Podcast Episodes

President Richard Nixon resigns

On 8 August 1974, Richard Nixon became the first US president in history to resign from office, following the Watergate scandal.

This scandal began with a break-in at the Democratic National Committe…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

Ronald Reagan and the Moral Majority

In 1979, the Moral Majority was launched and changed the course of US politics.

It was set up to promote family values by religious conservatives from Catholic, Jewish and evangelical Christian commu…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

Bush v Gore: The election decided in the Supreme Court

The US presidential election of 2000 was one of the closest and most contested in history.

It was more than a month before the result was decided after a Supreme Court decision. It all came down to t…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

The Situation Room photograph

Pete Souza was Chief Official White House Photographer during Barack Obama's presidency. His photo from when Bin Laden was killed by US soldiers in 2011 has become one of his most famous.

He tells Uma…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

Ice Bucket Challenge

In 2014, the ice bucket challenge craze took over the internet.

Millions of people including sports stars and celebrities filmed themselves being doused in ice cold water for charity.

Nancy Frates' son…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

The 1965 Freedom Riders of Australia

A warning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners - this programme contains the names of people who have died.

Nearly 60 years ago, a group of university students set out on a bus to chall…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

Finding a home for Bulgaria's dancing bears

In 1998, brown bears were declared a protected species in Bulgaria and the ancient tradition of forcing them to dance for people's entertainment became illegal.

A veterinarian called Dr Amir Khalil he…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

Yazidi genocide: A rescue mission on Mount Sinjar

When Islamic State (IS) militants took control of Syria and Iraq in June 2014, the entire Yazidi population in Sinjar were immediately in grave danger. The Sunni Muslims of IS believed Yazidis were i…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

The man who smuggled punk rock across the Berlin Wall

In 1983, punk rock was strictly forbidden in East Berlin. However, that didn’t stop young music obsessive Mark Reeder, from Manchester in the UK, smuggling cassettes, and then a punk band across the …

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

The first cold chain vaccination storage system

In 1974, Ghana pioneered a new system which would help in the roll-out of the immunisation of serious diseases across Africa and the rest of the world. The World Health Organisation chose the country…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago