Best Guardian Long Read Podcasts (2025)

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A Diogo Jota tribute – Football Weekly 57:37

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1d ago57:37

57:37

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Jonathan Wilson and Mark Langdon to pay tribute to Diogo Jota and Suzy Wrack joins from Zurich after England lose their opening game of Euro 2025. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypodBy The Guardian

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‘Do you have a family?’: midlife with no kids, ageing parents – and no crisis 30:48

1d ago30:48

30:48

In my 40s, I found myself with a life that didn’t look like it was ‘supposed’ to. What was I doing? On trips to South Korea with my mother, an answer began to emerge By E Tammy Kim. Read by Jennifer J Kim. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpodBy The Guardian

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Why does Switzerland have more nuclear bunkers than any other country? 27:50

7h ago27:50

27:50

Switzerland is home to more than 370,000 nuclear bunkers – enough to shelter every member of the population. But if the worst should happen, would they actually work? By Jessi Jezewska Stevens. Read by Rachel Handshaw. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpodBy The Guardian

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Transfers, Euro 2025 and Sheffield Wednesday in crisis: Football Weekly Extra 54:04

2h ago54:04

54:04

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Sam Dalling, Sanny Rudravajhala and Tom Garry for a transfer round-up and the latest from Euro 2025 in Switzerland. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypodBy The Guardian

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Manchester City out of the Club World Cup and Euro 2025 kicks off - Football Weekly 52:39

1d ago52:39

52:39

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Nicky Bandini, Nedum Onuoha and Suzy Wrack to discuss the Club World Cup and the Women’s Euros. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypodBy The Guardian

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From the archive: ‘You can’t be the player’s friend’: inside the secret world of tennis umpires 45:59

2d ago45:59

45:59

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: new technology was supposed to make umpiring easy. It hasn’t worked out that way By William Ralston. Read by Simon Vance. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadp…

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Lightning at the Club World Cup, U21 glory and the Women’s Euros – Football Weekly 56:25

3d ago56:25

56:25

Max Rushden is joined by Seb Hutchinson, John Brewin and Dan Bardell to discuss Club World Cup chaos, England’s U21s triumph, the Women’s Euros in Switzerland. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypodBy The Guardian

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My husband and son suffered strokes, 30 years apart. Shockingly little had changed 30:35

4d ago30:35

30:35

I was told my husband would never talk again, while physiotherapy was dismissed entirely. My son was failed in similar ways, but for the brilliance of some medical staff who refuse to believe a stroke is the end By Sheila Hale. Read by Phyllida Nash. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod…

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‘The Mozart of the attention economy’: why MrBeast is the world’s biggest YouTube star 35:24

12d ago35:24

35:24

He’s spent 24 hours immersed in slime, two days buried alive – and showered vast amounts of cash on lucky participants. But are MrBeast’s videos simply very savvy clickbait – or acts of avant garde genius? Written and read by Mark O’Connell. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod…

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The Audio Long Read: Extremely loud and incredibly scouse: how Jamie Carragher conquered football punditry 46:06

13d ago46:06

46:06

Football coverage no longer stops after the final whistle. And in this new era, the former Liverpool defender reigns supreme By Kieran Morris. Read by Felipe Pacheco. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypodBy The Guardian

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Revisited: Luton Town’s Manager Idol – Forgotten Stories of Football podcast 9:47

14d ago9:47

9:47

Primetime TV would prove the inspiration for one of the most shambolic managerial appointments in football history. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypodBy The Guardian

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From the archive: ‘A nursery of the Commons’: how the Oxford Union created today’s ruling political class 29:49

14d ago29:49

29:49

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 2022: at the Oxford university debating society in the 80s, a generation of aspiring politicians honed the art of winning using jokes, rather than facts By Simon Kuper. Read by Andrew McGregor. He…

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Is the Club World Cup actually … quite good? – Football Weekly podcast 53:31

15d ago53:31

53:31

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Will Unwin, Lars Sivertsen and Sid Lowe to talk transfers and Premier League fixtures. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypodBy The Guardian

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‘Outdated and unjust’: can we reform global capitalism? 34:05

16d ago34:05

34:05

President Trump’s tariffs have plunged the world economy into chaos. But history counsels against despair – and the left should seize on capitalism’s crisis of legitimacy By John Cassidy. Read by Chris Reilly. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpodBy The Guardian

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Extremely loud and incredibly scouse: how Jamie Carragher conquered football punditry 46:06

19d ago46:06

46:06

Football coverage no longer stops after the final whistle. And in this new era, the former Liverpool defender reigns supreme By Kieran Morris. Read by Felipe Pacheco. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpodBy The Guardian

1
Revisited: Manchester United v Galatasaray, 1993 – Forgotten Stories of Football podcast 15:48

20d ago15:48

15:48

In this episode: few had expected much from Galatasaray in the European Cup, but United were out of their depth on the pitch amid terrifying hostility and harassment off it. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypodBy The Guardian

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The Audio Long Read: ‘The Silicon Valley of turf’ – how the UK’s pursuit of the perfect pitch changed football 31:04

21d ago31:04

31:04

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/footballweeklypod…

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From the archive: Burying Leni Riefenstahl: one woman’s lifelong crusade against Hitler’s favourite film-maker 49:37

21d ago49:37

49:37

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: Nina Gladitz dedicated her life to proving the Triumph of the Will director’s complicity with the horrors of nazism. In the end, she succeeded – but at a cost Written and read by Kate Connol…

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The Club World Cup kicks off and Thomas Frank in at Spurs - Football Weekly 56:21

22d ago56:21

56:21

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Nicky Bandini and Mark Langdon as the Club World Cup commences and Thomas Frank is installed at Spurs. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypodBy The Guardian

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‘You can let go now’: inside the hospital where staff treat fear of death as well as physical pain 38:52

23d ago38:52

38:52

In a Danish palliative care unit, the alternative to assisted dying is not striving to cure – offering relief and comfort to patients and their families By Line Vaaben. Read by Freya Miller. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpodBy The Guardian

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An English gentleman, a crooked lawyer: the secrets of Stephen David Jones 54:02

26d ago54:02

54:02

With his brilliant mind and impeccable credentials, it’s little wonder that wealthy clients trusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to get suspicious By Hettie O’Brien. Read by Simon Vance. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpodBy The Guardian

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Is football ready for the Club World Cup? Football Weekly Extra 56:36

26d ago56:36

56:36

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Nick Ames and Paul Watson to look ahead to the Club World Cup which kicks off this weekend in the USA. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypodBy The Guardian

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England made to suffer by Senegal and a Welsh thriller in Belgium – Football Weekly podcast 54:12

28d ago54:12

54:12

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, John Brewin and Nedum Onuoha as Senegal become the first African country to beat the England men’s team. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypodBy The Guardian

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From the archive: Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o: three days with a giant of African literature 59:05

28d ago59:05

59:05

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: 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 Written and read by Ca…

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England’s grind, Nations League drama and Ange Postecoglou out at Spurs – Football Weekly 55:53

29d ago55:53

55:53

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, George Elek and Lars Sivertsen to discuss England’s laboured win over Andorra, the Nations League final and Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs exit. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypodBy The Guardian

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Death, divorce and the magic of kitchen objects: how to find hope in loss 28:45

30d ago28:45

28:45

As they pass through different hands, cooking utensils can magically connect us to loved ones who are no longer with us By Bee Wilson. Read by Colleen Prendergast. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpodBy The Guardian

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Missing in the Amazon: the disappearance – episode 1 26:51

1M ago26:51

26:51

Three years ago British journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian indigenous defender Bruno Pereira vanished while on a reporting trip near Brazil’s remote Javari valley. The Guardian’s Latin America correspondent Tom Phillips investigates what happened in the first episode of a new six-part investigative podcast series. Find episode 2 – and all future…

1
Missing in the Amazon: the disappearance – episode 1 26:51

1M ago26:51

26:51

Three years ago British journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian indigenous defender Bruno Pereira vanished while on a reporting trip near Brazil’s remote Javari valley. The Guardian’s Latin America correspondent Tom Phillips investigates what happened in the first episode of a new six-part investigative podcast series. Find episode 2 – and all future…

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Dissecting Tuchel’s England squad and transfer talk – Football Weekly Extra podcast 58:31

1M ago58:31

58:31

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Paul Watson and Dan Bardell to discuss transfers and preview the international break. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypodBy The Guardian

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A deadly mission: how Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira tried to warn the world about the Amazon’s destruction 30:36

1M ago30:36

30:36

The Guardian journalist and the Brazilian Indigenous expert were killed while investigating the impact of deforestation. In this extract from the book Phillips was writing at the time of his death, he reflects on his encounters with the rainforest and its people – and why it is so vital to save this precious place By Dom Phillips. Read by Felipe Pa…

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From the archive: Alan Yentob: the last impresario 47:39

1M ago47:39

47:39

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: For decades, Alan Yentob was the dominant creative force at the BBC – behind everything from Adam Curtis to Strictly Come Dancing. He was a towering figure in British culture – so why did ma…

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End of season mailbag special – Football Weekly 51:47

1M ago51:47

51:47

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Philippe Auclair and John Brewin to answer your questions from the Football Weekly mailbag. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypodBy The Guardian

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Champions League glory for PSG at last – Football Weekly 56:22

1M ago56:22

56:22

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Nicky Bandini and Jonathan Wilson as PSG win their first European Cup with an emphatic 5-0 win over Inter. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypodBy The Guardian