Best Brazil Current Affairs Podcasts (2025)

1
Social security scandals, Brazil's emissions beef and a papal funeral 11:54

1d ago11:54

11:54

A major social security scandal causes a government headache. Brazil’s beef sector needs major changes to hit emissions goals. And Lula is off to Rome for the pope’s funeral, but who’s going with him? Support the showBy The Brazilian Report

1
In search of the South Pacific fugitive who crowned himself king 47:44

2h ago47:44

47:44

Noah Musingku made a fortune with a Ponzi scheme and then retreated to a remote armed compound in the jungle, where he still commands the loyalty of his Bougainville subjects By Sean Williams. Read by Simon Darwen. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpodBy The Guardian

1
Indonesia 8:25

1d ago8:25

8:25

Monocle’s editors are in Jakarta for our annual business-and-leadership summit, The Chiefs. This week, Monocle Radio’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco looks at the top songs in the Indonesian charts. Expect plenty of romance and a highly successful Phil Collins cover. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
COP 30: are locals ready to shape policies? 4:45

3d ago4:45

4:45

In this Explaining Brazil Plus episode, Lise Tupiassu of the Federal University of Pará gives us her on-the-ground perspective on what should be in the spotlight regarding COP30 in the Amazon Support the showBy The Brazilian Report

1
From the archive: ‘I pleaded for help. No one wrote back’: the pain of watching my country fall to the Taliban 30:06

1d ago30:06

30:06

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: As the fighters advanced on Kabul, it was civilians who mobilised to help with the evacuation. In the absence of a plan, the hardest decisions fell on inexperienced volunteers, and the stres…

1
The real Scandi noir: how a filmmaker and a crooked lawyer shattered Denmark’s self-image 47:41

3d ago47:41

47:41

The Black Swan follows a repentant master criminal as she sets up corrupt clients in front of hidden cameras. But is she really reformed – and is the director up to his own tricks? By Samanth Subramanian. Read by David Bateson. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpodBy The Guardian

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Penal populism, agro jobs and Bolsonaro under the knife 9:46

9d ago9:46

9:46

Rio’s mayor looks to El Salvador for inspiration on public security. Brazil’s agro jobs are less and less done on farms. And Bolsonaro goes under the knife again in a 12-hour surgery. Support the showBy The Brazilian Report

1
Kahane’s ghost: how a long-dead extremist rabbi continues to haunt Israel’s politics 46:37

8d ago46:37

46:37

A violent fanatic and pioneer in bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political outcast 35 years ago. Today, his ideas influence the very highest levels of government By Joshua Leifer. Read by Kerry Shale. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpodBy The Guardian

1
Chile 7:11

10d ago7:11

7:11

Fernando Augusto Pacheco explores the Chilean pop charts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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From the archive: The great betrayal: how the Hillsborough families were failed by the justice system 49:04

11d ago49:04

49:04

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 32 years of establishment lies, media smears, inquests, trials and retrials, the families of the Hillsborough dead have yet to see anyone held accountable By David Conn. Read by Gavin …

1
My mother, the racist 32:03

12d ago32:03

32:03

She spent her life in northern France doing exhausting, back-breaking work – and yet she turned her anger against people who had done no wrongs to her. But as much as I couldn’t stand her rants, I was forced to accept her as she was By Didier Eribon. Read by Mark Noble. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod…

1
Trump’s decline, Embraer’s rise, and Lula in a gun fight 10:21

16d ago10:21

10:21

Trump and the US become less popular in Brazil. Embraer wades into the aerial arms race. And the pro-gun caucus wants to take firearms away from Lula’s security team Support the showBy The Brazilian Report

1
Eurovision all-time victors 8:15

16d ago8:15

8:15

Fernando Augusto Pacheco picks his all-time Eurovision victors. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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The reluctant collaborator: surviving Syria’s brutal civil war – and its aftermath 50:15

15d ago50:15

50:15

At 18, Mustafa was told his only way out of prison was to join the regime forces. After 14 years, his past as one of Assad’s fighters could get him killed By Ghaith Abdul-Ahad. Read by Mo Ayoub. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpodBy The Guardian

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From the archive: Votes for children! Why we should lower the voting age to six 33:49

17d ago33:49

33:49

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 generational divide is deforming democracy. But there is a solution By David Runciman. Read by Andrew McGregor. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod…

1
The Rainham volcano: a waste dump is constantly on fire in east London. Why will no one stop it? 38:55

19d ago38:55

38:55

Under Arnolds Field, tonnes of illegally dumped waste have been burning for years, spewing pollution over the area. Locals fear for their health – and despair that no one seems willing to help By William Ralston. Read by Sam Swainsbury. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod…

1
Tariffs, loans and spy games 11:08

23d ago11:08

11:08

Brazil learns its tariff fate amid Trump’s Liberation Day announcement. Major demand for a new loan program offers hope for Lula’s popularity. Brazil and Paraguay get into a tangle over espionage revelations. This episode refers to the newsletters: 😮‍💨 Avoided the worst. For now (Apr. 3) 🛡️ Trade war gambit (Apr. 2) 🕵️ Neighborhood watch (Apr. 1) S…

