It's the trial rocking France's intelligence service. Two guards who had always dreamt of going under cover were allegedly tricked into a plot to kill a ‘Mossad agent’, who was nothing of the sort. It's an unbelievable tale of freemasons, fake missions - and real violence, where personal grudges are dressed up as matters of national security.
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: Adam Sage, Paris correspondent, The Times. Host: Rosie Wright.Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Freemasons, bored spies and a murder-for-hire scandal at France’s MI6Photo: 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.

For millions of people, Disney was a huge part of their childhood. But, for a great number of people that love never went away, and today, it's those people who have become central to Disney’s bottom line. They are the so called “Disney adults”. But their world isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, it's a passionate subculture marked by competition, criticism - and high costs.
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
Read by: Julia Webster and Sophie McNulty. Producer: Dave Creasey. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: ‘Next-level scary’: inside the ultra-competitive world of Disney adultsClips: Disney. 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.

As the war with Iran rumbles on, are ceasefire talks back on or is that ‘fake news’? What’s in America’s 15 point peace plan? Could an Iranian missile reach the UK? And how long can Iran keep fighting? Hosts Manveen Rana and Luke Jones are here to answer your questions, in our monthly Q&A. 
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
Hosts: Manveen Rana and Luke Jones. Producer: Olivia Case.
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Iran war latest: US ‘negotiating with itself’, Tehran claimsFurther listening: Inside Lebanon as Israel and Hezbollah wage warPhoto: Getty Images and The Times' designer Dana Chan.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.

The US has bombed Venezuela and abducted its President, Nicolás Maduro. But why did Donald Trump do it? And with Maduro now in New York awaiting trial, what’s next for his country?
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: Louise Callaghan, US correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Harry Stott.Read more: Why has Trump attacked Venezuela now? A history of US interventionFurther listening: Are Trump's strikes in Venezuela a 'war on drugs' - or a grab for oil?Clips: The White House / X, Guardian News / Youtube. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

Longevity science has been trying to unlock the mysteries of ageing for years; it’s spawned a multi-billion dollar global industry of supplements, anti-ageing regimens, exercise, and more. But what actually works and what’s just hokum?
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: Peta Bee, health and wellbeing writer for The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones. Producer: Micaela Arneson. Read more: 15 easy ways to live longer (and four things you should stop now)Clips: PioneerWorksVideo, Jay Shetty Podcast, @waywemove / YouTube, ABC Science, WCNC, Bodybuilding.com, KTLA 5, Jessica Carroll / YouTube. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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 2025 China continued to flourish. Despite the tariffs, it hit a record trade surplus of over $1 trillion, Chinese companies like DeepSeek took on the US tech giants and the country leveraged its soft power on social media sites like RedNote. With economic, technological and diplomatic might, will China try to take on America as the foremost global superpower in 2026? Or does its ruling party have another plan in mind?
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: Cindy Yu, columnist and contributing editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case. Clips: AP, @TheHumnitarian-gph / YouTube, CNBC, CGTN, Bloomberg, @ChemOutsourcingOfficial, @ChinaUncensored / YouTube, NBC, BBC, @CBC News, @TinaSourcing / YouTube, RedNote / Anzu Baibai. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

Millions of us now use AI daily, asking the likes of ChatGPT and Gemini to help with tasks like writing emails or designing logos. But as AI increasingly becomes part of our lives, our Silicon Valley expert predicts this year will see a significant push back against its influence. 
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: Danny Fortson, US West Coast correspondent, The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones. Producer: Edward Drummond. Read more: Why Sam Altman declared ‘code red’ at OpenAI — and how to fix it Further listening: The Times Tech Podcast Clips: Global News, WXYZ-TV, WHAS11, 11 Alive, CBS News, More Perfect Union, Times Tech Summit. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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 the years since Omar al-Bayoumi was released by British police, new evidence has come to light which was not shared with the officers carrying out his interrogation. Today, he stands accused of being a Saudi agent who helped the terrorists who carried out 9/11, something he has always denied.
This is part three of a three-part special investigative series, first published in September.
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: Amardeep Bassey, journalist, The Sunday Times.Host: Taryn Siegel. Producer: Taryn Siegel.Sound designer: Tiffany Dimmack.Read more: Revealed after 24 years, how UK was forced to free 9/11 ‘plotter’Clips: Metropolitan Police Services.Photo: Tony Bell.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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 September 21, 2001, Omar al-Bayoumi was arrested in Birmingham on suspicion of the preparation, instigation or commission of acts of terrorism. Police would have seven days before they would need to charge, extradite, or release him. Over the next week of questioning, there would be extraordinary revelations -- but also leads not followed, and crucial information not shared. So what went wrong? 
This is part two of a three-part special investigative series, first published in September.
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: Amardeep Bassey, journalist, The Sunday Times.Host: Taryn Siegel. Producer: Taryn Siegel.Read more: Revealed after 24 years, how UK was forced to free 9/11 ‘plotter’Clips: Metropolitan Police Services.Photo: Tony Bell.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

Was there another man involved in plotting the 9/11 terrorist attacks that killed thousands in 2001? And why did British police, acting on the instructions of American law enforcement, let him go?
This is part one of a three-part special investigative series, first published in September.
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: Amardeep Bassey, journalist, The Sunday Times.Host: Taryn Siegel. Producer: Taryn Siegel.Read more: Revealed after 24 years, how UK was forced to free 9/11 ‘plotter’Clips: Metropolitan Police Services, CBS News, NBC News.Photo: Tony Bell.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

Romance fraud is at an all time high, low-hanging fruit in the growing world of online scams. But what are the methods? Who falls for it? And are there ways we can all avoid it?
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
Guests: 

• Mary Chater, romance fraud victim
• Alexis Conran, TV and radio presenter

Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Edith Rousselot.Further reading: The Times's Crime and Justice Commission - The justice system is in crisis. We spent a year finding solutionsClips: The Real Hustle Youtube channel, Still Watching Netflix Youtube channel. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

Japanese ‘kidults’ revolutionised pop culture in the 90s and 00s, turning to their inner children to cope with economic crisis and post-industrial societal ills, despite being ridiculed. As the milestones of adulthood - property, marriage and careers - become increasingly difficult for millennials and Gen Z to achieve - are westerners now turning to ‘kidulting’ to find answers? 
This episode was first published in March.
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: Matt Alt, author of Pure Invention: How Japan Made the Modern World.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Sam Chantarasak.Further listening: 

• Studio Ghibli: Is this the end for the Japanese studio that inspired Pixar?
• The South Korean culture machine that conquered the world

Clips: SEGA, Pokémon Theme/POKEMON, MSNBC, CNN, AJ+, Sony, PlayStation, CBS, SXSW, TikTok/@otakuintokyo, TikTok/@kaitlyneats, Your Name/dir. Makoto Shinkai/CoMix Wave Films/Toho.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com.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.

A year ago Times columnist James Marriott ditched his smartphone to escape the endless notifications from his apps. How has he managed without a device many of us feel is indispensable? And could it be a more desirable future?
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 Marriott, Columnist, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Producer: Edward Drummond.Further reading: I’m a digital native — can I survive without my smartphone?Photo: Jude Edginton for The Times Magazine.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com  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 the final episode of our county lines series, we hear how county lines drug gangs are continuing to shift their business model to avoid detection. Policing minister, Sarah Jones, explains how the government is planning to fight back. Plus, The Times’ crime editor David Woode sits down with The Sunday Times’ northern editor David Collins to discuss what they've learnt about the inner workings of county lines gangs.
This is episode five of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing, running in audio, video, print and digital from The Times and The Sunday Times.
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
Host: David WoodeProducers: Kate Lamble, Edward Drummond, and Taryn SiegelWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com
Read more: I joined the police on a county lines crackdownPhoto: 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.

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 CracklesThis 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: thestory@thetimes.com 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 AdolescenceIf you or someone you know needs drugs help or advice, visit talktofrank.comPhoto: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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: GettyThis 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 lifeClips: ABC7, The Tonight Show / Jimmy Fallon / NBC, 9 News Australia, MBC News, NBC News.Photo: Lucy Lu for The TimesGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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 homeRob Reiner’s five best movies ranked, from Spinal Tap to MiseryClips: 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: thestory@thetimes.com
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 hardMilitary head: Britons must be ready to fight as Russian threat growsFurther listening: A continent prepares for war. Here's how it's doneClips: The Mirror, 10 News, BBC, LBC, Netflix / A House of Dynamite.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

Mike started selling drugs for a county lines gang when he was just a teenager. After being arrested and getting stabbed, he left that life behind. But he's been willing to share his experiences with The Times’ crime editor David Woode for the first time, explaining how he got caught 'under a spell'.  
This is episode four of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing, running in audio, video, print and digital from The Times and The Sunday Times.
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
Host: David WoodeProducers: Kate Lamble and Taryn Siegel. With thanks to the St Giles TrustWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com
Read more: Inside the case of a 15-year-old caught with a machete and pistolFurther listening: Why I carried a knifePhoto: 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.

Thousands of resident doctors are going on strike today despite a flu outbreak which is already putting hospitals under pressure. The NHS says it’s facing a “worst-case scenario” in the run up to Christmas, so will the health service be able to cope?
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: 

• Eleanor Hayward, health editor, The Times.
• Joshua Bratt, photojournalist who had a severe bout of flu.

Host: Jane Mulkerrins.Producer: Shabnam Grewal, Edward DrummondRead more: 

• What the new superflu feels like: a drill inside my head
• Wes Streeting: NHS risks collapse from strikes threat and ‘superflu’

Clips: Times Radio, LBC, Sky News.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

Australia is still reeling after Sunday’s terror attack on a Chanukkah event at Bondi Beach. At least 15 people were killed, in addition to one of the gunmen. We hear from a crime reporter who was at the scene just minutes after the massacre unfolded and ask, could the government have done more to prevent the attack? 
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:

• Mark Morri, crime editor, Sydney Daily Telegraph.
• Bernard Lagan, Australia correspondent, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Taryn Siegel and Micaela Arneson. Read more: Leadership has been lacking in fight against antisemitismClips: Sky, News.com.au, ABC News Australia.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

19-year-old Edward Cornes was found dead in a hotel room, just two days after he arrived at university. A post-mortem found large amounts of GHB, commonly known as the ‘date-rape’ drug in his system. Cornes had spent his final few hours in the company of two men in their fifties, but police concluded his death was not suspicious. His mother has accused the police of running a botched and homophobic investigation. So what went wrong?
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: 

• Miriam Blythe, mother of Edward Cornes
• Fiona Hamilton, chief reporter, The Times

Host: Luke Jones.  Producer: Shabnam Grewal.Read more: Family fight for truth over son’s ‘date-rape’ drug deathPhoto: Courtesy of Miriam Blythe.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

Cyber-attacks on some of Britain's biggest companies like Marks & Spencer have cost hundreds of millions of pounds. For Jaguar Land Rover, experts estimate the cost to the company and the economy ran to billions. But most of us know almost nothing about what happens behind the scenes in the hours after a hack. Who do you call? In a bank robbery, a negotiator armed with a megaphone might turn up. But what if the loot is bitcoin, and the hostages, data? 
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 Ball, freelance writer, the Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Dave Creasey.Clips: ITV News, CNBC.Read more: Your company has been hacked. The clock is ticking. Here’s who to call.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

Deep in rural Arkansas, far right YouTuber Eric Orwoll has founded 'Return to the Land', an all-white compound. Black people, gays and Jews are not allowed to live there. Sixty years after the end of segregation in America, is his community a remote collection of oddballs, or a sign of more extremism to come?
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
Host: George Grylls, Washington correspondent, The Times.  Producer: Dave Creasey.Read more: The sinister US village for white, straight Christians onlyClips: Piers Morgan Uncensored, PBS, Aarvoll.Photo: Karen Pulfer for The Times MagazineGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

The British army’s new fleet of Ajax armoured vehicles was meant to be their new jewel in the crown: high tech machines for an army of the future. But after nearly a decade, and more than five billion pounds spent, the vehicles have been withdrawn after accusations they have caused life changing injuries to crews. Today, we hear from the ex-soldier who was once the head of testing these vehicles, speaking about his experience for the first time.
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: 

• Larisa Brown, defence editor, The Times.
• Rob Page, ex-British Army lieutenant colonel in charge of the armoured trials and development unit, 2019-2021.

Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Harry Stott.Read more: Army could have avoided Ajax vehicle injuries, says whistleblowerPhoto: Joshua Bratt for The TimesGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

Warner Bros. Discovery - the revered studio behind Barbie and Casablanca - is up for sale. A bidding war has emerged between Netflix and Paramount. But could either acquisition change the film industry forever? And are these bids even legal?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:

• Kevin Maher, chief film critic, The Times.
• Louisa Clarence-Smith, US business editor, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.  Producers: Harry Stott, Olivia Case, Shabnam Grewal.Read more: Why Trump is really getting involved with the Warner Bros sagaFurther listening: Has Hollywood run out of ideas?Clips:  Barbie / Great Gerwig / Warner Bros, The Dark Knight / Christopher Nolan / Warner Bros, Casablanca / Michael Curtiz / Warner Bros, Hamnet / Chloe Zhao / Universal Pictures, The Searchers / John Ford / Warner Bros, Dune / Denis Villeneuve / Warner Bros, Joker / Tod Phillips / Warner Bros, Beasts of No Nation / Cary Joji Fukunaga / Netflix, Warner bros intro / Max Steiner, House of Cards / Netflix, Sex Education / Netflix, WSJ, NBC.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

From today, under-16s in Australia will be banned from using social media platforms, a world-first. The ban has caused uproar among teenagers and a court case brought by two fifteen year olds is challenging the policy. Will the ban work? And could other countries follow suit? 
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: 

• Bernard Lagan, Australia correspondent, The Times. 
• Poppy, teenager in Australia.
• Jo Gaeney, parent and teacher in Australia.
• John Ruddick, Libertarian MP for New South Wales. 

Host: Manveen Rana.  Producer: Micaela Arneson. Read more: Less than a third of Australian parents will enforce under-16s social media banFurther listening: The AI that could block kids from social mediaClips: 10 News, AFP, 7 News, Sky News Australia. Photo: Adobe Stock.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

From former officials jailed after taking bribes to push pro-Putin propaganda, through to local councillors being expelled for offensive tweets, and leader Nigel Farage being accused of high school racism, Reform UK is struggling to stay scandal free. Will the party be able to weather the storm? Or will the waves of allegations start to shift the polls? 
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: Aubrey Allegretti, chief political correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Shabnam Grewal, Harry Stott.Read more: Nigel Farage referred to police over Clacton campaign expensesFurther listening: Is Reform ready for power?Clips: BBC, Sky, GB News, LBC, ITV.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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 Nikolai’s assault unit was told to advance on a Ukrainian position, he decided he’d rather blow up his own arm than continue to fight. Nikolai and two other former Russian soldiers tell The Times about their harrowing experiences at war– and why they decided to flee. 
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: Jack Clover, assistant foreign news editor, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones.  Producer: Micaela Arneson. Read more: ‘I took a grenade blast to escape’: Russian deserters speak out Listen more: A new peace plan, and a critical moment for ZelenskyGet in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

Children aren't just running drugs for county lines gangs - sometimes they're running the lines themselves.
Today The Sunday Times's northern editor David Collins talks to the police officers who worry laws designed to protect victims of exploitation might actually encourage gang leaders to promote teenagers into higher positions in their criminal organisation.
This is episode three of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing, running in audio, video, print and digital from The Times and The Sunday Times.
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
Read more: Drug dealers use anti-slavery law to escape prosecution | I was a county lines drug runner. I tried to quit, then I was stabbedWatch: School-age kingpins: why children now hold the key to county lines
Host: David CollinsProducers: Kate Lamble and Taryn SiegelExecutive producers: Tim Walklate and Dan BoxWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

Jet engines, the neighbour's lawnmower, traffic noise - it's all terrible for our health. Yet for many years the issue has been dismissed, described as the "poor cousin” of other environmental issues such as litter, air pollution and climate change. So with prolonged noise pollution linked to nearly 1,000 premature deaths in Britain in 2017, why isn't it taken more seriously? How exactly does the daily onslaught of noise affect us? And just why is it so bad for our health?
Written and read by: Ben Spencer, Science Editor, The Sunday Times.Producer and sound designer: Dave Creasey.Clips: epidemicsound, BBC.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.

A new book by New York Magazine’s former star political writer, Olivia Nuzzi, has unleashed a chaotic slew of revelations about her alleged transgressive relationships with wayward politicians — and the US is hooked. But how did this increasingly bizarre he-said she-said story of conflicting accounts unfold? And what does it tell us about the nexus between politics and journalism - between power and those who are supposed to hold it to account in modern America? 
Guest: Will Pavia, New York Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Dave Creasey.Read more: 

• The Olivia Nuzzi saga is Nora Ephron’s Heartburn for our social media age
• Brain worms and blue eyes: the RFK love triangle shocking America

Clips: ABC, The Hill, Siriusxm, NY Post, The Bulwark.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.

In the 1980s, the leader of Poland’s Solidarity Movement, campaigning against communism, promised the country’s economy would one day rival Japan. The crowd laughed. Now that dream has become a reality. By the end of this year, Polish living standards are forecast to match those in the Asian economic powerhouse, and Poles across Europe are returning home. So how have they managed it? And will it last?
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: 

• Oliver Moody, Berlin correspondent, The Times
• Agnes Uba, Polish entrepreneur and returnee.

Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Harry Stott.Read more: Poland: an economic miracle at the heart of EuropeClips: Netflix / Youtube, BBC, TRT / Youtube, TLDR News EU, Daily Mail / Youtube, Sky.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

Today, Health Secretary Wes Streeting is announcing an independent review into rising demand for mental health, ADHD, and autism services. Amid soaring welfare costs and long waiting lists, the government says the system needs to be transformed. But with Streeting previously claiming that some mental health conditions are ‘overdiagnosed’, are the right problems being tackled?
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: 

• Eleanor Hayward, health editor, The Times
• Dr Tony Lloyd, counseling psychologist and former CEO of ADHD UK

Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Edward Drummond, Taryn Siegel, Micaela Arneson. Read more: Wes Streeting orders inquiry into mental health ‘overdiagnosis’Further listening: Is ADHD being over-diagnosed?Clips: Sky News, Channel 4 News, Parliament, The Sun, BBC.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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 Tuesday the UN General Assembly met to discuss a plan for Palestinian statehood, two months after President Trump announced his twenty-point peace plan for Israel and Gaza. But has the fighting actually stopped? Is the region any closer to peace? And could Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing criminal trial derail the whole process?
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: Gabrielle Weiniger, Israel correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.   Producers: Micaela Arneson, Olivia Case. Read more: ‘With or without Netanyahu, Trump will lead us to a two-state solution’Further listening: How Trump's Gaza deal could still unravelClips: WPLG Local 10, Fox, DW News, RTE News, The Guardian, WFAA / YouTube, Middle East Eye, NBC, Yvette Cooper / Twitter.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

The arguments over last week’s budget continue; first chancellor Rachel Reeves was accused of misleading MPs and the public over the state of public finances, then the chair of the budget watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility, resigned. So how did this row unfold and where does it leave the Prime Minister?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today:http://thetimes.co.uk/thestoryhttp://thetimes.com/thestory
Guest: Oliver Wright, policy editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Olivia Case, Shabnam Grewal.Read more: Did Rachel Reeves lie — and will she resign? Further listening: Do bond markets rule the world?Clips: The Telegraph, Times Radio, BBC, parliamentlive.tv, ITV News, Sky News.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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 2012 Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony went viral thanks to Kony 2012, a documentary about his atrocities. He's been on the run ever since. Today, the son who was groomed to be his father's heir tells his story for the first time.This podcast contains scenes some listeners may find distressing. 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: Richard Assheton, contributor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case.Further listening: Inside Haiti: face to face with the gangs ruling a desperate nation - the Sunday StoryClips: Channel 4, Clevver News, Kony 2012 / Jason Russell / Invisible Children, Inc., The White House / JosephyKony.ogvPhoto: Richard Assheton for The Sunday Times.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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 an Oxbridge professor says his students are “functionally illiterate”, you know something is wrong. With reading levels in freefall and screentime rocketing, is the era of mass literacy over? In his wildly successful blog, James Marriot argues that three centuries after the reading revolution ignited democracy and modern science, we are now witnessing its great undoing. Where once we spent hours poring over books, contemplating complicated theories and ideas, we now scroll emotive, short form content. What effect is this major shift having on our brains? And are we are really at the dawn of the post-literate society?
The Sunday Times wants to Get Britain Reading. With our campaign you can:• Donate to Bookbanks to put books in the hands of those most in need• Volunteer to read in schools with Coram Beanstalk• Above all, take our pledge to read for pleasure for at least ten minutes a day for the next six weeks
Read more about the campaign.
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 Marriott, Times columnist.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Dave Creasey.Read more:

• The dawn of the post-literate society
• I’m a digital native — can I survive without my smartphone?

Photo: Chris McAndrew for The Times.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

Oz Pearlman has guessed Joe Rogan's pin number, freaked out Barack Obama, mind-read Howard Stern’s secret afterlife password and left Richard Branson staring into the middle distance. But behind the viral moments is a former Wall Street analyst who insists there’s nothing supernatural in what he does, just psychology, pattern-spotting and a lifetime spent decoding how people think. We dive into the real tricks of the world’s most in-demand "mentalist", the habits that power his $10m career, and why he says you can learn them too.
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
Written by: Michael Odell, interviewer and features writer.Read by: Micaela Arneson and Edward Drummond.Producer: Dave Creasey.Read more: The $10m mind-reader who spooked Barack Obama and Joe RoganClips: The Joe Rogan Experience, SiriusXM, AGT, TedX, GMA.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com.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.

The inaugural conference of Jeremy Corbyn’s Your Party takes place this weekend. But what should have been the coronation of the left’s most potent new force has become a shambles. Will they get it together in time to prevent Zack Polanski’s Greens from sweeping up the left vote?
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: Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Harry Stott. Read more: Your Party civil war worsens before inaugural conferenceFurther listening: Why Britain’s left is radicalisingClips: New Statesman / Youtube, Zarah Sultana / Youtube, Times Radio, Channel 4, Canary / Youtube, ITV News, LBC, Socialist Telly / Youtube, Owen Jones / Youtube, Novara Media.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

Today we go inside Operation Titan, as North Yorkshire Police fight back against county lines drugs gangs. But with each line the police shut down, another pops up in its place, sometimes within days. The Sunday Times' northern editor David Collins investigates how to break the cycle. 
This is episode two of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing, running in audio, video, print and digital from The Times and The Sunday Times.
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
Read more: Drug dealers use anti-slavery law to escape prosecution | I was a county lines drug runner. I tried to quit, then I was stabbedWatch: School-age kingpins: why children now hold the key to county lines
Host: David Collins.Producers: Kate Lamble and Taryn SiegelExecutive producers: Tim Walklate and Dan BoxWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.

After weeks of trailing, flip-flopping, and media briefings, the government finally unveiled its budget. And while there were no real surprises, questions– both practical and existential– remain. Has Rachel Reeves done enough to save her and Keir Starmer’s jobs? And what will it mean for you, the listener? 
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: 

• Aubrey Allegretti, chief political correspondent, The Times, and 
• Rachel Mortimer, deputy money editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.   Producer: Micaela Arneson. Read more: This budget may end up dooming Labour’s election chancesWhat does the budget mean for you?Further listening: The BusinessClips: BBC News, Channel 4 News, ITV News, Sky News, Parliament.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com
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.

Of the thirteen sub-postmasters thought to have taken their own lives because of the Post Office scandal, only two have been named publicly. Michael Mann was one of them. Our reporter has spoken to his family, former partner and ex-colleagues to tell his story for the first time. 
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Hugo Daniel, news reporter, the Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Edward Drummond and Shabnam Grewal.Read more: The forgotten postmaster ‘hounded to death’ by investigators Further listening: The Post Office scandal: How a TV drama delivered justiceClips: ITV, Channel 4 News, ITV News, Horizon Inquiry. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com
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.

The prospect of peace in Ukraine may be edging closer, after the leak of a controversial 28-point plan to end the war prompted Ukrainian and Western officials to meet for ‘productive’ talks in Geneva. Is this the beginning of the end? And how does the latest proposal ensure that Russia will not invade again?
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: Mark Galeotti, Russia expert, writer, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Harry Stott, Micaela Arneson. Read more: Why Trump’s 28-point peace plan may just be a trap for UkraineFurther listening: The girl who was kidnapped by Russia - the Sunday StoryClips: Bloomberg, NBC, BBC, AP, Tucker Carlson / YouTube, Laura Logan / YouTube, Africanews. Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis 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.