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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Creating Cluedo
Wed 14 Jan 2026
Blackouts during World War II helped Anthony Pratt invent the popular family board game.
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The creation of the modern kitchen
Tue 13 Jan 2026
The modern kitchen was created by an Austrian architect in 1926
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Brain: PC virus
Mon 12 Jan 2026
In 1986, what鈥檚 thought to be the first computer virus spreads around the world
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Battle of Gallipoli
Fri 9 Jan 2026
A New Zealand soldier's account of surviving one of the worst battles of World War One
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Sazae-san: World's longest-running cartoon
Thu 8 Jan 2026
In 1969, a Japanese cartoon about a traditional family premiered on Fuji TV
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Tracey Emin鈥檚 unmade bed
Wed 7 Jan 2026
In 1999, Dame Tracey Emin鈥檚 unmade bed was nominated for the prestigious Turner art prize
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Isabel Allende: The House of the Spirits
Tue 6 Jan 2026
In 1982, Isabel Allende published her bestselling novel, The House of the Spirits
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The Hillsborough disaster
Mon 5 Jan 2026
On 15 April 1989, there was a crowd crush at a football match in Sheffield, England
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South Africa's luxury train
Fri 2 Jan 2026
In 1986, South African businessman Rohan Vos decided to launch a vintage railway business
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The American Freedom Train
New Year's Day 2026
In 1975, the train began a 21-month tour of the US celebrating 200 years of independence
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The longest musical composition
Wed 31 Dec 2025
In 1999, Longplayer started playing and it will continue, without repeating, until 2999
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Radio Free Europe
Tue 30 Dec 2025
Seventy-five years ago, RFE started broadcasting to audiences behind the Iron Curtain
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SMS: The invention of text messaging
Mon 29 Dec 2025
The invention of the Short Message Service changed how we communicate around the world
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Creating the board game Catan
Boxing Day 2025
In 1995, the game debuted and has since sold more than 40 million copies worldwide
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How the hoverboard was created
Christmas Eve 2025
In 2011, inventor Shane Chen created the motorised skateboard
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Inventing Play-Doh
Tue 23 Dec 2025
In 1956, one of the world鈥檚 most beloved children鈥檚 toys went on sale for the first time
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The first television opera
Fri 19 Dec 2025
In 1951, the first opera ever composed specifically for TV was broadcast
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When Laurel and Hardy spent Christmas at an English pub
Thu 18 Dec 2025
In 1953, the comedy duo Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy spent a few weeks at the Bull Inn
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When Norway introduced salmon sushi to Japan
Wed 17 Dec 2025
In the late 1980s, Norway was looking for a new market to sell its salmon
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India's disability law
Tue 16 Dec 2025
In 1995, the first disability rights legislation was passed by India's parliament
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How NFL tickets caught fugitives
Mon 15 Dec 2025
When Washington DC's most wanted were captured under the guise of winning NFL tickets
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Dismaland: Banksy's dystopian theme park
Sun 14 Dec 2025
In 2015, the street artist transformed a derelict pool into a dystopian 鈥榖emusement park鈥�
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The Paris climate agreement
Fri 12 Dec 2025
In 2015, nearly 200 countries adopted the Paris climate agreement
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The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa
Thu 11 Dec 2025
When Apartheid was abolished, South Africans had to find a way to confront their past
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The discovery of the coelacanth
Wed 10 Dec 2025
In 1938, a fish was found that was believed to have been extinct for 65 million years
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The Balcombe Street IRA siege
Mon 8 Dec 2025
In December 1975, four IRA gunmen took a couple hostage leading to a six-day siege
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How Lagos Fashion Week began
Fri 5 Dec 2025
In 2011, the event debuted, putting Nigerian style on the map
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Wole Soyinka: Imprisoned during Nigeria鈥檚 Biafra war
Thu 4 Dec 2025
In 1967, Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka was jailed following his efforts to avert civil war