The Story

The 2023 conference season is winding down. But did the parties achieve what they wanted - and needed - to? And did they shift the dial when it comes to the result of the next general election?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Lara Spirit, Red Box Editor, The Times.Kate McCann, Political Editor and Presenter, Times Radio.Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Olivia Case.Get in touch: [email protected]: The Labour Party, The Conservative Party, The Liberal Democrats.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday the militant Palestinian group Hamas launched an unprecedented terrorist attack on Israel, killing more than 900 people in Israel and taking up to 130 hostages.In response, Israel's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, declared war and launched airstrikes killing almost 690 people in Gaza. His defence minister ordered a “complete siege” of the Gaza Strip, which aid organisations have warned could end up amounting to “war crimes”. Meanwhile, Hamas has threatened to execute a hostage for every Israeli attack on Palestinian homes without “prior warning”.Our correspondent in Israel explains why all this has happened now – and what the consequences could be.Mentioned in this episode: You can find a map of the region here.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Anshel Pfeffer, Times correspondent in Israel.Host: Manveen Rana. Get in touch: [email protected]: BBC, Sky News, Al Jazeera English, NewsNation.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Disney celebrates its 100th birthday this month, a series of recent flops and gargantuan acquisitions has left people asking whether the shine is beginning to wear off. Plus, we look back at the studio’s past - including the time when Donald Duck dressed up as a Nazi.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ed Potton, Arts Commissioning Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Get in touch: [email protected]: Walt Disney Studios, Bloomberg, Rotten Tomatoes, Piers Morgan Uncensored, Talk TV, Walt Disney Productions, NBC, CBS.Music: Be Our Guest/Disney/Walt Disney Records, You’ve Got a Friend in Me/Randy Newman/ Walt Disney Records, Let It Go from “Frozen”/Multi Language Medley/Walt Disney Records, When You Wish Upon a Star/Cliff Edwards/Pinocchio (original motion picture soundtrack), Arabian Nights from “Aladdin”/Alan Menken/Walt Disney Records, Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah-From “Song of the South”/James Baskett/Walt Disney Records.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If the polls are to be believed, Sir Keir Starmer is on track for a comfortable victory at the next general election – and just this morning, he has hailed a by-election win in the Glasgow seat of Rutherglen & Hamilton West as a "seismic result". But voters are less clear on what he and his party would do with power.This weekend the Labour Party's annual conference – perhaps the last before the next election – kicks off in Liverpool. Amid accusations of flip-flopping and u-turns galore, our resident Labour watcher explains the key tensions in Starmer's thinking as he prepares for the most important speech of his leadership so far.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Patrick Maguire, Times columnist and Times Radio senior political correspondent.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: [email protected]: BBC, Sky News, LBC, GB News, SPD, Sky News Australia, Channel 4 News.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last night, for the first time in American history, the House of Representatives voted to remove its speaker from office. It was a victory for a group of Republicans who oppose giving Ukraine further American aid – which, for now, is on pause. Meanwhile in Europe, Slovakia's recent elections saw a new, pro-Russia, leader pledging to end support for Ukraine. What does all this mean for Kyiv's war effort?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Roger Boyes, Diplomatic Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Get in touch: [email protected]: NBC News, C-SPAN, CBS, BBC News, DW News, Sky News, CNN, Channel 4 News.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Lewis, author of The Big Short, met Sam Bankman-Fried when his crypto exchange was rewriting the rules of global finance and was by his side when the empire imploded. Ahead of his fraud trial which starts today, this is the inside story of the crypto whizz kid at the heart of one of the 21st century's most spectacular financial collapses.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Michael Lewis, author of The Big Short, Moneyball, The Blind Side and Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon. Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Olivia Case.Clips: CNET, CBS, CNBC, Fox, BBC, Yahoo Finance.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scotland has the highest drug-related death rate in Europe – and last week approved plans for its first drug consumption room to try and reduce deaths. It’s a step closer to the SNP’s goal of decriminalisation – so what can they learn from Portugal, which decriminalised drugs over twenty years ago?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:- John Boothman, Political Correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.- Dr João Goulão, Portugal's National Coordinator for Drugs and Drug Addiction and the Harmful Use of Alcohol.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: [email protected]: Trainspotting/Miramax, Channel 4 News, STV News, 5 News, Sky News, UK Parliament. This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From A-levels to net zero, the prime minister has new plans to bite into Labour’s poll lead. No 10 wants voters to meet the ‘real Rish’ – a decisive PM who focuses on our long-term problems. But, as Conservatives gather for their annual conference this weekend, is that enough to revive the party’s faltering popularity? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tim Shipman, Chief Political Commentator, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Channel 4 News, Sky News, The Guardian, BBC News. This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the summer of 1979, Ruth Shaw was a student in Bradford, walking alone one night when she encountered Peter Sutcliffe – the serial killer the papers had nicknamed the Yorkshire Ripper. But her encounter wasn’t recorded by police. 44 years later, this is her untold story.This podcast contains scenes of a graphic nature. Ruth’s story was first told to Michael Bilton in his book ‘Wicked Beyond Belief: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper’ which is now being serialised on ITV on Mondays at 9pm. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:- Michael Bilton, author and former Sunday Times Northern Correspondent.- Ruth Shaw.Host: Josh Glancy.Producer: Olivia Case.Clips: Andy’s Archive, ITN, BBC, Granada Television / ITV.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We bring you the story of one Ukrainian command post as a patrol runs into chaos on the eastern bank of the Dnipro river, with Anthony Loyd who returned from reporting there last week. Plus, what should we make of the state of the war?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Anthony Loyd, Senior Foreign Correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Articles: A firefight erupts and soldiers watch on a drone feed as their comrades fall - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/a-firefight-erupts-and-soldiers-watch-on-a-drone-feed-as-their-comrades-fall-mv9tbnw0cUkraine draft dodgers dream up extreme ways to avoid the front - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ukraine-draft-dodgers-dream-up-extreme-ways-to-avoid-the-front-p87kdjxgjThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the past four years, the former Attorney General of the US Virgin Islands has been entrenched in a battle with the estate of the financier, paedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Times, Denise George reveals how she tracked down the moneymen who she says protected Epstein, and explains why she’s taking on one of America’s biggest banks.Article: Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘hell' island — and the woman who exposed its secrets: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jeffrey-epstein-island-little-st-james-us-virgin-islands-7775nq58jThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Rosie Kinchen, Deputy News Review Editor and Senior Writer, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: CNBC. This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a diabetic drug that recently became a weight loss diet fad for the rich because of its ability to suppress hunger. Now, Wegovy, a drug similar to Ozempic, has been approved specifically for weight loss for the clinically obese in the UK. But is an injection our best bet at tackling obesity?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: Charlotte Ivers, Staff Writer, The Sunday Times. Dr Amir Khan, NHS GP and Broadcaster.Host: Manveen Rana. Article: How celebrities’ favourite drug Ozempic made Denmark enormously rich: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-weight-loss-drug-ozempic-made-denmark-enormously-rich-bbv80sz06Clips: Global News Canada, CBS, E News.Get in touch: [email protected] This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the editors of The Times and The Sunday Times wrote to the justice secretary, calling for a crackdown on the misuse of libel laws by the super-rich. Together with more than 60 editors, reporters and lawyers, they called for a specific law to address Slapps – strategic lawsuits against public participation.In this bonus Saturday episode, we’re listening back to a conversation with Times Media’s editorial legal director Pia Sarma, first broadcast in January, in which she argues it's time to restore the balance between rich claimants and journalists pursuing the truth.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Pia Sarma, Editorial Legal Director, Times Media.Host: Manveen Rana.Get in touch: [email protected] Read more: 'Editors call for anti-Slapp law to protect investigative journalism' https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/editors-call-for-anti-slapp-law-to-protect-investigative-journalism-wxhjt0kfcClips: Times Radio, France 24, Parliament TV.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The high speed railway HS2 has been quietly graded ‘red’ by the government’s infrastructure watchdog, meaning successful delivery appears unachievable. The cost of the line - planned to run between London, and central and northern England - is at £71 billion so far; nearly £2,500 for every UK household. So what went wrong? Who’s got rich off this? And will it ever be finished?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Oliver Wright, Policy Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Olivia Case.Clips: Channel 4, HS2 Ltd, GB News, BBC, Parliament Live, The Guardian, Sky.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last weekend The Times and The Sunday Times – together with Channel 4's Dispatches – broke the news of allegations against Russell Brand including rape and sexual assault. Russell Brand strongly denies all the allegations.So what happened next? Today we catch up with The Times’ head of investigations to answer listener questions and examine the fallout from the investigation.