798 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?

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What guests have appeared on What in the World?

Recent guests on What in the World include:

1. Dumibe Okwagwu
2. Dr. Amir Levine
3. Sarah Keith-Lucas
4. Rogers by Mukama
5. Fleetwood Haeya
6. Jefferson Kim
7. Ashwathar Bajoo
8. Thomas Wolff

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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