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The Times

One remarkable story, told in depth, daily.

Manveen Rana and Luke Jones bring you the flagship podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Story

In the week between Christmas and New Year, we’re revisiting some of our favourite episodes of 2025. This episode was first published in April.

Recreational use of the Class B drug ketamine doubled in 2024. A Sunday Times investigation has looked into where it's coming from and why it's so hard to police.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Katie Gatens, Commissioning Editor, The Sunday Times News Review.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Olivia Case.

Further reading: One gram of ketamine and its 4,000-mile journey to the UK. 

Further listening: The truth behind the drama Adolescence

If you or someone you know needs drugs help or advice, visit talktofrank.com

Photo: Getty Images. 

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Best of 2025: How ketamine’s on the rise and getting into the UK

You probably don't need reminding how much of a mess our prisons are at the moment - run-down, overcrowded and sometimes with a revolving door for prisoners who reoffend. One of the charities supported by this year’s Times and Sunday Times Christmas appeal is Switchback, who’ve had great success at helping ex-offenders to ‘go straight’ when they leave prison.

For more information on this year’s Christmas Appeal and to donate, visit https://times.ctdonate.org/ 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guests: 

 • Hamza - Former prisoner helped by Switchback
 • Daisy Eastlake, reporter, The Times. 

Host: Luke Jones.

Producer: Shabnam Grewal.

Read more: 

Switchback is a lifeline for young prisonersAfter jail, yoga helped me realise I was not in danger any more 
Photo: Getty Images. 

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The charity that stops prisoners reoffending

In this emotionally resonant end of year episode, we take a deep dive into some of most iconic figures we lost in 2025. From the beloved British actress Dame Patricia Routledge, famed for her incredible performance as Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances, to the pioneering primatologist, Jane Goodall, whose groundbreaking research at Gombe Stream transformed our understanding of chimpanzees and inspired generations of scientists and environmentalists. 

Host: Anna Temkin, deputy obituaries editor of The Times.

Producer: Dave Creasey.

Clips: BBC, National Geographic, CNN, Josefa`s Thoughts, TPM TV, Fox, ABC, CBS, BritBox.

Photo: Getty Images.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Icons of culture, science and politics - the Sunday Story

It's the weekend before Christmas and millions of people around the world are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Father Christmas. For many, it's feels like he's always been there, but where exactly did he come from? Turns out, it's been a pretty wild ride for Old Saint Nick, one that involves prostitution in the 3rd century, pagan winter feasting, and even the creation of New York City. And what if it transpires the loveable, jolly figure we know today, was formally a thin, wayward drunk? It's the origin story you thought you knew, one that spans thousands of years of history, and countless reinventions. How well do we really know St. Nicholas of Myra, Sinterklaas or Kris Kringle?

Written by: Waldemar Januszczak, Chief art critic of The Sunday Times.

Read by: Shabnam Grewal.

Producer: Dave Creasey.

Photo: Getty

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The true story of Father Christmas - the Saturday Story

Married mother of two Kristin Cabot speaks for the first time about being caught on a kisscam embracing her married boss, Andy Byron, at a Coldplay concert. The video went viral as people wrongly suspected adultery between a tech CEO and his head of HR, drawing online mockery, abuse and threats. In a Times exclusive, our chief US reporter Josie Ensor interviewed Cabot to ask her side of the story.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Josie Ensor, chief US reporter, The Times.

Producers: Harry Stott, Sophie McNulty.

Read more: Coldplay kisscam HR boss Kristin Cabot on 16 seconds that ruined her life

Clips: ABC7, The Tonight Show / Jimmy Fallon / NBC, 9 News Australia, MBC News, NBC News.

Photo: Lucy Lu for The Times

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS EPISODE: Coldplay kisscam HR boss on the 16 seconds that ruined her life

Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead last Sunday. His son has been charged with their murder. It’s seen an outpouring of emotion from Hollywood and across the world, but one person’s response was less than complimentary: Donald Trump. So what does the President’s latest incursion into Hollywood politics mean for the movie industry?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guests:

 • Hadley Freeman, columnist and features writer, The Times.
 • Kevin Maher, chief film critic, The Times.

Host: Rosie Wright.

Producers: Harry Sott, Olivia Case.

Read more: Rob Reiner just wanted a happy home

Rob Reiner’s five best movies ranked, from Spinal Tap to Misery

Clips: When Harry Met Sally / Rob Reiner / Columbia Pictures; This is Spinal Tap / Rob Reiner / Embassy Pictures; A Few Good Men / Rob Reiner / Columbia Pictures; Being Charlie / Rob Reiner / Paladin; Build Series / Youtube, Film Courage / Youtube; PBS Newshour.

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rob Reiner's death, Trump's reaction and Hollywood politics

This week, MI6 and the UK military issued a stark warning: Britain is already on the front line against Russia. And Moscow’s tactics – from drone warfare to cyber attacks and sowing disinformation – are growing more sophisticated and aggressive. But is the UK taking the threat seriously enough? A former British army general explains what conflict with Russia would look like and how the UK should prepare. 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: General Sir Richard Barrons, former Commander of Joint Forces Command.

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Producers: Micaela Arneson and Taryn Siegel. 

Read more: To repel Putin, Britain and Europe must be ready to punch back hard

Military head: Britons must be ready to fight as Russian threat grows

Further listening: A continent prepares for war. Here's how it's done

Clips: The Mirror, 10 News, BBC, LBC, Netflix / A House of Dynamite.

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MI6 chief warns of war with Russia - are we ready?

Thousands of resident doctors are going on strike today despite a flu outbreak which is already putting hospitals under pressure. The NHS says it’s facing a “worst-case scenario” in the run up to Christmas, so will the health service be able to cope?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: 

 • Eleanor Hayward, health editor, The Times.
 • Joshua Bratt, photojournalist who had a severe bout of flu.

Host: Jane Mulkerrins.

Producer: Shabnam Grewal, Edward Drummond

Read more: 

What the new superflu feels like: a drill inside my headWes Streeting: NHS risks collapse from strikes threat and ‘superflu’
Clips: Times Radio, LBC, Sky News.

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will the doctors strike put lives at risk amid the flu crisis?

Australia is still reeling after Sunday’s terror attack on a Chanukkah event at Bondi Beach. At least 15 people were killed, in addition to one of the gunmen. We hear from a crime reporter who was at the scene just minutes after the massacre unfolded and ask, could the government have done more to prevent the attack? 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guests:

 • Mark Morri, crime editor, Sydney Daily Telegraph.
 • Bernard Lagan, Australia correspondent, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producers: Taryn Siegel and Micaela Arneson. 

Read more: Leadership has been lacking in fight against antisemitism

Clips: Sky, News.com.au, ABC News Australia.

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'I walked right into a massacre': how the Bondi attack unfolded

19-year-old Edward Cornes was found dead in a hotel room, just two days after he arrived at university. A post-mortem found large amounts of GHB, commonly known as the ‘date-rape’ drug in his system. Cornes had spent his final few hours in the company of two men in their fifties, but police concluded his death was not suspicious. His mother has accused the police of running a botched and homophobic investigation. So what went wrong?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guests: 

 • Miriam Blythe, mother of Edward Cornes
 • Fiona Hamilton, chief reporter, The Times

Host: Luke Jones. 

Producer: Shabnam Grewal.

Read more: Family fight for truth over son’s ‘date-rape’ drug death

Photo: Courtesy of Miriam Blythe.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The police, lost evidence and a search for the truth.

The leading Catholic school Ampleforth College has been temporarily banned by the government from taking on new pupils because of safety concerns. The boarding school is challenging a poor Ofsted report but the government said it was too slow in making improvements highlighted by repeated inspections dating back to March 2018. How did the school get here and what will happen now?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

Sian Griffiths, Education and families editor for The Sunday Times.

A30, a former pupil at Ampleforth.

Robin Dyer, Headmaster of Ampleforth College.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Links to useful charities:

Rape Crisis for England and Wales, NSPCC, Safeline, The Survivors Trust.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ampleforth: A British public school and a scandal

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