July 08, 2025

The Chernobyl Disaster: What Really Happened at 01:23:40 on April 26th, 1986

1 hour 24 minutes

In this episode of the Compendium, we’re exploring the Chernobyl disaster, the catastrophic nuclear accident that occurred at precisely 01:23:40 on April 26, 1986. We’ll explore the events leading up to the explosion of Reactor 4, examining the know design flaws of the RBMK reactor and the critical decisions that precipitated the meltdown.

W’ll also look at the heroic efforts of the Chernobyl liquidators, the scientists and workers who risked their lives to contain the disaster, and the pivotal role of Valery Legasov in uncovering the truth behind the incident. Its also a gnarly episode where we go into some of the effect Radiation exposure had on the victims and the surrounding environment, today this one is a doozy!

We give you just the Compendium, but if you want more, here are our resources:

Chernobyl Disaster Overview - World Nuclear Association

Valery Legasov: - All That's Interesting

Horrifying Photos of Chernobyl - CBS News

Chernobyl Tv Series 2019 - HBO

Host & Show Info

Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox

About: Kyle and Adam are more than just your hosts, they’re your close friends sharing intriguing stories from tales from the darker corners of true crime, the annals of your forgotten history books, and the who's who of incredible people.

Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin

Community & Calls to Action

⭐ Review & follow on: Spotify & Apple Podcasts

📸 Follow us on Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast

🌐 Visit us at: TheCompendiumPodcast.com

❤️ Early access episodes: Patreon

📤 Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

...more