The Week Unwrapped - with Olly Mann
The Week Unwrapped
300 episodes
Have you missed the biggest news of the week? Olly Mann and three of The Week's writers and editors decide which under-reported stories will have the biggest long-term consequences. Join Felicity Capon, Harriet Marsden and Jamie Timson to learn about three stories you won't hear on other news podcasts – but will remember in years to come.
Episodes page 1 of 6
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Pessimism fatigue, the trade in body parts, and Pooh at 100
How should we cope with the omni-crisis? Why are people selling human remains? And what can we still learn from a bear of little brain? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters…
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Leap seconds, bed bugs and climbing Everest
Do we need a new way of measuring time? Are we losing the battle against bed bugs? And is it time to close Everest? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven…
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‘Ethical’ mining, K-pop Grammys boycott, and a new AI start-up
Is there such a thing as ‘ethical’ gold mining? Why are K-pop acts boycotting the Grammys? And what does a new start-up tell us about the state of AI? Picture credit: Luis Tato / AFP / Getty Images
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Wildfires, gene-edited bananas, and male self-confidence
Why is Indonesia experiencing its worst ever wildfire season? Would you eat a banana that never goes brown? And why do men feel more confident in their looks than women? Credit: Sigit Prasetya / AFP / Getty Images
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Potash, the Lib Dems and Mitchell & Webb
How will Belarus profit from its critical minerals? Can Ed Davey lead his party back to power? And why is the BBC censoring its own archive? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really…
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Arctic manoeuvres, a UK referendum and Darlene Love
Will Europe meet Canada in the High North? Is the Piddington vote a sign of things to come? And why did it take 50 years to recognise a lost talent? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what…
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Hunter Biden’s cryptocurrency, VW’s military pivot and Nathan Fielder on Theranos
What is Hunter Biden up to? Can defence spending save Germany’s car factories? And are we ready to hear more from Elizabeth Holmes? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from…
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A naval odyssey, paternity leave and art heists
Why did the USS Abraham Lincoln spend so long at sea? Should British fathers get more time off work? And what’s behind a pan-European wave of museum thefts? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate…
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The maternity gap, Tunisian unrest and literary feuds
Why is it so hard to find somewhere to give birth? Is the pioneer of the Arab Spring preparing for another revolution? And should we welcome a new round of reading rows? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the…
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ADHD, the besieged Palestinian-American and discussing women’s appearance
Is ADHD overdiagnosed? What can we learn from the case of Louai Abu Ridi? And, after Ariana Grande and Nicole Kidman, how should we approach conversations about what women look like? The Week and Arion McNicoll,…
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Assad sentenced, LGBT rights in Africa and sleep drugs
How have Syrians reacted to the trial of Bashar al-Assad? Why are so many African nations enacting homophobic laws? And after obesity, is tiredness next in line for a chemical ‘cure’. The Week and Arion McNicoll,…
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Compulsory voting, lost civilisations and country music
Should everyone have to vote? What can we learn from the Aquiry civilisation? And why is country music top of the pops? The Week and Arion McNicoll, standing in for Olly Mann, delve behind the headlines and debate what…
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Palantir, Ali G and the AI singularity
Is Palantir’s NHS work actually doing any good? Do we need another Ali G movie? And is the AI singularity already here? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past…
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Road safety, British gloom and the Commonwealth Games
Can we keep making cars safer? Are we a nation of Eeyores? And will Glasgow make the most of its sporting moment? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven…
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Elderly executions, a new Ebola vaccine and instapoetry
Will Florida’s execution of a 74-year-old change the death penalty debate? How did scientists create a vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in 57 days? And is spoken-word poetry the next social-media trend? Olly…
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Chinese missiles, vanishing anchovies and unpredictable weather
What’s behind China’s latest missile tests? How do anchovies in Peru affect the global food chain? And do Brits really trust the weather forecast? Image: Yi Haifei / China News Service / VCG / Getty Images
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Property Unwrapped: Build, baby, build
In the last part of our special series, Olly Mann and The Week dive into the UK property market and work out how to improve it for everyone. This week, will Andy Burnham’s pledge to build vast numbers of council homes…
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The Vagrancy Act, Indonesian corruption and Citizen Vigilante
Will a change in the law help Britain’s rough sleepers? Will a dirty money scandal spread beyond Jakarta? And why has Armie Hammer’s new film been banned in Germany? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines…
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Algae, Albania’s flamingo protests and Madonna’s failed film
Why is toxic algae spreading? Will the Albanian PM be the next to fall? And what does a cancelled biopic tell us about today’s movie industry? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really…
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Property Unwrapped: building better homes
In part two of our bonus three-part series, Olly Mann and The Week delve into the UK property market and work out how to improve it for everyone. This week, how we can build new homes that people want to live in – and…
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Lone star ticks, Roberto Vannacci and AI grief
How does a tiny tick turn people vegan? How will Giorgia Meloni deal with a challenge from the right? And could AI make grief obsolete? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters…
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Food prices, primary scandals and the Cockroach Janta Party
Should food be more expensive? Could Graham Platner cost Democrats the Senate? And is India’s new cockroach-themed party more than just a joke? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really…
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Property Unwrapped: tech to the rescue!
