Best Indepth Conversations Podcasts (2024)

1
Trending: The scammers who make you kidnap yourself 19:08

3h ago19:08

19:08

It is one of the most bizarre crimes of our times. Con men posing as police officers are forcing Chinese students to fake their own kidnapping. Elaine Chong reports on the extremes to which criminals will go to make money from their victims. The scammers trick Chinese people studying abroad into believing that they are wanted for crimes back in the…

1
Night Traxx presents BETH. Her most recent project “Get To Know Me” 34:00

3h ago34:00

34:00

4X R&B Grammy considered indie artist and record label owner (Anise Records), BETH aka Beth Griffith-Manley. Since the release of her 2 albums and 8 singles, she’s been featured in Billboard, SoulTracks, This is R&B and numerous other online publications. Beth has toured nationally and internationally with R&B greats Anita Baker, The O’Jays, KEM an…

1
In the Studio: Wendy Sharpe 30:11

1h ago30:11

30:11

In a new exhibition Wendy breaks conventions, painting on walls and installing herself in the gallery, becoming part of the art. Wendy Sharpe is an multi-award winning Australian artist working on a new exhibition Spellbound for the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney. In this exhibition she breaks all the rules, by painting directly onto wall…

1
Assignment: Cry witch - take my land, take my life 30:00

3h ago30:00

30:00

In a coastal region of eastern Kenya at least one elderly person is being killed every week – in the name of witchcraft. There are violent attacks on people accused of being witches across much of Africa. But, according to human rights groups, the seventy or so murders every year in Kilifi County are about more than fear of the supernatural. For As…

1
Three Million: 7. Live show 51:52

1d ago51:52

51:52

The BBC’s Yogita Limaye speaks to Kavita Puri, the creator and presenter of Three Million, to explore how the series was made, and how she went about tracking down eye-witnesses to the Bengal Famine of 1943. They are joined by author and historian Srimanjari and ‘memory collector’ Sailen Sarkar, who recorded testimonies of the very last survivors o…

1
The Fifth Floor: Can climate change stories be cool? 29:06

1h ago29:06

29:06

A virtual tour of Brazil's giant ravines, the radio shows helping Maasai people to protect their land and a real life Squid Game in South Korea: how BBC journalists around the world are finding new and engaging ways to cover climate change stories. Featuring Carol Olona and Shin Suzuki, Caroline Mwende and Suhnwook Lee. Produced by Alice Gioia and …

1
BBC OS Conversations: Kenya’s Gen Z protesters 25:44

4h ago25:44

25:44

Like many countries, Kenya is struggling with a cost of living crisis and how to balance the books. The government’s answer was a plan to raise taxes, in what was called the Finance Bill, and this created a spark for protests across the country. According to estimates by the state-funded rights commission, 39 people have been killed in those demons…

1
Bonus: The Global Story - Keir Starmer: Who is the UK's new prime minister 28:59

2h ago28:59

28:59

In a bonus episode of The Global Story podcast - A historic loss for the conservatives ushers in a new era in British politics.The Global Story brings you one big story every weekday, making sense of the news with our experts around the world. Insights you can trust, from the BBC, with Katya Adler. For more, go to bbcworldservice.com/globalstory or…

1
Heart and Soul: Journey to Sepharad 26:29

2d ago26:29

26:29

Sepharad is the Hebrew word for Spain and Jews who trace their ancestry there are called Sephardic Jews. Five hundred years ago they were expelled from Spain. Their exile created new communities stretching from Brazil to Amsterdam to Istanbul and today, Israel. It is a culture filled with food and songs of longing for a homeland. Michael Goldfarb g…

1
Suicide's silent survivors 29:20

7h ago29:20

29:20

In many countries around the world, trying to take your own life is still a criminal offence. People who have attempted suicide are often put in prison and deep-rooted religious beliefs and cultural attitudes are often behind the criminalisation laws. Journalist Ashley Byrne looks into Malawi where people face jail sentences of up to two years and …

1
Trending: Scammed by the fake Chinese police 21:33

7d ago21:33

21:33

Chinese people around the world are being targeted by a scam in which conmen posing as police, trick them into believing they are wanted for a crime back in China. Victims are threatened with extradition to China unless they hand over “bail” money. In the first of a two-part investigation into Chinese police impersonation scams, Elaine Chong speaks…

1
Assignment: Loving, living and dying together in the Netherlands 29:31

3d ago29:31

29:31

Els and Jan have fewer than three days left on Earth. Childhood sweethearts who met in kindergarten more than six decades ago, they know precisely when they will die. And how. On an early summer’s Monday morning they will travel to a nearby hospice. Some of their family and friends will accompany them. And then precisely at 10.30am - holding hands,…

1
In the Studio: Baek Mi-kyoung 28:19

3d ago28:19

28:19

Script writer Baek Mi-kyoung has pioneered female narratives on Korean television, putting women front and centre of acclaimed dramas like Mine and The Lady in Dignity. Seven years ago, her K-drama Strong Girl Bong-soon was a huge success. Audiences fell in love with this rom-com about a cute girl with supernatural strength. / Next, Baek wanted to …

1
Bonus: What in the World - Why are so many young people leaving Nigeria? 17:15

4d ago17:15

17:15

Nigeria is Africa’s economic powerhouse - so why are so many young people trying to leave and find opportunities in other countries? It’s become so common there’s even a word for it: Japa, Yoruba for escape.Last year, Nigeria’s immigration service issued a record number of passports - almost 2 million.So when we were in Lagos we spoke to the BBC’s …

1
The Fifth Floor: India's deadliest scam 21:42

5d ago21:42

21:42

Instant loan apps promise easy money. But what's the catch? Investigative reporter Poonam Agarwal and filmmaker Ronny Sen take us behind the scenes of their award-winning documentary The Trap: Inside the blackmail scam destroying lives across India.This programme contains discussion of suicide and suicide attempts. If you feel affected by this topi…

1
BBC OS Conversations: 25:56

5d ago25:56

25:56

The annual pilgrimage to Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, is something millions of people look forward to as an immensely spiritual experience. A main pillar of Islam, Muslims try to do it at least once in their lives, if they are physically and financially able. Saudi Arabia says 1.8 million people took part in Hajj this year. It coincided with a heatwave …

1
Night Traxx Presents Valerie Day, John Smith of Grammy Nominated group Nu Shooz 46:00

5d ago46:00

46:00

In April 1985, Valerie Day, John Smith, and their band NU SHOOZ released the five-song EP ‘Tha’s Right!’. Acting on a dare from a local music writer, Gary Bryan of Portland, Oregon’s KKRZ put the song “I Can’t Wait” on the air. Listener reaction was strong and immediate- the kind of response known in radio jargon as ‘Instant Phones.’ But this was n…

1
Saint Sara: Patron saint of the Romani people 29:01

6d ago29:01

29:01

Roma photographer Artúr Čonka joins the annual Romani pilgrimage to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in the south of France. Thousands of Romani from across western Europe gather in the small town in Provence each year to honour their patron saint, Sara-la-Kâli, who represents motherly love, is a protector of the oppressed, and is even said to help couples…

1
Sir Frank Worrell 30:55

7d ago30:55

30:55

The brilliant cricketer Frank Worrell became the first permanent Black captain of the West Indies team in 1960 – but he had to wait for a decade to get the job, denied by the elitism, insularity and racism of Caribbean cricket's rulers. BBC producer and cricket author Simon Lister travels to Barbados to find out how Worrell's upbringing, his cricke…

1
Trending: The American pushing Russian disinformation 19:41

8d ago19:41

19:41

The websites have names like DC Weekly and Chicago Crier. They are filled with thousands of legitimate-looking stories, plucked from real news websites and rewritten by artificial intelligence. But BBC Trending has found that these sites are part of a wide-ranging operation designed to insert false stories into political debates, over Ukraine and n…

1
Assignment: Germany’s AI detectives 30:51

9d ago30:51

30:51

In late 2023 a group of German journalists released a podcast series, Legion: Most Wanted. It described their ultimately unsuccessful search for a terrorist suspect, Daniela Klette, using an AI facial recognition tool. She had been on the run for more than 30 years, together with two accomplices. The trio are believed by the police to have been mem…

1
In the Studio: Hanna Harris 30:27

10d ago30:27

30:27

Hanna Harris is Helsinki’s chief design officer and the second person in the job since the role was created in 2016. But why does a city need a chief design officer? And, what can design do to boost wellbeing? Erika Benke joins Hanna as she searches for new pioneering opportunities that have the potential to change people’s lives. They visit a vast…

1
The Global Jigsaw: The evolution of the Islamic State Group 39:07

11d ago39:07

39:07

After a lull in activities, in 2024 the Islamic State Group claimed to be behind several major attacks, showing the world they have not gone away. Among them was the storming by gunmen of a Moscow concert hall. Ten years after the Islamist extremists declared the establishment of a caliphate, our Jihadist Media Monitoring Team considers the current…

1
Alvin Hall's other America 53:07

11d ago53:07

53:07

Writer Alvin Hall returns to the world he grew up in, to shed light on the political present and share a haunting portrait of a disappearing way of life. This is Wakulla County, Florida and it is an America most people do not know. It has long been deeply rural, a place of unspoilt wilderness and incredible natural beauty. But it has also been a pl…

