Podcasts about Wales

A historian helps us re-envision Europe's eastern half, from the Baltics to the Balkans, with a lively account of how most of the region's countries have modernized since the Cold War, and of the challenges they face today. And an American-born artist and creative-writing teacher shares her joy of being "Welsh by choice," telling us of Welsh words that describe feelings we don't easily express in English. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Welcome to Science Quest!

On this week's episode of Local Legends Martin chats with Sunday Times bestselling author Marion Gibson!Regular listeners will recall that Marion last came on Three Ravens during October 2025 to chat about her wonderful book Witchcraft: A History in Thirteen Trials, at which time we spoke about Marion's childhood and career, so we this time we skip all that and jump straight into the 17th century and witch hunt fever!This is all inspired by Marion's new book Witchland: A Tale of Witch Hunting and War in Seventeenth-Century Britain as researched in partnership with the brilliant Tabitha Stanmore, author of Cunning Folk: Life in the Era of Practical Magic and Love Spells.The book offers readers both a history of the English Civil War and, as a product of months of digging through county archives, never-before-discussed histories of several individual everyday folk accused of witchcraft from Scotland, Newcastle and East Anglia down into Devon and Cornwall. The book also draws connections between English witch trials and their later American counterparts, all of which we dig into, along with the folkloric deaths of two of history's most infamous witch hunters/accusers... Learn more about Marion at mariongibson.co.uk and you can keep up with all her adventures on Instagram @witchesetcinsta.About Three Ravens

Can Catherine, Princess of Wales, save the monarchy amid an ongoing royal feud? Following Prince Harry and Meghan's surprise decision to move back to the U.K., Martha revisits her conversation with journalist and bestselling author Christopher Andersen. They dive into his book, Kate: The Courage, Grace, and Power of the Woman Who Will Be Queen, revealing behind-the-scenes details of her cancer journey and her vital role in holding the crown together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Harry and Meghan have landed back in the UK - but what will life look like for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex? For this special edition, we bring you a world exclusive on Prince Harry's demand for taxpayer security and what their return to the UK means for King Charles, the Prince and Princess of Wales and the rest of the royals. Stay informed with British monarchy, from the latest news to expert commentary, with the Mirror's Royal newsletter - https://www.mirror.co.uk/newsletter-preference-centre/?view=Solus&mailingListId=4b0cbed5-3f37-4486-86b2-57afe268814e&utm_source=solusarticle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our story for "Death Week" is a retelling by Martin of a ghost story, The Callow Inn.In rural Herefordshire, for over a hundred years people have reported two strange night-time phenomena connected to The Callow Inn, which was demolished at the end of the 19th century. First there are the ghostly shapes of two people carrying bodies out into Haywood Forest.Then there's the spectral windows, shining light out into the darkness... Martin's take on the story is set in the modern day and explores ideas of broken families, loss, supernatural obsession, and Midwinter symbolism. Details in the story were inspired by Kathleen Lawrence-Smith's book Tales of Old Herefordshire.About Three Ravens

Fifth-time guest Lisa Harper is back — fresh off a whirlwind trip through England, Wales, the Netherlands, and Scotland, and still nursing the jet lag. Between hug-ministry theology, Levi's 75-day merino wool shorts experiment (Lisa remains skeptical), and a surprise moment praying with a stranger in a London store, the conversation turns to Lisa's new book on the Song of Songs — unpacking how the Bible's most intimate book taught her that God delights in her, brokenness and all. Connect with us on social! Lisa: @lisadharper Levi: @levilusko Jennie: @jennielusko Fresh Life Church: @freshlife [Links] Get Lisa's book, Song of Songs: The Love We Long For: https://bit.ly/4xQn2MY Visit Lisa's website: https://bit.ly/3UAIS8W Get the 5 Gallon Bucket: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY Get the Lusketeer Sticker: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY Subscribe for more exclusive content: https://levilusko.com/hitl-subscribe Time Stamps: 00:00:00 – Lisa's fifth visit and the great HITL guest rankings 00:01:37 – Confessions of a hug-ministry professional 00:08:28 – Levi's 75-day merino wool shorts experiment 00:11:19 – Praying with a stranger in a London store 00:14:09 – King Arthur's Seat and an accidental royal garden party 00:19:46 – Introducing her new book, Song of Songs: The Love We Long For 00:24:53 – Why the bride's voice matters more than we think 00:36:47 – Favorite vignettes and the Song of Songs sequel jokes 00:46:17 – Closing thoughts on intimacy, bruises, and redemption

As Hood and Prince of Wales raced toward Bismarck and Prinz Eugen, worsening weather, uncertain contact reports, and the limitations of Hood's armor shaped Admiral Holland's plan of attack. This episode follows the tense final hours before the Battle of the Denmark Strait, from preparations aboard all four ships to the identification error that sent the British guns toward the wrong target as the order to open fire was given. Credit Logo Image: ⁠https://www.flickr.com/photos/state_library_south_australia/3331881750/in/album-72157623232407924 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Tales of a Nuffield Scholar supported by NFU Mutual we bring series two to a close with something slightly different

Clémentine Schneidermann is a French photographer living and working between Paris and South Wales. She recently completed a practice-based PhD at the University of South Wales, Cardiff entitled Photographing Children in a Social Context: Narratives and Strategies (2021). Clémentine works on long term projects & commissions and is interested in new creative practices in social documentary photography. Her approach is collaborative and playful, with an interest in communities and childhood, as well as our relationship to identity and culture. She is a co-founder of Bleak Fabulous with Charlotte James, a  photography-based creative studio working across different disciplines with an emphasis on communities and collaboration. On episode 289, Clémentine discusses, among other things: How having a camera made it acceptable to stare at people Studying in Switzerland… and then Newport, Wales Falling in love with Wales immediately Her book project, I Call Her Lisa Marie Her project Ffasiwn Collaborating with kids… and Charlotte James Getting involved with Alexander MacQueen Her forthcoming book marking ten year of Ffasiwn Bleak Fabulous - trying to create stable income Winning the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize Work she has done in Greenland Her other collaboration: The Emmas Referenced: Mary Ellen Mark Sebastian Bruno Bruce Davidson David Barnes Ken Grant Paul Reas Lina Hashim Jacob Aue Sobol Website | Instagram Become a A Small Voice podcast member here to access exclusive additional subscriber-only content and the full archive of 200+ previous episodes for £4 per month. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter here for everything A Small Voice related and much more besides. Follow me on Instagram here. Need a new website? I will build you one with Squarespace. Details here.

In the summer of 2003, in the small Virginia town of Craigsville, an 18 year old boy shot and killed the man the town knew as a former rescue squad captain and a pillar of the community. Christopher Bennett never denied it. He confessed, took a plea deal to avoid the death penalty, and was handed three consecutive life sentences totalling 1,800 years.But behind that front door, Chris and his siblings say, was a man the town never saw. Years of abuse. Children told to pray for help that never came. And a report of what was happening to his little sisters, made just one day before the shooting.Over this series, Jack chats with Chris from inside Buckingham Correctional Center about his childhood, that night, the sentence designed to outlive him, and a family still fighting to bring him home.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This series contains discussion of child sexual abuse, physical abuse and domestic violence. If you or someone you know needs support, help is available.Australia1800RESPECT (sexual assault and domestic violence, 24/7): 1800 737 732Blue Knot Foundation (adult survivors of childhood trauma): 1300 657 380Bravehearts (child sexual abuse support): 1800 272 831Kids Helpline (ages 5 to 25, 24/7): 1800 55 1800Lifeline (crisis support, 24/7): 13 11 14United StatesChildhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (24/7): 1-800-422-4453RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline (24/7): 1-800-656-4673National Domestic Violence Hotline (24/7): 1-800-799-7233988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (24/7): call or text 988United KingdomNSPCC Helpline (adults concerned about a child): 0808 800 5000Childline (for anyone under 19, 24/7): 0800 1111NAPAC (adult survivors of childhood abuse): 0808 801 0331Rape Crisis England and Wales (24/7): 0808 500 2222Samaritans (24/7): 116 123International For domestic violence services in other countries, visit hotpeachpages.net for a directory of helplines and agencies worldwide.If a child is in immediate danger, call emergency services: 000 in Australia, 911 in the US, 999 in the UK.EARLY AND AD FREE ACCESS: for as little as $1.69 a week!Apple + HEREPatreon and find us on Facebook here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Tailgatin' with Bernard Kerr, a special episode of The Ride Companion presented by Igloo! We travelled to Pivot Factory Racing HQ in Wales to catch up with Bernard and do some talkgatin' across his incredible and very unique car collection. Bernard shares a brutally honest assessment of his 2026 downhill season, opens up about breaking his kneecap at Lenzerheide and reveals his plan to return for Whistler, Lake Placid and Red Bull Hardline in Vancouver. We also discuss the sacrifices required to become an elite downhill racer, why Bernard moved his entire life to Wales, the increasing pressure of managing a World Cup team and how he identified riders including Roger Vieira, Jenna Hastings and Dylan Maples plus much more... To enter our Igloo Playmate giveaway, comment over on YouTube what you would keep inside yours. Bernard will choose five winners a week after the episode has been live! Get early access & ad-free episodes → https://www.patreon.com/theridecompanion You can also support our long term partners: Marin Bikes → marinbikes.com/gb Focus Bikes → focus-bikes.com SRAM: sram.com/en/sram adidas FiveTen: adidas.co.uk/five_ten invisiFrame: 15% off with code REFRESHANDRIDE at invisiframe.co.uk Manta Sleep → 10% off with code theridecompanion tinyurl.com/theridecompanion HUEL → 15% off with code RIDE: huel.com/ Mudhugger → Get 10% off with code ridecompanion10 at themudhugger.co.uk Compex → 20% off with code THERIDECOMPANION: compex.com/uk/ Igloo → igloocoolers.com/ Kecks → https://kecks.co.uk use code THERIDECOMPANION for 10% off Feedback Sports: feedbacksports.com WORX → 15% off with code THERIDECOMPANION at https://uk.worx.com/aff/theridecompanion/ HKT Products → 10% off with code PODCAST at hktproducts.co.uk Follow The Ride Companion Instagram @theridecompanion YouTube @TheRideCompanion Olly Wilkins Instagram @odub_23 YouTube @owilkins23 YouTube clips and BTS channel @moreridecompanion Get official Ride Companion merch, find old episodes and more theridecompanion.co.uk

In Episode 158, hosts Alyce and Laura learn* a new Gen Z term, which as it happens, means they are that Gen Z term.  Caravan of Corrections: pronunciation, Wales, Notting Hill and more! The Star Wars Gazebo at D23 gives us treats for being good, patient little fans  Starfighter deets and that clip we definitely didn't watch Mr. IMAX is psyched about Starfighter. Also why didn't it occur to us that IMAX is a whole company with a CEO and everything? How cute! A Star Wars movie we didn't hear about by people we've not heard of got “cancelled” but not really, because was it ever really a thing? Ultimately it doesn't matter, the internet is still gonna internet (Variety via Geekspin) Highlights from the Ahsoka S2 trailer (!!!!!!!!!) and our thoughts  In Vidya Gamez news, we reveal our secret talent for doing Mario game voices. Wahoo! Kevin Smith wrote Star Wars/Marvel fan fiction Recap on Tap: books are BACK, baby! Laura shares a mostly-spoiler-free recap/review of Star Wars: Eyes Like Stars (not Lost Like Stars). If you don't want to risk minor spoilers, skip 45:20-01:05:30. Instagram: @forcetoastpod Bluesky: forcetoastpod.bsky.social Email: forcetoastpod@gmail.com Website: forcetoastpod.com *This podcast contains a sh!t ton of profanity and boozin. You can find a bleeped version of this podcast absolutely nowhere. Cheers!

