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Witness History

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.

Copyright: © (C) BBC 2024

Latest Episodes:

Smoky the World War II dog hero Apr 20, 2023

Show notes

In 1944, Bill Wynne who was serving with the U.S. Army during World War II, adopted a tiny Yorkshire terrier called Smoky.

When Bill caught dengue fever and was sent to hospital, his friends brought Smoky to see him.

Soon the nurses were taking Smoky to visit other patients who had been wounded in the Biak Island invasion. She had a powerful healing effect on the soldiers and is believed to be one of the world’s first therapy dogs.

Reena Stanton-Sharma talks to Bill's friend Adrian Brigham about Smoky, her role in World War II, and her TV career.

Archive: University of Tennessee, PDSA, WCPN.

(Photo: Bill Wynne and Smoky (centre) at the Vaughan General Hospital, in Illinois. Credit: Smoky War Dog, LLC)

The world's first labradoodle Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

In 1989, Australian dog breeder Wally Conron was tasked with finding a suitable dog for a blind woman in Hawaii whose husband was allergic to pet hair.

By breeding together a poodle and a Labrador, he inadvertently created the world’s first ever labradoodle.

More than three decades on, Wally believes he created Frankenstein’s monster.

He has been sharing his memories of Sultan the labradoodle with George Crafer.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by 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 football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: Wally Conron with Sultan the first ever labradoodle. Credit: Getty Images)

The first dog in space Apr 17, 2023

Show notes

Laika the Russian stray was the first dog to orbit the Earth. She was sent into space on a flight in 1957 which had been timed to mark the anniversary of the Russian Revolution. She died after orbiting Earth four times.

Professor Victor Yazdovsky's father was in charge of the dogs in the Russian space programme.

In 2017, Professor Yazdovsky spoke to Olga Smirnova about playing with Laika, before her flight, when he was just nine-years-old.

(Photo: Laika. Credit: Getty Images.)

Richard Dimbleby describes Belsen Apr 14, 2023

Show notes

The BBC’s Richard Dimbleby was the first reporter to enter the liberated Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

His report describing the unimaginable horror he found was for many listeners around the world the first time they had heard the truth of what it was like to have endured life and death under the Nazis.

An estimated 70,000 people died in the camp. The broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby reflects on the impact of the report on his father and why the BBC was reluctant to broadcast it at first.

Produced by Josephine McDermott.

This programme contains distressing details.

(Photo: Prisoners at Belsen. Credit: Getty Images)

I led the hunt for the Boston Marathon bombers Apr 13, 2023

Show notes

On 15 April 2013, brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev set off two bombs at the Boston Marathon and killed three people.

After the attack they disappeared, only to resurface three days later in the quiet city of Watertown, Massachusetts.

The local police force were dispatched to catch the terrorists. An eight-minute gun fight followed, and pressure cooker bombs were hurled down the street at officers. Watertown’s chief of police, Edward Deveau, was in charge of detaining the brothers.

Ten years later, he speaks to Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty.

(Picture: Chief of police Edward Deveau. Credit: Getty Images)

Mass grave at Sernyky Apr 12, 2023

Show notes

In 1990, archaeologist Richard Wright flew half way around the world to unearth a mass grave in Sernyky, Ukraine as part of an Australian Nazi war crimes investigation.

The site contained more than 500 bodies of Jewish people who had been killed in a mass execution.

Richard's findings were used in the war crimes trial of Ivan Polyukhovich. He had fled to Australia after World War Two.

Decades later Richard recounts his experience to Alex Collins.

This programme contains destressing details.

(Photo: Mass grave in Sernyky. Credit: Sydney Jewish Museum)

The universal recycling symbol Apr 11, 2023

Show notes

In 1970, American architecture student Gary Anderson won a competition, to mark the first Earth Day on 22 April, to design a logo for recycled paper products.

His design of three arrows in a triangle shape remains in the public domain and is now used to mean recycling around the world.

He spoke to Rachel Naylor.

(Photo: Rubbish for recycling on a doorstep for collection. Credit: Getty Images)

Emperor Tewodros II Apr 10, 2023

Show notes

Emperor Tewodros II is one of the towering figures of modern Ethiopian history.

He tried to unify and modernise Ethiopia but his reign was also marked by brutality.

He faced a rising tide of rebellion inside the country and then in 1868 a British military expedition marched into the Ethiopian highlands.

Its aim was to free British diplomatic envoys the Emperor had imprisoned.

Tewodros II made a last stand at Magdala, his mountain top fortress.

In 2016, Rob Walker spoke to historian Philip Marsden.

(Picture: Tewodros II. Credit: Getty Images)

The Good Friday Agreement referendum Apr 07, 2023

Show notes

On 22 May 1998, a referendum was held in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland asking voters if they supported the Good Friday Agreement.

In both, the majority of the electorate voted in favour of adopting the peace deal.

Rachel Naylor speaks to Jane Morrice, from the Yes campaign, and Lee Reynolds, from the No campaign.

(Photo: A poster in Belfast ahead of the referendum. Credit: Gerry Penny via Getty Images)

Beto Perez: 'I created Zumba by accident' Apr 06, 2023

Show notes

In 2001, Colombian born choreographer Beto Perez created Zumba, a fitness craze which would go on to become a global phenomenon. The aerobic workout was inspired by Latin dance moves including Merengue and Salsa, and it was all created by accident.

Now classes are held in 185 countries from Indonesia to Iceland, and 15 million people take part each week according to the company. Beto Perez shares his story with Reena Stanton-Sharma.

(Photo: Beto Perez by Daniel Perez Garcia-Santos. Credit: Getty Images)

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