What in the World Podcast
Helping you make sense of what’s happening in your world. Big stories, small stories and everything in between. Understand more, feel better. Five days a week, Monday to Friday.
Episodes to download
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Can AI griefbots help us cope with death?
Yesterday
Some bereaved hope to maintain their relationship with the deceased
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Why are smart glasses so controversial?
Friday
The glasses are big business for tech firms but there are big concerns around privacy.
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Why is Starbucks Korea temporarily closing all of its stores?
Last Wednesday
The coffee chain’s “Tank Day” tumbler promotion stirred major backlash
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India’s cheap weight-loss drugs are going global
Last Tuesday
The patent for these drugs has expired in India so companies can produce cheaper versions
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Fans react to their team’s World Cup debut
Last Monday
Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan have qualified for the first time
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Why does President Trump want Iran’s Kharg Island?
Fri 12 Jun 2026
The president has called off the strikes but he has previously threatened Kharg Island
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Will the PCOS name change help young women get treatment?
Thu 11 Jun 2026
PCOS is now PMOS - but why do we still know so little about it?
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Why is Russia cutting the internet and blocking apps?
Wed 10 Jun 2026
The Kremlin government says the outages have been introduced to “ensure security”
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Can AI help us save endangered languages?
Tue 9 Jun 2026
Nearly half of the world’s languages are at risk, according to UNESCO.
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Google wants to release millions of mosquitoes in the US
Mon 8 Jun 2026
It’s an effort to combat disease-carrying bugs
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Protests against illegal migrants in South Africa: What’s going on?
Fri 5 Jun 2026
Nigeria, Ghana and other countries are repatriating their citizens as tensions rise.
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Can Serena Williams beat younger tennis players?
Wed 3 Jun 2026
The 44-year-old legend makes a comeback
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What Is El Niño? And why it could cause chaos this year
Tue 2 Jun 2026
There are warnings of record global temperatures
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Is the manosphere growing in Kenya and Mexico?
Mon 1 Jun 2026
Inside the world of Andrew Kibe and El Temach
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Why more women in China are buying men’s clothes
Fri 29 May 2026
Chinese sizing for clothes has been called misleading
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Why are more young people being diagnosed with cancer?
Thu 28 May 2026
Doctors are warning that some cancers are becoming more common in people in their 20s
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Why India's Cockroach Janta Party has got people talking
Wed 27 May 2026
The group's Instagram account has amassed more than 22 million followers
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How Asia is adapting to getting less oil from Iran
Tue 26 May 2026
The war is pushing some countries towards renewable energy
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Trump says yes to psychedelic drug research
Mon 25 May 2026
Scientists believe some hallucinogens could treat PTSD
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Wish you weren’t here! How tourism is impacting Caribbean beaches
Fri 22 May 2026
Locals say they can’t access their own bit of paradise
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Should people be allowed to bet on war?
Thu 21 May 2026
Prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket say they aren't gambling sites.
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Ebola outbreak: How dangerous is the new strain in DR Congo?
Wed 20 May 2026
And how concerned should we be about it?
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Meet the call centre workers dealing with your complaints
Tue 19 May 2026
There are big call centre hubs around the world, including in Latin America
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Why did Drake release three albums at the same time?
Mon 18 May 2026
Courting streams and serving diss tracks
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President Trump in China: Deal or no deal?
Fri 15 May 2026
Trade, Taiwan and Iran were all on the agenda for President Trump and President Xi.
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Jet fuel shortages explained - in under 10 minutes
Thu 14 May 2026
Is jet fuel running out and can I still travel?
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The rise of the rambling voice note
Wed 13 May 2026
Are your voice notes 10-minute podcasts (like this episode)?
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Are social media comments just bots?
Tue 12 May 2026
Bot farms, Chappell Roan and the rise of misinformation
