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 BBC 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’ll be taken inside turning points in world affairs, from West Africa’s fight back against Boko Haram in 2015, to the behind-closed-doors talks that led to the US-Cuba “thaw” and the surprise announcement of restored relations.
You’ll 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’ll explore culture and ideas too: Sweden’s Expedition Robinson, often credited as the first modern reality TV game show; the friendship between The Beatles’ George Harrison and Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar; and the night a tiger attack brought Las Vegas superstars Siegfried and Roy’s show to a sudden end.
And if you’re curious about inventions, we’ll tell you how air fryers, BlackBerry, YouTube, Alexa, GPS, superglue, the shopping cart (shopping trolley) and bubble tea were created.
If you’re 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 – all in the time it takes to enjoy a cup of tea or a walk around the block. Join millions of BBC 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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The Disappearing Sea
Wed 21 Oct 2015
In 1990, the first international conference was held on the shrinking of the Aral Sea
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The Controversial 'God of Vengeance'
Tue 20 Oct 2015
How the cast of an early 20th century Yiddish play found themselves in court in New York.
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Mass Graves in Hue, Vietnam
Mon 19 Oct 2015
US troops discovered victims of the Communist Tet offensive in Hue city in 1968
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The October Crisis in Canada
Fri 16 Oct 2015
When Quebec separatists started to use violence - Canada's government called out the army
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Satyajit Ray: Working with India’s Cinematic Master
Thu 15 Oct 2015
Sixty years ago the acclaimed director released his awarding winning first film
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Danish Jews Escape the Holocaust
Wed 14 Oct 2015
Almost all of Denmark's Jewish population escaped the Nazis during World War Two
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The White Russians in Shanghai
Tue 13 Oct 2015
A Russian refugee remembers life in Shanghai after fleeing the 1917 revolution
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The Death of Edith Cavell
Mon 12 Oct 2015
On 12 October 1915 a British nurse was executed by German troops during World War One
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The Moors Murders
Fri 9 Oct 2015
In 1965, Britain was shocked by a series of child murders in Manchester
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Pakistan Earthquake 2005
Thu 8 Oct 2015
On 8 October 2005 a massive earthquake hit Pakistani-administered Kashmir
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The Assassination of Anwar Sadat
Wed 7 Oct 2015
President Anwar Sadat of Egypt's widow, Jehan, remembers the day he was assassinated
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Austrian Wine Scandal
Tue 6 Oct 2015
In 1985 government scientists discovered anti-freeze in bottles of Austrian wine.
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Barbary Pirates and the White Slave Trade
Mon 5 Oct 2015
The story of an English boy captured by pirates and enslaved in North Africa in 1716
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The Death of Rock Hudson
Fri 2 Oct 2015
Angie Dickinson remembers the Hollywood star who died after contracting Aids
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Danish Cartoons
Thu 1 Oct 2015
In 2005 a Danish newspaper published 12 images of the Prophet Muhammad
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Buena Vista Social Club
Wed 30 Sep 2015
Barbarito Torres speaks about playing on the ground-breaking album of Cuban music
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The Birth of Karaoke
Tue 29 Sep 2015
Daisuke Inoue was playing in a band in Kobe Japan when he invented the Karaoke machine
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Kabul Musicians' Quarter
Mon 28 Sep 2015
The home of Afghanistan's traditional musicians was destroyed in 1992.
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The Plastic People of the Universe
Fri 25 Sep 2015
The psychedelic Czech rock band which became a symbol of resistance to communist rule.
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Jacques Brel
Thu 24 Sep 2015
In 1966 the singer-songwriter announced on stage that he was going to stop performing
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DJ Kool Herc and the Birth of Hip Hop
Tue 22 Sep 2015
In the autumn of 1973 a Bronx DJ held a ground-breaking party.
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The Origins of Ska Music
Mon 21 Sep 2015
Jamaica is best known for Reggae music, but before Reggae, came Ska.
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The Leningrad Symphony
Fri 18 Sep 2015
In 1942 starving musicians in besieged Leningrad performed Shostakovich's Symphony
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The First Glastonbury Festival
Thu 17 Sep 2015
We hear from farmer Michael Eavis, who began the music festival in 1970
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Musicians of the Iranian Revolution
Wed 16 Sep 2015
In 1978, Iran's top musicians took a stand against the Monarchy
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Miriam Makeba
Tue 15 Sep 2015
The story of the great South African singer who spent 30 years in exile
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Willie Nelson's Farm Aid
Mon 14 Sep 2015
Country music legend Willie Nelson holds the first benefit concert for American farmers
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Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Fri 11 Sep 2015
How the Pakistani Qawali singer became an international music sensation..
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The Monkees
Thu 10 Sep 2015
The Monkees were the world's first 'manufactured' boy band - created especially for TV.
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