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389 episodes

Why do mothers abandon babies?
26/03/2026 | 22 mins.
Every year babies are abandoned by their parents. Following a long reporting project exploring the story of one foundling on a search for her biological parents, Alexi Mostrous asks, 'why do mothers abandon babies?'. To try and make sense of these complicated, often hidden stories, he's joined by the series reporter Lucy Greenwell and the series' producer Katie Gunning.

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Foundling | Tortoise Investigates
24/03/2026 | 41 mins.
Foundling is a six-part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer. This is episode 1 - On the verge
Journalist Lucy Greenwell goes in search of Jess following rumours and unanswered questions about where she was born and who gave birth to her.
To listen to the rest of the series, just search for Tortoise Investigates wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to all 6 episodes.

To find out more about The Observer:

Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content.

Head to our website observer.co.uk

Credits:
Reporter - Lucy Greenwell
Producer - Katie Gunning
Original theme music - Tom Kinsella
Sound design and additional music - Rowan Bishop
Podcast artwork - Blythe Walker Sibthorp
Narrative editor - Gary Marshall
Editor - Jasper Corbett

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Can AI write good literature?
19/03/2026 | 23 mins.
Last week, the New York Times ran an experiment that has far-reaching implications, especially for book lovers. It asked readers to compare five pairs of writing samples — one written by AI, the other by a well-known author — and choose which they preferred. AI was chosen much of the time. So, can AI actually write good literature? Book Prize judge Erica Wagner, The Observer's book editor Tom Gatti, and author Ada Barumé discuss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kill talk: Pete Hegseth and the language of war
17/03/2026 | 33 mins.
America's war against Iran has revealed plenty of gunslinging, provocative rhetoric from the US defence secretary Pete Hegseth. But is there much to learn about America's aims in Iran from Trump's self-described 'secretary of war'?

Reporter/Producer: Alexi Mostrous and Ada Barumé
Artwork: Blythe Walker Sibthorp
Sound design: Dominic Delargy
Editor: Jasper Corbett
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Your best baby
10/03/2026 | 45 mins.
Genetic testing start ups are a booming industry in America. Behind the headlines of 'designer babies' are companies tapping into disputed science, facing accusations that this is a pathway to eugenics. So what does the story of one company in particular tell us about this new field of fertility and science?

Reporters: Madeleine Parr and Matt Russell
Producers: Madeleine Parr and Matt Russell
Additional production: Gary Marshall
Artwork: Blythe Walker Sibthorp
Sound design: Dominic Delargy
Editor: Jasper Corbett

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About The Slow Newscast

The Slow Newscast from The Observer takes the news slowly. We investigate, and every week we focus on stories that really matter in the UK and around the world. From wars in Ukraine and Gaza through to true crime and injustice and real life mysteries, The Slow Newscast team is devoted to narrative investigations covering some of the biggest topics of the day.Who are the people biohacking themselves in a quest for immortality? Or the man taking on an entire nation in the high seas to protect whales? And what happened when humanity's most distant messenger fell silent? From a newsroom with a different approach to journalism these are the stories we tell.Subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 to get 50% off your annual subscription: Early access, bonus content and ad-free listening to our podcastsA daily edition, curated by our editors 7 days a weekPuzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crosswordRecipes for every occasionFree tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or online Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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