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The Week Unwrapped - with Olly Mann

News & Politics Podcasts

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.

Location:

United States

Description:

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.

Language:

English


Episodes
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Freemasons in the police, prediction markets and the UK’s creative crisis

2/19/2026
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, Harriet Marsden and Suchandrika Chakrabati. Image: Sam Mellish / In Pictures / Getty Images

Duration:00:50:48

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Iranian confessions, Musk’s moonshot and BBC puzzles

2/12/2026
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 really matters from the past seven days. With Felicity Capon, Arion McNicoll and Harriet Marsden. Image credit: Atta Kenare / AFP / Getty Images

Duration:00:45:23

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Russia’s shadow fleet, tackling cancer and a new broom at Disney

2/5/2026
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 from the past seven days. With Felicity Capon, Hariet Marsden and Jamie Timson. Image credit: Damien Meyer / AFP / Getty Images

Duration:00:44:42

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Xi’s purge, Prosper UK and hearing difficulties

1/29/2026
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 from the past seven days. With Jamie Timson, Felicity Capon and Harriet Marsden Image credit: Lintao Zhang / Getty Images

Duration:00:45:52

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Billionaires, immoral orders and cow tools

1/22/2026
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 past seven days. With Felicity Capon, Arion McNicoll and Jamie Timson. Image credit: William West / AFP / Getty Images

Duration:00:46:55

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Bobi Wine, cancer research fraud and Are You Dead?

1/15/2026
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 matters from the past seven days. With Jamie Timson, Felicity Capon and Harriet Marsden Image credit: Michel Lunanga/Getty Images

Duration:00:43:45

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Grok abuse, the politics of Mumsnet and Avatar’s cultural impact

1/8/2026
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 the past seven days. With Harriet Marsden, Jamie Timson and Felicity Capon Image credit: Vincent Feuray / Hans Lucas /AFP / Getty Images

Duration:00:49:40

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The Year Unwrapped: Emotional bots, weight loss and British culture

12/25/2025
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 the past 12 months. With Harriet Marsden, Felicity Capon and Holden Frith Image credit: Jim Dyson / Getty Images

Duration:00:51:30

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The politics of AI, forever chemicals and universal income

12/18/2025
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 days. With Alex Hudson, Felicity Capon and Harriet Marsden. Image credit: Just Super / Getty Images

Duration:00:42:26

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Euro protests, Syria and monogamy

12/11/2025
** 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 are humans (mostly) monogamous? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Jamie Timson, Felicity Capon and Harriet Marsden Image credit: NurPhoto / Getty Images

Duration:00:43:34

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A Honduran reprieve, water wars and rom-coms

12/4/2025
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 the past seven days. With Harriet Marsden, Jamie Timson and Felicity CaponImage credit: Shwan Nawzad / AFP / Getty Images

Duration:00:42:59

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Slovenia, fallible leaders and mongrels

11/27/2025
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 matters from the past seven days. With Felicity Capon, Jamie Timson and Arion McNicoll Image credit: Jens Buttner/ AFP / Getty Images

Duration:00:46:30

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Cryogenic morality and a Catholic rift

11/20/2025
What are the ethics of freezing your late partner? And will US Catholics rebel against the Pope? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Julia Macfarlane and Suchandrika Chakrabarti Image credit: Andreas Solaro / AFP/ Getty Images

Duration:00:35:58

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Anti-Putin rap, Sarajevo snipers and captive penguins

11/13/2025
Who were the “human hunters” of the Bosnian war? Why has a rap song become an anti-Putin anthem in Russia? And what should happen to captive penguins? With Jamie Timson, Harriet Marsden and Felicity Capon. Photo: Lorena Sopena/Europa Press via Getty Images

Duration:00:45:16

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Smoking in the Maldives, rap in the UK and elderly whales

11/6/2025
Can the Maldives quit smoking? Are British rappers the world’s best? And can whales lead us to immortality? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Harriet Marsden, Felicity Capon and Jamie TimsonImage credit: Simone Joyner / Getty Images.

Duration:00:43:50

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Bacon, a Dutch standoff and the art of living well

10/30/2025
Should we be eating less fat – or more? Who will benefit from a surprise election result? And how can art improve our health? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Felicity Capon, Jamie Timson and Harriet Marsden Image credit: Bloomberg / Getty Image

Duration:00:46:42

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Fusion, frog protests and fashion

10/23/2025
Will nuclear fusion deliver us from climate change? Is humour the best way to take on Trump? And will Grace Wales Bonner change Hermès for the better? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Harriet Marsden, Arion McNicoll and Jamie Timson. Image credit: Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images

Duration:00:41:55

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Russian energy, parasocial relationships and bullfighting

10/16/2025
Is Putin’s economy running out of gas? Is online fandom inherently unhealthy? And can bullfighting win over young Spaniards? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Felicity Capon, Jamie Timson and Harriet Marsden Image credit: Joaquin Corchero / Europa Press / Getty Images

Duration:00:48:51

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Egg warning, Saudi jokes and slop

10/9/2025
Are imported eggs undermining animal welfare? Who had the last laugh in Riyadh? And what can we do about AI deepfakes? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Harriet Marsden, Felicity Capon and Suchandrika Chakrabarti Image credit: Fayez Nureldine / AFP / Getty Images

Duration:00:47:51

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Moldova, Blair and Brollywood

10/2/2025
Is Russia losing its influence campaign? What’s behind Tony Blair’s comeback? And will British filmmakers survive Trump’s tariffs? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Felicity Capon, Arion McNicoll and Harriet Marsden Image credit: Daniel Milhailescu / AFP / Getty Images

Duration:00:46:55