Podcast Episodes

The invention of Kevlar

In 1965, a new fibre was discovered by Polish American scientist Stephanie Kwolek. It was called Kevlar and it was found to be five times stronger than steel.

Since that discovery it’s been used to …

Published on 4 months, 4 weeks ago

President Clinton plays the sax in Prague

In January 1994, two presidents enjoyed a memorable night in the Czech Republic – ending with an impromptu jazz performance.

Five years after the fall of communism, the US president Bill Clinton visit…

Published on 5 months ago

The killing of Jean Charles de Menezes

On 22 July 2005, an unarmed Brazilian man was shot dead by anti-terrorism police at Stockwell Tube station, in London.

Jean Charles de Menezes was shot seven times in the head because he was mistaken …

Published on 5 months ago

Irawati Karve: India’s groundbreaking anthropologist

Irawati Karve became India’s first female anthropologist - studying tribes that nobody had investigated, and taking her children on expeditions deep in the rainforest.

In 1927, she dared to defy the …

Published on 5 months ago

Italo disco

In the late 1970s, disco died in America and a new wave of Italian producers took advantage of the advances in electronic instruments to craft their own dancefloor fillers.

The result was Italo disco …

Published on 5 months ago

The 'Turbot War'

In 1995, an international row broke out between Canada and Spain over fishing quotas. It started with gunfire and ended with a deal.

The dispute began after Canada set up restrictions to protect fish …

Published on 5 months ago

Greece’s debt crisis

It was a week that brought the future of Greece and the Eurozone to the brink. Ten years ago, on 6 July the Greek people voted against the terms of a financial bailout which included raising taxes an…

Published on 5 months, 1 week ago

The Iran nuclear deal

On 14 July 2015, Iran agreed to temporarily limit its nuclear programme. The deal was signed in Vienna, the capital of Austria.

Officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), it …

Published on 5 months, 1 week ago

The start of Voice of America

In March 2025, radio frequencies worldwide stopped carrying Voice of America broadcasts for the first time in 83 years.

President Donald Trump’s administration had imposed funding cuts on the US Agen…

Published on 5 months, 1 week ago

The man who said ‘no’ to Disney

In 1941, Walt Disney made a tempting offer to a fellow pioneer of the animation industry, Quirino Cristiani - the author of the first animated feature film.

Cristiani was an Italian immigrant raised i…

Published on 5 months, 1 week ago