App Store

Google Play

Details page - Device banner - 894x1036

Step into an infinite world of stories

Listen and read

Tortoise Media

The Sensemaker from The Observer - one story every day to make sense of the world.

To find out more about The Observer:

Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content

Head to our website observer.co.uk 

Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

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.

Sensemaker

MPs voted in favour of proposals to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. The bill has many more stages to pass before it becomes law. So what happens next? 

Writer: Phoebe Davis

Producer: Casey Magloire

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore 

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The assisted dying bill has passed its first House of Commons hurdle, what happens next?

For more than half a century, the Assad family ruled Syria with brutality and repression. It took less than two weeks for rebels to bring that rule to an end. What does this mean for Syria and the region? 

Writer: Xavier Greenwood

Producer: Xavier Greenwood

Host: Claudia Williams

Photography: Jon Jones

Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did Syrian rebels overthrow Bashar al-Assad?

France’s government has been toppled, making Michel Bernier the shortest serving prime minister in the history of the modern French Republic. What does it mean for France – and the rest of Europe? 

Writer: Claudia Williams

Producer: Claudia Williams

Photography: Jon Jones

Executive producer: Rebecca Moore

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.

France’s political tailspin

Tech billionaire Elon Musk and property tycoon Nick Candy have been named as considering multi-million-pound contributions, which could change the face of British politics forever. Reform could become the best-funded political party in the UK. 

Writer: Cat Neilan.

Producer: Katie Gunning.

Photography: Jon Jones. 

Executive producer: Rebecca Moore.

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.

Could Nigel Farage’s Reform party be backed by mega donors?

The ousting of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad has revealed the full scale of how he used the prison system to lock up, torture and execute his opponents. What do we now know about what went on? 

Producer: Eleanor Biggs

Photography: Jon Jones

Host: Tomini Babs

Executive producer: Rebecca Moore 

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Syria's prisons

Billionaire rapper Jay-Z is the first celebrity to be named as a co-defendent in an allegation concerning Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. Jay-Z vehemently denies the allegation - that he raped a 13 year old girl in 2000 along with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. Jay-Z’s legal team has sued the attorney who filed the claim against him. So who is the lawyer bringing multiple lawsuits against Sean Combs and his associates?

Writer: Eleanor Biggs

Photography: Jon Jones

Host: Claudia Williams

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who is the lawyer suing Jay-Z?

A new cryptocurrency linked to the identity of Luigi Mangione, the suspected killer of Brian Thompson, has reached a market value of $76 million.

Writer: Barney Macintyre

Producer: Matt Russell

Photography: Joe Mee

Host: Claudia Williams

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The rise of memecoins

Saudi Arabia has been awarded the tournament despite widespread concerns about human rights violations and environmental issues. What does this tell us about the changing face of global football?

Writer: Andrew Butler

Photography: Joe Mee

Host: Tomini Babs

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why has Saudi Arabia been awarded the 2034 World Cup?

This week, Mark McDonald announced he is trying to bring Lucy Letby’s case back to the Court of Appeal. What reasons does he give for believing the circumstances have changed since her initial trial?

Writer: Phoebe Davis

Producer: Claudia Williams

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why does Lucy Letby’s new lawyer think she should be released?

The man accused of killing the UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, is alleged to have used an untraceable 3D-printed firearm. What is that and why is it so controversial?

Writer: Xavier Greenwood

Producer: Xavier Greenwood

Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luigi Mangione’s alleged 3D-printed gun

After 15 months of conflict, could this week’s ceasefire deal mark the beginning of the end of one of the deadliest wars in modern history?

Writers: Lilly Cheslaw and Rebecca Moore.

Producer: Katie Gunning. 

Photographer: Joe Mee. 

Executive producer: Jasper Corbett. 

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A prospect of peace between Israel and Hamas

Listen and read

Other podcasts you might like ...