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.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.
For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.
We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines鈥� life and Omar Sharif鈥檚 legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.
You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives鈥� ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.
Episodes to download
-
![]()
The Six Day War: An Israeli view
Wed 7 Jun 2017
In 1967, Israel captured the whole of Jerusalem on the third day of the Six Day War
-
![]()
The Killing of Robert Kennedy
Tue 6 Jun 2017
The Democrat Senator and Presidential hopeful died on June 6th 1968 after being shot.
-
![]()
Escape From Slavery
Mon 5 Jun 2017
The story of the Pakistani boy forced into bonded labour at the age of four.
-
![]()
America's First Female Rabbi
Fri 2 Jun 2017
In June 1972 Sally Priesand became the first woman to be ordained as a rabbi in the USA.
-
![]()
Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy
Thu 1 Jun 2017
Actor Barbara Leigh-Hunt on her role in one of the most controversial Hitchcock movies
-
![]()
Rock Concert for Chernobyl
Wed 31 May 2017
In May 1986, a small group of musicians staged the first charity rock concert in the USSR
-
![]()
India's "Mr Sanitation"
Tue 30 May 2017
In 1968 Dr Bindeshwar Pathak began his mission to improve toilet facilities for the poor.
-
![]()
Operation Lifeline: Canada's Refugee Revolution
Mon 29 May 2017
In 1979 Canadians began a revolutionary scheme to aid thousands of Indochinese refugees
-
![]()
Pakistan's First Nuclear Test
Fri 26 May 2017
In May 1998 Pakistan responded to an Indian nuclear test with an explosion of its own
-
![]()
The Killing of Poet Roque Dalton
Thu 25 May 2017
In May 1975 one of Latin America's leading young poets was shot dead in El Salvador.
-
![]()
When Irish Pubs Saved the Economy
Wed 24 May 2017
When Ireland's banks went on strike in 1970, people cashed their cheques in pubs.
-
![]()
The Roma Victims of the Holocaust
Tue 23 May 2017
In 1942, the fascist government of Romania deported its Roma citizens to Transdniestria
-
![]()
-
![]()
The Death of Neda Agha Soltan
Fri 19 May 2017
The young woman, killed at a protest in 2009, who became a symbol for opposition in Iran
-
![]()
Alexander Hamilton
Thu 18 May 2017
A Broadway musical has made an 18th century American politician famous once more.
-
![]()
Brown vs The Board of Education
Wed 17 May 2017
In 1954 the US Supreme Court ruled that segregated public schools were unconstitutional.
-
![]()
Weight Watchers
Tue 16 May 2017
How a New York housewife started a worldwide weight loss business in May 1963.
-
![]()
The George Wallace Assassination Attempt
Mon 15 May 2017
How one of America's most controversial politicians was shot while running for president.
-
![]()
The Trial of Maurice Papon
Fri 12 May 2017
French minister Maurice Papon went on trial for helping the Nazis to deport French Jews
-
![]()
Wine Shock: 'The Judgement of Paris'
Thu 11 May 2017
In 1976, unknown Californian wines beat top French wines in a blind wine tasting in Paris
-
![]()
Americans told 'Eat Less' to Live Longer
Wed 10 May 2017
In 1977 a US government body first warned Americans that their diet was killing them.
-
![]()
The Soviet James Bond
Tue 9 May 2017
In 1973, the most successful TV spy series ever to be broadcast in the USSR, went on air.
-
![]()
Shenzhen - Special Economic Zone
Mon 8 May 2017
In May 1980 Communist China allowed capitalist activity for the first time.
-
![]()
The French Army Mutiny of 1917
Fri 5 May 2017
After enduring years of slaughter during WW1, French army units finally mutinied
-
![]()
Civil War in Tajikistan
Thu 4 May 2017
In 1992, shortly after the collapse of the USSR, a civil war erupted in Tajikistan.
-
![]()
Magnum Photos
Wed 3 May 2017
The legendary photographic cooperative, Magnum, was founded 70 years ago
-
![]()
The Invention of Liposuction
Tue 2 May 2017
It was a father and son team of Italian cosmetic surgeons who created liposuction.
-
![]()
Ulrike Meinhof
Mon 1 May 2017
In May 1976 the German left-wing extremist Ulrike Meinhof killed herself in prison.
-
![]()
Searching For Argentina's Disappeared
Fri 28 Apr 2017
How the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo challenged Argentina's military rulers.
-
![]()
Bosnia: Rape as a Weapon of War
Thu 27 Apr 2017
During the Bosnian war of the early 1990's, thousands of women were raped.
