Podcast Episodes

Gürtel scandal: Spain's Watergate

For two years, José Luis Peñas risked his life making secret recordings that revealed one of Spain's biggest corruption scandals.

It forced the ruling party from power and brought down Prime Minister …

Published on 1 year, 11 months ago

The first World Laughter Day

On the 11 January 1998 in Mumbai, India, the first World Laughter Day took place.

It was the idea of Dr Madan Kataria, a medical doctor who wanted to test the theory that laughter is the best medicine…

Published on 1 year, 11 months ago

Russian ballerina defects to the west

In 1970, Natalia Makarova became the first female ballet star to defect to the West from Russia.

The dancer claimed asylum during a UK tour, nine years after another Russian dancer, Rudolf Nureyev, ha…

Published on 1 year, 11 months ago

The mystery of France's lost king

The fate of Louis-Charles, son of the last king of France, was for years shrouded in rumour.

The little boy was said to have died in prison in 1795. But for years, rumours spread that he had been swap…

Published on 1 year, 11 months ago

The world’s first lesbian couple to get married

On 1 April 2001, the Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalise gay marriage.

Four couples were chosen to take part in a collective wedding at midnight which was broadcast on TV.

Hél…

Published on 1 year, 11 months ago

What the 1989 solar storm did to Quebec

On 13 March 1989, the Canadian province of Quebec suffered a nine-hour electricity blackout.

Much of the state's infrastructure was damaged, but the power companies couldn't find any obvious cause.

P…

Published on 1 year, 11 months ago

The Hindenburg airship disaster

In 1937, the Hindenburg airship burst into flames during its mooring in New Jersey, in the US, killing 35 of the 97 passengers and crew.

Published on 1 year, 11 months ago

The invention of the wingsuit

The wingsuit is the ultimate in extreme sports clothing. The aerodynamic outfit allows base jumpers and skydivers to free-fall for longer before opening a parachute.

The road to creating it was litter…

Published on 1 year, 11 months ago

Discovery of the hole in the earth’s ozone

In 1985, British scientists made what would turn out to be one of the most important environmental discoveries of the 20th century - finding a hole in the earth’s ozone layer.

The British Antarctic Su…

Published on 1 year, 11 months ago

Earth: A pale blue dot in the universe

In February 1990, Nasa space probe Voyager took a famous photo of Earth as it left the Solar System.

Seen from six billion kilometres away, our planet appears as a mere dot lit up by the sun, giving a…

Published on 1 year, 11 months ago