300 episodes
The Audio Long Read The Guardian
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- Society & Culture
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4.2 • 1.6K Ratings
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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, immigration, crime, business, the arts and much more. 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 (including Trump, Israel, Palestine and Gaza), 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 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? 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. Audio Long Read journalists include Samira Shackle, Tom Lamont, Sophie Elmhirst, Samanth Subramanian, Imogen West-Knights, Sirin Kale, Daniel Trilling and Giles Tremlett.
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‘I’m good, I promise’: the loneliness of the low-ranking tennis player
I was once Ireland’s No 1 player, and tried for years to climb the global ranks. But life at the bottom of the top can be brutal. By Conor Niland. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
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From the archive: ‘As borders closed, I became trapped in my Americanness’: China, the US and me
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: I’ve long nursed vague plans of moving back to China for a few years, to solidify my place there. But with each year that passes in the US, such a move gets harder and harder to make. By Cleo Qian. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
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‘If there’s nowhere else to go, this is where they come’: how Britain’s libraries provide much more than books
In 2024, libraries are unofficial creches, homeless shelters, language schools and asylum support providers – filling the gaps left by a state that has reneged on its responsibilities. By Aida Edemariam. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
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‘How do I heal?’: the long wait for justice after a black man dies in police custody
The true number of black people who have died after contact with the police has been hidden, while their families are faced with delays and denials. By Raekha Prasad. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
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From the archive: The elephant vanishes: how a circus family went on the run
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: Dumba has spent her life performing in circuses around Europe, but in recent years animal rights activists have been campaigning to rescue her. When it looked like they might succeed, Dumba and her owners disappeared. By Laura Spinney. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
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Dirty waters: how the Environment Agency lost its way
Having created a watchdog for the environment, the government took its teeth out and muzzled it. Can public outrage rouse the Environment Agency to action? By Hettie O’Brien. 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.