From the archive: the impossible job: inside the world of Premier League referees

From the archive:‘I feel like I’m selling my soul’: inside the crisis at Juventus

May 27, 202644 minSummary

In this episode of The Audio Long Read, author and journalist Tobias Jones examines the dramatic financial and administrative crisis that engulfed Juventus, Italy’s most successful football club. The narrative explores how the club faced severe point deductions and legal scrutiny following revelations of a sophisticated system used to artificially inflate player values. By exchanging players for inflated fees, the club’s leadership allegedly sought to mask hundreds of millions of euros in losses, a practice that investigators and even internal staff described as a desperate, soul-crushing effort to stabilize a failing balance sheet. The episode delves into the "riches to rags" trajectory of the club under the leadership of Andrea Agnelli, whose ambition to transform Juventus into a global lifestyle brand ultimately clashed with the harsh realities of mounting debt. Jones details the disastrous financial impact of signing Cristiano Ronaldo, the club's pivot toward the controversial European Super League, and the toxic internal culture that allowed such financial improprieties to thrive. Ultimately, the story serves as a cautionary window into the systemic rot within professional football, raising fundamental questions about whether modern clubs prioritize sporting integrity or treat their players as mere tools for corporate accounting.

‘I had poked the bear right in the eye’: my fight to renounce my Russian citizenship

May 25, 202634 minSummary

In this episode of The Audio Long Read, historian Sergei Radchenko recounts his arduous, years-long journey to renounce his Russian citizenship following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Born in the Russian Far East and having spent much of his adult life living and working internationally as an academic, Radchenko reflects on the complex intersections of identity, collective responsibility, and the moral weight of holding a passport from a state committing acts of war. Radchenko explores the philosophical tension between his globalized, intellectual identity and the inescapable legal ties to a nation whose regime he deeply condemns. He details the bureaucratic obstacles placed by the Kremlin to prevent citizens from leaving, as well as the internal struggle of accepting "collective responsibility" for the actions of a state he no longer claims as his own. The narrative offers an intimate look at the emotional process of severing ties with one’s birthplace, the risks involved in criticizing a dictatorial regime, and the ultimate liberation he feels upon finally securing his freedom from the Russian state. It is a poignant meditation on what it means to belong when your homeland becomes a source of shame.

On the trail with the hunters who believe shooting big game can save Africa’s wildlife

May 22, 202629 minSummary

In this episode of The Audio Long Read, journalist Cal Flynn explores the complex and contentious world of trophy hunting in Mozambique’s Niassa Special Reserve. The narrative follows a professional hunter and his client as they navigate the ethical and practical dilemmas of modern conservation. The central paradox examined is the claim that shooting big game—such as elephants, lions, and buffalo—is essential for funding the protection of Africa’s wildlife and surrounding wilderness areas. Flynn investigates the history of hunting-based conservation, tracing its origins to colonial-era practices and the creation of private game reserves. She highlights the heavy reliance many conservancies have on the high fees paid by international trophy hunters to fund anti-poaching patrols, provide community services, and maintain habitat. However, the report does not shy away from the moral discomfort of this model, noting the racial dynamics, the exclusion of local communities, and the philosophical conflict of saving species through their destruction. Through interviews and firsthand observation, the episode raises a difficult question: if this model is currently fostering the growth of endangered animal populations, can the world afford to abandon it despite its unsettling nature?

From the archive: Putin, Trump, Ukraine: how Timothy Snyder became the leading interpreter of our dark times

May 20, 202654 minSummary

This profile of Yale historian Timothy Snyder explores his emergence as a prominent and often polarizing public intellectual during a decade defined by global political instability. The podcast examines how Snyder, an expert in Eastern European history, transitioned from academic scholarship to becoming a leading voice in the anti-Trump movement and a key interpreter of the war in Ukraine. The episode highlights Snyder’s unique methodology, which blends rigorous historical research with a willingness to make bold, prescient predictions about contemporary crises. Whether discussing his warnings regarding Donald Trump’s threat to democratic norms or his early recognition of Vladimir Putin’s imperialist ambitions, the discussion underscores Snyder’s conviction that history is shaped by human choices rather than inevitable structural forces. The piece also addresses the controversy surrounding his work, noting that his direct, sometimes alarmist tone has earned him both fervent followers and staunch critics who view his rhetoric as hyperbolic. By chronicling his personal background, his intellectual evolution, and his intimate conversations with figures like President Volodymyr Zelensky, the episode offers a nuanced look at a scholar who insists that understanding the past is essential for maintaining the freedom to shape the future.

How to survive the information crisis: ‘We once talked about fake news – now reality itself feels fake’

May 18, 202644 minSummary

In this episode of The Audio Long Read, Katherine Weiner, Editor-in-Chief of the Guardian, explores the profound sense of disorientation many feel in the current era. She articulates how a combination of interlinked global crises—including environmental collapse, political volatility, and rising economic inequality—has fundamentally altered our perception of reality. Weiner argues that the digital revolution has significantly exacerbated this, creating an information environment where truth is increasingly difficult to discern and public discourse is often engineered to favor conflict over connection. Drawing on insights from digital culture experts, the episode examines how technology has degraded attention spans and fostered loneliness, leaving individuals vulnerable to polarizing narratives. Weiner contends that this "information crisis" is as historically significant as the invention of the printing press. To navigate this landscape, she emphasizes the necessity of independent, transparently funded journalism that prioritizes human values over corporate profit. By fostering shared facts, telling stories that offer hope, and intentionally building community, journalism can serve as a vital antidote to the prevailing sense of artificiality, helping society bridge the divides created by digital fragmentation and political instability.

Stateside with Kai and Carter: Stacey Abrams on why gutting of the US Voting Rights Act is ‘evil’

May 17, 202635 minSummary

In the inaugural episode of Stateside, hosts Kai Wright and Carter Sherman explore the implications of the Supreme Court’s decision to gut the Voting Rights Act. Describing the ruling as an act of calculated authoritarianism, the hosts and their guest, Stacey Abrams, discuss how the removal of federal oversight has emboldened state legislatures to erase minority-majority districts and disenfranchise voters. Abrams frames the current legislative landscape not merely as a partisan struggle between Democrats and Republicans, but as a dangerous shift toward competitive authoritarianism. She emphasizes that while the recent judicial setbacks are effectively dismantling long-standing protections, the solution lies in persistent, localized organizing. Rather than succumbing to despair, Abrams advocates for unwavering determination, urging citizens to focus on voter registration, coalition building, and holding representatives accountable even in gerrymandered districts. By grounding the conversation in the history of the civil rights movement and the systemic barriers that preceded the original Voting Rights Act, the episode serves as a sobering analysis of the fragility of American democracy and a call to action for the next generation of voters.

Where Duolingo falls down: how I learned to speak Welsh with my mother

May 4, 202648 minSummary

This episode of The Audio Long Read explores the deep, personal connection between language, cultural identity, and family history. Author Dan Fox recounts his journey to learn Welsh, a mission sparked by a sense of loss after his grandmother’s funeral, where he realized that despite his Welsh heritage, the language remained an unreachable music to him. The narrative delves into the historical marginalization of the Welsh language, detailing how industrialization and colonial policies sought to suppress it, forcing families like Fox's to prioritize English for survival. Fox reflects on his childhood memories, characterized by hearing Welsh as a private, rhythmic language spoken by his elders, and his subsequent estrangement from it during his adult years in London and New York. The discussion highlights the complexities of modern language learning, critiquing superficial digital tools before discovering more immersive, community-focused methods. Ultimately, Fox’s pursuit is not about utility, but about strengthening the bond with his aging mother and preserving a heritage that feels essential to his sense of self. It is a poignant meditation on the concept of hiraeth and the enduring effort required to keep a minority language alive.

‘Any other child would have died’: the miraculous survival of Nada Itrab

May 1, 202650 minSummary

This episode of The Audio Long Read explores the harrowing yet miraculous survival story of Nada Itrab, who was kidnapped at age nine and trafficked from Spain to Bolivia. The narrative follows Nada’s journey as she is taken by a trusted neighbor, Grover Morales, and subjected to nine months of forced labor, physical abuse, and psychological torment in the Bolivian rainforest. Despite the trauma, Nada’s resilience and intellectual drive remained intact as she clung to hope and education as her only escape routes. The podcast details the international police operation led by Spanish Civil Guard detective José Miguel Hidalgo, which eventually secured Nada’s rescue in 2014. Beyond the rescue, the episode provides a poignant look at Nada’s difficult transition back to a life that offered little support, including the systemic failures that left her in a cycle of poverty and domestic instability. Now a law student, Nada has decided to break her silence. Working with journalist Nora López-Holden, she is reclaiming her narrative to combat the stigma surrounding survivors and campaign against global child trafficking, transforming her personal suffering into a powerful mission for advocacy and systemic change.