Following nearly destroying our world, our families are friends’: the thrilling podcast from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the world came nearer toward destruction than at any other point during the contemporary era. This happened when a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet nuclear missile bases were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to enact a naval quarantine around Cuba. The next phase was almost a fortnight of extreme tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger was clear. Should Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a cascade of global atomic strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have followed, casting civilization toward all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new dimension into this historical narrative. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members belonging to the men who, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What was the Soviet side thinking? What was the American side thinking?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant who is also an academic specializing in global relations.

For her, the beauty of the show is its endeavor to explore: "Why do nations hate each other to the point they go against each other?"

"It struck me how remarkable the fact that people can be allies or else can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries enter into conflict, demonstrating the sheer folly it is to fight."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What is remarkable regarding this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people globally were able to observe almost in real time as it moved closer to catastrophe. Even so, the threat of annihilation came closer than most people understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted a military strike and a ground invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would have fired a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have destroyed our naval vessels and destroyed America's largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, as was the sense of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks in October, the fear was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, and Nina learned about the crisis via the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative narrative of what happened.

"You said your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that things are always fine or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, and didn’t start a global war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, however, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a setback for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Partnership

This podcast is remarkably even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear together publicly. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "After 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is a shame since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, something that is really great. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our families are now allies, so I think the world is safer, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn