Foundling | Tortoise Investigates
by The Observer
Is this your podcast?Insights from recent episode analysis
Audience Interest
Podcast Focus
Publishing Consistency
Platform Reach
Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Most discussed topics
Brands & references
Total monthly reach
Estimated from 34 chart positions in 34 markets.
By chart position
- 🇦🇺AU · Documentary#11M to 3M
- 🇨🇦CA · Documentary#21M to 3M
- 🇩🇪DE · Documentary#12300K to 1M
- 🇺🇸US · Documentary#13300K to 1M
- 🇮🇳IN · Documentary#5300K to 800K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
1.4M to 4.3M🎙 Daily cadence·121 episodes·Last published 3d ago - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
4.7M to 14M🇦🇺21%🇨🇦21%🇩🇪7%+31 more - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
1.4M to 4.3M
Market Insights
Platform Distribution
Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly
Total Followers
—
Total Plays
—
Total Reviews
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* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
On the show
From 18 epsHosts
Recent guests
Recent episodes
Asma’s deal | We call her Emma Ep4
Jul 28, 2026
Unknown duration
Asma’s choice | We call her Emma Ep3
Jul 21, 2026
43m 24s
Diana of Damascus | We call her Emma Ep2
Jul 14, 2026
45m 51s
The girl from Acton | We call her Emma Ep1
Jul 7, 2026
40m 58s
Introducing...We call her Emma
Jul 1, 2026
3m 45s
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/28/26 |  Asma’s deal | We call her Emma Ep4 | Chloe travels to Damascus to meet people close to Bashar and Asma. One source tells her that Asma took a drastic decision in the early years of the war - she tried to leave Syria. Only it’s not for the reasons you might think. We call her Emma is a 6 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer.To binge listen to more episodes today, ad-free, subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 to get 50% off your annual subscription.You'll get access to:This series and all our podcasts before anyone elseAd-free listeningPremium newslettersPuzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crosswordExclusive offers from our partners including Mubi and iescapeTickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or onlineOr subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to listen to all our podcasts, including this one, without any ads.Reporter - Chloe HadjimatheouProducer - Gary MarshallSound design - Karla Patella & Hannah Varrall Podcast artwork - Lola Williams & Eliza BournerExecutive producers - Jasper Corbett and Basia Cummings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 7/21/26 | Arab SpringSyria+4 | — | Tortoise Investigates | — | AsmaArab Spring+7 | The ObserverAUDIO50 | 43m 24s | ||
| 7/14/26 | Syriahope+4 | — | Tortoise Investigates | — | AsmaSyria+5 | The ObserverAUDIO50 | 45m 51s | ||
| 7/7/26 | biographypolitics+4 | — | Tortoise InvestigatesAcast | — | EmmaAsma al-Assad+5 | The ObserverAUDIO50 | 40m 58s | ||
| 7/1/26 | wardictatorship+4 | — | Tortoise Investigates | SyriaLondon | EmmaBashar al-Assad+5 | The ObserverAUDIO50 | 3m 45s | ||
| 4/28/26 | familyidentity+4 | — | Tortoise Investigates | — | Foundlingbirth father+5 | The ObserverAUDIO50 | 39m 03s | ||
| 4/21/26 | birth motherdiscovery+4 | Lucy GreenwellKatie Gunning | Tortoise InvestigatesObserver++1 | — | birth motherdiscovery+4 | The ObserverAUDIO50 | 30m 25s | ||
| 4/14/26 | search for identityfamily relationships+3 | Lucy Greenwell | Tortoise InvestigatesThe Observer | — | adoptionfamily+3 | — | 34m 37s | ||
| 4/7/26 | DNAfamily+4 | Jess | Tortoise InvestigatesObserver++5 | — | DNA resultsblood relative+5 | The ObserverAUDIO50 | 46m 01s | ||
| 3/24/26 | DNA testbirth mother+4 | — | Tortoise Investigates | — | DNA testbirth mother+3 | The ObserverAUDIO50 | 44m 16s | ||
Want analysis for the episodes below?Free for Pro Submit a request, we'll have your selected episodes analyzed within an hour. Free, at no cost to you, for Pro users. | |||||||||
| 3/24/26 | journalismbirth origins+4 | — | Tortoise Investigates | — | FoundlingLucy Greenwell+7 | The ObserverAUDIO50 | 39m 15s | ||
| 3/17/26 | adoptionmotherhood+4 | Jess | Tortoise InvestigatesThe Observer | Suffolk | abandonmentadoption+5 | — | 3m 52s | ||
| 2/17/26 | publishingliterature+3 | — | PenguinThe Salt Path+1 | — | Raynor WinnThe Salt Path+3 | — | 42m 25s | ||
| 2/10/26 | familyrelationships+3 | Raynor Winn's niece | ObserverAcast | — | Raynor WinnChloe Hadjimatheou+3 | — | 47m 54s | ||
| 2/3/26 | investigationfamily dynamics+3 | — | The ObserverObserver++1 | — | investigationMoth+3 | — | 27m 13s | ||
| 1/27/26 | medical miracleterminal illness+4 | — | ObserverApple Podcasts+2 | observer.co.uk | Mothcorticobasal degeneration+6 | — | 39m 20s | ||
| 1/20/26 | heritage ciderdisappearance+3 | Raynor Winn | Observer | Cornwall | ciderCornwall+5 | — | 42m 38s | ||
| 1/13/26 | investigationliterature+3 | — | ObserverAcast+1 | — | The Salt PathChloe Hadjimatheou+5 | — | 35m 48s | ||
| 1/13/26 | theftlocal news+3 | Chloe Hadjimatheou | Observer | north Wales | theftnorth Wales+3 | — | 41m 14s | ||
