Deep Dive

Join us on this week’s Deep Dive as we unravel the Post Office Horizon IT scandal—a story of “phantom shortfalls” that ruined thousands of lives. We’ll trace Horizon’s rollout, hear from former postmasters who faced wrongful convictions and financial ruin, and explore how a supposedly infallible system became a weapon of injustice.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Horizon’s bugs and design flaws led to phantom accounting errors that postmasters were forced to explain or repay.

• The human cost: from shattered businesses and bankruptcies to tragic suicides and lifelong trauma.

• The Inquiry’s findings and its 19 recommendations for “full and fair” redress—including legal support, transparent compensation, and oversight to prevent future abuses.

Tune in as we expose the lessons of Horizon, examine the intersection of technology and accountability, and ask: how do we rebuild trust when the system fails us?

In a rare moment of cross-party unity, Parliament is fast-tracking legislation that could transform care for thousands of cancer patients left behind by the system. This week on Deep Dive, we investigate the surprising political story behind the Rare Cancers Bill – and why MPs who can’t agree on Brexit or budgets are suddenly aligned on this issue.

We’ll unpack:

• The shocking math behind so-called "rare" cancers (spoiler: they cause 55% of UK cancer deaths)

• How a grieving sister’s bake sale sparked a clinical trial – and changed the political calculus

• Why pharmaceutical giants avoid these treatments – and what the bill does to change that

• The quiet NHS data revolution that could put UK patients at the front of the queue for breakthrough therapies

What happens when a long-overlooked condition meets one of life’s most vulnerable moments? In this episode, we unpack the World Health Organization’s groundbreaking new recommendations on managing sickle-cell disease during pregnancy, childbirth, and the interpregnancy period. From pain management to fetal monitoring, this conversation explores how global health experts are rethinking care to reduce risks and reimagine outcomes for women with sickle cell. Tune in as we break down the science, the stakes, and the global call to action.

In this episode, we explore the stark new data from the National Cancer Registry of Ireland’s landmark report on Tobacco-Related Cancers in Ireland (1994–2022). Despite decades of progress in reducing smoking, tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of cancer — and the report finds that nearly 15% of invasive cancer cases in 2022 were still caused by smoking.

We dig into the trends in incidence, mortality, and survival, the impact of socioeconomic inequality, and what Ireland’s failure to meet its 2025 “tobacco endgame” target means for public health. Plus, we examine the real-world implications for policymakers, clinicians, and cancer prevention advocates.

🎧 Tune in to find out what the data reveals — and what must happen next.

In this episode, we dive into the WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025, marking 20 years since the launch of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The report reveals how far the world has come—and how far we still have to go—in the fight against tobacco, which remains one of the leading causes of preventable death globally.

We explore:

• The rise and global spread of graphic health warnings and plain packaging

• Why mass media campaigns are powerful but underutilized tools

• How countries are resisting the tobacco industry's evolving tactics, including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products

• What it will really take to achieve a tobacco-free generation

With insights from global public health leaders, this episode unpacks the wins, setbacks, and the urgency behind building a world where tobacco no longer threatens public health.

As traditional news media continues to lose ground, where are people really getting their information — and can they trust it?

In this episode, we dive into the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025, the most comprehensive global analysis of how news consumption is evolving. From the decline of TV and print to the dominance of TikTok, YouTube, and influencers as news sources, the report paints a stark picture of shifting habits — and rising challenges.

We explore:

• Why younger audiences are abandoning mainstream outlets

• How social platforms and personalities are shaping public opinion

• The rise of misinformation and distrust in online spaces

• What newsrooms are doing to stay alive — and relevant — in the algorithm age

• Global perspectives on AI-generated news, payment models, and trust

Whether you're a journalist, media exec, or just trying to make sense of the news you scroll through every day, this conversation is essential listening.

In this episode, we unpack the alarming resurgence of cholera sweeping across 26 countries, as detailed in the latest World Health Organization situation report. Despite fewer reported cases compared to last year, the death toll has more than doubled—raising urgent questions about access to clean water, vaccine shortages, and the impact of conflict and climate change.

From South Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we explore why health systems are struggling, what’s being done on the ground, and how the global response is falling short. Tune in as we break down the numbers, the narratives, and the urgent need for long-term solutions to a crisis that shouldn’t still be claiming lives in 2025.

In this episode, we dive into the latest FAO–WFP early warning report that reveals a stark reality: millions of people across 13 countries are at risk of acute food insecurity between June and October 2025. From the worsening hunger crisis in Nigeria to famine-like conditions in Sudan and Gaza, we explore the key drivers—conflict, economic collapse, climate extremes—and the global failure to act fast enough.

Why are humanitarian funds drying up just as needs hit record highs? What does this mean for the world’s most vulnerable? Join us as we unpack the data, the stories behind the numbers, and what needs to happen now to prevent catastrophe.

In this episode, we dive into the changing landscape of global vaccine financing. As traditional donor support declines, countries like Nigeria are navigating new paths to fund immunisation systems—partnering with multilateral development banks like the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, and others. These institutions, more often associated with roads and infrastructure, are now helping build the financial backbone of public health.

We explore how Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is blending grants with concessional loans to help countries take ownership of their vaccine programmes, invest in long-term health systems, and prepare for the next pandemic.

From Indonesia’s transition into a donor to new financing models in Africa, this episode unpacks what happens when vaccines meet the world of big finance.

In this episode, we unpack the latest Child Labour: Global Estimates 2024 report by the ILO and UNICEF, which reveals that 138 million children are still engaged in child labour globally — with 87 million in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. Why, despite decades of progress, are so many children still denied their right to childhood, education, and safety?

We explore the data, trends, and human stories behind the numbers — from Nigeria’s growing burden to the fragile gains in Asia and Latin America. Tune in for insights, expert analysis, and what needs to happen next to meet the world’s long-missed promises.