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    News & Politics

    The Audio Long Read

    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.

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    Copyright: © 2024 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.

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    Latest Episodes:
    The other British invasion: how UK lingo conquered the US Nov 01, 2024

    It used to be that Britons would complain about Americanisms diluting the English language. But in fact it’s a two-way street. By Ben Yagoda. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    10 years of the long read: Why Silicon Valley billionaires are prepping for the apocalypse in New Zealand (2018) Oct 30, 2024

    As the Long Read turns 10 we are raiding the archives to bring you a favourite piece from each year since 2014, with new introductions from the authors. This week from 2018: How an extreme libertarian tract predicting the collapse of liberal democracies – written by Jacob Rees-Mogg’s father – inspired the likes of Peter Thiel to buy up property across the Pacific. By Mark O’Connell. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘Places to heal, not to harm’: why brutal prison design kills off hope Oct 28, 2024

    From razor-wire fences and crumbling cells to no windows and overcrowding, conditions in most jails mean rehabilitation is a nonstarter. Here’s how we can create better spaces for prisoners. By Yvonne Jewkes. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The trial of Björn Höcke, the ‘real boss’ of Germany’s far right Oct 25, 2024

    As leader of the AfD’s most radical faction, he is infamous in Germany and his critics have long accused him of using language that echoes the Nazis. This year, a court put that question to the test. By Alex Dziadosz. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    10 years of the long read: How the sandwich consumed Britain (2017) Oct 23, 2024

    As the Long Read turns 10 we are raiding the archives to bring you a favourite piece from each year since 2014, with new introductions from the authors. This week from 2017: The world-beating British sandwich industry is worth £8bn a year. It transformed the way we eat lunch, then did the same for breakfast – and now it’s coming for dinner. By Sam Knight. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘For me, there was no other choice’: inside the global illegal organ trade Oct 21, 2024

    I spoke to dozens of people – from ‘donors’ to brokers – to find out how this exploitative trade thrives on chaos and desperation. By Seán Columb. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    How oligarchs took on the UK fraud squad – and won Oct 18, 2024

    It began as a routine investigation into a multinational called ENRC. It became a decade-long saga that has rocked the UK’s financial crime agency. Now new documents illuminate a case that has rewritten UK law and is set to end with a huge bill handed to taxpayers. By Tom Burgis. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    10 years of the long read: Man v rat: could the long war soon be over? (2016) Oct 16, 2024

    As the Long Read turns 10 we are raiding the archives to bring you a favourite piece from each year since 2014, with new introductions from the authors. This week from 2016: Rats spread disease, decimate crops and very occasionally eat people alive. For centuries, we have struggled to find an effective way of controlling their numbers. Until now… By Jordan Kisner. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Morality and rules, and how to avoid drowning: what my daughters learned at school in China Oct 14, 2024

    Our twins spent two years at primary school in Chengdu. Their lessons featured alarming cautionary tales and stories of Chinese superiority, but there was fun and irreverence, too. By Peter Hessler. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The shapeshifter: who is the real Giorgia Meloni? Oct 11, 2024

    She’s been called a neo-fascist and a danger to Italy. But she has won over many heads of Europe, including the UK prime minister. Should we be worried? By Alexander Stille. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    10 years of the long read: Farewell to America (2015) Oct 09, 2024

    As the Long Read turns 10 we are raiding the archives to bring you a favourite piece from each year since 2014, with new introductions from the authors. This week from 2015: After 12 years in the US, Gary Younge is preparing to depart – as the country’s racial frictions seem certain to spark another summer of conflict. By Gary Younge. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The cocaine kingpin’s wildest legacy: what can be done with Pablo Escobar’s marauding hippos? Oct 07, 2024

    The Colombian drug lord’s exotic menagerie fell apart after his death, and now wild hippos are breeding out of control. By Joshua Hammer. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘Like a cheese grater raking across my nipple’: why I kept trying to breastfeed for so long Oct 04, 2024

    My commitment to breastfeeding exclusively was related to shame. If I couldn’t do it, I felt I would be letting the baby down. By Niamh Campbell. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    10 years of the long read: Is this the end of Britishness? (2014) Oct 02, 2024

    As the Long Read turns 10 we are raiding the archives to bring you a favourite piece from each year since 2014, with new introductions from the authors. This week from 2014: A shared history of 300 years could be washed away if Scotland votes for independence. What was the complex identity the United Kingdom created – and should we mourn its loss? by Ian Jack. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Special Edition: 10 years of the Guardian Long Read Oct 01, 2024

    To celebrate 10 years of The Long Read we gathered together the team who launched it to take you behind the scenes. Helen Pidd is joined by editor David Wolf, deputy editor Clare Longrigg, and former editor and founder of the Long Read Jonathan Shainin.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Strange and wondrous creatures: plankton and the origins of life on Earth Sep 30, 2024

    Without plankton, the modern ocean ecosystem – the very idea of the ocean as we understand it – would collapse. Earth would have no complex life of any kind. By Ferris Jabr. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    No god in the machine: the pitfalls of AI worship Sep 27, 2024

    The rise of artificial intelligence has sparked a panic about computers gaining power over humankind. But the real threat comes from falling for the hype. By Navneet Alang. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: The unravelling of a conspiracy: were the 16 charged with plotting to kill India’s prime minister framed? Sep 25, 2024

    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: In 2018, Indian police claimed to have uncovered a shocking plan to bring down the government. But there is mounting evidence that the initial conspiracy was a fiction – and the accused are victims of an elaborate plot. By Siddhartha Deb. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    On board the Creed cruise: the unfathomable return of the ‘worst band of the 90s’ Sep 23, 2024

    I took a cruise with thousands of fellow lunatics to find out how this much-mocked rock band became so beloved. By Luke Winkie. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    A Chinese-born writer’s quest to understand the Vikings, Normans and life on the English coast Sep 20, 2024

    Perhaps a foreigner knows more about their adopted land than the locals, because a foreigner feels more acutely the particularities of a new environment. By Xiaolu Guo. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: The invention of whiteness: the long history of a dangerous idea Sep 18, 2024

    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: Before the 17th century, people did not think of themselves as belonging to something called the white race. But once the idea was invented, it quickly began to reshape the modern world. By Robert P Baird. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Ukraine’s death-defying art rescuers Sep 16, 2024

    When Putin invaded, a historian in Kyiv saw that Ukraine’s cultural heritage was in danger. So he set out to save as much of it as he could. By Charlotte Higgins. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    As a former IDF soldier and historian of genocide, I was deeply disturbed by my recent visit to Israel Sep 13, 2024

    This summer, one of my lectures was protested by far-right students. Their rhetoric brought to mind some of the darkest moments of 20th-century history – and overlapped with mainstream Israeli views to a shocking degree. By Omer Bartov. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Death on demand: has euthanasia gone too far? Sep 11, 2024

    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 2019: Countries around the world are making it easier to choose the time and manner of your death. But doctors in the world’s euthanasia capital are starting to worry about the consequences. By Christopher de Bellaigue. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘A diagnosis can sweep away guilt’: the delicate art of treating ADHD Sep 09, 2024

    For children with ADHD, getting the help they need depends on being correctly diagnosed. As a doctor, I have seen how tricky and frustrating a process that can be. By Jack Goulder. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive – ‘A merry-go-round of buck-passing’: inside the four-year Grenfell inquiry Sep 06, 2024

    We are raiding the Guardian Long Read archives to bring you some notable pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2022: Five years after the fire that killed 72, the inquiry is nearing a close. Over 300 days of evidence, what have we learned about the failings that led to disaster? By Robert Booth. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the KKK to the state house: how neo-Nazi David Duke won office Sep 04, 2024

    In the 1970s, David Duke was grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. In the 80s, he was elected to Louisiana’s house of representatives – and the kinds of ideas he stood for have not gone away. By John Ganz. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘Nobody knows what I know’: how a loyal RSS member abandoned Hindu nationalism Sep 02, 2024

    As a young man, Partha Banerjee was on course to become a senior member of the RSS, the organisation that has pushed Indian politics towards extreme religious nationalism. Then, after decades within its ranks, he quit. Why? By Rahul Bhatia. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Best of 2024 … so far: Solar storms, ice cores and nuns’ teeth: the new science of history Aug 30, 2024

    Every Friday in August we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2024, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. This week, from May: Advances in fields such as spectrometry and gene sequencing are unleashing torrents of new data about the ancient world – and could offer answers to questions we never even knew to ask. By Jacob Mikanowski. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘It comes for your very soul’: how Alzheimer’s undid my dazzling, creative wife in her 40s Aug 26, 2024

    By the time my wife got a diagnosis, her long and harrowing deterioration had already begun. By the end, I was in awe of her. By Michael Aylwin. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Best of 2024 … so far: ‘Scars on every street’: the refugee camp where generations of Palestinians have lost their futures Aug 23, 2024

    Every Friday in August we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2024, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. This week, from February: Ever since the displacement of 700,000 Palestinians in 1948, many have been living in dejection and squalor in camps like Shatila in Beirut. Is this the grim future the people of Gaza could now be facing? By Ghaith Abdul-Ahad. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Food, water, wifi: is this the future of humanitarian aid? Aug 19, 2024

    Working in food aid delivery, I have seen the benefits of embracing new technologies. But some problems need to be solved between humans. By Jean-Martin Bauer. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Best of 2024…so far: ‘They were dying, and they’d not had their money’: Britain’s multibillion-pound equal pay scandal Aug 16, 2024

    Every Friday in August we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2024, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. This week, from February: In 2005, Glasgow council offered to compensate women for historic pay inequality. But it sold them short again – and soon workers all over the UK started fighting for what they were owed. By Samira Shackle. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    My family and other Nazis Aug 12, 2024

