Sensemaker

The Sensemaker from The Observer - one story every day to make sense of the world.

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How to hack Mount Everest
Jun 6, 2025 – 7:04
Bottom trawling: fishing’s dirty secret
Jun 5, 2025 – 6:29
Is Britain ready to shift to a war footing?
Jun 4, 2025 – 6:44
Is this the end of disposable vapes?
Jun 3, 2025 – 6:00
Will Trump's Golden Dome work?
Jun 2, 2025 – 7:14
The renationalisation of Britain’s railways
May 30, 2025 – 5:42
Could the government’s immigration reforms lead to an exodus of international nurses?
May 29, 2025 – 6:19
Who’s polluting the River Wye?
May 28, 2025 – 6:09
Inside the world of Superbikes
May 27, 2025 – 7:46
Is Britain ready to choose prison reform over punishment?
May 23, 2025 – 7:33
Could this be the end of abortion prosecutions?
May 22, 2025 – 8:03
Has Keir Starmer pulled off a Brexit reset with the EU?
May 21, 2025 – 6:03
What did Cassie Ventura’s testimony reveal about Sean “Diddy” Combs?
May 20, 2025 – 9:17
The boxset boom on the silver screen
May 19, 2025 – 6:59
Why is Gen Z going to church?
May 16, 2025 – 6:13
How has President Trump ushered in a new age of corruption?
May 15, 2025 – 7:15
Israel’s new offensive in Gaza
May 14, 2025 – 7:32
What pushed India and Pakistan to the brink of war?
May 13, 2025 – 9:27
The musicians taking on AI
May 12, 2025 – 7:39
Is Trump succeeding in deporting millions?
May 9, 2025 – 8:43
The Met Gala’s anti-MAGA resistance
May 8, 2025 – 7:47
Why Reform is no longer the party of old white men
May 7, 2025 – 7:03
Why do councils rent out their parks for summer festivals?
May 6, 2025 – 8:58
The downsides of weight-loss drugs
May 2, 2025 – 6:09
The other Tate Brother
May 1, 2025 – 7:57
What does the Supreme Court ruling on sex mean in practice?
Apr 30, 2025 – 6:03
Are Chatbots afraid of dying?
Apr 29, 2025 – 9:35
Why is Russia relying on North Korean troops?
Apr 28, 2025 – 7:22
Why is Gen Z obsessed with running?
Apr 25, 2025 – 5:34
How did Pope Francis tackle child sexual abuse in the church?
Apr 24, 2025 – 8:37
Harvard University versus Trump
Apr 23, 2025 – 8:50
What's Behind the Rise of Thin-Fluencers?
Apr 22, 2025 – 8:57
What’s behind Birmingham’s bin strikes?
Apr 17, 2025 – 8:12
Why did the UK government rush to save the last remaining steel power plant?
Apr 16, 2025 – 8:21
Will Donald Trump save the iPhone?
Apr 14, 2025 – 7:23
Why are your allergies worse this year?
Apr 14, 2025 – 8:25
Why are American politicians defending anti-abortion activists in the UK?
Apr 11, 2025 – 9:20
Why do climate change sceptics care about a volcano eruption?
Apr 10, 2025 – 8:01
What does Trump's tariff mean for your personal finances?
Apr 9, 2025 – 8:42
What do we know about the killing of paramedics in Gaza?
Apr 8, 2025 – 8:36
Have you ever fallen for a fake, AI-generated movie trailer on YouTube?
Apr 7, 2025 – 8:55
Who is the man behind Donald Trump’s war on DEI?
Apr 4, 2025 – 8:06
What is life like for children and aid workers in Gaza after the ceasefire collapse?
Apr 3, 2025 – 8:46
What does the earthquake mean for Myanmar?
Apr 2, 2025 – 6:15
What happens when life at an Antarctic base turns hostile?
Apr 1, 2025 – 6:53
Has buy now, pay later gone too far?
Mar 31, 2025 – 9:17
Why does Netflix’s Adolescence hit a nerve?
Mar 28, 2025 – 8:12
The chancellor’s choices
Mar 27, 2025 – 9:39
Why does Donald Trump care so much about South Africa?
Mar 26, 2025 – 9:14
Why is there a measles outbreak in Texas?
Mar 25, 2025 – 8:31

Recent Reviews

ABJE93

Great daily podcast

Very informative episodes.
Minkette6

Bite-sized but nutritious

For a podcast whose episodes average about 7 minutes in length, this show manages to cover a remarkable variety of subjects, many of them weighty and genuinely important, and crams in incredible depth. (Maybe it’s the inverse of the effect I’ve complained about regarding other podcasts; instead of longer episodes with more filler, these short episodes don’t need to be padded to kill time.) Probably the most detailed and insightful explainer show I’ve come across so far—think of the episodes as rich little info-snacks. Perfect for those moments when I need to know the latest geopolitical scoop but lack time.
ytown939

Short and to the Point

I enjoy the brief news stories which I find informative and the information makes sense.