Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchThe Howard Hughes literary hoax
In 1971, the publishing world was rocked by one of the biggest hoaxes in literary history – a fake autobiography of the reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes.
Hughes was an aerospace engineer, film prod…
Published on 3 weeks, 6 days ago
Colombia's Salt Cathedral
In 1995, a cathedral was built 180m underground in the Zipaquirá Salt Mine in Colombia.
The idea came from the miners building makeshift altars in the mine in the 1930s, to pray for their safety befo…
Published on 4 weeks ago
Toy Story: the first digitally-animated feature film
Released in 1995, this buddy movie about a cowboy doll and a toy astronaut was the first to use entirely computer-generated images.
The story, about a group of toys who come alive when humans are not…
Published on 4 weeks, 1 day ago
How the Bosnian war ended
The Dayton Peace Accords were signed on the 21 November 1995, ending the three-and-a-half-year war in Bosnia.
The war was part of the break-up of Yugoslavia; it is estimated that 100,000 people were …
Published on 1 month ago
The Spanish king reclaims his throne
In 1975, the death of General Francisco Franco was announced in Spain, bringing to an end 36 years of dictatorship.
Franco had already chosen his successor: Prince Juan Carlos, grandson of the last mo…
Published on 1 month ago
The death of Franco
General Francisco Franco died in November 1975, ending 36 years of dictatorship over Spain.
The general had been in power since 1939 after winning the country’s bloody civil war, and his death follow…
Published on 1 month ago
Angela Merkel suspends EU asylum rules
In the summer of 2015, there was a surge in the number of people from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, seeking asylum in Europe.
Social Democrat politician Aydan Özoğuz was Angela Merkel's minister of st…
Published on 1 month ago
Reagan and Gorbachev: The Geneva Summit
Forty years ago, in November 1985, two of the world’s most powerful leaders met for the first time.
With Cold War tensions running high and the nuclear arms race dominating global politics, US Presid…
Published on 1 month ago
When Maldives' ministers met underwater
On 17 October 2009, the Maldives’ top government officials donned their scuba gear for the world’s first underwater cabinet meeting.
Fish floated around while ministers communicated with hand gesture…
Published on 1 month, 1 week ago
Bataclan attack in Paris
On 13 November 2015, 90 people were shot dead by gunmen at the Bataclan theatre in France during an Eagles of Death Metal concert.
A further 40 people were killed in co-ordinated terror attacks by ji…
Published on 1 month, 1 week ago