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Paul Morgan-Bentley, Head of Investigations, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Links: Decca Aitkenhead’s interview with Russell Brand, published in 2019:https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-interview-russell-brand-on-his-hedonistic-past-marriages-and-becoming-a-father-wn6gjkwzd Get in touch: If you have any information you want to share with the team behind this investigation, email [email protected] can contact the Stories of Our Times team on [email protected]. Clips: Sky News, ABC News, ABC News Australia, Russell Brand on YouTube, GB News, Times Radio, BBC Radio 2, Radio X, Mindhouse Productions/BBC Two, Love Productions/Channel 4.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the 1970s onwards, an estimated 5,000 NHS patients were given contaminated blood products, which contained deadly diseases like hepatitis and HIV. Today, half of those infected have died. How did this happen? As her new book is published, we hear from the Sunday Times journalist who unearthed the story, and followed it for 20 years to get answers.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Caroline Wheeler, Political Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Infected Blood Inquiry, World in Action, Lord Mayor of Treloar.Caroline's book, Death in the Blood, is available from the Times Bookshop now: https://timesbookshop.co.uk/death-in-the-blood-the-most-shocking-scandal-in-nhs-history-from-the-journalist-who-has-followed-the-story-for-over-two-decades-9781035405244Have thoughts about this podcast? Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Temu, the world’s biggest bargain bin. Since launching just five months ago, the app has been downloaded more than nine million times in the UK alone. Our correspondent has spent a day shopping on Temu, and delves into the tricks the Chinese retailer uses to ruthlessly undercut its rivals.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Sam Chambers, Chief Business Correspondent, The Sunday Times.  Host: Luke Jones.Clips: CNN, BBC News, Sky News, BBC Radio 4, GB News, ITV News, YouTube.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ukrainian women are making fake profiles on dating apps, matching with Putin’s lonely troops and tricking them into revealing information that could help Ukraine win the war. In a rare interview, we speak to one of the women who is dating for victory.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:Maxim Tucker, Assistant Foreign Editor, The Times.‘Angelica’, Ukrainian honeytrapper.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Olivia Case.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode contains detailed allegations of rape and sexual assault. Following an exclusive investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches we hear how the comedian and actor Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse. Journalists Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace reveal the harrowing stories of two of Brand’s alleged victims. Russell Brand strongly denies all the allegations. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.If you have any information you want to share, you can get in touch with the team behind this investigation by emailing [email protected]: Rosamund Urwin, Media Editor, The Sunday Times.Charlotte Wace, News Reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Articles: Russell Brand accused of rape, sexual assaults and abuse - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/russell-brand-rape-sexual-assault-abuse-allegations-investigation-v5hxdlmb6 Comic, film star, YouTube guru: Russell Brand’s many lives - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/russell-brand-youtube-guru-wife-girlfriends-wealth-lrv8r36pnHow The Times and The Sunday Times investigated Russell Brand - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/russell-brand-investigation-sunday-times-video-watch-latest-news-x33ss0kmkVideo: You can watch our investigation on The Times and The Sunday Times YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqfCzB1BOlMClips: BBC, Channel 4, Universal Pictures UK, ITV News, ITV, Endemol, Russell Brand YouTube Channel, CBS.  Helplines: Rape Crisis England & Wales offers confidential support and information to women in England and Wales who have survived any form of sexual violence, no matter how long ago. Phone: 0808 802 9999 https://rapecrisis.org.uk/Rape Crisis Scotland provides confidential support for anyone affected by sexual violence, no matter when or how it happened. They can also put you in touch with local rape crisis centres.Phone: 0808 801 03 02 http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/Rape Crisis Network Ireland supports anyone in Northern Ireland affected by rape and sexual violencehttp://www.rcni.ieSamaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provides a safe place to talk 24 hours a day: https://www.samaritans.orgPhone: 116 123Email: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a list of young British novelists to watch was released in 1983, many of them went on to become household names, thanks to both their talent and their sex appeal. A new list comes out every ten years, but has never recreated the same success as the original – so has it become harder for novelists to break through? And has the literary world lost some of its glamour? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Robbie Millen, Literary Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC Wales, ITV News, BBC News, Blue Monday/New Order/Factory Records, Granta Magazine, Booker Prize, CBS/Late Night with David Letterman.