The Story

In the week between Christmas and New Year, we’re listening back to some of our favourite episodes of 2023.Jody Oliver deceived his wife, children and male fiancés while adopting a colourful array of identities, scamming those around him out of millions of pounds. Now that he’s in jail, his story can be told.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. Article: The seven lives of the £2m fraudster - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-seven-astonishing-lives-of-the-2m-fraudster-85mdvmxvsGuest: Megan Agnew, News Features Writer, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.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.

In the week between Christmas and New Year, we’re listening back to some of our favourite episodes of 2023.The giant panda has become one of China’s diplomatic tools, after a pair were gifted to President Nixon as an act of friendship in the 1970s. But with US-China relations deteriorating - what can pandas tell us about the two superpowers’ modern relationship?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: Didi Tang, Beijing Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips: The National Archives, CNN, France 24, CCTV, NBC News, Richard Nixon Foundation, Action News 5, TikTok/@care2petitions, pandavoices.org.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.

In the week between Christmas and New Year, we’re listening back to some of our favourite episodes of 2023.The UK is now Europe’s biggest consumer of cocaine. The drug has been linked to a surge in domestic violence and middle-class users are being warned it’s not a victimless crime. How is so much cocaine getting into the country? And what can the authorities do about it?You can read Dipesh's article (and see an image of charcoal soaked in cocaine) here.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: Dipesh Gadher, Home Affairs Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Clips: France 24, Al Jazeera, Euronews, BBC News, 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.

In the week between Christmas and New Year, we’re listening back to some of our favourite episodes of 2023.A Times journalist went undercover to show that British Gas obtained court warrants to break into customers’ homes to force fit prepayment meters. The investigation led to immediate responses from the company, the regulator and from government. So how did the investigation unfold?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.Clips: Times Radio, Sky News, BBC, Parliament.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.

Christmas is a time to pause and reflect. So today we take the opportunity to speak with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, about his own memories of financial struggle, the cost of living crisis, and his role as president of the charity Feeding Britain. Donate to The Times and Sunday Times Christmas Appeal: Visit thetimes.co.uk/christmasappeal or call 0151 284 2336.Guests:- Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury.- Poppy Koronka, news reporter, The Times.Host: Kaya Burgess.Clips: Sky News.Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukThis 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.

Discover the work of Whizz Kidz, a charity providing customized wheelchairs for children. Hear from parents and children about the impact of independent mobility and specialized chairs. Explore the importance of representation and inclusion through Barbie dolls and accessibility. Follow the story of Ethan, who receives a life-changing power chair. The podcast also touches on the cost of specialized items and playful conversations.

Gen Z's increasing support for the Palestinians in the Israeli conflict, influenced by TikTok and left-leaning beliefs. Exploring the impact of social media and university debates on views. The role of media consumption in shaping perception of the conflict and challenges of having productive conversations.

Literary editors discuss taboo-breaking and funny books of 2023, including a steamy scene. They highlight Irish literature and a Victorian London set novel. Also, celebrity memoirs and unconventional 'Erotic Vagrancy' are discussed. Anticipated books for 2024, like 'Long Island' and 'Sam and Rushdie's Knife' are mentioned.

War correspondent Anthony Loyd discusses child slavery and prostitution in Sierra Leone, sharing stories of survivors. The podcast also explores the recent coup attempt and the work of Street Child in supporting young people in the country.

This weekend, Rishi Sunak was in Rome meeting Italy's prime minister Giorgia Meloni. As well as being a fan of the British PM, she's also a devotee of one of the UK's most famous writers - author of The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien. An exhibition on his life and work has opened in the city, so how did he become a cultural icon for the for Italy’s hard-right?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: Tom Kington, Italy Correspondent, The Times. Host: Luke JonesRead more: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/eye-of-meloni-turns-on-jrr-tolkien-exhibition-7xjcf08pq https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/meloni-attends-tolkien-show-kkhj0dwl2 Clips: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/New Line Cinema, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert/CBS, MiC Italia, Vista Agenzia Televisiva Nazionale, France 24, Facebook/Giorgia Meloni, Reuters, CGTN, Fanpage.it, DW News, Barbarossa/Martinelli Film Company International/Rai Fiction.Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.ukFind out more about our Apple bonus series: 'Inside the Newsroom'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.