Following nearly destroying the world, our relatives have become allies’: the thrilling podcast from JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

During October 1962, the planet veered closer to annihilation than at any other point in modern times. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being built on the island of Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade encircling the island. What followed was almost 14 days filled with extreme stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The peril was clear. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a chain reaction of global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting humanity into all-out oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented endlessly, in volumes, films, and television programmes. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a novel perspective into this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the men that, over two tense weeks, held the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Russians thinking? What was the American side planning?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate each other to the point they confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable the fact that individuals can be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," states Kennedy, son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, highlighting how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

A Precipice Towards Disaster

What’s striking about this event is that, because it unfolded so publicly, citizens worldwide could watch nearly as it happened while it moved closer to disaster. However, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had struck the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the American ships, and that would have sunk the naval vessels and sunk America's primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments demanded military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island and Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his missiles based in Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable globally. The podcast's presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Khrushcheva being taught about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided a global war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that view was not shared by everybody. "For decades in Russian politics, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most significant thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of America and the USSR would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.

"We aren't the first," notes Nina. "After 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost six decades since almost destroying the world, our families have become allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels and Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen appear not to be able to comprehend