Stories of our times

By The Times

News & Politics

What's Stories of our times about?

Coming soon - the best journalism from Britain’s most trusted newspaper, now as a podcast. Taking you to the heart of the story, with exclusive access and gripping reporting. A daily show, published first thing for the start of your working day. Stories of our times is hosted by Manveen Rana and David Aaronovitch.

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Northern Ireland: Who will ...

05.07.2021

Northern Ireland's first minister, DUP leader Arlene Foster, has stepped down. Who will take over the top job? And what could it mean for the future of Northern Ireland? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of ...

Stories of our times episodes:

05.07.2021 Northern Ireland: Who will replace first minister Arlene Foster? Northern Ireland's first minister, DUP leader Arlene Foster, has stepped down. Who will take over the top job? And what could it mean for the future of Northern Ireland? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of ...
05.06.2021 Apps changing how we date: Meet the founder of Bumble She cofounded Tinder in her twenties, then became the target of misogynistic trolling. Now her female-friendly dating app Bumble has made her one of the world’s wealthiest women aged just 31. How has Whitney Wolfe Herd changed the way we ...
05.05.2021 What does the Hartlepool by-election mean for Johnson and Starmer? On Thursday the 6th May, voters in Hartlepool will elect the first new MP since Boris Johnson and the Conservatives’ landslide victory in 2019. With polling showing the Tories on course to win the seat from Labour - what can ...
05.04.2021 President Biden's grand plan: The new Roosevelt? President Joe Biden has proposed some of the most expansive and expensive economic reforms in America in recent political memory. He’s been keen to paint himself as a 21st century Franklin D. Roosevelt. How apt is that comparison? Will he ...
05.03.2021 Corrupt cops and the journalists risking all in the line of duty After a groundbreaking investigation carried out by The Times back in the 1960s, an anti-corruption police unit was set up to investigate corruption in the Metropolitan police force. How did they do it? This podcast was brought to you thanks ...
04.30.2021 Anatomy of a No 10 scandal They're calling it the 'cash for cushions' scandal. How did the refurbishment of the prime minister's flat snowball out of control? And what lies ahead for Boris Johnson? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers ...
04.29.2021 The curious case of Sweden (revisited) During the coronavirus pandemic, Sweden’s approach has been different to most western European nations. But a year on, how have the Swedes fared, and did their government let them walk into a second wave? This podcast was brought to you ...
04.28.2021 Mystery: The children who won't wake up Hundreds of children have succumbed to a mystery illness that can keep them in a sleeplike state for years and scientists are stumped. What does it feel like to sleep for months? And how do you treat the children who ...
04.27.2021 The rise of crypto art: Power to the Beeple In March, one digital art creation titled: "Everydays: The First 5000 Days" by artist Beeple, sold for a groundbreaking $69.3 million. What is digital art and why has it taken the world by storm? This podcast was brought to you ...
04.26.2021 Dispatch from El Paso: Crisis at the border President Donald Trump came to power promising to "build a wall." Throughout his term there was turmoil at the border. When Joe Biden took office, he vowed to change course and offer a more humane approach. But with record numbers ...
04.23.2021 David Cameron and the toxic banker (Pt 3): A pay app for the NHS The collapse of a financial company, Greensill Capital, has brought to light how former prime minister, David Cameron, had privately lobbied senior figures in government. Emails provide details of how Cameron used his contacts to partner the firm he was ...
04.22.2021 George Floyd: The Derek Chauvin trial - journey to an historic verdict On Tuesday, the former police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis last May. What does the verdict mean for racial equality and policing in the United States? This podcast was brought to ...
04.21.2021 Jordan: A very British history and a royal family feud Almost exactly a century ago, the state of Jordan was created with the help of the British. Now, the Hashemite Royal Family in Jordan have found themselves in the middle of a family crisis that could have major repercussions for ...
04.20.2021 Covid-19: The unlikeliest of opportunities The Covid-19 pandemic has caused global disruption and changed so many of our lives forever. Today we look at cases in which lockdown has presented individuals with the rarest of opportunities. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the ...
04.19.2021 The Oxfam scandal in the Democratic Republic of Congo An investigation by The Times has brought to light allegations of bullying, sexual harassment, exploitation and assault at Oxfam International's mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. What happens when people delivering aid to a country in need become part ...
04.16.2021 Inside EncroChat: The criminal chat app Last summer, a hack of EncroChat phones by police forces led to the arrest of criminals involved in gangs, drugs and weapons across Europe. Who were those swept up in one of the biggest police operations of all time and ...
04.15.2021 Fire on the streets of Northern Ireland Tensions have erupted in Northern Ireland once again, as leaders attempt to preserve a long-standing peace deal in the region. Twenty-three years after the Good Friday Agreement, why does peace in Northern Ireland seem so precarious and what happens next? ...
04.14.2021 Vaccine passports and data privacy Last week it was announced by the government that so-called vaccine passports could be rolled out across the country to help ease lockdown measures. But should we be worried about what this might lead to? This podcast was brought to ...
04.13.2021 Britain's race report: What went wrong? At the end of last month, we saw the release of the Race and Ethnic disparities report, it was controversial and many called into question its integrity. Today we dissect it. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the ...
04.12.2021 David Cameron and the toxic banker (Pt 2): Collapse and aftermath The financier Lex Greensill enjoyed privileged access to No 10 – and dragged former PM David Cameron into a scandal. In this second instalment, we speak to one of the Sunday Times journalists who exposed the story and chart how ...
04.09.2021 Philip: The tale of the lost Prince The longest serving royal consort has passed away after seven decades of steadfast support of our monarch. Today we take you to the moment his wife, Queen Elizabeth the second, learnt she would take over as Great Britain's Head of ...
04.09.2021 David Cameron and the toxic banker (Pt 1): The rise of Lex Greensill The financier Lex Greensill enjoyed privileged access to No 10 – and dragged former PM David Cameron into a scandal. In the first of two episodes we speak to one of the Sunday Times journalists who exposed the story, charting ...
04.08.2021 Free speech on campus The government is proposing new laws that will allow academics, students or visiting speakers the power to sue universities for compensation, if they feel they've been censored or if their free speech is somehow restricted. The announcement has been controversial, ...
04.07.2021 Investigation: The leaseholders hung out to dry Not many feelings come close to the thrill of getting your foot on the property ladder after months of mortgages, solicitors and surveys. But what happens when things start to go wrong? The Sunday Times has been investigating an insurance ...
04.06.2021 Britain's overflowing cemeteries: How to solve a grave problem There's a looming crisis in the cemeteries of Britain: many of them are running out of space. How have we got here and what can we do about it? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of ...
04.05.2021 Three incredible tales of scientific progress Extraordinary scientific advances have taken place over the past year both because of Covid and despite it. Today we bring you three tales of human ingenuity you might have missed – and, for a change, nothing but good news. This ...
04.02.2021 The Suez Canal: What happened when a ship got stuck? After the Ever Given vessel was freed earlier this week, the world breathed a huge sigh of relief. But what does this incident tell us about international trade and globalisation? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support ...
04.01.2021 The Covid superstitions putting people with albinism at risk In sub-Saharan Africa, people with albinism – those born without pigmentation in their skin, hair and eyes – have long been discriminated against and even hunted for their body parts, which are thought to hold magical healing powers. And during ...
03.31.2021 Police, protest and Priti Patel Tensions between the police and communities across the UK are at an all time high. One woman is behind the push to increase police powers. Who is Priti Patel and what's her plan for Britain? This podcast was brought to ...
03.30.2021 The rape culture crisis in Britain's elite private schools Around the country, girls who have suffered in silence for years at some of England's top schools are finally speaking out about the sexual abuse they've encountered. A stream of hundreds of harrowing stories has emerged. How was this ever ...
03.29.2021 Peer pressure: Time for change in the House of Lords? Is it time to rethink the way British democracy works and reform the upper chamber of parliament? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get ...
03.26.2021 British cycling: A doctor, drugs & a scandal Last week the former Team GB and Team Sky doctor Richard Freeman was struck off the medical register after being found guilty of ordering a banned substance “knowing or believing” it was to dope a rider in 2011. This podcast ...
03.25.2021 Revisiting old friends after a year of Covid This week marks a year since the Covid lockdown began. Every aspect of our daily life has been affected and more than 146,000 people have died of the virus in the UK. In today's episode, we check in with old ...
03.24.2021 Dog theft: Inside the canine crime epidemic Throughout the pandemic, demand for dogs has soared, and thieves have taken note. Dog theft has skyrocketed over the last year with criminal gangs cashing in. How are they getting away with it? And what can be done to stop ...
03.23.2021 General Sir Nick Carter on the threats facing Britain Yesterday the government published new plans for the future of the military. Manveen Rana speaks to the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter, about the changing face of war and Britain's future place in the world. This ...
03.22.2021 Prince William: Repairing the crown's image Almost ten years ago, the world watched as a future king got married. Now, after a bombshell interview, things couldn't feel further removed from that day when the royal family basked in the world's positive attention. How is Prince William ...
03.19.2021 The food critic behind Italy’s deadliest terrorist attack Federico Umberto D’Amato, the former spy who created the country’s culinary bible, is accused of being behind the 1980 Bologna atrocity. Could this decades old mystery finally be solved? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of ...
03.18.2021 The lost children: How school closures hit the most vulnerable kids Last week schools in England reopened after months of shutdown due to the pandemic, but has keeping kids out of the classroom come at a social greater cost than we realise? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the ...
03.17.2021 Sarah Everard: How her vigil galvanised a movement On Saturday night the Metropolitan Police arrested four people at a vigil for Sarah Everard. What went wrong that night? And what does it mean for the police and for women's rights? This podcast was brought to you thanks to ...
03.16.2021 The invisible epidemic of eating disorders in Britain Content warning: this episode contains discussion of eating disorders and mentions of suicidal thoughts. At times during the pandemic, it's felt like diet and exercise - or at least worrying about them - has become a national obsession. But what ...
03.15.2021 Hunting the COVID-19 variants New variants of COVID-19 have caused spikes in infections around the world and rang alarm bells about vaccine resistance. We speak to two scientists tracking mutant strains of the virus. How are these variants discovered? And just how dangerous are ...
03.13.2021 What if bitcoin hits $1 million? Bitcoin is surging. Last month, it surpassed $50,000 per coin, and big institutions are buying in alongside retail investors. The new frenzy has started, partially due to Elon Musk's Tesla announcing its purchase of $1.5 billion worth of Bitcoin. So, ...
03.12.2021 Failures of State: The origins of Covid-19 (Pt 3) In the final part of our Failures of State series, the Sunday Times Insight team take David Aaronovitch on a hunt for answers. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The ...
03.11.2021 The fallout in Scotland: What now for the SNP? For more than a decade Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon were the dream team that dominated Scottish politics, leading the charge for Scottish independence. But damning accusations have brought the pair into the spotlight. And with elections for Scottish parliament ...
03.10.2021 Meghan and Harry v The Firm In a bombshell world exclusive interview, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, sat down with Oprah Winfrey and talked at lengths about reasons for their departure from the Royal Family. What's the future for the couples relationship with the ...
03.09.2021 Failures of State: How Britain made the same mistake twice (Pt 2) In the second of three episodes this week, the Sunday Times Insight team explains how Britain unleashed a second disastrous wave of the virus despite repeated warnings from experts. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of ...
03.08.2021 Failures of State: The inside story of Britain’s battle with coronavirus (Pt 1) Last year, a Sunday Times investigation exposed failures at the top of government which may have cost thousands of lives. Now the team behind those revelations has written the first major book telling the inside story of Britain's battle with ...
03.07.2021 An exclusive interview with the fake heiress Anna Delvey What happened when Laura Pullman met the newly released Anna Delvey (AKA Sorokin) for The Sunday Times? Anna is a modern day Gatsby who scammed New York’s high society and ended up in prison. This podcast was brought to you ...
03.05.2021 The Spider in the Web: The Hans Globke Story (Pt 2) Today: from Nazi bureaucrat to the architect of modern Germany. In the second episode of this two-part investigation, we look at the power Hans Globke held during the rebuilding of modern Germany and the extent to which he was protected. ...
03.04.2021 The Spider in the Web: The Hans Globke Story (Pt 1) Who was Hans Globke? In part one of this two-part investigation, we meet the German lawyer in the Nazi regime who helped to lay the legal basis for the Holocaust and then came back to build the foundations of modern ...

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