    My father did terrible things during the second world war, and my other relatives were equally unrepentant. But it wasn’t until I was in my late 50s that I started to confront this dark past. By Martin Pollack. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Best of 2024 … so far: Hippy, capitalist, guru, grocer: the forgotten genius who changed British food Aug 09, 2024

    Every Friday in August we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2024, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. This week, from January: Nicholas Saunders was a counterculture pioneer with an endless stream of quixotic schemes and a yearning to spread knowledge – but his true legacy is a total remaking of the way Britain eats. By Jonathan Nunn. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Revolution in the air: how laughing gas changed the world Aug 05, 2024

    Since its discovery in the 18th century, nitrous oxide has gone from vaudeville gimmick to pioneering anaesthetic to modern party drug. By Mark Miodownik. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From Nobel peace prize to civil war: how Ethiopia’s leader beguiled the world Aug 02, 2024

    When Abiy Ahmed took power in Ethiopia, he was feted at home and abroad as a great unifier and reformer. Two years later, terrible violence was raging. How did people get him so wrong? By Tom Gardner. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: From Game of Thrones to The Crown: the woman who turns actors into stars Jul 31, 2024

    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 2018: Nina Gold’s role is invisible, and yet her taste has shaped much of what we watch on film and TV. By Sophie Elmhirst. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Chortle chortle, scribble scribble: inside the Old Bailey with Britain’s last court reporters Jul 29, 2024

    The cases heard at the Old Bailey offer a vivid, often grim portrait of England and Wales today. What happens when there is no one left to tell these stories? By Sophie Elmhirst. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘I’m good, I promise’: the loneliness of the low-ranking tennis player Jul 26, 2024

    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

    From the archive: ‘As borders closed, I became trapped in my Americanness’: China, the US and me Jul 24, 2024

    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

    ‘If there’s nowhere else to go, this is where they come’: how Britain’s libraries provide much more than books Jul 22, 2024

    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

    ‘How do I heal?’: the long wait for justice after a black man dies in police custody Jul 19, 2024

    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

    From the archive: The elephant vanishes: how a circus family went on the run Jul 17, 2024

    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

    Dirty waters: how the Environment Agency lost its way Jul 15, 2024

    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

    Inside Mexico’s anti-avocado militias Jul 12, 2024

    The spread of the avocado is a story of greed, ambition, corruption, water shortages, cartel battles and, in a number of towns and villages, a fierce fightback. By Alexander Sammon. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: ‘Colonialism had never really ended’: my life in the shadow of Cecil Rhodes Jul 10, 2024

    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: After growing up in a Zimbabwe convulsed by the legacy of colonialism, when I got to Oxford I realised how many British people still failed to see how empire had shaped lives like mine – as well as their own. By Simukai Chigudu. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Where the wild things are: the untapped potential of our gardens, parks and balconies Jul 08, 2024

    Gardens could be part of the solution to the climate and biodiversity crisis. But what are we doing? Disappearing them beneath plastic and paving. By Kate Bradbury. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    How the Tories pushed universities to the brink of disaster Jul 04, 2024

    Over the past 14 years, the Conservative dream of a free market in higher education has collided with the harsh reality of austerity and the cultural resentment of the radical right – driving some institutions close to bankruptcy. By William Davies. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Ten ways to confront the climate crisis without losing hope Jul 03, 2024

    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: It’s easy to despair at the climate crisis, or to decide it’s already too late – but it’s not. Here’s how to keep the fight alive. By Rebecca Solnit. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘Natty or not?’: how steroids got big Jul 01, 2024

    Once upon a time, it was only hardcore bodybuilders who pumped themselves up with testosterone. Today it is no longer niche. But how dangerous is it? By Stephen Buranyi. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Nairobi to New York and back: the loneliness of the internationally educated elite Jun 28, 2024

    Every year, hundreds of Kenyans head off to study at elite universities in the US and UK. On graduating, many find themselves in a strange position: unable to fit in abroad, but no longer feeling like they belong back home. By Carey Baraka. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Brazilian butt lift: behind the world’s most dangerous cosmetic surgery Jun 26, 2024

    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: The BBL is the fastest growing cosmetic surgery in the world, despite the mounting number of deaths resulting from the procedure. What is driving its astonishing rise? By Sophie Elmhirst. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Two poems, four years in detention: the Chinese dissident who smuggled his writing out of prison Jun 24, 2024

    My poems were written in anger after Tiananmen Square. But what motivates most prison writing is a fear of forgetting. Today I am free, but the regime has never stopped its war on words. By Liao Yiwu. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    As a teenager, John was jailed for assaulting someone and stealing their bike. That was 17 years ago – will he ever be released? Jun 21, 2024

    Indeterminate sentences are devastating to mental health, but prisoners with mental illness are less likely to be released. The result is a vicious cycle whereby the most vulnerable inmates often have the least chance of getting out – as John’s case shows. By Sophie Atkinson. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Can computers ever replace the classroom? Jun 19, 2024

    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 2020: With 850 million children worldwide shut out of schools, tech evangelists claim now is the time for AI education. But as the technology’s power grows, so too do the dangers that come with it. By Alex Beard. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The man who turned his home into a homeless shelter Jun 17, 2024

    Stuart Potts is an unlikely do-gooder – a former crack addict who has hit rock bottom more than once. But since 2020, he has offered hundreds of homeless people a bed in his small flat – and for many of them, it has been life-changing. By Samira Shackle. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From low-level drug dealer to human trafficker: are modern slavery laws catching the wrong people? Jun 14, 2024

    When I heard that a boy from my primary school had been convicted of trafficking, I had to find out what had happened to make him fall so far. By Francisco Garcia. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: How globalisation has transformed the fight for LGBTQ+ rights Jun 12, 2024

    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: Much progress has been made in attitudes towards sexual equality and gender identity – but in many places a dramatic backlash by conservative forces has followed. By Mark Gevisser. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘Ryan Reynolds never had to deal with this’: the slow death and (possible) rebirth of Southend United Jun 10, 2024

    In 20 years, this Essex club has tumbled down the leagues and seen its ground fall apart. Is a revival finally coming – or will hopes be dashed again? By Tim Burrows. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    César Aira’s unreal magic: how the eccentric author took over Latin American literature Jun 07, 2024

    He has published more than 100 novels, gives his work away, and his surrealist books have a massive cult following. Now Argentina’s favourite rule-breaker is tipped for the Nobel prize. By Alejandro Chacoff. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: ‘The Silicon Valley of turf’: how the UK’s pursuit of the perfect pitch changed football Jun 05, 2024

    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: They used to look like quagmires, ice rinks or dustbowls, depending on the time of year. But as big money entered football, pristine pitches became crucial to the sport’s image – and groundskeepers became stars. By William Ralston. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Mother trees and socialist forests: is the ‘wood-wide web’ a fantasy? Jun 03, 2024

    In the past 10 years the idea that trees communicate with and look after each other has gained widespread currency. But have these claims outstripped the evidence? By Daniel Immerwahr. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘I’ll stay an MP for as long as I can’: Diane Abbott’s tumultuous political journey May 31, 2024

    Britain’s first black female MP faced hostility from the media and political establishment from the start. Nearly 40 years on, she is still not giving up. By Andy Beckett. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: The secret deportations: how Britain betrayed the Chinese men who served the country in the war May 29, 2024

    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: During the second world war, Chinese merchant seamen helped keep Britain fed, fuelled and safe – and many gave their lives doing so. But from late 1945, hundreds of them who had settled in Liverpool suddenly disappeared. Now their children are piecing together the truth. By Dan Hancox. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘He likes scaring people’: how Modi’s right-hand man, Amit Shah, runs India May 27, 2024

    For 40 years, Amit Shah has been at Narendra Modi’s side – his confidant, consigliere and enforcer. Today he is India’s second-most powerful man, and he is reshaping the country in radical ways. By Atul Dev. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Guatemala’s baby brokers: how thousands of children were stolen for adoption May 24, 2024

    From the 1960s, baby brokers persuaded often Indigenous Mayan women to give up newborns while kidnappers ‘disappeared’ babies. Now, international adoption is being called out as a way of covering up war crimes. By Rachel Nolan. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Trump’s useful thugs: how the Republican party offered a home to the Proud Boys May 22, 2024

    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: Early in Trump’s presidency, emboldened neo-Nazi and fascist groups came out into the open but were met with widespread revulsion. So the tactics of the far right changed, becoming more insidious – and much more successful. By Brendan O’Connor. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    After I was assaulted, I posted a photo of my injuries. The reaction I craved was not pity, but anger May 20, 2024

    Going public after I was attacked was hard, but it helped me overcome the shame that so many victims feel. By Rena Effendi. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘Super cute please like’: the unstoppable rise of Shein May 17, 2024

    It is taking fast fashion to ever faster and ever cheaper extremes, and making billions from it. Why is the whole world shopping at Shein? By Nicole Lipman. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: The evolution of Steve Albini: ‘If the dumbest person is on your side, you’re on the wrong side’ May 15, 2024

    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 2023: Steve Albini was long synonymous with the indie underground, playing in revered bands and recording albums by the Pixies, PJ Harvey and Nirvana. He also often seemed determined to offend as many people as possible. What led him to reassess his past? By Jeremy Gordon. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘A new abyss’: Gaza and the hundred years’ war on Palestine May 13, 2024

    While much has changed since 7 October, the horrific events of the past six months are not unique, and do not stand outside history. By Rashid Khalidi. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The true cost of El Salvador’s new gold rush May 10, 2024

    Seven years ago, El Salvador banned all mining for metals to protect its water supply. But now the government seems to be making moves to reverse the ban – and environmental activists are in the firing line. By Danielle Mackey. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: The age of perpetual crisis – how the 2010s disrupted everything but resolved nothing May 08, 2024

    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 2019: In an era of bewildering upheaval, how will the past decade be remembered? By Andy Beckett. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    How child labour in India makes the paving stones beneath our feet May 06, 2024

    Despite promises of reform, exploitation remains endemic in India’s sandstone industry, with children doing dangerous work for low pay – often to decorate driveways and gardens thousands of miles away. By Romita Saluja. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Solar storms, ice cores and nuns’ teeth: the new science of history May 03, 2024

    Advances in fields such as spectrometry and gene sequencing are unleashing torrents of new data about the ancient world – and could offer answers to questions we never even knew to ask. By Jacob Mikanowski. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: The battle over dyslexia May 01, 2024

    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 2020: It was once a widely accepted way of explaining why some children struggled to read and write. But in recent years, some experts have begun to question the existence of dyslexia itself. By Sirin Kale. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The new science of death: ‘There’s something happening in the brain that makes no sense’ Apr 29, 2024

    New research into the dying brain suggests the line between life and death may be less distinct than previously thought. By Alex Blasdel. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Solidarity and strategy: the forgotten lessons of truly effective protest Apr 26, 2024

    Organising is a kind of alchemy: it turns alienation into connection, despair into dedication, and oppression into strength. By Astra Taylor and Leah Hunt-Hendrix. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: How Hindu supremacists are tearing India apart Apr 24, 2024

    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 2020: For seven decades, India has been held together by its constitution, which promises equality to all. But Narendra Modi’s BJP is remaking the nation into one where some people count as more Indian than others. By Samanth Subramanian. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    What is the real Hamas? Apr 22, 2024

    How Israeli, Palestinian and US political actors understand Hamas is not merely a theoretical question – it will determine what kind of agreement can be reached to end the current war, and what the future of Gaza will look like. By Joshua Leifer. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    A historic revolt, a forgotten hero, an empty plinth: is there a right way to remember slavery? Apr 19, 2024

    As the author of a book about a pivotal uprising in 18th-century Jamaica, Vincent Brown was enlisted in a campaign to make its leader a national hero. But when he arrived in Jamaica, he started to wonder what he had got himself into. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Did Brazil’s evangelical superstar have her husband killed? Apr 17, 2024

    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: Flordelis grew up in a Rio favela, but rose to fame after adopting more than 50 children, becoming a hugely successful gospel singer and winning a seat in congress. And now she is on trial for murder. By Tom Phillips. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Rage, waste and corruption: how Covid changed politics Apr 15, 2024

    Four years on from the start of the pandemic, the drama may have subsided but the lingering effects go on. Are we suffering from political long Covid? By David Runciman. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Disappearing tongues: the endangered language crisis Apr 12, 2024

    Linguistic diversity on Earth is far more profound and fundamental than previously imagined. But it’s also crumbling fast. By Ross Perlin. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: The mystery of the Gatwick drone Apr 10, 2024

    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 2020: A drone sighting caused the airport to close for two days in 2018, but despite a lengthy police investigation, no culprit was ever found. So what exactly did people see in the Sussex sky? By Samira Shackle. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’: Love in the sickle cell capital of the world Apr 08, 2024

    The prevalence of sickle cell disease is changing how Nigerians date, marry and plan their lives. And as genetic testing becomes more common, prospective parents across the world will face similar questions. By Krithika Varagur. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Radioactive waste, baby bottles and Spam: the deep ocean has become a dumping ground Apr 05, 2024

    The ocean’s depths are not some remote alien realm, but are in fact intimately entangled with every other part of the planet. We should treat them that way. By James Bradley. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive – Out of thin air: the mystery of the man who fell from the sky Apr 03, 2024

    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: In 2019, the body of a man fell from a passenger plane into a garden in south London. Who was he? by Sirin Kale. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    200 cats, 200 dogs, one lab: the secrets of the pet food industry Apr 01, 2024

    Pet food is a £120bn industry, with vast resources spent on working out how best to nourish and delight our beloved charges. But how do we know if we’re getting it right? By Vivian Ho. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Power grab: the hidden costs of Ireland’s datacentre boom Mar 29, 2024

    Datacentres are part of Ireland’s vision of itself as a tech hub. There are now more than 80, using vast amounts of electricity. Have we entrusted our memories to a system that might destroy them? By Jessica Traynor. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: ‘Is anybody in there?’ Life on the inside as a locked-in patient Mar 27, 2024

    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 2020: Jake Haendel spent months trapped in his body, silent and unmoving but fully conscious. Most people never emerge from ‘locked-in syndrome’, but as a doctor told him, everything about his case is bizarre. By Josh Wilbur. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘It was so wrong’: why were so many people imprisoned over one protest in Bristol? Mar 25, 2024

    More people have been imprisoned for rioting during a single day in Bristol in 2021 than in any other protest-related disorder since at least the 1980s. What was behind this push to prosecute so harshly? By Tom Wall. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    What we talk about when we talk about giving up Mar 22, 2024

    We give things up when we believe we can change; we give up when we believe we can’t. By Adam Phillips. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive – Operation Condor: the cold war conspiracy that terrorised South America Mar 20, 2024

    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 2020: During the 1970s and 80s, eight US-backed military dictatorships jointly plotted the cross-border kidnap, torture, rape and murder of hundreds of their political opponents. Now some of the perpetrators are finally facing justice. By Giles Tremlett. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The tyranny of the algorithm: why every coffee shop looks the same Mar 18, 2024

    From the generic hipster cafe to the ‘Instagram wall’, the internet has pushed us towards a kind of global ubiquity – and this phenomenon is only going to intensify. By Kyle Chayka. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Electric mountain: the power station that shows the beauty of infrastructure Mar 15, 2024

    Utilitarian as they may be, some civic projects are so monumental they approach the sublime. And one of the most elegant is hidden inside a mountain in Wales. By Deb Chachra. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: How western travel influencers got tangled up in Pakistan’s politics Mar 13, 2024

    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 2020: Travel bloggers have flocked to Pakistan in recent years – but have some of them become too close to the authorities? By Samira Shackle. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘Can I now send the funds?’: secrets of the Conservative money machine Mar 11, 2024

    To see how easy it is for the wealthy to buy political access and influence, consider the story of the Tory donor Mohamed Amersi. By Tom Burgis. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘Good times and dances might last for ever’: the sound of London’s Black gay scene Mar 08, 2024

    For many Black gay men in 1980s and 90s Britain, nightlife was community, family and lifeline – but its history is in danger of disappearing. By Jason Okundaye. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: ‘A chain of stupidity’: the Skripal case and the decline of Russia’s spy agencies Mar 06, 2024

    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 2020: The unmasking of the Salisbury poisoning suspects by a new digital journalism outfit was an embarrassment for Putin – and evidence that Russian spies are not what they once were. By Luke Harding. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    What the unrest in Leicester revealed about Britain – and Modi’s India Mar 04, 2024

    A year and a half ago, Hindus and Muslims clashed in the streets of one of Britain’s most diverse cities. What lay behind the violence? By Yohann Koshy. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The Guardian’s new podcast series about AI: Black Box – prologue Mar 02, 2024

    We wanted to bring you this episode from our new series, Black Box. In it, Michael Safi explores seven stories and the thread that ties them together: artificial intelligence. In this prologue, Hannah (not her real name) has met Noah and he has changed her life for the better. So why does she have concerns about him? If you like what you hear, make sure to search and subscribe to Black Box, with new episodes every Monday and Thursday.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Precipice of fear: the freerider who took skiing to its limits Mar 01, 2024

    Jérémie Heitz has pushed freeriding to breathtaking, beautiful new extremes. But as the risks get bigger, the questions do, too. By Simon Akam. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: How maverick rewilders are trying to turn back the tide of extinction Feb 28, 2024

    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 2020: A handful of radical nature lovers are secretly breeding endangered species and releasing them into the wild. Many are prepared to break the law and risk the fury of the scientific establishment to save the animals they love. By Patrick Barkham. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘Farming is a dirty word now’: the woman helping farmers navigate a grim, uncertain future Feb 26, 2024

    In a moment of crisis for the industry, Heather Wildman tours the country helping farmers face up to the toughest of questions – not just about the future of their business, but about their family, their identity and even their mortality. By Bella Bathurst. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘Ukraine fatigue’: why I’m fighting to stop the world forgetting us Feb 23, 2024

    Everyone likes to support an underdog, especially if it’s winning. But it’s one thing to win a battle, it’s quite another to win the war. And Ukraine cannot win without international support. By Olesya Khromeychuk. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Penthouses and poor doors: how Europe’s ‘biggest regeneration project’ fell flat Feb 21, 2024

    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: Few places have seen such turbocharged luxury development as Nine Elms in London. So why are prices tumbling, investors melting away and promises turning to dust? By Oliver Wainwright. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘Scars on every street’: the refugee camp where generations of Palestinians have lost their futures Feb 19, 2024

    Ever since the displacement of 700,000 Palestinians in 1948, many have been living in dejection and squalor in camps like Shatila in Beirut. Is this the grim future the people of Gaza could now be facing? By Ghaith Abdul-Ahad. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘They were dying, and they’d not had their money’: Britain’s multibillion-pound equal pay scandal Feb 16, 2024

    In 2005, Glasgow council offered to compensate women for historic pay inequality. But it sold them short again – and soon workers all over the UK started fighting for what they were owed. By Samira Shackle. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: The air conditioning trap: how cold air is heating the world Feb 14, 2024

    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 2019: The warmer it gets, the more we use air conditioning. The more we use air conditioning, the warmer it gets. Is there any way out of this trap? By Stephen Buranyi. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Hippy, capitalist, guru, grocer: the forgotten genius who changed British food Feb 12, 2024

