The Week Unwrapped - with Olly Mann

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The biggest unreported stories of the week, discussed, digested and debated

The Week


    • May 30, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 35m AVG DURATION
    • 483 EPISODES

    4.5 from 62 ratings Listeners of The Week Unwrapped - with Olly Mann that love the show mention: news, media, great.



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    Latest episodes from The Week Unwrapped - with Olly Mann

    Race to the Arctic, Jony Ive and the EHRC

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2025 42:22


    Will Europe beat China and India to the North Pole? Is the man who designed the iPhone going to kill his own creation? And what's going on at the equalities watchdog? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, Arion McNicoll and Emma SmithImage credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images

    Drug-fuelled sport, AI weapons and political dating

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025 48:47


    Will the Enhanced Games change the image of drugs in sport? How will autonomous weapons change warfare? And are Reform supporters more dateable than Tories? 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 MarsdenImage credit: Morne de Klerk / Getty Images

    431. Tackling cancer, BM boys and cheese

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2025 42:08


    Will weight-loss drugs cut cancer rates? What's behind a rise in 'sextortion' cases? And why is cheese so bad for the environment? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Suchandrika Chakrabarti, Rebekah Evans and Catriona StewartImage credit: Douglas Magno / AFP / Getty Images

    The anti-Trump bump, Rust and a touchy-feely robot

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 42:00


    Has Donald Trump given centrists a new lease of life? How will robots benefit from a sense of touch? And was it wrong to release the deadly film Rust? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Arion McNicoll, Julia Macfarlane and Irenie Forshaw.Image credit: Pedro Pardo / Getty Images

    429. Protecting footballers, an oil ad ban and men in publishing

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 42:05


    How is professional sport dealing with dementia? Is fossil-fuel advertising on borrowed time? And do male authors need more support? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Jessica Hullinger, Elizabeth Carr-Ellis and Harriet Marsden.Image credit: Hutchinson / Mirrorpix / Getty Images

    Pope Francis, married health and pistachio chocolate

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 44:29


    Why was Latin America's first Pope so divisive in his homeland? Could marriage increase your risk of dementia? And what is the true cost of that viral pistachio chocolate?

    Pubs, the digital dividend and British book bans

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 40:13


    Should pubs get more political support? Have we overlooked the benefits of tech for the over-50s? And are US-style book bans heading our way? Arion McNicoll and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, Catriona Stewart and Rebekah Evans. Olly Mann is on holiday.Image credit: Hugh Hastings / Getty Images

    426. Womb donors, dire wolves and art

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025 43:20


    Will womb transplants transform fertility? What should we make of 'de-extinction' claims? And why are prices falling in the art market? Arion McNicoll and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Cindy Yu, Harriet Marsden and Holden Frith. Olly Mann is on holiday.Image credit: Jean-Christophe Verhaegen / AFP / Getty Images

    425. A millennial saint, Meta vs. authors and lost films

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2025 44:21


    Could young people lead a religious revival? What has Facebook done to anger writers? And why would studios block the release of their own movies? Arion McNicoll and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Felicity Capon, Vincent Moss and Rebecca Messina. Olly Mann is on holiday.Image credit: Vatican Pool / Getty Images

    424. Scientific asylum, Japan's death row and solar slavery

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 42:20


    Will academics leave American universities? Could an acquittal force Japan to rethink the death penalty? And are we turning a blind eye to modern slavery in solar panel factories? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Deborah Frances-White, Irenie Forshaw and Catriona StewartImage credit: Gerard Julien / Getty ImagesSix Conversations We're Scared to Have by Deborah Frances White is out on 3rd April in Hardback, audio, and eBook (Virago, Hardback £20)https://www.virago.co.uk/titles/deborah-frances-white/six-conversations-were-scared-to-have/9780349015811/

    423. El Salvador, ball games and an energy lawsuit

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2025 41:22


    Why is Donald Trump sending people to jail in El Salvador? Should councils reverse their bans on playing in streets? And can a Peruvian farmer defeat an energy giant? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Harriet Marsden, Elizabeth Carr-Ellis and Vincent MossImage credit: Presidencia El Salvador / Getty Images

    422. Revolting Canadians, Nepalese monarchists and fish

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025 46:42


    Can Canadian consumers take on Trump? Does Nepal want its king back? And could eating fish make you kinder? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Julia Macfarlane, Rebecca Messina and Holden Frith.Image credit: Bloomberg / Getty Images

    421. ASMR, football chants and Gaelic

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 45:31


    Are young people turning away from sensory stimuli? Can US football stamp out homophobia? And why is Scottish Gaelic getting a TV boost? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Rebekah Evans, Emma Smith and Elizabeth Carr-EllisImage credit: LittleCityLifestylePhotography / Getty Images

    420. Firefighting foam, energy bills and a blood-test breakthrough

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025 44:09


    What can be done about firefighting forever chemicals? Can we avoid another heating bill hike? And will a new test tell us how quickly our organs are ageing? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, Gary Caffell and Irenie Forshaw.Image credit: Hilmi Tunahan Karakaya / Anadolu / Getty Images

    419 Sinkholes, Saudi sport and a viral tourism ad

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 44:23


    Why are sinkholes becoming more common? Will Saudi investment help create the "Netflix of sport"? And why has New Zealand's new tourism campaign met with a savage reception?image credit: Carl Court/Getty Images

    418. The end of the penny, Chagos Islands deal, and personality testing

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025 48:30


    Why is Trump calling time on the penny? What does the Chagos Islands deal mean for the island's inhabitants? And do personality tests discriminate against neurodivergent job applicants?Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

    417 Cricket, digital soul-searching and rats

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025 48:45


    What can we learn from the Afghan women's cricket team? Can AI understand religion? And are we losing the war against rats? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Jamie Timson, Holden Frith and Harriet Marsden.Image credit: Aref Karimi / AFP / Getty Images

    416. Australian antisemitism, blood minerals and rebreathing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 45:45


    What's behind a spate of hate crimes in Australia? Are our phones fuelling a Congolese militia? And why is carbon monoxide the new 'drug' of choice for cyclists? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Arion McNicoll, Rebekah Evans and Emma Smith.Image credit: Alexander Bogatyrev / SOPA Images / LightRocket / Getty Images

    415. Exoskeletons, digital passports and AI in film

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 40:42


    Is biomedical engineering the next frontier? Should we ditch paper passports? And will AI undermine the Oscars? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Catriona Stewart, Vincent Moss and Irenie Forshaw.Produced by Rethink AudioImage credit: Michael Buholzer / AFP / Getty Images

    414. Contraception, jawlines and RedNote

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2025 47:15


    Why are women deserting the pill? Are ultraprocessed foods changing the shape of our faces? And are TikTok's days numbered? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Julia Macfarlane, Holden Frith and Suchandrika Chakrabarti.Image credit: SSPL/Getty Images

    413. Guantanamo, WCs and vegan dogs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2025 47:56


    Is the US finally closing Guantanamo? Are public toilets an endangered species? And what should we feed our pets? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Rebecca Messina, Elizabeth Carr-Ellis and Harriet MarsdenImage credit: Raphael Gaillarde / Getty Images

    412. The Year Unwrapped – Revolting farmers, multinational crime and TV in retreat

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2024 48:44


    What's behind the world's farming protests? Why are criminals looking overseas? And has the golden age of TV come to an end? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Arion McNicoll, Harriet Marsden and Holden FrithImage credit: Sylvain Thomas / AFP / Getty

    411. Scotland vs. Whatsapp, driverless buses and AI cameras

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2024 39:56


    Will Scottish ministers give up their messaging apps? Could autonomous buses solve our transport problems? And how will AI cameras tackle drink-driving? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Rebecca Messina, Catriona Stewart and Vincent MossImage credit: Smith Collection / Gado / Getty

    410. Sexsomnia, ghost guns and rainbow laces

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024 42:26


    Could "sexsomnia" claims derail more rape trials? Will 3D printing undermine gun controls? And has the rainbow lace campaign tied itself in knots? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, Rebekah Evans and Emma SmithImage credit: Saul Loeb / AFP / Getty Images

    409. Afghan midwives, depopulation and fake honey

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024 41:27


    Will the Taliban stop women working as nurses? Is population growth going into reverse? And are honey fans in a sticky spot? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Leaf Arbuthnot, Suchandrika Chakrabarti and Irenie Forshaw.Image credit: Paula Bronstein / Getty Images

    408. Lenacapavir, Band Aid and tea

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2024 46:29


    Is HIV in retreat? How is Bob Geldof reshaping the Band Aid story? And is Britain falling out of love with the cuppa? 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 Rebekah EvansImage credit: Anna Puzatykh / Getty Images

    407. Migration, Wagner regroups and UFOs

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2024 40:17


    Will deals with Tunisia and Kurdistan help Labour? What next for the Wagner Group? And are we any closer to identifying UFOs? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Abdulwahab Tahhan, Rebecca Messina and Catriona StewartImage credit: David Wall / Getty Images

    406. Robowolves, birds and sleeper trains

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024 42:54


    Will China's military robots change the military landscape? Why are Britain's birds in decline? And are sleeper trains making a comeback? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, Irenie Forshaw and Holden FrithImage credit: Chen Jimin/ China News Service / VCG / Getty Images

    405. New York water, mobile mergers and marriage

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024 35:42


    Is the Big Apple drying up? Will we benefit from a phone company shake-up? And is marriage good for your mental health? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Vincent Moss, Gary Cafell and Leaf ArbuthnotImage credit: GCShutter / Getty

    404. Macron in Morocco, avatar therapy and Europe vs the US

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2024 39:21


    What is France up to in North Africa? Could virtual characters help treat psychosis? And do Americans work harder than Europeans? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Rebecca Messina, Irenie Forshaw and Abdulwahab Tahhan.Image credit: Ludovic Marin / AFP / Getty

    403. Fungi, women in prison and Facebook AI

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 42:20


    Will fungi get their own kingdom, alongside plants and animals? Do we send too many women to jail? And what is Meta doing with facial recognition? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Holden Frith, Rebekah Evans and Suchandrika ChakrabartiImage credit: Shaiith / Getty Images

    402. India vs. Canada, assisted dying and wasted water

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024 43:33


    What's at stake as Trudeau takes on Modi? How would assisted dying change Britain? And are we running out of water? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Julia Macfarlane, Leaf Arbuthnot and Arion McNicollNote: this episode includes references to suicide. The Samaritans offer support to people having suicidal thoughts. You can call them free on 116 123.Image credit: Drbouz / Getty Images

    401. Pig-butchering, copper and mature recruitment

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024 45:59


    What can be done about the latest online scam? Could discarded gadgets solve the copper shortage? And will employers hire more over-50s? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Harriet Marsden, Gary Caffell and Catriona StewartImage credit: SOPA / Getty Images

    400. Mexico, the menopause and Megalopolis

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2024 41:25


    What's on the to-do list for Mexico's first female president? Is the menopause an economic issue? And why did Francis Ford Coppola's pet project bomb at the box office?Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days.With Harriet Marsden, Elizabeth Carr-Ellis and Emma SmithNote: this episode includes references to suicide. The Samaritans offer support to people having suicidal thoughts. You can call them free on 116 123.Image credit: Cristopher Rogel Blanquet / Getty Images

    399. Iran vs Sweden, jabless vaccines and social blocking

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2024 39:41


    Why is Iran sending text messages to Swedes? Should we administer our own vaccines? And what's the latest outrage at X.com? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Vincent Moss, Holden Frith and Suchandrika Chakrabarti

    398. Ageing Japan, UK debt, and the Mattel Cinematic Universe

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2024 42:56


    What does Japan's ever-growing proportion of pensioners mean for the future? Why is the UK's national debt set to treble? And is Polly Pocket the next Barbie? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Jamie Timson, Abdulwahab Tahhan and Leaf Arbuthnot.

    397. The Pope, ketamine and the first trillionaire

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2024 44:58


    What has the Pope been doing in Asia? Why is ketamine addiction on the rise? And who will win the race to a trillion dollars? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Arion McNicoll, Harriet Marsden and Irenie ForshawImage: Andrew Kutan / AFP / Getty Images

    396. Chinese TV, Elle Macpherson and spy whales

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2024 43:06


    Will pay TV win African hearts and minds? How did a former supermodel spark a cancer row? And what can we learn from the death of a cetaceous spy suspect? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Sorcha Bradley, Suchandrika Chakrabarti and Arion McNicollPhotoc: Jie Zhao / Getty Images

    395. Telegram, cannabis and boring art

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2024 44:59


    Why has France arrested the head of a social network? Will cannabis ever be legal in Britain? And have government spending cuts led to worse art? 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 Suchandrika ChakrabartiImage: Nadine Rupp / Getty Images

    394. Orangutan diplomacy, floating turbines and EU travel

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2024 41:12


    Are Malaysian apes now working for the palm-oil industry? Will floating wind farms boost green power? And how will new checks affect European holidays? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Mariana Vieira, Jess Hullinger and Leaf ArbuthnotCredit: Anup Shah / Getty Images

    393. The Taliban, the grid and judging the judges

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2024 40:09


    What's happened to Afghanistan in three years of Taliban rule? Is the UK energy network about to get an upgrade? And why are sporting judges under so much scrutiny? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Rebecca Messina, Gary Caffell and Emma SmithPhoto: Mohsen Karimi / AFP / Getty Images

    392. Undersea threats, tax reform and prisons

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2024 45:29


    Could seaborne sabotage bring down the internet? Will Labour dare to replace the council tax? And how can we help ex-prisoners find a home? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Holden Frith, Julia Macfarlane and Irenie Forshaw.Image: David Oller / Europa Press / Getty Images

    ​​391. Sepsis, MPs and plastic Olympians

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2024 46:50


    Have we made a breakthrough in the battle against sepsis? Are MPs treating their jobs with due respect? And are some Olympic athletes not all they seem? Arion McNicoll and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Harriet Marsden, Rebekah Evans and Abdulwahab Tahhan. Olly Mann will return next week

    Offshore gambling, retirement and Obama's silence

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 46:16


    What stopped Barack backing Kamala? Is the world going cold on online casinos? What can we do now to fund life after work?  Arion McNicoll and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Rebecca Messina, Suchandrika Chakrabarti and David Runciman. Olly Mann will return in two weeks

    389. Trump trials, smears and Katy Perry

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2024 46:14


    Are Donald Trump's legal obstacles melting away? Could self-testing replace the cervical smear? And what kind of world is Katy Perry living in? 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 Jamie Timson

    388. Project 2025, paradise prison and life on Mars

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024 44:30


    Will Trump follow a conservative plan for a dystopian future? What is happening on the island of Diego Garcia? And how will humans fare on the red planet?Image: Erik McGregor / LightRocket via Getty Images

    387. Riots, bird flu and AI emissions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2024 46:25


    Will unrest in Turkey derail a deal with Syria? How prepared is the world for bird flu? And could AI exacerbate climate change? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Abdulwahab Tahhan, Arion McNicoll and Harriet MarsdenImage: Bakr Alkasem/AFP/Getty Images

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