Following nearly destroying the planet, our families have become allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, the world edged nearer toward annihilation more so than ever during recent history. This happened when a US surveillance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear missile sites were being built in Cuba, a mere 100 miles off the coast of the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to establish a naval blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted nearly a fortnight of extreme stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The threat remained clear. If President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a series of global atomic attacks and retaliatory strikes would have ensued, thrusting civilization into all-out destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, through volumes, films, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel dimension to the story. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the men that, over two tense weeks, held the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What was the Russians planning? What was the American side considering?" questions Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor of global relations.

For her, the beauty of the podcast is its attempt to explore: "Why do people detest one another and go against one another?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that humans have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where countries enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly it is to engage in warfare."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What’s notable about the Cuban missile crisis is that, since it unfolded so publicly, citizens worldwide could watch nearly as it happened as it moved towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of annihilation came closer than what most people realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, there is no question Soviet forces on the ground would've deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, and that would have sunk the naval vessels as well as destroyed America's largest and most important naval force. And, the U.S. would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality it didn’t is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in remain calm while calmly negotiate when many advisors around them were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) removed his similar weapons based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Nina being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative version of events.

"You said your parent remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that things are constantly wonderful and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant moment for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, and avoided a global war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Later on, however, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a setback for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up the United States."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed , expertly crafted that Khrushcheva quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most significant thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the leaders of America and the USSR to appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"We aren't the pioneers," smiles Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, following almost 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Modern Parallels and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series seems so urgent is because we once again are living in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to grasp