Photo of Matt Russell
Matt Russell

Deputy Head of Audio

Matt is the deputy head of audio at The Observer. He previously oversaw the weekly investigative podcast The Slow Newscast, and formerly worked at the BBC.

Photo of Matt Russell

Matt Russell

Deputy Head of Audio

Matt is the deputy head of audio at The Observer. He previously oversaw the weekly investigative podcast The Slow Newscast, and formerly worked at the BBC.

  • Matt Russell
    ‘Social media is killing our kids’

    Last year in the UK, a fifth of people arrested for terrorism offences were under 18.  Counter-terrorism experts warn that outlawing social media for children is a matter of national security. So what are children really watching online?

    38 min • S1, E406

  • Matt Russell
    Ten to midnight: Iran’s nuclear arms race

    According to the United States and Israel, there's 460 kilograms of enriched uranium that Iran are just ten days away from turning into weapons grade nuclear bomb material. The story of Iran's nuclear arms race is less clear than they make it appear though. It's a tale of espionage, assassinations, and a high-stakes game of bluff.

    34 min • S1, E396

  • Matt Russell
    Why art heists are on the rise

    Over the past two years, there have been major thefts from galleries and museums in the Netherlands, France and Italy. So what's happening?

    5 min • S1, E1334

  • Matt Russell
    Why shared ownership might not be an affordable option

    Some residents in shared home ownership schemes are finding that rising rents and service charges are making their homes increasingly unaffordable.  

    7 min • S1, E1333

  • Matt Russell
    The Iran war and MAGA

    Is the war in Iran impacting MAGA support for Donald Trump, if so, why?  

    9 min • S1, E1332

  • Matt Russell
    Are war crimes happening in the Iran war?

    Several leading figures have come out and warned both sides in the Iran war could be at risk of committing war crimes. But what does this mean? Host: Casey Magloire Writer: Matt Russell Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive producer: Jasper Corbett

    8 min • S1, E1328

  • Matt Russell
    The AI chatbots accused of encouraging violence

    Two lawsuits allege that artificial intelligence chatbots, like ChatGPT, have encouraged people to commit harm not just to themselves, but to others.    Reporter: Patricia Clarke   Writer: Poppy Bullard   Producer: Poppy Bullard   Host: Ada Barumé   Episode photography: Joe Mee   Executive Producer: Matt Russell  

    7 min • S1, E1325

  • Matt Russell
    Scotland rejects assisted dying

    Plans to legalise assisted dying in Scotland have been narrowly rejected, just as similar efforts across the UK begin to stall.   Host: Casey Magloire Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Matt Russell Some clips used in the episode were from the BBC.  

    9 min • S1, E1324

  • Matt Russell
    Meningitis made me deaf but I never let it hold me back

    Sun, 22 Mar 2026

  • Matt Russell
    Iranian footballers are refusing asylum

    On the 9th March, five members of the Iranian national women's football team were granted asylum by the Australian government, but only two of them want to accept the offer.    Writer: Poppy Bullard   Producer: Poppy Bullard and Matt Russell   Host: Casey Magloire   Episode photography: Joe Mee   Executive Producer: Matt Russell  

    6 min • S1, E1320

  • Matt Russell
    Your best baby

    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?  

    45 min • S1, E351

  • Matt Russell
    Hoping for a ‘perfect’ baby? Genetic testing startups lure parents to US

    Fertility experts say strict UK laws are no bar to accessing a booming industry that has led to concerns about eugenics

    Sun, 8 Mar 2026

  • Matt Russell
    Trump’s reasons for attacking Iran

     President Trump has offered a range of explanations and justifications for the US and Israeli strikes on Iran in the past few days. Why are there mixed messages?  Host: Ada Barumé Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Matt Russell

    9 min • S1, E1313

  • Matt Russell
    The bombing of Iran spills over into the Middle East

    The US and Israel's strikes on Iran have triggered a conflict which is rapidly spreading across the Middle East.    Writer: Poppy Bullard   Producer: Poppy Bullard   Host: Ada Barume   Episode photography: Sofia Fenton   Executive Producer: Matt Russell  

    8 min • S1, E1310

  • Matt Russell
    How a mountaineer's death could change climbing forever

    The case of the Austrian climber who was found guilty of manslaughter after his girlfriend froze to death on Austria's highest mountain, has captivated the world's media.    Writer: Poppy Bullard   Producer: Poppy Bullard   Host: Casey Magloire   Episode photography: Sofia Fenton   Executive Producer: Matt Russell  

    8 min • S1, E1307

  • Matt Russell
    Russia’s war with Ukraine: four years on

    Today, four years after Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the war shows no sign of ending.   Host: Casey Magloire Writer: Amalie Sortland Producer: Poppy Bullard Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Matt Russell  

    10 min • S1, E1305

  • Matt Russell
    UK winters are only getting wetter

    Some areas of the UK have faced their wettest winters on record.    Writer: Poppy Bullard   Producer: Poppy Bullard   Host: Ada Barumé    Episode photography: Sofia Fenton   Executive Producer: Matt Russell  

    6 min • S1, E1300

  • Matt Russell
    China’s new wave of crackdowns on pro-democracy activists

    The recent sentencing of activist Jimmy Lai and the conviction of the father of activist Anna Kwok in the same week marks a new phase in China's crackdown on activists. How far is Beijing prepared to go to silence dissent?   Writer: Jess Swinburne Producer: Jess Swinburne Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Matt Russell

    8 min • S1, E1299

  • Matt Russell
    Why graduates are struggling to pay off student loans

    Should the government consider implementing a graduate tax to make the tuition repayment system fairer? What did Jim Ratcliffe get wrong about immigration in the UK? And do we need to get serious about carbon capturing?    Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer's Andrew Butler, Ada Barumé and James Tapper as they battle it out to see who can pitch the story that should lead the news.  

    30 min • S1, E312

  • Matt Russell
    Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl and Michelle de Swarte on UK comedy

    Michelle de Swarte joins Liv and Miranda to speak about her career and the changing UK comedy scene. Will SNL UK be the new vehicle for introducing up-and-coming talent to the mainstream?  Bad Bunny made history at the Super Bowl Halftime Show on Sunday and new super fans out of Miranda and Liv. For many, this was their introduction to the Puerto Rican star - but how did he get so big?  Get tickets to Michelle de Swarte's comedy tour - The Afters → HERE    Liv and Miranda love to share their recommendations, here's what's on their radar this week:  Liv: How to Mend: Motherhood and Its Ghosts by Iman Mersal Between the Covers live Miranda:  The Muppet Show!  Read more On My Radar recommendations from The Observer's New Review HERE    Let's chat! Send us your voice notes!  @WeHaveNotes_Pod on Instagram @WeHaveNotes_Pod on TikTok wehavenotes@observer.co.uk via email     

    42 min • S2, E5

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