In a bonus three-part series, Olly Mann and The Week delve into the UK property market and work out how to improve it for everyone. First up, how more efficient technology – and AI – means property transactions could…
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Prostate screening, dating and the Sagrada Familia
Should more men get prostate cancer screening? Is it time to swipe left on dating apps? And why is Sagrada Familia still controversial? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters…
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Dam removals, Colombia’s election and flat-sharing pensioners
Have dams had their day? Will drone warfare determine the next president of Colombia? And could shared flats rival retirement homes? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from…
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Kidnapping in Nigeria, the return of Steve Hilton and Swatch-mania
What’s behind the mass abduction of Nigerian children? Could David Cameron’s chief strategist be the next Governor of California? And how did an analogue watch launch descend into chaos? Olly Mann and The Week delve…
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Robotaxis, fact-checking and gym drugs
Will driverless cars find their way through London? Why has BBC Verify closed? And what’s behind a rise in doping among young gym-goers? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters…
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Romania, sterilisation and the Biennale
Is Bucharest’s left-right coalition a sign of things to come? Should women be offered sterilisation as freely as men are offered vasectomies? And has art fallen victim to politics in Venice? Olly Mann and The Week…
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Helium, the next financial crash and tipping
Will we run out of helium? Are soaring stock markets about to plummet? And should we replace tips with a compulsory service charge? Olly Mann and TheWeek delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from…
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Japan’s military, HAYI and ageing athletes
Has Japan broken with its pacifist past? Who or what is Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia? And why are sportspeople retiring later than they used to? Olly Mann and TheWeek delve behind the headlines and debate what…
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Pakistani prestige, Ulster gold and Dolly Parton
How did Pakistan become the Middle East mediator? Has Northern Ireland struck gold? And why does the Queen of Country unite Americans? Olly Mann and TheWeek delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters…
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Orban, stalkers and boil-in-the-bag funerals
Is Viktor Orban about to lose power? Why are stalking offences on the rise? And would you choose to be dissolved after death? Olly Mann and TheWeek delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the…
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Japanese divorce, London’s web wars and Eurovision Asia
Why is joint custody controversial in Japan? Does London deserve its online reputation for mayhem? And why is Eurovision expanding eastwards? Olly Mann and TheWeek delve behind the headlines and debate what really…
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Organ donation, Gerry Adams and corgi-cloning
What’s gone wrong with Britain’s transplant system? Why did Gerry Adams’ trial collapse? And did Fergie really want to clone the late Queen’s dogs? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what…
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Brexit backtracking, Banksy and a battery breakthrough
Is Britain rethinking its big break with the EU? Will Banksy survive (another) unmasking? And is battery technology about to take a leap forward? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really…
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A proxy Gulf war, Chile’s right turn and Meta’s AI gamble
Why are Saudi Arabia and the UAE at odds in Africa? How will a new president change Chile? And why did Meta just buy a social network built for AI? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what…
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France’s nuclear arsenal, dinosaurs for sale and North Korean football
What does France’s nuclear policy shift mean for Europe? Why is the dinosaur market booming? And can North Korea regain its place at the top of women’s football?
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What will happen if we run out of RAM?
Is the world running out of RAM? Why is the Royal Artillery keeping looted treasure behind closed doors? And how can Heathrow's car park cost £1.3bn? Image credit: credit: SeongJoon Cho / Bloomberg / Getty Images
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Freemasons in the police, prediction markets and the UK’s creative crisis
Do the Freemasons have too much sway in the police force? What does the growing popularity of prediction markets mean for the future? Why are UK film and TV workers struggling? With Arion McNicoll, Jamie Timson,…
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Iranian confessions, Musk’s moonshot and BBC puzzles
Have televised confessions quelled protests in Iran? Why has Elon Musk turned from Mars to the Moon? And will the BBC prove to be a puzzles champ? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what…
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Russia’s shadow fleet, tackling cancer and a new broom at Disney
Why does Russia send so many ships through the Channel? What does a ‘feminist’ approach to cancer involve? And who is Mickey’s new boss? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters…
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Xi’s purge, Prosper UK and hearing difficulties
Why is China clearing out its generals? Can the Conservatives win back the centre? And what’s gone wrong with Britain’s hearing aids? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters…
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Billionaires, immoral orders and cow tools
Have we reached ‘peak billionaire’? When should troops disobey their superiors? And what can we learn from a tool-wielding cow? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the…
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Bobi Wine, cancer research fraud and Are You Dead?
Will Uganda’s pop-star politician prevail? Is dodgy data undermining medical research? And what does a new app reveal about Chinese society? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really…
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Grok abuse, the politics of Mumsnet and Avatar’s cultural impact
Is Elon Musk’s AI tool a platform for abuse? Can Mumsnet predict who will be the next PM? And who is still watching Avatar sequels? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from…
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The Year Unwrapped: Emotional bots, weight loss and British culture
Why are we so willing to bond with AI bots? How will appetite suppressants change society? And is Britain back on the main stage? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from…
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The politics of AI, forever chemicals and universal income
Why is George Osborne joining OpenAI? What’s the cost of PFAs? And has universal basic income finally come of age? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven…
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Euro protests, Syria and monogamy
** This episode was recorded on Thursday morning, shortly before the resignation of the Bulgarian government ** How is the euro fuelling unrest in Bulgaria? Has Syria changed, a year on from its revolution? And why…
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A Honduran reprieve, water wars and rom-coms
Why did Trump pardon a drug-trafficking president? Will drought fuel global violence? And are romantic comedies in terminal decline? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from…
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Slovenia, fallible leaders and mongrels
What can we learn from Slovenia’s rejection of assisted dying? Can politicians admit their weaknesses? And have pedigree dogs had their day? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really…
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