Following nearly destroying our world, our families have become friends’: the gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During October 1962, the planet veered closer toward destruction more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet atomic weapon bases were under construction on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from American soil. In response, President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade encircling Cuba. The next phase was nearly two weeks filled with impossible stress.

The Unthinkable Threat

The danger was palpable. Should President Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack on their enemy, a series involving worldwide nuclear strikes and retaliatory strikes would have followed, thrusting humanity into total destruction.

The Cuban missile crisis has been documented endlessly, in volumes, films, and TV documentaries. But, for its third season, a prominent audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented dimension to the story. It is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative alongside Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the men that, over 13 days, controlled the destiny of humanity in their hands.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What were Washington planning?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also an academic specializing in international affairs.

For her, the unique appeal of the show is its attempt to explore: "How can people hate one another to the point they confront one another?"

"It was not lost on me how profound it is that people have the potential to be friends or can become total enemies," states Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, related to the late president and now a writer as well as attorney. "History shows this over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Brink of Disaster

What’s striking regarding this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens around the world could watch nearly in real time as it moved towards armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of annihilation came closer than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've deployed a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would've obliterated our naval vessels and sunk America's primary fleet. And, the U.S. would have retaliated through massive retaliation that would have ended most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to exercise restraint and calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them were advocating military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the missiles from the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Viewpoint

Still, for those two weeks in October, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, with Khrushcheva being taught about it through the USSR's education system, which presented an alternative narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your father remembers it, and it was a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "However for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that things are always wonderful and sunny."

Within Khrushchev’s family, however, the perspective was different. "They told me that it was a triumphant occasion for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to find a solution, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, however, that interpretation would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Partnership

This podcast is so balanced , well produced that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and USSR would appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of hope.

"Max and I are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"But we had never met prior to this project," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we are friends, something that is really great. Finally, after almost 60 years since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages have become allies, so I think global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Current Perils

Or is it? Part of why this series seems so urgent is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to learn