Podcast Episodes

The Assam-Tibet earthquake

On 15 August 1950, an 8.6 magnitude earthquake shook the Himalaya mountains – wiping out whole villages in Tibet and north-east India.

The death toll was estimated to be about 4,800.

The late British b…

Published on 4 months, 2 weeks ago

When Stalin silenced Shostakovich

Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich was one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century. But in 1936, Joseph Stalin attended a performance of Shostakovich's opera, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk.

The Sov…

Published on 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Nagasaki bomb

On 9 August 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, in Japan, killing at least 74,000 people.

It led to the end of the World War Two in Asia, with Japan surrendering to the Allies…

Published on 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Trailer. 13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle

The epic space story of a sci-fi dream that changed spaceflight forever. Told by the Nasa astronauts and team who made it happen. Our multi-award-winning podcast is back, hosted by space scientist M…

Published on 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Japan's record-breaking rollercoaster

On 1 August 2000, a new rollercoaster opened to the public at a theme park in Japan.

Named Steel Dragon 2000, it's located at the Nagashima Spa Land amusement park in Kuwana.

When it first opened, it b…

Published on 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Chuquicamata: Chile's abandoned mining town

By 2007, the 25,000 residents of a Chilean mining town had moved out of their homes due to concerns about pollution levels from one of the largest copper mines in the world.

Today, the ghost town of C…

Published on 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Cleveland Balloonfest '86

In 1986, a world record attempt was launched by the city of Cleveland, in the US.

One and a half million balloons were blown up by volunteers ready to be released into the sky, with thousands of peop…

Published on 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Eta’s assassination of Juan Mari Jáuregui

On 29 July 2000, retired Spanish politician Juan Mari Jáuregui was assassinated by Basque separatists Eta. Deemed a terrorist organisation by the European Union, Eta killed more than 800 people betwe…

Published on 4 months, 3 weeks ago

The Russian revolutionaries nearly stranded in London

In 1907, the men who would go on to lead the Russian Revolution met in London for a crucial congress.

But the revolutionaries – including Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, and Leon Trotsky – were nearly …

Published on 4 months, 3 weeks ago

A Chorus Line

It's 50 years since theatre history was made - the premiere of A Chorus Line. It was seen as a seminal moment, turning the spotlight on the people who make the show for the first time.

Baayork Lee tel…

Published on 4 months, 4 weeks ago