In this episode we explore how oil, China, and geopolitics may be driving US actions in Venezuela far more than President Trump’s narco-trafficking claims, and what this means for regional stability and Venezuelan citizens.

From Gen Zs to Rihanna to kidults, a toothed toy named Labubu has become a global craze. But behind the blind boxes and unboxing videos lies something deeper: identity, belonging, and China’s growing cultural soft power.

When Nepal’s government banned 26 social media platforms overnight, it triggered protests that toppled the government in just two days. This episode speaks to Nepalis on the ground about how anger over corruption and inequality boiled over. What comes next for a country now led by its youth?

From career paths to romantic choices, your name may influence your life more than you think. This Aloud episode explores how science links names to personal and professional outcomes, revealing surprising biases and behavioural patterns

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is changing who holds power at work. In this episode, we look at what this shift means for jobs, education, and inequality around the world.

One year after an Israeli sniper killed Turkish-American human rights activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi in the occupied West Bank, her husband Hamid Ali shares her story and their ongoing pursuit of justice.

Host: Ezgi Toper

Guest: Hamid Ali

In an era where billions of people are connected online and seemingly have friends, loneliness is paradoxically on the rise. This episode explores the hidden cost of hyperconnectivity, the difference between digital and real-world friendships, and why physical presence is irreplaceable

Despite huge advances in predicting tsunamis, storms and other natural disasters, earthquakes remain one of nature’s greatest mysteries. In this episode, we explore why knowing when an earthquake will hit is so difficult, the science behind seismic activity, and what measures governments can take to protect lives in the absence of reliable predictions.

This episode investigates how Israel’s settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank is marketed to foreign buyers, even as Palestinians are forcibly and violently displaced. What’s packaged as safety and opportunity for investors means erasure for Palestinians.

Host: Ezgi Toper

Guest: Paul Salvatori

Producer: Ezgi Toper

Sound Editor: Nasrullah Yilmaz

Supporting team: Afzal Ahmed, Mücteba Şamıl Olmez, Khaled Selim

Executive Producer: Nasra Omar Bwana

Villas Unidas, a club promoted by Argentine star Diego Maradona’s physical trainer, brings together players from vulnerable neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires. It has become a tool for social inclusion. But it still faces significant challenges.