    Nicholas Saunders was a counterculture pioneer with an endless stream of quixotic schemes and a yearning to spread knowledge – but his true legacy is a total remaking of the way Britain eats. By Jonathan Nunn. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘I repeatedly failed to win any awards’: my doomed career as a North Korean novelist Feb 09, 2024

    Before I fled south, I spent years as an aspiring fiction writer in the hermit kingdom. I worked hard – but literary glory kept eluding me. By Kim Ju-sŏng. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: From Lagos to Winchester – how a divisive Nigerian pastor built a global following Feb 07, 2024

    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 first encountered TB Joshua as a teenager, when his preaching captivated my evangelical Christian community in Hampshire. Many of my friends became his ardent disciples and followed him to Lagos. How did he have such a hold over people? By Matthew McNaught. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘Weapons of mass migration’: how states exploit the failure of migration policies Feb 05, 2024

    Just like the war on drugs and the war on terror, efforts at stopping population movement by force often just fuel the problem. But for many claiming to confront the perceived threat, that suits all too well. By Ruben Andersson and David Keen. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Sanctuary: I grew up during The Troubles and have been seeking a place of peace ever since Feb 02, 2024

    The cost of growing up in a low-level police state. By Darran Anderson. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: The bells v the boutique hotel: the battle to save Britain’s oldest factory Jan 31, 2024

    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: Whitechapel Bell Foundry dates back to 1570, and was the factory in which Big Ben and the Liberty Bell were made. But it shut in 2017, and a fight for its future has been raging ever since. By Hettie O’Brien. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    One Swedish zoo, seven escaped chimpanzees Jan 29, 2024

    When the great apes at Furuvik Zoo broke free from their enclosure last winter, the keepers faced a terrible choice. This is the story of the most dramatic 72 hours of their lives. By Imogen West-Knights. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Days of the Jackal: how Andrew Wylie turned serious literature into big business Jan 26, 2024

    Andrew Wylie is agent to an extraordinary number of the planet’s biggest authors. His knack for making highbrow writers very rich helped to define a literary era – but is his reign now coming to an end? By Alex Blasdel. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: ‘I just needed to find my family’: the scandal of Chile’s stolen children – podcast Jan 24, 2024

    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: At two months old, Maria Diemar was flown to Sweden to be adopted. Years later, she tracked down her birth mother, who said her baby had been taken against her will. Now investigations are showing that she was one of thousands stolen from their parents. By Aaron Nelson. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    We have a tool to stop Israel’s war crimes: BDS Jan 22, 2024

    In 2005, Palestinians called on the world to boycott Israel until it complied with international law. What if we had listened? By Naomi Klein. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The ghosts haunting China’s cities Jan 19, 2024

    In the official telling, fears of malevolent spirits are a vestige of old, unenlightened village ways. But today urban China is rife with superstition about death. Why? By Andrew Kipnis. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Inside the bizarre, bungled raid on North Korea’s Madrid embassy Jan 17, 2024

    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 2019: In February, a gang of armed men took a North Korean official hostage and demanded that he defect. When he refused, their plan fell apart, and they fled. Who were they, and why did they risk everything on this wild plot? By Giles Tremlett. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘They treated me like an animal’: how Filipino domestic workers become trapped Jan 15, 2024

    Migrants from the Philippines make up a huge percentage of domestic workers around the world. But when their employers are abusive, visa restrictions force them to choose between enduring more suffering or becoming illegal. By Margaret Simons. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    America’s undying empire: why the decline of US power has been greatly exaggerated Jan 12, 2024

    For more than a decade, people have been saying that the era of US dominance is coming to an end. But in reality there are still no other global players to rival it. By Tom Stevenson. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: How Nespresso’s coffee revolution got ground down Jan 10, 2024

    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 2020: Nestlé’s sleek, chic capsule system changed the way we drink coffee. But in an age when everyone’s a coffee snob and waste is wickedness, can it survive? By Ed Cumming. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Four bike rides, four years in the life of Black Britain: ‘On the road, we found ourselves again’ Jan 08, 2024

    In a time of death and isolation, a new tradition was born. As the UK struggled with Covid and a renewed fight for racial justice, I turned to two wheels to get by. By Aniefiok Ekpoudom. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Too much stuff: can we solve our addiction to consumerism? Jan 05, 2024

    Alarmed by the rising tide of waste we are all creating, my family and I decided to try to make do with much less. But while individual behaviour is important, real change will require action on a far bigger scale. By Chip Colwell. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Dark crystals: the brutal reality behind a booming wellness craze Jan 03, 2024

    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 2019: Demand for ‘healing’ crystals is soaring – but many are mined in deadly conditions in one of the world’s poorest countries. And there is little evidence that this billion-dollar industry is cleaning up its act. By Tess McClure. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Last love: a romance in a care home Jan 01, 2024

    Mary and Derek weren’t the first couple to get together at Easterlea Rest Home. But those other relationships had been more like friendships – and this was something else entirely. By Sophie Elmhirst. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Best of 2023: The widow and the murderer: a friendship born of tragedy Dec 29, 2023

    Every Monday and Friday for the rest of December we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2023, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. From October: A decade after Maixabel Lasa’s husband was shot by Basque separatists, she received a message from one of his killers. He wanted to meet her. By Giles Tremlett. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Best of 2023: No coach, no agent, no ego: the incredible story of the ‘Lionel Messi of cliff diving’ Dec 25, 2023

    Every Monday and Friday for the rest of December we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2023, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. From March: Gary Hunt is an enigma. He trains with the intensity of a modern athlete, but relaxes like a sportsman of a bygone era. He is fiercely competitive but unbelievably laid-back. How did he become the greatest cliff diver of all time? By Xan Rice. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Best of 2023: The strange survival of Guinness World Records Dec 22, 2023

    Every Monday and Friday for the rest of December we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2023, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. From June: For more than half a century, one organisation has been cataloguing all of life’s superlatives. But has it gone from being about the pursuit of knowledge to simply another big business? By Imogen West-Knights. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Best of 2023: Dismantling Sellafield: the epic task of shutting down a nuclear site Dec 18, 2023

    Every Monday and Friday for the rest of December we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2023, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. From January: Nothing is produced at Sellafield any more. But making safe what is left behind is an almost unimaginably expensive and complex task that requires us to think not on a human timescale, but a planetary one. By Samanth Subramanian. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Best of 2023: Proust, ChatGPT and the case of the forgotten quote Dec 15, 2023

    Every Monday and Friday for the rest of December we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2023, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. From September: In search of a half-remembered passage among the French writer’s voluminous work, I turned to AI to help me find it. The results were instructive – just not about Proust. By Elif Batuman. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Best of 2023: Dark waters: how the adventure of a lifetime turned to tragedy Dec 11, 2023

    Every Monday and Friday for the rest of December we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2023, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. From June: The Clipper round the world yacht race was created for amateurs seeking the ultimate challenge. But did they underestimate the risks? By Sally Williams. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Nitrogen wars: the Dutch farmers’ revolt that turned a nation upside-down Dec 08, 2023

    In 2019, a looming crisis over pollution led the Dutch government to crack down on farm emissions. The response was furious – and offers a warning to other countries about protecting the environment without losing public trust. By Paul Tullis. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: The rise and fall of French cuisine Dec 06, 2023

    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 2019: French food was the envy of the world – before it became trapped by its own history. Can a new school of traditionalists revive its glories?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘I remember the silence between the falling shells’: the terror of living under siege as a child Dec 04, 2023

    I was 10 years old in 1992 when Kabul was bombarded by warring forces, and life became a cycle of hunger, fear and horror. Then as now, children bear the brunt of war. By Zarlasht Halaimzai. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    A violent murder, a child on death row Dec 01, 2023

    Paula Cooper was 15 when she murdered 77-year-old Ruth Pelke in her Indiana home, and was sentenced to death. But a campaign for her life came from an unexpected quarter. By Alex Mar. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: ‘We the people’: the battle to define populism Nov 29, 2023

    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 2019: The noisy dispute over the meaning of populism is more than just an academic squabble – it’s a crucial argument about what we expect from democracy. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The Netanyahu doctrine: how Israel’s longest-serving leader reshaped the country in his image Nov 27, 2023

    He first became prime minister in 1996, and has been pushing the country further right ever since. Most agree his political days are numbered – but the approach he established will prove very difficult to shift. By Joshua Leifer. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Chainsaws, disguises and toxic tea: the battle for Sheffield’s trees Nov 24, 2023

    What started out as a small protest escalated into a decade-long struggle between the council and hundreds of ordinary people who decided to take radical action to save their city’s trees. By Samira Shackle. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: How the murders of two elderly Jewish women shook France Nov 22, 2023

    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 2018: Two killings in Paris, one year apart, have inflamed the bitter French debate over antisemitism, race and religion. By James McAuley. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘I stopped counting how many friends died’: life after the contaminated blood scandal Nov 20, 2023

    As a victim of one of the NHS’s worst failures, I campaigned for years for an investigation into what led to so many people becoming infected with deadly viruses. Finally we got an inquiry – but did we get answers?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Inside the Taliban’s luxury hotel Nov 17, 2023

    Once the site of legendary parties, the Intercontinental in Kabul is still a potent symbol of who rules Afghanistan – and what its future might hold. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Special Edition: Behind the scenes at the Long Read Nov 15, 2023

    To celebrate the launch of the new Guardian Long Read magazine this week, join the Long Read editor David Wolf in discussion with regular contributors Sophie Elmhirst and Samanth Subramanian • The Guardian Long Read magazine is available to order now. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The mass protest decade: why did the street movements of the 2010s fail? Nov 13, 2023

