Following nearly annihilating our planet, our families are friends’: the gripping podcast from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, humanity edged nearer to destruction more so than ever during the contemporary era. This occurred when a US reconnaissance aircraft found the fact that Russian nuclear weapon installations were being assembled in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of the US mainland. In response, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade around the island. What followed constituted nearly 14 days of unbearable anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The threat remained palpable. If Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack on the other side, a chain reaction of global nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes might have ensued, thrusting civilization into total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented endlessly, through volumes, movies, and television programmes. However, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented perspective into the story. It is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men that, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What were Washington planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its endeavor to explore: "Why do individuals detest each other and confront one another?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that humans can be allies or else can become complete adversaries," adds Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and currently a writer and lawyer. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when countries enter into conflict, highlighting the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

A Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals around the world were able to observe nearly as it happened as it crept towards armageddon. Even so, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, it is certain the Russians stationed there would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, and that would have sunk our aircraft carriers and destroyed our largest and most important fleet. And, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors around them were advocating military action. As a result, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew his missiles based in Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

The Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the tension was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a crisis, and under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. Later on, though, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so even-handed and expertly crafted that Nina jokes she nearly forgot she already knew outcome. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most significant thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that relatives of the leaders of America and Soviet Union would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a sign of progress.

"We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we got along immediately and now we are friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost six decades of almost destroying the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes and Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why this series feels so necessary is because we once again are living in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp