Best BBC World Service Podcasts (2025)

1
Mary Hockaday, ex-Controller BBC World Service: Funding and Editorial Independence at the World Service 31:40

Play Pause

7h ago31:40

31:40

Mary Hockaday, former Controller of BBC World Service, discusses the future of the BBC World Service amid funding pressures and political challenges, the debate over government and defence funding, the challenges of budget cuts, and the global influence and value of the World Service. “For me, the most important thing in all of this is almost where…

1
Brian Jenner on AI (BBC World Service) 5:45

27d ago5:45

5:45

Brian Jenner spoke about the influence of AI on speechwriting on the BBC.

1
Duma Boko, President of Botswana: the world will listen to Africa 22:59

24h ago22:59

22:59

By BBC World Service

1
Money Box Live: The Cost of University 27:55

1d ago27:55

27:55

By BBC Radio 4

1
The rise of AI therapy 28:20

2d ago28:20

28:20

By BBC Radio 4

1
The preschool in a retirement home 23:26

2d ago23:26

23:26

By BBC World Service

1
Bjorn Borg: I’ve always been a private person 22:59

3d ago22:59

22:59

By BBC World Service

1
Telling the stories beyond the scoresheet 8:58

5d ago8:58

8:58

The World Service has launched a news sports show that it says will “tell the stories beyond the scoresheet”. We hear your views on whether More Than The Score will appeal to sports fans who are interested in the bigger picture. And we meet one of its presenters John Bennett plus the show’s producer, Jonathan McKeith. Presenter: Rajan DatarProducer…

1
Inheritance Planning and State Pension Underpayments 24:54

5d ago24:54

24:54

We look at changes which the Government has announced – and the speculation around those it hasn’t. Pension inheritance rules will change in 2027. It may seem a long time away, but people are making plans now. We hear from some of those pension planners as they try to clear up any confusion around the changes. We also look at speculation around wha…

1
Stewart Purvis, ex-ITN Chief, on impartiality, Lisa Nandy's intervention and 'nipple-gate' 33:58

7d ago33:58

33:58

Stewart Purvis is the former Editor in Chief and Chief Executive of ITN and a former content regulator at Ofcom. We discuss Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy’s intervention in the debate on GB News, issues of impartiality in news, and the role of Ofcom and government in media regulation. As ITV celebrates its 70th birthday, we also look back on Stewart’…

1
Money Box Live: Rising rents troubling tenants 28:43

8d ago28:43

28:43

Being a tenant can be pricey — and it’s only getting pricier. Private rents rose by almost six per cent in the year to July, and while the pace may be slowing, the average UK rent still stands at over £1,300 a month. So what does that mean for the millions of people living in private rented homes? This week on Money Box Live, we're looking at the c…

1
Chris Wright, US Energy Secretary: The problem with climate alarmism 22:59

8d ago22:59

22:59

Justin Rowlatt speaks to US Energy Secretary Chris Wright about his belief that the threat from climate change is exaggerated. It is a view shared by the American President, Donald Trump, and one that has seen subsidies to the renewable energy industry, worth billions of dollars, cut by the US administration. Secretary Wright is highly critical of …

1
Surgery in a backpack 23:21

9d ago23:21

23:21

By BBC World Service

1
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia : Somalia has a serious security challenge 22:59

10d ago22:59

22:59

Somalia has a serious security challenge Paul Njie speaks to Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia, about ongoing efforts to achieve security and stability in his country. While he says much progress has been made in tackling terror, he acknowledges that the insurgent groups al-Qaeda and, in particular, al-Shabab still pose a serious challeng…

1
A focus on the US and its dealings with the world 8:58

12d ago8:58

8:58

The Global Story has had a revamp and makeover. In a special edition, we examine the editorial changes and ask one of its presenters Tristan Redman and executive producer Annie Brown why the focus is now so emphatically on the US and its relationship with the world. Presenter: Rajan DatarProducer: Howard ShannonA Whistledown production for the BBC …

1
Firefighter Wins and Winter Fuel Scams 25:03

12d ago25:03

25:03

Hundreds of former retained firefighters have come forward to claim millions of pounds in missing pension payments after Money Box covered the story earlier this summer. We'd reported how their union, the Fire and Rescue Service Association, had warned thousands of its members risked missing out on the payments very often worth tens of thousands of…

1
Mark Damazer, former BBC Trustee, on the BBC’s international audio strategy and its future 37:32

14d ago37:32

37:32

Mark Damazer is a former controller of Radio 4, Deputy Director of BBC News, BBC trustee, writer, commentator, and chair of the Booker Prizes. We spoke to him about the BBC’s plans for its international audio services, the challenges of monetising content overseas, the implications for the BBC’s global reach and influence, the value of its radio ar…

1
Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General: peace as a word losing its value 22:59

15d ago22:59

22:59

‘Peace seems to be a word, a five-letter word, that is losing its value.’ Waihiga Mwaura speaks to Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, in a broad-ranging interview about the the UN at 80, and the state of the world today. The UN is currently hosting its annual General Assembly at its headquarters in New York. Leaders, senior politicians an…

1
Transforming life in cities 23:21

16d ago23:21

23:21

In one of the poorest neighbourhoods of Mumbai, a quiet transformation is underway. Govandi has long been associated with poverty and poor health outcomes. But with the help of a civic organisation, the community has built vibrant spaces with children and women in mind— libraries, workshops, and leisure zones—defying the norms of city planning that…

1
Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva: I have no relationship with President Trump 22:59

17d ago22:59

22:59

Ione Wells speaks to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil in an exclusive, wide-ranging interview. He sets out his anger not only at the hefty trade tariffs imposed on his country by President Trump, but also at the lack of communication or negotiation from the US administration. Now, he says, he has no relationship with the American …

1
The team behind People Fixing The World 8:58

19d ago8:58

8:58

People Fixing The World is all about discovering the people and the projects trying to make the world a better place. But what qualifies a project to be on the programme and how much scrutiny is applied? We talk to presenter Myra Anubi and editor Jon Bithrey and hear what listeners make of the programme. Presenter: Rajan DatarProducer: Howard Shann…

1
Weddings: Romance and ritual 48:31

19d ago48:31

48:31

One of the first recorded examples of a marriage ceremony is dated more than 4000 years ago in Mesopotamia. And it seems that through the ages, weddings have never lost their appeal. The global wedding industry is today worth billions of dollars, and it is one that keeps on growing. While aspects of weddings differ across many cultures, they celebr…

1
Moazzam Malik, Chief Executive of Save the Children UK: Working on the ground in Gaza 22:59

21d ago22:59

22:59

Jamie Coomarasamy speaks to Moazzam Malik, Chief Executive of Save the Children UK, about operating on the ground in Gaza. They’re one of a number of non-governmental organisations, or NGOs, operating in the Gaza strip amid a backdrop of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. On 22 August, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC),…

1
Stevie Wonder: Songs stay with you forever 22:59

22d ago22:59

22:59

Stevie Wonder was born in 1950 in the industrial city of Saginaw, Michigan, USA. Even from a young age, he displayed a great love of music - first with a church choir, and then teaching himself how to play a range of instruments, including the harmonica, piano and drums, all before the age of 10. He was just 11 years old when he was discovered and …

1
Robin Aitken, former BBC journalist on Impartiality, Internal Culture, and Trust in the BBC 36:31

22d ago36:31

36:31

Robin Aitken is a former BBC journalist, author, and contributor to The Daily Telegraph. In this episode, he discusses his chapter in the book "The BBC: After the licence fee?" We discuss the BBC’s internal culture, its approach to impartiality, the representation of religious perspectives, its coverage of events such as Brexit, audience trust in t…

1
PHOENIX GROUP and RAAHI : Social impact – an important role for business 33:48

23d ago33:48

33:48

This month, our host Sarah Travers is joined by Andy Briggs, Group CEO of Phoenix Group – one of the UK’s largest long-term savings and retirement businesses; and Girish Ananthanarayanan, Founder and Curator of Raahi, a channel that aims to bridge the worlds of professional management and social development perspectives. He is also a Senior Project…

1
The power of play 23:24

23d ago23:24

23:24

Play is essential to children’s development – kids learn about themselves and the world around them by having fun and taking risks. In some countries scientists have linked a decline in free play with a rise in children’s mental health problems. In this programme we visit a playground called “the land” where no parents are allowed in! This highly-r…

1
Mike Pence: US will soon get deserving government 22:59

24d ago22:59

22:59

‘I'm very confident that someday soon we're going to have government as good as our people again’ Paddy O’Connell speaks to former US Vice President Mike Pence about President Trump’s second term in office. Pence, whose political career began a quarter of a century ago, first rose to international prominence when he was selected by Donald Trump to …

1
How World Book Club played detective with Sherlock 8:58

26d ago8:58

8:58

World Book Club usually interviews authors about their work, with questions from the audience. But September’s edition featured an author who died nearly a century ago. We’re joined by presenter Harriet Gilbert to talk about the show's special episode on Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes. Will they do something similar with other deceased auth…

1
The Art of Listening 46:34

27d ago46:34

46:34

Former BBC journalist Steve Rawling talks about how speechwriters can learn from listening at the European Speechwriter Network conference in Oxford March 2025.

1
A Speech in Memory of Dr Max Atkinson 33:24

27d ago33:24

33:24

Simon Atkinson from IPSOS delivers a speech remembering the great public speaking consultant and speechwriter Dr Max Atkinson.

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In Praise of Populism 30:23

27d ago30:23

30:23

Professor Michael Burke from Utrecht University discusses the relationship between populism and democracy at the European Speechwriter Network conference in Oxford March 2025.

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The Demagogic Genius of Donald Trump 30:32

27d ago30:32

30:32

Journalist, Kevin Toolis, gives an analysis of the rhetoric of Donald Trump at the European Speechwriter Network conference in Oxford March 2025.

1
The Language of Evil 15:35

27d ago15:35

15:35

Guy Doza talks about his new book, The Language of Evil, How dictators manipulate the masses and wield power through words.

1
Does European Speechwriting have a Future? 23:32

27d ago23:32

23:32

European Commission Speechwriter, Daniel Mouqué, provides a rousing speech in favour of the European Union.

1
Dr Alice Donald: Media Myths, Chicken Nuggets, and the ECHR 30:07

28d ago30:07

30:07

Dr. Alice Donald, Professor of Human Rights Law at Middlesex University, is one of the author's of a report that was recently published this week from the Bonavero Institute at Oxford University on media coverage of the European Convention on Human Rights. We examine the findings of the report, the prevalence and impact of misreporting, the role of…

1
Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason: Obsession is a driver 22:59

29d ago22:59

22:59

John Wilson speaks to British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason about his obsession with music, adjusting to fame and how he’s faced racist abuse. While still a student, he performed to an audience of more than one billion people at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, instantly becoming one of the most recognisable classical performers in the w…

1
Digging deep to help farmers 23:20

1M ago23:20

23:20

A new farming method is having a dramatic effect on maize crops in Malawi. And assistance is coming from a solar-powered tractor. In the last of her visits to Malawi, Myra goes to a village where they are using a new method called Deep Bed Farming. It’s more than doubled the yield of some of the farmers and improved their standards of living. The m…

1
Francis Fukuyama: America’s Putin-esque direction 22:59

1M ago22:59

22:59

Paddy O’Connell speaks to Professor Francis Fukuyama about the threats to liberal democracies around the world. The American political economist and international relations scholar, who is currently a senior fellow at Stanford University, has written widely on issues about development and international politics. He is best-known for his 1992 book ‘…

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Prof John Wyver, on the campaign for access to the BBC Written Archives 21:59

1M ago21:59

21:59

Professor John Wyver, Professor of Arts on Screen at the University of Westminster, joins us to discuss his involvement in the recent campaign opposing changes to access at the BBC Written Archive Centre. We explore the archive’s purpose, the proposed access restrictions and their impact, the consultation process, potential alternative solutions, a…

1
Flower Power 23:01

1M ago23:01

23:01

In India, how can gorgeous flowers offered in a temple or gathered to decorate a wedding be an environmental problem? Chhavi Sachdev discovers that the practice of disposing of the spent flowers, thousands of tonnes of the them daily, into rivers and lakes causes major pollution and literally suffocates waterborne life. The problem is made worse by…

1
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: How to rebuild a country 22:59

1M ago22:59

22:59

Rahul Tandon speaks to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia’s former president and first woman to be elected to lead an African country. Born in 1938 in what she describes as a prosperous and ‘unusual family’, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was guided by a deep commitment to education, which she pursued despite financial hardship and the demands of motherhood. He…

1
Pete Townshend from The Who: Farewell tour doesn’t mean the end 22:58

1M ago22:58

22:58

John Wilson speaks to Pete Townshend, songwriter and guitarist of British rock band The Who about the band’s farewell tour of the US. Through his powerful stage presence and pioneering use of technology, Townshend transformed The Who from a hobby wedding band to one of the biggest and loudest outfits of the 1960s and 1970s. His artistic approach cr…

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Conductor Gustavo Dudamel: Music has the power to unite 22:59

1M ago22:59

22:59

Music has the power to unite Mark Savage speaks to Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel about his life and career. Born in the city of Barquisimeto, he’s famous for conducting orchestras all over the world, as well as film credits that include conducting the opening and end titles for Star Wars: the Force Awakens. With a unique ability to communica…

1
Money Box Live: What You Wish You'd Known 28:34

1M ago28:34

28:34

Dragons' Den investor and entrepreneur Deborah Meaden joins Felicity Hannah to look at the money wisdom and advice you wish you'd known when you were starting out. They hear from listeners who say they wish they'd known more about everything, from how to budget to asking for a pay rise. Others regret not understanding the power of compound interest…

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Front Yard Floods 24:40

1M ago24:40

24:40

Frequent floods blight the poorest neighbourhoods of New Orleans but the residents are fighting back, one yard at a time. Physicist Helen Czerski joins the team behind the Front Yard Initiative as they strive to keep the Big Easy safe and dry, 20 years after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. When Katrina hit New Orleans in August 2005, the leve…

1
Pensions, On-Call Firefighters, Childcare 24:34

2M ago24:34

24:34

When will you retire? And will you have enough money to live comfortably? Big questions and this week the government announced two major reviews to study them after concerns that today's workers will be poorer in retirement than their parents. The first is a revived Pension Commission with a wide remit. The second is a review into the state pension…

1
Eliot Higgins: Algorithms don’t drive the truth 22:59

2M ago22:59

22:59

Algorithms don’t drive the truth Amol Rajan speaks to Eliot Higgins, founder of the open-source investigative organisation Bellingcat, as the world grapples with the growing threat posed by misinformation and conspiracy theories being deliberately spread online. Founded in 2014, Bellingcat is an independent investigative collective of researchers, …

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Money Box Live: How to Improve Your Credit Score 28:42

2M ago28:42

28:42

Every adult has a credit score but you've been telling us the factors affecting it can be mystifying and frustrating. So in this edition of Money Box Live we've been digging into the inbox to answer your questions on credit scores. Whether you’re trying to get a mortgage or loan or just the best rate on a credit card, the information on your file c…

1
A Washing Machine Solution 22:59

2M ago22:59

22:59

British Sikh engineer, Navjot Sawhney gave up his lucrative career to go and work in India, to use his skills to help solve problems for rural communities. While there, he became fascinated with the problems his neighbour, Divya, was facing while handwashing clothes, sometimes for up to three hours a day. Broadcaster and journalist Nkem Ifejika fin…