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The Explanation

BBC World Service
Ukraine
Russia
Five Eyes
World Bank
China
Israel
Saudi Arabia
Sportswashing
Poverty
United States
Human Rights
IMF
Edward Snowden
World Health Organization
Corruption
Climate Change
Western Sanctions
New Zealand
United Kingdom
Australia

Where the world is explained. Making sense of the big stories - looking behind the spin. Exploring the important questions about long-running stories and the latest global news. An honest, unvarnished, explanation of the world.

Featuring new episodes of The President's Path, Unspun World with John Simpson, and The Media Show.

PublishesDailyEpisodes258Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentarySociety & CultureNewsDocumentary

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Latest Episodes

Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann look at how RFK Jr is shaping US health policy in President Trump’s second term. Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the state of US politics — in Washington and beyond. We dig into the ke... more

The Mayor of Greater Manchester has accused vloggers of provoking vulnerable people to generate online views, with a particular focus on the city’s Piccadilly Gardens. Sarah Lester, editor of the Manchester Evening News, and Charlotte Dewar, chief ex... more

Caitríona Perry, Courtney Subramanian, and Sumi Somaskanda look at how US President Donald Trump is challenging the state of California, and how its governor, Gavin Newsom, is returning the favour. Every weekend, The President’s Path explores the sta... more

Pressure on the BBC has continued after a line about Donald Trump was removed from the Reith Lectures on legal advice. Dame Caroline Dineage, Chair of the Culture Media and Sport Committee, and Lionel Barber, Former Editor of The Financial Times disc... more

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The InquiryBBC World Service
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The Documentary PodcastBBC World Service
Witness History
Witness HistoryBBC World Service
The Global Story
The Global StoryBBC World Service
The Interview
The InterviewBBC World Service

Recent Guests

Sarah Lester
Editor of the Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Episode: The Media Show: Manchester’s YouTube problem
Charlotte Dewar
Chief Executive of IPSO
Independent Press Standards Organisation
Episode: The Media Show: Manchester’s YouTube problem
Adam Leventhal
Investigative reporter on illegal streaming
The Athletic
Episode: The Media Show: Manchester’s YouTube problem
Minal Modha
Data and insight analyst from Ampere Analysis
Ampere Analysis
Episode: The Media Show: Manchester’s YouTube problem
Ian Hislop
Editor of Private Eye
Private Eye
Episode: The Media Show: Manchester’s YouTube problem
Lionel Barber
Former editor of The Financial Times
Episode: The Media Show: Another day, another BBC editing row?
Dame Caroline Dineage
Chair of the Media Select Committee
Episode: The Media Show: Another day, another BBC editing row?
Dr. Alice Enders
Media analyst from Enders Analysis
Episode: The Media Show: Another day, another BBC editing row?
Donie O'Sullivan
CNN reporter and documentary filmmaker
CNN
Episode: The Media Show: Another day, another BBC editing row?

Hosts

Caitríona Perry
Chief Presenter and host of The President's Path, known for her in-depth coverage of political issues and developments.
Ros Atkins
Host of The Media Show, recognized for his engaging style and focus on media-related topics and current events.
Katie Razzall
Co-host of The Media Show, noted for her contributions to discussions on media integrity and representation.
John Simpson
Host of Unspun World and known for his insightful coverage of international news and politics.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 150 ratings
  • Not so unvarnished

    I want to hear both sides, but am finding their coverage more and more sympathetic to dark themes. For instance: describing people celebrating CK’s death as disgusting, and his ‘work’ as challenging opinions. Publicly, at least, this man was not a good person. Openly hateful talk is disgusting. Has the BBC entered the upside down world??

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Anneli Veronica
    Canada3 months ago
  • Superb podcast

    Podcast Addict
    5
    cougar
    2 years ago
  • The explanation-the Grain deal

    Just heard you Grain deal special Podcast.

    It was disappointing that programme was trying to EXPLAIN the Deal:

    •With Help of Expert from Kiev-Ukraine

    •BBC Monitoring service

    Wondering why you could not get experts based in Russia, I am sure Phone lines are open there!

    One cannot at the end feel that the EXPLANATION was ONE sided view

    It defeated the basic remit of the Programme

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    pilot-without-runway
    New Zealand2 years ago
  • Hugely informative

    This podcast demonstrates how the BBC World Service wears its vast, collective and professional knowledge so very lightly. A masterclass !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    aged librarian
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Simon Drought

    Great to hear your voice Jon.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Simon Drought
    New Zealand2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The content is informative and tackles complex topics effectively, making it accessible to a wide audience.
Some feel that certain episodes could benefit from a more balanced exploration of themes to avoid bias.
Listeners appreciate the variety of perspectives offered by knowledgeable guests, enhancing the depth of discussion.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Unspun World: War-weariness in Russia
Q: How has the information Putin receives about the war changed?
The chain of information from the front appears to become increasingly optimistic, diverging from the ground realities faced by soldiers and commanders.
Unspun World: War-weariness in Russia
Q: What is the extent of war weariness and disillusionment in Russia?
Many Russians are skeptical of the government's portrayal of the war's success, with a clear divide in sentiment between regions directly affected by the conflict, such as those near Ukraine, and more isolated areas like Moscow.
Unspun World: Who will run Gaza?
Q: Without disarming Hamas, how could the governance of Gaza be achieved?
It is impossible for any Palestinian technocrat to work freely if Hamas retains its arms.
The Media Show: Reporting from Inside Putin’s Russia
Q: How do you protect them?
It's very difficult to develop sources now. In Russia, people are wary about speaking to us. So basically, I base my conclusions about what's happening in Russia on all kinds of things.
The Media Show: Super Mario Bros at 40
Q: Has Super Mario and Nintendo remained impactful over the years?
Yes, Nintendo has continued to innovate and maintain success, particularly with their latest consoles like the Nintendo Switch.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Explanation

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

This podcast offers insightful analysis and commentary on crucial global events, aiming to provide a clearer understanding of complicated issues affecting society and culture. It features discussions on significant political confrontations, media controversies, and the intricacies of global governance, often with a focus on recent news stories. The format typically includes expert guests and hosts who delve into topics such as political dynamics, media ethics, and the societal impacts of various policies, making it a resourceful platform for listeners who wish to navigate the complexities of current affairs.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Explanation?

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

How many listeners does The Explanation get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Explanation?

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How many subscribers and views does The Explanation have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Explanation 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 Explanation?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Explanation:

1. The Inquiry
2. The Documentary Podcast
3. Witness History
4. The Global Story
5. The Interview

How many episodes of The Explanation are there?

The Explanation launched 3 years ago and published 258 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 Explanation?

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 Explanation?

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What guests have appeared on The Explanation?

Recent guests on The Explanation include:

1. Sarah Lester
2. Charlotte Dewar
3. Adam Leventhal
4. Minal Modha
5. Ian Hislop
6. Lionel Barber
7. Dame Caroline Dineage
8. Dr. Alice Enders

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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