The Story

Today, Health Secretary Wes Streeting is announcing an independent review into rising demand for mental health, ADHD, and autism services. Amid soaring welfare costs and long waiting lists, the government says the system needs to be transformed. But with Streeting previously claiming that some mental health conditions are ‘overdiagnosed’, are the right problems being tackled?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Eleanor Hayward, health editor, The TimesDr Tony Lloyd, counseling psychologist and former CEO of ADHD UKHost: Manveen Rana. Producers: Edward Drummond, Taryn Siegel, Micaela Arneson. Read more: Wes Streeting orders inquiry into mental health ‘overdiagnosis’Further listening: Is ADHD being over-diagnosed?Clips: Sky News, Channel 4 News, Parliament, The Sun, BBC.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday the UN General Assembly met to discuss a plan for Palestinian statehood, two months after President Trump announced his twenty-point peace plan for Israel and Gaza. But has the fighting actually stopped? Is the region any closer to peace? And could Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing criminal trial derail the whole process?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Gabrielle Weiniger, Israel correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.   Producers: Micaela Arneson, Olivia Case. Read more: ‘With or without Netanyahu, Trump will lead us to a two-state solution’Further listening: How Trump's Gaza deal could still unravelClips: WPLG Local 10, Fox, DW News, RTE News, The Guardian, WFAA / YouTube, Middle East Eye, NBC, Yvette Cooper / Twitter.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The arguments over last week’s budget continue; first chancellor Rachel Reeves was accused of misleading MPs and the public over the state of public finances, then the chair of the budget watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility, resigned. So how did this row unfold and where does it leave the Prime Minister?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Oliver Wright, policy editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Olivia Case, Shabnam Grewal.Read more: Did Rachel Reeves lie — and will she resign? Further listening: Do bond markets rule the world?Clips: The Telegraph, Times Radio, BBC, parliamentlive.tv, ITV News, Sky News.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2012 Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony went viral thanks to Kony 2012, a documentary about his atrocities. He's been on the run ever since. Today, the son who was groomed to be his father's heir tells his story for the first time.This podcast contains scenes some listeners may find distressing. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Richard Assheton, contributor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case.Further listening: Inside Haiti: face to face with the gangs ruling a desperate nation - the Sunday StoryClips: Channel 4, Clevver News, Kony 2012 / Jason Russell / Invisible Children, Inc., The White House / JosephyKony.ogvPhoto: Richard Assheton for The Sunday Times.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When an Oxbridge professor says his students are “functionally illiterate”, you know something is wrong. With reading levels in freefall and screentime rocketing, is the era of mass literacy over? In his wildly successful blog, James Marriot argues that three centuries after the reading revolution ignited democracy and modern science, we are now witnessing its great undoing. Where once we spent hours poring over books, contemplating complicated theories and ideas, we now scroll emotive, short form content. What effect is this major shift having on our brains? And are we are really at the dawn of the post-literate society?The Sunday Times wants to Get Britain Reading. With our campaign you can:• Donate to Bookbanks to put books in the hands of those most in need• Volunteer to read in schools with Coram Beanstalk• Above all, take our pledge to read for pleasure for at least ten minutes a day for the next six weeksRead more about the campaign.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: James Marriott, Times columnist.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Dave Creasey.Read more:The dawn of the post-literate societyI’m a digital native — can I survive without my smartphone?Photo: Chris McAndrew for The Times.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oz Pearlman has guessed Joe Rogan's pin number, freaked out Barack Obama, mind-read Howard Stern’s secret afterlife password and left Richard Branson staring into the middle distance. But behind the viral moments is a former Wall Street analyst who insists there’s nothing supernatural in what he does, just psychology, pattern-spotting and a lifetime spent decoding how people think. We dive into the real tricks of the world’s most in-demand "mentalist", the habits that power his $10m career, and why he says you can learn them too.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryWritten by: Michael Odell, interviewer and features writer.Read by: Micaela Arneson and Edward Drummond.Producer: Dave Creasey.Read more: The $10m mind-reader who spooked Barack Obama and Joe RoganClips: The Joe Rogan Experience, SiriusXM, AGT, TedX, GMA.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The inaugural conference of Jeremy Corbyn’s Your Party takes place this weekend. But what should have been the coronation of the left’s most potent new force has become a shambles. Will they get it together in time to prevent Zack Polanski’s Greens from sweeping up the left vote?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Harry Stott. Read more: Your Party civil war worsens before inaugural conferenceFurther listening: Why Britain’s left is radicalisingClips: New Statesman / Youtube, Zarah Sultana / Youtube, Times Radio, Channel 4, Canary / Youtube, ITV News, LBC, Socialist Telly / Youtube, Owen Jones / Youtube, Novara Media.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After weeks of trailing, flip-flopping, and media briefings, the government finally unveiled its budget. And while there were no real surprises, questions– both practical and existential– remain. Has Rachel Reeves done enough to save her and Keir Starmer’s jobs? And what will it mean for you, the listener? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Aubrey Allegretti, chief political correspondent, The Times, and Rachel Mortimer, deputy money editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.   Producer: Micaela Arneson. Read more: This budget may end up dooming Labour’s election chancesWhat does the budget mean for you?Further listening: The BusinessClips: BBC News, Channel 4 News, ITV News, Sky News, Parliament.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Of the thirteen sub-postmasters thought to have taken their own lives because of the Post Office scandal, only two have been named publicly. Michael Mann was one of them. Our reporter has spoken to his family, former partner and ex-colleagues to tell his story for the first time. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Hugo Daniel, news reporter, the Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Edward Drummond and Shabnam Grewal.Read more: The forgotten postmaster ‘hounded to death’ by investigators Further listening: The Post Office scandal: How a TV drama delivered justiceClips: ITV, Channel 4 News, ITV News, Horizon Inquiry. Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The prospect of peace in Ukraine may be edging closer, after the leak of a controversial 28-point plan to end the war prompted Ukrainian and Western officials to meet for ‘productive’ talks in Geneva. Is this the beginning of the end? And how does the latest proposal ensure that Russia will not invade again?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Mark Galeotti, Russia expert, writer, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Harry Stott, Micaela Arneson. Read more: Why Trump’s 28-point peace plan may just be a trap for UkraineFurther listening: The girl who was kidnapped by Russia - the Sunday StoryClips: Bloomberg, NBC, BBC, AP, Tucker Carlson / YouTube, Laura Logan / YouTube, Africanews. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A recent survey revealed that more than half of 16 to 34-year-olds have taken part in strangulation during sex, despite the risks of a loss of consciousness and stroke. Many feel a rise in choking in pornography is to blame, a practice the UK government is set to ban. Baroness Gabby Bertin has led an independent review which prompted the change in law.This programme contains descriptions of strangulation during sex. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Helen Puttick, reporter, The Times,Samantha Browne, campaigner and former adult performer and,Baroness Gabby Bertin, Conservative peer.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Alula Hart.Read more: Half of young adults have been choked during sex, survey finds Why the woman outlawing violent porn is just getting started Photo: Andrew Farrar for The Sunday Times.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Across the Deep South, women raised to believe marriage was their destiny are now walking out, challenging the religious, cultural and political pressures that have shaped their lives. Meanwhile, the booming 'trad wife' movement, championed by conservative powerhouses like the late Trump supporter Charlie Kirk, is attracting a whole new generation of young women to embrace home and hearth and marry young. So, why are more marriages ending in divorce in the deep south than they are across liberal America? Could it mean the trad wife tradition will end in divorce?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Louise Callaghan, US correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Dave Creasey.Read more: Meet the Deep South divorcees escaping life as trad wivesClips: NBC, esteecwilliams.Photo: Corey Arnold, The Times Magazine.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tilly Norwood, the world's first 'AI actress' has rocked Hollywood, sparking union protests and denounced by actors such as Whoopi Goldberg, George Clooney and Emily Blunt. For some she's a threat to the artform, for others an inevitability. She'll never forget her lines, turn up late or fall drunk out of a bar. Tilly can appear in multiple films at once and even change her appearance at will. But what does her creator say? Is she the future of cinema? Eline Van der Velden tells her side of the story, from the A-list backlash, to developing Tilly's personality.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHost: Tom Whipple, science correspondent, The Times.Producer: Dave Creasey.Read more: I invented the AI actress Tilly Norwood. She’s no threat to HollywoodClips: NBC, CBS, Fox News, Particle6.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The findings of the report into the political governance and decision making during the pandemic are damning about Boris Johnson’s government’s attempts to protect the public from the virus. Who was responsible for a “toxic and sexist culture” and who misled Downing Street?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Eleanor Hayward, health editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Harry Stott.Read more: Covid inquiry: eight key takeaways from the reportClips: UK Covid-19 Inquiry.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Trump has bowed to pressure from US lawmakers, including those in his own Republican party, to release files related to the investigation into the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. As leading MAGA figures start to rebel, we ask whether Trump has lost control over his base? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: George Grylls, Washington correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Producers: Micaela Arneson, Olivia Case. Read more: Marjorie Taylor Greene: Americans won’t tolerate Trump’s Epstein files ‘bulls***’Further listening: The new Epstein emails about TrumpClips: BBC, Sky, PBS, MS Now / YouTube, Democrats / Facebook, Fox. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an attempt to court the favour of the post-Assad regime in Syria, western countries have recently de-proscribed former terrorist groups. What does that mean for those who were deprived of their citizenship for allegedly associating with those groups, back when the West banned them?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Taryn Siegel.Read more: Rabies, Russians and a return to scene of my kidnap, 11 years ago.Further listening: Palmyra: Syria's past, present and future.Clips: The Guardian, CNN, The Times, France 24.Photo: Anthony Loyd for The Times.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood announced sweeping changes to the asylum rules yesterday; the largest overhaul since the Second World War. The changes have apparently been inspired by Denmark but will they work or are they - as one Labour MP said - ‘repugnant’?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Ben Clathworthy, Whitehall editor, The Times.Fraser Nelson, columnist, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Olivia Case, Micaela Arneson, Harry Stott. Read more: Shabana Mahmood speech: Asylum policy to cope with ‘volatile’ worldFurther listening: Doomed to fail? Labour’s asylum u-turnClips: Sky, Times Radio, parliamentlive.tv.Photo: Andrew Fox for The Sunday Times.Get in touch: [email protected] This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From this year, 18 year-old Danish women will have to take part in a conscription lottery and face potentially being called up for an 11 month military service. The country is just one of many in Europe aiming to improve military resilience in response to the growing threat from Russia. But what does it mean to the teenagers caught up on the front line of this debate?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Katie Gatens, commissioning editor of news review, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Edith Rousselot.Further Reading: Denmark's drive to conscript teenage girls: "We're pretty scared"Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the first time, scientists have successfully sequenced Adolf Hitler’s DNA, taken from a bloodstain in the bunker where he spent his final days. It's one of the most remarkable scientific studies in modern history, and the results are astonishing. They reveal a previously unknown medical condition, which finally uncovers the truth behind that famous wartime song, and resolve long-standing questions: Is Hitler of Jewish ancestry? Was he a schizophrenic? And what does his DNA tell us about evil?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Jack Blackburn, history correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Dave Creasey.Clips: Times Radio, NBC, Channel 4/Blink Films UK.Read more:- Hitler had hidden genetic sexual disorder, DNA analysis reveals- Sunken port may provide clue to Cleopatra and Mark Antony’s lost tombPhoto: Shaun Parkinson/Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Each episode is hosted by The Story released as a bonus weekly series on Saturdays. Andreia Pawel is co-founder of the Orange River-Karoo Conservation Area, one of the world’s most ambitious rewilding projects. Spanning more than a million hectares in Namibia, and with the support of the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, it aims to restore lost ecosystems, reintroduce species and work with local Nama communities to build a new model for conservation. She tells Adam Vaughan how, with bold ambitions, we can breathe new life into the natural world.Planet Hope is brought to you in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Guest: Andreia Pawel, conservationist and co-founder, Orange River-Karoo Conservation AreaHost: Adam Vaughan, environment editor, The TimesSeries producer: Priyanka DeladiaSound designer: David CracklesThis podcast is advertiser funded.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.

Negotiations at the annual global climate change conference, or COP, are in full swing. But with consensus on the issue collapsing at home and abroad, including the US withdrawing from the landmark Paris agreement, is there even any point in the summit? We ask the UK’s special representative for climate.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Professor Rachel Kyte, UK special representative for climate.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Harry Stott, Olivia Case.Read more: Ed Miliband: Cop30 will prove net zero doubters wrongFurther listening: Have we stopped caring about climate change?Clips: United Nations / YouTube, TRT World, DW News / YouTube, Yahoo / YouTube, ITV, SABC News, News X World.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thousands of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein have been released by the US House Oversight Committee. One email alleges Donald Trump 'knew about the girls'. While the White House argues a selective leaking of this correspondence has created a fake narrative, what does this release tell us about the relationship between the US President and the convicted paedophile? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Josie Ensor, chief US reporter, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Taryn Siegel.Clips: NBC News, Fox News.Further Reading: What Epstein said about Trump in newly released emailsFurther Listening: Can Trump shake his Epstein problem?Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, The Times broke the news that the International Olympic Committee is a step closer to banning transgender women from competing in all female events. So why is the IOC acting now? And could President Trump have anything to do with it? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Martyn Ziegler, chief sports reporter, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Micaela Arneson.Read more: Transgender women to be banned from all female Olympic eventsFurther listening: New rules for trans athletes: fairness or exclusion?Clips: Sky News, Bloomberg, Sports Insider by DRM / YouTube, CBS Evening News, Sky News Australia, Associated Press, Sky News Sports. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the resignations of two of its most senior members of staff, the BBC is being questioned over allegations of institutional bias. Donald Trump has threatened to sue the organisation, and with negotiations about the continuation of the BBC’s funding model underway, where does it leave our national broadcaster?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Rosamund Urwin, media editor, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Edward Drummond, Shabnam Grewal, Harry Stott.Clips: News.com.Au, Reuters, TalkTV, NBC News, Bloomberg News, GBNews, BBC News, Sky News, ITV News.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year, tech billionaire Mike Lynch was given a second chance at life when he was acquitted of criminal fraud charges. But while celebrating with friends and family aboard his yacht, a freak storm arose. Lynch, his daughter, and five others were tragically killed. This week, deliberations begin over how much compensation his estate owes to the company he defrauded. Payments which could lead to bankruptcy.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Katie Prescott, technology business editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Micaela Arneson. Further listening: The tragedy of Mike Lynch and the sunken yacht Clips: Danny in the Valley, BBC, LeadersIn, Black Thunder / YouTube, Charlie Rose. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the most watched TV show of the year, but The Traitors is much more than just entertainment: it’s a psychological experiment. How did a game, born out of Cold War Soviet roots, become a mirror of modern power, politics, and trust? Why do we value charm over logic? And can you ever really trust anyone? Not according to Times feature writer Helen Rumbelow.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestorySpoiler alert: Reveals the winner of the Celebrity Traitors from the start. Guest: Helen Rumbelow, feature writer and columnist, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Dave Creasey.Read more: The Traitors is rigged, just not how you think it isThe Celebrity Traitors final review — epic duplicity and backstabbingWho should be in series two of The Celebrity Traitors?Clips: BBC, Network 10.Photo: Cody Burridge/Studio Lambert/BBCThis 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 is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Each episode is hosted by The Story released as a bonus weekly series on Saturdays. Explorer and Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative partner Steve Boyes has spent decades navigating Africa’s wild rivers. He tells Adam Vaughan how illness and resilience has reshaped his outlook and why protecting rivers, landscapes and communities has become his life’s mission.Planet Hope is brought to you in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Guest: Steve Boyes, conservationist and National Geographic Explorer.Host: Adam Vaughan, environment editor, The TimesSeries Producer: Priyanka DeladiaSound Designer: David CracklesThis podcast is advertiser funded.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 year’s attack on a dance class in Southport killed three young girls and injured a further eight, as well as two adults. The teenager responsible, Axel Rudakubana, has since been sentenced to a minimum 52 years. But a public inquiry is still trying to understand whether it would have been possible to prevent the horrific event.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Constance Kampfner, northern correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Edward Drummond.Read more: Axel Rudakubana’s father ‘was too scared to challenge him’Southport killer’s brother ‘feared he would kill a family member’Clips: Southport Inquiry, Times Radio, The Times.Photo: Getty Images.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.

