The Story

Hundreds of thousands of years ago, Homo sapiens were not alone. Tom Whipple explains how we once shared the earth with Neanderthals and even 'hobbits'. Guest: Tom Whipple, Science Editor for The Times. Chris Stringer, Merit Researcher in human origins at the London Natural History Museum. Host: Manveen RanaThis 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 Swedish government's approach to coronavirus has been controversial. Unlike in the UK, they have urged citizens to take personal responsibility for enforcing social distancing rather than using police forces to ensure rules are followed. Now that the country has passed the grim milestone of 1,000 coronavirus deaths, what can the UK learn from the Swedish government's light-touch approach to the pandemic? Guests: Louise Callaghan, Middle East correspondent for the Sunday Times.  Host: Manveen RanaThis 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.

Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, is fighting extradition to the US, after seven years holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy. This week it was revealed that he secretly started a family during his time in hiding. Is it in the public interest for Julian Assange to be sent to the States?Guests: John Simpson, crime correspondent for The Times.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.

As a number of existing therapies are being re-purposed to help patients with the most severe Covid-19 symptoms, we speak to a UK-based bioscience company about a drug they've developed and explore how it is being used in Italy. Guests: Tom Whipple, The Times science editorSomeit Sidhu, CEO and Co-founder of Izana BioscienceHost: Manveen RanaThis 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 reading on the rise under the lockdown, the Times Literary Supplement editor Stig Abell suggests three books for a little escapism during these uncertain times.  Guest: Stig AbellThis 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 have been warned that the Easter bank holiday could see the peak of the coronavirus crisis in the UK. But are our hospitals ready?Guest:‏Lucy Cocker, Junior Doctor and Deputy Chair of the BMA's Junior Doctor Committee.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.

It looks like the US will be badly hit by coronavirus. Could President Trump's approach be his downfall? Guests: Henry Zeffman, the Washington Correspondent for The Times. 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.

The United States is now at the centre of the global coronavirus crisis and New York is the worst hit city in the country. What’s it like for regular New Yorkers at the centre of the pandemic? Guests:‏Laura Pullman, The Sunday Times New York correspondent.The audio diaries from nine New Yorkers. Host: Manveen Rana. NB: Caurice Wynters, one of the New Yorkers who spoke with us, is raising money to cover medical and living expenses for her family, after they all got sick with covid-19. You can contribute here: https://bit.ly/3aOBRWpThis 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 Brazilian politicians argue over how to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, we speak to three residents about their experience of the crisis.  Guests: Lucinda Elliott‏, news contributor at The Times. Giuseppe Bossetti, Vivian Bernfeld and Marcus Assunção in Sao Paulo. 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 Saturday Labour party members selected a new leader. Is this the end of Corbynism? And what is the role of the opposition in the time of crisis? Guest: Rachel Sylvester, political columnist for 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.

Are we doing enough to stop the spread of coronavirus? And what does the World Health Organisation think our approach should be from here?Guests:  Dr Kluge is Europe Director of Public Health at the World Health Organisation Kat Lay is Health Correspondent at 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.

An army of volunteers has sprung up across the country in response to the coronavirus crisis. Today, we tell their stories. And we ask: is there a new team spirit that will outlast the lockdown? Guests:Martin Fletcher, former foreign editor of The Times. Alison Langan, retired teacher. Joe Pegg, IT specialist, and chief technical officer for the Long Ashton covid support group. Sharon Shamir, solicitor and co-founder of the Telegraph Hill covid support group. 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 we get used to our new lives in isolation, there’s a question on everyone’s lips: how long will this last? And perhaps even more importantly: what needs to happen for life to return to normal?  Guest: Tom Whipple, Science Editor at The Times Host: David AaronovitchThis 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 week into the shutdown, and millions of us are dealing with the effects of isolation for the first time, but one British doctor is better prepared than most of us. Dr Beth Healey shares her lessons from a year spent in Antarctica studying the effects of isolation.Guest: Dr Beth Healey. 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.

We follow the owner of a food-to-go shop as he tries to keep his workforce employed. Our Enterprise Editor explains what the government's economic interventions really mean for jobs.  Guests: Spencer Craig, co-founder of Pure - a food to go business James Hurley, Enterprise Editor at The Times Host: Manveen RanaThis 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.

Couples all around Britain are being asked to make tough decisions. Apart or together, the Health Secretary's advice is clear: "make your choice and stick with it." We speak to one couple in the middle of a divorce in isolation together, and one couple very much in love but separated by coronavirus (and an ocean). Guests: Steph (a nurse in Chicago treating coronavirus patients) and Katie (a tech consultant from London).Kenny (a former journalist now in PR) and Helen (a business coach), both living in Wales.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 1980s, the HIV/AIDS pandemic called for a clear, bold public health message. David Aaronovitch explores whether there are lessons to be learned for the government's response to Covid-19. Guests: Malcolm Gaskin, designer who created the UK's 1987 'Aids: Don't Die of Ignorance' campaign. Simon Fanshawe is a broadcaster and activist. He is one of the founders of Stonewall. 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.

Norman and Jorge are flatmates. But Norman happens to be 92 and Jorge is 26. In the time of coronavirus, this makes their friendship hard to navigate. What does the future hold for our intergenerational relationships? And how can we best keep our loved ones safe?  Guests: Norman, 92, Jorge, 26.  Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director for Age UK. Host: Manveen Rana. Special thanks to Two Generations for putting us in touch with the duo. 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 strict new restrictions on daily life are announced by Boris Johnson we ask: what does it say about his leadership? Guests: Daniel Finkelstein and Matthew Parris, Times columnistsHost: Manveen RanaThis 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.

Will the iconic koala be able to survive after Australia's recent bushfires left the country's vast wildlife population in peril? Guest: Bernard Lagan, Australia Correspondent at 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.

What's going on behind the scenes at Number 10 to tackle coronavirus? And is the government moving fast enough to prevent the spread of covid-19 across the UK? Guests: Steven Swinford, Deputy Political Editor at The Times. David McCoy, professor of Global Public Health at Queen Mary University in London. 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.

Should the Olympics be postponed? And what could this mean for athletes? The Times's own Olympian and sports columnist Matthew Syed has the story. Guests: Matthew Syed, table tennis player and Times columnist Hayley Wickenheiser, Canadian ice hockey player 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.

David Aaronovitch talks to the editor-in-chief of the Lancet, Dr Richard Horton, and Times science editor, Tom Whipple, about the global response to the crisis. Which country has got the right approach? Guests:  Dr Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of the Lancet Tom Whipple, The Times science editor 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.

The World Health Organisation has recognised that the coronavirus crisis is generating stress and has advised people to avoid watching, reading or listening to news that causes feelings of anxiety. But for author Jon Ronson, living with anxiety at the time of a pandemic holds some advantages too. Guest: Jon RonsonHost: Manveen RanaThis 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 happens when doctors get coronavirus and how will the NHS cope? Manveen Rana speaks to two NHS doctors who've tested positive - and are about to return to work. Guests: - Dr Clare Gerada, NHS GP in London and former head of the Royal College of General Practitioners. - Anonymous consultant anaesthetist, practicing at a hospital in England. - Andrew Gregory, Health Editor, 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.

The story of a former resident of Wuhan - the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak - who is now part of a UK team racing to develop a coronavirus vaccine. Guests: - Dr Kai Hu, Research Associate, Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London. - Tom Whipple, Science Editor, 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.