One year ago, on August, 15, 2021, the capital city of Afghanistan, Kabul fell into Taliban control amidst the U.S.’s withdrawal after 20 years of occupation in the country. Democracy had failed in Afghanistan. As the entire world watched, Afghans raced to escape the country, risking their safety and lives.

The new podcast Kabul Falling recounts the story of how Kabul fell, told by Afghans who lived through it; some who escaped, some who were left behind.

We speak with British-Afghan journalist Nelufar Hedayat, the host of Kabul Falling.