Following nearly destroying the planet, our relatives have become friends’: a thrilling podcast featuring JFK & Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the world came nearer toward annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance aircraft found the fact that Soviet atomic missile bases were being built in the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. In response, President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a naval blockade around the island. The next phase was almost two weeks filled with unbearable stress.

An Catastrophic Threat

The danger remained clear. If President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade involving worldwide atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, casting mankind toward total ruination.

The October crisis has been documented repeatedly, through books, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents a completely new dimension to the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders that, for two tense weeks, controlled the fate of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side thinking? What was Washington considering?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and an academic of international affairs.

In her view, the strength of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can nations hate one another to the point they go against each other?"

"I am acutely aware how spectacular it is that individuals have the potential to be allies or have the potential to be complete enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Disaster

What’s notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens globally were able to observe nearly as it happened while it moved closer to catastrophe. However, the danger of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've fired a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would have destroyed the aircraft carriers and destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. In turn, we would have responded with an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated all life on the planet."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, who succeeded in remain calm while engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them demanded military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his similar weapons based in Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Perspective

Still, for those two weeks in October, the fear was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following these events, and Khrushcheva learned about it through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative version of events.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, people really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, as it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, which was a wonderful outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that perspective would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Khrushcheva jokes she nearly forgot the known outcome. This effect is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the leaders of America and the Soviet Union would appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth with each other, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate because we connected immediately and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following nearly 60 years of nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Perils

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living living through dark times. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend