Following almost destroying our planet, the families have become friends’: the thrilling podcast from JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In the month of October 1962, the planet veered closer toward ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This happened after an American surveillance plane identified that Russian nuclear weapon sites were being assembled in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted almost 14 days filled with extreme tension.

An Unthinkable Threat

The peril was palpable. If Kennedy, or else his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, initiated an attack against their enemy, a series involving worldwide atomic attacks followed by retaliatory strikes might have ensued, thrusting civilization toward total oblivion.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, in books, films, as well as television programmes. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces an unprecedented perspective to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives of the figures that, over 13 days, grasped the destiny of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Russians considering? What were Washington planning?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter and a professor specializing in international affairs.

In her view, the beauty of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do people detest one another and go against one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that people can be allies or else can become total adversaries," remarks Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and now an author and attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What’s remarkable regarding this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened as it edged closer to catastrophe. Even so, the risk of destruction was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Almost all officials in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead against the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have sunk our aircraft carriers and sunk America's primary fleet. And, we would have responded through massive retaliation which would have ended all life on Earth."

The reality it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint while engaging in diplomacy when hawkish elements in their governments was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons in the Caribbean island while President Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed then) removed American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was palpable, as was the sense of hope.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, and Nina being taught about it via the USSR's school curriculum, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent remembers it, and it was a scary time," she says. "However in the Soviet Union, people were largely unaware that much regarding the crisis, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always fine and sunny."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, because it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided the war, seen as a positive thing," she adds. Later on, however, that perspective was not held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

This podcast is so balanced and expertly crafted that Nina jokes it almost made her forget the known outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most momentous thing is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR to appear side by side. That these two individuals can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a sign of progress.

"Max and I are not the first," notes Nina. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America and formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is a shame since we connected immediately and we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the planet, our families are now friends, so I think the world is safer, somewhat."

Contemporary Parallels and Current Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason why this series feels so necessary is because we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight in its history, in part because world leaders don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp