The Week Unwrapped

The Week Unwrapped - with Olly Mann

News EN ↓ 522 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.

Author

The Week Unwrapped

Category

News

Podcast website

www.theweek.co.uk

Latest episode

Jul 10, 2026

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Episodes

Russia’s shadow fleet, tackling cancer and a new broom at Disney 06.02.2026

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

Xi’s purge, Prosper UK and hearing difficulties 30.01.2026

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

Billionaires, immoral orders and cow tools 23.01.2026

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

Bobi Wine, cancer research fraud and Are You Dead? 16.01.2026

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

Grok abuse, the politics of Mumsnet and Avatar’s cultural impact 09.01.2026

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

The Year Unwrapped: Emotional bots, weight loss and British culture 26.12.2025

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

The politics of AI, forever chemicals and universal income 19.12.2025

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

Euro protests, Syria and monogamy 12.12.2025

** 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...

A Honduran reprieve, water wars and rom-coms 05.12.2025

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

Slovenia, fallible leaders and mongrels 28.11.2025

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

Cryogenic morality and a Catholic rift 21.11.2025

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

Anti-Putin rap, Sarajevo snipers and captive penguins 14.11.2025

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

Smoking in the Maldives, rap in the UK and elderly whales 07.11.2025

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.

Bacon, a Dutch standoff and the art of living well 31.10.2025

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

Fusion, frog protests and fashion 24.10.2025

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

Russian energy, parasocial relationships and bullfighting 17.10.2025

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

Egg warning, Saudi jokes and slop 10.10.2025

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

Moldova, Blair and Brollywood 03.10.2025

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

Anti-trans ideology and Anglicans 26.09.2025

Could US trans activists be classified as terrorists? And what’s in store for the Church of England? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Jess Hullinger and Felicity Capon Image credit: The Austin American-Statesman / Hearst Newspapers / Getty Images

Discord in Nepal, panspermia and Owain Glyndwr 19.09.2025

Why did Nepali voters use a gaming app to pick their next PM? Was life sent to Earth by aliens? And will a new national park boost the case for Welsh independence? 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: Tobias Roetsch / Future

The other ‘comfort women’, a racing strike and leg-stretching surgery 12.09.2025

Will the women who worked in state-run brothels set up for US soldiers succeed in court? Why is horse-racing going on strike? And what’s behind a surge in surgical height enhancement? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Rebecca Messina, Jamie Timson and Harriet Marsden Image credit: Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

Channel 4, drugs in Scotland and fertility 05.09.2025

What does Bake Off tell us about a channel in decline? Why are Scottish drug deaths so stubbornly high? And are women in their 30s too anxious about their eggs? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Scott Bryan, Jamie Timson and Catriona Stewart Image credit: Ki Price / Getty Image

Demining Ukraine, reviving Baltimore and unleashing first ladies 29.08.2025

Could robotic dogs help clear landmines? What can we learn from a new approach to urban renewal? And how much power rests with political spouses? 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: Anadolu / Getty Images

The Pope's flatmates, the world remapped and seagulls 22.08.2025

Who gets a place in the papal digs? Can a map change the way we see the world? And why are seagull 'muggings' on the rise? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Rebecca Messina, Arion McNicoll and Felicity Capon Image credit: Heritage Art / Heritage Images / Getty Images

Peace prizes, Russia's economy and pickles 15.08.2025

Will bringing peace to Armenia and Azerbaijan win Donald Trump a Nobel Peace Prize? What does the use of North Korean and Indian labour tell us about the Russian war economy? And why have we all gone crazy for pickles? Andrew Harnik / Getty Images

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