

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

Aug 26, 2021 • 41min
#241 Plague jabs, Havana syndrome and meat-free Mondays
Will a new vaccine finally banish the Black Death? Why are US diplomats falling ill all over the world? And is flexitarianism a step to permanent change? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Holden Frith, Felicity Capon and Suchandrika Chakrabarti

Aug 19, 2021 • 35min
#240 Pensions, elephants and middle-class drugs
Why is the government changing pension rules? How did a herd of elephants cross China? And will well-heeled drug users be named and shamed? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With John Stepek, Julia O’Driscoll and Tomiwa Owolade

Aug 12, 2021 • 37min
#239 Mercenaries, climate angst and the right to repair
What are Russian soldiers doing in Libya? Are doom-laden climate headlines bad for our mental health? And are DIY gadget fixers about to get a break? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Abdulwahab Tahan, Sorcha Bradley and Arion McNicoll

Aug 5, 2021 • 39min
#238 Pay cheques, sporting pressure and ancient plants
Should we all know what our colleagues are paid? How will Olympic athletes cope with social media scrutiny? And could a strange desert plant unlock human longevity? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Kate Samuelson, Alok Jha and Suchandrika ChakrabartiSummer sale: Get your first 6 issues of The Week magazine absolutely free, along with a stylish picnic blanket. To start your free trial go to theweek.co.uk/offer now and enter the promo code SUMMER

Jul 29, 2021 • 39min
#237 Flash floods, Tunisian turmoil and rich racing
Are cities ready for a rise in extreme weather? Why has Tunisia’s president sacked the prime minister? And is the ‘most expensive race on earth’ worth the cash? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Felicity Capon, Suchandrika Chakrabarti and Abdulwahab Tahhan.

Jul 22, 2021 • 39min
#236 Health data, green banking and flawed maps
How will we deal with knowing so much more about our health? Should central banks seek to fight climate change? And is Google Maps leading us astray? Arion McNicoll, standing in for Olly Mann, and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Kari Wilkin, John Stepek and Holden Frith

Jul 15, 2021 • 37min
#235 Cuba, friendship and office dogs
What’s behind the latest Cuban protests? Can dating apps help us make friends? And should we welcome animals at work? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Tomiwa Owolade, Arion McNicoll and Jess Hullinger

Jul 8, 2021 • 31min
#234 Swimming caps, strict schools and four-day weeks
Is a ban on “Afro caps” a blow to sporting diversity? Do more rules make for a better education? And will Covid boost calls for a four-day working week? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Kate Samuelson, Sorcha Bradley and Theo Tait

Jul 1, 2021 • 40min
#233 Hazardous heat, nuclear fusion and divisive dieting
What does a Pakistani city hitting temperatures too hot for the human body tell us about climate change? Could a new nuclear project provide a breakthrough in clean energy? And is a ‘medieval’ dieting device really so controversial? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Joe Evans, Julia O’Driscoll and Alok Jha.

Jun 24, 2021 • 39min
#232 Kibbutzniks, quitters and Britishness
What does a row about a kibbutz say about modern Israel? Are record numbers of people about to give up their jobs? And why can’t we work out how to celebrate Britishness? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Holden Frith, Theo Tait and Arion McNicoll