BBC Podcasts

Have you ever locked eyes with a stranger and wondered, "What’s their story?" Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. Extraordinary stories from around the world.

BBC Radio 4

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Brighten your week with the latest BBC Radio 4 comedy.

BBC Radio 5 Live

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When sport collides with true crime.

BBC World Service

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Global business and finance news and discussion from the BBC.

BBC World Service

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The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

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More or Less: Behind the Stats

BBC Radio 4

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Tim Harford and the More or Less team try to make sense of the statistics which surround us. From BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio Scotland

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The BBC's Scottish news podcast, hosted by Martin Geissler. Conversation with trusted journalists and experts about the country's biggest stories.

BBC Radio

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Learn and practise useful English language for everyday situations. Find more at bbclearningenglish.com Follow us at bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus

BBC Radio 4

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In-depth conversations with some of the world's leading artists and creatives across theatre, visual arts, music, dance, film and more. Hosted by John Wilson.

BBC

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The BBC is the largest broadcasting organisation in the world. Its mission is to enrich people's lives with programmes that inform, educate and entertain. BBC World Service broadcasts to the world on radio, on TV and online, providing news and information in 32 languages.

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World Business Report

BBC World Service

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The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.

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Intrigue

BBC Radio 4

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'Jaw-dropping', 'gripping', 'bingeable,' 'thrilling' - dramatic true stories and investigations that reveal how the world really works.

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Documentaries

BBC

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An indepth look at stories and issues from around the world. This podcast offers you the chance to access landmark series from our archive.

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Unexpected Elements

BBC World Service

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The news you know, the science you don’t. Unexpected Elements looks beyond everyday narratives to discover a goldmine of scientific stories and connections from around the globe. From Afronauts, to why we argue, to a deep dive on animal lifespans: see the world in a new way.

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Desert Island Discs

BBC Radio 4

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Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

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Learning English Vocabulary

BBC Radio

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Build your English vocabulary with these short programmes. Each episode explores a new topic to improve your English. Find more at bbclearningenglish.com Follow us at bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus

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Great Lives

BBC Radio 4

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Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.

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Learning English Stories

BBC Radio

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Improve your English with these short dramas and stories. Find more at bbclearningenglish.com Follow us at bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus

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Start the Week

BBC Radio 4

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Weekly discussion programme, setting the cultural agenda every Monday

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Learning English from the News

BBC Radio

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Learn the language you need to understand news stories in English. Find more at bbclearningenglish.com Follow us at bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus

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From Our Own Correspondent

BBC Radio 4

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Insight, wit and analysis from BBC correspondents, journalists and writers telling stories beyond the news headlines. Presented by Kate Adie.

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Learning English Conversations

BBC Radio

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Everyday expressions and real English conversations to help make your everyday conversations easier. Find more at bbclearningenglish.com Follow us at bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus

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Thought for the Day

BBC Radio 4

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Reflections from a faith perspective on issues and people in the news.

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In Our Time: Science

BBC Radio 4

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Scientific principles, theory, and the role of key figures in the advancement of science.

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Learning English Grammar

BBC Radio

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Learn English grammar with these short programmes. Each episode explores a new piece of grammar you need to improve your English. Find more at bbclearningenglish.com Follow us at bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus

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The Documentary Podcast

BBC World Service

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A window into our world, through in-depth storytelling from the BBC. Investigating, reporting and uncovering true stories from everywhere. Award-winning journalism, unheard voices, amazing culture and global issues. From Syria after Assad to rebuilding Ukraine, to how AI changed our lives, The Documentary investigates major global stories. We delve into social media, take you into the minds of the world’s most creative people and explore personal approaches to spirituality. Every week, we al ...

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The World Tonight

BBC Radio 4

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In depth reporting, intelligent analysis and major breaking news from a global perspective

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Assume Nothing

BBC Radio Ulster

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The teams assume nothing as they examine events through fresh eyes.

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Americast

BBC News

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Americast is the authoritative US news and politics podcast from the BBC. Each week we provide audiences with the best analysis from across the BBC, with on-the-ground observations and big picture insights about the stories which are defining America right now. The podcast is hosted by trusted BBC journalists including the BBC’s North America editor, Sarah Smith, BBC Radio 4 presenter, Justin Webb, the BBC’s disinformation and social media correspondent, Marianna Spring, and BBC North Americ ...

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Strong Message Here

BBC Radio 4

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In this new series, Helen Lewis and Armando Iannucci investigate which political buzzwords are strong and stable and which are a crock of covfefe. Each week Helen and Armando will crack open the political phrasebook and attempt to decode the doublespeak. Why does everything now have to be 'turbo-charged'? What's the difference between a 'pledge' and a 'mission'? Why has my local MP been 'weaponised' and should I be worried? You'll be treated to a crash course in the dark arts of political la ...