    From Brazil to Egypt, Turkey to Hong Kong, the 2010s saw a series of huge public uprisings. Yet many of them led to the opposite of what they asked for. I spoke to 200 participants across 12 countries to find out why. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘Incoherence and inconsistency’: the inside story of the Rwanda deportation plan Nov 10, 2023

    There were so many warnings it would fail. How did it get this far?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: The last of the Zoroastrians Nov 08, 2023

    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 2020: A funeral, a family, and a journey into a disappearing religion. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The insider: how Michael Lewis got a backstage pass for the fall of Sam Bankman-Fried Nov 06, 2023

    As author of The Big Short and Moneyball, Michael Lewis is perhaps the most celebrated journalist of his generation. His latest book delivers an astonishing portrait of the fallen crypto billionaire. But did he get too close?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘We are just getting started’: the plastic-eating bacteria that could change the world Nov 03, 2023

    When a microbe was found munching on a plastic bottle in a rubbish dump, it promised a recycling revolution. Now scientists are attempting to turbocharge those powers in a bid to solve our waste crisis. But will it work?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: What I have learned from my suicidal patients Nov 01, 2023

    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 2019: A GP has minutes to try to convince a person that life is worth living. It’s a challenge that brings rare rewards. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The trials of Robert Habeck: is the world’s most powerful green politician doomed to fail? Oct 30, 2023

    A year ago, Germany’s vice-chancellor was one of the country’s best-liked public figures. Then came the tabloid-driven backlash. Now he has to win the argument all over again. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘A hidden universe of suffering’: the Palestinian children sent to jail Oct 27, 2023

    One night in 2005, Israeli soldiers came for Huda Dahbour’s teenage son. He was gone for a year and a half. The damage done to their family – and so many others like them – was incalculable. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: ‘In our teens, we dreamed of making peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Then my friend was shot’ Oct 25, 2023

    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 2022: At a summer camp for kids from conflict zones, I met my brave, funny friend Aseel. He was Palestinian. I was Israeli. When he was killed by police, my hope for our future died with him. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘You may have been poisoned’: how an independent Russian journalist became a target Oct 23, 2023

    My reporting on the invasion of Ukraine led to an assassination order being issued – and then came the mysterious illness. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Justice for Neanderthals! What the debate about our long-dead cousins reveals about us Oct 20, 2023

    They were long derided as knuckle-draggers, but new discoveries are setting the record straight. As we rethink the nature of the Neanderthals, we could also learn something about our own humanity. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Cholera and coronavirus: why we must not repeat the same mistakes Oct 18, 2023

    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 2020: Cholera has largely been beaten in the west, but it still kills tens of thousands of people in poorer countries every year. As we search for a cure for coronavirus, we have to make sure it will be available to everyone, not just to those in wealthy nations. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘Our health data is about to flow more freely, like it or not’: big tech’s plans for the NHS Oct 16, 2023

    The government is about to award a £480m contract to build a vast new database of patient data. But if people don’t trust it, they’ll opt out – I know, because I felt I had to. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The widow and the murderer: a friendship born of tragedy Oct 13, 2023

    A decade after Maixabel Lasa’s husband was shot by Basque separatists, she received a message from one of his killers. He wanted to meet her. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Was the Millennium Dome really so bad? The inside story of a (not so) total disaster Oct 11, 2023

    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 2020: Even before it opened, the Dome had become a byword for failure. But two decades on, it could be time for a reassessment. By Imogen West-Knights. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The Melilla massacre: how a Spanish enclave in Africa became a deadly flashpoint Oct 09, 2023

    At least 37 people were killed in June 2022 at the Morocco-Spain border, while scores more were injured. Despite the brutality and chaos, officials praised the actions of border agents. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘A huge heart’: the insatiable activism of Zimbabwean exile Patson Muzuwa Oct 05, 2023

    After agitating against Robert Mugabe in Harare in the late 90s, Patson Muzuwa fled to the UK. He continued the fight from afar, and became a tireless torchbearer for those he had to leave behind. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: ‘A body drifted past the window’: surviving the Ladbroke Grove train crash Oct 04, 2023

    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 2019: On 5 October 1999, two trains collided at speed in west London, killing both drivers and 29 passengers. Barrister Greg Treverton-Jones, who survived the crash and worked on the harrowing inquiry, pieced together what went wrong Warning: this article contains graphic descriptions of injury and trauma. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Empire of dust: what the tiniest specks reveal about the world Oct 02, 2023

    Nobody normally gives a second thought to dust, but it is inescapable. And if we pay close attention, we can see the biggest things – time, death and life itself – within these tiny floating particles. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘The Eurocentric fallacy’: the myths that underpin European identity Sep 29, 2023

    The EU likes to celebrate itself as a place where borders are soft and ‘regionalism’ creates diversity and openness. But just as much as any powerful nation, Europe defines itself against the rest of the world. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: ‘Mama Boko Haram’: one woman’s extraordinary mission to rescue ‘her boys’ from terrorism Sep 27, 2023

    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 2020: Aisha Wakil knew many of Boko Haram’s fighters as children. Now she uses those ties to broker peace deals, mediate hostage negotiations and convince militants to put down their weapons – but as the violence escalates, her task is becoming impossible. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘Voters are unhappier with the NHS than they’ve been for 30 years. As a GP, I feel the same’ Sep 25, 2023

    Even those at the top admit the NHS can’t do what is being asked of it today. But it is far from unsalvageable – we just need serious politicians who will commit to funding it. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Proust, ChatGPT and the case of the forgotten quote Sep 22, 2023

    In search of a half-remembered passage among the French writer’s voluminous work, I turned to AI to help me find it. The results were instructive – just not about Proust. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: The invisible city: how a homeless man built a life underground Sep 20, 2023

    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 2020: After decades among the hidden homeless, Dominic Van Allen dug himself a bunker beneath a public park. But his life would get even more precarious. By Tom Lamont. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The evolution of Steve Albini: ‘If the dumbest person is on your side, you’re on the wrong side’ Sep 18, 2023

    Steve Albini was long synonymous with the indie underground, playing in revered bands and recording albums by the Pixies, PJ Harvey and Nirvana. He also often seemed determined to offend as many people as possible. What led him to reassess his past?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘Move forward. Flap around a little!’ How learning to swim in my 50s set me free Sep 15, 2023

    My body and my confidence were failing me. I was told swimming would make me fit and strong-minded. But first I had to navigate the aggravation of the slow lane. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: A scandal in Oxford: the curious case of the stolen gospel Sep 13, 2023

    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 2020: What links an eccentric Oxford classics don, billionaire US evangelicals, and a tiny, missing fragment of an ancient manuscript? By Charlotte Higgins. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘Ruzzki not welcome’: the Russian exiles getting a hostile reception in Georgia Sep 11, 2023

    After the invasion of Ukraine, thousands of Russians fled to Tbilisi. But the graffiti that has sprung up across the city suggests not everyone is pleased to see them. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The aftermath: how the Beirut explosion has left scars on an already broken Lebanon Sep 08, 2023

    Three years ago, a huge explosion ripped the city apart – and with it people’s hopes for rebuilding. The most vulnerable, many of them women, are bearing the brunt of Lebanon’s endless disasters. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Golden Dawn: the rise and fall of Greece’s neo-Nazis Sep 06, 2023

    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 2020: A decade ago, violent racists exploited a national crisis and entered mainstream politics in Greece. The party has since been caught up in the biggest trial of Nazis since Nuremberg, and is now crumbling – but its success remains a warning. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘If I left, I’d have to go without a word’: how I escaped China’s mass arrests Sep 04, 2023

    When hundreds of my fellow Uyghurs started disappearing into ‘re-education camps’ every day, it became clear that it was only a matter of time before I would be detained. So my wife and I got ready to run. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Weizenbaum’s nightmares: how the inventor of the first chatbot turned against AI Sep 01, 2023

    Computer scientist Joseph Weizenbaum was there at the dawn of artificial intelligence – but he was also adamant that we must never confuse computers with humans. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The Balkans’ alternative postal system: an ad-hoc courier’s tale Aug 28, 2023

    Across this fractured region, informal networks rule. So if you need to send something, ask someone who’s already going that way. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Best of 2023 … so far: How Deborah Levy can change your life Aug 25, 2023

    Every Friday in August we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2023, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. This week, from April: From her shimmering novels to her ‘living autobiographies’, Deborah Levy’s work inspires a devotion few literary authors ever achieve. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘All that we had is gone’: my lament for war-torn Khartoum Aug 21, 2023

    Since Sudan’s capital was engulfed by violence in April, life there has been all but destroyed. As we tried to get family members to safety, the ruination of my former home became hard to fathom. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Best of 2023… so far: The trials of an Indian witness: how a Muslim man was caught in a legal nightmare Aug 18, 2023

    Every Friday in August we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2023, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. This week, from March: Nisar Ahmed was almost killed in the Delhi riots. But when he became a witness in court cases against the alleged perpetrators, he realised that was only the start of his troubles. By Rahul Bhatia. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    A funeral for fish and chips: why are Britain’s chippies disappearing? Aug 14, 2023

    Plenty of people will tell you the East Neuk of Fife in Scotland is the best place in the world to eat fish and chips. So what happens when its chippies – and chippies across the UK – start to close?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Best of 2023… so far: ‘I know where the bodies are buried’: one woman’s mission to change how the police investigate rape Aug 11, 2023

    Every Friday in August we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2023, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. This week, from March: For two years, Betsy Stanko has been leading an investigation into why the police have been failing so badly to tackle sexual violence. But is there any chance of fixing a system that seems so broken? By Melissa Denes. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    How hip-hop gave voice to a generation of Egyptians hungry for change Aug 07, 2023

    From the early days of the Tahrir Square protests, music was vital to the young people making their voices heard. And though the country is taking another authoritarian turn, that spirit of dissent cannot be extinguished. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Best of 2023 … so far: Battle of the botanic garden: the horticulture war roiling the Isle of Wight Aug 04, 2023

    Every Friday in August we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2023, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. This week, from February: When a US businessman took over a beloved garden a decade ago, he decided on a radical new approach, all in the name of sustainability. But angry critics claim it’s just plain neglect. By Mark O’Connell. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Victoria Amelina: Ukraine and the meaning of home Jul 31, 2023

    Before she was killed by a Russian missile strike, the acclaimed novelist and war crimes researcher wrote about growing up in Moscow’s shadow, and how she came to understand what being Ukrainian really meant. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘People are like, Wow!’: the man trying to make condoms sexy Jul 28, 2023

    It has been said that condoms share marketing characteristics with napalm and funerals. But it is Ben Wilson’s mission to make us believe they are key to human happiness. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Bring up the bodies: the retired couple who find drowning victims Jul 26, 2023

    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 2020: Gene and Sandy Ralston are a married couple in their 70s, who also happen to be among North America’s leading experts at searching for the dead. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    How to reduce the damage done by gentrification Jul 24, 2023

    We cannot let our cities descend into islands of privilege amid seas of disadvantage. With the right policies and investments, a better future is possible. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘You reach a point where you can’t live your life’: what is behind extreme hoarding? Jul 21, 2023

    Hoarding can be distressing and dangerous. But it’s not just a matter of ‘too much stuff’ – it’s a complex condition that requires careful, targeted help. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Tampon wars: the battle to overthrow the Tampax empire Jul 19, 2023

    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 2020: For decades, one company has ruled the world of tampons. But a new wave of brands has emerged, selling themselves as more ethical, more feminist and more ecological. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    How Ukraine’s national dish became a symbol of Putin’s invasion Jul 17, 2023

    The soup of my childhood, borsch, has become emblematic of Putin’s assault on Ukrainian land, culture and heritage, of his drive to plunder and obliterate Ukraine. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘Why I might have done what I did’: conversations with Ireland’s most notorious murderer Jul 14, 2023

    Malcolm Macarthur was the wealthy, bookish socialite who shocked Ireland with a brutal double killing in 1982, and caused a major political scandal. I tracked him down and heard, for the first time, the tale he told about himself. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Life after deportation: ‘No one tells you how lonely you’re going to be’ Jul 12, 2023

    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 2020: The Windrush scandal brought the cruelty of Britain’s deportation policies to light, but the practice continues to this day – and shockingly, it is made possible by UK aid money. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘Drought is on the verge of becoming the next pandemic’ Jul 10, 2023

    While the world becomes drier, profit and pollution are draining our resources. We have to change our approach. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o: three days with a giant of African literature Jul 07, 2023

    The Kenyan novelist’s life and work has intersected with many of the biggest events of the past century. At 85, he reflects on his long, uncompromising life in writing. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: A 975-day nightmare: how the Home Office forced a British citizen into destitution abroad Jul 05, 2023

    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: Richard Amoah went to Ghana for his father’s funeral and found himself barred from Britain for two years. Like other victims of the Windrush scandal, he is owed compensation – but what will he get?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The planet’s economist: has Kate Raworth found a model for sustainable living? Jul 03, 2023

    Her hit book Doughnut Economics laid out a path to a greener, more equal society. But can she turn her ideas into meaningful change?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘I knew the terror of lost time’: how my father’s dementia echoed my own alcoholism Jun 30, 2023

    When my father began to forget words, and then basic skills, I sensed his fear. After my own alcoholic blackouts, I understood what he was going through. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Party and protest: the radical history of gay liberation, Stonewall and Pride Jun 28, 2023

    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 2020: A police raid on a gay bar in New York led to the birth of the Pride movement half a century ago – but the fight for LGBTQ+ rights goes back much further than that. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The backlash: how slavery research came under fire Jun 26, 2023

    Read more in this series: Cotton Capital More and more institutions are commissioning investigations into their historical links to slavery – but the fallout at one Cambridge college suggests these projects are meeting growing resistance. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Can humans ever understand how animals think? Jun 23, 2023

    A flood of new research is overturning old assumptions about what animal minds are and aren’t capable of – and changing how we think about our own species. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: History as a giant data set: how analysing the past could help save the future Jun 21, 2023

    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 2019: Calculating the patterns and cycles of the past could lead us to a better understanding of history. Could it also help us prevent a looming crisis?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The strange survival of Guinness World Records Jun 19, 2023

    For more than half a century, one organisation has been cataloguing all of life’s superlatives. But has it gone from being about the pursuit of knowledge to simply another big business?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Out of our minds: opium’s part in imperial history Jun 16, 2023

    How a mind-altering, addictive substance was used as a weapon by one empire to subdue another. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: The great American tax haven: why the super-rich love South Dakota Jun 14, 2023

    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 2019: It’s known for being the home of Mount Rushmore – and not much else. But thanks to its relish for deregulation, the state is fast becoming the most profitable place for the mega-wealthy to park their billions. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The rubbishscapes of Essex: why our buried trash is back to haunt us Jun 12, 2023

    Landfill sites have swallowed many a beauty spot along the Thames estuary in the past 50 years. Now, as those dumps start to disgorge tonnes of mouldering detritus into the river, it truly feels like the Age of Consequences. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Dark waters: how the adventure of a lifetime turned to tragedy Jun 09, 2023

    The Clipper round the world yacht race was created for amateurs seeking the ultimate challenge. But did they underestimate the risks?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: How Hong Kong caught fire: the story of a radical uprising Jun 07, 2023

    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 2020: Hong Kong used to be seen as cautious, pragmatic and materialistic. But protests have transformed the city. As Beijing tightens its grip, how much longer can the movement survive?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The war on Japanese knotweed Jun 05, 2023

    Once hailed as a ‘handsome’ import, this most rampant of plants has come to be seen as a sinister, ruinous enemy. Can it be stopped?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Erdogan’s earthquake: how years of bad government made a disaster worse Jun 02, 2023

    Despite vows to tighten the rules after the 1999 quake, cronyism and complacency have undermined Turkish building regulations – at the cost of many thousands of lives. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: The man in the iron lung May 31, 2023

    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 2020: When he was six, Paul Alexander contracted polio and was paralysed for life. Today he is 74, and one of the last people in the world still using an iron lung. But after surviving one deadly outbreak, he did not expect to find himself threatened by another. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    On the trail of the Dark Avenger: the most dangerous virus writer in the world May 29, 2023

    Bulgaria in the 1980s became known as the ‘virus factory’, where hundreds of malicious computer programs were unleashed to wreak havoc. But who was writing them, and why?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The dark universe: can a scientist battling long Covid unlock the mysteries of the cosmos? May 26, 2023

    Since being laid low with the virus more than a year ago, Catherine Heymans can only operate in half-hour bursts. But her work could still change the way we understand the universe. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Splendid isolation: how I stopped time by sitting in a forest for 24 hours May 24, 2023

    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 2020: My life seemed to be getting busier, faster: I felt constantly short of time – so I stepped outside it for a day and a night and did nothing. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    How Facebook and Instagram became marketplaces for child sex trafficking May 22, 2023

    Our two-year investigation suggests that the tech giant Meta is struggling to prevent criminals from using its platforms to buy and sell children for sex More from this series: Rights and freedom Content warning – the following article contains descriptions of child sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘I feel like I’m selling my soul’: inside the crisis at Juventus May 19, 2023

    A series of financial scandals have rocked Italy’s most glamorous club. But is the trouble at Juventus symptomatic of a deeper rot in world football?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: How ultra-processed food took over your shopping basket May 17, 2023

    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 2020: It’s cheap, attractive and convenient, and we eat it every day – it’s difficult not to. But is ultra-processed food making us ill and driving the global obesity crisis?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Sleeping beauties: the evolutionary innovations that wait millions of years to come good May 15, 2023

    Some organisms truck along slowly for aeons before suddenly surging into dominance – and something similar often happens with human inventions, too. But why?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Sudan’s outsider: how a paramilitary leader fell out with the army and plunged the country into war May 12, 2023

    The civilians of Sudan have been trying to throw off military rule for decades, but now find themselves caught in the middle of a deadly power struggle between former allies turned bitter opponents. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Cod wars to food banks: how a Lancashire fishing town is hanging on May 10, 2023

    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 2020: When I grew up there, Fleetwood was a tough but proud fishing port. It’s taken some knocks in the years since, but not everyone has given up on it.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Are coincidences real? May 08, 2023

    The rationalist in me knows that coincidences are inevitable, mundane, meaningless. But I can’t deny there is something strange and magical in them, too.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘The torture’s real. The time I did was real’: the Belfast man waterboarded by the British army May 05, 2023

    Liam Holden went to prison for 17 years on the basis of a confession he made after being tortured by British soldiers in 1972. Now the government is making it harder for people like him to get justice. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Are your tinned tomatoes picked by slave labour? May 03, 2023

    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 2019: How the Italian mafia makes millions by exploiting migrants. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Will flying ever be green? May 01, 2023

    The race is on to develop a battery-powered aircraft. But not everyone’s convinced it will bring us closer to net-zero flight. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    How Deborah Levy can change your life Apr 28, 2023

    From her shimmering novels to her ‘living autobiographies’, Deborah Levy’s work inspires a devotion few literary authors ever achieve. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: My four miscarriages: why is losing a pregnancy so shrouded in mystery? Apr 26, 2023

    We are exploring the Guardian Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2020: After losing four pregnancies, Jennie Agg set out to unravel the science of miscarriage. Then, a few months in, she found out she was pregnant again – just as the coronavirus pandemic hit. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Putin, Trump, Ukraine: how Timothy Snyder became the leading interpreter of our dark times Apr 24, 2023

    Historians aren’t supposed to make predictions, but Yale professor Timothy Snyder has become known for his dire warnings – and many of them have been proved correct. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The impossible job: inside the world of Premier League referees Apr 21, 2023

    Players, pundits and fans complain bitterly that referees are getting worse each season – but is that fair?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: The race to create a perfect lie detector, and the dangers of succeeding Apr 19, 2023

    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 2019: AI and brain-scanning technology could soon make it possible to reliably detect when people are lying. But do we really want to know?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Three abandoned children, two missing parents and a 40-year mystery Apr 17, 2023

    Elvira and her brothers, Ricard and Ramón, were left at a train station in Barcelona aged two, four and five. As an adult, when Elvira decided to look for her parents, she discovered a family history wilder than anything she had imagined. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The Ciskei experiment: a libertarian fantasy in apartheid South Africa Apr 14, 2023

    In the 1980s, South African libertarians set up a deregulated zone that they sold to the world as ‘Africa’s Switzerland’. It was a sham, but with its clusters of sweatshops, it was very modern – and in some ways it anticipated the world we live in today. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive – The sound of icebergs melting: my journey into the Antarctic Apr 12, 2023

    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 2020: Not long after Antarctica recorded some its highest-ever temperatures, I joined a group of scientists studying how human activity is transforming the continent. It wasn’t what we saw that was most astonishing – but what we heard. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘They robbed me of my children’: Yemen’s war victims tell their stories Apr 10, 2023

    The horrors of this conflict, and the lives it has taken, must not be kept hidden. As the bombs continue to fall around us, I have gathered these witness testimonies as a memory against forgetting. By Bushra al-Maqtari. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The stupidity of AI Apr 07, 2023

    Artificial intelligence in its current form is based on the wholesale appropriation of existing culture, and the notion that it is actually intelligent could be actively dangerous. By James Bridle. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive – The girl in the box: the mysterious crime that shocked Germany Apr 05, 2023

    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 2019: On 15 September 1981, 10-year-old Ursula Herrmann headed home by bike from her cousin’s house. She never arrived. So began one of Germany’s most notorious postwar criminal cases, which remains contentious to this day. By Xan Rice. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The disabled villain: why sensitivity reading can’t kill off this ugly trope Apr 03, 2023

    For centuries, fictional narratives have used outer difference to telegraph inner monstrosity. As someone who uses a wheelchair, I’ve learned you can’t just edit out a few slurs or bad words to fix this – it’s often baked deep into the story. By Jan Grue. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Foreign mothers, foreign tongues: ‘In another universe, she could have been my friend’ Mar 31, 2023

    Having grown up in different cultures with different expectations, my mother and I have often clashed. But as my daughter grows older, I have come to see our relationship in a different light. By Dina Nayeri. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Why do people hate vegans? Mar 29, 2023

    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 2019: It has left the beige-tinted margins and become social media’s most glamorous look. But why does veganism still provoke so much anger?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The trials of an Indian witness: how a Muslim man was caught in a legal nightmare Mar 27, 2023

    Nisar Ahmed was almost killed in the Delhi riots. But when he became a witness in court cases against the alleged perpetrators, he realised that was only the start of his troubles. By Rahul Bhatia. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘I know where the bodies are buried’: one woman’s mission to change how the police investigate rape Mar 24, 2023

    For the past two years, Betsy Stanko has been leading an unprecedented investigation into why the police have been failing so badly to tackle sexual violence. But is there any chance of fixing a system that seems so broken? By Melissa Denes. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Hand dryers v paper towels: the surprisingly dirty fight for the right to dry your hands Mar 22, 2023

    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 2019: For a century, the humble paper towel has dominated public toilets. But a new generation of hand dryers has sparked a war for loo supremacy. By Samanth Subramanian. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Baghdad memories: what the first few months of the US occupation felt like to an Iraqi Mar 20, 2023

    When I was 28, the US arrived in Baghdad. The soldiers were announced as liberators, and their leaders talked of democracy. I watched the regime and Saddam’s statues fall, chaos reign and a sectarian war unfold. By Ghaith Abdul-Ahad. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Dinner with Proust: how Alzheimer’s caregivers are pulled into their patients’ worlds Mar 17, 2023

    What do you say to someone whose wife prefers photographs of deceased authors to him? By Dasha Kiper. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: How the MoD’s plan to privatise military housing ended in disaster Mar 15, 2023

    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 2017: Two decades ago, the Ministry of Defence decided to sell off its housing stock. The financier Guy Hands bought it up in a deal that would make his investors billions – and have catastrophic consequences for the military and the taxpayer. By Holly Watt. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘One billionaire at a time’: inside the Swiss clinics where the super-rich go for rehab Mar 13, 2023

    For the ultra-wealthy and the super-famous, regular therapy won’t do. By Sophie Elmhirst. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: The real David Attenborough Mar 10, 2023

    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 2019: He is the most beloved figure in Britain, and a global superstar. His films long shied away from discussing humanity’s impact on the planet. Now they are sounding the alarm – but is it too late? By Patrick Barkham. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    No coach, no agent, no ego: the incredible story of the ‘Lionel Messi of cliff diving’ Mar 06, 2023

    Gary Hunt is an enigma. He trains with the intensity of a modern athlete, but relaxes like a sportsman of a bygone era. He is fiercely competitive but unbelievably laid-back. How did he become the greatest cliff diver of all time? By Xan Rice. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Fifty shades of white: the long fight against racism in romance novels Mar 03, 2023

    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 2019: for decades, the world of romantic fiction has been divided by a heated debate about racism and diversity. Is there any hope of a happy ending? By Lois Beckett. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Portrait of a killer: art class in one of Mexico’s most notorious prisons Feb 27, 2023

    In 2016, artist César Aréchiga talked one of Mexico’s most dangerous maximum security prisons into letting him run art classes for its inmates, many of them violent gang members. Could he really change their lives? By Sam Edwards. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Welcome to the land that no country wants Feb 24, 2023

    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 2016: In 2014, an American dad claimed a tiny parcel of African land to make his daughter a princess. But Jack Shenker had got there first – and learned that states and borders are volatile and delicate things. By Jack Shenker. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Can a mass shooter demand a good death? The strange case that tested the limits of justice Feb 20, 2023

    In 2021, a security guard in Spain stormed into his workplace and shot four people. He was caught, badly injured, and a trial was set – but his victims would never get to see him punished. By Giles Tremlett. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Snow machines and fleece blankets: inside the ski industry’s battle with climate change Feb 17, 2023

    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 2019: Hundreds of ski resorts now stand abandoned across the Alps. But some scientists believe they have found a way to keep snow on the ground – and that it could help vulnerable communities all over the world. By Simon Parkin. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Battle of the botanic garden: the horticulture war roiling the Isle of Wight Feb 13, 2023

    When a US businessman took over a beloved garden a decade ago, he decided on a radical new approach, all in the name of sustainability. But angry critics claim it’s just plain neglect. By Mark O’Connell. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Can the greatest darts player of all time step away from the game that made him? Feb 10, 2023

    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 2015: Some say Phil Taylor is Britain’s greatest living sportsman. At 54, he has nothing left to prove, but will not quit. Does he need the game more than it needs him? By Ed Caesar. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    A tragedy pushed to the shadows: the truth about China’s Cultural Revolution Feb 06, 2023

    It is impossible to understand China without understanding this decade of horror, and the ways in which it scarred the entire nation. So why do some of that era’s children still look back on it with fondness? By Tania Branigan. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Where oil rigs go to die Feb 03, 2023

    We are raiding the Audio Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors This week, from 2017: When a drilling platform is scheduled for destruction, it must go on a thousand-mile final journey to the breaker’s yard. As one rig proved when it crashed on to the rocks of a remote Scottish island, this is always a risky business. By Tom Lamont. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Schedule Changes to the Audio Long Read Feb 01, 2023

    For the month of February, we’ll be making a slight change to our production schedule. For the next few weeks, we will be publishing two episodes a week. On Mondays you’ll hear brand new long reads, and on Fridays we’ll raid the Audio Long Read archive to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. In March we’ll return to publishing three episodes a week.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘If you win the popular imagination, you change the game’: why we need new stories on climate Jan 30, 2023

    So much is happening, both wonderful and terrible – and it matters how we tell it. We can’t erase the bad news, but to ignore the good is the route to indifference or despair. By Rebecca Solnit. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘We can’t even get basic care done’: what it’s like doing 12-hour shifts on an understaffed NHS ward Jan 27, 2023

    The NHS saved my life once, and inspired me to change career. But when I started as a healthcare assistant on a hospital ward for older patients, it was clear how bad things had got. This is the story of a typical shift. By William Fear. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive – The selling of the Krays: how two mediocre criminals created their own legend Jan 25, 2023

    We are raiding the Audio Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2015: The Kray twins wanted everyone to know who they were – and indeed they were always better at fame than crime. By Duncan Campbell. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘It was a set-up, we were fooled’: the coalmine that ate an Indian village Jan 23, 2023

    In a pristine forest in central India, the multibillion-dollar mining giant Adani has razed trees – and homes – to dig more coal. How does this kind of destruction get the go-ahead? By Ankur Paliwal. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The price of ‘sugar free’: are sweeteners as harmless as we thought? Jan 20, 2023

    We know we need to cut down on sugar. But replacing it with artificial compounds isn’t necessarily the answer. By Bee Wilson. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: El Chapo: what the rise and fall of the kingpin reveals about the war on drugs Jan 18, 2023

    We are raiding the Audio Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2019: As the capture and conviction of Mexico’s notorious drug lord has shown, taking down the boss doesn’t mean taking down the organisation. By Jessica Loudis. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Dismantling Sellafield: the epic task of shutting down a nuclear site Jan 16, 2023

