Episode summary: Intelligence scholar Hugh Wilford’s excellent new book grapples with the paradox at the heart of America’s covert intelligence agency. Many of the CIA’s founding fathers were staunch anti-imperialists, but during the Cold War, the US took up the mantle of Europe’s colonial projects....

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Episode summary: Don’t call her an oracle. She prefers foreseer.

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Episode summary: AWilliam Shakespeare might well rank as the most influential writer in the English language. But it seems he also had a knack for numbers. Rob Eastaway, author of Much Ado about Numbers, tells Tim Harford about the simple maths that brings Shakespeare’s work to life. Presenter: Tim...

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Episode summary: The leaf blower is one of the most hated objects in the modern world, but the reality of banning them is very complicated.

Episode summary: Episodio 64: Eating in America con Francesco Costa

Episode summary: To kick off our Good Web series, Cory Doctorow joined us for a deep dive into his enshittification theory, and how regulation, labor power, competition, and user self-help will make it a thing of the past. We also got him to tell us a little bit about his new novel The Bezzle. Cory...

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Episode summary: Welcome to Season 7: Capitalism. The world’s dominant economic system is on trial as it hasn’t been for at least half a century. This season tells the story of capitalism — how people with power built and shaped it over time. We’ll also explore what to do now that many people see ca...

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Episode summary: 5x15 is delighted to announce an exclusive event with leading author Robin Wall Kimmerer, in the beautiful setting of Kew Gardens. Robin Wall Kimmerer’s internationally bestselling books, Braiding Sweetgrass and Gathering Moss, not only teach us about the biology of different organi...

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Episode summary: Whose job is it to fact check the Supreme Court? As it turns out, no one. So why is it like that, and what even happens when you prove them wrong?

Episode summary: Tips to Elevate Your Reporting and Storytelling from Ira Glass