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
    Wes Streeting has launched a review into ADHD and autism diagnoses

    Will the next men's football World Cup be the most politically tense in history? Did we learn anything from the latest round of peace talks between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump's envoys? Is overdiagnosis of conditions like Autism and ADHD leading to worse outcomes for neurodiverse people?   Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer's Ides and Comment Editor Alex O'Connell, Deputy Sports Editor Andrew Butler, and journalist and author Julia Ioffe as they battle it out to pitch the top stories of the day.    Buy Julia Ioffe's book from the Observer Bookshop: Motherland   **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk  Follow us on Social Media:  @ObserverUK on X  @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky    Host: Rebecca Moore   Producer: Poppy Bullard   Executive Producer: Matt Russell   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  Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists  

    30 min • S1, E293

  • Matt Russell
    Councils are selling off resources to make ends meet

    A recent survey by the Key Cities group found that 60% of their member councils - which include places like Bath, Hull and Medway in Kent - were planning on selling off things like shopping arcades and social clubs to pay for the rising costs of social care.   Host: Ada Barume Writer: Becky Pinnington and Poppy Bullard Producer: Madeleine Parr Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Matt Russel

    7 min • S1, E1246

  • Matt Russell
    Gaza is trapped in limbo

    In the weeks since the ceasefire was agreed, more than 300 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, and more than 600 injured, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.    Host: Ada Barumé Writer: Poppy Bullard Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Matt Russell

    9 min • S1, E1242

  • Matt Russell
    The US-Russian peace plan for Ukraine

    This weekend, European leaders were scrambling to prevent US President Donald Trump from forcing Ukraine to sign a peace deal widely viewed as favourable to Russia.   Host: Casey Magloire  Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive producer: Matt Russell

    10 min • S1, E1241

  • Matt Russell
    Catching the Cryptoqueen

    Qian Zhimin has been dubbed the cryptoqueen after UK Police discovered she had approximately £5 billion of stolen investments. But how was she caught?  Host: Ada Barumé Writer: Casey Magloire Producer: Amalie Sortland  Reporters: Poppy Sebag-Montefiore and Phoebe Davis  Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Matt Russell 

    7 min • S1, E1237

  • Matt Russell
    Andrew Tate is finished

    Young people are moving on from online influencer Andrew Tate. Host: Ada Barumé Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Matt Russell

    6 min • S1, E1232

  • Matt Russell
    Zohran Mamdani takes on President Trump

    Why are so many prisoners being released from prison by mistake? What happens if Arts Council England goes under? And what can the Democrats learn from Mamdani's New York City mayoral election victory? Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer's Deputy Sports Editor, Andrew Butler, Arts and Media Editor, Vanessa Thorpe, and reporter Jon Ungoed-Thomas as they pitch their top stories of the day. Must Reads: Days of wine and noses: the life of a critic: https://observer.co.uk/style/food/article/days-of-wine-and-noses-the-life-of-a-critic **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk  Follow us on Social Media:  @ObserverUK on X  @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky  Host: Rebecca Moore Producer: Amalie Sortland Executive Producers: Matt Russell and Poppy Bullard 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  Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

    34 min • S1, E285

  • Matt Russell
    Epping: A very English uprising

    Over the summer, Epping, a small town on the outskirts of London became the scene of mass protests featuring hundreds of people. Noisy and occasionally violent, the demonstrations attracted crowds from around the country and plenty of media attention. But what really happened in Epping and what does it tell us about where the right in Britain is heading?    

    25 min • S1, E331

  • Matt Russell
    The end of TV

    In 2026, the UK government will decide whether to end terrestrial TV. Host: Katie Gunning Writer: Stephen Armstrong Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Matt Russell

    6 min • S1, E1226

  • Matt Russell
    The deadly police raid in Brazil

    What do we do with the knowledge that climate change made Hurricane Melissa worse? Why was there such a deadly police raid in Brazil? And why isn't hospice care treated as an essential part of healthcare?  Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer's Data and Graphics editor, Katie Riley, and reporters James Tapper and Rachael Healy, as they pitch their top stories of the day. Must Reads: Some People Can't See Mental Images Political Beliefs Dating App Experiment Premiere League **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk  Follow us on Social Media:  @ObserverUK on X  @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky  Host: Rebecca Moore Producer: Amalie Sortland Executive Producer: Matt Russel

    37 min • S1, E283

  • Matt Russell
    The Israeli settlers waiting to move in to Gaza

    US President Donald Trump's peace plan says Gaza will be for the Gazans, but a few miles from the strip's border, a small number of Israeli settlers are waiting to move in.   

    8 min • S1, E1222

  • Matt Russell
    Why young people are toppling governments

    From Madagascar to Nepal, young people are leading protest movements that are shaking the foundations of power. What's fuelling this global wave of unrest – and can it lead to lasting change?  

    7 min • S1, E1217

  • Matt Russell
    Donald Trump’s plans for the World Cup

    As more and more people turn to AI for news, how should journalists fight back and protect the human by-line? Will Donald Trump's cosy relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino allow him to dictate which cities the World Cup will be held in the US? Will the British Museum win its £3.5 million battle to keep a rare gold Tudor Heart pendant?   Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer's Alex O'Connell, Vanessa Thorpe and Jessy Parker Humphreys, as they pitch their top story of the day.  

    30 min • S1, E278

  • Matt Russell
    Why are Britain’s clubs closing?

    In the past five years, more than 800 late night venues have shut their doors. At this rate there are warnings that there could be no nightclubs left by 2029.  If you want to listen to more about the struggles facing UK nightlife, listen to The Observer's podcast We Have Notes HERE. Writer: Serena Cesareo Producer: Serena Cesareo Host: Ada Barumé Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore  

    6 min • S1, E1212

  • Matt Russell
    A new era of global superpowers

    Will Afghanistan get the aid it needs? Is China the new America when it comes to globalisation? Could a lawsuit from a dark corner of the internet affect the Online Safety Act? Rebecca Moore is joined by Observer reporters Stephen Armstrong, Phoebe Davis and Bex Sander as they pitch their stop stories of the day.  

    32 min • S1, E264

  • Matt Russell
    The mother and the gangs

    The number of teenage boys killed on our streets has more than doubled in a decade. This is the story of a mother trying to stop it, while dealing with grief and anger for her son.

    40 min • S1, E320

  • Matt Russell
    The Zelensky - Trump meeting

    Will Zelensky find any success with Trump, in the wake of the Alaska Summit? What does the militarisation of Washington DC tell us about America's political direction? And why are MPs making TikToks?  Rebecca Moore is joined by the Financial Times' Working It Editor Isabel Berwick, Plus The  Observer's Katie Riley and Stephen Armstrong, as each try to pitch the top story of the day.

    31 min • S1, E261

  • Matt Russell
    Why did Israel target and kill an Al Jazeera journalist?

    What proof has Israel provided to support their claim that Anas al Sharif ran a Hamas cell in Gaza? Why has the partnership between Premier League Football and Stonewall ended? And will Putin's visit to the US bring an end to the war in Ukraine?    Giles Whittell is joined by NPR's International Correspondent, Lauren Frayer. Plus the Observer's Serena Cesareo and Jessy Parker Humphreys, as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the day.   

    36 min • S1, E259

  • Matt Russell
    Are we in a “Hot Reform Summer”?

    As the UK Parliament takes its summer break, has Reform seized the media spotlight and emerged as a viable third-party contender? What are the risks of uploading ID to age-restricted websites under the Online Safety Act? Will Trump impose his peace deal deadline on Russia if Putin refuses negotiations?   Rebecca Moore is joined by The New Statesman's Associate Political Editor, Rachel Cunliffe. Plus the Observer's Poppy Bullard and Patricia Clarke, as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the day.  

    34 min • S1, E257

  • Matt Russell
    Does UK recognition change anything in Gaza?

    Is the UK's decision to conditionally recognise the state of Palestine more symbolic than practical? As protests in Epping continue, how is rhetoric around asylum seekers impacting children from ethnic minority backgrounds? Now that the Lionesses have won the Euros for a second time, is this confirmation that the hard work put into the women's game has paid off?   Giles Whittell is joined by ITV News Presenter and Loose Women panellist Charlene White. Plus, the Observer's narrative editor Chloe Hadjimatheou and Deputy Sports Editor, Andrew Butler.  

    34 min • S1, E255

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