Witness History Podcast
History told by the people who were there. For nine minutes every weekday, Witness History takes you back to moments which have shaped our world.
Witness History is a short 麻豆社 World Service podcast about history that takes you inside big moments from the past through first-hand testimony and archive. Each weekday, in around nine minutes, we revisit one moment that helped shape the world and hear it through the voice of someone who was there. Scientists, artists, campaigners, soldiers, leaders and everyday people tell their true stories.
When you subscribe to Witness History, you鈥檒l be taken inside turning points in world affairs, from West Africa鈥檚 fight back against Boko Haram in 2015, to the behind-closed-doors talks that led to the US-Cuba 鈥渢haw鈥 and the surprise announcement of restored relations.
You鈥檒l discover what it was like to experience disasters and how people recovered from them, including the Tabasco floods in Mexico, Portugal's worst train disaster, and the huge clean-up after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
You鈥檒l explore culture and ideas too: Sweden鈥檚 Expedition Robinson, often credited as the first modern reality TV game show; the friendship between The Beatles鈥 George Harrison and Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar; and the night a tiger attack brought Las Vegas superstars Siegfried and Roy鈥檚 show to a sudden end.
And if you鈥檙e curious about inventions, we鈥檒l tell you how air fryers, BlackBerry, YouTube, Alexa, GPS, superglue, the shopping cart (shopping trolley) and bubble tea were created.
If you鈥檙e new to Witness History, the appeal is simple: real voices, one strong true story, and a fresh way to understand today through events from history 鈥 all in the time it takes to enjoy a cup of tea or a walk around the block. Join millions of 麻豆社 World Service podcast listeners around the globe and enjoy the insight, context and detail Witness History will bring you.
Episodes to download
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Birkin bag: Creating fashion鈥檚 iconic accessory
Yesterday
In 1985, one the world鈥檚 most recognisable fashion accessories was launched, the Birkin
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Turkey鈥檚 failed coup
Wednesday
On 15 July 2016, more than 300 people were killed in the coup attempt
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Creating Canada鈥檚 largest territory
Tuesday
In 1999, Canada鈥檚 map was redrawn creating Nunavut, a territory showing Inuit land rights
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The Kiss of Life photo that earned a Pulitzer Prize
Monday
In 1967, a lineman鈥檚 lifesaving actions were captured in a prize-winning photo
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Dada: The birth of an art movement
Last Friday
In 1916, in Switzerland, an aesthetic began which would influence Surrealism and punk.
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South Sudan celebrates independence
Last Thursday
On 9 July 2011, people flooded the city of Juba as a new nation was born
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Seveso Disaster
Wed 8 Jul 2026
On 10 July 1976, there was an explosion at a chemical factory near Seveso, northern Italy
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The immigrant workers who refused to pay rent in 1970s France
Tue 7 Jul 2026
Thousands of workers protested against rent hikes and living conditions in French hostels
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Jackie Kennedy renovates the White House
Mon 6 Jul 2026
In 1962, first lady Jackie Kennedy took the cameras on a tour of the restored White House
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Restoring the Statue of Liberty
Fri 3 Jul 2026
In 1984, the Statue of Liberty was rejuvenated ahead of her 100th birthday
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KCOR: The first Spanish-language radio station in the US
Thu 2 Jul 2026
In 1946, Mexican-American Raoul Cortez launched a radio service in Spanish in Texas
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Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott
Wed 1 Jul 2026
In 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested after refusing to give up her seat on the bus
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The final journey of Chief Long Wolf
Tue 30 Jun 2026
In 1997, the remains of a Lakota leader were returned from London to South Dakota
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Hawaii becomes the 50th American state
Mon 29 Jun 2026
In March 1959, the Hawaiian Admission Act was passed
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Rata de dos patas: Mexico鈥檚 famous insult song
Fri 26 Jun 2026
Composer Manuel Eduardo Toscano on the origins of Paquita la del Barrio's signature tune
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WW1: The Battle of the Somme
Thu 25 Jun 2026
麻豆社 Archive recordings with veterans of the 1916 battle
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How Aussies taught kids to stay safe in the sun
Wed 24 Jun 2026
In 1981, Australia launched the Slip Slop Slap campaign with help from Sid the seagull
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Brexit: Ireland watches the vote unfold
Tue 23 Jun 2026
In 2016, the UK voted on whether to remain a member of, or leave, the European Union
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China detains Hong Kong booksellers
Mon 22 Jun 2026
In 2015 five booksellers were detained for selling material critical of China鈥檚 leaders
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The discovery of Lyme disease
Fri 19 Jun 2026
In 1975, a medical breakthrough led to the identification and naming of Lyme disease
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The discovery of Mungo Man
Thu 18 Jun 2026
On 26 February 1974, Dr Jim Bowler discovered a 42,000-year-old skeleton in Australia
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Women Walk Home: Cyprus' forgotten peace march
Wed 17 Jun 2026
In June 1987, hundreds of women took part in a peace march against the division of Cyprus
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50 years since the Soweto Uprising
Tue 16 Jun 2026
A former schoolgirl remembers the demonstration that sparked the Soweto Uprising in 1976
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The Georgian exodus from Abkhazia
Mon 15 Jun 2026
In 1993, separatist forces took Sukhumi, the capital of Abkhazia
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Hussein of Jordan: The survivor king
Fri 12 Jun 2026
In 1970 King Hussein of Jordan escaped unharmed after gunmen opened fire on his motorcade
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The inspiration for Chekhov's Three Sisters
Thu 11 Jun 2026
In 1897, Paul Shishkoff lived next door to the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov.
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Picasso and the Surrealist summer
Wed 10 Jun 2026
In 1937 some of the 20th Century's best known Surrealist artists are on holiday in France
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Mstislav Rostropovich: Virtuoso cellist
Tue 9 Jun 2026
In 1978, Rostropovich lost Soviet citizenship for 鈥渦npatriotic activity鈥
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Nelson Mandela's incarceration at Robben Island
Mon 8 Jun 2026
In 1964, Nelson Mandela was put in the maximum security prison on Robben Island