1
It came from outer space: the meteorite that landed in a Cotswolds cul-de-sac 29:30

22d ago29:30

29:30

Meteorite falls are extremely rare and offer a glimpse of the processes that formed our world billions of years ago. When a space rock came to an English market town in 2021, scientists raced to find as much out as they could By Helen Gordon. Read by Sasha Frost. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod…

1
Romania 8:49

24d ago8:49

8:49

Fernando Augusto Pacheco tunes in to the Romanian pop charts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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From the archive: ‘The treeline is out of control’: how the climate crisis is turning the Arctic green 36:32

24d ago36:32

36:32

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: In northern Norway, trees are rapidly taking over the tundra and threatening an ancient way of life that depends on snow and ice By Ben Rawlence. Read by Christien Anholt. Help support our i…

1
Special: Brazil braces for the tariff storm 6:00

26d ago6:00

6:00

US President Donald Trump promises a significant tariff announcement on April 2. We gathered a team of experts to discuss how the looming threats of tariffs from the Trump administration may affect Brazil and reshape relations between the United States and Brazil — not just in the short-term future but also in the long run. Panelists: Tony Harringt…

1
Holidays in hell: summer camp with Russia’s forgotten children 24:48

26d ago24:48

24:48

At the rural orphanage where I volunteered, the place resembled a Dickensian workhouse. The staff’s main tools were antipsychotics and violence. The experience gave me a window into Putin’s Russia By Howard Amos. Read by Harry Lloyd. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod…

1
Bolsonaro charged, egg exports rise, Brazil rethinks defense ties 9:28

30d ago9:28

9:28

The Supreme Court decides that Jair Bolsonaro will face trial over coup-plotting allegations. Brazilian producers are exporting eggs to the bird flu-hit US. And Brazil wants to chart its own course in purchasing defense tech. This episode refers to the newsletters: 🧨 Charges accepted (Mar. 27) 🐣 Hatching a new market (Mar. 26) ⚖️ Facing the music (…

1
The savage suburbia of Helen Garner: ‘I wanted to dong Martin Amis with a bat’ 38:39

29d ago38:39

38:39

Over 50 years, she has become one of the most revered writers in Australia. Is she finally going to get worldwide recognition? By Sophie Elmhirst. Read by Nicolette Chin. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpodBy The Guardian

1
Rising music markets 10:40

1M ago10:40

10:40

Fernando Augusto Pacheco tunes in to the rising music markets that were singled out in IFPI’s Global Music Report 2025. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
From the archive: Is society coming apart? 42:36

1M ago42:36

42:36

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: Despite Thatcher and Reagan’s best efforts, there is and has always been such a thing as society. The question is not whether it exists, but what shape it must take in a post-pandemic world …

1
The Coventry experiment: why were Indian women in Britain given radioactive food without their consent? 38:13

1M ago38:13

38:13

When details about a scientific study in the 1960s became public, there was shock, outrage and anxiety. But exactly what happened? By Samira Shackle. Read by Dinita Gohil. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpodBy The Guardian

1
Tax exemptions, rate hikes and voluntary exile 11:45

1M ago11:45

11:45

Lula announces major income tax exemptions. The Central Bank hikes interest rates once more. And one of Bolsonaro’s sons flees to the US. This episode refers to the newsletters: 🎰 Lula goes all in (Mar. 19) 📈 Different in form, not content (Mar. 20) Support the showBy The Brazilian Report

1
My life as a prison officer: ‘It wasn’t just the smell that hit you. It was the noise’ 27:16

1M ago27:16

27:16

I saw first hand how prisons are having to use segregation units for acutely mentally ill inmates who should not be in prison at all Written and read by Alex South. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpodBy The Guardian

1
Top five music markets 10:02

1M ago10:02

10:02

Fernando Augusto Pacheco tunes in to the top five music markets, according to IFPI’s Global Music Report 2025. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
From the archive: The revolt against liberalism: what’s driving Poland and Hungary’s nativist turn? 37:27

1M ago37:27

37:27

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: For the hardline conservatives ruling Poland and Hungary, the transition from communism to liberal democracy was a mirage. They fervently believe a more decisive break with the past is neede…

1
‘The ghosts are everywhere’: can the British Museum survive its omni-crisis? 38:48

1M ago38:48

38:48

Beset by colonial controversy, difficult finances and the discovery of a thief on the inside, Britain’s No 1 museum is in deep trouble. Can it restore its reputation? By Charlotte Higgins. Read by Diveen Henry. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpodBy The Guardian

1
Inflation, digital transformation and trade war frustration 9:42

1M ago9:42

9:42

Inflation data shows little in the way of good news for Brazil. The country’s planned digital currency moves through testing phases. And Trump’s metal tariffs kick in — how is Brazil going to respond? This episode refers to the newsletters: 😢 Brazilian wallets weep (Mar. 12) 🔐 Drex files: Privacy vs oversight (Mar. 12) Support the show…

