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 …

1 year, 2 months 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 Shos…

1 year, 2 months 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 …

1 year, 2 months 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-wi…

1 year, 2 months 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 a…

1 year, 2 months 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 co…

1 year, 2 months 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 t…

1 year, 2 months 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 Eur…

1 year, 2 months 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 Len…

1 year, 2 months 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 wh…

1 year, 2 months ago