The Global Story
BBC World Service
Where the world and America meet, with episodes each weekday. The world is changing. Decisions made in the US and by the second Trump administration are accelerating that change. But they are also a symptom of it. With Asma Khalid in DC, Tristan Redman in London, and the backing of the BBC’s international newsroom, The Global Story brings clarity to politics, business and foreign policy in a time of connection and disruption.Come and join us our live event. You can register for Castfest tickets here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/castfest-2026
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 23, 2026 • 26min
The new race to the Moon
Rebecca Murrell, BBC science editor and space specialist, guides listeners through the renewed lunar push. She describes Artemis II, launch-day rituals and crew preparation. She traces the program’s history, costs and commercial partnerships. She compares US plans with China’s steady progression and explores the broader multi-player race to establish a long-term Moon presence.
Feb 20, 2026 • 27min
What the former prince Andrew’s arrest means for the Royal Family
Sean Coughlan, BBC Royal Correspondent with deep institutional knowledge of royal affairs, explains Prince Andrew’s arrest and its fallout. He outlines how the Epstein files and alleged sharing of confidential documents escalated the story. He discusses the legal and political pressures, the palace response, and the potential damage to the monarchy’s reputation.
28 snips
Feb 19, 2026 • 27min
What ‘looksmaxxing’ tells us about modern masculinity
Matt Shea, investigative reporter and documentary filmmaker who studies internet culture, explains the rise of looksmaxxing and the streamer Clavicular. He outlines the subculture’s extreme body-mod practices. He decodes the movement’s slang, viral mechanics, and how attention-seeking behavior interacts with modern masculinity and online politics.
Feb 18, 2026 • 27min
The tightrope of reporting in Putin’s Russia
Steve Rosenberg, BBC Russia editor in Moscow with decades covering Russian politics. He talks about why he stayed as other outlets left. He recalls the 1990s optimism and Putin's centralised power. He describes legal changes after 2022 and the practical risks of reporting. He reflects on preparing to question Putin and balancing honest reporting with personal safety.
14 snips
Feb 17, 2026 • 26min
Gisèle Pelicot on confronting shame and finding hope
Gisèle Pelicot, survivor who waived anonymity to confront decades of abuse and wrote A Hymn to Life, speaks about confronting shame and reclaiming joy. She recounts discovering the crimes, facing her abusers in court, and the fallout within her family. The conversation covers legal change around consent, public support, and her unexpected path toward love and hope.
Feb 16, 2026 • 26min
Is social media having its Big Tobacco moment?
Lily Jamali, BBC North America technology correspondent reporting from the Los Angeles social media trial. She walks through the landmark court battle alleging platforms were built to addict children. Short takes cover the plaintiff’s story, legal theories about design choices, defense arguments, potential consequences for tech and comparisons to Big Tobacco.
9 snips
Feb 13, 2026 • 27min
Epstein’s global network: What the files reveal
Nomia Iqbal, BBC World Affairs correspondent known for probing international scandals, walks through the latest Epstein files. She outlines the files' scale and release issues. She discusses political fallout, survivors’ re-traumatization, new links to royals and European figures, and whether spying or kompromat played a role.
9 snips
Feb 12, 2026 • 27min
With Jimmy Lai in jail, have Trump and the West abandoned Hong Kong?
Danny Vincent, BBC Hong Kong reporter and the last journalist to interview Jimmy Lai, offers on-the-ground perspective. He recounts Lai's rise from refugee to media tycoon and the tense final interview. Conversations cover the national security law’s origins, the US-linked collusion charge, the shock of a 20-year sentence, and whether Western democracies have shifted their stance toward Hong Kong.
24 snips
Feb 11, 2026 • 27min
The ‘weight loss revolution’ changing the world
Giles Yeo, a Cambridge professor who studies how the brain controls eating and body-weight genetics, explores the rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. He covers their biology and development, personal and family experiences, changing food industry and portion norms, access and equity concerns, and risks from side effects and misuse. The conversation examines cultural shifts around thinness and potential regulatory responses.
11 snips
Feb 10, 2026 • 27min
The origins of ICE
Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News immigration reporter who tracks ICE operations, traces how the agency grew after 9/11. He walks through shifts in enforcement priorities under different administrations. He discusses recruitment drives, public daytime raids and masking controversies. He also covers third-country deportation deals and the political fallout from aggressive tactics.
