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What in the World

BBC World Service
What in the World
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793 episodes

  • 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
  • What in the World

    Ariana Grande: Is it ever okay to comment on people’s bodies?

    05/08/2026 | 12 mins.
    Ariana Grande has announced that she's planning to take a break from the public eye after her Eternal Sunshine tour ends in September. She started her performing career when she was a kid and has since become one of the biggest pop stars in the world, winning three Grammys and most recently portraying Glinda in the hit film Wicked.
    But over the past couple of years, a lot of the conversation online about Ariana hasn't been about her music or acting: it's been about her appearance. That's despite her asking people repeatedly not to comment on her body over the years. Her most recent music video, Petal, went viral after some fans said they were concerned about how thin she was.
    So, is it ever ok to talk about a celebrity's health or appearance? And where's the line between concern and scrutiny?
    Chelsea Coates from the What in the World team joins us to discuss it all - and we hear how Ariana’s fans are reacting to her decision to take a break.
    Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
    Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
    WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
    Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
    Producer: Emily Horler and Chelsea Coates
    Editor: Verity Wilde
    If you are concerned about your health, you could speak to a health professional. If you are suffering distress or despair and need support, you could speak to a health professional or an organisation that offers support. Details of help available in many countries can be found at Befrienders Worldwide. www.befrienders.org
  • What in the World

    AMOC: Could the ocean system collapse?

    04/08/2026 | 11 mins.
    Disaster movie The Day After Tomorrow showed the world hit by extreme weather events caused by disruption to the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Today, even though the events of the film are highly unlikely to happen, scientists are concerned by changes to the AMOC.
    The AMOC is a massive north-south system of currents in the Atlantic Ocean that carries warm surface water towards the Arctic and returns colder water thousands of miles south through the deep ocean. It impacts weather patterns across the world from north-west Europe, to west Africa and all the way to India. However, scientists are worried that climate change is weakening the system which could lead to dramatic changes in weather around the world.
    BBC Weather presenter Sarah Keith-Lucas explains what the AMOC is, what exactly scientists are worried about and what the potential impacts could be if the AMOC is weakened or collapses entirely.
    Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
    Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
    WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
    Presenter: William Lee Adams
    Producers: Adam Chowdhury
    Video Producer: Adam Chowdhury
    Editors: Emily Horler & Verity Wilde
  • What in the World

    Tyla removes Nigeria from her world tour dates

    03/08/2026 | 10 mins.
    Protests against undocumented migrants have been going on for months in South Africa. We’ve talked about them on the podcast before - people are protesting against illegal immigrants, and some of the marches have turned violent and deadly. Houses have been burned down, shops looted, and countries like Ghana and Nigeria have even evacuated some of their citizens from the country.
    But these protests aren’t just affecting politics and South Africa’s relationships with other countries on the continent. They’re also impacting sports and pop culture.
    Now, Tyla, the South African pop star, has taken Nigeria off her world tour dates. She hasn’t given a reason, but thousands of Nigerians had signed a petition urging her to stay away.
    So that’s what we’re getting into today with Makuochi Okafor, our West Africa Reporter.
    Plus, we hear from people in Nigeria on what they think about it all.
    Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
    Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
    WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
    Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
    Producer: Chelsea Coates, Benita Barden and Emily Horler
    Editor: Verity Wilde
  • What in the World

    Why are we talking about the World Cup again?

    31/07/2026 | 12 mins.
    It’s less than two weeks after Spain won the men’s World Cup, but suddenly the tournament is back in the headlines. This time it’s because of a plan from Fifa’s President Gianni Infantino to sell a stake in their tournaments to private investors. Infantino says it’s a chance to “turbocharge” the development of the game - and national associations have been offered millions of dollars if they agree to the plans.
    It’s fair to say the plans haven’t gone down well with everyone - with European’s governing body Uefa saying their members won’t go to any World Cups (men’s or women’s) if the plans go through.
    We talk to BBC Sport’s Isaac Fanin (fresh from a month at the World Cup) about what the plans are, what the response has been and what might happen next.
    NB: We recorded this episode on Friday morning and it’s all changing so fast we have to keep rewriting this description…
    Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
    Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
    WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
    Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
    Producer: Emma-Louise Amanshia
    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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