The Story

This episode was originally published last January. For almost two years, two armies have fought a brutal civil war in Sudan, Africa’s third largest country. Over 150,000 have died, 11 million have been displaced and evidence of genocidal war crimes have emerged. So why has the war in Sudan been forgotten? The Times’ Special Correspondent Anthony Loyd has recently returned from a reporting trip on the frontline and tells The Story about the people he met. This episode includes descriptions of war and rape. 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: Anthony Loyd, Special Correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Edward Drummond. Clips: BBC. Photo: Anthony Loyd/The Times. Watch Anthony’s video from Sudan Further reading: Inside Sudan’s forgotten war: 150,000 dead, 11 million displaced Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finally, the crypto episode is here. And after a lowdown on the vibe shift towards the industry in Washington, Katie is joined by Binance's new CEO, Richard Teng, who is tasked with making the case for the company that was beset by scandal under previous CEO and founder, Changpeng Zhao “CZ”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Virginia Giuffre died by suicide last week, aged 41. Jeffrey Epstein’s key accuser was instrumental in putting Ghislaine Maxwell behind bars and had also accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault. He’s always denied the claims and settled the case for a rumoured £12 million. So was justice done for Giuffre and the other survivors? And how did a woman from the right side of the tracks end up being trafficked around the world? 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 If you've been affected by anything you've heard in this episode, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or the Rape Crisis rape and sexual abuse support line on 0808 500 2222. Guest: Helen Rumbelow, Feature Writer and Columnist, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Further reading: Virginia Giuffre’s battle to escape the pastVirginia Giuffre obituaryClips: BBC, Miami Herald, NBC, 60 Minutes Australia. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The trial of Sean Combs - the hip-hop producer and rapper otherwise known as P Diddy, Puff Daddy, Love, and a plethora of other aliases - will begin next week, with the jury selected on Monday. As he pleads not guilty to racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, how did he get to this point? And how did he build his celebrity empire? 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: Megan Agnew, Senior Features Writer at The Times and Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones. Producer: Rosie Stopher. Further reading: The downfall of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs — by those who knew him Further listening: The P Diddy lawsuits: The downfall of a rap legend Clips: NBC, CBS, PBS, BBC, Fox News, MTV, Off the Cuff Radio. Photo: Getty images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nigel Farage is throwing the kitchen sink at Labour and he’s not being subtle about it. As Reform UK ramps up its local election efforts, Farage is fielding candidates in councils up and down the country. But the real showdown is in Runcorn and Helsby, where Reform is plotting a high-profile coup in the upcoming by-election. What’s at stake in Runcorn, and why should Keir Starmer be worried? 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: Geraldine Scott, The Times’ Senior Political Correspondent. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Euan Dawtrey, Taryn Siegel and Edith Rousselot. Further reading: Labour and Reform in fierce battle for Runcorn & Helsby seat Clips: Sky News, Reform UK Youtube, Nigel Farage Youtube and Facebook, Channel 4, Green Party TikTok, Liberal Democrats Youtube. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An American Biosciences company claims to have ‘de-extincted’ prehistoric dire wolves. Next they plan to bring back the woolly mammoth and the dodo. But even if they could, should they? 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: Tom Whipple, Science Writer, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Shabnam Grewal. Further reading: Why are scientists bringing back woolly mammoths from extinction?Long-extinct dire wolf to howl again thanks to ancient DNA Further listening: The cost of being ugly Clips: Colossal Biosciences, Game of Thrones/HBO. Photo: Colossal Biosciences. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harvard has sued the Trump administration over multibillion-dollar funding cuts in the biggest escalation yet in the battle between the government and higher education. What does the showdown mean for the ideological freedom of American institutions and has Trump taken on a fight he can’t win? 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: Gerard Baker, Columnist, The Times and Editor-at-Large, The Wall Street Journal. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Sam Chantarasak. Clips: Bloomberg, NBC News, NDTV, C-SPAN, Getty/Grinberg, Paramount, Pathe Newsreels. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published last December. Australia is the first country to block under-16s from social media -- and age-verification AI could be a crucial tool in the ban. We spoke to our journalist who has been to the industry-leader’s HQ to find out if the technology actually works. And if it does, could the UK follow suit? 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: Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Sam Chantarasak. Further reading: Can AI tell if a teen lies about their age? Clips: ABC News, 10 News First Australia, BBC Radio 4. Photo: Getty Images Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Lucy and Holly ask why a new generation of investors is turning to one of the world’s oldest assets: gold. Joined by Brian Byrnes from Moneybox, together they unpack gold’s historical role in the economy, its incredible performance, and how it compares to trendier assets like Bitcoin and tech stocks. Is gold still relevant in a digital-first world? Why are younger investors increasingly drawn to it? And does it have any downsides? Plus, we hear from young financial coach Laura Ann Moore, on how it fits into our own long-term investment plan. Guests: Brian Byrnes, Head of Personal Finance at Moneybox Contact: Lucy and Holly at: moneyteam@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Beatles will be the subject of four interconnected films - one for each member - planned for release close together in April 2028. We asked the author of a recent book on The Beatles to tell us how he’d make the films - and what is still left to discover about the most famous band in history. 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: Ian Leslie, author of John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs. To order a copy go to timesbookshop.co.uk. Free UK standard P&P on orders over £25. Special discount available for Times+ members Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Sam Chantarasak. Read exclusive extracts from Ian’s book: John Lennon, Paul McCartney and the grief that united two lost teensPaul McCartney and the song that made him John Lennon’s equalClips: Sky News, ITN/Getty Images, BBC News/WISH-TV, C-SPAN. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are the practical implications for trans women after the Supreme Court ruled that under equality law, sex means biological sex? And how is the Labour government grappling with the ruling? Last week we heard from one of the campaigners for single sex spaces. Today we speak to someone who was stunned by the court's decision. 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: Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Further reading: What caused Keir Starmer’s U-turn on whether trans women are women? Further listening: Defining a woman Clips: UK Parliament, Times Radio. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Times’ crime correspondent David Woode sits down with a 19-year-old man who was recently imprisoned for carrying a knife. We get a rare insight into what some young people are really facing in London, and why he felt he had to arm himself with a deadly weapon. 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 If you've been affected by issues in this podcast, you can find useful links and helplines here: https://talk.tv/helplines Thanks to Marcus, Desmond Skyers and the St Giles Trust. Host: David Woode, Crime Correspondent, The Times. Producer: Sam Chantarasak. Further reading: The Times Crime and Justice Commission Further listening: What’s behind the rise in knife crime on our streets Photo: Times photographer Richard Pohle. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, cardinals from across the world will now descend on Vatican City in Rome to choose the next Pope. The Oscar-nominated film Conclave dramatised the political machinations and backstabbing involved in choosing a successor - so, with incriminating dossiers and secret plots, is fact about to mirror fiction? 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: Tom Kington, correspondent in Rome for The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Sam Chantarasak. Further reading: Pope Francis's legacy: Loved by millions, hated by the old guard Clips: ABC News, Euronews, CBS News, CNN, Conclave/Focus Features. Photo: Getty. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was first published last August. When Alex Campbell suggested to his high school sociology class that they would be investigating a 40-year-old cold case, he had no idea where it would lead. Within a year, a serial killer had been identified. In his next class, they decided to try and overturn a wrongful conviction. And they did. So just how did Mr. Campbell breed a class of super sleuths? 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: Harriet Alexander, Senior Features Reporter, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones. Producer: Taryn Siegel. Clips: WBIR Channel 10, NewsNation, WKRN News 2. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ryan Peterson is the CEO of Flexport, a company that plans and manages shipping globally. Perfectly positioned, then, to lay out the inside story on how companies have been affected by President Trump's tariffs and what happens next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Romance fraud is at an all time high, low-hanging fruit in the growing world of online scams. But what are the methods? Who falls for it? And are there ways we can all avoid it? 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: Host: Luke Jones. Producer: Edith Rousselot. Further reading: The justice system is in crisis. We spent a year finding solutions Clips: The Real Hustle Youtube channel, Still Watching Netflix Youtube channel. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court has ruled that only people who are born female should be protected from discrimination as women under the Equality Act. What does the ruling change and how did we get here? Guest: Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at Sex Matters and author of Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality. https://oneworld-publications.com/work/trans/ Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Shabnam Grewal and Rosie Stopher. Clips: Times Radio, Supreme Court, BBC News Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government has taken control of one of the last steel-making plants in the UK, after its Chinese owners threatened to close it. Some ministers have accused China of sabotaging British Steel to force us to import from China. But is that what happened? Or, when it comes to steel-making, did this country long ago sabotage itself? 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: Dominic O’Connell, Business Correspondent, Times Radio. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Taryn Siegel. Clips: Times Radio, Parliament TV, British Film Institute/Getty Images. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recreational use of the Class B drug 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US Constitution seems to be clear, but that hasn’t stopped President Trump and his allies from dangling the possibility that Trump won’t vacate the office in 2029. Is this just media trolling, or is there actually an argument to be made here? We asked a constitutional expert for the answer. 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: Host: Luke Jones. Producer: Taryn Siegel. Further reading: These Jack Kerouac letters are selling for $250,000. I read them Clips: NBC News, CNN, NewsNation, Newsmax, The White House. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.