1
Turkey said it would become a ‘zero waste’ nation. Instead, it became a dumping ground for Europe’s rubbish 31:00

1M ago31:00

31:00

When China stopped receiving the world’s waste, Turkey became Europe’s recycling hotspot. The problem is, most plastics can’t be recycled. And what remains are toxic heaps of trash By Alexander Clapp. Read by Philip Arditti. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpodBy The Guardian

1
Mexican music charts 9:00

1M ago9:00

9:00

Monocle Radio’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco looks at the increasingly influential Mexican music charts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
From the archive: The end of Atlanticism: has Trump killed the ideology that won the cold war? 38:52

2M ago38:52

38:52

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: The foreign policy establishment has been lamenting its death for half a century. But Atlanticism has long been a convenient myth By Madeleine Schwartz. Read by Kelly Burke. Help support our…

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Special: How Brazil can navigate the Trump trade storm 4:11

2M ago4:11

4:11

We’re launching Explaining Brazil Plus — a premium service bringing you exclusive content every month. As a subscriber, you’ll get access to special episodes and expert interviews, offering deeper insights into Brazil’s biggest stories. Subscriptions are just USD 1.99 a month on Apple Podcasts. But here’s the best part: If you’re already a subscrib…

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Signature moves: are we losing the ability to write by hand? 30:22

2M ago30:22

30:22

We are far more likely to use our hands to type or swipe than pick up a pen. But in the process we are in danger of losing cognitive skills, sensory experience – and a connection to history By Christine Rosen. Read by Laurel Lefkow. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod…

1
Oscar wins, fake coffee and fiscal fiascos 11:34

2M ago11:34

11:34

Brazil bags its Carnival Oscar glory with “I’m Still Here.” Consumers get rattled as “fake coffee” makes its way onto supermarket shelves. And a court precedent could spell trouble for Big Four auditors in Brazil. Support the showBy The Brazilian Report

1
‘Here lives the monster’s brain’: the man who exposed Switzerland’s dirty secrets 31:34

2M ago31:34

31:34

Inspired by Che Guevara, Jean Ziegler has spent the past 60 years exposing how Switzerland enabled global wrongdoing. His enemies accuse him of treason By Atossa Araxia Abrahamian. Read by Lanna Joffrey. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpodBy The Guardian

1
Spring playlist 8:24

2M ago8:24

8:24

Fernando Augusto Pacheco celebrates spring with a few new tunes from the Monocle Radio playlist. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
From the archive: ‘In my 30 years as a GP, the profession has been horribly eroded’ 25:07

2M ago25:07

25:07

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: As I finished the final house calls of my long career in general practice, it struck me how detached I am from my patients now – and that it was not always like this. Where did we go wrong, …

1
Massacre in the jungle: how an Indigenous man was made the public face of an atrocity 32:31

2M ago32:31

32:31

In 2004, 29 people were killed by members of the Cinta Larga tribe in Brazil’s Amazon basin. The story shocked the country – but the truth of what happened is still being fought over By Alex Cuadros. Read by Felipe Pacheco. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpodBy The Guardian

1
Carnival, cabinet and crisis 11:26

2M ago11:26

11:26

Carnival is here, and it’s big business. Lula pulls the trigger and sacks his health minister. And STEM degrees are becoming less and less common in Brazil. Support the showBy The Brazilian Report

1
Israel and the delusions of Germany’s ‘memory culture’ 34:03

2M ago34:03

34:03

Germany embraced Israel to atone for its wartime guilt. But was this in part a way to avoid truly confronting its past? By Pankaj Mishra. Read by Mikhail Sen. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpodBy The Guardian

1
Carnival special 8:58

2M ago8:58

8:58

Fernando Augusto Pacheco celebrates Carnival with the songs that Brazilians will be dancing to at this year’s festivities. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
From the archive: One drug dealer, two corrupt cops and a risky FBI sting 41:22

2M ago41:22

41:22

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: Davon Mayer was a smalltime dealer in west Baltimore who made an illicit deal with local police. When they turned on him, he decided to get out – but escaping that life would not prove as ea…

1
Innit innit boys and Super Eagles: how Nigerian Londoners found their identity through football 26:46

2M ago26:46

26:46

For the children of the Nigerian diaspora, displaced by war and split between two worlds, footballers from John Fashanu to Jay-Jay Okocha were a first glimpse of themselves in Britain’s mainstream. Written and read by Aniefiok Ekpoudom. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod…

1
Bolsonaro indictment, Trump's lawsuit and a shocking shift 12:09

2M ago12:09

12:09

Bolsonaro faces criminal charges for coup plotting. Trump’s media group is suing a Brazilian Supreme Court justice. And Brazil’s organized crime groups are expanding far beyond the drug trade. Support the showBy The Brazilian Report

1
The mysterious novelist who foresaw Putin’s Russia – and then came to symbolise its moral decay 34:30

2M ago34:30

34:30

Victor Pelevin made his name in 90s Russia with scathing satires of authoritarianism. But while his literary peers have faced censorship and fled the country, he still sells millions. Has he become a Kremlin apologist? By Sophie Pinkham. Read by Olga Koch. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Brazil Current Affairs Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen