Kultur & Gesellschaft
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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.
Folgen von Witness History
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Folge vom 16.07.2026Birkin bag: Creating fashion’s iconic accessoryIn 1985, one the world’s most recognisable fashion accessories was first launched – the Birkin handbag.Its origins have since become legend. The actress and model Jane Birkin said she was on a flight to London when her bag and contents spilt over the floor.The passenger sitting next to her remarked that she needed a bigger bag, and offered to make it for her. His name was Jean-Louis Dumas, then chief executive of the leather goods company, Hermès.The design was sketched on the plane’s sickbag, and the resulting leather holdall was christened the Birkin, after its inspiration.Today, the price tag ranges from a few thousand dollars to more than $200,000 for limited design versions, and it's often seen on the arms of celebrities and socialites.Jane Wilkinson looks back at its history, using BBC archive.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about 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 how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines’ life and Omar Sharif’s legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives’ ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.(Photo: The original Birkin bag made from black leather, has two short handles and a long handle and a leather flap across the top, with a leather strap detail and a gold clasp. Credit: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)
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Folge vom 15.07.2026Turkey’s failed coupOn 15 July, over 300 people were killed and more than 2,100 injured when rogue soldiers commandeered warplanes, tanks and helicopters in a failed coup attempt against President Tayyip Erdogan. Some of the fiercest fighting took place on the first bridge linking Europe to Asia. It was there civilians and police confronted soldiers in deadly clashes. The waterfront neighbourhood of Çengelköy is directly below the Bosphorus bridge. As soldiers began passing through it, the neighbourhood Mukhtar, the elected head, rallied residents to set up barricades. Emily Wither speaks to that head, Can Cumhurcu, who stood his ground with his neighbours outside the local police station until he was shot by a soldier. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about 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 how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines’ life and Omar Sharif’s legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives’ ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.(Photo: People take over a tank near the Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridge. Credit: Gurcan Ozturk/ Stringer via Getty Images)
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Folge vom 14.07.2026Creating Canada’s largest territoryFor generations, Inuit communities lived across the Arctic, travelling with the seasons and relying on the land. But in the mid-20th century, Canadian government policies, including relocations, moved many into permanent settlements, reshaping their way of life.In the 1970s, a new generation of Inuit activists launched a movement to reclaim control over their land and push for greater autonomy.In 1999, the newly created Nunavut territory gained its own government.Inuit politician and activist Paul Quassa tells Sam Gruet about the fight to regain control over their land, the long negotiations with the federal government, and the moment he felt the campaign had succeeded.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about 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 how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines’ life and Omar Sharif’s legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives’ ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.(Photo: Cambridge Bay. Credit: Arctic Images via Getty Images)
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Folge vom 13.07.2026The Kiss of Life photo that earned a Pulitzer PrizeIn 1967, American lineman JD Thompson was working on overhead power lines in Jacksonville, Florida, when his colleague Randall Champion accidentally grasped a live cable.Seeing his friend dangling high above the ground, JD ran over and climbed the pole to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. At the same time, local photographer Rocco Morabito just happened to be driving past and captured the moment.The image made that evening’s edition of the Jacksonville Journal with the caption 'The Kiss of Life' and was soon syndicated around the world.The following year, Morabito was awarded the 1968 Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography.JD tells Patrick Kiteley how it felt to be involved in such a dramatic rescue.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about 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 how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines’ life and Omar Sharif’s legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives’ ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.(Photo: The Kiss of Life. Credit: Rocco Morabito, courtesy of the Florida Times-Union/Jacksonville.com)