Last time we spoke about the reaction after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. After four years of fighting Japan almost alone, China's Chiang Kai-shek learned of Pearl Harbor with profound relief. Japan's attack, meant to neutralize American naval power, instead galvanized the entire Western world against Tokyo. Within hours, Chiang declared war on the Axis powers, transforming China from an isolated nation to a recognized Allied member. The strategic mathematics were clear to Chiang: America's industrial might would ultimately crush Japan. China simply needed to survive long enough. The United States quickly formalized this partnership, pledging military support through Lend-Lease and elevating Chiang to leadership of Allied forces in the China theater. Yet Pearl Harbor brought catastrophe for Western civilians in China. Americans and Britons, previously protected as neutral foreigners, were suddenly rounded up and interned in camps. For many, decades of presence in China ended in hasty evacuation, leaving behind lives built over generations.   #216 The Battle of Hong Kong Part 1: The Approaching Storm Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Japan emerged as a significant threat to British interests during the 1920s following the collapse of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. This concern intensified dramatically after Japan's invasion of China, with the ensuing Sino-Japanese War escalating tensions further. British assets in the region came under direct assault, including attacks on Western military and commercial vessels such as HMS Ladybird. Yet despite these provocations, the British Government maintained an inconsistent stance toward Japan, responding with only feeble diplomatic and military countermeasures. This contradiction characterized London's approach: while diplomatic channels remained conciliatory, military planners viewed Japan with genuine apprehension. During the 1930s, Singapore and Malaya represented Britain's most valuable and prosperous holdings in the Far East and consequently received substantial garrison reinforcements. By contrast, Hong Kong was widely acknowledged to be indefensible—a conclusion reached repeatedly by successive military studies. Despite this consensus, the British Government proceeded with the Hong Kong Defence Scheme in 1936, which aimed to transform Hong Kong Island into a fortified redoubt while establishing delaying positions in Kowloon and the New Territories. The Hong Kong Garrison's mandate was straightforward: repel external attacks and prevent enemy use of the harbour and dry dock. The underlying strategy relied on a simple principle: hold Hong Kong Island as an impregnable fortress and await relief from the Royal Navy. Consequently, protecting the harbour became the paramount objective. Japanese strategists were correctly identified as Hong Kong's primary threat, with military planners anticipating attack from the sea rather than overland. To counter such an offensive, the defence scheme incorporated five successive layers of protection: naval mines fitted with indicator nets and anti-submarine booms formed the first barrier; coastal artillery provided the second; beach installations featuring pillboxes, wire entanglements and mines constituted the third; infantry strongpoints positioned on commanding heights guarded against amphibious landings; and finally, a mobile reserve force stood ready to counterattack and eliminate any successful enemy incursion. The 1936 plan also mandated extensive fortification of Kowloon's bottleneck approaches through bunkers, trenches and blocked passages, with a principal defensive line—resembling a miniature Maginot Line—constructed across the mountains immediately north of Kowloon. The garrison structure comprised three infantry battalions plus the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps (HKVDC), a unit approximately regiment-strength equipped with armoured cars, engineers, artillery, anti-aircraft guns and infantry. These forces organized into three brigades: mainland, island, and garrison reserve. The air component was planned to be formidable: a reconnaissance squadron, a fighter-bomber squadron, two torpedo squadrons and a flight of auxiliary spotting aircraft operated by the HKVDC. Naval forces consisted of a modest destroyer contingent, an MTB flotilla, gunboats and patrol vessels. When Japan occupied Guangzhou, Hong Kong found itself effectively encircled. In response, limited conscription was implemented, though restricted to non-Chinese males for HKVDC service. Chinese personnel were largely confined to non-combat positions such as air-raid precautions and medical duties. The expanding Japanese threat prompted a substantial expansion of the Hong Kong Garrison to four regular infantry regiments—two British units (one specializing in medium machine-gun support) and two Indian regiments. Supporting forces included two coastal artillery regiments, a field artillery regiment-plus, and an anti-aircraft regiment. The Royal Navy expanded to include the 2nd MTB flotilla (eight 60-foot, 29-knot motor torpedo boats armed with twin torpedoes and eight Lewis guns each, plus two smaller 55-foot vessels), four shallow-draught river gunboats (HMS Cicala, Tern, Moth and Robin), four aging World War I S-class destroyers (HMS Thracian, Thanet, Scout and Tenedos—the last transferred to Singapore in 1939), HMS Cornflower sloop, and various auxiliary vessels including tugs, boom defence ships and minelayers. The Fleet Air Arm deployed three Supermarine Walruses—single-engine reconnaissance amphibians—at Kai Tak Airport. The Royal Air Force remained the weakest service, equipped with only four Vickers Wildebeest torpedo-bombers and a handful of HKVDC aircraft: one Avro Tutor, two Hornet Moths and two Cadet biplanes. When World War II erupted in Europe, Britain's focus necessarily shifted to national survival, inevitably leaving distant imperial outposts like Hong Kong neglected. Rather than receive reinforcements, Hong Kong actually lost capable personnel; many veteran troops were repatriated to Europe, leaving behind a less proficient garrison. Peacetime duties had proven a poor preparation for combat—officers and men had passed their time socializing rather than maintaining combat readiness. Governor Sir Geoffrey Northcote persistently urged London to adopt a firmer stance against relentless Japanese provocations: aircraft incursions, sinking of junks and fishing vessels, and infiltration by Taiwanese fifth columnists (Japan had colonized Taiwan in 1895). Recognizing the hopelessness of his position, Northcote recommended withdrawal in October 1940, arguing that defending the colony would inevitably result in mass civilian casualties and widespread destruction—a pragmatic assessment given Hong Kong's indefensible state. London categorically rejected this proposal, reasoning that withdrawal would demoralize China, embolden Japan and undermine American confidence in British resolve. Underlying this decision was an additional consideration: the long-standing dispute over Hong Kong's sovereignty. Since Britain acquired Hong Kong in 1841, the prospect of surrendering it, even temporarily, raised fears about reclaiming it afterward. Preserving the appearance of British determination was deemed crucial to demonstrating to Chiang Kai-shek, Nationalist China's leader, that Britain intended to retain the territory. Despite these political calculations, London consistently refused fresh troop deployments. Major-General A. E. Grasett, the China theatre commander, requested reinforcements only to face rejection—London offered only Indian or other colonial forces. Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, appointed British commander in the Far East in 1941, likewise pressed for garrison strengthening, to no avail. The situation shifted dramatically after Grasett, a retired Canadian who had recently left his China post, travelled to Britain via Canada. Upon arriving in Canada, he independently approached his former classmate Major-General Crerar, Chief of the Canadian General Staff, and advocated for reinforcement. Grasett argued persuasively that deploying two or more additional battalions would enable the Hong Kong garrison to withstand an extended siege. When Grasett reached London in early September 1941, he presented this case directly to the British Chiefs of Staff, simultaneously proposing that Canada could provide the extra units. His arguments proved persuasive; the Chiefs of Staff altered course and convinced a reluctant Churchill to reconsider. In light of accelerating Japanese pressure, Britain substantially enlarged the Malaysia/Singapore garrison from nine to 32 battalions and despatched two capital ships—HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse—to the region, reasoning that this show of force would deter Japanese aggression against British Far Eastern interests, including Hong Kong. The original defence strategy envisaged holding Hong Kong Island exclusively while denying the harbour to attackers. A single battalion (the Punjabis) would execute delaying actions across the New Territories, followed by a three-battalion defensive stand on the Gin Drinkers Line. This brief mainland resistance would allow time for demolishing stores, power installations, docks and wharves, clearing food stocks and removing vital matériel before withdrawing to Hong Kong Island for a protracted resistance awaiting relief from Singapore or American forces from the Philippines. The Gin Drinkers Line—styled after the French Maginot Line in miniature—ran approximately 18 kilometres south of the Sino-Hong Kong border. Beginning near Gin Drinkers Bay west of Kowloon, it extended 17 kilometres across the Kowloon Peninsula hills toward its eastern extremity. The strategic expectation was that this line would delay the Japanese assault for three weeks or longer, permitting battalion withdrawal to Hong Kong Island for sustained resistance while mainland forces completed evacuation procedures. The 1937 war plan stipulated that four battalions would be necessary for an effective delaying action and seven for an adequate Gin Drinkers Line defence—figures which excluded the aircraft and naval support essential to success. With only a single army brigade available and virtually no air capability, planners abandoned the mainland defence concept, leaving defensive works incomplete and deteriorating under tropical conditions. Chinese personnel were conspicuously absent from initial war preparations and strategic planning, only being incorporated late in the process. The largest Chinese component was the volunteer contingent serving with the HKVDC. On the regular army side, approximately 150 Chinese recruits were enlisted in mid-1941 for the 5th Anti-Aircraft Regiment. The Hong Kong Chinese Regiment, hastily constituted on 3 November 1941, comprised officers borrowed from British and Indian units alongside 52 Chinese junior NCOs and other ranks with minimal training. A Royal Engineers troop staffed entirely by Chinese soldiers saw service, and some Chinese personnel served with the Royal Navy and Dockyard Defence Corps. Chinese participation increased substantially in auxiliary services—air-raid precautions, auxiliary police, nursing, St John Ambulance and fire brigades. This reluctance to fully integrate Chinese forces likely reflected prevailing attitudes of the era. Pre-war British propaganda had frequently mocked Japanese military capability, portraying officers and soldiers as myopic and incompetent. Japanese combat prowess was systematically underestimated; their victories in China were attributed to facing inferior opposition rather than evidence of genuine military strength. Japanese weaponry was dismissed as inferior to European standards. Consequently, British confidence remained high that the colony could hold indefinitely if adequately reinforced. In September 1941, Hong Kong received heartening news: two additional Canadian battalions would be deployed to the garrison. Brigadier John Maltby promptly revived the pre-war plan for defending the Gin Drinkers Line, developing a strategy centred on three mainland battalions (2nd Royal Scots, 5/7 Rajputs and 2/14 Punjab) supported by HKVDC elements and four artillery troop detachments, while three island battalions (1st Middlesex, Royal Rifles of Canada and Winnipeg Grenadiers) bolstered by the bulk of the HKVDC would hold Hong Kong Island. Command responsibility was divided between two brigades: the Island Brigade (Hong Kong Infantry Brigade) under Brigadier Lawson, a recently arrived Canadian, and the mainland Kowloon Infantry Brigade under Brigadier Wallis. The Canadian regiments arrived on 16 November 1941. Maltby was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1911, and  saw extensive service across multiple campaigns: World War I, the Persian Gulf (1913–14), and the North-West Frontier (1923–24). His early promise earned him selection for accelerated advancement through prestigious staff colleges at Quetta and RAF Andover. By 1937, he was again serving on the North-West Frontier, and by 1939 commanded both the 3rd Jhelum Brigade (later the Calcutta Brigade) and the 19th Infantry Brigade in Deccan. In 1940, posted to China, Maltby orchestrated the closure of the North China Command by withdrawing two infantry battalions from Shanghai. Promoted to major-general as GOC China in August 1941, he had only three months to prepare the colony's defenses, a race against time he could not win.  The Gin Drinkers Line occupied a naturally dominant position atop mountains spanning northern Kowloon's breadth, yet possessed inherent weaknesses that would prove fatal. The line lacked defensive depth and remained vulnerable to flanking manoeuvres, with two sectors representing particular danger: Customs Pass and the gap between Golden Hill and Laichikok Peninsula near Gin Drinkers Bay. Given the extended front, each battalion arranged its forces in a string of platoon positions with gaps covered by daytime fire and nighttime patrols. One company per battalion could be held in reserve within prepared positions guarding the most dangerous sectors. The reserve company of the centre battalion (2/14 Punjab) initially advanced as forward troops, screening demolition operations and delaying the enemy's initial thrust. The hasty decision to establish mainland defences meant that essential support systems—communication networks, artillery registrations, mortar calibrations—remained incomplete when combat commenced. Ammunition shortages compounded the problem. For instance, the 2/14 Punjab conducted only a single 3-inch mortar practice session before the attack; adequate ammunition arrived only in November and totalled a mere 70 rounds per battalion for both training and combat. These mortars were registered for the first time in their battle positions, with combat beginning just 12 hours later. The 2-inch mortar situation was even more desperate: troops received live ammunition only as fighting started, making their baptism of fire an actual combat situation. Transportation deficiencies—trucks and animals in short supply—forced manual ammunition transport across Hong Kong's challenging terrain, imposing severe physical demands on already stretched personnel.   On 6 November 1941, Imperial Japanese Headquarters ordered its Commander-in-Chief in China to prepare plans for capturing Hong Kong. The 23rd Army, part of the China Southern Expeditionary Army Group and commanded by Lt. Gen. Sakai Takashi with Maj. Gen. Kuribayashi Tadamichi serving as Chief of Staff, would form the invasion's backbone. All preparations were to be completed by the end of November 1941. The operation, designated 'Operation C', sought to 'seize Hong Kong within ten days'. Takahashi was the son of a factory worker, and rose through the ranks to become a veteran of China campaigns. He was tasked with capturing Hong Kong using the 38th Division normally assigned to the Southern Expeditionary Army Group. Despite setbacks and humiliation over requests for additional resources—particularly following intelligence reports of tanks (actually Bren carriers) in Hong Kong—Sakai remained determined to succeed. He served as Governor of Hong Kong from 26 December 1941 to 20 February 1942. Kuribayashi, best remembered as the Japanese commander at Iwo Jima, graduated from the Army Academy in 1914 specializing in cavalry. He served as deputy military attaché to Washington and Canada and studied at Harvard University. In December 1941, he held the position of Chief of Staff to the 23rd Army during the Hong Kong operation. Operation C followed a straightforward strategic framework. A blocking force would prevent Chinese interference from the rear, while the main invasion force would spearhead the assault. The 23rd Army, comprising four divisions plus a mixed brigade and two infantry regiments, received the assignment to attack Hong Kong. Of these four divisions, only the 38th played a substantive role in the invasion itself. The attack employed a combined-arms approach. Naval forces would establish a blockade and deliver bombardment while aircraft targeted key installations. Ground forces from the 38th Division—specifically the 228th, 229th, and 230th Regiments—would execute the land invasion using a three-pronged strategy. The right column would sweep westward in a wide arc, clearing Castle Peak Road and targeting the western flank of the Gin Drinkers Line near Laichikok Peninsula. The centre force would press directly through the line's middle, while the left column would cross Tidal Cove (Tolo Harbour) toward Kai Tak Airport and eastward toward Devil Peak, a crucial defensive position. The objective was to annihilate British forces on the mainland and compel Hong Kong's surrender through sustained bombardment. Should British forces resist, the island phase of the campaign would commence. Securing the rear against the Chinese National Army of the 7th Military District and Communist guerrillas fell to the 66th Regiment, normally part of the 51st Division but attached to the 38th for this operation. The 66th would simultaneously occupy and secure rear areas throughout the New Territories and Kowloon while the three assault regiments engaged the main defensive forces. This rearguard operation was organised into columns named after their commanding officers: Kitazawa, Kobayashi, Sato, and Araki. The Japanese selected the narrowest approach between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, targeting the eastern coast near Lyemun Passage where only 410 metres of water separated the mainland from the island. Upon landing, forces would rapidly advance inland to seize the critical junction of Wongneichong Gap, then pivot westward and southward to capture Victoria City and the remainder of Hong Kong. The naval contingent divided into two groups: the Bombardment Group and the Attack Group. Approximately 300 personnel from the Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) were attached to the invasion force. Air support came from the First Air Brigade under Col. Habu Hideharu, which contributed 56 light bombers and fighters. Their mission was to neutralise the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, thereby securing aerial and maritime superiority for the ground campaign.   On the eve of war, the British garrison numbered 13,981 all ranks, including nursing staff and St John Ambulance personnel. Of these, 8,919 were British and Canadian, with 4,402 Indian and Chinese. The core infantry force comprised 5,422 regular soldiers, complemented by approximately 6,000 additional personnel across artillery, engineering, naval, and Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps (HKVDC) units. By 1941, the Royal Navy had become a shadow of its former self as the once-dominant China Squadron. Of the three World War I destroyers present on 8 December, two had been sent to Singapore—the third undergoing repairs—by 1930. This redeployment stemmed partly from the futility of defending the colony and partly from a commitment by senior US Navy officers: Britain would reinforce Singapore with Hong Kong's fleet in exchange for four American destroyers at Singapore. This American guarantee, however, never materialized. The defensive infrastructure focused primarily on countering a seaborne attack: twenty-nine coastal guns (9.2in., 6in., 4.7in., and 4in. calibres), ten 18- and 2-pounder beach defense guns, and twenty-eight field guns (60-pounder, 6in., 4.5in., and 3.7in. calibres). The Hong Kong Garrison's infantry comprised four regular army battalions—two British and two Indian—bolstered by five HKVDC infantry companies, each averaging 100 men. The 1st Middlesex Regiment, deployed in August 1937, served as a machine-gun battalion equipped with forty-eight Vickers medium machine guns. Having been abroad since 1931, the regiment had deteriorated through protracted garrison service, Hong Kong being among the softest postings available. From September 1939 onward, all regiments—including the 5/7 Rajputs (arrived June 1937) and the 2/14 Punjab—experienced systematic loss of experienced officers and NCOs to other theaters. The Royal Scots proved particularly hard hit, suffering disciplinary problems and an unusually high court-martial rate. Units like the Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery suffered critical leadership gaps that went unaddressed. By December 1941, many formations fielded inexperienced replacement troops, significantly undermining combat readiness. The Punjabis exemplified these deficiencies. Stationed in Hong Kong since November 1940, they received their vehicles and mortars only in August 1941—three months before combat. Compounding this, forty percent of their strength consisted of raw recruits arrived just in October. When war erupted, artillery regiments found themselves relying on junior officers in senior roles, with British commanders unfamiliar with Urdu directing Indian troops, a handicap that severely compromised effectiveness. Deficient equipment compounded leadership shortages. Shells dating from 1918 detonated prematurely upon discharge, while ammunition shortages crippled operations. On 8 December, all field guns deployed with merely 100 rounds apiece, with 200 rounds held in reserve for the entire campaign, and coastal guns received only 25 rounds each. Insufficient cross-training meant many infantrymen failed to understand the artillery "clock face" targeting system, causing them to miss their objectives. Malaria devastated European troops, particularly the Royal Scots. Of approximately 770 personnel, at least 180 suffered recurring malarial episodes from the Shing Mun Redoubt area's notoriously endemic conditions. Staff shortages forced nearly every unit to promote junior officers to positions beyond their rank, exacerbating structural weaknesses. Although the Canadians' arrival bolstered the garrison, significant handicaps undermined their effectiveness. Both battalions carried a C-class designation—deemed unfit for foreign service—having spent years in soft garrison postings without rigorous training. The deficit was stark: each Canadian soldier received only thirty-five rifle practice rounds. The two battalions incorporated 115 men with fewer than sixteen weeks' training, while sixty-two of seventy-five recruits joining the Winnipeg Grenadiers in June came directly from a training depot lacking even basic rifles. Twelve percent of the Canadian force remained untrained. Equipment deficiencies proved even more damaging. A standard 1941 Canadian infantry battalion required 102 motor vehicles—including twenty-two Universal Carriers, thirty-seven ¾-ton trucks, thirteen 1-ton trucks, thirty-one bicycles, and twenty-two Boys anti-tank rifles. When the Canadians landed, logistical failures left them with only six Bren carriers, two water tankers, twelve ¾-ton trucks, and a single Boys anti-tank rifle. Although they carried 3in. mortars, neither ammunition nor radios accompanied them. Canada possessed only 300 3-inch mortar bombs in its entire inventory at that time, making any allocation to Hong Kong impossible. A second vessel, the SS Don Jose, was dispatched with replacement vehicles and equipment but never reached Hong Kong before 8 December. The Japanese seized it en route to Manila. Despite these shortcomings, the force departed on 27 October with 1,975 men and arrived on 16 November. Intelligence estimates regarding Japanese available forces varied widely, ranging from two to four divisions. On 6 December evening, Chinese reports confirmed the previous day's arrival of three Japanese divisions at Buji township, located eight miles from the border in what is now Shenzhen. Earlier, around 1 November, a Japanese deserter provided intelligence of significant troop concentrations north of the frontier, including large-calibre artillery indicative of at least divisional strength.   The Hong Kong invasion force comprised three service branches: the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) deployed the 38th Infantry Division, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) committed the Second China Fleet, and the Imperial Japanese Air Force (IJAF) contributed the 1st Air Group. Command of the ground assault rested with Lieutenant-General Sano Tadayoshi of the 38th Division, supported by Major-General Ito Takeo heading the infantry group, while supporting arms including artillery, engineers, armor, and transport fell under Sano's authority. The main assault force consisted of three infantry regiments from the 38th Division, each led by a colonel: the 228th under Doi Teihichi, the 229th under Tanaka Ryosaburo, and the 230th under Shoji Toshishige. The 38th Division itself was a standard 1940s B-class infantry division of approximately 20,000 troops (ranging from 18,000–21,000 depending on operational requirements), organized into three regiments with three battalions each. Reflecting the Japanese army's reliance on animal and human transport, each regiment fielded roughly 3,800 troops supported by some 700 horses. Battalion strength averaged around 1,071 personnel, with companies numbering approximately 180 men. Japanese infantry battalions of this period featured a distinctive organization: rifle platoons consisted of four sections (three equipped with rifles and light machine guns, one with light mortars and rifles), complemented by an additional heavy machine-gun company fielding twelve Type 92 weapons and a troop of light artillery—likely Type 92 70mm infantry guns. The divisional field artillery regiment operated 75mm Type 41 mountain guns organized into three 688-man battalions, each with two troops of two guns. Mountain artillery units, numbering 36 guns total, carried additional personnel (3,400) and animals (1,400) to navigate the terrain complexities of Hong Kong operations. Recognizing the need for overwhelming firepower to compel Hong Kong's surrender, the IJA augmented the invasion force with heavy artillery—15cm and 24cm howitzers commanded by Major-General Kitashima Kineo. News of the Canadian reinforcements arriving in Hong Kong forced a reassessment. Commander-in-Chief Sakai Takashi of the 23rd Army informed his superiors that the original ten-day timeline was unrealistic and requested additional troops. Although most formations were already committed to other operations, Imperial Headquarters eventually authorized two depot regiments from Japan to support the campaign. Intended for second-line duties rather than frontline combat, these units were to be returned promptly after freeing experienced personnel for Hong Kong operations. This arrangement allowed the 19th and 20th mixed brigades—approximately 6,000 men organized in five infantry battalions, a field artillery battalion, and an engineer battalion—to be released for Hong Kong. However, Sakai's request for reinforcements met with disapproval from Imperial Headquarters, and he received an unmistakable message: a swift, decisive campaign was essential. His situation worsened when Japanese agents mistakenly identified British Bren carriers as tanks, forcing Sakai to improvise armor by raiding the 1st Reserve Tank Battalion and tankette units from infantry depot divisions. In attempting to secure additional armor from the 11th Army's 9th Reconnaissance Regiment, Sakai encountered resistance. General Hata Shunroku lodged sustained complaints with senior officials, and Sakai received a sharp rebuke—further requests would not be entertained, and his replacement would follow if necessary. Stung by this loss of face, Sakai abandoned all additional requests and became even more determined to achieve success. Vice-Admiral Niimi Masaichi, commanding the 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet, oversaw the entire naval element, divided into bombardment and attack groups. His flagship, the light cruiser Isuzu, carried Captain Ura Koichi, who simultaneously commanded the bombardment group. This naval force assembled ships from various China Expeditionary Fleet units, particularly from the Canton Special Base Force, 15 Squadron, and 11 Torpedo Boat Division at Guangzhou. Reflecting Niimi's lack of confidence in the army's air support capabilities, the seaplane tender IJN Kamikawa Maru joined the operation on his insistence, providing organic naval aviation against the threat posed by British Wildebeests. Niimi also petitioned for destroyers IJN Wakaba and Yugure to counter the three British destroyers, though this request was denied. The Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF) were assigned to conduct diversionary attacks south of Hong Kong Island, intended to distract British forces from the main land invasion thrust. The IJAF's 1st Air Brigade, commanded by Colonel Habu Hideharu, centered on the 45th Air Regiment with 34 Kawasaki Ki-32 Type 98 'Mary' light bombers. This composite force drew aircraft and units from airfields across China and Manchuria—Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan, and Qiqihar—all assembled at Baiyun Aerodrome in Guangzhou on 7 December 1941. Supporting the 1st Air Brigade were the 10th Independent Squadron under Captain Takatsuki Akira with 13 Nakajima Ki-27 Type 97 'Nate' fighters, 3 Mitsubishi Ki-15 Type 97 'Babs' command reconnaissance aircraft from the 18th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron, and the 44th Independent Squadron fielding 6 Tachikawa Ki-36 Type 98 'Ida' observation aircraft. Years before the invasion, the Japanese cultivated an extensive network of agents and sleeper operatives in Hong Kong, methodically gathering intelligence and mapping military installations. This sophisticated network proved remarkably effective: invasion maps carried by IJA officers were actually Hong Kong Government and British military maps, overprinted with Japanese annotations and interpretations. British officers later discovered in captivity that the Peninsula Hotel's regular barber was a Japanese Navy lieutenant-commander who had exploited the intimate setting to extract valuable information about British force dispositions. Intelligence operatives infiltrated every level of Hong Kong society—the garrison tailor and barber both served as spies. This groundwork enabled exceptional accuracy in artillery fire and bombing campaigns. The Japanese further leveraged criminal networks, recruiting gangsters throughout Hong Kong and Guangdong province with money and arms, turning them into irregular auxiliaries supporting the invasion.   On Sunday, 7 December, seven hundred members of the 2nd Royal Scots and Middlesex Regiment marched to St John's Cathedral for the morning service. As Major-General Maltby read a passage from Matthew, his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant I. MacGregor, delivered an urgent message that would change everything. Preparations for conflict had already begun. On 5 December, the HKVDC had mobilized fully, yet Hong Kong's broader population remained unmoved—the Happy Valley racetrack reported record attendance that very day. The contrast was stark: while one institution prepared for war, another celebrated as though nothing threatened. Japanese forces had been positioned advantageously since autumn 1941. The 23rd Army was already stationed west of Guangzhou, with contingents scattered across Foshan Town, Zhuhai, and other locations on the Pearl River delta. Upon orders for war on 1 December, they faced minimal distances to cover. The army regrouped at Humen, Shilong Town, and Guangzhou itself—staging areas for the invasion. The first visible signs arrived on 4–5 December when Japanese forces landed at Mirs Bay; the 228th Regiment moved into its staging area at Buji Town, now part of Shenzhen City. Maltby received these reports and immediately departed the cathedral service to issue urgent stand-to orders. Yet skepticism persisted within military circles. Some dismissed the threat, dismissing such intelligence as "astonishingly erroneous." Meanwhile, the Imperial Japanese Navy massed in the waters beyond Hong Kong's horizon. The Kowloon Infantry Brigade held a stretched defensive line: the 5/7 Rajputs anchored the centre, the 2/14 Punjab the east, and the 2nd Royal Scots the west. Forward positions extended far—C Company, 2/14 Punjab, under Major S. Burns ranged along Castle Peak Road toward Yuen Long. The brigade screen, C Company of the 2/14 Punjab, held Shueng Shui and Taipo Market with four Bren carriers and two armoured cars from the HKVDC, backed by engineers and the 22nd Fortress Company. The Hong Kong Infantry Brigade held Hong Kong Island itself. The Winnipeg Grenadiers occupied Victoria City on the north-west coast, while the Royal Rifles of Canada stretched along the north-east shores from Saukiwan to Lyemun. Brigadier Lawson commanded from his headquarters at Wongneichong Gap in the island's centre. At 0355 hours on 8 December, the code word "Blossom Blossom" was transmitted. Eleven minutes later, Lieutenant-General Sakai ordered the invasion to commence. Fifty minutes after that, at 0445 hours, Major Charles Boxer—a fluent Japanese speaker formerly of the Lincolnshire Regiment—was roused by Radio Tokyo announcing that war was imminent. Governor Young and Major-General Maltby were informed at once. By 0500 hours, the forward demolition points had been blown by Major Gray, OC of C Company 2/14 Punjab, and the HKVDC engineers under Major J. H. Bottomley. At 0645 hours, the garrison received formal notification: Britain and Japan were at war. Seventy-five minutes later, air-raid sirens wailed. Within moments, smoke billowed from Kai Tak Airport as Japanese aircraft destroyed virtually the entire air garrison. The Wildebeests, Walruses, HKVDC biplanes, and several civilian planes were engulfed in flames. Only two Ju-52s of the Eurasia Corporation and one CNAC T-32 Condor escaped destruction—dispersal bays had never been built due to lack of funds. The Japanese then turned to secondary targets, bombing Shamshuipo Camp and the neighbouring police station. The Canadians suffered few large-scale casualties in the initial strikes, though Sergeant Routledge and Signalman Fairley of the signal platoon were wounded—the first Canadian soldiers injured in World War II. Remarkably, Hong Kong Island's theatres, cinemas, and restaurants continued operating as though the island faced no peril. Japanese demolition efforts proved only minor obstacles. Bridges blown were quickly replaced. The invasion proceeded on three fronts: the 230th Regiment advanced westward along the northern route toward Yuen Long and Castle Peak, targeting the northern slope of Tai Mo Mountain. The 228th Regiment drove down the centre, following the Sheung Shui–Taipo–Kowloon road toward Grassy Hill north of the Shing Mun Redoubt. The 229th Regiment, crossing at Sha Tau Kok and by boat at Starling Inlet, proceeded via Taipo toward Tai Shui Hang and Ma On Mountain. Whenever confronted with strongly defended positions, the Japanese bypassed them entirely rather than engage. The first day brought scattered but spirited resistance. Around 1300 hours, the Punjabis inflicted the first serious check, drawing blood from advancing Japanese forces. At 1830 hours, they ambushed and decimated several Japanese platoons south of Taipo market town. The HKVDC's armoured cars and Bren carriers struck similar successes nearby. The 2 Royal Scots' reconnaissance platoon clashed with elements of the 229th Regiment around Yuen Long. Despite these minor victories, Japanese momentum continued. Armed with stolen British maps and guided by fifth columnists, they pushed forward relentlessly. By late afternoon on the 8th, the Punjabis withdrew toward Grassy Hill to avoid being outflanked. The artillerymen of the 12th Battery engaged an IJN destroyer and Japanese forces around Taipo, inflicting heavy casualties. Farther south near Shatin, on the Taipo–Kowloon highway, rapidly advancing Japanese troops surprised the defenders and severed the fuse at an HKVDC demolition point. Their triumph proved momentary; the engineers completed the backup circuit and detonated the bridge, destroying it along with the Japanese soldiers crossing it. By early morning on 9 December, orders came to withdraw all mainland units to the Gin Drinkers Line. The Punjabis, already at Shatin Wai overlooking Tide Cove, held their position under pressure and continuous shelling for the next two days. The HKVDC withdrew to Fotan, a village south of Shatin. Maltby ordered D Company, 5/7 Rajputs, under Captain H. R. Newtons to Smuggler's Ridge to close the gap between the 2 Royal Scots and 2/14 Punjab. HKVDC armoured cars and Bren carriers continued patrols along Castle Peak Road while HMS Cicala, having survived two air attacks, maintained station in Castle Peak Bay. Despite an IJN blockade, the destroyers HMS Thanet and Scout slipped anchor and escaped to Singapore around 2130 hours. The surviving CNAC and Eurasia aircraft took off with high-value evacuees: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen's widow and her two equally renowned sisters—the Soong sisters—along with Chinese Finance Minister H. H. Kung. Also departing was Lieutenant-Colonel H. Owen-Hughes of the HKVDC, who carried orders to coordinate with the Chinese Nationalist Army for a rear-guard attack on Japanese forces to relieve the pressure on Hong Kong. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. On 8 December 1941, Japan attacked Hong Kong with the 38th Division, supported by naval and air forces. Despite British defenses manned by undertrained, under-equipped troops, Japanese forces advanced rapidly across three fronts. Within hours, the RAF was destroyed, demolitions proved futile, and British units withdrew toward the Gin Drinkers Line facing overwhelming odds.

In the summer of 2003, in the small Virginia town of Craigsville, an 18 year old boy shot and killed the man the town knew as a former rescue squad captain and a pillar of the community. Christopher Bennett never denied it. He confessed, took a plea deal to avoid the death penalty, and was handed three consecutive life sentences totalling 1,800 years.But behind that front door, Chris and his siblings say, was a man the town never saw. Years of abuse. Children told to pray for help that never came. And a report of what was happening to his little sisters, made just one day before the shooting.Over this series, Jack chats with Chris from inside Buckingham Correctional Center about his childhood, that night, the sentence designed to outlive him, and a family still fighting to bring him home.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This series contains discussion of child sexual abuse, physical abuse and domestic violence. If you or someone you know needs support, help is available.Australia1800RESPECT (sexual assault and domestic violence, 24/7): 1800 737 732Blue Knot Foundation (adult survivors of childhood trauma): 1300 657 380Bravehearts (child sexual abuse support): 1800 272 831Kids Helpline (ages 5 to 25, 24/7): 1800 55 1800Lifeline (crisis support, 24/7): 13 11 14United StatesChildhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (24/7): 1-800-422-4453RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline (24/7): 1-800-656-4673National Domestic Violence Hotline (24/7): 1-800-799-7233988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (24/7): call or text 988United KingdomNSPCC Helpline (adults concerned about a child): 0808 800 5000Childline (for anyone under 19, 24/7): 0800 1111NAPAC (adult survivors of childhood abuse): 0808 801 0331Rape Crisis England and Wales (24/7): 0808 500 2222Samaritans (24/7): 116 123International For domestic violence services in other countries, visit hotpeachpages.net for a directory of helplines and agencies worldwide.If a child is in immediate danger, call emergency services: 000 in Australia, 911 in the US, 999 in the UK.EARLY AND AD FREE ACCESS: for as little as $1.69 a week!Apple + HEREPatreon and find us on Facebook here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The inevitable has occurred, dear listener, so pay up your Eye Money as Death Week has arrived on Three Ravens, riding a pale horse...The final part of our month-long celebration of the Cycles of Life, on this episode we're chatting through the history and folklore of that undiscovered country where all dreams may come - and from which the ancestors might return if we're not careful!We start at the end of the last Ice Age, with humankind surviving in cave systems, engaging in ritual cannibalism and secondary burial rites, then move forward chronologically through the Stone Ages to explore how pre-literate societies embraced sky burials, megalithic portals and community bone hordes to create rituals which linked the end of life with the natural world and the safe functioning of the cosmos.Then, from Ancient Mesopotamian Dying Chairs and the Egyptian Book of the Dead via Ancient Greek and Roman funerary rites, including Defixio tablets to pass messages to the Underworld, we proceed through to the dawn of Anglo Saxon pagan magic and pre-Christian concepts of the hereafter.From radical Medieval shifts towards nakedness in death and circuitous Lych Ways to post-Reformation practices like Telling The Bees and Sin Eating, we hope you find it a reassuring and inspiring listen which places passing on in context.Because it isn't an end - it's the start of something new, like an Ouroboros biting its own tail - with Three Ravens Series 8 launching a week today.Though with several historical spells to help guide us through the dark, and protect us from pesky ghosts, let us journey together into the Twilight Realm feet first, as there's no going back, which is no bad thing!About Three Ravens

Jon Ronson joins Nabil Ayers on Identified for a conversation about family, fatherhood, growing up in Wales, finding his identity as a writer, and the strange series of events that ultimately led to his new book, The Castle. Jon traces his story back to Cardiff, where he grew up feeling like a square peg in a round hole. He remembers being dropped off alone at a Specials concert at just 12 years old, pretending to faint so he could get over the barrier, and unexpectedly meeting Terry Hall backstage. He talks about escaping Cardiff for London, discovering journalism, writing for Smash Hits, The Guardian and Time Out, and the unlikely turn that took him into Manchester’s music scene as the manager of The Man From Delmonte and keyboard player for the legendary Frank Sidebottom. Jon also opens up about his family: an often-absent father who later apologized, his parents’ award-winning Welsh hotel, an extraordinary family portrait that went spectacularly wrong, his marriage, and his relationship with his son. And then, there is The Castle... Jon tells Nabil about waking up to a series of alarming texts from his son after he and his friends had been lured to a mysterious castle several hours outside New York. What happened there eventually sent Jon himself to the castle, which crafted the orgins of his latest book. Guest: Jon RonsonHost: Nabil AyersExecutive Producer: Kieron BanerjiProduced by Palm Tree Island - 00:00 Jon Ronson's Son and the Mysterious Castle01:25 Growing Up Jewish in Cardiff03:55 Childhood, Fear and Freedom04:51 Meeting Terry Hall at 12 Years Old07:15 Escaping to London09:18 Leaving Cardiff and Finding Journalism11:39 Jon's Relationship With His Father13:15 The Extraordinary Ronson Family Portrait18:36 Returning to Wales19:03 Getting His First Break as a Writer20:18 Frank Sidebottom and the Manchester Music Scene23:37 Marriage, Fatherhood and Moving to New York25:21 The True Story Behind The Castle28:18 What Family Means to Jon RonsonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listeners respond to Relebogile Mabotja's open line question about politicians lying. 702 Afternoons with Relebogile Mabotja is broadcast live on Johannesburg based talk radio station 702 every weekday afternoon. Relebogile brings a lighter touch to some of the issues of the day as well as a mix of lifestyle topics and a peak into the worlds of entertainment and leisure. Thank you for listening to a 702 Afternoons with Relebogile Mabotja podcast. Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 13:00 to 15:00 (SA Time) to Afternoons with Relebogile Mabotja broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/2qKsEfu or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/DTykncj Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From a happy start in 1685, James had begun to hit resistance in England to his campaign for Catholic emancipation. In 1686, he planned to accelerate the process. He expected rapid success in Ireland and Scotland, and confidently expected that education, propaganda, and the reality of supreme royal authority would subdue any resistance in England and Wales. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of Local Legends Eleanor chats with Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah Clegg.We first met Sarah last year, when she was one of the guests at our Three Ravens Christmas Feast. Sarah had just published her book The Dead of Winter, all about the origins and changing lore of the dark side of Christmas.Sarah has a PhD in ancient history from the University of Cambridge, and you'd struggle to find another person with such an encyclopaedic knowledge and clear passion for Medieval Romances. In addition to The Dead of Winter, she's the author of Women's Lore: 400 Years of Sirens, Serpents and Succubi. We're speaking just ahead of the publication of her latest book Perilous Enchantment: The True History of Faeries. Perilous Enchantment is a meticulously researched history and travelogue which takes us from elf fires in Iceland to a stream in Cottingley and even a fairy ball in Los Angeles. We talk about the book and her research and the shift in fairy narratives, from dangerous and seductive to childish and whimsical, to explore why stories of the fae continue to fascinate us today. It's a conversation which spans medieval chivalric romances, spicy romantasy, nostalgia and some of the world's most magical places.Learn more about Sarah at https://www.sarahclegg.com, and you can keep up with all her adventures on Instagram @readingartefacts.About Three Ravens

This week we're delving into another Welsh uprising although this one is a lot more modern than the kind we usually chat about. Hit play and listen to how in the 1960's the disgruntled Welsh brought rebellion to the 20th century. Check out our Patreon if you for extra snippets of that Welsh history you love so much and don't forget to check out Save the Workies and help these top lads and lasses save a much loved boozer.

The world's great museums are full of art and artifacts that were plundered during an era when plunder was the norm. Now there's a push to return these works to their rightful owners. Sounds simple, right? It's not. (Part 2 of an updated series originally published in 2023.)   SOURCES: Matthew Bogdanos, assistant district attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and chief of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit. Nicholas Cullinan, director of the British Museum. Victor Ehikhamenor, Nigerian writer and artist. David Frum, staff writer at The Atlantic. Dan Hicks, professor of contemporary archaeology at the University of Oxford and curator of world archaeology at the Pitt Rivers Museum. Bénédicte Savoy, professor of art history at the Technical University in Berlin.   RESOURCES: "These Looted Treasures Are Home. What Now?," by Alex Marshall (New York Times, 2025). "France's Long-Awaited Restitution Policy Is Finally Here," by Vincent Noce (The Art Newspaper, 2023). Africa's Struggle for Its Art: History of a Postcolonial Defeat, by Bénédicte Savoy (2022). "Who Benefits When Western Museums Return Looted Art?" by David Frum (The Atlantic, 2022). "Museums in England and Wales to Gain Powers to Dispose of Objects on Moral Grounds," by Dalya Alberge (The Guardian, 2022). The Brutish Museums: The Benin Bronzes, Colonial Violence and Cultural Restitution, by Dan Hicks (2020). "The Restitution of African Cultural Heritage. Toward a New Relational Ethics," by Bénédicte Savoy and Felwine Sarr (2018).   EXTRAS: "Can a Museum Be the Conscience of a Nation?," by Freakonomics Radio (2025). "The Hidden Side of the Art Market," by Freakonomics Radio (2021). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Every Wednesday and Friday in August we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2026, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we've chosen it. This week, from March: Once violently defended from extinction, Welsh is still a part of daily life. By learning my family's language, I hoped to join their conversation By Dan Fox. Read by Matt Addis. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

Welcome back, to The Dark Paranormal.Twenty years ago, electrician and paranormal investigator Julian joined a nighttime vigil inside Plas Teg, one of Wales's most notoriously haunted historic mansions. Julian has always tried to find rational explanations for the unusual things he has experienced, but what happened during that investigation left him questioning where imagination ends—and something altogether more unsettling begins.Stay safe,Kevin.We're giving a full weeks trial of our Patreon away! Just head over on the link below and away you go!www.patreon.com/thedarkparanormalIf it's not for you? Simply cancel before your trial expires, meanwhile enjoy FULL access to our highest tier, and thank you for being the best listeners by miles.By making the choice of joining our Patreon team now, not only gives you early Ad-Free access to all our episodes, including video releases of our new Patreon only show "After Dark", you also get full access to the Patreon only podcast, "Dark Bites".Both shows release each and every week, even on the down time between seasons. There are already well over 240+ hours of unheard true paranormal experiences for you to binge at your leisure. Simply head over to:www.patreon.com/thedarkparanormalTo send us YOUR experience, please either click on the below link:The Dark Paranormal - We Need Your True Ghost StoryOr head to our website: www.thedarkparanormal.comYou can also follow us on the below Social Media links:www.twitter.com/darkparanormalxwww.facebook.com/thedarkparanormalwww.youtube.com/thedarkparanormalwww.instagram.com/thedarkparanormalOur Sponsors:* Check out Acorns and use my code acorns.com/darkparanormal for a great deal: https://www.acorns.com* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com* Check out Shopify and use my code shopify.com/darkparanormal Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

After a summer that has seen England and Wales experience the driest July since records began, rain is finally on the horizon. But with reservoirs at ‘exceptionally low' levels, will there be enough rain to replenish stocks? Madeleine Finlay hears from Dr Anna Murgatroyd, a lecturer in hydrology at Newcastle University, about how much rain we need to see us through next summer, why we're now at increased risk of floods, and what we can all be doing to take better care of our water supplies. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, have been enrolled in a British school. Also: GCSE and BTec results day in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. And: 'Niu Lai', the low-budget homemade animated film which is sweeping the box office in China.

Our story for "Marriage Week" is a retelling by Eleanor of a giant legend, Alderman and Alphin.Set in Saddleworth, which was once a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire but is found in Lancashire today, not far from Oldham and Manchester, it's the tale attached to two particular landscape features, Alderman's Hill and Alphin Pike, two hills overlooking the entrance to the Upper Tame Valley. Eleanor's telling of the tale and its frame narrative, set in the early 19th century before the advent of the power loom, certainly takes inspiration from Thomas Hardy and Elizabeth Gaskell. Details in the story were inspired by Ammon Wrigley's 1909 book "Saddleworth Superstitions and Folk Customs."About Three Ravens

Did you step outside this morning and feel something odd on your face or neck? Its called rain. We've hardly had any this summer and the result was the declaration this month of drought status across two thirds of England and almost all of Wales. The reservoirs are low. And the future looks parched: the government estimates that by 2055, England will face a water shortfall of 5 billion litres a day. To put that in context we currently use 14 billion litres. Why has this happened and how can we fix it? Other than everyone moving to Scotland. Step inside The Briefing Room and together we'll find out.Guests:Sir John Armitt, chair of The Public Private Partnership Commission Professor Jim Hall, Professor of Climate and Environmental Risk at Oxford University Dr Heather Smith, Senior Lecturer in Water Governance at Cranfield UniversityProduction team:Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Ben Carter, Bob Howard and Kirsteen Knight Editor: Penny Murphy Sound engineer: James Beard Production co-ordinator: Keshia Agyei

New signing and Wales international midfielder Jordan James sits down with Wolves legend Dave Edwards for his first full interview in old gold. The Wales international discusses completing his move to Molineux, why Wolves was the right next step in his career, and his excitement at finally getting started. Speaking to fellow Wolves and Wales representative Dave Edwards, James reflects on his journey from Birmingham City to French football with Rennes, before returning to England and establishing himself as one of the Championship's standout young midfielders. Fresh from a season that delivered 11 goals from midfield and Championship Young Player of the Year recognition, James opens up about the experiences that have shaped him, the box-to-box role where he thrives, and his ambition to help Wolves challenge for promotion. He also discusses the importance of family, adapting to life abroad, and what supporters can expect when he pulls on the old gold shirt for the first time. Watch the full video interview now on Wolves TV, submit your questions to podcast@wolves.co.uk and never miss an episode by hitting subscribe or follow now, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The technology giant Meta has gone on trial in California over allegations its platforms, Facebook and Instagram, are deliberately designed to keep young people hooked. Nearly thirty US states are seeking changes to the platforms and financial penalties amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars. California's prosecutor told the court Meta had put profits over safety and deliberately misled the public. Meta strongly denies the accusations. Also: the United States announces sanctions against the president and a senior lawyer of the International Criminal Court; the head of the WHO warns that the Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is far from being under control; Earl Spencer is to publish a book telling the life story of his sister, Diana, Princess of Wales, from his perspective; and could tree shrews help us correct short sightedness in humans?The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: The Meta logo is displayed on a mobile phone in Liverpool, Britain, 09 June 2026. Credit: Photo by ADAM VAUGHAN/EPA/Shutterstock

There was never an expectation that Zack Polanski's alliance between the progressive left, the ecological environmentalists, and the conservative muslim factions of the Green Party would last forever, but today it seems that the war of dissolution may have finally begun. Noa Hoffman is joined by Andrew Gilligan to discuss what has been going down inside the Greens under Polanski, and how a boiling division in Bolton may well spill over into the rest of England and Wales.Produced by Henry LloydBecome a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jamie is back with some fun stories from her trip to Wales and it includes horses, of course. Gold USDF Medalist Amelia Newcomb stops by to start our new training series talking about the canter. Plus, Jamie is back and that means some weird news. Listen in…HORSES IN THE MORNING Episode 4022– Show Notes and Links:Hosts: Jamie Jennings of Flyover Farm and Glenn the GeekJamie and Glenn's Amazon StoreTitle Sponsor: Chewy EquinePic Credit: Amelia Newcomb and JamieGuest: Amelia Newcomb from Amelia Newcomb DressageLink: Amelia Newcomb's Free Virtual Bootcamp, which runs Aug 26 - Aug 30 Sponsor: Care CreditSponsor: Spalding Labs Fly Predators Coupon: HRN10 for 10% off your first order.Additional support for this podcast provided by: Equine Network and Listeners Like You

In the summer of 2003, in the small Virginia town of Craigsville, an 18 year old boy shot and killed the man the town knew as a former rescue squad captain and a pillar of the community. Christopher Bennett never denied it. He confessed, took a plea deal to avoid the death penalty, and was handed three consecutive life sentences totalling 1,800 years.But behind that front door, Chris and his siblings say, was a man the town never saw. Years of abuse. Children told to pray for help that never came. And a report of what was happening to his little sisters, made just one day before the shooting.Over this series, Jack chats with Chris from inside Buckingham Correctional Center about his childhood, that night, the sentence designed to outlive him, and a family still fighting to bring him home.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This series contains discussion of child sexual abuse, physical abuse and domestic violence. If you or someone you know needs support, help is available.Australia1800RESPECT (sexual assault and domestic violence, 24/7): 1800 737 732Blue Knot Foundation (adult survivors of childhood trauma): 1300 657 380Bravehearts (child sexual abuse support): 1800 272 831Kids Helpline (ages 5 to 25, 24/7): 1800 55 1800Lifeline (crisis support, 24/7): 13 11 14United StatesChildhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (24/7): 1-800-422-4453RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline (24/7): 1-800-656-4673National Domestic Violence Hotline (24/7): 1-800-799-7233988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (24/7): call or text 988United KingdomNSPCC Helpline (adults concerned about a child): 0808 800 5000Childline (for anyone under 19, 24/7): 0800 1111NAPAC (adult survivors of childhood abuse): 0808 801 0331Rape Crisis England and Wales (24/7): 0808 500 2222Samaritans (24/7): 116 123International For domestic violence services in other countries, visit hotpeachpages.net for a directory of helplines and agencies worldwide.If a child is in immediate danger, call emergency services: 000 in Australia, 911 in the US, 999 in the UK.EARLY AND AD FREE ACCESS: for as little as $1.69 a week!Apple + HEREPatreon and find us on Facebook here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jamie is back with some fun stories from her trip to Wales and it includes horses, of course. Gold USDF Medalist Amelia Newcomb stops by to start our new training series talking about the canter. Plus, Jamie is back and that means some weird news. Listen in…HORSES IN THE MORNING Episode 4022– Show Notes and Links:Hosts: Jamie Jennings of Flyover Farm and Glenn the GeekJamie and Glenn's Amazon StoreTitle Sponsor: Chewy EquinePic Credit: Amelia Newcomb and JamieGuest: Amelia Newcomb from Amelia Newcomb DressageLink: Amelia Newcomb's Free Virtual Bootcamp, which runs Aug 26 - Aug 30 Sponsor: Care CreditSponsor: Spalding Labs Fly Predators Coupon: HRN10 for 10% off your first order.Additional support for this podcast provided by: Equine Network and Listeners Like You

Jenna Hastings joins The Ride Companion for an incredibly honest and hilarious conversation about life as a professional World Cup Racer. The Pivot Factory Racing rider and 2022 Junior Downhill World Champion opens up about the pressure of qualifying, questioning whether she can still ride a bike during World Cup practice and crying between Q1 and Q2 before fighting back to finish fifth in Andorra. Jenna explains why winning at Crankworx hasn't automatically translated into World Cup success, what separates the fastest women in downhill and why making a final can still feel like winning. She also reveals that she sometimes vomits inside her helmet! Away from racing, Jenna talks about growing up riding BMX in Rotorua, leaving school at 17 to pursue her dream, travelling overseas with Eddie Masters and joining Bernard Kerr's Pivot Factory Racing programme. She also shares what it's like living in a renovated caravan in Wales, chasing summers and building a future beyond professional racing. This is a real look inside the life and mind of one of the World's fastest bike racers. We hope you enjoy it and don't forget to leave a like and comment. Get early access & ad-free episodes → https://www.patreon.com/theridecompanion You can also support our long term partners: Marin Bikes → marinbikes.com/gb Focus Bikes → focus-bikes.com SRAM: sram.com/en/sram adidas FiveTen: adidas.co.uk/five_ten invisiFrame: 15% off with code REFRESHANDRIDE at invisiframe.co.uk Manta Sleep → 10% off with code theridecompanion tinyurl.com/theridecompanion HUEL → 15% off with code RIDE: huel.com/ Mudhugger → Get 10% off with code ridecompanion10 at themudhugger.co.uk Compex → 20% off with code THERIDECOMPANION: compex.com/uk/ Igloo → igloocoolers.com/ Kecks → https://kecks.co.uk use code THERIDECOMPANION for 10% off Feedback Sports: feedbacksports.com WORX → 15% off with code THERIDECOMPANION at https://uk.worx.com/aff/theridecompanion/ HKT Products → 10% off with code PODCAST at hktproducts.co.uk Follow The Ride Companion Instagram @theridecompanion YouTube @TheRideCompanion Olly Wilkins Instagram @odub_23 YouTube @owilkins23 YouTube clips and BTS channel @moreridecompanion Get official Ride Companion merch, find old episodes and more theridecompanion.co.uk

Waar de gevolgen van klimaatverandering voor de Britten tot dusver vooral een probleem elders waren, zet deze zomer de boel op scherp. Bosbranden, hittegolven en een dreigend drinkwatertekort, de Britten hebben het over weinig anders. Tegelijkertijd wil de nieuwe Labour-regering van Andy Burnham gaan boren naar fossiele brandstoffen in de Noordzee. En dat is minder tegenstrijdig dan het klinkt, vindt hij. Ook in deze aflevering Na een - uiteraard geheime - peiling onder spionnen in Europa, van de CIA en de Mossad komt de Britse geheime dienst MI6 als beste ter wereld uit de bus. Zijn ze daar blij mee? Ze zeggen er niets over. Wat maakt de Britse spionnendienst zo goed? Over Van Bekhovens Britten In van Bekhovens Britten praten Lia van Bekhoven en Connor Clerx elke week over de grootste nieuwsonderwerpen en de belangrijkste ontwikkelingen in het Verenigd Koninkrijk. Van Brexit naar binnenlandse politiek, van de Royals tot de tabloids. Waarom fascineert het VK Nederlanders meer dan zo veel andere Europese landen? Welke rol speelt het vooralsnog Verenigd Koninkrijk in Europa, nu het woord Brexit uit het Britse leven lijkt verbannen, maar de gevolgen van de beslissing om uit de EU te stappen iedere dag duidelijker worden? De Britse monarchie, en daarmee de staat, staat voor grote veranderingen na de dood van Queen Elisabeth en de kroning van haar zoon Charles. De populariteit van het Koningshuis staat op een dieptepunt. Hoe verandert de Britse monarchie onder koning Charles, en welke gevolgen heeft dat voor de Gemenebest? In Van Bekhovens Britten analyseren Lia en Connor een Koninkrijk met tanende welvaart, invloed en macht. De Conservatieve Partij leverde veertien jaar op rij de premier, maar nu heeft Labour onder Keir Starmer de teugels in handen. Hoe ziet het VK er onder Keir Starmer uit? En hoe gaan de ‘gewone’ Britten, voor zover die bestaan, daar mee om? Al deze vragen en meer komen aan bod in Van Bekhovens Britten. Een kritische blik op het Verenigd Koninkrijk, waar het een race tussen Noord-Ierland en Schotland lijkt te worden wie zich het eerst af kan scheiden van het VK. Hoe lang blijft het Koninkrijk verenigd? Na ruim 45 jaar onder de Britten heeft Lia van Bekhoven een unieke kijk op het Verenigd Koninkrijk. Als inwoner, maar zeker geen anglofiel, heeft ze een scherpe blik op het nieuws, de politiek, de monarchie en het dagelijkse leven aan de overkant van de Noordzee. Elke woensdag krijg je een nieuwe podcast over het leven van Van Bekhovens Britten in je podcastapp. Scherpe analyses, diepgang waar op de radio geen tijd voor is en een flinke portie humor. Abonneer en mis geen aflevering. Over Lia Lia van Bekhoven is correspondent Verenigd Koninkrijk voor onder andere BNR Nieuwsradio, VRT, Knack en Elsevier en is regelmatig in talkshows te zien als duider van het nieuws uit het VK. Ze woont sinds 1976 in Londen, en is naast correspondent voor radio, televisie en geschreven media ook auteur van de boeken Mama gaat uit dansen, het erfgoed van Diana, prinses van Wales (1997), Land van de gespleten God, Noord-Ierland en de troubles (2000), In Londen, 9 wandelingen door de Britse hoofdstad (2009) en Klein-Brittannië (2022). Over Connor Connor Clerx is presentator en podcastmaker bij BNR Nieuwsradio. Hij werkt sinds 2017 voor BNR en was voorheen regelmatig te horen in De Ochtendspits, Boekestijn en de Wijk en BNR Breekt. Als podcastmaker werkte hij de afgelopen tijd aan onder andere De Taxi-oorlog, Kuipers en de Kosmos, Splijtstof, Baan door het Brein en Welkom in de AI-Fabriek.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukraine says at least 17 people were killed in overnight Russian attacks, with most of the deaths in the north-eastern Kharkiv region. In one attack in the city of Kharkiv at least 10 people - including children - were killed and several others injured after a Russian air strike hit an apartment block. Moscow has threatened the UK with "consequences" after it was confirmed that Ukraine used British-made drones in recent attacks. Also: a court in Syria has issued a death sentence to a cousin of the ousted leader, Bashar al-Assad, after convicting him of crimes including murder and torture during the country's civil war. Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema has been re-elected for a second five-year term. Scientists say the impact of rising global temperatures on the health of older people has been significantly underestimated. And why sheep farmers in Wales are feeling happier. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: Drone launched by Ukrainian forces in Kharkiv region, Ukraine Credit: Reuters

This week we talk about the liver, viral infections, and the NHS.We also discuss blood scandals, needle usage, and Nobel Prizes.Recommended Book: A World Appears by Michael PollanTranscriptThe term “hepatitis” refers to the inflammation of the liver, which can result from all kinds of things, including environmental toxins, the consumption of alcohol, or autoimmune diseases. It can also result from viral infections, and the most prominent liver-inflaming viruses are called viral hepatitis.There are five types of viral hepatitis, A, B, C, D, and E, and each of these viruses are distinct, not part of the same viral family, they're just similarly named because they impact the same organ.Hepatitis A and E are primarily spread through contaminated food and water, and generally resolve on their own, untreated, and cause relatively mild symptoms. Hepatitis B and C are spread through blood and other bodily fluids, and can linger in a host's body for decades before even showing symptoms. Hepatitis D is a parasite of Hepatitis B, and thus only infects people who carry Hepatitis B.Now again, these are all different conditions that just happen to inflame the liver, so impact and treatment also vary quite a lot. As I mentioned, A and E generally present with mild symptoms and tend to go away on their own, while B and C can stick around a long time. There's a vaccine for B, but no cure; you can treat it, but that treatment involves suppressing it, and keeping it suppressed, forever. Hep C, in contrast, is curable, and has been since 2014 using what are called direct-acting antiviral pills, but these pills, which are taken for 8 to 12 weeks, are expensive—ranging from $22-95k without insurance, though that price is often reduced substantially for those with insurance, down to as low as $5. This category of drug coverage is often rejected by insurance companies, though, in part because they're so expensive, that expense the result of little competition in this space; few companies make this type of drug, so those that do can charge more or less whatever they like.Some people with Hepatitis C clear it on their own; about 30% of people who contract it, in fact, clear it within a few months, medication-free. Which is good, because our understanding of this virus is relatively new. Up until 1989, Hep C didn't even have its own name: it was established as its own thing, not Hep A and not Hep B, back in the 1970s, and doctors knew that something that wasn't those two viruses, that was being spread by transfusions, was causing hepatitis symptoms, but they didn't know any real specifics, so they just called it “non-A, non-B hepatitis,” and that name stuck for more than a decade.In 1989 the virus was cloned using molecular techniques (as opposed to simply growing the virus, which wasn't proving fruitful in trying to isolate and identify the thing), and the folks who managed that cloning, and the person who later proved that the genome they cloned, alone, caused the disease, received a Nobel Prize in Medicine for their efforts in 2020.By 1991, antibody tests were available for Hep C, and many countries began screening donated blood for this virus, to ensure it wasn't working its way into their blood supply.And one instance of that screening process, or I suppose, an event that led up to mass screening, and the consequences that followed, are what I'd like to talk about today. The UK's efforts in trying to eliminate Hep C, and England's recently announced near-success in that pursuit.—Hepatitis C is an RNA virus with high genetic variability that makes developing a reliable vaccine difficult. And though somewhere between a quarter and a third of all cases clear on their own, those that don't clear on their own become chronic, lying in wait for twenty to thirty years, slowly accumulating fibrosis—thick scar tissue in the liver—which eventually results in cirrhosis, which means a liver that's so heavily scarred that the organ is no longer fully functional and the damage is permanent. From there, infected people often experience liver failure or hepatocellular (huh-pah-toe) carcinoma, liver cancer.So this virus is a sleeper, and unless it's caught by accident somewhere along the way, it slowly causes damage over time until the damage is too severe to reverse. About 80% of people who have it don't know they have it, and in some parts of the world medical injections are the most common transmitter, but in higher-income areas, it's usually transmitted by injectable drugs.Pre-2014 treatments for Hep C were pretty horrible, involving a combination antiviral therapy called pegylated interferon plus ribavirin that was injected weekly for six months to a year, and this was terribly tolerated by pretty much everyone, causing anemia, depression, and flu-like symptoms for the duration. It also only cured about 50% of people who received the full treatment, and a lot of people had to stop because it caused such ridiculous side effects.Another antiviral called Sofosbuvir (so-FAS-buh-vir), which kept Hep C from replicating in its host, hit the market in late-2013, and that led to a series of direct-acting antivirals that reduced the treatment period dramatically, allowing most people, 95%, to cure their Hep C entirely by taking generally well-tolerated pills for 8 to 12 weeks.These pills were staggeringly expensive from the get-go, with an entire treatment course initially costing about $84,000, or $1,000 a pill. This led to rationing, and saving these pills for the worst-impacted people who already had severe liver damage. There were also pretty stringent requirements attached to their distribution, including that people who received them could no longer drink alcohol, because it was considered a waste to give these crazy expensive, liver-saving drugs to people who would just go and hurt their liver more, anyway.In the UK, the demand for this treatment type was different than in most other countries, in large part because of something that happened back in the 1970s and 80s.The UK's publicly funded healthcare system, the NHS, was in the midst of a shortage of clotting factor, which are plasma proteins and ions that help blood clot and which are used for medical purposes. So they imported a bunch of plasma products from the US, and those products were sourced from the blood of paid donors—and that donor pool included prisoners and people who used injectable drugs. Just one Hep C contaminated blood donation could contaminate an entire batch of blood, and remember, they only started screening the blood supply for Hep C in 1991, and they didn't start treating their blood supply for Hep C until a little before that, 1985, so this was well before they had any idea what was in those blood products they were importing and administering.Consequently, between 1970 and the early 1990s, more than 30,000 NHS patients received transfusions or other blood product treatments contaminated with Hep B, Hep C, or HIV, and about a tenth of those people, around 3,000 patients, have since died of those conditions.The UK government leaned on denial and a refusal to look into the details of this for years, but in 2017 it announced an independent public inquiry into the matter, and in May of 2024, that inquiry concluded that this whole scandal was avoidable, that patients were knowingly exposed to “unacceptable risks,” and that there was a big cover up by government officials, doctors, and other people working with the NHS.As of mid-2026, only a little over 3,200 people of the more than 18,500 who registered claims, demanding compensation from the government because they were impacted by this scandal, have been paid out. The expected total expense for the UK government is on the order of 12.8 billion pounds, but a lot of people who are probably due a payout, and who are in poor and deteriorating health as a consequence of all this, don't yet have a sense of when they'll receive their payment.Back in 2016, before all that came to a head, the UK set itself an aggressive goal: to eliminate Hep C by the WHO's 2030 target, or before. It then ran a competitive tender for antivirals, inviting medical suppliers to submit competing bids, resulting in the largest single medicine procurement program in the NHS' history. The pharmaceutical companies that won their bids were also obliged, as part of the agreement, to help fund efforts to identify undiagnosed but infected patients, in addition to supplying antiviral pills, and this combination of investment and application led to the deployment of new tests and scanning machines, free postal test kits, the hiring of specialists, and services that focused on prisons and drug users.The impact of all this has been significant: a more than 61% decline in infections from 2015 to 2024, nearly half of all drug users with Hep C had cleared the virus in that time, and deaths from Hep C are down 36% over the past decade.The WHO treatment-coverage target—the percentage of people who are diagnosed getting treatment—was 80%, and England has hit 81.5%, which was recently announced to much fanfare. It hasn't yet hit the diagnosis target, however, which is to diagnose 90% of people who are estimated to have Hep C; they've hit 84.6%, which is still quite a lot of progress, even if they're not yet where they'd like to be. That's all based on models, of course, as are the assumed number of infections among people who use injectable drugs, which is also a spot where England is currently flagging; there's no centralized system in England to monitor needle and syringe provisions, and reinfection rates are around 8.8 per 100 person-years among people who had injected within three years of receiving treatment, and that rate is even higher for people who have ever been to prison, around 9.4 per 100.What that means in practice is that the English government overall has done a pretty astounding and effective job at negotiating their relationships with pharma companies and getting detection on track at that scale, but on more ground-level issues that are, interestingly, a lot cheaper to implement, but at times more politically complicated because of public sentiment about drug use and drug users, they're doing a lot less well—and important to note here is that these outcomes vary a bit across the four programs being run across the UK. Scotland and Wales are doing relatively better and worse in some regards compared to England, for instance.Also worth noting here that while England is broadly doing a great job with Hep C diagnosis and treatment, they aren't the first to achieve those WHO-set goals: Egypt reached Gold tier status according to the WHO's Hep C guidelines in October of 2023, at that point having diagnosed 87% of people who have the virus, and treating 93% of those who were diagnosed. They managed to cut incidence of the virus by 97% in just 8 years, leaning on a system of high-yield testing—they tested more than 60 million people during those 8 years—alongside a production scheme that included local manufacturing of antivirals, making them more available and affordable.All of which are generally good signs about where Hep C testing and treatment is going, at least in these regions. And it paints a optimistic picture for other countries that might want to replicate some of what's working within their own borders.Show Noteshttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c75gk620r22ohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infected_blood_scandal_in_the_United_Kingdomhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatitis_Chttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_hepatitishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatitis_Bhttps://www.healthline.com/health/hepatitis-c/treatment-costshttps://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-chttps://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/surveillance-of-hepatitis-c-in-scotland/surveillance-of-hepatitis-c-in-scotland-progress-on-elimination-of-hepatitis-c-as-a-major-public-health-concern-2025-update/https://www.emro.who.int/media/news/egypt-becomes-the-first-country-to-achieve-who-validation-on-the-path-to-elimination-of-hepatitis-c.htmlhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hepatitis-c-in-england-and-the-uk/hepatitis-c-in-england-2025https://www.england.nhs.uk/2026/08/100000-people-receive-treatment-to-cure-deadly-hep-c-virus-on-nhs-in-just-ten-years/https://www.hepctrust.org.uk/blog/2019/04/hepatitis-c-trust-welcomes-elimination-deal-hepatitis-c-and-calls-government-backed/https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10099/https://www.who.int/teams/global-hiv-hepatitis-and-stis-programmes/hepatitis/reports/global-hepatitis-report-2026 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

At 17 years old, Thomas Robson-Kanu was told his football career might be over.Instead of accepting it, he researched natural nutrition with his father, created a raw turmeric formula, and went on to play in the Premier League and represent Wales at Euro 2016.When customers started reporting life-changing results from his homemade blend, he decided to launch The Turmeric Co. When manufacturers said his product couldn't be made at scale, he built his own factory. And when football clubs offered him new contracts, he walked away to build a lasting legacy.Key Takeaways• How to pivot when experts tell you your dream is over• Why building your own manufacturing can be the ultimate competitive advantage• How to shift leadership styles from "master chess player" to "master gardener" as you scale• Why over-analysis causes paralysis and how to take immediate action This episode is powered by Molten Ventures, a leading European venture capital firm backing ambitious founders from seed through growth.Find out more at https://moltenventures.comJoin us at the Festival of Entrepreneurs, 3 and 4 November at the NEC Birmingham.https://festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk

At 17 years old, Thomas Robson-Kanu was told his football career might be over.Instead of accepting it, he researched natural nutrition with his father, created a raw turmeric formula, and went on to play in the Premier League and represent Wales at Euro 2016.When customers started reporting life-changing results from his homemade blend, he decided to launch The Turmeric Co. When manufacturers said his product couldn't be made at scale, he built his own factory. And when football clubs offered him new contracts, he walked away to build a lasting legacy.Key Takeaways• How to pivot when experts tell you your dream is over• Why building your own manufacturing can be the ultimate competitive advantage• How to shift leadership styles from "master chess player" to "master gardener" as you scale• Why over-analysis causes paralysis and how to take immediate actionThis episode is powered by Molten Ventures, a leading European venture capital firm backing ambitious founders from seed through growth.Find out more at https://moltenventures.comJoin us at the Festival of Entrepreneurs, 3 and 4 November at the NEC Birmingham.https://festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk

Lucas Yeomans and Justin Peach react to Cardiff and their late equaliser against Wrexham! What a start, what a finish in the Welsh capital! The drama started on Friday, with the teams from Wales seeing out the opening Championship weekend in style! #Championship #SecondTier #EFL #SecondTierPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Matts discuss the government's response to the severe heat this summer in England and Wales (sorry Scotland!)… and whether this year will be a turning point in the public's perception of urgency around the changing climate. But first, they deal with the charge they were “lily-livered” in their response to the tragic death of Jason Arday.Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Subscribe to The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Green Events chairman Lindsay Ketterington gets us excited for the World Bog Snorkelling Championships in Wales.Propstore project manager Sian Taylor tells us all about the most amazing lots you can bid on at the Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction.Catch up on all previous episodes of TFI Unplugged on the Virgin Radio UK YouTube channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Max Nikias, former president of USC and author of ‘American Trojan,' joins Jason to discuss his remarkable life journey, leadership, and the future of higher education. Max shares his extraordinary journey from growing up in a small village in Cyprus and losing everything overnight during the 1974 war, to immigrating to the United States with just $1,500 in his pocket and ascending to the helm of one of the nation's premier universities. Plus, he shares his concerns regarding the "Wild West" of modern college athletics and pinpoints the exact moment higher education began shifting for the worse. Bring on the Stupid: Two incidents of influencer-induced cockerel catastrophe in France and Oman, and a prankster arrested for dressing as the Grim Reaper outside a hospital in Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the summer of 2003, in the small Virginia town of Craigsville, an 18 year old boy shot and killed the man the town knew as a former rescue squad captain and a pillar of the community. Christopher Bennett never denied it. He confessed, took a plea deal to avoid the death penalty, and was handed three consecutive life sentences totalling 1,800 years.But behind that front door, Chris and his siblings say, was a man the town never saw. Years of abuse. Children told to pray for help that never came. And a report of what was happening to his little sisters, made just one day before the shooting.Over this series, Jack chats with Chris from inside Buckingham Correctional Center about his childhood, that night, the sentence designed to outlive him, and a family still fighting to bring him home.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This series contains discussion of child sexual abuse, physical abuse and domestic violence. If you or someone you know needs support, help is available.Australia1800RESPECT (sexual assault and domestic violence, 24/7): 1800 737 732Blue Knot Foundation (adult survivors of childhood trauma): 1300 657 380Bravehearts (child sexual abuse support): 1800 272 831Kids Helpline (ages 5 to 25, 24/7): 1800 55 1800Lifeline (crisis support, 24/7): 13 11 14United StatesChildhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (24/7): 1-800-422-4453RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline (24/7): 1-800-656-4673National Domestic Violence Hotline (24/7): 1-800-799-7233988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (24/7): call or text 988United KingdomNSPCC Helpline (adults concerned about a child): 0808 800 5000Childline (for anyone under 19, 24/7): 0800 1111NAPAC (adult survivors of childhood abuse): 0808 801 0331Rape Crisis England and Wales (24/7): 0808 500 2222Samaritans (24/7): 116 123International For domestic violence services in other countries, visit hotpeachpages.net for a directory of helplines and agencies worldwide.If a child is in immediate danger, call emergency services: 000 in Australia, 911 in the US, 999 in the UK.EARLY AND AD FREE ACCESS: for as little as $1.69 a week!Apple + HEREPatreon and find us on Facebook here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we have our second installment of our month long mini series about cycles of life, all about the history and folklore of marriage!We explore the early beginnings of marriage contracts, legal regulation by the Church and state, and how utterly unromantic most weddings were for much of history!Discussing superstitions and preparations leading up to the big day, from arrangements between families through to big dramatic gestures of love, we work our way towards walking down the aisle - with all the strange bells and whistles tradition dictates!With something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue to guide us - not forgetting the sixpence in the shoe, of course - we navigate cultural and familial expectations, evil spirits hovering to get a slice of wedding cake, and exactly which aspects of weddings are ancient, and which are surprisingly modern...About Three Ravens

Former prison governor Judith Feline on the reality of our overcrowded prisons and Peter Walker on why it's causing a headache for Andy Burnham. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Daily Mirror deputy royal editor Jennifer Newton is joined by fashion expert Simon Glazelle to discuss the fashion of the Royal Family. He looks into the clothing choices of Catherine, the Princess of Wales, as well as the classic looks from the late Queen and Princess Anne. You can follow Simon, aka HRH Simon G, on TikTok and Instagram for the latest breakdowns on Royal fashion from the House of Windsor and beyond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You said you were fine, but fine is not a spiritual condition—it's a managed one. Fine means you've stopped expecting anything, stopped reaching for anything, and settled into the low hum of a life that moves without going anywhere. You're not in crisis. You're not walking away from the Lord. You're just less hungry than you used to be, less expectant, less alive. And because nothing is dramatically wrong, you've convinced yourself nothing needs to change. Dr. Chris Palmer joins me for a conversation that names what that condition actually is—and it's not a season. Dr. Palmer is Dean of the Barnett College of Ministry and Theology at Southeastern University and the author of A World Without God (Zondervan), a work of narrative philosophy that takes the reader into Novemberton, an allegorical town in the grip of something it cannot name. What he argues is that the despair overtaking our culture isn't arriving as a manifesto—it's arriving as a mood. Nihilism, as he frames it, is not the dramatic philosophy-class version; it's the quiet, functional, show-up-to-church version—passive surrender dressed as stability, apathy wearing the clothes of peace. We talk about why values are on sale right now, what practical polytheism looks like inside a congregation, how self-centered spirituality masquerades as devotion, and why the only thing durable enough to bear the weight of our emptiness is not our own shoulders. This conversation will not give you a strategy. It will give you a mirror—and what you do with what you see in it is the entire question. Come ready to be honest about what you've been calling fine. Guest Bio Dr. Chris Palmer is Dean of the Barnett College of Ministry and Theology at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, where he teaches at the intersection of New Testament studies, philosophy, and cultural theology. He holds a PhD from Bangor University in Wales and is the author of several books, including his latest, A World Without God (Zondervan)—a work of narrative philosophy that examines what happens to meaning, purpose, and the human soul when God is not forgotten so much as he is treated as one option among many. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Lovers of thrillers will especially enjoy this episode, which kicks off with the hosts Sarah Bowen Shea and Ellison Weist discussing the recent New Yorks Times list of The 50 Best Thrillers of the 21st Century. Then they transition to a thriller disguised as a memoir by a talented writer who (to their surprise) didn't make the list. Two debut novels entranced Ellison, especially a tense, atmospheric one set in rural Wales. The host duo concludes with two DNF books for which they had high hopes. The books reviewed:The Amateur: Chris BohjalianThe Great Wherever: Shannan SandersThe House of Boleyn: Tracy BormanThe Hill in the Dark Grove: Liam HigginsonFeistyFest Info: https://livefeisty.com/events/feisty-fest/Courses and Coaching: https://livefeisty.com/courses/Women's Mechanic Camp in Tucson: https://livefeisty.com/events/bike-mechanic-school-tucson/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themotherrunner/Previnex: Use code AMR15 for 15% off your first purchase at https://www.previnex.com/Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/Currex: Use code AMR15 for 15% off at https://currex.com/Tifosi Optics: Use code FEISTY2026 for 20% off at https://tifosioptics.com/ PLUS: Register to win a Free Pair of Sunglasses: https://feistymedia.activehosted.com/f/121