The Story

When an Oxbridge professor says his students are “functionally illiterate”, you know something is wrong. With reading levels in freefall and screentime rocketing, is the era of mass literacy over? In his wildly successful blog, James Marriot argues that three centuries after the reading revolution ignited democracy and modern science, we are now witnessing its great undoing. Where once we spent hours pouring over books, contemplating complicated theories and ideas, we now scroll emotive, short form content. What effect is this major shift having on our brains? And are we are really at the dawn of the post-literate society?The Sunday Times wants to Get Britain Reading. With our campaign you can:• Donate to Bookbanks to put books in the hands of those most in need• Volunteer to read in schools with Coram Beanstalk• Above all, take our pledge to read for pleasure for at least ten minutes a day for the next six weeksRead more about the campaign.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: James Marriott, Times columnist.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Dave Creasey.Read more:The dawn of the post-literate societyI’m a digital native — can I survive without my smartphone?Photo: Chris McAndrew for The Times.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

Oz Pearlman has guessed Joe Rogan's pin number, freaked out Barack Obama, mind-read Howard Stern’s secret afterlife password and left Richard Branson staring into the middle distance. But behind the viral moments is a former Wall Street analyst who insists there’s nothing supernatural in what he does, just psychology, pattern-spotting and a lifetime spent decoding how people think. We dive into the real tricks of the world’s most in-demand "mentalist", the habits that power his $10m career, and why he says you can learn them too.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryWritten by: Michael Odell, interviewer and features writer.Read by: Micaela Arneson and Edward Drummond.Producer: Dave Creasey.Read more: The $10m mind-reader who spooked Barack Obama and Joe RoganClips: The Joe Rogan Experience, SiriusXM, AGT, TedX, GMA.Photo: Alexander Karnyukhin/Contour by Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com.

The inaugural conference of Jeremy Corbyn’s Your Party takes place this weekend. But what should have been the coronation of the left’s most potent new force has become a shambles. Will they get it together in time to prevent Zack Polanski’s Greens from sweeping up the left vote?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Harry Stott. Read more: Your Party civil war worsens before inaugural conferenceFurther listening: Why Britain’s left is radicalisingClips: New Statesman / Youtube, Zarah Sultana / Youtube, Times Radio, Channel 4, Canary / Youtube, ITV News, LBC, Socialist Telly / Youtube, Owen Jones / Youtube, Novara Media.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

After weeks of trailing, flip-flopping, and media briefings, the government finally unveiled its budget. And while there were no real surprises, questions– both practical and existential– remain. Has Rachel Reeves done enough to save her and Keir Starmer’s jobs? And what will it mean for you, the listener? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Aubrey Allegretti, chief political correspondent, The Times, and Rachel Mortimer, deputy money editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.   Producer: Micaela Arneson. Read more: This budget may end up dooming Labour’s election chancesWhat does the budget mean for you?Further listening: The BusinessClips: BBC News, Channel 4 News, ITV News, Sky News, Parliament.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

Of the thirteen sub-postmasters thought to have taken their own lives because of the Post Office scandal, only two have been named publicly. Michael Mann was one of them. Our reporter has spoken to his family, former partner and ex-colleagues to tell his story for the first time. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Hugo Daniel, news reporter, the Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Edward Drummond and Shabnam Grewal.Read more: The forgotten postmaster ‘hounded to death’ by investigators Further listening: The Post Office scandal: How a TV drama delivered justiceClips: ITV, Channel 4 News, ITV News, Horizon Inquiry. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

The prospect of peace in Ukraine may be edging closer, after the leak of a controversial 28-point plan to end the war prompted Ukrainian and Western officials to meet for ‘productive’ talks in Geneva. Is this the beginning of the end? And how does the latest proposal ensure that Russia will not invade again?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Mark Galeotti, Russia expert, writer, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Harry Stott, Micaela Arneson. Read more: Why Trump’s 28-point peace plan may just be a trap for UkraineFurther listening: The girl who was kidnapped by Russia - the Sunday StoryClips: Bloomberg, NBC, BBC, AP, Tucker Carlson / YouTube, Laura Logan / YouTube, Africanews. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

A recent survey revealed that more than half of 16 to 34-year-olds have taken part in strangulation during sex, despite the risks of a loss of consciousness and stroke. Many feel a rise in choking in pornography is to blame, a practice the UK government is set to ban. Baroness Gabby Bertin has led an independent review which prompted the change in law.This programme contains descriptions of strangulation during sex. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Helen Puttick, reporter, The Times,Samantha Browne, campaigner and former adult performer and,Baroness Gabby Bertin, Conservative peer.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Alula Hart.Read more: Half of young adults have been choked during sex, survey finds Why the woman outlawing violent porn is just getting started Photo: Andrew Farrar for The Sunday Times.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

Across the Deep South, women raised to believe marriage was their destiny are now walking out, challenging the religious, cultural and political pressures that have shaped their lives. Meanwhile, the booming 'trad wife' movement, championed by conservative powerhouses like the late Trump supporter Charlie Kirk, is attracting a whole new generation of young women to embrace home and hearth and marry young. So, why are more marriages ending in divorce in the deep south than they are across liberal America? Could it mean the trad wife tradition will end in divorce?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Louise Callaghan, US correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Dave Creasey.Read more: Meet the Deep South divorcees escaping life as trad wivesClips: NBC, esteecwilliams.Photo: Corey Arnold, The Times Magazine.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com.

Tilly Norwood, the world's first 'AI actress' has rocked Hollywood, sparking union protests and denounced by actors such as Whoopi Goldberg, George Clooney and Emily Blunt. For some she's a threat to the artform, for others an inevitability. She'll never forget her lines, turn up late or fall drunk out of a bar. Tilly can appear in multiple films at once and even change her appearance at will. But what does her creator say? Is she the future of cinema? Eline Van der Velden tells her side of the story, from the A-list backlash, to developing Tilly's personality.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHost: Tom Whipple, science correspondent, The Times.Producer: Dave Creasey.Read more: I invented the AI actress Tilly Norwood. She’s no threat to HollywoodClips: NBC, CBS, Fox News, Particle6.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com.