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 McCalligProducer: Casey Magloire Photography: Jon JonesExecutive 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 HadjimatheouProducer: Gary MarshallHost: Tomini BabsExecutive 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 RileyProducer: Katie GunningPhotography: Lola WilliamsHost: Casey MagloireExecutive 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 FentonProducer: Tomini BabsHost: Tomini BabsExecutive 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 MagloireProducer: Casey MagloireHost: Tomini BabsExecutive 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 GreenwoodProducer: Xavier GreenwoodExecutive 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 DavisProducer: Claudia WilliamsExecutive 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 ButlerPhotography: Joe MeeHost: Tomini BabsExecutive 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 MacintyreProducer: Matt RussellPhotography: Joe MeeHost: Claudia WilliamsExecutive 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 associates?Writer: Eleanor BiggsPhotography: Jon JonesHost: Claudia WilliamsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 BiggsPhotography: Jon JonesHost: Tomini BabsExecutive 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:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 WilliamsProducer: Claudia WilliamsPhotography: Jon JonesExecutive producer: Rebecca MooreTo find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 GreenwoodProducer: Xavier GreenwoodHost: Claudia WilliamsPhotography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 DavisProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive 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 MacintyreProducer: Matt RussellHost: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca MooreTo find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 HadjimatheouProducer: Gary MarshallHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca MooreTo find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected]  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 SwinburneProducer: Casey MagloireHost: Tomini BabsExecutive 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 KuryataProducer: Eleanor BiggsHost: Casey MagloireExecutive 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 BiggsProducer: Casey MagloirePhotography: Joe MeeHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 NeilanProducer: Katie GunningEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive producer: Jasper CorbettTo find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 DavisProducer: Patricia ClarkeEpisode photography: Jon JonesExecutive producer: Rebecca MooreTo find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ClarkeEpisode photography: Jon JonesExecutive producer: Rebecca MooreTo find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

A proposed new bill has prompted one of New Zealand’s biggest protests of all time. Why is it so controversial? And what does it seek to change?Writer and producer: Claudia WilliamsEpisode photography: Jon JonesExecutive producer: Jasper CorbettTo find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the wake of the US election result, why are some American women joining a radical feminist movement that started in South Korea?Writer: Phoebe DavisProducer: Claudia WilliamsTo find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK was one of the first countries to adopt 5G but now it has one of the worst networks in the world. Why is it so difficult to get a decent phone signal in the UK? Writer: Sophie FentonProducer: Tomini BabsHost: Claudia WilliamsExecutive Producer: Rebecca MooreTo find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While national debate raged in Spain over who should be held accountable for the deadliest floods in decades, heavy rainfall flooded parts of Southern Italy. Extreme floods are likely to increase as a consequence of climate change: is Europe ready to deal with them?Writer: Serena CesareoProducer: Casey MagloireHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr has a long record of criticising vaccines and spreading medical misinformation. President-elect Donald Trump has chosen him to be the secretary of Health and Human Service in his upcoming administration. To listen to Basia’s interview with RFK Jr click here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/audio/what-the-rfk-jr/ Writer: Rebecca Moore with additional reporting from Alexi Mostrous. Producer: Claudia Williams Host: Claudia WilliamsPhotography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Jasper CorbettTo find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An emperor penguin has turned up on a surfers beach in southwestern Australia, more than 2000 miles away from its natural habitat in the Antarctic. How did it end up so far off course? Writer and producer: Claudia WilliamsEpisode photography: Jon JonesExecutive producer: Rebecca MooreWith thanks to Jazz Bailey for her videos.To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justin Welby is the first Archbishop of Canterbury to resign. He stood down following a report into a decades long abuse scandal. Why did it take the CofE more than forty years to get to the bottom of it? Writer: Phoebe DavisProducer: Eleanor BiggsPhotography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan, countries are exploring the best ways to fund climate action. What lessons can they take from a new aid strategy that helped people in Bangladesh navigate this year’s floods?Writer: Jeevan VasagarProducer: Casey MagloirePhotography: Jon JonesHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks to his alliance with Donald Trump, Elon Musk has achieved an unprecedented combination of political power and immense wealth. What form will this new, supercharged Musk take? Writer and producer: Patricia ClarkeHost: Tomini BabsPhotography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore With thanks to Alexi Mostrous, Gary Marshall, Basia Cummings and Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The high-speed rail project is now tens of millions of pounds in the red and an expensive bat tunnel is the latest major cost. With its future in doubt, how did it all go so wrong?Featuring Christian Wolmar, host of the podcast Calling All Stations - https://shorturl.at/KTypIWriter and producer: Eleanor BiggsPhotography: Jon JonesHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The conflict in Sudan is intensifying and the fighting has caused the biggest displacement crisis in the world. What is being done to help those fleeing to neighbouring countries?To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump returns as President of the United States on 20th January 2025. What happens next? We consider the implications for America and the world – from Ukraine and climate change to the US southern border.Writer: David TaylorProducer: Katie GunningHost: Claudia WilliamsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump has been elected US president for a second time, in what some have seen as the greatest comeback in political history. How did he do it?Writer: Xavier GreenwoodProducer: Patricia ClarkeHost: Claudia WilliamsPhotography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The results of the US elections have been coming in all night. What do they tell us about who could be the next president? To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The language of the internet has taken on a life of its own with the rise of apps like Tik Tok. How far has the app affected the way we speak in real life?Correction: In this episode we state that "Brat" was the Oxford Dictionary Word of the Year. This is incorrect. "Brat" has actually been named the Collins Dictionary Word of the Year. The Oxford Dictionary has yet to announce its Word of the Year.Writer: Tomini BabsProducer: Tomini BabsHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2024 presidential election is set to become the most expensive in history. Who are the billionaires donating to Donald Trump and what do they want in return?Writer: Xavier GreenwoodProducer: Xavier GreenwoodHost: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The dust on Rachel Reeves’s plans for the British economy is beginning to settle. Does her Budget leave young people better or worse off?  Writer: Barney MacintyreProducer: Patricia ClarkeHost: Tomini BabsEpisode photography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More than any other time in history, American men and women have found themselves supporting opposing presidential candidates. But what is driving the battle between the sexes that may decide the next US president? Writer: Casey MagloireProducer: Eleanor BiggsHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK’s new justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has pledged to radically reduce the number of women going to prison in England and Wales.Writer: Phoebe Davis Producer: Gary MarshallHost: Tomini BabsEpisode photography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britain’s chancellor has announced a big change to the way the country will measure debt. She hopes this will enable more spending for things like hospitals, roads and schools but has she made the right move for the country?Writer: Cat Neilan Producer: Eleanor BiggsHost: Tomini BabsEpisode photography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Kim Jong Un has sent thousands of military personnel to Russia as part of a deal with Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called it a “clear escalation” of the war.Writer: Nina KuryataProducer: Rebecca MooreHost: Tomini BabsEpisode photography: Jon JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world was shocked last week by the news of pop star Liam Payne's death. What does the lurid media coverage that followed tell us about the press’s relationship with celebrities? Writers: Eleanor Biggs and Tomini BabsProducer: Eleanor BiggsHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Big tech is hunting away for new sources of power to supply the boom in generative artificial intelligence. Recently, both Google and Microsoft revealed plans to purchase electricity from nuclear power plants. But what impact could this have on the planet? Writer: Barney MacintyreProducer: Casey MagloireHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two Just Stop Oil protestors were arrested after throwing a can of Heinz tomato soup over Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. What do their lengthy prison sentences tell us about the changing laws around protest in the UK? Writer: Jess SwinburneProducer: Casey MagloireHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon remain in a standoff, with the safety of UN peacekeepers on the line. What could happen next? Writer: Xavier GreenwoodProducer: Xavier GreenwoodHost: Tomini BabsExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.