The Slow Newscast

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Bones and all: the trade in human remains

Britain’s cultural institutions are wrestling with what to do with the human remains in their collections. But as they reckon with the ethical ramifications the sale of b

Oct 13
31 min

The Fixer: The life of Len McCluskey | Ep 2

The former Unite boss says the police investigation into alleged corruption during his tenure will clear his name after years of accusations. But whether it can erase thi

Oct 9
27 min

The Fixer: The life of Len McCluskey | Ep 1

The former Unite boss says the police investigation into alleged corruption during his tenure will clear his name after years of accusations. But whether it can erase thi

Oct 6
24 min

The rivalry that spawned the weight-loss jab race

James Tapper, The Observer's Science editor and a weight-loss jab user, tells the story of his journey using the weight-loss drugs. A journey that along with lost kilogra

Oct 2
33 min

Duped and deployed: the Kenyans fighting for Russia

Kenyan men are leaving their country for work – and ending up on the frontlines of Russia’s war in Ukraine. This is the story of the recruiters, the promises and the pove

Sep 29
43 min

How I fell in love with a Russian spy

Stephanie Arcanjo spent three years building a life with her boyfriend, Eric. One day he vanished, and the police came knocking. Only then would she learn his true identi

Sep 25
24 min

Careless

Nkechi Simms is a successful actor who’s had parts in Top Boy and BBC comedy PRU. Outwardly life is good and at 26 she’s got everything going for her. But this hasn’t alw

Sep 22
43 min

How Ivanka Trump enraged all of Albania

What links a rare breed of flamingo and government corruption? In Albania, plans to redevelop Sazan, the country's biggest island, and disrupt the wildlife that lives the

Sep 18
22 min

The trials of Ben Stokes

In Ben Stokes, England cricket created a star....and quickly lost control of that star. This is the story of how a maverick genius built and broke the team he created. Ho

Sep 15
32 min

What made Syrians fight for revolution?

What drove Syrians to rise up and overthrow a brutal dictator? ‘Days of Love and Rage’ by Anand Gopal is an intimate account of how one town in Syria joined a revolution.

Sep 11
25 min

“I will never judge you”: A grandmother’s promise

Ten years ago Kim Edwards and her boyfriend, Lucas Markham, who were both 14 at the time, stabbed Kim’s mother and Kim’s younger sister to death. They were both sentenced

Sep 8
48 min

The teacher, the school, and the myth of the 'Lucky Boy'

In the late 1980s 14-year-old Gareth had a sexual relationship with his 27-year-old chemistry teacher, Sally-Anne Bowen. His friends told him at the time that he was a ‘l

Sep 4
31 min

Paolo Zampolli: Trump’s matchmaker

Paolo Zampolli, the Italian modelling agent who introduced Donald Trump to his future wife, Melania, has gone from the 1990s fashion world to the very top of the Trump ad

Sep 1
48 min

Why is electroconvulsive therapy still used?

Is ECT therapy safe? Postcode prescribing leaves patients at mercy of psychiatric opinions. Jessica Rawnsley has been investigating what this means for patients Hosted on

Aug 28
23 min

My father, the vampire hunter

After a spate of paranormal sightings in 1970s London, debate raged over the existence of a vampire in Highgate Cemetery. Fifty years on, the legend has been taken on by

Aug 25
36 min

What does a mass shooter’s chatbot history reveal?

After a 2025 mass shooting on Florida State University’s campus, investigators found a year’s worth of chat history between the shooter and ChatGPT. MotherJones’ Mark Fol

Aug 21
25 min

Ctrl Alt Restore

Rupert Lowe is the MP for Great Yarmouth, and the leader of Restore Britain, a right-wing political party which launched in February this year. So, how did the leader of

Aug 18
35 min

What next for Reform and Nigel Farage?

Nigel Farage has been re-elected as MP for Clacton. But that also means a Parliamentary investigation into Farage resumes. So what's next for Reform and their leader? Hos

Aug 14
22 min

The Mandelson files

When Peter Mandelson was sacked as the UK’s ambassador to the United States over his links with Jeffrey Epstein people wondered how he ever got appointed in the first pla

Aug 11
28 min

Is mountaineering getting more dangerous?

On Thursday 30th July, an avalanche hit the world's twelfth highest mountain. Ten experienced climbers were caught by it, among them one of the world's most famous and ex

Aug 7
29 min

Chart trend

Position in the Documentary chart (US), last 90 days.

#1#95#189JulAugSepOct

#47

all-time peak

days in the top 50 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where The Slow Newscast ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 15, 2026).

#153 ▼ 23 Documentary US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

In a world of fast paced, breaking news, Tortoise stands out above the rest, as it methodically makes it’s way to the finish line, gathering info along the way. This is the kind of journalism we need more of in our world. Listen to Tortoise, you will not be disappointed.

MereMay87 · Sep 2023

Love love love Basia’s voice. So soothing as she comprehensively lays out the story. Her manner has heart without being emotional and compromising facts. More please :)

EdmondsKat · Feb 2023

I like the depth of each report and story, the narrative and the level of professionalism of journalism and integrity in this podcast. It’s quickly moved up to my top 5 list.

PNWSeaTown · Jul 2022

The tone of the journalist discussing ECT was immediately negative and judgmental. Her grasp of the science, psychiatry in general and the struggle of patients and families experiencing mental illness was quite limited. This creates more distrust and will discourage patients seeking care. Hugely disappointed you would let this dismissive tone be published.

MTAKWA · Aug 2026

I found the coverage of the “Neil Gaiman” bit to be irresponsible, bordering on unethical. Innuendo, quick-clips that seem like the reporters are cutting context out, clear cases of the “victim saying ‘I consented,’ and the reporters just ignoring it and launching into their take, etc. The reporters clearly do not accept BDSM as a sexual activity, nor do they agree with a 20-year-old being an adult that can consent (which, by law, they are). The reporters may have bigger points – is BDSM assault? what is consent? can someone say they consent but withdraw it post-facto? – but the fact that they chose what appear to be regretful BUT CONSENTING adults is just irresponsible. Really shoddy work that comes across as a salacious way to hype their podcast/webpage.

km34 · Jul 2024

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.