Following nearly annihilating our world, our relatives have become allies’: the thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the world veered nearer toward ruin more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred when an American surveillance plane discovered that Soviet nuclear missile installations were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a maritime blockade around the island. The ensuing period constituted almost two weeks of extreme anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The peril remained obvious. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, had fired against their enemy, a cascade involving worldwide atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, casting civilization toward all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been covered repeatedly, through volumes, movies, and television programmes. However, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new dimension to this historical narrative. It is co-presented featuring Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men who, over two tense weeks, controlled the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin considering? What was Washington planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter and an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate one another to the point they oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable it is that individuals can be friends or else can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now an author and attorney. "We see this dynamic over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, highlighting the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch almost as it happened while it crept towards catastrophe. However, the threat of destruction came closer than anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have launched a tactical nuclear weapon at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've sunk the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation that would have ended all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) withdrew his similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by the sense of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Still, for those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s co-hosts were born in the years following these events, and Nina learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative narrative of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a frightening time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine and sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, because it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus avoided a global war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, though, that perspective would not be held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, partly, due to contributions from historians. Yet, really, the most momentous thing remains the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the leaders of the United States and USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the first," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Contemporary Parallels with Current Perils

Or is it? Part of the reason The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to learn