エピソード

  • It’s the year of the Fire Horse!
    2026/02/18

    We’re talking about Lunar New Year - it’s the year of the fire horse and it’s the first time this particular combination of Chinese zodiac sign and element has rolled around in 60 years, and the hype is real.

    The story, myth and legend of the animals of the Chinese New Year calendar comes from an ancient Chinese poem telling the story of 12 mythical animals who ended up racing each other to decide which order they would appear in the Chinese zodiac.

    We’re gonna get into how the Lunar New Year is celebrated across the world, hear from some BBC pals about how they’re celebrating and also from some of you guys about your traditions and why this year is special.

    Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Iqra Farooq Producers: Emily Horler and Chelsea Coates Editor: Verity Wilde

    続きを読む 一部表示
    13 分
  • Does birth order shape your personality?
    2026/02/17

    We’ve spotted some of you on your socials talking about eldest sibling vs youngest sibling behaviour. It got us wondering if when you’re born can affect personality, relationships and outlook on life. We all know the stereotypes; the eldest child is more conscientious and responsible. The middle child gets overlooked and craves attention. The youngest is indulged and a risk-taker. Personality psychologist Julia Rohrer, from Leipzig University in Germany breaks down what’s science and what’s fiction.

    We hear the experiences from three of our BBC pals; Faith Oshoko in Nigeria, Santiago Vanegas Maldonado from Colombia and Jacob Evans in the UK.

    Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Iqra Farooq (eldest) Producers: Julia Ross Roy (only child), Benita Barden (middle) and Mora Morrison (youngest) Video Journalist: Baldeep Chahal (youngest) Editor: Verity Wilde (eldest)

    続きを読む 一部表示
    13 分
  • Trump vs Climate: The Showdown
    2026/02/16

    President Trump isn’t a big believer in climate change - he’s called it a ‘hoax’ and ‘con job’ in the past. But last week saw one of his boldest moves against US climate policy since becoming president - the termination of the endangerment finding. It’s a ruling that was made in 2009, when Barack Obama was in the White House, and it’s served as the legal basis for lots of other regulations aiming to cut pollution since then. So, it looks like Trump is locked in a showdown with climate policy… but what could this hold for the future?

    In this episode, we explain exactly what the ruling is, why Trump has decided to revoke it, and what this could mean for you.

    Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Iqra Farooq Producers: Emily Horler and Chelsea Coates Editor: Verity Wilde

    続きを読む 一部表示
    12 分
  • What the popularity of period dramas says about modern dating
    2026/02/13

    “Wuthering Heights” is back and so is Bridgerton. Period dramas are having a moment. Why are we loving them so much right now? We hear from fans around the world; Tasha in Canada, Gracie in the US and Radhika in India. Chelsea from the What in the World team explains some of the reasons, like wanting more slow burn romance and courtship in our modern dating, and more accountability when it comes to ghosting. Faye Woods from the University of Reading in the UK tells us how female representation plays a role too.

    We also discuss whether some of the relationships in these period dramas should be something we aspire to… Heathcliff and Cathy we’re looking at you. Happy Galentine’s Day to all our listeners!

    Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Iqra Farooq Producers: Chelsea Coates, Julia Ross Roy, and Ash Mohamed Editor: Verity Wilde

    続きを読む 一部表示
    12 分
  • Chinamaxxing: How ‘being Chinese’ became cool online
    2026/02/12

    As usual, we have been spending far too much time on social media, watching endless videos and scrolling for days.

    One thing that keeps on coming up is people talking about ‘Chinamaxxing’.

    This all about Gen Z celebrating and recognising their Chinese technology and Chinese brands…and then choosing to use more of these Chinese-made products than they have before. But it’s going further than that. It’s now a trend to embody a supposed ‘Chinese’ lifestyle.

    We chat with Shawn Yuan from our Global China Unit and BBC reporter Nathalie Jimenez to hear about how this trend is going down with the Chinese community around the world. Plus two content creators share their thoughts with us - Chao Ban and Yunyun Gu.

    Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Iqra Farooq Producers: Emily Horler, Julia Ross Roy, Chelsea Coates and Emilia Jansson Video Journalist: Baldeep Chahal Editor: Verity Wilde

    続きを読む 一部表示
    12 分
  • Are Instagram and YouTube 'addiction machines'?
    2026/02/11

    A landmark trial is underway in California that examines the mental health effects of Instagram and YouTube. Lawyers for the plaintiff, referred to as K.G.M., will argue that she suffered from mental health issues as a result of social media addiction. Her team claims that the named social media companies deliberately built “addiction machines” that use the algorithm to keep young people hooked. K.G.M.’s lawyers also argue that Meta and YouTube failed to warn of the dangers to young users posed by the design of their platforms. Instagram and YouTube deny the allegations and argue that they can’t be held liable for users’ behaviour.

    Lily Jamali, the BBC’s North America Technology correspondent, is in Los Angeles for the case. She explains the arguments on both sides, previews who we will hear from and discusses the potential implications.

    Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Iqra Farooq Producers: William Lee Adams, Benita Barden and Ash Mohamed Editor: Verity Wilde

    続きを読む 一部表示
    11 分
  • From Tyra Banks to Melania Trump: Are celebrity documentaries just PR?
    2026/02/10

    On February 16 Netflix will release “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model” — a three-part series on the controversial modelling competition. Tyra Banks, the supermodel who hosted the show, features prominently in the ANTM documentary, along with former judges and coaches Jay Manuel, Nigel Barker and Miss J. We look at why Tyra might want to offer her own take on past controversies.

    Melania Trump, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Billie Eilish are among other celebrities who feature in documentaries, docu-series or concert films. But why are these celebrity docs so popular — and what’s the business motivation behind them? BBC reporter William Lee Adams joins us to explain.

    We also discuss “Melania,” which follows First Lady of the United States Melania Trump during the twenty days leading up to President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2025. During the film she discusses her background as an immigrant from Slovenia and the painful loss of her mother Amalija Knavs. The film also captures intimate moments within the Trump family, helping showcase the president as a person rather than a politician. We assess whether the sympathetic portrayal will change opinions in a divided America.

    And what about music stars? We look at how concert films — Beyoncé’s “Renaissance: The Film,” Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour” and Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” — can help singers mythologise themselves while also bringing in a lot revenue.

    Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Iqra Farooq Producers: William Lee Adams, Emily Horler and Mora Morrison Video Journalist: Baldeep Chahal Editor: Verity Wilde

    続きを読む 一部表示
    14 分
  • Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show
    2026/02/09

    Bad Bunny made history on Sunday as the first artist to perform almost entirely in Spanish at the Super Bowl. The performance has been interpreted as a love letter to his native Puerto Rico and featured plenty of references to the island and Latin culture more broadly. But the performance, which included a special appearance from Lady Gaga, has also sparked controversy, political backlash and a lot of debate.

    BBC Sport reporter Sam Harris joins us from San Francisco immediately after the football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. He explains why people thought Bad Bunny might use the Super Bowl stage to make a political statement and how his message of unity resonated with the audience. We also discuss President Trump’s criticism of the halftime show. And we hear about a rival halftime show, organised by the conservative group Turning Point USA and headlined by Kid Rock.

    Bad Bunny fans from around the world also share their verdict on his performance.

    Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Iqra Farooq Producers: William Lee Adams, Chelsea Coates and Ash Mohamed Editor: Verity Wilde

    続きを読む 一部表示
    10 分