300 episodes
The Audio Long Read The Guardian
-
- Society & Culture
-
-
4.2 • 1.6K Ratings
-
The Audio Long Read podcast is a selection of the Guardian’s long reads, giving you the opportunity to get on with your day while listening to some of the finest journalism the Guardian has to offer, including in-depth writing from around the world on immigration, crime, business, the arts and much more. Audio Long Read journalists include Samira Shackle, Tom Lamont, Sophie Elmhirst, Samanth Subramanian, Imogen West-Knights, Sirin Kale, Daniel Trilling and Giles Tremlett. The podcast explores a range of subjects and news across business, global politics, money, philosophy, science, internet culture, modern life, war, climate change, current affairs, music and trends, and seeks to answer key questions around them through explainers, interviews, and analysis with quality Guardian reporting. Through first person accounts, narrative audio storytelling and investigative reporting, the Audio Long Read seeks to dive deep, debunk myths and uncover hidden histories. In previous episodes we have asked questions like: do we need a new theory of evolution? Why can't we stop quantifying our lives? Why have our nuclear fears faded? Why do so many bikes end up underwater? How did Germany get hooked on Russian energy? Are we all prisoners of geography? How was London's Olympic legacy sold out? Who owns Einstein? Is free will an illusion? What lies behind the Arctic's Indigenous suicide crisis? What is the mystery of India's deadly exam scam? Who is the man who built his own cathedral? And, how did the world get hooked on palm oil? Whether Trump can win the US presidency or not? Other topics range from: history including empire to politics, conflict, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Gaza, philosophy, science, psychology, health and finance.
-
From the archive: ‘Colonialism had never really ended’: my life in the shadow of Cecil Rhodes
We are raiding the Guardian Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2021: After growing up in a Zimbabwe convulsed by the legacy of colonialism, when I got to Oxford I realised how many British people still failed to see how empire had shaped lives like mine – as well as their own. By Simukai Chigudu. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
-
Where the wild things are: the untapped potential of our gardens, parks and balconies
Gardens could be part of the solution to the climate and biodiversity crisis. But what are we doing? Disappearing them beneath plastic and paving. By Kate Bradbury. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
-
How the Tories pushed universities to the brink of disaster
Over the past 14 years, the Conservative dream of a free market in higher education has collided with the harsh reality of austerity and the cultural resentment of the radical right – driving some institutions close to bankruptcy. By William Davies. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
-
From the archive: Ten ways to confront the climate crisis without losing hope
We are raiding the Guardian Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2021: It’s easy to despair at the climate crisis, or to decide it’s already too late – but it’s not. Here’s how to keep the fight alive. By Rebecca Solnit. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
-
‘Natty or not?’: how steroids got big
Once upon a time, it was only hardcore bodybuilders who pumped themselves up with testosterone. Today it is no longer niche. But how dangerous is it? By Stephen Buranyi. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
-
Nairobi to New York and back: the loneliness of the internationally educated elite
Every year, hundreds of Kenyans head off to study at elite universities in the US and UK. On graduating, many find themselves in a strange position: unable to fit in abroad, but no longer feeling like they belong back home. By Carey Baraka. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
Customer Reviews
Depth of reporting second to none
Deeply researched and brilliantly told stories
Man v food (30/08/2021)
Same old issue, from the same perspective.
If this was new to the guardian & it’s readers then perhaps 4 of 5 stars. But there’s nothing to learn here, as the guardian has been (rightly) shining a light on the industry for decades.
So, how about looking at the issue from a local perspective? The UK meat industry is no where near as horrifying as the US, it’s even better than the EU standards!
It’d be good to hear a balanced look rather than only looking at an issue from a North American lens. 🤦🏻♂️
AI generated voice
I have really enjoyed this podcast, but can no longer listen due to the episodes being read by AWFUL artificially generated voices. It sounds terrible and distracts so much from the writing. The episodes now sound like lazy YouTube ads rather than talented journalism.