Podcast Episodes

The origin of World Book Day

In November 1995, a proposal of having an annual day focused on celebrating books was put forward at the UNESCO conference in Paris.

The idea came from a long-established Spanish celebration ‘The Day …

Published on 8 months ago

Clearing landmines in Cambodia

Fifty years after the start of the genocide that wiped out a quarter of its eight million population, Cambodia remains one of the most heavily landmined countries in the world.

More than 65,000 people…

Published on 8 months, 1 week ago

The Khmer Rouge take power in Cambodia

In April 1975 the four-year rule of the brutal Khmer Rouge began in Cambodia.

Up to two million people are thought to have died - many summarily executed, or starved to death in the communist regime.…

Published on 8 months, 1 week ago

The invention of the white LED lightbulb

In 1993, a literal lightbulb moment led to the invention of the first white light emitting diode (LED).

These LEDs are now used to light up everything from our streets to our homes to this screen you…

Published on 8 months, 1 week ago

The Bali Nine drug smuggling case

In April 2005, nine young Australians were caught trying to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin out of Indonesia.

The Bali Nine, as they became known, faced a maximum sentence of death by firing squad under Indo…

Published on 8 months, 1 week ago

Germany’s ‘Green Belt’

In December 1989, Germany’s ‘Green Belt’ was born.

For more than 40 years, the country had been split by a 1,400km border and, in the decades the so-called ‘death zone’ had existed, life flourished e…

Published on 8 months, 1 week ago

Oklahoma City bombing

On 19 April 1995, a huge truck bomb killed 168 people in a government building in Oklahoma City, US. There were 19 children among the dead and more than 500 people were injured. One of the perpetrato…

Published on 8 months, 2 weeks ago

Liberia’s women in white who helped end civil war

In December 2011, Leymah Gbowee was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her role in helping to end the devastating civil war in Liberia.

She had mobilised thousands of women to take part in daily, non-v…

Published on 8 months, 2 weeks ago

The Reichstag fire

On 27 February 1933, the Reichstag building in Berlin, which was home to the German Parliament, was burned down.

This was a key event in the establishment of the Nazi dictatorship.

Berlin-born journal…

Published on 8 months, 2 weeks ago

The UN retreat from Somalia

In 1991, a horrific civil war erupted between rival warlords in Somalia. A US-led United Nations mission tried to restore order and provide humanitarian aid. But, the mission ended in an embarrassing…

Published on 8 months, 2 weeks ago