Podcast Episodes

Italy's 'poison ships'

In September 1988, protests broke out in Manfredonia, Italy, after the arrival of a large ship carrying toxic waste of Italian origin. The Deep Sea Carrier had arrived from Nigeria, after a protracte…

Published on 1 year, 5 months ago

The 1968 Mexico City massacre

On 2 October 1968, thousands of students protested in Mexico City, 10 days before the Olympics.

The students wanted the government to free political prisoners and respect their right to protest.

More t…

Published on 1 year, 5 months ago

The day Celia Cruz returned to Cuba

In January 1990, Cuban singer Celia Cruz, known as ‘the Queen of Salsa’, went back to Cuba. Banned by Fidel Castro for opposing his regime, it was the only time in her 43 years of exile that she was …

Published on 1 year, 5 months ago

How the air fryer was invented

In 2006, Dutch engineer Fred van der Weij invented a kitchen device that changed the way many of us cook today: the air fryer.

Fred’s first prototype was nearly as big as a dog kennel and made of wood…

Published on 1 year, 5 months ago

Conservative wipe-out in Canada

In Canada's 1993 election, the governing Progressive Conservative Party was routed, ending up with just two seats.

In the 1980s, the party won the largest majority in Canadian history. But by 1993, it…

Published on 1 year, 5 months ago

Fight the Power: The song that became an anthem of protest

It's 35 years since the release of one of the most provocative songs in music history.

Fight the Power by hip-hop group, Public Enemy, was radical both politically and sonically.

The song was written a…

Published on 1 year, 5 months ago

Georgia’s political crisis

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991, the newly independent state Georgia found itself on the verge of a civil war.

Rebel groups in Tbilisi came together to overthrow the newly…

Published on 1 year, 5 months ago

Executed in Stalin’s Great Terror in Georgia

Between 1937 and 1938, Soviet leader Josef Stalin carried out his most severe purge in Georgia.

Known as the Great Terror, thousands of political rivals, intellectuals and ordinary citizens were exec…

Published on 1 year, 5 months ago

Subway Art: The graffiti bible

In 1984, urban photographers Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant came together to publish an era-defining book about the early graffiti movement.

They had been documenting the work of graffiti arts on th…

Published on 1 year, 5 months ago

I designed Hello Kitty

In 1974 an unknown Japanese artist put pen to paper and created a character that would go on to be worth more than $80 billion.

The illustration was titled ‘Unknown White Cat’ but you will probably kn…

Published on 1 year, 5 months ago