The Audio Long Read
The Guardian
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 longform journalism the Guardian has to offer, including in-depth writing from around the world on current affairs, climate change, global warming, immigration, crime, business, the arts and much more. The podcast explores a range of subjects and news across business, global politics (including Trump, Israel, Palestine and Gaza), money, philosophy, science, internet culture, modern life, war, climate change, current affairs, music and trends, and seeks to answer key questions around them through in depth interviews explainers, 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? Whether Trump can win the US presidency or not? 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 beghind 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? Other topics range from: history including empire to politics, conflict, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Gaza, philosophy, science, psychology, health and finance. Audio Long Read journalists include Samira Shackle, Tom Lamont, Sophie Elmhirst, Samanth Subramanian, Imogen West-Knights, Sirin Kale, Daniel Trilling and Giles Tremlett.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 14, 2024 • 36min
From the archive: The air conditioning trap: how cold air is heating the world
This podcast discusses the impact of air conditioning on electricity grids and the environment, the rise of air conditioning in post-war America, the global spread of air conditioning, and the approach to air conditioning and the need for alternatives.
Feb 12, 2024 • 48min
Hippy, capitalist, guru, grocer: the forgotten genius who changed British food
Nicholas Saunders, counterculture pioneer, changed British food. Explores his impact on London in the 1970s. Discusses his self-published guidebook, resourcefulness in buying a warehouse, and Anita Leroy's involvement in the coffee business. Explores Neil Saunders' dairy adventure and handover. Reflects on the transformation of British food culture through Neil's Yard Dairy and Monmouth Coffee. Reveals Nicholas Saunders as the genius behind the bubble-blowing building in Chelsea.
Feb 9, 2024 • 30min
‘I repeatedly failed to win any awards’: my doomed career as a North Korean novelist
Kim Ju-sŏng, an aspiring writer in North Korea, shares their doomed career as a novelist in the hermit kingdom. The podcast covers topics such as the intricate process of artistic production in North Korea, forbidden novels and risky obsessions, a surprising encounter at a party official's home, the uncertain fate of handwritten copies, and the speaker's failed career as a novelist
Feb 7, 2024 • 41min
From the archive: From Lagos to Winchester – how a divisive Nigerian pastor built a global following
TB Joshua, a divisive Nigerian pastor, captivated an evangelical Christian community in Hampshire and built a global following. This podcast explores the troubling side of his church, the phenomenon of healing ministries in Nigeria, TB Joshua's influence and manipulation, and the aftermath of his death.
Feb 5, 2024 • 27min
‘Weapons of mass migration’: how states exploit the failure of migration policies
Exploring failed migration policies and the consequences they bring, such as border deaths and professionalization of human smuggling. Migration control used as leverage for aid and economic benefits. How destination states benefit from politics of border control. The transformation of borders into barriers and the rise of a globalized border business. Treating human movement as a security problem fuels smuggling business and benefits abusive security forces.
Feb 2, 2024 • 37min
Sanctuary: I grew up during The Troubles and have been seeking a place of peace ever since
Growing up during The Troubles, the author discusses the constant presence of helicopters and border checkpoints. They explore their search for sanctuary and a sense of belonging, reflecting on the challenges of living in a society that excluded them. The narrator ventures to London, searching for traces of Irish migrants and finding solace in Alsasia. They explore the duality of a specific historical area and reflect on the impact of The Troubles on their family and the loss of sanctuary.
Jan 31, 2024 • 44min
From the archive: The bells v the boutique hotel: the battle to save Britain’s oldest factory
The podcast explores the battle to save the historic Whitechapel Bell Foundry from becoming a boutique hotel. It discusses the clash between global finance and local interests, preservation efforts, and the decline of church bell foundries. The chapter also delves into the fascinating bell-making process and the ongoing debate between job opportunities and heritage preservation.
Jan 29, 2024 • 53min
One Swedish zoo, seven escaped chimpanzees
Follow the captivating story of Linda, a chimpanzee raised by humans before being taken to a Swedish zoo. Learn about the dramatic escape of several chimpanzees and the difficult decision faced by the zoo director. Explore the changes in priorities at the zoo, the presence of hunters patrolling the park, and the emotional toll on the zookeepers. Reflect on the loss of four chimpanzees and the irreplaceable bond between caretakers and the animals.
Jan 26, 2024 • 52min
Days of the Jackal: how Andrew Wylie turned serious literature into big business
Andrew Wylie, agent to an extraordinary number of the planet’s biggest authors, discusses his influential career, aggressive tactics, chaotic past, and the importance of renowned authors in the publishing world.
Jan 24, 2024 • 39min
From the archive: ‘I just needed to find my family’: the scandal of Chile’s stolen children – podcast
Maria Diemar, a woman adopted from Chile, uncovers the scandal of stolen children. The podcast explores the challenges of investigating international adoptions, the betrayal of adoptive parents, and the lack of systemic investigation. It also follows Diemar's journey to discover her roots and reconnect with her birth mother.
