Following almost destroying our planet, our families are friends’: the thrilling podcast featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the world came nearer toward annihilation than at any other point in recent history. This happened after an American surveillance plane discovered that Russian nuclear weapon sites were being built on Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK commanded a naval task force to establish a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. The ensuing period constituted almost a fortnight filled with impossible tension.

An Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained clear. If President Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a cascade involving global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, plunging humanity into all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been documented endlessly, in volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new perspective into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men that, over 13 days, held the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What were the United States planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the show is its endeavor to objectively ask: "How can people detest each other to the point they oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that humans can be allies or have the potential to be total adversaries," remarks Max Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What is striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it transpired in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it crept closer to armageddon. Even so, the threat of destruction came closer than most people realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would have launched a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've sunk the aircraft carriers and sunk our primary fleet. In turn, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy at a time when hawkish elements around them was pushing for action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, for those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed a slightly different narrative of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For decades in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva quips she nearly forgot the known outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from historians. But, really, the most significant aspect is the involvement of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and the USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"We are not the first," smiles Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate since we got along really well and we are friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is that we now find ourselves living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to have the capacity to comprehend