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What in the World

BBC World Service
What in the World
Latest episode

797 episodes

  • What in the World

    How heatwaves impact people with disabilities

    12/08/2026 | 10 mins.
    Heatwaves are uncomfortable for everyone. But people living with disabilities face additional and specific challenges that can compromise their health and well-being. Many of these issues - from struggling service dogs to overheating wheelchairs - are frequently overlooked, even in public advice and emergency planning.
    Maddie Molloy is a BBC climate and science reporter who is also profoundly deaf. She explains some of the challenges a heatwave can pose for deaf people, the visually impaired and people who use wheelchairs. We also hear from Blessing Odukoya, Emily Davison, Maddie Haining and Osayuki Igbinoba about how they cope with the heat.
    Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
    Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
    WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
    Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
    Producers: William Lee Adams and Adam Chowdhury
    Editors: Verity Wilde
  • What in the World

    Is working from home holding you back in your career?

    11/08/2026 | 11 mins.
    Working from home has plenty of benefits: no commute, greater flexibility and the chance to catch up on household chores during your break. But for young people starting out their careers, could this extra freedom actually have a negative impact on career progression?
    Emer Moreau, a BBC Business Reporter, breaks it down. She explains how the pandemic led to a huge increase in at-home and remote working, and looks at how many people have now returned to in-person work.
    She also discusses the impact working from home has on productivity, how it affects the social nature of working life, and the ways it can slow someone's effort to climb the career ladder. We also hear from young people about their experiences with remote working.
    Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
    Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
    WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
    Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
    Producers: Chelsea Coates, William Lee Adams, and Benita Barden
    Video Producer: Baldeep Chahal
    Editors: Verity Wilde
  • What in the World

    Loudcasting: Is it ever OK to go headphone free in public?

    10/08/2026 | 10 mins.
    There’s a name for when people blare out music, scroll through social media on full volume or talk on loudspeaker in public - loudcasting. Surveys show that in the U.K. most adults find this behaviour irritating, but there’s also data suggesting that your age and culture may influence how indifferent you are to this kind of noise. BBC Reporter Angus Thompson tells us what experts say and explains why some people get so annoyed. Plus we hear from our friends across the World Service about loudcasting in their country.
    Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
    Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
    WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
    Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
    Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden
    Editors: Verity Wilde
  • What in the World

    Oil giants make record profits during Iran war

    07/08/2026 | 8 mins.
    Oil prices have shot up since the US-Israel war with Iran began, and the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, has been almost completely closed.
    It’s been bad news for drivers, airlines and anyone already feeling the squeeze from the cost of living. But for some of the world’s biggest oil companies, it’s been very good news. Oil giants like ExxonMobil and Chevron are reporting huge profits.
    And at the same time, we’re seeing record-breaking heatwaves, with wildfires raging in parts of Europe and Asia.
    Our resident business expert, Emer Moreau, tells us about the oil giants’ profits and how the high costs are impacting all of us.
    Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
    Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
    WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
    Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
    Producer: Emily Horler, Chelsea Coates and Adam Chowdhury
    Editor: Verity Wilde
  • What in the World

    Why everyone is talking about attachment theory

    06/08/2026 | 11 mins.
    In recent years, attachment theory has exploded into the public consciousness. On TikTok, videos tagged #AttachmentTheory have racked up hundreds of millions of views, with some advising users on how to become more securely attached.
    The theory was first developed in the 1950s by John Bowlby, and suggests that the bonds we form with early givers shape our expectations in adult relationships. Further research has expanded our understanding of how we connect since then, and offered a more nuanced view on attachment. But this is not always reflected in popular videos online. We speak to Josh Elgin, a BBC journalist who’s been reporting on discussions of attachment theory.
    Plus we hear from Dr Amir Levine, a Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University and author of Attached, a book which played an influential role in bringing attachment to the mainstream.
    Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
    Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
    WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
    Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
    Producer: Chelsea Coates, Benita Barden and Eleanor Sly
    Video Producer: Adam Chowdhury and Baldeep Chahal
    Editor: Verity Wilde
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About What in the World
Helping you make sense of what’s happening in your world. Big stories, small stories and everything in between. Understand more, feel better. Five days a week, Monday to Friday.
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