The Audio Long Read

About this podcast

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 journalism the Guardian has to offer, including in-depth writing from around the world on immigration, crime, business, the arts and much more

The Audio Long Read

Episodes

2021
Why we need to take bad sex more seriously – podcast
Consent has been portrayed as the cure for all the ills of our sexual culture. But what if the injunction to ‘know what you want’ is another form of coercion? By Katherine Angel. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
April 9, 2021
27 min
From the archives: Why Silicon Valley billionaires are prepping for the apocalypse in New Zealand
We are raiding the Audio Long Reads archives and bringing you some classic pieces from years past, 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 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
April 7, 2021
42 min
The student and the algorithm: how the exam results fiasco threatened one pupil’s future
Josiah Elleston-Burrell had done everything to make his dream of studying architecture a reality. But, suddenly, in the summer of 2020, he found his fate was no longer in his hand. By Tom Lamont. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
April 5, 2021
46 min
Damage: the silent forms of violence against women – podcast
The most insidious kinds of violence are those that cannot be seen, because those with the power to inflict harm are blind to the consequences of their actions. By Jacqueline Rose. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
April 2, 2021
33 min
From the archives: The fall of Saigon: witnessing the end of the Vietnam war
We are raiding the Audio Long Reads archives and bringing you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week: In a special tribute to Martin Woollacott, the Guardian’s former foreign correspondent and foreign editor, who has died at the age of 81, Alan Rusbridger reflects on his fondest memories of Martin and how this ‘giant of journalism’ should be remembered. From 2015: North Vietnamese troops who marched into the capital on 30 April 1975. It marked the most crushing defeat in US military history. Four decades after he reported on these events for the Guardian, Martin Woollacott reflects upon what it meant for the future of both nations. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
March 31, 2021
41 min
'My body is unserviceable and well past its sell-by date': the last days of Avril Henry – podcast
Avril Henry lived a fulfilling life, but as age took hold and her body failed, it was one she no longer believed was worth living. Why did the law stand in her way? By Katie Engelhart. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
March 29, 2021
33 min
Hunting the men who kill women: Mexico’s femicide detective – podcast
Although femicide is a recognised crime in Mexico, when a woman disappears, the authorities are notoriously slow to act. But there is someone who will take on their case. By Meaghan Beatley. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
March 26, 2021
39 min
From the archive: The real story behind the fake 'Islamic plot' to take over schools
We are raiding the Audio Long Reads archives and bringing you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2017: In 2014, documents alleging a conspiracy to Islamise Birmingham schools were leaked to the media, sparking a national scandal. The papers were debunked – but the story remains as divisive as ever. What really happened? By Samira Shackle. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
March 24, 2021
60 min
Under pressure: why athletes choke – podcast
What makes an elite sports star suddenly unable to do the very thing they have been practising for years? And is there anything they can do about it? By A Mark Williams and Tim Wigmore. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
March 22, 2021
27 min
The rich vs the very, very rich: the Wentworth golf club rebellion – podcast
When a Chinese billionaire bought one of Britain’s most prestigious golf clubs in 2015, dentists and estate agents were confronted with the unsentimental force of globalised capital. By Samanth Subramanian. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
March 19, 2021
39 min
From the archive: Trident: the British question
We are raiding the Audio Long Reads archives and bringing you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2016: The Trident debate is not simply about submarines and missiles. It touches almost every anxiety about the identity of the United Kingdom, and could tell us what kind of country – or countries – we will become. By Ian Jack. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
March 17, 2021
83 min
Rock of ages: how chalk made England – podcast
Swathes of England’s landscape were shaped by the immense block of chalk that has lain beneath it for 100 million years. For a long time, even geologists paid it little heed – but now its secrets and symbolism are being revealed. By Helen Gordon. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
March 15, 2021
26 min
The day my voice broke: what an injury taught me about the power of speech – podcast
When I damaged my vocal cords, I was forced to change the way I spoke – and discovered how much our voices reveal who we are. By John Colapinto. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
March 12, 2021
31 min
From the archives: 88 days trapped in bed to save a pregnancy
We are raiding the Audio Long Reads archives and bringing you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2017: Months before she was due to give birth, disaster struck for Katherine Heiny. Doctors ordered her to lie on her side in bed and not move – and gave her a 1% chance of carrying her baby to term by Katherine Heiny.. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
March 10, 2021
37 min
Trump's useful thugs: how the Republican party offered a home to the Proud Boys – podcast
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 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
March 8, 2021
31 min
How globalisation has transformed the fight for LGBTQ+ rights
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 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
March 5, 2021
35 min
From the archives: The last Nazi hunters
We are raiding the Audio Long Reads archives and bringing you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week: since 1958, a small department of Germany’s government has sought to bring members of the Third Reich to trial. A handful of prosecutors are still tracking down Nazis, but the world’s biggest cold-case investigation will soon be shut down. By Linda Kinstler. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
March 3, 2021
38 min
'Pure, liquid hope': what the vaccine means to me as a GP – podcast
For almost a year our small clinic has been struggling with the horrors of the coronavirus pandemic. So being able to give our staff and most vulnerable patients their first doses of the vaccine has been a real turning point. By Gavin Francis.. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
March 1, 2021
29 min
'I just needed to find my family': the scandal of Chile's stolen children – podcast
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 Nelsen. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
February 26, 2021
36 min
From the archive: 'A reckoning for our species': the philosopher prophet of the Anthropocene
We are raiding the Audio Long Reads archives and bringing you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week: Timothy Morton wants humanity to give up some of its core beliefs, from the fantasy that we can control the planet to the notion that we are ‘above’ other beings. His ideas might sound weird, but they’re catching on. By Alex Blasdel. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a>
February 24, 2021
42 min

The Audio Long Read

About this podcast

Categories

About this podcast

Categories

The Audio Long Read

Episodes

Why we need to take bad sex more seriously – podcast

From the archives: Why Silicon Valley billionaires are prepping for the apocalypse in New Zealand

The student and the algorithm: how the exam results fiasco threatened one pupil’s future

Damage: the silent forms of violence against women – podcast

From the archives: The fall of Saigon: witnessing the end of the Vietnam war

'My body is unserviceable and well past its sell-by date': the last days of Avril Henry – podcast

Hunting the men who kill women: Mexico’s femicide detective – podcast

From the archive: The real story behind the fake 'Islamic plot' to take over schools

Under pressure: why athletes choke – podcast

The rich vs the very, very rich: the Wentworth golf club rebellion – podcast

From the archive: Trident: the British question

Rock of ages: how chalk made England – podcast

The day my voice broke: what an injury taught me about the power of speech – podcast

From the archives: 88 days trapped in bed to save a pregnancy

Trump's useful thugs: how the Republican party offered a home to the Proud Boys – podcast

How globalisation has transformed the fight for LGBTQ+ rights

From the archives: The last Nazi hunters

'Pure, liquid hope': what the vaccine means to me as a GP – podcast

'I just needed to find my family': the scandal of Chile's stolen children – podcast

From the archive: 'A reckoning for our species': the philosopher prophet of the Anthropocene