The Week Unwrapped
Have you missed the biggest news of the week? Olly Mann and The Week talk about under-reported stories with long-term consequences
Browse episodes below or subscribe via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen
Political insults, gig academics and dating doubts
Political insults, gig academics and dating doubts
Do we have the right to be rude to MPs? Why are university lecturers living in poverty? And is online dating failing to deliver?
5 Nov 2021
Martial lawlessness, asteroid action and statue sparring
Martial lawlessness, asteroid action and statue sparring
Should the culture of the British army face greater scrutiny? Can Nasa deflect asteroids away from earth? And should London’s statues be made more div…
29 Oct 2021
In which countries is homosexuality still illegal?
In which countries is homosexuality still illegal?
Ghana to vote on ‘most draconian anti-LGBTQ legislation on earth’
26 Oct 2021
Investments Unwrapped: Which wines hold their value?
Investments Unwrapped: Which wines hold their value?
Olly Mann talks to wine market founder Justin Gibbs about wines to treasure
26 Oct 2021
Mortgage penalties, waste and femcels
Mortgage penalties, waste and femcels
Should mortgages cost more for inefficient homes? Can companies be shamed into cutting wasted stock? And has the incel movement spread to women?
22 Oct 2021
Exiles, revolting prisoners and sporting health
Exiles, revolting prisoners and sporting health
Will Syrian criminals be allowed home? How did an American prison fall into the hands of inmates? And why are sports stars struggling with their menta…
15 Oct 2021
Investments Unwrapped: What makes a book collectable?
Investments Unwrapped: What makes a book collectable?
Olly Mann talks to world-leading antiquarian book dealer Pom Harrington about rare and valuable books
12 Oct 2021
Dead ships, film strikes and pandemic travel
Dead ships, film strikes and pandemic travel
Why is the UN worried about a supertanker in Yemen? Will strikes cause a streaming video shortage? And what next for the ‘zero-Covid’ success stories?…
8 Oct 2021
Gene editing, joke theft and manifesting
Gene editing, joke theft and manifesting
Are we on the verge of a new agricultural revolution? Why are comedians going to court? And what on earth is manifesting?
1 Oct 2021
Clinical injustice, wireless power and pandas
Clinical injustice, wireless power and pandas
Why do so many clinical trials exclude women? Will we soon be free of power cables? And is panda fertility finally on the rise?
24 Sep 2021
Tech tiffs, shipping shortages and mammoth science projects
Tech tiffs, shipping shortages and mammoth science projects
Why has Elizabeth Holmes’ court case divided opinion? What is causing Ikea’s delivery tailbacks? And could wooly mammoths roam the earth again?
17 Sep 2021
Alien soil, cookies and long dogs
Alien soil, cookies and long dogs
Why does Nasa want to bring Martian soil samples back to Earth? Will cookie warnings soon be a thing of the past? And are dachshunds getting too cute …
10 Sep 2021
Germany’s left turn, glass shortages and a gaming ban
Germany’s left turn, glass shortages and a gaming ban
Are German voters turning away from Angela Merkel and the centre-right? What’s really causing an NHS test tube shortage? And why is China banning game…
3 Sep 2021
Plague jabs, Havana syndrome and meat-free Mondays
Plague jabs, Havana syndrome and meat-free Mondays
Will a new vaccine finally banish the Black Death? Why are US diplomats falling ill all over the world? And is flexitarianism a step to permanent chan…
27 Aug 2021
Pensions, elephants and middle-class drugs
Pensions, elephants and middle-class drugs
Why is the government changing pension rules? How did a herd of elephants cross China? And will well-heeled drug users be named and shamed?
20 Aug 2021
Mercenaries, climate angst and the right to repair
Mercenaries, climate angst and the right to repair
What are Russian soldiers doing in Libya? Are doom-laden climate headlines bad for our mental health? And are DIY gadget fixers about to get a break?
13 Aug 2021
Pay cheques, sporting pressure and ancient plants
Pay cheques, sporting pressure and ancient plants
Should we all know what our colleagues are paid? How will Olympic athletes cope with social media scrutiny? And could a strange desert plant unlock hu…
6 Aug 2021
Flash floods, Tunisian turmoil and rich racing
Flash floods, Tunisian turmoil and rich racing
Are cities ready for a rise in extreme weather? Why has Tunisia’s president sacked the prime minister? And is the ‘most expensive race on earth’ worth…
30 Jul 2021
Health data, green banking and flawed maps
Health data, green banking and flawed maps
How will we deal with knowing so much more about our health? Should central banks seek to fight climate change? And is Google Maps leading us astray?
23 Jul 2021
Cuba, friendship and office dogs
Cuba, friendship and office dogs
What’s behind the latest Cuban protests? Can dating apps help us make friends? And should we welcome animals at work?
16 Jul 2021
Strict schools, swimming caps and four-day weeks
Strict schools, swimming caps and four-day weeks
Do more rules make for a better education? Is a ban on “Afro caps” a blow to sporting diversity? And will Covid boost calls for a four-day working wee…
9 Jul 2021
Hazardous heat, nuclear fusion and divisive dieting
Hazardous heat, nuclear fusion and divisive dieting
What does a Pakistani city hitting temperatures too hot for the human body tell us about climate change? Could a new nuclear project provide a breakth…
2 Jul 2021
Kibbutzniks, quitters and patriotism
Kibbutzniks, quitters and patriotism
What does a row about a kibbutz say about modern Israel? Are record numbers of people about to give up their jobs? And why can’t we work out how to ce…
25 Jun 2021
The Week Unwrapped: Pride flags, Denmark and animal magic
The Week Unwrapped: Pride flags, Denmark and animal magic
Why won’t the Pentagon fly the flag for gay pride? What led Denmark to deport Syrian refugees? And how do birds see through magicians’ tricks?
11 Jun 2021
Fuel protest, Danish spying and living to 150
Fuel protest, Danish spying and living to 150
How are oil shareholders changing the climate debate? Is Copenhagen a US stooge? And could we really double human lifespans?
4 Jun 2021
Fashion for rent, a chip shortage and euthanasia
Fashion for rent, a chip shortage and euthanasia
Will we start borrowing clothes instead of buying them? Why has the world’s supply of microchips dried up? And has the tide turned on assisted dying?
28 May 2021
Toxins, abortions and rectal breathing
Toxins, abortions and rectal breathing
What should we know about ‘forever chemicals’? Are abortion rights at risk in Northern Ireland? And can we breathe through our bottoms?
21 May 2021
France in revolt, junior networks and digital emotions
France in revolt, junior networks and digital emotions
Why are French soldiers up in arms? Is Instagram the right place for children? And can computers recognise emotions?
14 May 2021
Psychedelics, peacekeeping and office productivity
Psychedelics, peacekeeping and office productivity
Could hallucinogenics replace antidepressants? How can peacekeepers be more effective? And what can Google tell us about the post-pandemic workplace?
7 May 2021
Catfishing, malaria and timelessness
Catfishing, malaria and timelessness
Why are dating scams on the rise? Have scientists made a breakthrough in the battle against malaria? And can humans live without a sense of time?
30 Apr 2021
Greens, investments and space privateers
Greens, investments and space privateers
Are the world’s environmentalists about to take power? Is financial advice getting cheaper? And why are private citizens leading the space race?
23 Apr 2021
Human rights, Russian troops and rude town names
Human rights, Russian troops and rude town names
Are human rights going backwards? Is Russia squaring up to Ukraine again? And why are we censoring maps?
16 Apr 2021
Rare earths, Jordan and dishonour
Rare earths, Jordan and dishonour
What has Greenland’s general election got to do with China? Why has Jordan’s royal family split? And who has been stripped of their honours in secret?
9 Apr 2021
Votes, Cuban vaccines and empty churches
Votes, Cuban vaccines and empty churches
Are the Democrats falling into a hypocrisy trap? How did Cuba develop such a strong biotech industry? And will anything reverse religious decline?
2 Apr 2021
Scams, shares and male skirts
Scams, shares and male skirts
Why has Covid caused a surge in scams? What’s got into the world’s stock markets? And will men really start wearing skirts?
26 Mar 2021
Ireland, Wombo and laser vision
Ireland, Wombo and laser vision
Is the Good Friday Agreement unravelling? How much of a threat are AI deepfakes? And can we really now see round corners?
19 Mar 2021
