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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Khula Manch, the victory rally
Thu 9 Apr 2026
In 1990, people gathered in Kathmandu to celebrate multi-party democracy in Nepal
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Hitler's teeth
Wed 8 Apr 2026
In 1945 a search begins for Hitler's dentist to prove the F眉hrer's corpse is genuine
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Marcel Duchamp and the urinal that changed art
Tue 7 Apr 2026
In 1942, the French artist featured in New York's first major surrealist exhibition
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Straightening the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Mon 6 Apr 2026
In 2001, the Leaning Tower of Pisa reopened to the public after an 11-year closure.
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The first commercially successful electronic cigarette
Fri 3 Apr 2026
In May 2004, pharmacist Hon Lik's vape went on sale in China
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Spain welcomes Picasso鈥檚 Guernica
Thu 2 Apr 2026
In 1981 the iconic painting, Guernica, was finally handed to Spain after a 44-year exile
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New Nordic cuisine
Wed 1 Apr 2026
In 2004, Danish food entrepreneur Claus Meyer launched a revolution in Nordic cooking
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The discovery of the Terra Nova shipwreck
Tue 31 Mar 2026
In 2012, a team of researchers discovered one of the most famous polar shipwrecks
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Echo and the elephants
Mon 30 Mar 2026
In 1972, the world鈥檚 longest-running study of wild elephants was first launched in Kenya
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Anthony Bourdain's 'Don't Eat Before Reading This'
Fri 27 Mar 2026
In April 1999, Anthony Bourdain's essay Don't Eat Before Reading This was published
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The first Great Wall of China trek
Thu 26 Mar 2026
In May 1984, three friends set off on an epic trek along the Great Wall of China
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How a Maasai community in Kenya overcame a deadly drought
Wed 25 Mar 2026
In 2013, after losing most of their cattle, herders in Kajiado County came up with a plan
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The only Pope to visit New Zealand
Tue 24 Mar 2026
In November 1986, Pope John Paul II visited New Zealand as part of a six nations tour
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The reunification of Germany
Mon 23 Mar 2026
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 paved the way for East and West Germany to reunite
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Women's rights in independent Tunisia
Fri 20 Mar 2026
In 1956, Tunisia gained independence and soon gave new rights to women
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The 'Cyprus Emergency'
Thu 19 Mar 2026
In 1955, a paramilitary group called EOKA rebelled against British colonial rule
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Oslo's anti-racism demonstration
Wed 18 Mar 2026
In 2001, an anti-racism rally was held in Oslo after a teenager was murdered by neo-Nazis
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The L'Amicale Four
Tue 17 Mar 2026
A Mauritian man jailed for two decades shares his story of what happened in Port Louis
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The nuclear mango deal
Mon 16 Mar 2026
On 2 March 2006, India and the United States finalised a controversial nuclear deal
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Casablanca: Making one of Hollywood鈥檚 greatest movies
Fri 13 Mar 2026
In 1942, one of the most famous movies of all time, Casablanca, was released
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How Rang De Basanti inspired a generation
Thu 12 Mar 2026
Rang De Basanti was released in 2006 exploding onto the cultural landscape
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I starred in Pan鈥檚 Labyrinth
Wed 11 Mar 2026
In 2006, a Spanish-language film became a cult classic and took the world by storm
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My father directed Seven Samurai
Tue 10 Mar 2026
In 1954, the Japanese movie Seven Samurai was released, directed by Akira Kurosawa
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Triumph of the Will: A Nazi propaganda film
Mon 9 Mar 2026
In 1934 one of the most controversial propaganda movies ever made was filmed at Nuremberg
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The invention of the mobility scooter
Fri 6 Mar 2026
In 1967, American plumber Al Thieme came up with a battery-powered seat on wheels
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India鈥檚 first nuclear test
Thu 5 Mar 2026
How India secretly developed and tested its first atomic device in 1974
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Portugal鈥檚 worst train disaster
Wed 4 Mar 2026
In 1985, two trains collided on a single track line killing an estimated 150 people
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Elvis visits Scotland
Tue 3 Mar 2026
In 1960, the King of Rock 鈥檔鈥� Roll made an unexpected stop at Prestwick Airport
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Sweden鈥檚 diplomatic freeze with the USA
Mon 2 Mar 2026
In 1972, a speech by the Swedish Prime Minister caused a break-down in relations
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Syria's secret library
Fri 27 Feb 2026
The building of a secret library in the town of Darayya during the Syrian civil war