The Story

War in the Middle East has caused oil and gas prices to soar and sent the markets into turmoil. But why does oil still have such a powerful influence over the cost of household goods? And what has history taught us about how wars are waged when oil holds such sway?

Our listener survey is live - find it here.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest:
Dr Ellen R. Wald, Ph.D., Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center and author of Saudi, Inc..
Harry Wallop, consumer journalist and Times Radio contributor.
Host: Rosie Wright
Producer: Julia Webster and Harry Stott

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: Does Trump really have a plan for what he is doing in Iran?
Further listening: Could Trump lose MAGA over Iran?
Clips: Blue Georgia on X, The White House, The Economic Times, CNN, GB News, AP
Photo: Getty Images.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran has appointed a new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. He’s the son of the late Ali Khamenei and a shadowy figure with a history of orchestrating brutal crackdowns on dissenters. President Donald Trump is also not a fan. So what does his appointment mean for the conflict raging in the Middle East?

Our listener survey is live - find it here.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guests:
Catherine Philp, world affairs editor, The Times.
Negah Angha, former US State Department and National Security Council advisor.
Host: Darryl Morris.
Producer: Micaela Arneson, Sophie McNulty.
We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Our listener survey is live - find it here.

Read more: Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader?
Further listening: How AI helped Trump attack Iran
Clips: Sky News, Al Jazeera, NBC, Fox News, The Times, ABC News
Photo: Getty Images.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The use of Artificial Intelligence by militaries used to be talked about in the abstract, but during the US and Israel’s strikes on Iran we’ve seen it used in real time. So what happens when you have robots who can make battlefield decisions quicker than the speed of thought? And what made the Trump administration fall out with one of the world’s leading AI companies?

Our listener survey is live - find it here.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: David Leslie, Professor of ethics, technology and society in the Digital Environment Research Institute at Queen Mary University of London.
Host: Rosie Wright.
Producers: Harry Stott, Sophie McNulty.
We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]
Read more: How AI helps 20 US troops do the work of 2,000 in Iran war
Further listening: Anthropic vs Pentagon: How AI is changing war
Clips: Fox, CBS News, Reuters.
Photo: Getty Images.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thirty years after her death, Frida Kahlo went from relative obscurity to one of the most famous female artists on the planet. Now, her image has been used on everything from watches, scented candles, clothes, sanitary pads, and even Barbie dolls. But how did the communist icon become the face of a million dollar enterprise? At the centre of the story is a Kahlo family divided. Should her image reflect her artistic treasures or a global brand?

Our listener survey is live - find it here.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Blanca Schofield, assistant culture and books editor for both The Times and The Sunday Times.
Host: Rosie Wright.
Producer: Dave Creasey.
We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]
Read more: Artist — or brand? How Frida Kahlo’s family lost control
Photo: FridaMoji/Getty Images.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The war in Iran has left its people divided. Some openly welcome the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, others mourn, steadfast in their loyalty to the Islamic Republic. The divisions run deep, cutting across generations. Majid Parsa grew up in one such household. He tells his story.

Our listener survey is live - find it here.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Read by: Majid Parsa, author of The Ayatollah's Gaze.
Host: Rosie Wright.
Producer: Dave Creasey.
We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]
Photo: Getty Images.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.