Explore every episode of the podcast Sensemaker
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How to hack Mount Everest | 06 Jun 2025 | 00:07:04 | |
A group of climbers has sparked debate over cheating in mountaineering after scaling Everest and returning to London in just 5 days - with the help of xenon gas. Writer: Jess Swinburne Producer: Serena Cesareo Host: Casey Magloire Photography: Alex Jones Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Bottom trawling: fishing’s dirty secret | 05 Jun 2025 | 00:06:29 | |
David Attenborough’s new documentary Ocean has put bottom trawling in the crosshairs of environmental activists. Clips in this episode are from David Attenborough’s new documentary film, Ocean. Writer: James Tapper Producer: Jonathan Lewis Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Could this be the end of abortion prosecutions? | 22 May 2025 | 00:08:03 | |
In recent years, an increasing number of women - including Nicola Packer - have been investigated and put on trial for illegally ending their pregnancy. Writer: Phoebe Davis If you’d like to read more of Phoebe’s interview with Nicola Packer, click here. Producer: Karla Patella Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Joe Mee Photograph: Sonja Horsman Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| How Pokémon Go Powers AI | 13 Jan 2025 | 00:08:23 | |
Niantic, the company behind the game that took the world by storm in 2016, is building a massive geospatial AI model that could end up powering robots – all using player data. The company behind the wildly popular augmented reality game has been quietly helping to train a massive AI model by collecting user data to build a detailed 3D map of the world. While this geospatial model could power innovations like Augmented Reality glasses, there are concerns about privacy and potential uses for military applications. Writer and Producer: Patricia Clarke Photography: Jon Jones Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 123: Canada's terrible secret | 05 Jul 2021 | 00:07:26 | |
Thousands of unmarked graves have been found in Canada at former residential schools for children from indigenous families. The true scale of the scandal is still emerging. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 122: A bitter by-election | 03 Jul 2021 | 00:06:17 | |
Labour won this week's by-election after a very hard-fought campaign. And the party wasn't only fighting its opponents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 121: Why Bill Cosby was freed | 01 Jul 2021 | 00:05:34 | |
Comedian Bill Cosby was jailed for sexual assault - one of the highest-profile stars held to account after the #MeToo movement. So why has he just walked free? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 120: China's rap patriots | 30 Jun 2021 | 00:05:43 | |
China's ruling party are about to celebrate their 100-year anniversary. But their new anthem isn't quite what you'd expect... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 119: A political affair | 29 Jun 2021 | 00:06:32 | |
Matt Hancock's resignation as Health Secretary has triggered a bout of political infighting. Who's going to win? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 118: The paranoid pioneer | 28 Jun 2021 | 00:05:21 | |
John McAfee invented anti-virus software and made millions. Last week he took his own life in a Spanish jail, convinced that politicians and the FBI were out to get him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 117: Britney's back | 25 Jun 2021 | 00:04:56 | |
Britney Spears's speech to a court about the conservatorship that runs her life has made headlines. But it's also raised an important question: who gets to decide if you can have a child? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 116: Drama in the DUP | 24 Jun 2021 | 00:06:42 | |
In just 2 months, Northern Ireland's DUP has toppled a leader, elected a new one, forced him to resign... and elected another new one. Huh? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 115: A moment of pride in the NFL | 23 Jun 2021 | 00:04:52 | |
No professional American footballer has ever come out as gay while he was still playing. That changed this week thanks to Carl Nassib. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 114: Blame the burrito | 22 Jun 2021 | 00:04:59 | |
The American track star Shelby Houlihan has lost her place at the Olympics after testing positive for a steroid. She blamed a Mexican takeaway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why rising borrowing costs spell trouble for Rachel Reeves | 10 Jan 2025 | 00:06:26 | |
What are bond yields and why does their rise risk derailing the Labour government’s plans for the UK? To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and more If 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 hello@tortoisemedia.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 113: China's racy but radical tabloid | 21 Jun 2021 | 00:07:35 | |
How a salacious newspaper – full of gossip and dramatic crime stories – is getting the Chinese authorities really worried. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 112: The new face in the fight to control big tech | 18 Jun 2021 | 00:07:42 | |
Joe Biden has just appointed a 32 year-old law professor called Lina Khan to cut big tech down to size Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 111: Murder and corruption | 17 Jun 2021 | 00:07:19 | |
A 34-old unsolved murder has led to the Metropolitan Police being labelled 'institutionally corrupt'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 110: Israel's Houdini | 16 Jun 2021 | 00:06:14 | |
Has Israel's longest-standing prime minister run out of road? Or does he have another trick up his sleeve? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 109: Football's duty of care | 15 Jun 2021 | 00:05:49 | |
After Christian Eriksen collapsed on the football pitch, it was left to the players to decide whether to carry on with the match. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 108: When a billion isn't enough | 14 Jun 2021 | 00:06:12 | |
The world's richest countries have promised a billion vaccine doses to poorer nations. It sounds a lot. Is it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 107: A big, blocked pipe | 11 Jun 2021 | 00:07:10 | |
The Keystone XL oil pipeline was supposed to run all the way from Canada to Texas. But it looks like it's not going ahead. Is it time for climate campaigners to celebrate? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 106: The app that trapped criminals | 10 Jun 2021 | 00:06:34 | |
A mobile phone app and an Aussie crime boss gave the FBI one of their biggest breakthroughs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 105: Not quite a miracle | 09 Jun 2021 | 00:07:08 | |
A new drug has been hailed as a breakthrough treatment for Alzheimer's. So why are so many people worried about it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 104: A crypto carnival | 08 Jun 2021 | 00:06:22 | |
What a Miami convention hall packed with 12,000 Bitcoin enthusiasts tells us about the cult of crypto. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The MAGA Effect on South Korea’s Democracy | 09 Jan 2025 | 00:08:11 | |
South Korea faced a major crisis when President Yoon imposed martial law late last year. Why do his supporters rally behind him with American ‘Stop the Steal’ flags? Writer: Eleanor Biggs Mix: Casey Magloire Photography: Jon Jones Host: Casey Magloire Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 103: Waiting at the bar | 07 Jun 2021 | 00:05:27 | |
British pubs and restaurants have reopened after a long lockdown. But can they find anyone to serve us? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 102: Bad marks for the Covid recovery plan | 04 Jun 2021 | 00:06:51 | |
Boris Johnson's government announced its plans to help school children catch up on what they've missed because of Covid. It went straight to the back of the class. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 101: The risk of reopening | 03 Jun 2021 | 00:08:35 | |
The last Covid restrictions in England are supposed to be lifted in about three weeks. Is it safe to lift them? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 100: Naomi Osaka serves up a challenge to tennis | 02 Jun 2021 | 00:07:36 | |
The argument between tennis star Naomi Osaka and the tennis authorities is about much more than post-match press conferences Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 99: Fever pitch | 01 Jun 2021 | 00:06:23 | |
How one country may have tried to buy their way to a win at the Eurovision song contest... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 98: A political assassination attempt | 28 May 2021 | 00:08:38 | |
Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson's old adviser, tried to finish off the health secretary's career this week. Will he succeed? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 97: A coma, a car crash and a president | 27 May 2021 | 00:05:37 | |
Syria's president is about to 'win' another election. He became president almost accidentally, but he seems to be in power for life Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 96: Ready, steady...stop? The Tokyo Olypmics | 26 May 2021 | 00:07:35 | |
The Tokyo Olympic Games are supposed to start in July. They've already been postponed from last year because of Covid. Could it happen again? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 95: Belarusian roulette | 25 May 2021 | 00:07:20 | |
The dictator who rules Belarus wanted to get his hands on an opponent - enough to force down a plane he was travelling on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 94: The teenager who filmed George Floyd | 24 May 2021 | 00:07:10 | |
Darnella Frazier was just 17 and on her way to the shop when she stumbled across a tragedy: the murder of George Floyd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| How do you free a killer whale? | 08 Jan 2025 | 00:07:01 | |
Following the closure of the marine zoo they live in, France's last two captive orcas, Wikie and Keijo, face an uncertain future. Could relocating them to a proposed whale retirement home in Canada be their best option? Writer and producer: Claudia Williams Executive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 93: The forever war: abortion in the USA | 21 May 2021 | 00:06:24 | |
Presidents come and go, but the fight over abortion continues regardless in the United States Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 92: The Middle East misinformation war | 20 May 2021 | 00:08:19 | |
Pressure is growing on Israel and Hamas to announce a ceasefire. Is online misinformation making peace less likely? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 91: Bill Gates's halo slips | 19 May 2021 | 00:07:35 | |
Bill Gates is one of the world's greatest philanthropists. But since we learned that he's getting divorced there's been nothing but bad news about him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 90: The new variant | 18 May 2021 | 00:06:15 | |
Has the government made the right call on the 'Indian' variant, otherwise known as B1617? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 89: The end of Ellen | 17 May 2021 | 00:07:20 | |
Ellen DeGeneres has been one of the biggest stars on US television. Why is her show coming to an end? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 88: Donald Trump - not president, still powerful | 14 May 2021 | 00:06:41 | |
The sacking of a US politician this week shows that Donald Trump is still the biggest show in town in the Republican party Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 87: What counts as junk food? | 13 May 2021 | 00:06:46 | |
The British government wants to ban junk food adverts. But who decides what's junk? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep. 86: Fist fights at 36,000 ft | 12 May 2021 | 00:06:35 | |
There's been increase in brawls and bad behaviour on planes. What's fuelling the fury? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 85: Keir Starmer mis-fires | 11 May 2021 | 00:07:37 | |
The Labour leader tried to sack his deputy. It could hardly have gone worse for him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 84: Making a murderer | 11 May 2021 | 00:05:47 | |
A child soldier grows up to commit terrible crimes. Was his childhood entirely to blame? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Gisèle Pelicot – a historic rape trial | 07 Jan 2025 | 00:07:13 | |
At the end of last year fifty one men went on trial in France in connection with the drugging, rape and assault of 72-year-old Gisele Pelicot. After a trial which lasted nearly four months, all were convicted and sentenced, including her ex-husband. What impact will the case have on French laws round consent? Writer: Serena Cesareo Producer: Ada Barume Host: Claudia Williams Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 83: Caitlyn Jenner runs into trouble | 07 May 2021 | 00:07:50 | |
Caitlyn Jenner, one of the most famous trans people in the world, is running to be governor of California. But mainstream politics and trans rights don't always sit well together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ep 82: Bollywood politics | 06 May 2021 | 00:05:50 | |
Why one of Bollywood's biggest stars, Kangana Ranaut, has been removed from Twitter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||