25 Best BBC World Service Podcasts
A list of the most popular BBC World Service podcasts on Podyssey Podcasts.
25 Best BBC World Service Podcasts
1. The Documentary Podcast
Download the latest documentaries Investigating global developments, issues and affairs.
Most Recommended Episode
49:34 | Nov 29th, 2020
5 RECOMMENDATIONS
Mary Ann Sieghart asks what it takes to be a powerful woman and what holds so many back. Sexism, appearance and encouraging fathers are all up for discussion as Mary Ann talks to former Prime Minister...Show More
2. In Our Time
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas, people and events that have shaped our world.
Most Recommended Episode
51:41 | Oct 10th, 2019
2 RECOMMENDATIONS
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) on the education of children, as set out in his novel or treatise Emile, published in 1762. He held that children are bo...Show More
3. The Infinite Monkey Cage
Brian Cox and Robin Ince host a witty, irreverent look at the world through scientists' eyes.
Most Recommended Episode
28:00 | May 25th, 2020
3 RECOMMENDATIONS
Brian Cox and Robin Ince are back for new series, for now at least, as they take an upbeat look at all the different ways our Universe might end. They are joined by legendary comedians Steve Martin a...Show More
4. Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
Download the best satirical comedy from Radio 4, every Friday. Features The News Quiz, The Now Show and Dead Ringers.
Most Recommended Episode
29:41 | Oct 5th, 2018
1 RECOMMENDATION
Jo Brand takes the guest host chair for a satirical look at the week's news. Francis Wheen, Lloyd Langford, Lucy Porter and Sindhu Vee are on the panel. This week, all the moves from the Conservative...Show More
AUDIO REMOVED: The podcast creator has removed the audio for this episode.5. Global News Podcast
The day’s top stories from BBC News. Delivered twice a day on weekdays, daily at weekends
Most Recommended Episode
US overtakes China with most coronavirus cases
29:08 | Mar 27th, 2020
3 RECOMMENDATIONS
According to John Hopkins University, the United States has more than eighty-two thousand positive tests. Also: a nationwide three-week lockdown has begun in South Africa, and Russia has grounded all ...Show More
AUDIO REMOVED: The podcast creator has removed the audio for this episode.6. 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy
Tim Harford tells the fascinating stories of inventions, ideas and innovations which have helped create the economic world.
Most Recommended Episode
08:58 | Nov 19th, 2016
2 RECOMMENDATIONS
The boom in global trade was caused by a simple steel box. Shipping goods around the world was – for many centuries – expensive, risky and time-consuming. But, as Tim Harford explains, 60 years ago th...Show More
7. You're Dead To Me
The comedy podcast that takes history seriously. Greg Jenner brings together the best names in comedy and history to learn and laugh about the past.
Most Recommended Episode
51:36 | Aug 27th, 2021
6 RECOMMENDATIONS
Greg Jenner and his guests uncover the gruesome truths behind some of our most-loved fairy tales that have kept children and adults enchanted for centuries. In comedy corner, we have the wickedly funn...Show More
8. More or Less: Behind the Stats
Tim Harford and the More or Less team try to make sense of the statistics which surround us. From BBC Radio 4
Most Recommended Episode
Uncertainty, probability and double yoked eggs
08:57 | Oct 12th, 2024
2 RECOMMENDATIONS
Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter is one of the great communicators of probability and uncertainty. His new book, The Art of Uncertainty, explains how to approach uncertainty, luck, probability and ig...Show More
9. Desert Island Discs
Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.
Most Recommended Episode
45:26 | Oct 4th, 2020
1 RECOMMENDATION
Samantha Morton is an actor and director. She has appeared in films directed by Woody Allen and Steven Spielberg, and is also known for her work on independent productions, often with serious themes s...Show More
10. Death in Ice Valley
An unidentified body. Who was she? Why hasn’t she been missed? A BBC World Service and NRK original podcast, investigating a mystery unsolved for almost half a century.
Most Recommended Episode
32:26 | Apr 16th, 2018
3 RECOMMENDATIONS
Some graves hold more secrets than others. No relatives attended her funeral and she had died in terrible circumstances. With Marit Higraff and Neil McCarthy. #DeathInIceValley www.facebook.com/grou...Show More
11. The Missing Cryptoqueen
Dr Ruja Ignatova persuaded millions to join her financial revolution. Then she disappeared. Why? Jamie Bartlett presents a story of greed, deceit and herd madness.
Most Recommended Episode
22:53 | Sep 19th, 2019
11 RECOMMENDATIONS
Dr Ruja promised financial revolution. And then, two years ago, she disappeared. Why? The Missing Cryptoqueen is an eight-part series for BBC Sounds, with new episodes every Thursday. Presenter: Jam...Show More
12. The English We Speak
Every week, we look at a different everyday English phrase or piece of slang in this fun three-minute programme. From BBC World Service
Most Recommended Episode
13. The Inquiry
The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.
Most Recommended Episode
Do children in two-parent families do better?
24:06 | Aug 8th, 2019
1 RECOMMENDATION
In 1965 a report from within the US government noted that the number of children born outside marriage, and the number of divorces, in the parts of the American population were rising rapidly. It argu...Show More
14. Seriously...
Seriously is home to the world’s best audio documentaries and podcast recommendations, and host Vanessa Kisuule brings you two fascinating new episodes every week.
Most Recommended Episode
29:02 | Aug 6th, 2021
2 RECOMMENDATIONS
Women may be caricatured as babbling chatterboxes, but in public, women speak a lot less. Be it in conferences or committee meetings, television or parliamentary debates, women do not get a proportio...Show More
15. 6 Minute English
Learn and practise useful English language for everyday situations with the BBC. A weekly instruction manual for saying or doing something in English is published every Thursday.
Latest Episode
16. 6 Minute Grammar
Learn English grammar in six minutes. Every Tuesday join two of our presenters and learn a new key area of grammar. Our presenters include Finn, Emma, Rob, Neil, Sophie & Alice.
Latest Episode
17. 6 Minute Vocabulary
Build your English vocabulary in six minutes. Every Monday join two of our presenters and hear about different ways to develop your vocabulary knowledge and skills.
Latest Episode
18. Discovery
Explorations in the world of science.
Most Recommended Episode
26:59 | May 8th, 2017
1 RECOMMENDATION
Synthetic biology, coming to a street near you. Engineers and biologists who hack the information circuits of living cells are already getting products to the market. Roland Pease meets the experts wh...Show More
19. 13 Minutes to the Moon
Epic stories of Nasa’s missions to the Moon. Season 1: the first Moon landing, Apollo 11. Season 2: the near disaster of Apollo 13. Presenter: Kevin Fong. Theme music: Hans Zimmer
Most Recommended Episode
44:58 | May 12th, 2019
2 RECOMMENDATIONS
With no idea how to get there, the race to the moon begins – "we intend to win". To understand how the story ends, we need to start at the very beginning. With Kevin Fong. Starring: Michael Collins St...Show More
20. In Our Time: History
Historical themes, events and key individuals from Akhenaten to Xenophon.
Most Recommended Episode
41:59 | Dec 31st, 2009
1 RECOMMENDATION
Melvyn Bragg and guests John Mullan, Karen O'Brien and Barbara Taylor discuss the life and ideas of the pioneering British Enlightenment thinker Mary Wollstonecraft.Mary Wollstonecraft was born in 175...Show More
21. The Lazarus Heist
“Almost a perfect crime.” The hacking ring and an attempt to steal a billion dollars. Investigators blame North Korea. Pyongyang denies involvement. The story begins in Hollywood.
Most Recommended Episode
33:51 | Apr 18th, 2021
12 RECOMMENDATIONS
A movie, Kim Jong-un and a devastating cyber attack. The story of the Sony hack. How the Lazarus Group hackers caused mayhem in Hollywood and for Sony Pictures Entertainment. And this is just the beg...Show More
22. Fake Heiress
The rise and fall of Anna Delvey, who conned New York high society into believing that she was a multi-millionaire heiress. Vicky Baker and Chloe Moss dig deeper into the scandal.
Most Recommended Episode
27:22 | Dec 16th, 2019
3 RECOMMENDATIONS
Reporting by Vicky Baker Drama by Chloe Moss Anna Delvey was due to come into a trust fund of $67m on her 26th birthday. She was on her way to establishing the Anna Delvey Foundation, a multi-million...Show More
23. The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry
Science sleuths Dr Adam Rutherford and Dr Hannah Fry investigate everyday mysteries sent by listeners.
Most Recommended Episode
39:14 | Apr 12th, 2019
1 RECOMMENDATION
“We play many musical instruments in our family. Lots of them produce the same pitch of notes, but the instruments all sound different. Why is this?” asks Natasha Cook aged 11, and her Dad Jeremy from...Show More
24. The History Hour
A compilation of the latest Witness History programmes.
Latest Episode
25. Comedy of the Week
Brighten your week with the latest BBC Radio 4 comedy, introduced by Athena Kugblenu.
Most Recommended Episode
My Teenage Diary - Shazia Mirza
29:19 | May 11th, 2020
1 RECOMMENDATION
Rufus Hound returns for another series of honest, intimate and hilarious interviews, with famous guests reading from their genuine teenage diaries. Guests this series are Woman's Hour host Dame Jenn...Show More
AUDIO REMOVED: The podcast creator has removed the audio for this episode.