The Story

In a special series for the Sunday Times, writer Rosie Kinchen examines what's behind our true crime obsession. Kinchen makes contact with Amanda Knox - someone affected by this - and finds out Knox recently campaigned for the release of a German national - who Knox believes was wrongfully convicted of murder in the Unites States in 1990, in a story that has echoes of her own. 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:Rosie Kinchen, features writer at the Sunday Times.Amanda Knox, journalist and podcaster.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips used: iHeartRadio, Sundance TV and Sundance Now, ABC, ITN, CBS, Sky News, Channel 4, WSLS 10, Phoenix 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.

Conspiracies spread fast on anonymous platforms like 4chan. QAnon's evolution on the site is fuelled by unfounded theories which suggest that President Trump is waging a secret war against Satan-worshipping paedophiles who hold some of the highest positions in the country. Now that Donald Trump is no longer in office, what happens to those who believed in QAnon's ideas? 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: Jared Holt, Visiting research fellow at the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research lab.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips used: CBS, CNN, Fox 5 New York, ABC, NBC, 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.

For Egypt, the Arab Spring was just the start. Ten years ago, protests erupted in Tahrir Square that would force the president from power and kick off a decade of political transformation. We speak to the editor of the country's last major opposition media about how these events changed history and shaped her life.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:Lina Attalah, founder and editor of Mada Masr.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips used: ABC News, CNN, Sky News, France 24, Democracy Now!, 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.

Alibaba Group founder and billionaire Jack Ma has emerged into the public for the first time since disappearing in October last year. Growing scrutiny of his business plans has fuelled speculation that his absence is part of a broader crackdown by the Chinese government. Where has he been? And what does his disappearance mean for the future of Chinese business? 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: Philip Sherwell, Asia correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips used: CBC, ABC, CNBC, World Economic Forum, Alibaba Group, CBS, ITV, Financial Times, CNA Insider.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.

Some 25,000 troops stood guard during the inauguration of President Joe Biden. The high levels of security was just one sign that the country is facing great challenges domestically. What does the mood in Washington tell us about the future of the United States under new leadership?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: Sarah Baxter, Former Sunday Times deputy editor and author of the American Diary in The Sunday Times.John Pienaar, Drive presenter, Times Radio.Michael Chertoff, Former United States Secretary of Homeland Security.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.

Some scientists worry that a new vaccine-resistant strain of the virus could emerge. We speak to virologists about concerns that the UK's vaccine strategy could make an 'escape mutant' more likely. 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: - Rhys Blakely, science correspondent, The Times.- Paul Bieniasz, professor of virology, The Rockefeller University. - Deenan Pillay, professor of virology, University College London.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips used: PBS, 10 Downing Street YouTube channel.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 attention was pointed towards the storming of the Capitol, over four thousand miles away in north-eastern Alaska, an auction was held to sell the right to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Alaska sits above billions of barrels of oil, but it's also a haven to an array of species and wildlife. What lies behind this controversial decision to allow drilling to go forward? 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: Amy Martin - Reporter and founder of the 'Threshold' podcast.Host: David Aaronovitch.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, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Donald Trump for inciting a mob that stormed the capitol building - making him the first president in US history to be impeached twice. With a Senate trial looming, and inauguration just days away, what happens next? We look at the past and into the history of impeachment for clues.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:Mark K. Updegrove, presidential historian and author.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips used: The Globe and The Mail, NBC, CBS, WFAA, MSNBC, Washington Post.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 of the GPs on the frontline of the UK's vaccination efforts, and the Times science correspondent, on the bottlenecks and obstacles that are holding things up.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:Rhys Blakely, science correspondent, The Times. Dr Amir Khan, a GP in Bradford. Host: Manveen Rana. Links:When will I get the Covid vaccine? Find your place on the UK’s priority list (The Times)Clips: BBC, ITV, Sky News, Times Radio.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 late 2010, Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi doused himself in gasoline and set himself on fire, sparking waves of anti-government protests. Within weeks, the Tunisian president had fled the country, and protests rippled across the Middle East leading to riots, civil unrest and insurgencies. A decade later, we reflect on how the uprisings have reshaped the Arab world—starting in Tunisia, the place where it all began. 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:Layli Foroudi, freelance journalist and contributor to The Times.Zied Bouazizi, cousin of the street vendor, Mohamed Bouazizi.Clips used: Nawaat, CNN, Al Jazeera, 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.

Should surgery to alter the reproductive organs of children who are born intersex be stopped?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:Faye Kirkland - investigative journalist and a GP.Sara Gillingham - A woman born with intersex traits.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.

Is the NHS just weeks from the toughest moment in its history?Chief medical officer Chris Whitty has said the next few weeks will be the worst of the pandemic, and the mayor of London declared a major incident in the city on Friday. Today we speak to doctors on the frontline. 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:Kat Lay, health editor, The Times.Dr Pushpo Babul Hossain, junior doctor in South London.Dr Christine Watson, intensive care consultant, Nottingham University Hospitals.Dr Adrian Boyle, consultant emergency physician and vice president, Royal College of Emergency Medicine.An anonymous respiratory consultant in South London.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips Used: Sky, BBC, NBC, CBS, 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.

After a turbulent year, Prime Minister Boris Johnson finally reached a post-Brexit Trade Deal with Brussels. But the UK's exit from the EU customs Union and single market has left financial sector businesses working out what it all means for them.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:Oliver Wright - Policy editor at The Times.Jill Treanor - City editor at The Sunday Times.Alasdair Haynes- Founder & Chief Executive of Acquis Exchange.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips used: Sky 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.

They were scenes that shocked the world: hundreds of supporters of the outgoing president storming into the country's seat of power. On the day expected to be dominated by political shenanigans, it was the actions of the mob that took over. What now for the 'world's leading democracy'?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: David Charter, US editor for The Times. With special reporting from the capital from Laura Pullman, New York correspondent for The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips used: ABC, NBC, ITV, The Hill, PBS, C-Span.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.

Facial recognition technology is in the spotlight as the surveillance watchdog raises privacy concerns over its use by police forces. Are these new technologies making the country safer, or creating a new privacy nightmare?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:Fiona Hamilton, crime and security editor, The Times.Tony Porter, former Surveillance Camera Commissioner for England and Wales.Host: David Aaronovitch.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 safety protocols in elite sport back under the spotlight due to recent high profile cases in rugby and football, the Times' Chief Sports Writer, Matt Dickinson, did some soul searching around one of the most brutal of all sports he covers: boxing. 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 Dickinson - The Times' chief sports writer.Host: David Aaronovitch. Clips used: Sky Sports Boxing, BBC Sounds, SamuraiLifeTV 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.

The British are not known as tactile people, a firm handshake will do while our continental neighbours embrace with hugs and kisses, but is that really the whole picture? And what has the lockdown induced separation done for our sense of touch and its importance in our lives? 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: Helen Rumbelow, Times feature writer and columnist.Katerina Fotopoulou, Professor in Psychodynamic Neuroscience University College London.Host: David Aaronovitch.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.

Could an unpaid British debt be the reason Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been held by Iran for the past five years?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 used: BBC, 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.

Cartoonist Peter Brookes looks back on some of the more memorable images of his almost 30 years at The Times, and walks us through his creative process.Click here to see the cartoons discussed in this episode.Guest: Peter Brookes, Times cartoonist.Host: Manveen Rana.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.Clips used: AP, BBC, CGTN.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.

All this week we look back at the biggest stories of the last twelve months. Today: We ask Matt Chorley and Esther Webber to assess the standout moments from the most eventful political year in living memory.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 Chorley, writer and broadcaster for The Times. Esther Webber, Red Box reporter for The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips used: Guardian News online, The Sun online, BBC News, ITV, STV, SIXTY Minutes.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.

2020 has been quite the year for all of us, but it has been especially tumultuous in the United States. From the coronavirus pandemic to the Black Lives Matter movement to the election, the year has been full of emotionally charged moments. Our journalists have been on the ground for every twist and turn.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:Laura Pullman, New York Correspondent for The Sunday Times.Henry Zeffman, Washington Correspondent for 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.

All this week we look back at the biggest stories of the year. Today: Coronavirus. How should we separate the science from the conspiracy theories? What have we actually learnt about the virus? And is there now light at the end of the tunnel?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:Tom Whipple, Science Editor for The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, Talkradio, France 24, Euronews, BBC, ITV, CNA, CNA2.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.

Former table tennis player, Matthew Syed, visits a club in Brighton which gets funding from Sported, one of the charities the Times and Sunday Times is raising money for in its Christmas Appeal.This episode is in support of Sported, one of three charities backed by The Times and Sunday Times Christmas Appeal.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 Syed, Times and Sunday Times' columnist.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips used: CNN, Sky Sports News, 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.

David Aaronovitch sits down with Times Radio breakfast show host Stig Abell to share some of their most cherished festive page turners.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: Stig Abell - Times Radio Breakfast show host, Sunday Times columnist.With book recommendations from:John Witherow - Editor, The Times.Emma Tucker - Editor, Sunday Times.Andrew Holgate - Literary Editor, Sunday Times.Matt Dickinson - Chief Sports Writer, The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch. The books:David: Selling Hitler - Robert HarrisOut of Pure Rage - Jeff DyerStig:Things I Learned on the 6.28: A Guide to Daily Reading - Stig AbellSummer of 1927 - Bill BrysonA Distant Mirror - Barbara TuchmanMatt Dickinson:Moth and the Mountain - Ed CaesarEmma Tucker:The Motion of the Body Through Space - Lionel ShriverAndrew Holgate:English Pastoral - James RebanksJohn Witherow:JFK: Volume 1: 1917-1956 - Frederik LogevallThis 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.

An investigation by the Times has found that HMRC, the UK’s authority responsible for the collection of taxes used private debt collection companies and letters accusing people left penniless by the pandemic of deliberately avoiding their tax bills.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 at the Times.Richard Hull, a self-employed carpenter.Kirsty Howe, Director of The Firm.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.

A Sunday Times investigation reveals a shady supply chain stretching from west Africa’s hazardous gold mines through Dubai and on to Europe. Who are the people who work on the illegal mines and what can we do as consumers to ensure we buy ethical gold?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:Louise Callaghan, Middle East correspondent for The Sunday Times.Desmond Akudbilla, freelance journalist.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.

With a week to go before Christmas, Stories of our times hosts Manveen Rana and David Aaronovitch are joined by journalist and wine expert Jane Macquitty, to guide you through five of the best festive wine pairings for Christmas day. 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 Macquitty, The Times and The Sunday Times Journalist and wine critic. Hosts: Manveen Rana and David Aaronovitch.The wines:ChampagneWaitrose Blanc de Noirs Brut ChampagneWhite2018 Domaine Henri Bourgeois Cuvée Le Prieuré des Hublots SauvignonRed for goose and game2017 Villa Antinori RedRed for turkey2017 Brazin Old Vine ZinfandelPortKopke Reserve Tawny PortThis 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 MS Estonia sank into the icy Baltic Sea in 1994, descending alongside the evidence of what happened that fateful night where 852 people died. Nearly twenty-six years later the shipwreck still sits on a shallow sea bed and new evidence has raised questions about what caused it to go down. 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 Barney - A Briton who was on board the MS Estonia when it capsized and sank in the Baltic Sea in 1994.- Henrik Evertsson - Documentary filmmaker and journalist prosecuted for investigating the sinking of the MS Estonia.- Matthew Campbell - Foreign Correspondent for The Sunday Times, was working in Moscow when the MS Estonia sank.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips used: discovery+. You can watch the full series of Estonia. It is available now on discovery+.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.

During four years in office, President Donald Trump has already handed out a number of controversial pardons to friends and allies, but are there more to come? And what is the intended use of the pardon power?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: Michael Gerhardt, professor of Constitutional law at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.Josh Glancy, Washington Bureau Chief, The Sunday 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.

As Britain becomes the first country to embark on a mass Covid-19 vaccination programme, Stories of our times have been given exclusive access to new polling showing just how difficult that task might be for the government. We hear from those who carried out the research about why more than a quarter of the UK’s population are 'vaccine hesitant', while 12% simply will not be vaccinated at all. Meanwhile, an expert on vaccine communication strategies explains what more can be done to tackle the misinformation that’s driving so many people to consider avoiding the coronavirus vaccine. 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 Phillip Lee, a GP who is also a former Conservative MP who defected to the Lib Dems over Brexit.-Thomas Borwick helped to run the Vote Leave campaign and set up get your jabs.com.-Heidi Larson, Professor of anthropology at London school of hygiene and tropical medicine. Professor Larson also founded The Vaccine Confidence Project to help fight global anti-vaccination information.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.

Cameron Wellington, a teenager from Walsall, died on November 19th after catching coronavirus. He left a devastated family behind, but could lives like his have been saved if the UK’s second national lockdown had taken place earlier? The Sunday Times Insight team have published a major investigation into the government’s handling of the second wave, and the false dichotomy between saving the economy and saving lives. 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.Read the Insight team's investigation here.Guests:Jane and Norman Wellington, parents of Cameron Wellington.George Arbuthnott, Deputy Editor, Sunday Times Insight. Jonathan Calvert, Editor, Sunday Times Insight. 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.

After Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia Group filed for administration last week we trace the rise and fall of the former 'king of the high street'. Is this the final nail in the coffin of his retail empire? The Sunday Times’s business editor Oliver Shah, a man who’s written the book when it comes to Sir Philip, shares the stories of his working relationship and what went wrong for the tycoon.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: Oliver Shah, Sunday Times business editor.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips used: BBC, Iconic, Sky News, New York Magazine.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 leading Catholic school Ampleforth College has been temporarily banned by the government from taking on new pupils because of safety concerns. The boarding school is challenging a poor Ofsted report but the government said it was too slow in making improvements highlighted by repeated inspections dating back to March 2018. How did the school get here and what will happen now?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 for The Sunday Times.A30, a former pupil at Ampleforth.Robin Dyer, Headmaster of Ampleforth College.Host: David Aaronovitch.Links to useful charities:Rape Crisis for England and Wales, NSPCC, Safeline, The Survivors Trust.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.

All this week, rainbow coloured bootlaces and armbands are being worn by football players nationwide. This is to mark the Premier League's annual 'rainbow laces' campaign in support of the LGBT+ community. As well as being a celebration of inclusion, the campaign serves as a reminder of the absence of openly gay professional male footballers in the sport. Why is this still the case?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: Rebecca is a sports reporter and feature writer for the Times and Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips used: Football Daily, Kick It Out, BBC Three, 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 June, the charismatic leader of the Nkuringo gorilla group was killed by a poacher. The incident shocked the conservation community and caused an international outcry. How has the death of Rafiki affected the human and gorilla communities in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest? And is the pandemic responsible for a rise in poaching?This episode is in support of Tusk, one of three charities backed by The Times and Sunday Times Christmas Appeal.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 for The Times.Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, wildlife vet and founder and CEO of Conservation for Public Health.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips used: Tusk.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, Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah will speak at a High Court inquest into the death of her daughter Ella who died following an asthma attack in 2013. She believes it was the high levels of pollution that caused her daughters death. If the coroner rules that air pollution directly caused Ella's death, she would become the first person in the UK and possibly the world to have that listed on her death certificate.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.You can read more about The Times clean air campaign here.Guests: Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, Ella’s mother.Ben Webster, Times Environment editor.Charlie Parker, Times trainee reporter.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.

When news broke of the assassination of the head of Iran’s nuclear programme the details suggested an operation straight out of an action film. The Iranian government’s story however was very different and involved remote controlled weapons. Yet, the question remained: who was behind the operation and what does it mean for Middle Eastern politics?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: Anshel Pfeffer, Times Israel correspondent.Holly Dagres, non-resident fellow at the Washington based think tank, the Atlantic council. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips used: BBC, Channel 4, CNN, France 24, MSNBC, 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.

This week the UK approved its first coronavirus vaccine for widespread use. With the end now clearly in sight, does the government's current plan for a relaxation of restrictions over Christmas still make sense?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: Stephen Reicher, Professor of Social Psychology at the University of St Andrews. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio, BBC Radio.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 at the High Court, a judgement was passed that could have major implications for the treatment of children at gender identity clinics.We speak to two people with very different perspectives: Keira Bell, the 23-year-old who detransitioned and is at the centre of the case; and the mother of a young transgender man, who thinks the court made the wrong decision.Guests:Sian Griffiths, education and families editor, The Sunday Times.Keira Bell, one of the people at the centre of the High Court decision.Jo, the parent of a young transgender man who was also treated at the Tavistock clinic. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News.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 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 Britain, about 2.4 million children live in families who cannot afford all the food they need. During the pandemic, up to 8.1 million Britons have struggled to pay for food. Manchester United’s star striker Marcus Rashford and former manager Sir Alex Ferguson credit their tough upbringings with inspiring them to fight childhood poverty. Rashford and Sir Alex have joined forces to support The Times Christmas Appeal which is raising money for the charity FareShare. We speak with two Times journalists who interviewed the football icons.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:Alice Thomson, columnist and interviewer for The Times.Rachel Sylvester, columnist and interviewer for The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips used: ITV, BBC Three, GMB, Manchester United, England. 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.

Transparency rules have been cast aside by ministers in their coronavirus panic. The result? Privileged access for friendly lobbyists and £1.5bn of contracts to Conservative-linked companies. We speak to the Sunday Times journalist who exposed much of it, and a lawyer bringing a case against the government.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:Gabriel Pogrund, Sunday Times Whitehall correspondent.Jo Maugham QC, Director of the Good Law Project.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips used: BBC News, Sky News, 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.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court heard arguments over whether Shamima Begum should be allowed to come back to Britain to fight for her citizenship. It's a legal battle that could have enormous consequences for her future and her family.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:Mohammed Akunjee, solicitor for family of Shamima Begum.Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge, Edenbridge and Malling; Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee.Anthony Loyd, Foreign Correspondent, The Times.  Fiona Hamilton, Crime and Security Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips used: The Supreme Court.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 not alone in having to decide what to do with its citizens stuck in Syrian camps and Iraqi prisons. Thousands of European nationals travelled to the Middle East to take part in the conflict that has torn the region apart. How is the rest of Europe coping with the problem? Are they bringing foreign fighters back? And what do they do with them if they do return?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: Arthur Snell, former head of the Foreign Office counter radicalisation programme  Thomas Schmidinger, University of Vienna Political Scientist and Cultural AnthropologistPeter Conradi, The Sunday Times Europe editor. Dr Neda Richards, counterterrorism psychologist. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips used: BBC, CBC, PBS.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.

Supreme Court judges are now deliberating on whether Begum should be allowed back to Britain to fight for her citizenship. But would happen if she did return? How does deradicalisation work and when can it go wrong?All this week, Stories of our Times brings you a special series on Shamima Begum, and her fight to come home to Britain.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:Tania Joya, former jihadist, former wife of senior Islamic State leader. Usama Hasan, research consultant, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. Christopher Dean, psychologist; Senior Fellow, Global Centre for Cooperative Security.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.

In the second part of our series on Shamima Begum, we explore the experience of British nationals detained in Syria. What are living conditions like inside refugee camps? And should Britain repatriate its nationals who live in them? 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 for The TimesVera Miranova, Harvard research fellow.Yasmine Ahmed, director of Rights and Security International.Sir Mark Rowley, former head of Counter Terrorism Policing in the UK. Richard Barrett, director of the Global Strategy Network.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips used: BBC, 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.

It was a chance meeting in a Syrian camp. A veteran war reporter, a young mother, and an interview that polarised a nation. Shamima Begum was just 15 years old when she and two of her school friends from Bethnal Green left Britain to join Islamic State. Five years later, with her fate still hanging in the balance, the Supreme Court will this week decide whether she can return to the UK to challenge the deprivation of her citizenship. This episode of the Stories of our Times podcast will form part of a week-long series. We'll explore: what should happen to British nationals who left to join Islamic State, and do we have a responsibility to bring them back?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, Foreign Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips used: BBC, ITV, Sky, 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.

All next week Stories of our times will examine the effectiveness of the UK’s policy towards those detained in Syria; discuss de-radicalisation; and look at the dissenting views on the idea of repatriation as the Supreme Court decides whether Begum can return home to contest the removal of her citizenship. 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 Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn fled house arrest in Tokyo and turned up in Beirut in December 2019, the details read like they’d come straight from the pages of a spy thriller. Accused of financial misconduct by Nissan, and facing a long trial and prison sentence, he decided to make a break for it. What’s his side of the 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.Guest: John Arlidge, Sunday Times senior business writer.Host: David Aaronovitch.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.

Was one of the most famous interviews in UK television history secured by underhand means? Twenty-five years on, the BBC finds itself under fresh scrutiny. 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:Valentine Low, Royal Correspondent at The Times.Rosamund Urwin, Media and Technology Correspondent at The Sunday Times. Host: David AaronovitchClips used: BBC Panorama, AP, ITN/ITVThis 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.

Donald Trump got more Republicans to vote for him than any US presidential candidate in history. He's changed the party and the country forever. And though he may be on his way out, is Trumpism here to stay?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:Tom Newton Dunn, Times Radio presenter and chief political commentator.Sam Nunberg, public affairs consultant and former political advisor to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.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.