Podcast Episodes

Surviving the Rwandan genocide

April 1994 was the start of the Rwandan genocide, 100 days of slaughter, rape and atrocities.

As part of the Tutsi ethnic group, Antoinette Mutabazi’s…

2 years, 6 months ago

The founding of Nato

Nato - the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - was formed in 1949 by 12 countries, including the US, UK, Canada and France.

Its aim was to block expa…

2 years, 6 months ago

Britain's first beach for nudists

In 1980, the seaside town of Brighton opened a very unusual attraction.

It was the first British beach dedicated to nudists.

The opening followed a pas…

2 years, 6 months ago

The Heimlich Manoeuvre

Since its adoption as a first aid method, the Heimlich Manoeuvre has saved untold numbers of lives around the world.

Developed by American physician …

2 years, 6 months ago

Britain's Mirpuri migration

In 1967, a dam was built in Mirpur, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, that would spur a huge global migration. Water diverted by the dam forced around 1…

2 years, 6 months ago

Wham! in China

In 1985, the British band Wham! became the first Western pop act to play in China.

Around 12,000 fans packed into the Worker’s Gymnasium in Beijing to…

2 years, 6 months ago

Discovering the Terracotta Army

It's 50 years since a chance find by Chinese farmers led to an astonishing archaeological discovery.

Thousands of clay soldiers were uncovered in the …

2 years, 6 months ago

The 'comfort women' of World War Two

Between 1932 and 1945, hundreds of thousands of women and girls across Asia were forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army.

Referred to…

2 years, 6 months ago

Surviving re-education in China’s Cultural Revolution

In 1968, Jingyu Li and her parents were among hundreds of thousands of Chinese people sent to labour camps during Mao Zedong’s so-called cultural rev…

2 years, 6 months ago

Pinyin: The man who helped China to read and write

In 1958, a brand new writing system was introduced in China called Pinyin. It used the Roman alphabet to help simplify Chinese characters into words.…

2 years, 6 months ago