The Story

Every Monday this August, we're looking back at some of the stories from the past year that have stuck with us.

With the Taliban now in control of Afghanistan, we return to the agreement between the US and the Taliban last February that sowed the seeds for what followed. Today we revisit a prescient May 2020 conversation with Times foreign correspondent Anthony Loyd, and our August 2020 interview with Afghanistan's recently deposed president.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: 

- Anthony Loyd, foreign correspondent, The Times. 

- Ashraf Ghani, former president of Afghanistan, 2014-2021.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: Channel 4 News, BBC, CNN.

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.

Attempts at conversion therapy are taking place across the country: in village churches, Harley Street clinics and counsellors’ treatment rooms. 

In this third episode of a seven-part series, reporter Emily Sargent speaks to survivors and campaigners about the extremely secretive practice.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:

Switchboard provides an information, support and referral service for anyone who needs to consider issues around their sexuality.

Phone: 0300 330 0630 (10am-10pm).

Samaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provide a safe place to talk 24 hours a day.

Phone: 116 123

Guests: 

Justin Beck, conversion therapy survivor.

Maya, conversion therapy survivor.

Matt Mahmood-Ogston, founder, Naz and Matt Foundation.

Host: Emily Sargent, journalist.

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 drank our way through lockdown and now we’re back on the razz – doing what we’ve done to let our hair down since ancient times. But why is booze such an intrinsic part of British life? 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Josh Glancy, special correspondent, The Sunday Times.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Clips: BBC News, ITV News, Sky News, Asda, C-SPAN, RT.

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.

Did the World Health Organisation miss its chance to stop Covid-19? More than a year and a half into the pandemic, we're no closer to a definitive answer on the origins of the virus. In this episode, The Sunday Times Insight investigation team exposes China's ten-year campaign to seize power within the World Health Organisation, and the impact that had on the scale of the pandemic. 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: 

-Jonathan Calvert, editor, Sunday Times Insight.

-George Arbuthnott, deputy editor, Sunday Times Insight.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: PBS, AAP, NBC, France 24, WHO.

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 the Taliban takes power in Afghanistan, we follow one former interpreter for American and British troops who is trying to escape the country – and speak to the retired major general trying to help his friend to safety.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

- Ahmadzai, former interpreter for British and American forces in Afghanistan.

- Charlie Herbert, retired British Army major general.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: BBC, CBS, NBC, CNN.

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.

Each Monday this August, we're looking back at some of the stories from the past year that stuck with us.

In June 2020, with the world's attention on the pandemic, Hong Kong’s freedoms were under threat as the Chinese government imposed a draconian new security law. Now, the city is experiencing its largest exodus since records began. 

We revisit our interviews with two of Hong Kong's leading pro-democracy activists, and find out what they did next.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

- Didi Tang, Beijing correspondent, The Times.

- Emily Lau, former member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council.

- Nathan Law, pro-democracy activist.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: CNBC, BBC News, Sky News, CNN, CBS.

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.

Attempts at conversion therapy are taking place across the country: in village churches, Harley Street clinics and counsellors' treatment rooms. 

In this second episode of a seven-part series, reporter Emily Sargent goes undercover to explore the extremely secretive practice. 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:

Switchboard provides an information, support and referral service for anyone who needs to consider issues around their sexuality.

Phone: 0300 330 0630 (10am-10pm).

Samaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provide a safe place to talk 24 hours a day.

Phone: 116 123

Guests: 

- Suzi Ruffell, stand-up comedian; host, Out with Suzi Ruffell.

- Dr Rohit Dasgupta, University of Glasgow.

Host: Emily Sargent, journalist.

Clips: Core Issues Trust, X-OUT-LOUD Europe, 10 Downing Street.

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.

How did we arrive at such a sophisticated understanding of climate change, and yet still end up on the edge of disaster?

Today: how 165 years of science and politics led to the United Nations declaring 'code red for humanity' this week – and why the story very nearly turned out differently.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Dr Alice Bell, author of Our Biggest Experiment: A History of the Climate Crisis.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Clips: BBC, Sky News, CNN, DW News, Al Jazeera, ABC News, ITN, Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Margaret Thatcher Foundation, WJW-TV8 Cleveland, CBS, Shell, ExxonMobil, Competitive Enterprise Institute.

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.

You might think the UK would be a safe place for journalists, but investigative reporters in this country can face threats, lawsuits and intimidation. And now, the Home Office is proposing changes to the Official Secrets Act that would make the climate for journalists - and their sources - even more stifling. If passed, the legislation could open them up to prosecution.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: 

- Sean O'Neill, chief reporter for The Times. 

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: CSPAN, Sky News, CNN, BBC News.

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 Wednesday 22 March 2017, police officer Kris Aves sustained life changing injuries in the Westminster Bridge terror attack.

Today, he tells us how, despite no longer being able to walk, he's found renewed hope in his life through golf, using a special contraption called a Paragolfer.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests: 

- Kris Aves, Metropolitan police officer.

- Cae Menai-Davis, Director and Founder of The Golf Trust.

Host: David Walsh, Chief sports writer at The Sunday Times.

Clips: TalkSPORT, ITV and Al Jazeera.

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.