Sensemaker

The Observer

The Sensemaker from The Observer - one story every day to make sense of the world.

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1,388 episodes
Updated June 19

Episodes1388

Newest first

Dec 29, 2025 · 7 min
How to hack Mount Everest (Revisited)
A group of climbers has sparked debate over cheating in mountaineering after scaling Everest and returning to London in just 5 days - with the help of xenon gas. Writer: Jess Swinburne Producer: Serena Cesareo Host: Casey Magloire Photography: Alex Jones Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 26, 2025 · 6 min
Why is Gen Z going to church? (Revisited)
A recent survey suggests Gen Z is fuelling a resurgence in church attendance, especially among Catholics. Why? Writer: Jess Swinburne Producer: Ada Barumé Host: Claudia Williams Photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 25, 2025 · 9 min
Has buy now, pay later gone too far? (Revisited)
Buy now, pay later platforms like Klarna have become a go-to payment option for millions, offering flexibility in tough economic times. But as debt piles up and regulation looms, is this convenience coming at too high a cost? Reporter: Barney Macintyre Writer/ Producer: Patricia Clarke Host: Claudia Williams Photography: Roisin Savage Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 24, 2025 · 10 min
Why did Bumble drop ‘women making the first move’?
Bumble received more than 20,000 legal threats alleging that the app discriminated against men by not allowing them to make the first move. Writer: Casey Magloire Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 23, 2025 · 7 min
Palestine Action’s youngest hunger striker
Now into her 52nd day of refusing to eat, the jailed Palestine Action protester Qesser Zuhrah is in mortal danger Reporter: John Simpson Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Poppy Bullard Host: Ada Barume Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 22, 2025 · 8 min
Who controls the Himalayas’ water?
China has started construction of what will become the world’s largest hydropower dam in Tibetan territory. Writer: Jonathan Lewis Producer: Poppy Bullard Host: Andrew Butler Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 19, 2025 · 10 min
Why are doctors striking during a flu outbreak?
Resident doctors make up about half of all NHS doctors so NHS leaders are anxious about how the service will cope. Host: Casey Magloire Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 18, 2025 · 6 min
How does the Employment Rights Bill change sick pay?
On Tuesday the government passed a bill which it’s calling the biggest overhaul of workers’ rights in decades. Writer: Poppy Bullard with additional reporting from Ada Barume Producer: Poppy Bullard Host: Ada Barume Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 17, 2025 · 10 min
Why is Trump targeting Venezuela?
Yesterday the US military carried out strikes against three boats in the Pacific, which it claims were engaged in drug trafficking. Host: Casey Magloire Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Michael Whitaker Executive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 16, 2025 · 7 min
Rising antisemitism before the Bondi Beach shooting
At least 15 people have been killed after two men opened fire on a crowd gathered for Chanukah celebrations, near Bondi Beach in Australia. Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 15, 2025 · 11 min
How did Johnny Depp make a comeback?
Once Hollywood’s best-paid actor, Johnny Depp was cast out as a #MeToo villain, now he’s making his comeback. Listen to Alexi Mostrous' Who Trolled Amber series here: https://observer.co.uk/listen/who-trolled-amber Host: Casey Magloire Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 12, 2025 · 8 min
Why is the government concerned about mental health overdiagnosis?
Last week the Health Secretary announced a review into the rising rates of ADHD and Autism, as well as other mental health conditions. Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Poppy Bullard Host: Ada Barume Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 11, 2025 · 7 min
Why is there a blockbuster fight for Warner Bros?
Netflix and Paramount are in a bidding war to buy Warner Bros. What would they be buying and what might that mean for the entertainment industry? Writer: Jess Swinburne Producer: Amalie Sortland Photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 10, 2025 · 7 min
Will Australia’s social media ban for teenagers work?
As of yesterday, millions of Australian children under the age of 16 are now banned from using the social media platforms including X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Reporter: Patricia Clarke Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Poppy Bullard Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 9, 2025 · 7 min
What does Russia’s latest offensive in Ukraine tell us about the prospect of peace?
As the Ukrainian President meets European leaders, Russia has ramped up its attacks on major infrastructure, and last week it claimed it had captured the key strategic city of Pokrovsk. Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Poppy Bullard Host: Ada Barume Episode photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 8, 2025 · 12 min
Why is there controversy surrounding India’s mega zoo?
Vantara claims to house more than 150,000 animals - that’s 15 times the size of London Zoo. Writer: Jonathan Lewis Producer: Poppy Bullard Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 5, 2025 · 7 min
What Spotify Wrapped 2025 tells us about the streaming industry
Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish are still dominating streams globally, but what about smaller artists? Writer: Casey Magloire Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 4, 2025 · 7 min
Why is the UAE funding AI projects in Africa?
The Observer’s data team has found that the United Arab Emirates is vying to position itself as a key player in the industry, by looking towards the developing world. Reporter: Hannah Schuller Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Poppy Bullard Host: Ada Barume Episode photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 3, 2025 · 8 min
Why has the government scrapped juries for some trials?
Justice Secretary David Lammy wants to introduce reforms to the justice system as part of a wider plan to tackle unprecedented delays in the court system. Host: Ada Barumé Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 2, 2025 · 7 min
Why are councils selling off their resources?
A recent survey by the Key Cities group found that 60% of their member councils - which include places like Bath, Hull and Medway in Kent - were planning on selling off things like shopping arcades and social clubs to pay for the rising costs of social care. Host: Ada Barume Writer: Becky Pinnington and Poppy Bullard Producer: Madeleine Parr Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.