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’ life and Omar Sharif’s 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’ 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
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The Immortal Cells of Henrietta Lacks
Thu 2 Mar 2017
Cells taken from an African American woman in 1951 revolutionised medical science
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Mother Teresa - The Nun Who Became A Saint
Wed 1 Mar 2017
In March 1997 Mother Teresa retired from her charity work in India.
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Obesity
Tue 28 Feb 2017
In 1997 obesity was first recognised as a global problem by the World Health Organisation
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The Origin of Nollywood
Mon 27 Feb 2017
The story of the 1992 film which launched Nigeria's hugely successful movie industry
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The Decapitation of the Little Mermaid
Fri 24 Feb 2017
In 1998 someone vandalised the most famous statue in Denmark.
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Bulgarian Nurses on Trial in Libya
Thu 23 Feb 2017
Valya Chervenyashka was accused of mass murder and tortured in a Libyan jail.
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The German American Bund
Wed 22 Feb 2017
In the 1930s, American Nazi sympathisers held rallies and summer camps across the US.
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The Lost Manuscript of Huckleberry Finn
Tue 21 Feb 2017
In 1990, the manuscript of Mark Twain's classic novel was found in an attic in Hollywood.
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The Trial of Slobodan Milosevic
Mon 20 Feb 2017
The former Serbian President went on trial for war crimes in 2002. Hear from his lawyers.
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The Silver Ring Thing
Fri 17 Feb 2017
In 1995 a US campaign started encouraging teenagers not to have sex before marriage
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Uganda's war on homosexuality
Thu 16 Feb 2017
In 2006, a Ugandan newspaper began printing the names of professionals believed to be gay
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Italy votes for divorce
Wed 15 Feb 2017
In May 1974, Italians defied the Catholic Church and voted overwhelmingly for divorce.
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The Birth of Speed Dating
Tue 14 Feb 2017
In 1998, a Los Angeles rabbi came up with a new way for single people to meet each other.
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The conman who married his victims
Mon 13 Feb 2017
When Giovanni Vigliotto went on trial he said he'd married more than 100 women
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Sanctuary Cities in the USA
Fri 10 Feb 2017
How American cities like San Francisco became safe havens for undocumented immigrants
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The True Story of Whisky Galore
Thu 9 Feb 2017
How a ship laden with bottles of whisky was wrecked off the Scottish Hebrides
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Kenya's Hit Record: Jambo Bwana
Wed 8 Feb 2017
The story of a 1980 Kenyan pop song which became an unlikely global hit.
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The Killer Whale that Killed
Tue 7 Feb 2017
In February 1991, the captive orca, Tilikum, drowned his trainer, Keltie Byrne in Canada.
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Rosalind Franklin DNA Pioneer
Mon 6 Feb 2017
The scientist produced an x-ray photograph in 1951 that helped show the structure of DNA
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1995 Peru-Ecuador Border War
Fri 3 Feb 2017
A former Peruvian army officer recalls the last war between Latin American neighbours.
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The End of Apartheid
Thu 2 Feb 2017
In February 1990 the South African president announced the dismantling of apartheid
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Battle of Mogadishu: Black Hawk Down
Wed 1 Feb 2017
In 1993, US forces launched a disastrous raid against the Somali warlord, General Aideed
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Crossing Antarctica Alone
Tue 31 Jan 2017
Norwegian polar explorer Borge Ousland was the first person to cross Antarctica alone.
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Sexual Harassment in India
Mon 30 Jan 2017
The first time a case of sexual harassment came to court in India.
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The 'Aboriginal Tent Embassy'
Thu 26 Jan 2017
On 26 January 1972 four Aboriginal men began a protest about land rights in Australia
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Roald Dahl's Charlie and The Chocolate Factory
Wed 25 Jan 2017
Roald Dahl's book, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, was published in January 1964
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The Atocha Lawyers Massacre in Spain
Tue 24 Jan 2017
In early 1977 far-right gunmen killed five people at a law firm in Atocha Street, Madrid
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Microwave Ovens
Mon 23 Jan 2017
Microwave ovens for domestic kitchens first became widely available in 1967.