1
The Fifth Floor: Is Islamic State still a threat? 27:00

12d ago27:00

27:00

10 years ago, IS proclaimed the creation of an Islamic State or Caliphate in Iraq and Syria. They went on to dominate headlines for years, committing terrible attacks and atrocities in the Middle East and beyond. Despite losing territory in 2019, the group still exists and is active in many countries around the world. Jihadist media specialist Mina…

1
BBC OS Conversations: National service 25:07

18d ago25:07

25:07

The war in Ukraine has contributed to a heightened awareness of security in parts of Europe, and in some countries, the reintroduction of different forms of national service has become a debate once again. In the UK, the ruling Conservative party has promised a system of national service if re-elected. In Italy too, deputy prime minister Matteo Sal…

1
The Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast 2024 38:32

18d ago38:32

38:32

This special programme is dedicated to the team of scientists and support staff isolated at British research stations in the Antarctic midwinter. For the staff living at three British Antarctic Survey research stations (Rothera, Bird Island and South Georgia), and at other national bases across the frozen continent, midwinter is a special time. Wit…

1
Ukraine to Korea 30:41

20d ago30:41

30:41

Over 800 ethnically-Korean refugees fled Ukraine for Koryo Village in South Korea’s Gwangju province following Russia’s invasion. Many Koryoin are women and children who escaped Ukraine when male family members were drafted. Some have secured legal status and jobs, while others await document processing. They are descendants of Koreans who fled to …

1
Trending: Colombia’s guerrilla recruitment video problem 18:36

15d ago18:36

18:36

Fighters from dissident armed groups in Colombia are using TikTok to glorify their lives as guerrillas and recruit youngsters. These armed groups did not like the terms of a peace treaty negotiated between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the government in 2016, and they kept fighting against the Colombian government. Videos gl…

1
Assignment: Decolonising Russia 31:24

20d ago31:24

31:24

Is Russia Europe’s last empire? Is its invasion of Ukraine a “colonial war”? Is “decolonising” the country the only way of ensuring it stops being a threat to its neighbours and world peace?Since last year, “decolonising Russia” has become a buzz-phrase in Ukraine and other former members of the soviet union, among many Western strategists and poli…

1
In the Studio: Nazanin Moradi 30:21

22d ago30:21

30:21

For artist Nazanin Moradi, who was brought up in Iran where women are “second-class citizens in every sense,” reversing the “unfair” gender roles is paramount. In her new project, the multidisciplinary artist challenges male domination and toxic masculinity, within a fragmented historical context where fantasy meets rebellion. She does this by chan…

1
Three Million: Silk scarves 32:52

23d ago32:52

32:52

Eighty years ago at least three million Indians, who were British subjects, died in the Bengal Famine. But today different generations in Britain are coming to terms with this difficult past. Kavita Puri meets the granddaughter of a senior colonial figure, who is only just learning about her grandfather's role in the famine. Initially she feels sha…

1
The Fifth Floor: My AI boyfriend 28:52

23d ago28:52

28:52

Would you turn to AI to create your perfect partner? Wanqing Zhang from the BBC Global China Unit has been looking into an AI dating trend that is going viral in China. Plus, Daria Taradai from BBC Ukraine tells us what it's like to live and work with power cuts in Kyiv. Produced by Caroline Ferguson and Alice Gioia. (Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: …

1
BBC OS Conversations: Far-right voters in Europe 26:24

24d ago26:24

26:24

Politics in Europe took a shift to the right following the recent European parliamentary elections, with far-right parties making gains in several countries, most notably France. The size of victory for the opposition National Rally Party led President Macron to call a snap national election. We bring together two men who support Marine Le Pen’s fa…

1
Night Traxx Presents Candace Woodson, new single entitled “Over and Over (Phylli 39:00

20d ago39:00

39:00

International recording artist Candace Woodson stops by to discuss her latest single “Over and Over (Phyllis Hyman Tribute) & her latest album " PERFECT, that was released in 2022. #1 on the U.K. Soul Chart Top 30 Billboard’s Smooth Jazz Most Added Best International Artist Her story of survival will amaze you. Her voice will captivate your ears do…

1
Losing Attar 28:25

24d ago28:25

28:25

Attar is the essential oil that is produced when aromatics like jasmine and sandalwood are pressed and distilled. It has been a feature of life in India, as well as many other parts of the world, for over 5,000 years, and it has been the defining industry of the Indian city of Kannauj for over a thousand. But whereas once this ancient discipline em…

1
Heart and Soul: Last Christians of Gaza 28:33

25d ago28:33

28:33

George Antone is a member of the only Roman Catholic Church in Gaza, part of a dwindling Christian community whose roots in this area, go back to the 4th Century. When war broke out in October 2023, he is convinced that staying in Gaza City is the right option - for safety and to continue bearing witness to Jesus in this part of the world. His is t…

