Free Daily Podcast Summary
The Inquiry: Daily Summaries Delivered
by BBC World Service
The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 4 days ago23 min
Have national museums had their day?
The concept of the national museum which developed during the 18th and 19th Centuries coincided with the age of exploration, emerging science and empire building. The grand stone structures of these museums reflected a sense of national pride. They were places where members of the public could see specimens and artefacts representing other cultures from around the world. But since those early days, the provenance of many collections has come under increased scrutiny. Today numerous artefacts taken or looted from different countries, often during times of war or occupation, are at the centre of repatriation disputes. The world has changed dramatically since the birth of the first national museums and what they represented, so can they stay relevant or have national museums had their day?(Photo: A statue of an elephant with trunk up at the National Museum of Natural History, one of the Smithsonian Institution Museums in Washington DC. USA. Credit: BBC/Alex Segre/BBC Images)Contributors: Samuel J Redman, professor of history, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA Prof Dr Patricia Rahemipour, director, Institute for Museum Research, Berlin, Germany Dr Julien Volper, curator, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium Dr Mathew Trinca, professor of museum practise, Australian National University, Canberra, AustraliaPresenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Jill Collins Researcher: Evie Yabsley Technical producer: Mitch Goodall Production co-ordinator: Ellie Dover Production management assistant: Liam Morrey Editor: Tom Bigwood
- 1 weeks ago23 min
What can a new UN Secretary-General achieve?
In January 2027, a new Secretary-General will take the helm of the United Nations, an organisation founded on the principle of international cooperation. The role will involve navigating tensions between its most powerful members, while ensuring the UN can respond to global crises. The organisation has struggled to influence negotiations in major conflicts, including in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan. Meanwhile, US funding cuts and delays in contributions from major powers, alongside reductions in aid from major European countries, have added to the UN’s financial challenges. The incoming Secretary-General will face pressure to build consensus among divided member states and maintain support for international cooperation.What can the new Secretary-General achieve, and can one leader help the UN find common ground in an increasingly divided world?Contributors Teresa Whitfield, adjunct professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University and independent consultant, US Sarah von Billerbeck, professor of International Relations at the University of Reading, UK Daniel Forti, head of UN Affairs at the International Crisis Group, US Dr Abiodun William, the former director of strategic planning at the United Nations, US(Photo: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a press conference in Damascus, Syria. Credit: Rami Alsayed/NurPhoto/Getty Images)Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Matt Toulson Researcher: Evie Yabsley Technical producer: Nicky Edwards Production co-ordinator: Ellie Dover Production management assistant: Tim Fernley
- 2 weeks ago23 min
Is a deal on the Kuril Islands ever possible?
For decades Russia and Japan have been locked in a dispute over the Kuril Islands, which sit between Hokkaido in Northern Japan and Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. At the end of World War Two, the island chain was annexed by the Soviet Union, who deported around 17,000 Japanese residents. Japan claims four of the southernmost islands and refers to them as the Northern Territories. Attempts to resolve the dispute have made little progress so far. Then in August of this year, Russia’s President Putin visited the Kuril Islands for the first time since taking office. Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi criticised the visit as “absolutely unacceptable”. So, considering the current situation, is a deal on the Kuril Islands ever possible?Contributors: Tessa Morris-Suzuki, professor emerita of Japanese history, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia John Nilsson-Wright, professor of Japanese politics and international relations of East Asia, Cambridge University, UK James DJ Brown, professor of political science, Temple University, Tokyo, Japan Valérie Niquet, senior research fellow and director of the Japan programme, Foundation for Strategic Research, Paris, France(Photo:Kuril islands in Siberia, Russia in July, 1993 Credit: Francois Lochon/Gamma-Rapho)Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Jill Collins Researcher: Evie Yabsley Technical producer: Nicky Edwards Production Co-ordinator: Ellie Dover Production Management Assistant: Tim Fernley Editor: Tom Bigwood
- 3 weeks ago23 min
Can middle powers reshape the world?
The balance of power in the world is changing. The United States and China continue to be the dominant forces in international affairs, but other countries are looking for new ways to protect their interests and shape events on the global stage.Countries often described as middle powers are seeking new ways to work together and exert influence. Canada is one example. Prime Minister Mark Carney has argued that the old rules-based international order, shaped by US dominance, is changing. Canada is strengthening its ties with Europe, while countries in the Gulf and Indo-Pacific are also seeking new partnerships.If middle powers can cooperate, they could have a greater role in shaping events beyond their borders. Are middle powers able to reshape the world? Contributors: Asa McKercher, associate professor in public policy and governance at St Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia, Canada Imran Bayoumi, deputy director at the GeoStrategy Initiative at the Atlantic Council, Washington DC, US Dr Amy Verdun, professor of political science at the University of Victoria, Canada Esther Brimmer, senior fellow in global governance at the Council on Foreign Relations, Washington DC, US(Photo: Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney talks to media at the end of an EU - Canada Summit Credit: Thierry Monassey/Getty Images Europe)Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Matt Toulson Researcher: Evie Yabsley Technical producer: Wayne Parkes Production co-ordinator: Ellie Dover Production management assistant: Tim Fernley Editor: Tom Bigwood
- Sep 29, 202623 min
How can Nepal’s economy rebuild after floods?
Nepal is still reeling from the devastation caused by recent flash floods. More than a thousand people are reported to have lost their lives and thousands more are still missing. The physical impact is extensive with many hydropower stations, providing the country’s main source of energy, either damaged or destroyed. The floods have also severely impacted Nepal’s other major industries including tourism. The concern now is that the billions of dollars required for Nepal to get back on its feet go way beyond its own resources. And reconstruction will mean elevating those measures required for monitoring and responding to future geological hazards and climate change. But right now, the country’s road to recovery appears long, costly and almost impossible. So just how can Nepal’s economy rebuild after floods?Contributors: Dr Neera Shrestha Pradhan, water and disaster risk reduction lead, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Patan, Nepal Dr Dinesh Paudel, professor of sustainable development, Appalachian State University, North Carolina, USA Santosh Nepal, researcher in water resources and climate change, International Water Management Institute, Lalitpur, Nepal Ritu Bharadwaj, director climate resilience, finance and loss & damage, International Institute for Environment and Development, London, UK(Photo: An aerial view of houses surrounded by mud, rocks and debris following flash floods in Betravati village, Rasuwa, Nepal. Credit: Ritesh Shukla/Stringer/Getty)Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Evie Yabsley and Jill Collins Researcher: Amelia Cox Technical producer: Mitch Goodall Production co-ordinator: Ellie Dover Production management assistant: Liam Morrey Editor: Tom Bigwood
- Sep 22, 202624 min
How did Italian politics become stable?
Italy has long been associated with political instability, with governments on average lasting just over a year.Current Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has broken that pattern. Her government has become the longest continuously serving administration in post-war Italian history, surpassing the previous record for a single uninterrupted period in office. Meloni has presented the stability of her own right-wing coalition as one of her government’s major achievements.A general election must take place next year. As that approaches, she faces fresh challenges, including the emergence of new opposition on the right.Meanwhile, the current government’s longevity record raises a bigger question about whether Italy has entered a new era of political stability, and what has made that possible. So how did Italian politics become stable?(Photo: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni delivers her speech to celebrate the government's record-breaking longevity at Porto di Bari on September 4, 2026 in Bari, Italy. Credit: Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)Contributors Rosario Forlenza, associate professor at Luiss University, Italy Nathalie Tocci, professor of practise at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, Italy Leila Simona Talani, professor of International Political Economy and Director of the Centre for Italian Politics at King's College London, UK Lorenzo Pregliasco, adjunct professor at the University of Bologna and co-founder of YouTrend polling agency, ItalyPresenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Matt Toulson Researcher: Amelia Cox Technical producer: Cameron Ward Production co-ordinator: Ellie Dover Production management assistant: Liam Morrey Editor: Tom Bigwood
- Sep 15, 202624 min
Can China’s polar silk road change global trade?
Conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt global shipping routes including the Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca. China is now turning to Russia for support in developing an alternative trade path: the Northern Sea Route. On 15 August, China sent its first ship on its newly commercialised, regular shipping route, navigating north around Russia’s coastline. The maritime trade path connects eastern Chinese ports including Ningbo to Europe, offering a quicker way to EU markets which account for 20 per cent of China’s exports. Ships must be specially designed to break ice and open up frozen waters. Global warming could increase access to this path. South Korea among other nations are beginning to discover its potential. This week we’re asking, Can China’s polar silk road transform global trade? (Photo: The icebreaker Kronprins Haakon sails through sea ice. Credit: Oliver Morin via Getty Images)Contributors: Dr Marc Lanteigne, professor of political science at the University of Tromsø, The Arctic University of Norway Nan Hao, researcher in economic security at Helsinki Geoeconomics Society, Finland and Geneva Graduate Institute, Switzerland Prof Dr Katarzyna Zysk, professor of international relations and contemporary history at Norweigan Institute for Defence Studies, Oslo, Norway Karen van Loon, research fellow in Security and Defence programme at Clingendael Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Evie Yabsley Researcher: Amelia Cox Editor: Tom Bigwood Technical Producer: Nathaniel Danter Production Management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey
- Sep 8, 202624 min
Can Africa take control of its digital future?
Just under 20 years ago Kenya pioneered the use of mobile money. Since then, other countries in Africa have carved out a share of the digital market for themselves, from gaming in Morocco to artificial intelligence in Tunisia. But the picture is not the same across the whole continent. A lot of governments face too many socio-economic challenges and limited resources to spend money on digital infrastructures. Instead, foreign countries like the United States and China are investing in the African tech market. The bulk of South Africa’s data centre investment comes from American providers of cloud, networking and storage services. And while this may provide a boost for local economies and create local jobs, it also creates some risks, as data resides outside of the country. There are efforts at the continent, national and regional levels to reposition the continent from being a consumer to a creator in the digital marketplace, but there are concerns that there isn’t enough joined up thinking to allow Africa to take control of its digital future?(Photo: A robotic waiter stands on standby at Robot Café in Nairobi, Kenya, the country's first restaurant to employ humanoid robots as waiters. The robot, equipped with a serving tray, is positioned among curved blue seating, modern lighting, and café tables, with the café counter visible in the background. The image was taken on August 27, 2024. Credit: Tony Karumba via Getty Images)Contributors: Mark Kaigwa, data and AI specialist, founder and CEO, Nendo, research and marketing agency, Nairobi, Kenya Juanita Clark, co-founder and chief executive, Digital Council Africa, Pretoria, South Africa Teki Akuetteh, founder and executive director, Africa Digital Rights Hub, Accra, Ghana Dr Seydina Moussa Ndiaye, head of ALIVE (AI Living Lab for Innovative and Viable Ethical Policies and Systems) research group, Université Numérique Cheikh Hamidou Kane, Dakar, SenegalPresenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Jill Collins Researcher: Evie Yabsley Technical producer: Toby James Production co-ordinator: Phoebe Lomas Production management assistant: Liam Morrey Editor: Tom Bigwood
Get The Inquiry summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
The Interview
In-depth 20-minute conversations with global leaders, cultural figures, and decision-makers on the issues shaping our world.
The Documentary Podcast
A BBC World Service podcast featuring real people and in-depth stories from around the world, covering global issues and personal experiences.
Witness History
First-hand accounts of pivotal historical moments, from global events to cultural milestones, told by those who lived them.
In Our Time
Explores pivotal ideas, figures, and discoveries across history, science, philosophy, and culture through expert discussions.
State of the World from NPR
Global news and context from NPR reporters, delivering concise, human-centered stories from around the world every weekday.
Discovery
Explores various topics in the field of science.
Unexpected Elements
Explores hidden scientific connections behind global news and everyday phenomena.
BBC Inside Science
Explores the latest scientific discoveries and debates shaping our understanding of the world.
Global News Podcast
A twice-daily news podcast delivering global headlines and analysis on politics, economics, climate, business, technology, and health.
From Our Own Correspondent
Global insights, analysis, and stories from BBC correspondents and journalists worldwide.
The World and Everything In It
Delivers news, cultural analysis, and Supreme Court coverage from a Christian worldview.
Question Time
A live debate where politicians and media figures respond to audience questions on current issues.
About The Inquiry
The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from The Inquiry in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's The Inquiry daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of The Inquiry as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the The Inquiry podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official The Inquiry product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by BBC World Service.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts, any in the catalog. Basic raises that to 15, Pro to 40 and Max to 100. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does The Inquiry release new episodes?
The Inquiry publishes weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does The Inquiry cover?
The Inquiry covers topics including News, Commentary. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting The Inquiry summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.