Podcast Episodes

The deepest man-made hole in the world

In the 1970s and 1980s, scientists in Russia managed to dig a hole more than 12,000 metres deep.

It was called the Kola Superdeep Borehole.

They wanted to achieve a world record and learn more about th…

Published on 1 year ago

Thich Quang Duc: Buddhist monk who set himself on fire

In June 1963, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk died after setting himself on fire in protest against the Catholic South Vietnamese government.

Malcolm Brown's photograph of Thich Quang Duc's burning body be…

Published on 1 year ago

The Iran-Contra Affair

The Iran-Contra affair was a scandal that went right to the heart of Ronald Reagan’s White House and it became known as one of the most controversial political scandals in modern US history.

In 1986, …

Published on 1 year ago

Strictly Come Dancing

Television extravaganza Strictly Come Dancing debuted in May 2004 in the UK, bringing ballroom dancing to a whole new generation. Pairing celebrities with professionals, it has gone on to become one …

Published on 1 year ago

Creation of the UFC

In 1993, a new combat sport was born. Its founders called it the Ultimate Fighting Championship – UFC.

It pitted all forms of mixed martial arts against each other with little to no rules and all cont…

Published on 1 year, 1 month ago

Lord of the Flies

It’s 70 years since William Golding’s acclaimed novel was published.

Lord of the Flies is the story of a group of English schoolboys marooned on a desert island, and how they survive without adults. …

Published on 1 year, 1 month ago

Handover of Macau

In 1999, the small territory of Macau was handed back to China after centuries of Portuguese rule.

Lawyer and comedian Miguel Senna Fernandes was a member of the Macau Legislative Council and involved…

Published on 1 year, 1 month ago

The Siege of Yarmouk

During the early years of Syria’s brutal civil war, one neighbourhood close to the Syrian capital, Damascus, bore the brunt of the government’s viciousness.

During 2013-14, some 18,000 residents of Y…

Published on 1 year, 1 month ago

Iran's secret Christian 'house churches'

After Iran's Islamic Revolution in 1979, some Christians faced persecution. Between 2002 and 2005, Naghmeh Panahi and her husband, Saeed Abedini, set up a network of secret 'house churches' across th…

Published on 1 year, 1 month ago

German naturists

Since the 19th Century, Germans have been bathing nude at the beach.

The naturist movement, known as the FKK, was banned under the Nazis.

People also faced official disapproval during the early years …

Published on 1 year, 1 month ago