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an exclusive investigation, The Times and The Sunday Times have revealed that a Tory parliamentary researcher arrested on suspicion of spying for China was the director of an influential policy group on Beijing. Chris Cash says he is “completely innocent”, and that claims that he spied for China are “extravagant” and “against everything I stand for”. Now, for the first time, the Sunday Times journalist who broke the story of Cash's arrest gives her behind-the-scenes account of how the investigation unfolded – and why we're choosing to name the suspected spy. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Caroline Wheeler, Political Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: PoliticsHome, China Research Group.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gabriel Gatehouse breaks down the Hunter Biden conspiracy theories, which all centre around his infamous laptop. What’s actually on the laptop? Why might Hunter Biden be heading to trial? And, with the House of Representatives now pursuing impeachment over all this, is the president of the United States really implicated in the mess?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Gabriel Gatehouse, independent journalist and host of the BBC series The Coming Storm.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: ABC News, Fox News, Sky News, Inside Edition, CBS, One America Network, CNBC, House Oversight Committee.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the Women’s World Cup final last month, the president of the Spanish Football Federation kissed the national team’s star player - on the lips. She said it was not consensual and it sparked condemnation around the globe. Now that Luis Rubiales has resigned, what does it all mean - not just for football, but women’s rights on and off the pitch?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Martyn Ziegler, chief sports reporter, The Times.Host: Jane Mulkerrins.Producer: Olivia Case.Clips: BBC, TalkTV, ITV, SKY, ABC News, Real Federación Española de Fútbol, Jenni Hermoso, AFP, Reuters, Shescoresbanger.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new investigation for The Sunday Times finds that unnecessary operations happen every year in private hospitals. And when that happens and patients try to get justice, they can find it impossible to get compensation. With NHS waiting lists thrusting more and more patients into the private provision, it begs the question: can we trust private hospitals?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Shaun Lintern, Health Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Sky News, 5 News, ITV, BBC.If you've been affected by subjects raised in this podcast, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 0800 689 5652.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The international premiere of Studio Ghibli’s latest film took place last night, after breaking box office records in Japan in July. The Boy and the Heron is the final film from one of cinema’s most influential animators, the reclusive genius Hayao Miyazaki. But does his retirement mark the end of the studio that inspired Disney and Pixar? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Richard Lloyd Parry, Asia Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Articles: Great Ghibli! How one Japanese studio wowed the world: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/studio-ghibli-the-boy-and-the-heron-hayao-miyazaki-film-lzkxdtlzl10 best Studio Ghibli films: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/10-best-studio-ghibli-films-from-spirited-away-to-howls-moving-castle-dtrdpdsfgClips: Konbini, StudioCanal, BFI, Toho co, Ghibli Museum, 10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki/NHK WORLD, GKIDS Films. Studio Ghibli clips: Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, The Wind Rises, Spirited Away, The Boy and the Heron.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yesterday the government published a list of over a hundred schools in England which are fully or partially shut because of safety fears over RAAC – a type of concrete that’s started to crumble. Has the government done 'a f***ing good job', as the education secretary put it? Or did it fail to heed the warnings?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:Kate McCann, political editor, Times Radio.Dr John Roberts FREng FIStructE, former president, Institution of Structural Engineers.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case.Clips: ITV News, Sky News, BBC News, Channel 4 News, Parliament Live.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A year ago today, Liz Truss stood in Downing Street at the start of her premiership promising “action every day”. Over the tumultuous 49 days that followed, her time as prime minister was derailed by a series of U-turns, market shocks and a pervading sense of chaos. We go behind the scenes with Truss's biographer on the shortest ever stay in No 10.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of the readers of the Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: James Heale, political correspondent of The Spectator, and co-author of Out of the Blue: The Inside Story of the Unexpected Rise and Rapid Fall of Liz Truss https://timesbookshop.co.uk/out-of-the-blue-9780008605780Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Times Radio, Talk TV, BBC News, Parliament TV, Sky News, Spectator TV, Twitter.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jody Oliver deceived his wife, children and male fiancés while adopting a colourful array of identities, scamming those around him out of millions of pounds. Now that he’s in jail, his story can be told.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Article: The seven lives of the £2m fraudster - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-seven-astonishing-lives-of-the-2m-fraudster-85mdvmxvsGuest: Megan Agnew, News Features Writer, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the nurse Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies, one question has remained – and may always be – unanswered: why?In this episode we speak to an expert on female serial killers who outlines why we shouldn't be shocked by Letby and her crimes, and how Letby fits the profile of a female serial killer. But also – even more chillingly – how she doesn't.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Book: Just As Deadly: The Psychology of Female Serial Killers https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/just-as-deadly/085C912B92AAD29C2B76251C56D91356Guest: Marissa A. Harrison, Professor of Psychology, Penn State Harrisburg.Host: Luke Jones.Helplines: NSPCC provides help, advice and support to adults worried about a child.Phone: 0808 800 5000 (24/7)https://www.nspcc.org.ukSamaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provides a safe place to talk 24 hours a day: https://www.samaritans.orgPhone: 116 123Email: [email protected] Bereavement UK: https://www.childbereavementuk.orgThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Foreign leaders’ families have been snapping up some of Britain's most expensive mansions and penthouses, but their identities were hidden from public view – until now. £250m of UK property is owned by the children of notorious autocratic rulers and their allies via offshore companies, an exclusive Times investigation has revealed. Our reporter visits some of London’s most desirable addresses and uncovers who owns what. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: George Greenwood, Investigations Reporter, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: Al Jazeera English, Hromadske TV, DW News, BBC News, Heydar Aliyev Foundation, TRT World.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vivek Ramaswamy - the rising star of the US Republican Party - wants to send troops to the Mexican border, abolish government departments and push for a deal to let Russia keep parts of Ukraine. Could the man nicknamed “Trump 2.0” beat the former president to be the party’s presidential nominee? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ben Jacobs, US political journalist. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Fox News, ABC, CBS, The Vivek Show, Lose Yourself/ Eminem, Shady Interscope.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Times has unmasked a Chinese government spy who’s targeting thousands of British professionals on LinkedIn. This person - and their team - are after military secrets and sensitive intelligence in exchange for money and business opportunities. So who are they? How do they operate? And what’s being done about it? For more on China’s influence in the UK, read Professor Steve Tsang's piece from this weekend's Sunday Times: Xi’s student spy army — and how they can be outsmarted https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/xis-student-spy-army-and-how-they-can-be-outsmarted-g3k6txc82This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today:thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Fiona Hamilton, Chief Reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Olivia Case.Clips: BBC, ABC, Times Radio, CNA.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite this week’s release of Prince Harry’s new series for Netflix, Heart of Invictus, this summer has been a chastening time for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Their deal with Spotify was cancelled and a former executive called them “grifters”. Three years after leaving the royal family, can the couple make a success of their new lives? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Valentine Low, Royal Correspondent, The Times. - Keiran Southern, US West Coast Correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: Netflix, CBS News, BBC News, THR News, NBC News, Nine Network, Spotify, The Ringer, ABC News, TalkTV, ITV.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vladimir Putin has sent his condolences after a plane crash which is believed to have killed the boss of the Russian mercenary group Wagner. Once close to Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin’s relationship with the president had soured in recent months after an attempted mutiny. Is Putin to blame for the crash? And could Wagner retaliate against the Kremlin?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today:thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Aliide Naylor, Contributor, The Times, and author of The Shadow in the East: Vladimir Putin and the New Baltic Front. https://timesbookshop.co.uk/the-shadow-in-the-east-9781788312523Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Times Radio, X/@QalaatM, X/@christogrozev, Reuters, France 24, CNN, @vchkogpu, Sky News, Sky News Australia, BBC News.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Saturday we're bringing you an extra episode from another Times podcast – The Game football podcast.The Lionesses are now just one win away from lifting the World Cup trophy. Molly Hudson and Owen Slot share the latest from the England camp down under, as Sarina Wiegman prepares her squad for the biggest game of their careers.Lauren James is available to play after serving her two match ban – but should she come straight back into the starting line up? The team debates this huge decision with a little help from former Lioness and Times columnist, Casey Stoney.Spain are tough opponents with a lot of quality, but behind the scenes they're a team in turmoil. Molly shares tales of striking players, a coach that doesn't connect with the squad and how the team are looking to write their own history on Sunday.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Molly Hudson, football reporter, The Times.- Owen Slot, chief sports writer, The Times.Host: Tom Clarke, deputy sports editor, The Times.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 33-year-old neonatal nurse has been found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder a further six, during a year-long period between 2015 and 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital.Letby was acquitted of two counts of attempted murder.Why did she commit these unimaginably awful crimes? And what now for the hospital? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today:thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tom Ball, Northern Correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Articles: Who is Lucy Letby? The nurse who became Britain’s most prolific child killer - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/who-is-lucy-letby-nurse-killed-family-babies-background-family-friends-education-s7njrswmcRevealed: the files that show how Lucy Letby was treated as a victim - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lucy-letby-files-nurse-hospital-evidence-rkxchgqh9Lucy Letby found guilty of murdering seven babies at trial - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lucy-letby-guilty-murder-babies-trial-sentence-verdict-bz695chqjHelplines: NSPCC provides help, advice and support to adults worried about a child.Phone: 0808 800 5000 (24/7) https://www.nspcc.org.ukSamaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provides a safe place to talk 24 hours a day: https://www.samaritans.orgPhone: 116 123Email: [email protected] Bereavement UK: https://www.childbereavementuk.orgThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When The Crooked House pub near the West Midlands town of Dudley was consumed by fire and then demolished, much more was lost than just a quirky venue for a drink. Could the loss of yet another pub shine a light on something much bigger going on in Britain? And could it be rebuilt, brick by brick?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today:thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: - Lucy Bannerman, News Feature Writer, The Times.- Tom Rees, co-owner, The Carlton Tavern pub. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: BBC, The Guardian, 5 News, The Telegraph, Express & Star.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After inconclusive elections last month, today Spain's parliament reconvenes to try to form a government. But as Spanish politicians look to the future, questions from the recent past continue to haunt them. When it comes to the country's bloody civil war, and the repressive regime that followed it, who gets to decide how the past is remembered?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Marta Santiváñez, producer for Times Radio.- Sir Paul Preston, professor of international history at the London School of Economics.Host: Luke Jones.Link: Check out The Times' historic 1937 report on the brutal assault of Guernica here.Clips: British Movietone (AP).This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last month, Times science editor Tom Whipple stood on what used to be a glacier, on rock that used to be below 40 metres of ice. Then, glaciologist Matthias Huss hacked out a chunk of ice to take home. By the end of this summer, that may be the last remnant left. This is the story of the glacier that no longer is – but which 15 years ago weighed a million tonnes – and a climate change milestone which is beyond dispute.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tom Whipple, Science Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Link: Tom Whipple’s new book is available at the Times Bookshop: The Battle of the Beams: The secret science of radar that turned the tide of the Second World Warhttps://timesbookshop.co.uk/the-battle-of-the-beams-9781787634138 Clips: BBC News.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK is now Europe’s biggest consumer of cocaine. The drug has been linked to a surge in domestic violence and middle-class users are being warned it’s not a victimless crime. How is so much cocaine getting into the country? And what can the authorities do about it?You can read Dipesh's article (and see an image of charcoal soaked in cocaine) here.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Dipesh Gadher, Home Affairs Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: France 24, Al Jazeera, Euronews, BBC News, Sky News.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not long ago, the tiny nation of El Salvador had the highest murder rate in the world. Now, it has the highest incarceration rate. President Nayib Bukele – who has described himself as “the world’s coolest dictator” – has detained 70,000 gang suspects without trial. His supporters point to the homicide rate, which is down 93 per cent. But Bukele’s critics warn that his hardline policies risk sacrificing democracy for security.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Stephen Gibbs, Latin America Correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: NBC, CBS, Channel 4, Sky News Australia, ITV, Al Jazeera, CFR Education. This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pop superstar Lizzo has said a lawsuit with claims of sexual harassment and a hostile work environment are ‘false’. Three former dancers have brought legal action against the singer, her dance captain and her production company. The allegations threaten to tarnish Lizzo’s brand, built on self-love and positivity – so can she survive the backlash? And is this a parable of modern celebrity and idol worship?