‘After almost annihilating our planet, our relatives are friends’: the thrilling podcast from JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the world veered nearer to destruction more so than ever during recent history. This transpired after a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. The next phase constituted almost a fortnight filled with unbearable anxiety.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger was palpable. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a cascade involving global atomic attacks and counterstrikes would have followed, plunging mankind into all-out oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered repeatedly, through books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented dimension into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the figures who, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Russians thinking? What was Washington considering?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can individuals detest each other and oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or can become complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Precipice Towards Catastrophe

What’s striking about this event was that, since it transpired so publicly, citizens globally were able to observe almost as it happened while it edged towards disaster. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have sunk our naval vessels as well as destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate at a time when many advisors in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Yet, during those two weeks of October 1962, the anxiety was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about it through the USSR's education system, which painted a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, and it was a scary time," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, because it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation was not held by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the pioneers," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is a shame because we got along really well and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost six decades since almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason this series seems so urgent is that we now are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to be able to grasp