The Essential

A chance to hear extracts from some of our most thought provoking broadcasts.

World Service,96 episodes

Episodes

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From Our Own Correspondent: Beirut Feels Like Home
James Longman reflects on the life in the Lebanese capital, past and present
27 Oct 2016,5 mins
The Inquiry: How Can We Fix Antibiotics?
Science journalist Bruce Mohun explains the lengths scientists go to find new antibiotics
26 Oct 2016,5 mins
More or Less - Escobar's Cocaine Deaths
How many people die for every kilo of cocaine processed, shipped & distributed?
25 Oct 2016,5 mins
BBC Trending: The Taxi Driver’s Rant That Went Viral
A taxi driver’s rant - bemoaning the state of the nation - has gone viral in Egypt.
24 Oct 2016,5 mins
From Our Own Correspondent: Plane Crazy in Perpignan
The legal battles over Colonel Gaddafi's private jet
20 Oct 2016,5 mins
The Inquiry: How Did We Mess up Antibiotics?
Dr Brad Spellberg explains why discovering new antibiotics is so difficult.
19 Oct 2016,5 mins
The Why Factor: Farewell Letters
Why do we write farewell letters? And how to find the words to say goodbye?
18 Oct 2016,5 mins
BBC Trending: Iran’s Sombre Soccer Victory
How a ban on cheering led to a new way to support the Iranian football team
17 Oct 2016,5 mins
From Our Own Correspondent: Partisan Politics in Bangladesh
Justin Rowlatt revisits the Holey Bakery and evaluates today's security measures
13 Oct 2016,5 mins
The Inquiry: Can a Corrupt County Get Clean?
Shota Utiashvili explains how his country eradicated police corruption.
12 Oct 2016,5 mins
More or Less: The Sustainable Development Goals – are there just too many?
Is there a better way of looking at the Sustainable Development Goals?
11 Oct 2016,5 mins
BBC Trending: Cash For Catastrophes?
Meet the people who buy and sell viral videos of news events for thousands of dollars.
10 Oct 2016,5 mins
From Our Own Correspondent: Gathering Seashells on the Sea Shore
Jane Labous joins the seasonal shellfish-seekers on the beaches of Normandy
06 Oct 2016,5 mins
The Inquiry: Why Are 10,000 Children Missing In Europe?
Gulwali Passarlay recounts his journey as a 12-year-old from Afghanistan to Britain
05 Oct 2016,5 mins
The Why Factor: Assisted Death
Is it ever right to take a life? Mike Williams explores the dilemmas of assisted death
04 Oct 2016,5 mins
BBC Trending: Can Rap Incite Crime?
Controversy has erupted over a rap song that suggests burglars target Chinese homes.
03 Oct 2016,5 mins
From Our Own Correspondent: Set a Soldier to Stop a Poacher
Why some South African game reserves are turning to military tactics to protect wildlife
29 Sep 2016,5 mins
The Inquiry: Is Islamic State Finished?
Seth Jones explains how so-called Islamic State already have a plan in case of defeat
28 Sep 2016,5 mins
The Inquiry: Who Wins in a Cashless Economy?
Harvard economist Ken Rogoff makes the case for cashless
21 Sep 2016,5 mins
The Why Factor: Why do Crazes Take Off?
What explains the success of the Hula-Hoop, Rubik’s Cube and Pokemon Go?
20 Sep 2016,5 mins
BBC Trending: Hillary Clinton’s ‘Body Double’
Meet Hillary Clinton’s lookalike – the woman at the heart of a fake conspiracy.
19 Sep 2016,5 mins
From Our Own Correspondent: Old Enemies Unite
Nick Thorpe reports from Szigetvar, Hungary - burial site of Suleiman the Magnificent
15 Sep 2016,5 mins
The Inquiry: What's the point of Lotteries?
National lotteries exist all over the world. What are they for?
14 Sep 2016,5 mins
More or Less: Drug Deaths in the Philippines
How many people have died during President Duterte’s drug crackdown?
13 Sep 2016,5 mins
BBC Trending: South Carolina’s Clown Scare
Sightings of sinister clowns have left a US community in fear.
12 Sep 2016,5 mins
From Our Own Correspondent: Healing Romania's Hospitals
How can the much-criticised Romanian health care system be upgraded?
08 Sep 2016,5 mins
The Inquiry: Can Coral Reefs Survive?
Marine biologist Rebecca Albright explains why we should care about coral
07 Sep 2016,5 mins
The Why Factor: The Voice
What do our voices reveal about ourselves?
06 Sep 2016,5 mins
BBC Trending: China’s Rush For Divorce.
Happy couples in Shanghai are getting divorced to buy homes more cheaply.
05 Sep 2016,5 mins
From Our Own Correspondent: Trouble in Paradise?
Political intrigue simmers in the Maldives and Justin Rowlatt reports on rumours of a coup
01 Sep 2016,5 mins