The Story

From oil spills to climate change, penguins are on the frontline of environmental change. Pablo García Borboroglu has spent more than three decades rescuing colonies, moving shipping lanes, and protecting over 32 million acres of penguin habitat. He joins Adam Vaughan to share what it takes to keep these charismatic seabirds alive in a rapidly changing world.

Planet Hope is a podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Throughout 2025, each episode was hosted by The Story.

Host: Adam Vaughan, Environment Editor, The Times. 

Guest: Pablo García Borboroglu, Founder of the Global Penguin Society and Rolex Award Laureate. 

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.

On this special Christmas Day episode we have an exclusive, brand-new story from acclaimed author, and former CIA analyst, David McCloskey. Commissioned for The Sunday Times Review, it's read for us by the author.

Before she met Painter, before the CIA came calling, Natalie Perkins had no secrets, only followers, likes, and a hope of online fame. But now, 'retired' from the spotlight and living quietly in Nebraska, Natalie holds a secret that could change everything. When Painter reappears, Natalie is thrust back into a world of espionage and deception.

Read by: David McCloskey.

Producer: Dave Creasey.

Photo: Tom Barnes for Sunday Times Magazine.

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.

When James Coney's son Charlie missed milestone after milestone, he knew something wasn't right. It would take 12 years before one phone call would change their lives. They learned that, not only was there finally an answer, but Charlie's DNA had been used as part of a huge scientific breakthrough.

This episode was first published in February.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: James Coney, News Projects Editor, The Sunday Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Taryn Siegel.

Photo: Times Media Ltd.

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.

Recreational use of the Class B drug ketamine doubled in 2024. A Sunday Times investigation has looked into where it's coming from and why it's so hard to police.

This episode was first published in April.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Katie Gatens, Commissioning Editor, The Sunday Times News Review.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Olivia Case.

Further reading: One gram of ketamine and its 4,000-mile journey to the UK. 

Further listening: The truth behind the drama Adolescence

If you or someone you know needs drugs help or advice, visit talktofrank.com

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.

You probably don't need reminding how much of a mess our prisons are at the moment - run-down, overcrowded and sometimes with a revolving door for prisoners who reoffend. One of the charities supported by this year’s Times and Sunday Times Christmas appeal is Switchback, who’ve had great success at helping ex-offenders to ‘go straight’ when they leave prison.

For more information on this year’s Christmas Appeal and to donate, visit https://times.ctdonate.org/ 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guests: 

• Hamza - Former prisoner helped by Switchback
• Daisy Eastlake, reporter, The Times.      

Host: Luke Jones.

Producer: Shabnam Grewal.

Read more: 

• Switchback is a lifeline for young prisoners
• After jail, yoga helped me realise I was not in danger any more 

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.

In this emotionally resonant end of year episode, we take a deep dive into some of most iconic figures we lost in 2025. From the beloved British actress Dame Patricia Routledge, famed for her incredible performance as Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances, to the pioneering primatologist, Jane Goodall, whose groundbreaking research at Gombe Stream transformed our understanding of chimpanzees and inspired generations of scientists and environmentalists.

Host: Anna Temkin, deputy obituaries editor of The Times.

Producer: Dave Creasey.

Clips: BBC, National Geographic, CNN, Josefa`s Thoughts, TPM TV, Fox, ABC, CBS, BritBox.

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.

It's the weekend before Christmas and millions of people around the world are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Father Christmas. For many, it's feels like he's always been there, but where exactly did he come from? Turns out, it's been a pretty wild ride for Old Saint Nick, one that involves prostitution in the 3rd century, pagan winter feasting, and even the creation of New York City. And what if it transpires the loveable, jolly figure we know today, was formally a thin, wayward drunk? It's the origin story you thought you knew, one that spans thousands of years of history, and countless reinventions. How well do we really know St. Nicholas of Myra, Sinterklaas or Kris Kringle?

Written by: Waldemar Januszczak, Chief art critic of The Sunday Times.

Read by: Shabnam Grewal.

Producer: Dave Creasey.

Photo: Getty

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.

Married mother of two Kristin Cabot speaks for the first time about being caught on a kisscam embracing her married boss, Andy Byron, at a Coldplay concert. The video went viral as people wrongly suspected adultery between a tech CEO and his head of HR, drawing online mockery, abuse and threats. In a Times exclusive, our chief US reporter Josie Ensor interviewed Cabot to ask her side of the story.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Josie Ensor, chief US reporter, The Times.

Producers: Harry Stott, Sophie McNulty.

Read more: Coldplay kisscam HR boss Kristin Cabot on 16 seconds that ruined her life

Clips: ABC7, The Tonight Show / Jimmy Fallon / NBC, 9 News Australia, MBC News, NBC News.

Photo: Lucy Lu for The 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.

Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead last Sunday. His son has been charged with their murder. It’s seen an outpouring of emotion from Hollywood and across the world, but one person’s response was less than complimentary: Donald Trump. So what does the President’s latest incursion into Hollywood politics mean for the movie industry?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guests:

• Hadley Freeman, columnist and features writer, The Times.
• Kevin Maher, chief film critic, The Times.

Host: Rosie Wright.

Producers: Harry Sott, Olivia Case.

Read more: Rob Reiner just wanted a happy home

Rob Reiner’s five best movies ranked, from Spinal Tap to Misery

Clips: When Harry Met Sally / Rob Reiner / Columbia Pictures; This is Spinal Tap / Rob Reiner / Embassy Pictures; A Few Good Men / Rob Reiner / Columbia Pictures; Being Charlie / Rob Reiner / Paladin; Build Series / Youtube, Film Courage / Youtube; PBS Newshour.

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.

This week, MI6 and the UK military issued a stark warning: Britain is already on the front line against Russia. And Moscow’s tactics – from drone warfare to cyber attacks and sowing disinformation – are growing more sophisticated and aggressive. But is the UK taking the threat seriously enough? A former British army general explains what conflict with Russia would look like and how the UK should prepare.  

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: General Sir Richard Barrons, former Commander of Joint Forces Command.

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Producers: Micaela Arneson and Taryn Siegel. 

Read more: To repel Putin, Britain and Europe must be ready to punch back hard

Military head: Britons must be ready to fight as Russian threat grows

Further listening: A continent prepares for war. Here's how it's done

Clips: The Mirror, 10 News, BBC, LBC, Netflix / A House of Dynamite.

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.