| 1/7/26 |  Introducing... The Walkers: The real Salt Path | Raynor Winn’s memoir The Salt Path was a bestseller and literary phenomenon with millions of people captivated by this true story of financial ruin, terminal illness, and healing through nature. Raynor Winn has since published two more books and The Salt Path has been adapted for the big screen, starring Jason Isaacs and Gillian Anderson.At its heart it is a simple tale, of a couple embarking on a 630 mile trek in the face of stark adversity. When faced with nothing, they chose to walk.But when reporter Chloe Hadjimatheou received a tip-off that the memoir may not be the "unflinchingly honest" account it claimed to be, suddenly things began to unravel. And the questions, about what is and isn't true, began mounting.How far can you bend the truth before it begins to break?Episode 1 will be available to listen on Tuesday 13th January.Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to all 7 episodes on Tuesday 13th January.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 Reporter - Chloe HadjimatheouProducer - Matt RussellMusic supervision and sound design - Karla PatellaSound design - Rowan BishopPodcast artwork - Lola Williams Executive producer - Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 12/16/25 |  In good faith | Deep Water Ep6 | After weeks of chasing him, Lydia finally speaks to Vitomir Maričić, the Croatian freediver at the heart of the scandal – and he tells his side of the story.Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to the entire series on Tuesday 18th November.To find out more about The Observer:Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentHead to our website observer.co.uk Reporter - Lydia Gard Producer - Gary Marshall. Music supervision and sound design - Karla PatellaSound design - Rowan BishopPodcast artwork - Lola Williams Fact checking - Poppy Bullard, Katie Gunning, Amalie Sortland, Madeleine Parr & Jess Swinburne Executive producer - Basia Cummings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 12/9/25 |  Click Bait | Deep Water Ep5 | An anti-doping officer tells Lydia that drugs are only considered a problem in freediving on social media, and in podcasts. She learns the problem is bigger, and more complex, and more corrupt, than she realised. Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to the entire series on Tuesday 18th November.To find out more about The Observer:Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentHead to our website observer.co.uk Reporter - Lydia Gard Producer - Gary Marshall. Music supervision and sound design - Karla PatellaSound design - Rowan BishopPodcast artwork - Lola Williams Fact checking - Poppy Bullard, Katie Gunning, Amalie Sortland, Madeleine Parr & Jess Swinburne Executive producer - Basia Cummings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 12/2/25 |  Don’t hold your breath | Deep Water Ep4 | The CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency – and the man who caught Lance Armstrong – has advice for Lydia. It’s not what she’s expecting.Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to the entire series on Tuesday 18th November.To find out more about The Observer:Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentHead to our website observer.co.uk Reporter - Lydia Gard Producer - Gary Marshall. Music supervision and sound design - Karla PatellaSound design - Rowan BishopPodcast artwork - Lola Williams Fact checking - Poppy Bullard, Katie Gunning, Amalie Sortland, Madeleine Parr & Jess Swinburne Executive producer - Basia Cummings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 11/25/25 |  In the bag | Deep Water Ep3 | Vertical Blue, 2023, the moment the doping scandal erupts. The competition organiser, William Trubridge, recounts his plan to catch the dopers – and Lydia investigates the fallout of a very controversial drugs bust.Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to the entire series on Tuesday 18th November.To find out more about The Observer:Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentHead to our website observer.co.uk Reporter - Lydia Gard Producer - Gary Marshall. Music supervision and sound design - Karla PatellaSound design - Rowan BishopPodcast artwork - Lola Williams Fact checking - Poppy Bullard, Katie Gunning, Amalie Sortland, Madeleine Parr & Jess Swinburne Executive producer - Basia Cummings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 11/18/25 |  Fair Play | Deep Water Ep2 | Lydia travels to Kalamata, Greece, a renowned freediving spot to investigate the doping allegations. What substances are athletes meant to be taking? And what are the risks – to them, and to the sport she loves?Subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to binge listen to the entire series on Tuesday 18th November.To find out more about The Observer:Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentHead to our website observer.co.uk Reporter - Lydia Gard Producer - Gary Marshall. Music supervision and sound design - Karla PatellaSound design - Rowan BishopPodcast artwork - Lola Williams Fact checking - Poppy Bullard, Katie Gunning, Amalie Sortland, Madeleine Parr & Jess Swinburne Executive producer - Basia Cummings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
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Chart history for Foundling | Tortoise Investigates
Peaked at #1 in Australia, top 10 in 28 of 50 tracked markets, currently #1 in Australia.
| Market | Genre | Peak | Current | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| Ireland | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| Ireland | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| Finland | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| AE | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| South Africa | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| Canada | — | #2 | #2 | — |
| New Zealand | — | #2 | #2 | — |
| New Zealand | — | #3 | #3 | — |
| IS | — | #3 | #3 | — |
| TH | — | #3 | #3 | — |
| KE | — | #3 | #3 | — |
| SG | — | #4 | #4 | — |
| South Africa | — | #4 | #4 | — |
| India | — | #5 | #5 | — |
| MY | — | #5 | #5 | — |
| NG | — | #5 | #5 | — |
| GR | — | #6 | #6 | — |
| ID | — | #6 | #6 | — |
| Brazil | — | #7 | #7 | — |
Chart Positions
50 placements across 34 markets.
Chart Positions
50 placements across 34 markets.