Witness History

In 1993, a gritty and unflinching crime movie called Menace II Society was released to huge acclaim.The debut picture from the teenage directors, Allen and Albert Hughes, provided a deep dive into the harsh realities faced by many young African Americans growing up in Los Angeles.But behind the scenes, all was not well and the violence on-screen bled into real life. Rap sensation, Tupac Shakur – who had originally been cast to feature in the movie – had fallen out with the directors and was sacked during production.He promised retribution against the Hughes brothers, and his retribution would eventually land him time in jail. More than 30 years on from the movie’s release, Allen Hughes shares his memories of that time with Matt Pintus. 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: Tupac Shakur pictured in 1993. Credit: Getty Images)

Join Dr. Mylswamy Annadurai, the 'moon man of India' and programme director for India's Mars Orbiter Mission, as he reflects on this historic feat. Discover how India became the first to orbit Mars on its maiden attempt, all at a fraction of the cost of typical space missions. Dr. Annadurai shares the challenges faced, the pride it brought to the nation, and the inspiring journey from earlier successes like Chandrayaan-1. Dive into the competitive Asian space race and the global significance of this groundbreaking achievement!

Ruth Kedar, the creative mind behind the iconic Google logo, shares her incredible journey from a martial arts class in Brazil to collaborating with tech giants Larry Page and Sergey Brin. She discusses how the logo's design evolved, capturing a playful yet professional essence that resonates globally. Ruth also reveals the challenges she faced and her humorous experiences during the creative process. Her story highlights the logo’s significance in shaping Google’s identity and its lasting impact on modern culture.

Joan Wiffen, a pioneering fossil-hunter, shares her thrilling journey of discovering New Zealand's first dinosaur bone against all odds. With no formal qualifications, she turned her garage into a DIY paleontology lab, meticulously searching the rainforest for fossils. Her groundbreaking find—a theropod tailbone—upended long-held scientific beliefs about dinosaurs in New Zealand. Joan's son, Chris, recounts their family's adventures and the excitement of having world-renowned paleontologists astonished by her discoveries.

Doctor Vibha Marfatia, a medical professional who lived through the 1994 pneumonic plague outbreak in Surat, shares her gripping firsthand experience. She recounts the panic that gripped the city, as residents feared for their lives amid unsanitary conditions. Vibha discusses the difficult choices families faced while fleeing and the government's response that transformed Surat into a cleaner city. Her vivid stories reveal the chaos of that time and how a public health crisis can reshape communities.

Mikhail Bobrov, an 18-year-old mountaineer, shares his harrowing experiences camouflaging Leningrad's iconic landmarks during World War II, a mission vital to protecting the city under siege. Journalist Monica Whitlock interviews Mikhail about the daring climbs amidst relentless enemy attacks. The discussion reveals their courageous feats to obscure structures like St Isaac's Cathedral, survive brutal winters, and even hunt local birds for food. They highlight the spirit of resilience symbolized by Shostakovich's 7th Symphony, played during desperate times.

Allan Cormack, a South African physicist, and Sir Godfrey Hounsfield, a British engineer, revolutionized medical imaging with the invention of the CT scanner in 1971. Their journey began with skepticism and culminated in a groundbreaking success that transformed healthcare. Robert Cormack shares personal insights about his father's role in this innovation, reflecting on the impact it has had on tumor detection and medical practices. The podcast also touches on the legacy of the Nobel Prize and the humorous moments surrounding its recognition.

Benito Mussolini, the notorious fascist dictator known for his imperial ambitions, discusses the dramatic journey of the Obelisk of Axum, stolen by Italy in 1937. The monumental 24-meter tall structure, a symbol of Ethiopia's cultural heritage, was taken to Rome, igniting debates on repatriation. The guest also highlights the engineering feats encountered during its eventual return in 2005. With emotions running high, the podcast captures the jubilant moment when the obelisk finally arrived back in Ethiopia, symbolizing a long-awaited reconciliation with history.

In 1980, Abebech Gobena was on a pilgrimage to Wollo in Ethiopia, when she witnessed the devastating effects of a severe famine and drought, one of the worst in the country's history. Within a year she had rescued 21 orphans and brought them to live with her in Addis Ababa. The organisation she founded has since raised thousands of Ethiopian orphans. Dan Hardoon speaks to Hannah Merkana, one of the children raised in the orphanage, who considers herself one of Abebech's daughters.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: Abebech Gobena in 2013. Credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

In 1994, a college student called Yohannes Haile Selassie unearthed a 4.4 million-year-old skeleton in Ethiopia. She was the first near-complete skeleton of a species of human ancestor called Ardipithecus ramidus. The paleoanthropologists who discovered her called her Ardi. The discovery upended how scientists view human evolution.Yohannes Haile Selassie speaks to Ben Henderson.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: Yohannes Haile Selassie in the Afar desert, Ethiopia. Credit: CMNH/Woranso-Mille Project)