The Story

Attempts at conversion therapy are taking place across the country: in village churches, Harley Street clinics and counsellors' treatment rooms. In this fifth episode of a seven-part series, reporter Emily Sargent explores the way faith intersects with the movement to ban conversion therapy. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:Switchboard provides an information, support and referral service for anyone who needs to consider issues around their sexuality.Phone: 0300 330 0630 (10am-10pm).Samaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provide a safe place to talk 24 hours a day.Phone: 116 123Guests: -Suzi Ruffell, Stand up comedian, podcast host.-Steve Chalke, Founding minister of Oasis church.-Peter Lynas, UK director of the Evangelical Alliance. -Ahmed Shaheed, UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. Host: Emily Sargent, journalist.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.

Attempts at conversion therapy are taking place across the country: in village churches, Harley Street clinics and counsellors' treatment rooms. In this fourth episode of a seven-part series, reporter Emily Sargent goes undercover again, to explore the extremely secretive practice. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:Switchboard provides an information, support and referral service for anyone who needs to consider issues around their sexuality.Phone: 0300 330 0630 (10am-10pm).Samaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provide a safe place to talk 24 hours a day.Phone: 116 123Guests: -Suzi Ruffell, stand-up comedian; host, Out with Suzi Ruffell.-Pamela Gawler-Wright, UKCP Accredited Contemporary Psychotherapist; independent consultant to the MoU on conversion therapy in the UK.Host: Emily Sargent, journalist.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 window for rescuing Afghans is rapidly closing, and for many, that will mean adjusting to life under the 'new' Taliban. Diplomatic correspondent Catherine Philp first met the Taliban 20 years ago. Today: the differences between the Taliban's claims that they've become more moderate, and their actions. Plus, we profile the leadership.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Catherine Philp, diplomatic correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CNN, WION, NDTV, Al Jazeera, PBS, TOLO News, DW News, Sky News, NewsX.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.

It is not marked on maps. Men with automatic weapons guard its border. Few outsiders have ever visited the heavily guarded enclave in rural Albania that is home to the People’s Mujahidin, or MEK.For its supporters, MEK is the biggest and most resilient Iranian opposition group, a government-in-waiting. Others see it as a bizarre and secretive cult led by a zealot with no chance of replacing Iran's ruthless theocracy.Sunday Times foreign correspondent Matthew Campbell goes in search of the truth – the first British journalist to be allowed inside the camp.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Matthew Campbell, foreign correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: Al Jazeera, BBC News, Channel 4 News, France 24, Fox Business, NCRI.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 Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, has left office, resigning after a barrage of sexual harassment allegations. How did he go from potential president to political pariah?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Will Pavia, New York correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS, CNBC, Comedy Central.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.

Every Monday this August, we're looking back at some of the stories from the past year that have stuck with us.With the Taliban now in control of Afghanistan, we return to the agreement between the US and the Taliban last February that sowed the seeds for what followed. Today we revisit a prescient May 2020 conversation with Times foreign correspondent Anthony Loyd, and our August 2020 interview with Afghanistan's recently deposed president.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Anthony Loyd, foreign correspondent, The Times. - Ashraf Ghani, former president of Afghanistan, 2014-2021.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Channel 4 News, BBC, CNN.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.

Attempts at conversion therapy are taking place across the country: in village churches, Harley Street clinics and counsellors’ treatment rooms. In this third episode of a seven-part series, reporter Emily Sargent speaks to survivors and campaigners about the extremely secretive practice.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:Switchboard provides an information, support and referral service for anyone who needs to consider issues around their sexuality.Phone: 0300 330 0630 (10am-10pm).Samaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provide a safe place to talk 24 hours a day.Phone: 116 123Guests: Justin Beck, conversion therapy survivor.Maya, conversion therapy survivor.Matt Mahmood-Ogston, founder, Naz and Matt Foundation.Host: Emily Sargent, journalist.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.

We drank our way through lockdown and now we’re back on the razz – doing what we’ve done to let our hair down since ancient times. But why is booze such an intrinsic part of British life? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Josh Glancy, special correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: BBC News, ITV News, Sky News, Asda, C-SPAN, RT.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.

Did the World Health Organisation miss its chance to stop Covid-19? More than a year and a half into the pandemic, we're no closer to a definitive answer on the origins of the virus. In this episode, The Sunday Times Insight investigation team exposes China's ten-year campaign to seize power within the World Health Organisation, and the impact that had on the scale of the pandemic. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: -Jonathan Calvert, editor, Sunday Times Insight.-George Arbuthnott, deputy editor, Sunday Times Insight.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: PBS, AAP, NBC, France 24, WHO.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.

As the Taliban takes power in Afghanistan, we follow one former interpreter for American and British troops who is trying to escape the country – and speak to the retired major general trying to help his friend to safety.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:- Ahmadzai, former interpreter for British and American forces in Afghanistan.- Charlie Herbert, retired British Army major general.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC, CBS, NBC, CNN.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.