New and notable: March edition

Nothing in the world happens in a vacuum. All of the alarming headlines we see -- about Venezuela, Brexit, and so on -- are the culmination of all the events that came before them. But sometimes those historical events are hard to keep in perspective. That's what's so great about Throughline -- hosts Ramtin Arablouei and Rund Abdelfatah are our guides to the historical events that continue to shape the world today. Their story about the 1953 coup in Iran is a case in point: a complicated event that not many of us remember, but whose consequences continue to play out today, and all explained in a tight and compelling 22 minutes. That's why it's my pick of the week. 

Julian Uzielli, Producer, Podcast Playlist

Throughline: It's no secret that Iran and the U.S. have a history of animosity toward each other. But when and how did it begin? The Throughline podcast looks back at four days in August 1953, when the CIA orchestrated a coup of Iran's elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh.

Russia Rising: Host Jeff Semple follows the clues from Salisbury to the Kremlin as he unravels the story of the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergey Skripal.

We talk to Jon Ronson about what it's like to delve into the porn industry for his new Audible Original podcast The Last Days of August, a follow-up to The Butterfly Effect. 

​Crackdown: This podcast covers the drug war from a unique perspective — by using drug addicts as "war correspondents."

First Day Back: Season 3 follows comedian Jason Weems as he gets back onstage after a near death experience. Jason was also a guest at our live show last November, you can hear that episode by clicking here. 

Plus: Columnist Nick Quah on what Spotify's growing presence in the podcasting realm means for the industry.

What podcasts are helping you make sense of the world these days? Email, tweet us @PodcastPlaylist, or find us on Facebook.

For more great podcasts, check out CBC's podcast portal, subscribe in Apple Podcasts.