The Story

Christa Pike is set to be executed today, making her the first woman to be put to death in Tennessee in 200 years. Ahead of the execution, Pike has spoken with The Times about her regrets, her fears, and what it’s been like awaiting her final hours. Thirty years on from her trial, she wonders, would she have gotten the same sentence in 2026?

Warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence, murder, and sexual abuse.

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: Olivia Empson, US correspondent, The Times.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Producers: Sophie McNulty, Micaela Arneson.
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: Christa Pike: ‘I have a kinship with Lindsay Clancy’
Further listening: He went to jail for exposing America’s darkest 9/11 secret. Should Trump pardon him?
Clips: WBIR, Times Radio, PBS, CBS, VICE News.
Photo: Tennessee Department of Corrections/Reuters.
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 Labour party is jubilant. Andy Burnham has fired the starting gun for the next general election with one of the most consequential conference speeches in recent memory. Burnham used the speech to set out a series of major proposals, including an end to the triple lock, the abolition of first-past-the-post and closer ties with Europe. At the heart of his national project is a care service free at the point of use. Burnham has set out his vision which promises to put Britain on a different road. But can he persuade the country to buy it?

Guests:
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: 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.

When police arrested five men on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act and explosive offences at RAF Fairford early Sunday morning, questions swirled: who was behind the foiled plot? Should Britain be concerned about its security vulnerabilities? But then the men were released on bail, and suddenly a different question arose: could this entire saga have been a terrible misunderstanding?

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:
Mario Ledwith, news reporter, The Times.
General Sir Richard Barrons, retired British Army general and defence expert.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Producers: Robyn Simon, Micaela Arneson, Paige Reynolds.
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: RAF Fairford: police investigate possible Iran link to foiled bomb plot
Clips: BBC, Sky News.
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.

Deep in Russia’s Ural Mountains lies a secret nuclear bunker, guarded by a gate that has never been seen before. Until now.

A Sunday Times joint investigation has revealed that the Cold War-era bunker, long thought to be dormant, is being revamped as President Putin seeks to arm the country against potential nuclear attack. So what does this mean for the West?

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: John Mooney, investigations editor in Ireland, The Sunday Times.
Host: Luke Jones.
Producer: Micaela Arneson.
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: Revealed: Putin is preparing a base for doomsday nuclear strikes
Further listening: The descent into madness under Putin
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.

When was the last time you read a book? Literacy rates have plummeted across the developed world since the advent of the smartphone and the consequences for society are chilling, says James Marriott. But why does it matter that fewer of us are reading books? And what happens if we all just stop?

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: James Marriott, columnist, The Times.
Host: Luke Jones.
Producer: Jennifer Kennedy.

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: The death of reading puts the world in a perilous place
Further listening: Inside the British town contaminated by forever chemicals
Clips: ABC, DW News, Good Morning America, TMZ, Tucker Carlson Network.
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.