    Nothing is produced at Sellafield any more. But making safe what is left behind is an almost unimaginably expensive and complex task that requires us to think not on a human timescale, but a planetary one. By Samanth Subramanian. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Becoming a chatbot: my life as a real estate AI’s human backup Jan 13, 2023

    For one weird year, I was the human who stepped in to make sure a property chatbot didn’t blow its cover – I was a person pretending to be a computer pretending to be a person. By Laura Preston. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Who killed the prime minister? The unsolved murder that still haunts Sweden Jan 11, 2023

    We are raiding the Audio Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2019: Three decades ago, Olof Palme was assassinated on Stockholm’s busiest street. The killer has never been found. Could the discovery of new evidence finally close the case? By Imogen West-Knights. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘The Godfather, Saudi-style’: inside the palace coup that brought MBS to power Jan 09, 2023

    Not long ago, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Nayef, was all set to assume power. But his ambitious young cousin had a ruthless plan to seize control for himself. By Anuj Chopra. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘They want toys to get their children into Harvard’: have we been getting playthings all wrong? Jan 06, 2023

    For decades we’ve been using toys to cram learning into playtime – and toys have been marketed as tools to turn children into prosperous, high-achieving adults. Is it time for a rethink? By Alex Blasdel. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: How the ‘rugby rape trial’ divided Ireland Jan 04, 2023

    We are raiding the Audio Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2018: After a trial that dominated the news, the accused were all found not guilty. But the case had tapped into a deeper rage that has not died down. By Susan McKay. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Iran’s moment of truth: what will it take for the people to topple the regime? Jan 02, 2023

    Three months after the uprising began, demonstrators are still risking their lives. Will this generation succeed where previous attempts to unseat the Islamic hardliners have been crushed? By Christopher de Bellaigue. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Best of 2022: ‘Is this justice?’: why Sudan is facing a multibillion-dollar bill for 9/11 Dec 30, 2022

    Every Monday and Friday for the rest of December we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2022, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. From September: The families of some 9/11 victims are still pursuing compensation from those complicit in the attacks – but is Sudan, already ravaged by years of US sanctions, really the right target? By Nesrine Malik. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Best of 2022: The amazing true(ish) story of the ‘Honduran Maradona’ Dec 26, 2022

    Every Monday and Friday for the rest of December we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2022, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. This week, from October: For one of our many adolescent pranks, my friend and I planted tips about an obscure young footballer. Then he suddenly started going places. What had we done? By Kieran Morris. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Best of 2022: ‘Parents are frightened for themselves and for their children’: an inspirational school in impossible times Dec 23, 2022

    Every Monday and Friday for the rest of December we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2022, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. From September: Austerity, the pandemic and now the cost of living crisis have left many schools in a parlous state. How hard do staff have to work to give kids the chances they deserve? By Aida Edemariam. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Best of 2022: The sludge king: how one man turned an industrial wasteland into his own El Dorado Dec 19, 2022

    Every Monday and Friday for the rest of December we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2022, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. From September: When a Romanian businessman returned to his hometown and found a city blighted by mining waste, he hatched a plan to restore it to its former glory. He became a local hero, but now prosecutors accuse of him a running a multimillion dollar fraud. By Alexander Clapp. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Best of 2022: ‘A deranged pyroscape’: how fires across the world have grown weirder Dec 16, 2022

    Every Monday and Friday for the rest of December we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2022, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. From February: Despite the rise of headline-grabbing megafires, fewer fires are burning worldwide now than at any time since antiquity. But this isn’t good news – in banishing fire from sight, we have made its dangers stranger and less predictable. By Daniel Immerwahr. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Best of 2022: Seven stowaways and a hijacked oil tanker: the strange case of the Nave Andromeda Dec 12, 2022

    Every Monday and Friday for the rest of December we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2022, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. From July: In October 2020, an emergency call was received from a ship in British waters. After a full-scale commando raid, seven Nigerians were taken off in handcuffs – but no one was ever charged. What really happened on board? By Samira Shackle. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The many meanings of moss Dec 09, 2022

    Moss is ancient, and grows at a glacial pace, but it lives alongside us everywhere, country and city, a witness to the human world and its catastrophic speed. What can we learn by tuning in to ‘moss time’? By Nikita Azad. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: Dulwich Hamlet: the tiny football club that lost its home to developers – and won it back Dec 07, 2022

    We are raiding the Audio Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors This week, from 2018: After they were locked out of their own stadium, an unlikely band of supporters came together to save a beloved south London club. By Tom Lamont. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘He was fast … he ran you right over’: what it’s like to get hit by an SUV Dec 05, 2022

    One Thursday afternoon, I stepped out to cross a city street – and woke up in hospital with broken bones and a brain injury. After I recovered, I started looking into why so many drivers just don’t stop. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    How to move a country: Fiji’s radical plan to escape rising sea levels Dec 02, 2022

    In Fiji, the climate crisis means dozens of villages could soon be underwater. Relocating so many communities is an epic undertaking. But now there is a plan – and the rest of the world is watching. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: China’s hi-tech war on its Muslim minority Nov 30, 2022

    We are raiding the Audio Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors This week, from 2019: Smartphones and the internet gave the Uighurs a sense of their own identity – but now the Chinese state is using technology to strip them of it. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    ‘Who remembers proper binmen?’ The nostalgia memes that help explain Britain today Nov 28, 2022

    Idealising the past is nothing new, but there is something peculiarly revealing about the way a certain generation of Facebook users look back fondly on tougher times. By Dan Hancox. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Are we really prisoners of geography? Nov 25, 2022

    A wave of bestselling authors claim that global affairs are still ultimately governed by the immutable facts of geography – mountains, oceans, rivers, resources. But the world has changed more than they realise. By Daniel Immerwahr. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: How I let drinking take over my life Nov 23, 2022

    We are raiding the Audio Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors This week, from 2018: Five years after his last taste of alcohol, William Leith tries to understand its powerful magic. By William Leith. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The night everything changed: waiting for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Nov 21, 2022

    Despite all the warning signs, as I sat down for dinner with friends in Kyiv on 23 February, war seemed unreal. Surely, Putin was bluffing? By Luke Harding. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Megalopolis: how coastal west Africa will shape the coming century Nov 18, 2022

    By the end of the century, Africa will be home to 40% of the world’s population – and nowhere is this breakneck-pace development happening faster than this 600-mile stretch between Abidjan and Lagos. By Howard W French. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive – Spain’s Watergate: inside the corruption scandal that changed a nation Nov 16, 2022

    We are raiding the Audio Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2019: The Gürtel case began with one Madrid mogul. Over the next decade, it grew into the biggest corruption investigation in Spain’s recent history, sweeping up hundreds of corrupt politicians and businessmen – and shattering its political system. By Sam Edwards. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Is the IMF fit for purpose? Nov 14, 2022

    As the world faces the worst debt crisis in decades, the need for a global lender of last resort is clearer than ever. But many nations view the IMF as overbearing, or even neocolonial – and are now looking elsewhere for help. By Jamie Martin. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Ukraine’s true detectives: the investigators closing in on Russian war criminals Nov 11, 2022

    Across the country, fact-finding teams are tirelessly gathering evidence and testimony about Russian atrocities, often within hours of troops retreating. Turning this into convictions will not be easy, or quick, but the task has begun. By Lauren Wolf. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: The Anthropocene epoch: have we entered a new phase of planetary history? Nov 09, 2022

    We are raiding the Audio Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2019: Human activity has transformed the Earth – but scientists are divided about whether this is really a turning point in geological history. By Nicola Davison. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    My small, doomed stand against Margaret Thatcher’s war on truth Nov 07, 2022

    As a civil servant in the 1980s, I had a front row seat as the British government began to lose touch with reality. Since then, things have only got worse. By Simon Petherick. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Greenwashing a police state: the truth behind Egypt’s Cop27 masquerade Nov 04, 2022

    Sisi’s Egypt is making a big show of solar panels and biodegradable straws ahead of next week’s climate summit – but in reality the regime imprisons activists and bans research. The climate movement should not play along. By Naomi Klein. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: The dark history of Donald Trump’s rightwing revolt Nov 02, 2022

    We are raiding the Audio Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2016: The Republican intellectual establishment is united against Trump – but his message of cultural and racial resentment has deep roots in the American right. By Timothy Shenk. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Psychiatry wars: the lawsuit that put psychoanalysis on trial Oct 31, 2022

    Forty years ago, Dr Ray Osheroff sued a US hospital for failing to give him antidepressants. The case would change the course of medical history – even if it couldn’t help the patient himself. By Rachel Aviv. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    Ben Roberts-Smith v the media: episode one of a new podcast Oct 29, 2022

    Ben Roberts-Smith v the media is a five-part series available via Guardian Australia’s Full Story podcast feed. All episodes streaming now. In the defamation trial of the century, Australia’s most-decorated living soldier is seeking to defend his reputation against reports in three newspapers that he says falsely accuse him of being a war criminal. His lawyers argue Roberts-Smith has been unfairly targeted by envious comrades and assisted by credulous journalists. The newspapers’ lawyers say their reporting is true, and that Roberts-Smith broke the ‘moral and legal rules of military engagement’, something he denies outright. But who is Ben Roberts-Smith, and how did he earn the military’s highest honour, the Victoria Cross?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    The amazing true(ish) story of the ‘Honduran Maradona’ Oct 28, 2022

    For one of our many adolescent pranks, my friend and I planted tips about an obscure young footballer. Then he suddenly started going places. What had we done? By Kieran Morris. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

    From the archive: ‘A zombie party’: the deepening crisis of conservatism Oct 26, 2022

    We are raiding the Audio Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2019: The traditional right is clinging on to power – but its ideas are dead in the water. By Andy Beckett. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

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