Almost 700,000 people are waiting to book their driving test in the UK, a record backlog which is being exploited by scammers. Our reporter Emma Kirwan found victims across the UK have already paid out more than £134,000 this year trying to book slots which don’t exist. So, she tracked down a scammer and got him on the phone.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Emma Kirwan, reporter, Times Radio. Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case.Clips: Times Radio.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel Reeves has paved the way for potential tax rises. In a speech three weeks before the budget, the chancellor refused to commit to Labour’s manifesto promise to not raise National Insurance, income tax or VAT. With Nigel Farage also back-pedalling on tax cuts, is it time for the politicians to be more honest about the state of the economy?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Oliver Wright, policy editor, The TimesHost: Manveen Rana.Producers: Shabnam Grewal, Alula Hart.Read more: Reeves: We must all do our bit to secure Britain’s futureFurther listening: Do bond markets rule the world?Clips: Sky News, The Guardian, Parliament TV, ITV Politics.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday evening, passengers on a train from Doncaster to London King’s Cross suddenly found themselves in the path of a man wielding a large kitchen knife. In the terrifying minutes that followed, there were scenes of horror and acts of bravery. So what happened, could the attack have been prevented, and can passenger safety be improved? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Izzy Lyons, reporter, The Sunday Times, Theo Usherwood, political reporter, Times Radio Host: Manveen RanaProducers: Micaela Arneson, Shabnam Grewal. Read more: What happened on the train in Huntingdon? How stabbing attack unfoldedClips: BBC News, BBC Breakfast, Channel 4 News, Parliament TV, Sky News, RTE News, Times Radio. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tomorrow is election day for the mayor of New York and the frontrunner is 34-year-old Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani. But are his plans to remake America's biggest city achievable - or a pipe dream? And how might he face off against President Trump?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Will Pavia, New York correspondent, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producers: Olivia Case, Sophie McNulty, Alula Hart.Clips: nnmaddox / YouTube, @amberyeet / TikTok, NBC, C-SPAN, zohran_k_mamdani / TikTok, Fox, Mr Cardamom / YouTube, Bernie Sanders / YouTube, @subwaytakes / TikTok, Forbes.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected]   This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gail Rice had given up on dating apps and was dreading old age. Then the psychologist had an idea — book a hotel room for a landmark birthday and pay a stranger to turn her on. Would it work?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryRead by: Olivia Case. Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Dave Creasey. Read more: My 70th birthday treat? I hired a male escortClips: Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Searchlight Pictures.Photo: Isabella Moore for The Times Magazine. Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Each episode is hosted by The Story released as a bonus weekly series on Saturdays. In Lausanne, Switzerland, neuroscientist and Rolex Awards Laureate Grégoire Courtine and neurosurgeon Jocelyne Bloch have pioneered a “digital bridge” that translates brain signals into spinal stimulation, giving people with paralysis new ways to regain movement. They tell Tom Whipple about the science behind the technology, the patients leading the way and their hopes for the future of movement recovery after paralysis.Planet Hope is brought to you in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Guest: Grégoire Courtine, Neuroscientist and co-founder of NeuroRestore.   Jocelyne Bloch, Neurosurgeon and co-founder of NeuroRestore. Suzanne Edwards, Patient at NeuroRestore. Host: Tom Whipple, Science Writer, The Times.Series Producer: Priyanka DeladiaSound Designer: David CracklesThis podcast is advertiser funded.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is from The Story's sister podcast The Royals.He will now be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. The man formerly known as Prince Andrew is being stripped of his titles and removed from his mansion, Royal Lodge, on the Windsor estate. Last month The Times obtained a copy of the leasehold agreement for Royal Lodge which showed that while the prince paid £1 million for the lease plus at least £7.5 million for refurbishments completed in 2005, he has paid “one peppercorn (if demanded)” in rent per year, since 2003. Andrew's links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, brought increasing public and political demands for action. It is a seismic moment in royal history – but is it enough? Presenter: Roya Nikkhah, royal editor, The Sunday Times.Contributors: Aubrey Allegretti, chief political correspondent,The Times and,George Greenwood, investigations reporter, The Times.Producers: Sophie McNulty, Priyanka Deladia, Robert Wallace, Stephen Titherington.Photo: Getty Images.Subscribe to The Royals podcast.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 January, one clinic in the UK has started prescribing the weight-loss medication Wegovy to 12-17 year-olds. For some, the results have been life-changing. But without evidence about the long-term impacts, is it safe?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Roisin Kelly, commissioning editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Taryn Siegel.Read more: The children taking Wegovy to turn their lives aroundFurther listening: Why weight loss drugs will change even more than you thinkPhoto: Times Media.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump has threatened 100% tariffs on Chinese goods, while Xi Jinping hit back with export limits on rare earth minerals. As the two leaders come face to face in South Korea to make a deal, the stakes are high.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Cindy Yu, columnist and contributing editor, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Edith Rousselot and Alula Hart. Clips: CBS News, CNBC, AP News, Bloomberg TV.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government has announced plans to move migrants out of hotels and into accommodation on military barracks. The same plan Labour opposed when put forward by the Conservatives in 2023. What’s behind the move and could it work? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Matt Dathan, home affairs editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Micaela Arneson. Read more: Asylum seekers to be housed in military sites instead of hotelsBillions ‘squandered on migrant hotels due to incompetence’Clips: Parliament, BBC, Times Radio, ITV, Getty Images. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eight years ago, French bloggers began to claim the President’s wife, Brigitte Macron, was born a man. As the false allegations spread internationally, the Macrons decided to take legal action. Yesterday, ten people appeared in a Paris court charged with cyberbullying and in the US, the right wing influencer Candace Owens faces a defamation suit. So where did this come from? And in a world of fake news, is there value in fighting for the truth?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Charles Bremner, Paris contributor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case and Micalea Arneson.Clips: De de / YouTube, NBC, CNN, France24, Engineering Science, Theo Von Clips, Candace Owens / YouTube, Daily Wire Plus, BFMTV.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The cyberattack which shut down Jaguar Land Rover for five weeks this summer, cost Britain nearly £2bn. It was just one of a series of attacks on big British businesses by teenage hackers who co-ordinate via the dark web. So who are they and how do we stop them? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Matilda Davies, data journalist at The Times and The Sunday Times andChris Stokel Walker, technology journalist. Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Shabnam Grewal.Read more: Who are the hackers behind the Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack? , Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack nears £2bn in UK’s costliest hackClips:  BBC News, 5 News, ITV News, TALK TV, CHANNEL 4 News.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been described as the 'crime of the decade'. In just seven minutes, masked thieves stole the French crown jewels in broad daylight, from the most visited museum in the world: the Louvre. How did they pull off their audacious plan and will they get away with it? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: David Chazan, Paris correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Dave Creasey. Read more: How the Louvre Heist UnfoldedClips: ITV News, Fox News, Sky News. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Each episode is hosted by The Story released as a bonus weekly series on Saturdays. Over a billion people live with preventable vision loss. Eye surgeon and Rolex Awards Laureate Andrew Bastawrous has created a smartphone app that is transforming eyecare, facilitating sight restoration for millions and changing lives. He tells Tom Whipple, how glasses – a 700-year-old invention – have transformed his own life, and why he’s determined no one should lose their sight for lack of access.Planet Hope is brought to you in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Guest: Andrew Bastawrous, eye surgeon and founder, Peek Vision.Host: Tom Whipple, science writer, The Times.Series Producer: Priyanka Deladia.Sound Designer: David Crackles.This podcast is advertiser funded.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.

Donald Trump announced sanctions on Russia’s two biggest oil companies, saying he hoped it may push Putin to be ‘reasonable’ over ending the Ukraine war. The EU swiftly followed suit, and discussed using seized Russian assets to help fund Ukraine. Could the financial pressure bring Russia’s economy– and Putin’s war ambitions– to its knees? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Maxim Tucker, Ukraine correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Micaela Arneson, Edith Rousselot. Read more: What do Trump’s sanctions on Russian oil mean for Ukraine war?Trump announces ‘tremendous’ new raft of sanctions against RussiaClips: Forbes, Associated Press, Times News. Photo: Getty ImagesGet in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump is promising to give Argentina $20 billion to save its struggling economy but only if incumbent President Javier Milei holds onto power in the midterm elections this weekend. So why does Trump care about a country 5,000 miles away? And is this part of a broader swing to the right across South America?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Stephen Gibbs, contributor, Latin America and the Caribbean, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case.Read more: Trump to Argentina voters: Back Javier Milei to get US billionsMaría Corina Machado wins Nobel peace prize — to fury of Trump’s teamFurther listening: Are Trump's strikes in Venezuela a 'war on drugs' - or a grab for oil? Clips: AP, Forbes, ABC, PBS, Vivo / YouTube, New York Post, The Guardian. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the night of September 9, sirens sounded across eastern Poland. Around 20 Russian drones had crossed the border, and NATO aircraft were scrambled to shoot them down. The incident became a wake-up call for Europe and the US, where further sightings of drones over airports and military facilities have since been reported. This week, defence secretary John Healey announced a plan to allow British troops to bring down drones over military bases. But the UK isn’t the only country taking this growing threat more seriously. So what’s Europe’s plan to fight Putin’s drones? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Oliver Moody, Berlin correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Micaela Arneson. Read more: Drones and balloons cause wave of panic in Nato countriesHow ‘state-sponsored’ drone activity is pushing Nato to brinkSoldiers will be given power to shoot down threatening dronesFurther listening: Putin’s drones, Nato’s fightback, and when is it war? https://pod.fo/e/3352cd Clips: NPR, 7 News, Sky News, Channel 4 News, BBC News.Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late last week, after new revelations about the relationship between the Duke of York and Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew was forced to relinquish his titles. His meeting with the King also followed the publication of extracts from the autobiography of Virginia Giuffre, which is released today. Giuffre accused Prince Andrew of sexual abuse, something he has always strongly denied. In recent days, there have been further questions about the prince's judgement and financial arrangements. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Katie Gatens, Commissioning Editor of News Review, The Sunday Times. George Greenwood, Investigations Reporter, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Edith Rousselot and Shabnam Grewal. Read more: ‘Tell us everything you saw, Andrew, for Virginia’s sake’Clips: BBC, Times Radio.Photo: Getty ImagesGet in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we bring you the first episode from The Times' new investigative series, The Poppy Day Bomb.On Remembrance Sunday in 1987, an IRA bomb went off in Mario Ledwith’s hometown of Enniskillen in Northern Ireland, which ultimately killed 12 people. A lifetime later, Mario returns to investigate the silence surrounding that terror attack.To make sure you don't miss the rest of the series, subscribe to the Poppy Day Bomb.Warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence that you may find upsetting.Host: Mario Ledwith, news reporter, The Times. Get in touch: [email protected]@thetimes.comConnect your Times subscription with Apple Podcasts and get episodes ad free and early.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 small Irish town of Tuam is home to one of Ireland's most shocking secrets. During the 20th century, thousands of children born out of wedlock were taken from their mothers, branded the 'children of sin' and sent to institutions run by nuns. At St Mary's, it’s claimed 800 died of preventable causes, their remains discarded. Now, following a decade-long campaign for justice, an excavation has begun. Will it finally uncover the truth? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryWARNING: This episode contains references to rape, and the deaths and mistreatment of babies and infants.Guest: Sean O’Neill, senior writer, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Dave Creasey.Clips: BBC, Sky News, The Journal, RTE, ABC, France24.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Each episode is hosted by The Story released as a bonus weekly series on Saturdays. Marine scientist Ben Fitzpatrick is fighting to protect the Ningaloo Coast and Exmouth Gulf – one of Earth’s last wild marine frontiers, home to whale sharks, dugongs, manta rays and vibrant coral reefs. Speaking with Adam Vaughan, he reflects on growing up in Western Australia and why safeguarding this rare ocean wilderness matters for future generations.Planet Hope is brought to you in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Guest: Ben Fitzpatrick, Marine Scientist and Mission Blue Hope Spot ChampionHost: Adam Vaughan, Environment Editor, The TimesSeries Producer: Priyanka DeladiaSound Designer: David CracklesThis podcast is advertiser funded.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 politically unstable times, the whims and worries of the global bond market are having a huge impact on what action governments around the world can take. So who are these people trading in government debt? And how did they get the power to leave so many governments so shaken and stirred?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Shabnam Grewal.Read more: IMF warns soaring debt levels threaten financial stabilityWhy bond markets rule the world (and give Rachel Reeves a lifeline)UK to have highest inflation rate of major economies, IMF saysClips: Bloombergtv, Eurodollar University, Stone X, Bloomberg Podcasts, Al Jazeera English, CNBC International Live.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.