The Story

Doctors knew in 1973 that the epilepsy drug sodium valproate posed a risk to unborn children – and ordered that warnings be removed from packets. Almost 50 years and 20,000 disabled babies later, it is still being prescribed to pregnant women.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Shaun Lintern, Health Editor, The Sunday Times.- Janet Williams, CEO at The Independent Fetal Anti-Convulsant Trust.- Catherine McNamara, parent. Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: Channel 4 News, 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.

In an audacious hostile takeover bid, Elon Musk is holding Twitter to ransom. Either they let him run the whole company, or he'll pull the plug, selling off his stake and sinking their share price. So, what next for Twitter? And why does the world’s richest man want to buy it? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: - Danny Fortson, West Coast Correspondent, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Fox News, BBC Radio 5 Live, Sky News, Tesla, CNET, CBS, 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.

Whether you like it or not, these days everyone seems to be enlisted in the culture wars. But why does the debate seem so angry and intolerant? Can we find some answers in novels written 150 years ago?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: James Marriott, Columnist, The Times. Host: David Aaronovitch. Clips: Vice TV, 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.

Since the first case in Ukraine was reported to The Times, many more have emerged. But why is this particular weapon so hard to talk about?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.This episode contains reference to sexual violence and rape.Guests:- Catherine Philp, Diplomatic Correspondent, The Times.- Christina Lamb, Chief Foreign Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC, VOA News, The Guardian, The Telegraph.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.

Just before the pandemic, the government promised a 'dementia moonshot' to blast us towards a dementia cure. What happened to it?Today: former prime minister David Cameron and Sunday Times science editor Ben Spencer on Britain’s fastest growing disease, dementia.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:- Ben Spencer, science editor, The Sunday Times.- David Cameron, former UK prime minister and president of Alzheimer's Research UK.- Willy Gilder, former BBC radio reporter, living with Alzheimer’s disease.Clips: BBC, Channel 4 News, Sky News, ABC News, WRTV.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 Russian military has suffered an unexpected battering, but Putin shows no sign of backing down. What can history teach us about what might happen next?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Roger Boyes, Diplomatic Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CBC, AP, ABC News, Al Jazeera, 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.

In the second of this two-part podcast, we find out what effect Mouayed Bashir's death has had on his family in Newport, South Wales - as the inquest into his death is delayed - and look at how the police interact with the black community in England and Wales.  This is the second of a two-part podcast examining the death of a black man following contact with police.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Host: Asya Fouks.Clips: Sky News, Channel 4, 5News.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 the 17th February last year, in Newport, the family of Mouayed Bashir called 999. According to his parents he'd been suffering a mental health episode that morning. Nearly three hours later the 29-year-old had died after being restrained by police officers in his bedroom. So what happened?This is part one of a two part podcast examining the death of a black man following contact with police.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Host: Asya Fouks.Clips: BBC, 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.

Rule No 1 in space is 'don't rock the boat' - and certainly don't talk about politics. But Putin’s bombs are visible from the International Space Station, and a war of words over Ukraine may have put joint efforts in space in real jeopardy.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:- Col. Terry Virts (ret), former commander of the International Space Station.- Jacqui Goddard, Miami Correspondent, The Times.Host: 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.

Over two episodes, Matthew Syed takes listeners inside GCHQ’s headquarters in Cheltenham. Today, he hears from some of the staff who share how their different backgrounds help contribute to the organisation’s work. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Charlotte, GCHQ analyst. - Unnamed member of the computer network operations team. - David Abrutat, GCHQ departmental historian. - Paul Maddinson, Director of National Resilience and Strategy. Host: Matthew Syed. 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.

Over two episodes, Matthew Syed takes listeners inside GCHQ’s headquarters in Cheltenham. Today, he speaks to the Director, Sir Jeremy Fleming, on a wide range of topics, from the threats facing the UK, misinformation, the Online Harms Bill, and how working in security and intelligence has changed over the course of his 30-year career. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Sir Jeremy Fleming, GCHQ Director.Host: Matthew Syed.Clips: Sky NewsThis 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 government said it would ban so-called conversion therapy for gay or bisexual people in England and Wales, but not for transgender people. The policy followed two U-turns in the space of an evening.It's a sensitive and controversial issue which was the subject of a special investigation on this podcast last August, by the journalist Emily Sargent. So today we're revisiting the first part of Thinking Straight.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.The full Thinking Straight series:Part 1: ConversionPart 2: UndercoverPart 3: SurvivingPart 4: Undercover againPart 5: Faith and queernessPart 6: Conversion and transitioningPart 7: The banGetting helpIf you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:Switchboard provides an information, support and referral service for anyone who needs to consider issues around their sexuality.Phone: 0300 330 0630 (10am-10pm).Samaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provide a safe place to talk 24 hours a day.Phone: 116 123Guests: - Jayne Ozanne, director and founder, Ozanne Foundation; chair, Ban Conversion Therapy Coalition.- Dr Qazi Rahman, senior lecturer, King's College London.- Michael King, Emeritus Professor, University College London.Host: Emily Sargent, journalist.Clips: Times Radio, ITV News, Instagram: @xoutloudeuropeofficial, X-OUT-LOUD Europe, Core Issues Trust, BFI, BBC.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 April 1982, Captain Christopher Craig set sail with his crew on the frigate HMS Alacrity to the Falkland Islands after Argentina had invaded the British overseas territory. Four decades on, Chris and his son Duncan - then a six-year-old schoolboy in Bournemouth - reflect on that war.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: - Captain Christopher Craig, CB, DSC, Royal Navy.- Duncan Craig, Travel Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Call for Fire: Sea Combat in the Falklands and the Gulf War - A book by Christopher Craig.Clips: ABC News, The Telegraph, BBC.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 firing 800 of its employees with no warning, P&O Ferries has faced mounting pressure from the government and calls for CEO Peter Hebblethwaite to resign. How did this happen? And what's on the horizon for the embattled company?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Ben Clatworthy, Transport Correspondent, The Times.Host: Calum Macdonald.Clips: The Telegraph, BBC News, Sky News, ITV, DP 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.

It's been billed as the future of the internet. But what exactly is 'The Metaverse'? One Sunday Times journalist takes a journey into the the virtual-reality world. It may be for over-13s, but she found harassment, racism and talk of porn make it scary even for adults.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Louise Eccles, Consumer Affairs Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: Sky News, CNBC, CNET, Meta, WION, Microsoft Ignite.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.

Nearly four million refugees have fled the war in Ukraine since it began a month ago. It's the biggest movement of people since records began. We hear stories from the Polish border, as this wave of humanity crosses through.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get 3 months' subscription for just one pound at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:Roger Boyes, Diplomatic Editor, The Times.Natalia Gryvnyak, Ukrainian journalist.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio, LA Times, Euronews. For information on how to help the people of Ukraine visit: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to-help-ukraine-uk-v8grddrs8This 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.

Hospitals bombed. Thousands of civilians killed. If war crimes have been committed in Ukraine, as many suspect, have the events of the past month exposed the laws of war as toothless?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get 3 months' subscription for just one pound at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Professor Gregory Gordon, former war crimes prosecutor and professor of law at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.Host: Manveen Rana.For information on how to help the people of Ukraine visit: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to-help-ukraine-uk-v8grddrs8This 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.

Every week thousands of fans criss-cross the country to support their football team, but among them are those who others wish would stay at home. A Times investigation has looked into the new generation of football hooligans.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Matt Lawton, Chief Sports Correspondent, The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: TalkSport, Sky News, ITV News, Tyne TV, BBC NewsThis 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 President Zelensky put a call out for fighters to join the defence of Ukraine against the Russian assault, an estimated 20,000 answered - including Shane Matthew, a former member of the British Army. As we mark a month since the start of the war in Ukraine, what is life like for those who have gone to fight?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get 3 months' subscription for just one pound at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Larisa Brown, Defence Editor, The Times,andShane Matthew, former soldier.Host: Calum Macdonald.For information on how to help the people of Ukraine visit: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to-help-ukraine-uk-v8grddrs8Clips: CNN, France 24, DW News, Al Jazeera, Channel 5, 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.

We're feeling the pinch as the cost of everyday items increases. Why is this happening? And what might the Chancellor say in his Spring Statement to alleviate the financial pressure?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Ashley Armstrong, Retail and Mergers & Acquisitions Editor, The Times.- Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: Sky News, Channel 4, ITV News, CNBC, Associated Press.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.

Covid cases are surging in the UK, and more people over 70 are testing positive than at any time in the pandemic. What’s going on? We speak to one of the key members of SAGE, the government’s expert advisory committee.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: John Edmunds, professor of epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and member of the UK government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: ABC News, CBS News, WION, ZOE, BBC.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 number of Western nations have imposed sanctions on Russia, its leadership and some of Putin's alleged allies. But are they working?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Oliver Wright, Policy Editor, The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.For information on how to help the people of Ukraine visit: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to-help-ukraine-uk-v8grddrs8Clips: UK Parliament, DW News, Football Joe, BBC News, Sky News, France 24, DW News, CBC News, CBS News, ABC News, Global 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.

A Times undercover investigation has revealed a catalogue of problems at the DVLA that have led to drivers waiting for months for their licence renewals. What lies behind the crisis at this important government agency?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Paul Morgan-Bentley, Head of Investigations, The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: 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.

This week, in a further sign that the Russian military could be in trouble, it was revealed that the Kremlin asked China for military aid. But will Beijing want to wade into this war? And have Vladimir Putin's actions frustrated Xi Jiping?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Didi Tang, Beijing Correspondent, The Times.Edward Lucas, Columnist at The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.For information on how to help the people of Ukraine visit:https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to-help-ukraine-uk-v8grddrs8Clips: BBC.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 nearly six years of detention in Iran, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been released to join her family in the UK. Here, we return to an episode from last year and explore whether an unpaid British debt was the reason behind her imprisonment. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:Richard Ratcliffe, Nazanin's husband.Catherine Philp, diplomatic correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC, ITV, 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 Wednesday, a maternity hospital in Mariupol was bombed. The World Health Organisation says there have been 24 attacks in Ukraine on healthcare facilities and five on ambulances, killing at least a dozen people and injuring 34.So today we’re going back to the start of the war, telling the story of one day and a visit to a children's hospital in Kyiv.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Host: Louise Callaghan, Foreign Correspondent at The Sunday Times. With thanks to Maksym 'Max' Nakonechnyi for translating. For information on how to help the people of Ukraine visit:https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to-help-ukraine-uk-v8grddrs8This 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 been almost two years since the first national lockdown, when schools closed their doors and the nation's families got to grips with home schooling. Since then, an estimated 100,000 students simply haven't returned to education. So who are these 'ghost children’ - and how do we get them back to class? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guests: - Sian Griffiths, Education and Families Editor, The Sunday Times. - Jonathan Green, Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Manchester. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: Channel 4, Sky News, Daily Mail, Belfast Telegraph, ITV 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.

As the war stretches into its third week, the city of Kharkiv has been among the worst hit. Today: what it's like to report from a city devastated by war, while it's still being constantly bombarded.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guests:- Anthony Loyd, war correspondent, The Times.- Jack Hill, chief news photographer, The Times.Host: 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.

On Thursday Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the government with his assets in the UK frozen, leaving the football club in limbo. Today, we look at what sporting boycotts can achieve and ask if the Russian ice hockey star, Alex Ovechkin, could damage Vladimir Putin.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guests: Matt Dickinson, Senior Sports Writer, The Times.Ryan Kennedy, Senior Writer at The Hockey News. Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: CTV News, NHL, BBC, Sky Sports, FIFA, CBS News, NBC News, BritishAthleticsTV.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 ruble is in free fall and western companies have pulled out of Russia. Those who are brave enough to protest the war are being arrested, while others are leaving the country. So, how is this affecting ordinary Russians? We hear from them and from a veteran correspondent who's worked in Russia for over two decades.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Owen Matthews, writer and journalist.Host: Manveen Rana & Asya Fouks.Clips: Sky New, India Today, ABC News, Channel One Russia.For information on how to help the people of Ukraine visit: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to-help-ukraine-uk-v8grddrs8 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.

While Ukrainian cities are being bombarded with Russian fire, it might be of little comfort but Ukraine is winning the information war. Whether it's inspiring daily clips of the president rallying the country's morale or phone footage showing ordinary Ukrainians doing extraordinary things, what do two Ukrainians still in the country make of their country’s resistance so far?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Lisa Yasko, Ukrainian MP in the Servant of the People party.Oleksiy Sorokin, Political Editor, Kyiv Independent.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: DW News, NBC News, Global News.For information on how to help the people of Ukraine visit: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to-help-ukraine-uk-v8grddrs8 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.

Did the British military see Putin’s war in Ukraine coming? What more should Britain be doing? And how might the war end? Manveen Rana speaks with the former Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: General Sir Nick Carter, former Chief of the Defence Staff.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: RUSI, CBS, ABC 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.

What is going through his mind? Where will this end? And would he press that button?There's a view of Putin which says these are impossible questions to answer, which paints him as a mysterious, mercurial figure. But today, we take the other view: that for quite some time, the Russian president has told us exactly who he is. If only we'd been listening.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Matthew Campbell, Foreign Features Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: ABC News, Channel 4 News, BBC News, CBS, Euronews, AP, CBC, ITV 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.

One year ago this week, Sarah Everard was kidnapped by a serving police officer as she walked home in south London and then raped and killed. Her murder sparked global outrage and shone a harsh light on police culture and violence against women. But, a year later, has anything changed?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Fiona Hamilton, Crime and Security Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, 5 News, BBC.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.

He describes himself as the enemy’s number one target. So, as a plot to assassinate the Ukrainian President was reportedly thwarted by the nation’s armed forces, and the assault on the Ukrainian capital intensifies, we ask how Volodymyr Zelensky came to lead his country in its darkest hour since the Second World War.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Peter Conradi, Sunday Times Europe Editor.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: BBC, Talk Radio, CBS, Al Jazeera, CNN, France24.For information on how to help the people of Ukraine visit: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to-help-ukraine-uk-v8grddrs8This 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 war in Ukraine is forcing countries to reconsider their relations with Europe's easternmost neighbour. As Germany prepares to almost double its spending on its military, following the postponement of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia, are we seeing a sea-change in Russo-German relations?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Oliver Moody, Berlin Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: DW News, Reuters, C-Span.For information on how to help the people of Ukraine visit:https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to-help-ukraine-uk-v8grddrs8This 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 thousands flee the bombing to get to safety, we hear from two local journalists about what it's like to watch and report as your home country comes under attack.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Natalie Gryvnyak in Kyiv.Kateryna Malofieieva in Dnipro.Host: Manveen Rana.For information on how to help the people of Ukraine visit:https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to-help-ukraine-uk-v8grddrs8This 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 Ukraine’s capital Kyiv continues to come under fire from Russian forces, a 36-hour curfew has been imposed and residents have taken shelter. One likely reason for that curfew: 400 Russian mercenaries already operating in Kyiv with orders from the Kremlin to assassinate President Zelensky, as Manveen Rana exclusively reports.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Catherine Philp, Diplomatic Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, BBC Radio 4, ITV News.For information on how to help Ukraine visit:https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to-help-ukraine-uk-v8grddrs8This 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.

Following the announcement of Prince Andrew’s settlement with Virginia Guiffre, the Queen was diagnosed with Covid and Prince Charles faced questions over an alleged cash-for-honours scandal. We speak to the Times' New York correspondent and Sunday Times royal editor about the fallout from a less-than-vintage week.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: - Will Pavia, New York Correspondent, The Times. - Roya Nikkhah, Royal Editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: CBS, GB News, Sky News, ITV, BBC, 5 News, Channel 4, Daily Mail.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 police swept through Ottawa, clearing a settlement of protestors. For three weeks, truck drivers from all over the country gathered in the Canadian capital. They were furious with covid laws, and with Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. With the protests gone, where does that anger go? And with American truckers planning to shut down Washington D.C. next week, how far has this movement spread?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Charlie Mitchell, Canada Correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Clips: Al Jazeera, CBC, BBC, Fox 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.

When a home video was leaked back in 1995, the intimate lives of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee were available for all to see in a way that had never previously happened. So, looking back, was it a moment that changed celebrity culture forever?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Jane Mulkerrins, Times Magazine Associate Editor.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Passport International Pictures, VH1, Fox Files, MSNBC, Bravo, AXS TV, Toronto Sun.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 drumbeat of war has been ringing loudly in the last few days. Last night it reached fever pitch, as President Putin addressed Russia and the world. Has war now arrived in Europe?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Catherine Philp, Diplomatic Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, BBC, AFP, ABC 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.

Despite various legal battles closing in on him, Donald Trump remains a looming presence and the de facto leader of the Republican Party in the US. But will the party support a second presidential run in 2024? Or could another challenger displace him? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: David Charter, US Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: ABC, CBS, C-SPAN, The View, Fox News, CNN, The Ellen Show, MSNBC, BBC, Ruptly, NBC, WPTV News, The Sun.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 week a small mob filmed themselves shouting abuse at the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, including the offensive call of ‘paedo protector’. But who exactly were the abusers and where had they come from?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Ben Ellery, News Reporter at The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Keir Starmer mob linked to hardline antivaxxers by Ben Ellery, Peter Chappell and Tom Ball. YouTube cashes in with advertisements on Covid misinformation videos by Ben Ellery. Clips: ITV, ABC, GB Resistance, The Voice of Reason, @celebrityradio, Mad Mix Conspiracies. 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 resignation of Dame Cressida Dick leaves a vacuum at the top of Britain's biggest police force. What eroded London mayor Sadiq Khan's confidence in the former commissioner? And what does it mean for the future of the Met?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Fiona Hamilton, Crime and Security Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, BBC, Channel 4 News, Channel 5 News, Times Radio, LBC.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.

Today marks six months since the fall of Kabul, Afghanistan's capital, to the Taliban. They now control the entire country and life there has transformed beyond recognition. So what is it like being a woman in the new Afghanistan? A young doctor tells us her story.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:- Christina Lamb, chief foreign correspondent, The Sunday Times.- Charlie Faulkner, reporter, The Times.- A young Afghan female doctor.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CNBC, France 24, WION, TRT World, CBS, The SunThis 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 Covid swept the world, it also swept The Times. For some colleagues it was mild; for others it meant months in intensive care. And for a third group, including foreign correspondent Jane Flanagan, it left them with symptoms that just wouldn't go away. But nor would Jane's curiosity.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:- Jane Flanagan, Africa correspondent, The Times.- Tom Whipple, science editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Links:'Long Covid leaves wave of wearied souls in pandemic’s wake', Tom Whipple, The Times, Monday January 17 2022. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/covid-leaves-wave-of-wearied-souls-in-pandemics-wake-mrz2m9h59This 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.

They're illegal Class A drugs in the UK - right alongside cocaine and heroine. But new research is exploring whether magic mushroom micro-dosing can treat depression and addiction. So what are the facts?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:Dr David Nutt, Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology, Imperial College, London.Suzanne Duckett and Andy Friedlander, a couple from London.Host: Manveen Rana.If you've been affected by any of the issues discussed in this podcast there are some website and helplines available here:NHS drug addiction getting help: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/drug-addiction-getting-help/NHS mental health helpline (England): https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-urgent-mental-health-helplineClips: NBC, Universal Newsreel, Pixar Animation Studios / Disney.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 began last month when a number of musical titans began to leave Spotify, accusing Joe Rogan's podcast of spreading Covid misinformation. Rogan's name hasn't left the headlines since. Calls for the streaming platform to drop its most popular podcaster intensified after old clips emerged of Rogan repeatedly using a racial slur. What responsibilities do Rogan, and a mainstream platform like Spotify, have to the 11 million listeners of The Joe Rogan Experience?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:James Marriott, deputy books editor, The Times.Will Hodgkinson, rock & pop critic, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: The Joe Rogan Experience, Fox News, NBC News, BBC, The Economic Ninja, Russell Brand, CNN. 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.

For years, the Sackler family were one of the go-to philanthropic organisations in the UK, but now, as they face lawsuits in the US for their role in the opioid crisis which has claimed half a million lives, many arts institutions are rethinking their financial assistance. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: Sabah Meddings, Senior Business Reporter, The Sunday Times.Liam Kelly, Arts and Entertainment Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: MSNBC, PBS, CGTN, Newsy, Sandi Backhom, CBS 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.