The Week Unwrapped - with Olly Mann - podcast cover

The Week Unwrapped - with Olly Mann

The Week Unwrappedwww.theweek.co.uk
Have you missed the biggest news of the week? Olly Mann and The Week’s writers and editors talk about under-reported stories with long-term consequences

Episodes

#343 Marriage, Iron Man energy and medical laughter

Why is China offering marriage ‘rewards’? Can a metal disc improve sporting ability? And is laughter really the best medicine? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Julia Macfarlane, Abdulwahab Tahhan and Suchandrika Chakrabarti

Sep 01, 202335 min

#342 Trans chess, goalkeepers and twitching

Why is women’s chess bringing in a trans ban? Why was Nike so reluctant to sell Mary Earps’s shirt? And have we become a nation of birdwatchers? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Emma Smith, Julia O’Driscoll and Harriet Marsden

Aug 24, 202336 min

#341 Age barriers, women’s drinking and edgy books

Is automation ageist? Why are women drinking more? And are some subjects off-limits for children’s books? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Cindy Yu, Jamie Timson and Rebekah Evans

Aug 18, 202338 min

#340 A new human, ME and date stacking

Does Homo sapiens have a new cousin? Are people with ME about to get better treatment? And is three dates in one day too many? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Holden Frith, Leaf Arbuthnot and Harriet Marsden

Aug 11, 202342 min

#339 Bank warning, allergies and talking to strangers

Will life get easier for savers? Why are allergies rising? And should we talk to more people we don’t know? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Guy Anker, Suchandrika Chakrabarti and Arion McNicoll

Aug 04, 202346 min

#338 Age and youth in politics, Cambodia and opera

What’s the right age for a politician? Have Cambodians given up on democracy? And has everyone given up on opera? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Rebekah Evans, Mariana Vieira and Arion McNicoll

Jul 28, 202340 min

#337 Cocaine, greener trees and superspeed podcasts

Why is UK drug use on the rise? Could we make trees more carbon-positive? And will you listen to this podcast on fast-forward? 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 Leaf Arbuthnot

Jul 21, 202341 min

#336 AI scams, entry fees and wooden buildings

Will artificial intelligence supercharge fraud? Should cultural landmarks charge for entry? And will we build the cities of the future from timber? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Guy Anker, Holden Frith and Sorcha Bradley

Jul 13, 202342 min

#335 Ukraine memorabilia, prostitution and Barbie

What should we make of the trade in Russian trophies? Will Amsterdam evict its red light district? And how did Barbie get embroiled in a border dispute? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Abdulwahab Tahhan, Julia O’Driscoll and Emma Smith.

Jul 06, 202338 min

#334 Europe’s right turn, abortion and snakes

Why is the left in decline across the EU? How should the law differentiate between infanticide and abortion? And are snakes about to overrun Britain? 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 Arion McNicoll.

Jun 29, 202342 min

#333 EU vs. Apple, lab-made embryos and power naps

Will the bloc force another iPhone redesign? Why are scientists creating synthetic human embryos? And is napping the secret to better brain health? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Rory Reid, Rebekah Evans and Suchandrika Chakrabarti

Jun 22, 202334 min

#332 Russian spies, climate law and literary politics

Did Moscow sneak its agents into Homes for Ukraine? Why are kids suing Montana over climate change? And should novelists boycott rogue states? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Julia Macfarlane, Julia O’Driscoll and Jamie Timson

Jun 15, 202341 min

#331 Schoolgirl poisonings, accidental DNA and queer history

What is happening in Afghan schools? Could air pollution monitors help to track DNA? And is LGBTQ+ history joining the mainstream? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Harriet Marsden, Jess Hullinger and Emma Smith

Jun 08, 202335 min

#330 Streaming, postal prejudice and inside animals’ minds

Will a court ruling change the way we watch sport? What went wrong at the Post Office? And how do animals see the world? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Guy Anker, Leaf Arbuthnot and Arion McNicoll.

Jun 01, 202340 min

#329 Irish alcohol, world weather and British schools

Why is Ireland putting health warnings on drinks? Will a fall in deaths from extreme weather continue? And how should universities judge school leavers? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Abdulwahab Tahhan, Holden Frith and Felicity Capon.

May 25, 202343 min

#328 Crypto risk, stealth wealth and the end of Vice

Is crypto-currency investment just another form of gambling? Why are the rich getting harder to spot? And what caused the downfall of Vice Media. Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Guy Anker, Sorcha Bradley and Mariana Vieira

May 18, 202342 min

#327 Erdogan’s last stand, childbirth in prison and Cleopatra

Could Turkey’s strongman president really lose this weekend’s election? Are we failing women who give birth in prison? And why do depictions of Cleopatra hit a racial nerve? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Julia O’Driscoll, Harriet Marsden and Jamie Timson NB: This episode was recorded before third-party candidate Muharrem İnce withdrew from the Turkish election on Thursday afternoon. His absence is thought likely to...

May 11, 202339 min

#326 Chinese job creation, an olive crisis and private jets

Will Chinese graduates choose to head for the villages? Why are so many olive trees dying? And are private jets too popular for the planet’s good? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Cindy Yu, Holden Frith and Leaf Arbuthnot

May 04, 202338 min

#325 Argentinian lithium, airborne rights and cats

Is South America on the cusp of a ‘white gold’ rush? When is a ticket to ride not what it seems? And are cats really a human’s best friend? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Mariana Vieira, Rory Reid and Leaf Arbuthnot

Apr 27, 202341 min

#324 Latin America, true crime drama and social links

Why are journalists under threat in so much of Latin America? Can fiction ever do justice to real-life crime stories? And what is Instagram up to? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Jamie Timson, Julia O’Driscoll and Suchandrika Chakrabarti

Apr 20, 202340 min

#323 Crypto power, a Grenfell deal and Vaccine lawsuits

Will Bitcoin cost the Earth? Are victims of the Grenfell fire getting justice? And how should people be compensated for vaccine side-effects? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Felicity Capon, Guy Anker and Arion McNicoll

Apr 13, 202345 min

#322 Hostage policy, time poverty and squirrels

How should Britain deal with state-sponsored hostage-taking? Why do we all feel like we have less free time? And will a vaccine save red squirrels? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Holden Frith, Arion McNicoll and Emma Smith.

Apr 06, 202339 min

#321 Reincarnation, Jack Ma and the nature of time

Who will be the next Dalai Lama? Why has China’s leading entrepreneur gone home? And will we stop fiddling with timezones? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Jamie Timson, Mariana Vieira and Julia O’Driscoll

Mar 30, 202338 min

#320 Life expectancy, Palestinians and summing up Sturgeon

Why aren’t Brits living as long as they might have hoped? Who is questioning the existence of Palestinians? And what will be the legacy of Nicola Sturgeon? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Leaf Arbuthnot, Abdulwahab Tahhan and Cindy Yu

Mar 24, 202338 min

#319 Russia vs Bali, AI upgraded and a plague of seaweed

Do Russian tourists in Bali deserve their reputation? What will Chat GPT do next? And why is sargassum causing a stink in Florida? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Suchandrika Chakrabarti, Rory Reid and Sorcha Bradley

Mar 17, 202344 min

#318 Weight-loss jab, Fox News and the high seas

Are weight-loss "wonder drugs" really so wonderful? Should we care if political pundits are parroting bogus claims? And why is a new high seas treaty making waves? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Jamie Timson, Arion McNicoll and Felicity Capon

Mar 10, 202343 min

Introducing: Richard Wiseman's On Your Mind

"In today's special collaboration, we're featuring an episode from the new podcast "Richard Wiseman's On Your Mind," hosted by Richard Wiseman, Britain's only professor in the Public Understanding of Psychology, and science journalist Marnie Chesterson. Together, they explore the fascinating topic of laughter, discussing why humans have evolved to laugh and the numerous benefits that laughing has on our mental and physical health. Richard also reveals details from the biggest ever scientific stu...

Mar 07, 202331 min

#317 Connectivity costs, Syrian diplomacy and French football

Why are broadband customers facing hefty price hikes? Are Arab nations about to re-engage with Syria? And what's going on with the French women's football team? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Julia Macfarlane, Guy Anker and Emma Smith

Mar 03, 202339 min

#316 Korean succession, terror by algorithm and German disquiet

Could a 10-year-old girl rule North Korea? Will an Isis victim upend web law? And why is Germany upset with its Oscars contender? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Sorcha Bradley, Jamie Timson and Arion McNicoll

Feb 24, 202338 min

#315 The male pill, consultants and a green trade war

Will men finally get an oral contraceptive? Is the government using too many consultants? And why are the US and EU at loggerheads over green tech? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Holden Frith, Leaf Arbuthnot and Cindy Yu

Feb 17, 202343 min
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