The Explanation Podcast
Where the world is explained. Making sense of the big stories - looking behind the spin.
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.
Episodes to download
-
![]()
Sudan鈥檚 journey from independence to revolution
Sat 18 Feb 2023
Mohanad Hashim explains some of the complex history of the country he grew up in
-
![]()
How Yemen has been engulfed by civil war
Sat 11 Feb 2023
Nawal Al-Maghafi explains how war has caused one of the world's worst humanitarian crises
-
![]()
Who are the Uyghurs and why are they being persecuted?
Sat 4 Feb 2023
John Sudworth tells the story behind China's treatment of its Uyghur minority
-
![]()
Cuba鈥揢nited States relations
Sat 28 Jan 2023
How a long, complex history between neighbours led to such an uneasy relationship
-
![]()
Roe v Wade and abortion in America
Sat 21 Jan 2023
Katty Kay explains how abortion became central to American politics
-
![]()
How Syria's peaceful uprising became a civil war
Sat 14 Jan 2023
Lina Sinjab tells Claire Graham about the conflict in her native country
-
![]()
Understanding the long history between Russia and Ukraine
Sat 16 Apr 2022
What has bound Russia and Ukraine together, and what has pulled them apart?
-
![]()
Understanding South Africa鈥檚 continuing quest for equality
Sat 9 Apr 2022
Why has the post-apartheid dream of a 鈥楻ainbow Nation鈥� not been easy to realise?
-
![]()
Understanding the power that Saudi Arabia wields
Sat 2 Apr 2022
How has the Saudi royal family maintained strong worldwide influence in spite of critics?
-
![]()
Understanding relations between Taiwan and China
Sat 26 Mar 2022
Why is Taiwanese reunification so important to China?
-
![]()
Understanding the rise of Boko Haram
Sat 19 Mar 2022
How the militant Islamic group took hold in northern Nigeria
-
![]()
Understanding North Korea and the Kim dynasty
Sat 12 Mar 2022
How the Kim family shaped one of the world鈥檚 most secretive countries
-
![]()
Understanding the Islamic State group
Christmas Day 2021
Quentin Sommerville on the rise, fall and potential re-emergence of IS
-
![]()
Understanding how Russia has changed under Putin
Sat 18 Dec 2021
Sarah Rainsford on how everyday life in Russia has changed under Putin
-
![]()
Afghanistan: Women, girls and their rights
Sat 11 Dec 2021
How a turbulent history dictates the ever-shifting attitudes towards women and girls
-
![]()
Understanding Iran: Reconciling religion and democracy
Sat 4 Dec 2021
Rana Rahimpour explains how religion, democracy and ideals combine in Iran
-
![]()
Israeli-Palestinian relations
Sat 27 Nov 2021
In 2021, Jeremy Bowen discussed the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
-
![]()
