Sensemaker

The Belfast rap trio has taken the world by storm. But who are they and how have they managed to capture the zeitgeist? Writer: Elaine McCallig Producer: Casey Magloire Photography: Jon Jones Executive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How the fallout from the TV show sparked a nearly two hundred million dollar lawsuit.  Thanks for listening to the Sensemaker. This episode was written and mixed by Eleanor Biggs. Photography by Jon Jones.  The executive producer is Rebecca Moore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How a young woman from Gaza who chronicled life in the Strip after October 7th and became one of the most influential women in the world.  Writer : Chloe Hadjimatheou Producer : Gary Marshall Host : Tomini Babs Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2024, Chappell Roan went from relative obscurity to playing to some of the biggest crowds in festival history. What toll did this meteoric rise take on her? Writer: Katie Riley Producer: Katie Gunning Photography: Lola Williams Host: Casey Magloire Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Post Office scandal was one of the largest miscarriages of justice in the UK with hundreds of people wrongly prosecuted for theft or false accounting. So why did it take an ITV drama to bring about change?  Writer : Sophie Fenton Producer : Tomini Babs Host : Tomini Babs Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the first time ever, the top ten grossing films of the year are all sequels. What does this tell us about the film industry? Has Hollywood run out of new ideas? Writer: Casey Magloire Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Tomini Babs Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The man accused of killing the UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, is alleged to have used an untraceable 3D-printed firearm. What is that and why is it so controversial? Writer: Xavier Greenwood Producer: Xavier Greenwood Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Mark McDonald announced he is trying to bring Lucy Letby’s case back to the Court of Appeal. What reasons does he give for believing the circumstances have changed since her initial trial? Writer: Phoebe Davis Producer: Claudia Williams Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Saudi Arabia has been awarded the tournament despite widespread concerns about human rights violations and environmental issues. What does this tell us about the changing face of global football? Writer: Andrew Butler Photography: Joe Mee Host: Tomini Babs Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new cryptocurrency linked to the identity of Luigi Mangione, the suspected killer of Brian Thompson, has reached a market value of $76 million. Writer: Barney Macintyre Producer: Matt Russell Photography: Joe Mee Host: Claudia Williams Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  Billionaire rapper Jay-Z is the first celebrity to be named as a co-defendent in an allegation concerning Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. Jay-Z vehemently denies the allegation - that he raped a 13 year old girl in 2000 along with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. Jay-Z’s legal team has sued the attorney who filed the claim against him. So who is the lawyer bringing multiple lawsuits against Sean Combs and his assoc...

The ousting of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad has revealed the full scale of how he used the prison system to lock up, torture and execute his opponents.  What do we now know about what went on?   Producer: Eleanor Biggs Photography: Jon Jones Host: Tomini Babs Executive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk and property tycoon Nick Candy have been named as considering multi-million-pound contributions, which could change the face of British politics forever. Reform could become the best-funded political party in the UK.  Writer: Cat Neilan. Producer: Katie Gunning. Photography: Jon Jones.  Executive producer: Rebecca Moore. To find out more about Tortoise: Downloa...

France’s government has been toppled, making Michel Bernier the shortest serving prime minister in the history of the modern French Republic. What does it mean for France – and the rest of Europe? Writer: Claudia Williams Producer: Claudia Williams Photography: Jon Jones Executive producer: Rebecca Moore To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise app  - for a listening experience...

For more than half a century, the Assad family ruled Syria with brutality and repression. It took less than two weeks for rebels to bring that rule to an end. What does this mean for Syria and the region?  Writer: Xavier Greenwood Producer: Xavier Greenwood Host: Claudia Williams Photography: Jon Jones Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat...

MPs voted in favour of proposals to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. The bill has many more stages to pass before it becomes law. So what happens next?  Writer: Phoebe Davis Producer: Casey Magloire Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The carmaker behind Fiat, Jeep, and Citroën says the closure of its Vauxhall factory in Luton is due to new zero-emission policies. But is that the full story? Writers: Barney Macintyre Producer: Matt Russell Host: Casey Magloire Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise app  - for a listening experience curated by our journalists Subscribe to To...

In just 24 hours President Assad’s forces just “melted away” in Syria’s second biggest city. How did the rebels seize control and what might Assad do in response?  Writer: Chloe Hadjimatheou Producer: Gary Marshall Host: Tomini Babs Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise app  - for a listening experience curated by our journalists Subscri...

A banana taped to the wall with duct tape sold at a Christie’s auction for $6.2 million to a cryptobillionaire. At the same auction, a Henri Matisse remained unsold. What does this sale tell us about the state of the art market?  Writer: Jess Swinburne Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Tomini Babs Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vladimir Putin has threatened to deploy more Oreshnik missiles against Ukraine. He boasted that they’re equipped with multiple warheads and have destructive power comparable to a nuclear strike. Writer: Nina Kuryata Producer: Eleanor Biggs Host: Casey Magloire Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Singer-songwriter Kate Nash has hit the headlines for starting an OnlyFans account to pay for her tour. She says that selling pictures of her butt online is the only way she can make money in an economic landscape that squeezes musicians. Writer: Eleanor Biggs Producer: Casey Magloire Photography: Joe Mee Host: Tomini Babs Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...

The House of Lords rarely gets much scrutiny, either by the media or the public. A team of Tortoise journalists has put a spotlight on the UK’s second chamber and asks whether some of its members are working for us or themselves? Writer: Cat Neilan Producer: Katie Gunning Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Jasper Corbett To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise app &nbs...

Gynaecology waiting lists are at a record high in England and Wales, with over three-quarters of a million people waiting to be treated. How did it get this bad? Writer: Phoebe Davis Producer: Patricia Clarke Episode photography: Jon Jones Executive producer: Rebecca Moore To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise app  - for a listening experience curated by our journalists Subsc...

30 million people have signed up to use Replika, “the AI companion who cares”. The chatbot can text you, flirt with you, and promises to love you unconditionally. But what are the risks that come with loving an AI? This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center. Writer and producer: Patricia Clarke Episode photography: Jon Jones Executive producer: Rebecca Moore To find out more about Tortoise: D...

For nearly two months, the Israeli army has encircled cities in the north of the Gaza Strip. Experts warn Israeli settlements could be established there within the next few weeks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.