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Health Check

BBC World Service

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Health issues and medical breakthroughs from around the world.

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The Martin Lewis Podcast

BBC Radio 5 Live

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Martin Lewis answers your financial questions, offering valuable money-saving tips.

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The Life Scientific

BBC Radio 4

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Professor Jim Al-Khalili talks to leading scientists about their life and work, finding out what inspires and motivates them and asking what their discoveries might do for us in the future

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Moral Maze

BBC Radio 4

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Combative, provocative and engaging live debate examining the moral issues behind one of the week's news stories. #moralmaze

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Inside Health

BBC Radio 4

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Series that demystifies health issues, separating fact from fiction and bringing clarity to conflicting health advice.

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Romanov: Czar of Hearts

BBC Radio Scotland

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Martin Geissler investigates Vladimir Romanov's rise from Soviet submarine cook to millionaire football club owner and fugitive in a gripping tale of ambition, power, and chaos.

show series

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BBC News 10:00 2:59

17m ago2:59

2:59

The latest news from the BBC.By BBC

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The English We Speak: The name of the game 2:33

23m ago2:33

2:33

Learn an expression to talk about the most important aspect of something. TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak_2025/ep-250414 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learn…

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BBC OS Conversations: The impact of Trump's tariffs 26:39

2d ago26:39

26:39

Donald Trump’s decision to slap tariffs on global trade has sent the world reeling. Stock markets have tanked. Gloomy economists have hit the airwaves. Governments, their backs against the wall, have responded with either stoic resignation or threats of revenge. But it’s business owners who find themselves at the centre of the storm. Steve in Bosto…

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The Naked Week: Ep5. Tariffic Trump retaliation, and Woop Woop - it's the sound of the Thought Police. 28:30

2d ago28:30

28:30

The Naked Week team are back to place satirical news-tariffs on current events with a mix of correspondents, guests and, occasionally, live animals. This week we 'woop woop' at the sound of the Thought Police, enjoy a spot of 'tariffic' retaliation, and bang a gong for the local elections. From The Skewer’s Jon Holmes and host Andrew Hunter Murray …

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Are boys doing better than girls at maths and science? 28:10

3d ago28:10

28:10

There’s a big “gender gap” between boys and girls in maths and science - that’s according to a new report out this week. Boys in England in years five and nine are now “significantly” outperforming girls in both subjects, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study suggests. Ben Garrod is joined by physicist Dr Jess Wade, from Imperia…

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Rt Rev Dr David Walker 2:54

23m ago2:54

2:54

15 APR 25By BBC Radio 4

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Jacqueline McKinley on unearthing bones and stories at Britain's ancient burial sites 28:32

6m ago28:32

28:32

How much information can you extract from a burnt fragment of human bone? Quite a lot, it turns out - not only about the individual, but also their broader lives and communities; and these are the stories unearthed by Jacqueline McKinley, a Principal Osteoarchaeologist with Wessex Archaeology. During her career, Jackie has analysed thousands of anc…

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Assisted Dying: What might the final moments be like? 28:14

7m ago28:14

28:14

We continue our exploration of some of the issues that could crop up if assisted dying becomes law under The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill that is currently working its way through Parliament. Today we consider what those final moments might be like and if the ideal of a peaceful death is a reality with the drug options currently availab…

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The English We Speak: The name of the game 2:33

40m ago2:33

2:33

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"No winners" in a trade war, says China's President 49:26

21m ago49:26

49:26

Sam Fenwick is joined by Emily Feng, International correspondent for NPR in Washington DC and Peter Landers, Asia Business and Finance Editor at Wall Street Journal in Singapore. China's president declared their will be no winners in the trade war as he tours Southeast Asia, aiming to strengthen ties with neighbouring nations. We hear how tariffs a…

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Assignment: New Zealand - what counts as Maori equality 29:19

9h ago29:19

29:19

Maori have been protesting in large numbers, in a 9-day hikoi or march of defiance, walking from the top of New Zealand down to the capital Wellington, joined by non-Maori supporters too. They’re demonstrating against the current right-of-centre New Zealand government’s moves to abolish certain Maori-specific rights and privileges, that the previou…

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Assignment: New Zealand - what counts as Maori equality 27:22

1h ago27:22

27:22

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Assignment: New Zealand - what counts as Maori equality 29:19

7h ago29:19

29:19

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Can Finland compete as Europe’s start-up capital? 17:28

10m ago17:28

17:28

We’re in Helsinki where Europe’s biggest campus for startup companies is being built. What role could it play as Finland strives to create the continent’s most supportive environment for new businesses? We’ll look at some of the challenges the country’s facing as it competes for global investment and tech talent. And hear from Sweden - does it see …

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UK government "confident" Scunthorpe steel furnace will keep running 38:06

9h ago38:06

38:06

Also in the programme, Mark Zuckerberg takes the stand in a landmark trial that could see his social media giant Meta broken up. We hear from a senior figure in Marine Le Pen's National Rally about the impact of her embezzlement conviction on French politics. And as the British actress Aimee Lou Wood is mocked for the gap in her teeth, we look at t…

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UK government "confident" Scunthorpe steel furnace will keep running 38:06

36m ago38:06

38:06

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Why is tech giant, Meta, in court? 26:27

10h ago26:27

26:27

Meta, the tech giant behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, faces a legal battle that could lead to its break-up. The landmark antitrust case kicked off in Washington today. Also in the US, consumer sentiment has taken a sharp downturn and inflation expectations have surged. What will this mean for everyday shoppers? And why are kids toys like B…

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Why is tech giant, Meta, in court? 26:27

17m ago26:27

26:27

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Tens of thousands flee Sudan’s largest refugee camp after attacks 47:27

21m ago47:27

47:27

It's estimated that half-a-million people have been living in Zamzam - Sudan's largest refugee camp for people trying to escape the chaos of the country’s civil war. Now, tens of thousands are said to have fled the site after continued attacks from the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary. Ahead of a London-held conference that will discuss a potentia…

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Tens of thousands flee Sudan’s largest refugee camp after attacks 47:27

11h ago47:27

47:27

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Unstoppable: Tu Youyou 26:28

21m ago26:28

26:28

Dr Julia Ravey and Dr Ella Hubber are both scientists, but it turns out there’s a lot they don’t know about the women that came before them. In Unstoppable, Julia and Ella tell each other the hidden, world-shaping stories of the scientists, engineers and innovators that they wish they’d known about when they were starting out in science. This week,…

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Unstoppable: Tu Youyou 26:28

12h ago26:28

26:28

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Americanswers! Does Trump want to bring back the man his administration mistakenly deported? 29:21

12m ago29:21

29:21

‘If I had all the money in the world, I’d spend it all just to buy one thing: a phone call to hear Kilmar’s voice again.’ Those were the pleas made to Trump’s administration by the wife of Abrego García, the Maryland man mistakenly deported to El Salvador’s mega-jail. But can Trump bring him back? And does he want to? Mariana is joined by Sumi Soma…

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14/04/2025 13:47

14h ago13:47

13:47

Emma makes a valuable connection, and plans are afoot for Neil.By BBC

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Take 2: The porn industry responds 16:49

2h ago16:49

16:49

Age-checking techniques must be introduced to all UK websites where pornography can be found by July. We ask former porn producer Mike Stabile from the Free Speech Coalition, the US adult entertainment trade body, why his organisation opposes the measures. And Mike responds to allegations, made in the first episode we did on this topic, that the po…

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Xi Jingping hits back at US tariffs 27:11

17h ago27:11

27:11

Chinese leader Xi Jingping hits back at US tariffs as he starts his tour of East Asia, stating ‘The Trade war and tariff war will produce no winner’ OPEC - the cartel of oil producing countries - has cut its forecast for growth in oil demand for 2025- in part because of US tariffs And entertainment giant Sony will charge more for its Playstation 5 …

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Xi Jingping hits back at US tariffs 26:28

1h ago26:28

26:28

Chinese leader Xi Jingping hits back at US tariffs as he starts his tour of East Asia, stating ‘The Trade war and tariff war will produce no winner’OPEC - the cartel of oil producing countries - has cut its forecast for growth in oil demand for 2025- in part because of US tariffsAnd entertainment giant Sony will charge more for its Playstation 5 ga…

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RSF takeover Zamzam camp in Darfur 32:23

17h ago32:23

32:23

The UN says more than 100 civilians, among them at least 20 children and a medical team, have been killed in a series of attacks in Sudan's western Darfur region. The attacks, on the city of el-Fasher and two nearby camps, Zamzam and Abu Shouk, have been blamed on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). They say they've taken control of Zamzam…

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European allies' outrage at Russia's attack on Sumy 47:08

23m ago47:08

47:08

Ukraine's European allies express outrage at Russia's missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy which left 34 civilians dead. We hear from two of the survivors - a mother and her 13-year-old son. Also in the programme: Sudan's civil war forces another mass displacement of people; Colombian author Juan Gabriel Vasquez remembers his Peruvian frien…

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European allies' outrage at Russia's attack on Sumy 47:08

18h ago47:08

47:08

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Sporting immortality for Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy as Masters win etches his name in golf history 1:18:27

22h ago1:18:27

1:18:27

McIlroy completes career grand slam with Masters win etching his name in sporting historyBy BBC

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Strong adjectives 6:11

17m ago6:11

6:11

Learn about strong adjectives in this wonderful, fantastic, amazing podcast. FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus NEWSLETTER: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts includin…

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Strong adjectives 6:11

22h ago6:11

6:11

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Jasvir Singh 2:54

1h ago2:54

2:54

14 APR 25By BBC Radio 4

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Bonus: Defeated 49:47

11m ago49:47

49:47

8th May 1945 was a day of rejoicing in Britain, the US and many other countries: Germany had surrendered, and World War II was over, at least in Europe. Yet it was not a day of celebration for everyone: for the vanquished Germans, it marked the end of bombings and of Nazi rule. But it was also a time of deprivation and chaos, fear and soul-searchin…

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Impunity and fighting for justice 41:46

1h ago41:46

41:46

The lawyer Philippe Sands weaves together a story of historical crimes, impunity and the law in his latest book, 38 Londres Street. He uncovers the links between a Nazi hiding in plain sight in Patagonia and the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, and the failed attempts to bring either to justice. Kenneth Roth has led Human Rights Watch for…

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Introducing: The Naked Week 29:19

1h ago29:19

29:19

The Naked Week team are back to place satirical news-tariffs on current events with a mix of correspondents, guests and, occasionally, live animals. This week we mourn the death of globalisation, take a tour of Keir's new theme park, and play a game of BBC Balance Local Elections Naked Week Joke Twister. From The Skewer’s Jon Holmes and host Andrew…

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In the Studio: Steve Reich 28:04

1d ago28:04

28:04

For 60 years, New York composer Steve Reich has been one of classical music’s most celebrated revolutionaries. Pioneering minimalism in the 1960s, a musical style based on repetition and shifting rhythms, his strange experiments with cassette tape led to orchestral masterpieces – now performed around the world. His career has not only helped define…

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In the Studio: Steve Reich 26:29

5h ago26:29

26:29

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In the Studio: Steve Reich 28:04

1d ago28:04

28:04

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Swimming blind: my journey to self-acceptance 38:45

6h ago38:45

38:45

From Paralympic pools to the English Channel, Melanie Barratt took on the toughest swim of her life — laying to rest her demons, and honouring her beloved mum. Melanie Barratt was born with congenital toxoplasmosis that left her severely visually-impaired. As a teenager she excelled academically but found it hard to keep friends. She found solace i…

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Start-ups: from campus to commerce 17:39

6h ago17:39

17:39

Thousands of businesses have 'spun-out' from universities - so is this an opportunity for further growth? The model has seen great success in the US, leading to booming commercial ventures such as Dropbox, iRobot, and Boston Dynamics. And now the UK government has plans for further investment in spin-outs from Oxford and Cambridge. But what evidenc…

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Russia carries out deadly missile strike on Sumy 47:26

8h ago47:26

47:26

Moscow's attack on the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy marked the bloodiest day for Ukrainian civilians in 2025 so far, with at least 34 people killed. A Sumy resident tells us the area struck was busy with people leaving church. Also on the programme: Hong Kong's once-thriving Democratic Party votes to begin its own dissolution; and scientist…

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Russia carries out deadly missile strike on Sumy 47:26

1d ago47:26

47:26

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13/04/2025 13:06

1d ago13:06

13:06

Jolene takes a firm stand, and bonds form for Freddie.By BBC

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'Death is everywhere': Sudan camp residents shelter from attacks 47:30

16h ago47:30

47:30

Devastating attacks on a camp hosting hundreds of thousands of people who had fled Sudan's civil war have continued for a third day, residents say. One person in the Zamzam camp described the situation as "extremely catastrophic" while another said things were "dire". Also in the programme: A Russian ballistic missile strike in the northeast Ukrain…

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'Death is everywhere': Sudan camp residents shelter from attacks 47:30

2d ago47:30

47:30

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Professor Carl Jones, conservation biologist 52:52

20h ago52:52

52:52

Professor Carl Jones is a conservation biologist who is best known for saving the Mauritius kestrel from extinction. He is the scientific director of Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, chief scientist at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and an honorary professor in ecology and conservation biology at the University of East Anglia. He was born in Car…

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Defeated: How ordinary Germans experienced the end of WW2 51:04

2d ago51:04

51:04

On 8 May 1945 Britain, the US and many other countries were rejoicing. Germany had surrendered, and World War Two was over, at least in Europe. Yet it was not a day of celebration for everyone - for the vanquished Germans, it marked the end of bombings and of Nazi rule. But it was also a time of deprivation and chaos, fear and soul-searching. Milli…

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