The Story

Michael Lewis, author of The Big Short, tells the inside story of Sam Bankman-Fried, the crypto whizz kid at the heart of one of the 21st century's most spectacular financial collapses. They discuss his rapid rise in the crypto trading industry, his move to the Bahamas, and the loosely-run nature of his enterprise. They also touch upon friendship, conflict of interest, and the literary opportunity that arose from his story.

Political Correspondent John Boothman joins the podcast to discuss Scotland's high drug-related death rate and the potential benefits of decriminalization. They explore the causes of Scotland's drug crisis, compare it to Portugal's approach to decriminalization, and discuss the effectiveness of drug safe rooms as a solution.

This podcast explores the challenges faced by the Conservative Party and focuses on the reinvention of Rishi Sunak. It discusses forgotten priorities, inflation, immigration, and Boris Johnson's decision to step down. It also highlights the recent return of Rishi Sunak with significant policy announcements and previews the upcoming Tory Party Conference. The podcast delves into the inconsistency in the party's policies, the importance of long-term thinking, and teases what to expect in the next manifesto. Furthermore, it explores Sunak's agenda regarding inheritance tax, education, immigration, and crime. The timing considerations for the next election are also discussed, along with the guest's insights from the party conference.

Ruth Shaw, survivor of an encounter with the Yorkshire Ripper, shares her untold story of encountering the serial killer during her university years. The podcast explores the impact of the case on the community and the need for societal change. The episode also discusses the adaptation of a book about the Yorkshire Ripper into a TV series and promotes a sustainability event.

Anthony Loyd, Senior Foreign Correspondent for The Times, discusses a failed mission in Ukraine and the challenges faced by troops. The podcast explores a tense firefight on the frontline, measuring Ukraine's success in the war, societal response, and the fight for survival.

Denise George, former Attorney General of the US Virgin Islands, reveals how she tracked down the moneymen who protected Epstein. She discusses the lawsuit against JP Morgan, Leon Black's financial connections to Epstein, the intricate money trails, allegations of rape linked to Epstein and Black, uncovering Epstein's fake consultancy business, and the fight for justice.

Guest Charlotte Ivers, Staff Writer at The Sunday Times, discusses the recently approved weight loss drug Wegovy and its potential to tackle obesity. The podcast delves into the drug's popularity among celebrities, its availability on the NHS, and its impact on public health. The speaker emphasizes sustainable solutions and lifestyle changes alongside medication to combat the obesity crisis.

This podcast explores the misuse of libel laws by the rich and powerful to intimidate the press. It delves into strategic lawsuits against public participation (slaps) and reveals tactics used by the wealthy to silence media organizations. The discussion also highlights the challenges faced by newspapers in legal disputes and the exploitation of the burden of proof in libel cases. The podcast emphasizes the need for a model law to protect journalists and publishers and provides recommendations for supporting quality journalism.

The high speed railway HS2 has been quietly graded ‘red’ by the government’s infrastructure watchdog, meaning successful delivery appears unachievable. The cost of the line - planned to run between London, and central and northern England - is at £71 billion so far; nearly £2,500 for every UK household. So what went wrong? Who’s got rich off this? And will it ever be finished?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Oliver Wright, Policy Editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Olivia Case.Clips: Channel 4, HS2 Ltd, GB News, BBC, Parliament Live, The Guardian, Sky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last weekend The Times and The Sunday Times – together with Channel 4's Dispatches – broke the news of allegations against Russell Brand including rape and sexual assault. Russell Brand strongly denies all the allegations.So what happened next? Today we catch up with The Times’ head of investigations to answer listener questions and examine the fallout from the investigation.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Paul Morgan-Bentley, Head of Investigations, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Links: Decca Aitkenhead’s interview with Russell Brand, published in 2019:https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-interview-russell-brand-on-his-hedonistic-past-marriages-and-becoming-a-father-wn6gjkwzd Get in touch: If you have any information you want to share with the team behind this investigation, email investigations@news.co.uk.You can contact the Stories of Our Times team on storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk. Clips: Sky News, ABC News, ABC News Australia, Russell Brand on YouTube, GB News, Times Radio, BBC Radio 2, Radio X, Mindhouse Productions/BBC Two, Love Productions/Channel 4. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.