Episodes

  • Death on the inside: as a prison officer, I saw how the system perpetuates violence

    Death on the inside: as a prison officer, I saw how the system perpetuates violence
    Jan 30 2026
    A rise of murders is traumatising inmates and staff, and making life harder for staff. But even in prison, violence isn’t inevitable Written and read by Alex South. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
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    27 mins
  • From the archive: The King of Kowloon: my search for the cult graffiti prophet of Hong Kong

    From the archive: The King of Kowloon: my search for the cult graffiti prophet of Hong Kong
    Jan 28 2026
    We are raiding the Guardian long read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2022: For years Tsang Tsou-choi daubed his eccentric demands around Hong Kong, and the authorities raced to cover them up. But as the city’s protest movements bloomed, his words mysteriously reappeared Written and read by Louisa Lim. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
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    41 mins
  • We published explosive stories about the president of El Salvador. Now we can’t go home

    We published explosive stories about the president of El Salvador. Now we can’t go home
    Jan 26 2026
    Days before we ran interviews with gang leaders describing their alleged ties to Nayib Bukele’s government, we left the country to avoid arrest. We fear our exile will never end This story, republished with permission, was originally run by El Faro English By Óscar Martínez and Carlos Martínez. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
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    30 mins
  • ‘We were forced to burn bodies’: will survivors of the Tadamon massacres see justice?

    ‘We were forced to burn bodies’: will survivors of the Tadamon massacres see justice?
    Jan 23 2026
    During the conflict, the Damascus suburb became a killing field. But some of Assad’s henchmen are still around – and even working with the new government By Melvyn Ingleby. Read by Selva Rasalingam. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
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    38 mins
  • From the archive: The last humanist: how Paul Gilroy became the most vital guide to our age of crisis

    From the archive: The last humanist: how Paul Gilroy became the most vital guide to our age of crisis
    Jan 21 2026
    We are raiding the Guardian long read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2021: one of Britain’s most influential scholars has spent a lifetime trying to convince people to take race and racism seriously. Are we finally ready to listen? By Yohann Koshy. Read by Dermot Daly. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
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    57 mins
  • ‘The English person with a Chinese stomach’: how Fuchsia Dunlop became a Sichuan food hero

    ‘The English person with a Chinese stomach’: how Fuchsia Dunlop became a Sichuan food hero
    Jan 19 2026
    The author has been explaining Sichuan cuisine to westerners for decades. But ‘Fu Xia’, as she’s known, has had a profound effect on food lovers in China, too By Leslie T Chang. Read by Ginnia Cheng. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
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    30 mins
  • The dangerous rise of Buddhist extremism: ‘Attaining nirvana can wait’

    The dangerous rise of Buddhist extremism: ‘Attaining nirvana can wait’
    Jan 16 2026
    Still largely viewed as a peaceful philosophy, across much of south-east Asia, the religion has been weaponised to serve nationalist goals By Sonia Faleiro. Read by Dinita Gohil. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
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    39 mins
  • From the archive: Kudos, leaderboards, QOMs: how fitness app Strava became a religion

    From the archive: Kudos, leaderboards, QOMs: how fitness app Strava became a religion
    Jan 14 2026
    We are raiding the Guardian long read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2020: the Strava app offers community, training data and motivation to millions of athletes. Even runners who dislike tech can’t bear to be without it By Rose George. Read by Rhiannon Edwards. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
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    32 mins