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Megan Agnew, Features Writer, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: TikTok/@bricksmagazine, TikTok/@shellywixted1990, Sky News, Big Boy TV, Twitter/@lizzo, Washington Post, ABC’s Good Morning America, Juice/Lizzo/Atlantic Records, British Vogue.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With an election just around the corner, politicians are quitting Westminster in their droves, many of them under 40. Is the job broken – or are they just jumping before they're pushed? We meet the leavers and reluctant remainers.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Charlotte Ivers, staff writer and columnist, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Times Radio, ITV News, Global.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the neighbourhood of Whitby in Cheshire, residents had to grapple with a question that many more of us will have to ask in the coming years: how should we heat our homes if we’re no longer allowed gas boilers? What started as a proposal to test hydrogen heating soon escalated into an explosive argument. As government policies aimed at reaching net zero start to affect our daily lives, is it a sign of the squabbles to come?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:- Ben Cooke, Times Earth editor.- Kate Grannell, campaigner.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: Cheshire West and Chester Council, Sky News, The Economist, TED.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Niger, in west Africa, has suffered its fifth coup in just over six decades of independence. This one could have repercussions far beyond its borders – not least because Africa, not the Middle East, is now the centre of global jihad. And while there is no sign of Moscow’s hand in the coup, it has been welcomed by the Wagner group and could help Putin get his claws into this uranium-rich country. So what does all this mean for the competition between world powers, not to mention our day-to-day safety?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Richard Assheton, West Africa correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Olivia Case.Clips: BBC, CNN, Euronews, DW News, Al Jazeera, France 24, US Africa Command, TV News Nigeria, Nigerian Television Authority, Telegram.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Younger people are turning away from alcohol, with Gen Z most likely to be teetotal – including Spider-Man actor Tom Holland. Millennials, too, are drinking less than their parents. What's prompted this generational shift in drinking habits? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Helen Rumbelow, Features Writer, The Times. Professor John Holmes, Director of the Sheffield Alcohol Research Group. Host: Jane Mulkerrins, Associate Editor, The Times magazine. Clips: Jay Shetty, Dr Alex George, Avalon Comedy/Lee Mack. TikTok (freedietalks, energisewiththem, thelivneedham)This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Sunday we're bringing you an extra episode from another Times podcast – the Red Box politics podcast with Matt Chorley.Very few people have had as many political lunches as Sunday Times chief political commentator Tim Shipman. Tim joins Matt for a big lunch at Hawksmoor in Borough Market to discuss wining and dining ministers, the state of politics, and Tim's next book.If you enjoyed this episode, you can subscribe to the Red Box politics podcast for free: https://podfollow.com/the-red-box-politics-podcastThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, for the third time in only a few months, former president Donald Trump was indicted, pleading 'not guilty' to four federal charges that argue he was part of a conspiracy that sought to defraud the United States and overturn the 2020 election. So what exactly is he accused of doing?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: David Charter, US Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: AP, KTLA, PBS, CNBC, NBC, The New Yorker, CBS.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last month, it’s understood that London’s Metropolitan Police agreed a record £2million settlement after admitting that a 35-year long murder investigation was mired in corruption and incompetence. Private detective Daniel Morgan’s body was found with an axe in his head in a pub car park in 1987, but no one has ever been convicted.Articles:Met Police have spent £138m on legal battles since 2016: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/met-police-has-spent-138m-on-legal-battles-since-2016-fzjq6xfpmMet Police pays out £2m over ‘corrupt’ Daniel Morgan murder case: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/met-chief-to-admit-corruption-in-handling-of-daniel-morgan-murder-0mtqt036fThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Fiona Hamilton, Crime and Security Editor, The Times. Host: Luke Jones.Clips: BBC, Sky News, ITV News, Independent.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

High-calorie, ultra-processed food has taken over the British diet, accounting for 60 per cent of our calorie intake. Now, in an alarming new book, Dr Chris van Tulleken shows what non-natural foods are doing to our bodies – and argues they should be treated like cigarettes.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Dr Chris van Tulleken, author of Ultra-Processed People: Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn't Food... and Why Can't We Stop? https://timesbookshop.co.uk/ultra-processed-people-9781529900057Host: Manveen Rana.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.