

The Week Unwrapped - with Olly Mann
The Week Unwrapped
Have you missed the biggest news of the week? Olly Mann and three of The Week's writers and editors decide which under-reported stories will have the biggest long-term consequences. Join Felicity Capon, Harriet Marsden and Jamie Timson to learn about three stories you won't hear on other news podcasts – but will remember in years to come.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 26, 2025 • 52min
The Year Unwrapped: Emotional bots, weight loss and British culture
Why are we so willing to bond with AI bots? How will appetite suppressants change society? And is Britain back on the main stage? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past 12 months. With Harriet Marsden, Felicity Capon and Holden FrithImage credit: Jim Dyson / Getty Images

Dec 19, 2025 • 42min
The politics of AI, forever chemicals and universal income
Why is George Osborne joining OpenAI? What’s the cost of PFAs? And has universal basic income finally come of age? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Alex Hudson, Felicity Capon and Harriet Marsden.Image credit: Just Super / Getty Images

Dec 12, 2025 • 44min
Euro protests, Syria and monogamy
** This episode was recorded on Thursday morning, shortly before the resignation of the Bulgarian government **How is the euro fuelling unrest in Bulgaria? Has Syria changed, a year on from its revolution? And why are humans (mostly) monogamous? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Jamie Timson, Felicity Capon and Harriet MarsdenImage credit: NurPhoto / Getty Images

Dec 5, 2025 • 43min
A Honduran reprieve, water wars and rom-coms
Why did Trump pardon a drug-trafficking president? Will drought fuel global violence? And are romantic comedies in terminal decline? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Harriet Marsden, Jamie Timson and Felicity CaponImage credit: Shwan Nawzad / AFP / Getty Images

Nov 28, 2025 • 47min
Slovenia, fallible leaders and mongrels
What can we learn from Slovenia’s rejection of assisted dying? Can politicians admit their weaknesses? And have pedigree dogs had their day? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Felicity Capon, Jamie Timson and Arion McNicollImage credit: Jens Buttner/ AFP / Getty Images

Nov 21, 2025 • 36min
Cryogenic morality and a Catholic rift
What are the ethics of freezing your late partner? And will US Catholics rebel against the Pope? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Julia Macfarlane and Suchandrika ChakrabartiImage credit: Andreas Solaro / AFP/ Getty Images

Nov 14, 2025 • 45min
Anti-Putin rap, Sarajevo snipers and captive penguins
Who were the “human hunters” of the Bosnian war? Why has a rap song become an anti-Putin anthem in Russia? And what should happen to captive penguins? With Jamie Timson, Harriet Marsden and Felicity Capon.Photo: Lorena Sopena/Europa Press via Getty Images

Nov 7, 2025 • 44min
Smoking in the Maldives, rap in the UK and elderly whales
Can the Maldives quit smoking? Are British rappers the world’s best? And can whales lead us to immortality? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Harriet Marsden, Felicity Capon and Jamie TimsonImage credit: Simone Joyner / Getty Images.

Oct 31, 2025 • 47min
Bacon, a Dutch standoff and the art of living well
This week features Jamie Timson, a political and cultural analyst at The Week, Harriet Marsden, who reports on health and politics, and Felicity Capon, the senior editor at The Week Junior. They dive into the controversial health risks of processed meats, exploring nitrates in bacon and the implications of a processed-meat warning campaign. The discussion shifts to Dutch election insights, illustrating shifting political dynamics, and concludes with fascinating findings on how experiencing original art can boost physical health, discussing whether art should be prescribed.

Oct 24, 2025 • 42min
Fusion, frog protests and fashion
Will nuclear fusion deliver us from climate change? Is humour the best way to take on Trump? And will Grace Wales Bonner change Hermès for the better? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Harriet Marsden, Arion McNicoll and Jamie Timson.Image credit: Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images


