‘After nearly annihilating our world, our families are allies’: the gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, humanity edged closer toward ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This transpired when a US surveillance plane discovered that Soviet atomic weapon sites were being assembled in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. What followed was nearly two weeks filled with extreme anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat was clear. Should President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a chain reaction of worldwide nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging mankind into total destruction.

The October crisis has been examined extensively, through books, films, and television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb introduces an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders that, for 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What were the Russians thinking? What were Washington thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to objectively ask: "Why do people hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that individuals can be friends or have the potential to be complete enemies," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and lawyer. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to fight."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened as it edged towards armageddon. Even so, the danger of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would've obliterated our aircraft carriers as well as sunk America's largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who managed to remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when many advisors in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed American similar weapons based in Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, during those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following these events, with Nina being taught about it via the USSR's education system, which painted an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, it was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. In the years to come, though, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and well produced so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most significant thing remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.

"We are not the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we got along really well and now we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, following almost 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now friends, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because world leaders appear not to be able to learn