1
Trending: The Kenyan influencer championing climate denial 24:34

27d ago24:34

24:34

Jusper Machogu is a farmer from south-western Kenya who describes himself as a “climate sceptic”. He wrongly claims that climate change is a “scam” or a “hoax” designed to hold Africa back. On social media, he has also become known as a staunch defender of fossil fuel exploration in Africa. His views have caught the eye of those in the West who, li…

1
Assignment: Ireland’s phone-free town 29:33

28d ago29:33

29:33

Greystones made global headlines a year ago when, concerned by rising anxiety levels among their pupils, the headteachers from all the primary schools in the town invited parents to sign a voluntary pact or code; not to buy their child a smartphone before they moved up to secondary school. In Ireland that’s usually at age 12. Beth McLeod talks to t…

1
In the Studio: Senua's Saga - Hellblade II 27:55

28d ago27:55

27:55

Released in 2017, the video game Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice saw players take control of dark-age warrior Senua as she battled to rescue the soul of her dead lover from the Norse underworld. The action-adventure game from British studio Ninja Theory won awards for its gameplay, acting and storytelling, as well as plaudits for its nuanced and well-…

1
Greening the Hajj 29:57

29d ago29:57

29:57

The Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, the Hajj, attracted no fewer than two million pilgrims in 2023. But this pilgrim boom has an environmental downside: climate scientists are warning that the five-day Hajj alone, with its bargain flights, hotels, catering and local transport, produces over 1.8 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, roughly the amount New…

1
The forgotten people of the Ravi River 52:46

30d ago52:46

52:46

For the hundreds of people who live in a cluster of villages between India and Pakistan, a map drawn up long ago still causes daily struggles. Punjab - the land of the five rivers - was carved up to create Pakistan during The Partition of 1947 when India gained its independence from colonial rule. Two rivers went to Pakistan, two stayed with India …

1
Stories from Mexico 26:32

1M ago26:32

26:32

The election of Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum is a moment of history. For the first time, a woman is in charge of the country. Host James Reynolds travels around the country hearing about the challenges facing the new president through the lives and concerns and hopes of the people he spoke to. Many live in fear of criminal cartels and armed…

1
Heart and Soul: Losing my religion 30:08

1M ago30:08

30:08

'Spiritual but not religious’ is the fastest growing faith category amongst Gen Z and Millennials around the world. However, in Nigeria, where most people identify as either Christian or Muslim, questioning doctrine or exploring alternative beliefs is still often seen as taboo. Kamsy and Ore were both raised in evangelical Christian households, but…

1
Night Traxx presents Melissa Manchester 30:00

28d ago30:00

30:00

http://www.facebook.com/nighttraxxradio. The interview was Thursday June 6, 2024. Night Traxx presents Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Melissa Manchester , Reimagining Her Classic Hits in Her 25th Album Re:View. For 50 years Melissa Manchester has been making timeless music that has resonated with fans. reinterpreting some of her biggest hits, wit…

1
The Fifth Floor: For the love of football 30:17

1M ago30:17

30:17

Why is football such a universal language? Three BBC World Service journalists and football fans - Matias Zibell Garcia, Pooria Jafereh and Njoroge Muigai – explain what the game mean to their audiences in Argentina, Iran and Kenya, and look ahead at the summer season. Plus, Tamara Ebiwei from BBC Pidgin on why Nigerian players have to learn a new …

1
Bonus: What in the world - Africa and FGM: When will it end? 14:39

1M ago14:39

14:39

Female genital mutilation affects around 230 million women and girls globally, with rates highest in Africa. FGM is considered a human rights violation and has no health benefits. That’s according to World Health Organisation. Hibo Wardere, a survivor from Somalia, recounts her ordeal and discusses the importance of education in ending the practice…

1
Whose Truth?: Climate change denial 20:16

1M ago20:16

20:16

Nobel Prize laureate Sir Paul Nurse wants science, not politics, to guide the debate surrounding climate change. But how do you convince the denialists? Babita Sharma takes us through the evolving strategies of those who claim climate change isn’t real, and speaks to two young people who are trying to make a difference. UK climate activist Phoebe L…

1
Whose Truth?: Russia v Ukraine 19:54

1M ago19:54

19:54

Can information become a weapon of war? Oleksandra Matviichuk, whose organisation was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, is documenting alleged Russian war crimes against Ukraine. She talks to Babita Sharma about how she uncovers the evidence. Babita also speaks to Anastasiia Romaniuk, a young Ukrainian digital platforms analyst, who is exposing disinf…

1
Whose Truth?: Online women haters 21:16

1M ago21:16

21:16

Attacked on social media - how Nobel Prize laureate Maria Ressa came under fire for doing her job as a journalist in the Philippines, covering the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte. She talks to Babita Sharma about the fight to stop social media being used to spread lies and hate against powerful women. Babita also speaks to two female digital pioneers…

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