Following nearly annihilating our planet, our relatives are allies’: a thrilling podcast featuring JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the world came closer toward annihilation more so than ever during recent history. This transpired following the discovery that an American surveillance plane found the fact that Russian atomic missile sites were being built on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. In response, President John F Kennedy directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase constituted almost two weeks of extreme stress.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril was palpable. If President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a cascade involving global nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes might have followed, plunging mankind into all-out destruction.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, through volumes, films, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented element into this historical narrative. It is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members belonging to the figures that, for 13 days, held the fate of the planet within their grasp.

"What was the Russians planning? What were the United States planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic of global relations.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast is its endeavor to question: "How can nations detest each other and oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how remarkable the fact that humans can be allies or have the potential to be total adversaries," states Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, related to JFK and now a writer and attorney. "History shows this over and over when nations have gone to war, highlighting the profound irrationality it is to fight."

A Brink Towards Disaster

What is striking about the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people around the world could watch nearly as it happened as it moved closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than most people understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would have obliterated our naval vessels and destroyed America's primary fleet. And, we would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have ended most life on the planet."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to remain calm and engaging in diplomacy when many advisors in their governments was pushing for action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) removed his missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable globally. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative picture of what happened.

"You said your father recalls it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that things are constantly fine or sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, however, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. The leaders managed to find a solution, and avoided the war, seen as a positive thing," she continues. Later on, however, that view was not held by all Russians. "For a long time within Russian historical analysis, it was considered a defeat for Khrushchev, simply he didn’t blow up the United States."

An Unlikely Collaboration

This podcast is so even-handed and expertly crafted so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known outcome. This is, in part, thanks to contributions from historians. But, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of America and Soviet Union to 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.

"We are not the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate because we connected really well and we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to learn