The Story

Shane Christie was one of the brightest rugby stars in New Zealand before suffering multiple concussions, leading to a brain injury that would slowly take everything from him. And his experience is far from unique. In this deeply personal account, David Walsh talks to Shane's former partner, Holly Parkes, to ask, What happened? What does Shane's story reveal about the sport he loved deeply? And can rugby survive the fallout?

This is part one of a two-part special investigation into the crisis facing this global game.

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: Holly Parkes
Host: David Walsh, chief sports writer, The Sunday Times
Producer: Sophie McNulty
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Read more: The concussion files
Clips: Harlequins - YouTube.
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.

Hidden in a quiet Belgian archive, century-old colonial maps of the Democratic Republic of Congo may hold the key to an estimated $24 trillion in untapped minerals. Now the United States, backed by Trump, together with the likes of Jeff Bezos, want them. The curators, however, are in no hurry to hand them over.

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

Written by: Madeleine Spence, deputy editor for News Review, The Sunday Times.
Read by: Olivia Case.
Host: Luke Jones.
Producer: Dave Creasey.
We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]
Read more: The $24trn question: who owns these 100-year-old mining maps?
Clips: DW, BBC.
Photo: Getty Images, The Sunday Times.
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 American Dream is as old as the United States itself. But as the country marks its 250th anniversary, with economic uncertainty, political turbulence and social divisions all on the rise, do ordinary Americans still believe? The Times and YouGov spoke to 1800 of them to find out – and we've got their analysis.

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:
David Charter, assistant editor (US), The Times.
Tom Calver, data editor, The Times and Sunday Times.
Host: Rosie Wright.
Producer: Callum Martin and Olivia Case.
We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]
Read more: The American Dream is dying, Times poll reveals
Further listening: Five years on from the Jan 6 riots, how has the US president changed America?
Clips: SullenToys / YouTube, Zohran Mamdani / YouTube.
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.

The shaky ceasefire between Iran and the US has been extended. Whether it lasts much longer or fighting resumes depends partly on Lebanon, where another fragile truce has been struck between Israel and the Iranian proxy group Hezbollah. So why is Lebanon so important to peace with Iran? And what happens if the ceasefire fails?

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: Jack Clover, assistant foreign news editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.
Host: Luke Jones.
Producers: Micaela Arneson, Edward Drummond.
We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: With war in its DNA, will Hezbollah ever disarm?
Further listening: Trump’s ceasefire with Iran - what’s in it and what’s next
Clips: Channel 4, The Guardian, CNN, Global News, Middle East Eye, Reuters.
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.

Attacks targeting the Jewish community have surged in recent weeks, with synagogues and community centres being hit. Many people are feeling increasingly vulnerable, but what's behind this escalation? And how is it impacting Jewish people?

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:

David Woode, crime editor, The Times
Josh Glancy, associate editor, The Sunday Times

Host: Luke Jones.
Producers: Dave Creasey & Edward Drummond.
We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]
Read more: Jewish attacks ‘are why state-backed groups must be called terrorists’
Further listening: Danny Finkelstein: How the world’s antisemites turned on me
Clips: Channel 4, BBC News, ITV News, Times Radio, Daily Mirror.
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.