The Story

Lily Phillips, a 23-year-old from Derbyshire, made headlines after claiming to have slept with 101 men in a single day. She rose to household-name status largely thanks to OnlyFans. Lily Phillips says what she's doing is her choice and that she's a feminist, but some feminists are worried about what that says about young people's attitudes to female empowerment. 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: Host: Jane Mulkerrins. Producer: Euan Dawtrey. Further reading: What this woman tells us about pornLily Phillips: Don’t blame me for how men have sexClips: NBC, I Slept with 100 Men in One Day © 2025. Director: Tom Willows. Photo: Getty Images. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV, the first American chosen to lead the Catholic Church. In the weeks running up to his election, he openly criticised the Trump administration’s immigration policy and even had a row with Vice President JD Vance on X. Does this suggest that President Trump may be in for a bumpy ride from the world’s other most powerful American? 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: Christopher Hale, Democratic politician from Tennessee and Catholic nonprofit executive. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Edith Rousselot. Further reading: The real Pope Leo XIV — by those who knew him in Rome, Chicago and PeruWho is Robert Prevost? New Pope hit out at Trump administration weeks agoClips: Bloomberg, Reuters, Rome Reports in English Youtube, CBS News, EWTN Global Catholic Network, Khou 11, Guardian News. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New talks on Ukraine continue in Istanbul tomorrow and after months of taking Vladimir Putin's side, President Trump now seems much more supportive of Ukraine. So why the switch? And more than three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, are we any closer to a deal or are both sides just putting on a show for Trump? 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: Professor Mark Galeotti, Historian, Author and Director of Mayak Intelligence. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Olivia Case. Further reading: Zelensky ‘will only negotiate peace deal with Putin’ in Istanbul Clips: Europe Pulse, FOX, YouTube / David Feldman, France 24, CTV News, NBC, Channel 4, Forbes, BBC, Amanpour and Company, Bloomberg, CBS, YouTube / Reuters. Photo: Office of the President of Uraine via Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In March this year, a team of Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers accepted the Oscar for best documentary. Their film No Other Land is a glimpse into the reality of life in the West Bank, the most populous of the Palestinian Territories. Before the month was out, though, one of the people on that stage - co-director Hamdan Ballal - would return home to the West Bank and be attacked and detained by Israeli settlers and soldiers. Times reporter Venetia Menzies went to meet Hamdan and his co-director and star of the documentary, Basel Adra, to find out what life is like now for Palestinians in the West Bank. 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: Venetia Menzies, ​​assistant data editor at The Times and The Sunday Times Host: Luke Jones Producer: Hannah Varrall Further reading: https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/palestinian-film-director-oscar-israeli-settlers-q62756r9v Clips: Oscars, No Other Land, CBS Chicago, France 24 English, Hollywood Reporter. Photo: Basel Adra (Venetia Menzies) Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two men have been found guilty of criminal damage, for the felling of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree in Northumbria. Constance Kampfner sat through the trial, in which the prosecution called what Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers had done, ‘a moronic mission to cause mindless vandalism.' The men were remanded in custody for their own protection after the verdict was announced. 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: Constance Kampfner Host: Luke Jones Producer: Hannah Varrall and Shabnam Grewal Clips: BBC News, Sky News, Channel 4 News, National Trust . Photo: Getty Images Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published last November. On Sept 12, 2001, Blerim Skoro was approached by a man and a woman while he was in prison. They turned out to be CIA agents. That one meeting would change the course of his life and lead him on a journey across countries, inside terrorist groups, as he tried to make it home to his family. 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: Josie Ensor, US Correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones. Producer: Taryn Siegel. Clips: Video filmed by Blerim Skoro, provided by ‘The Accidental Spy’, directed by Anthony Wonke. Photo: John Beck for The Times. Further reading: I gave my life to the CIA. They betrayed me Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fi's off today on important business, so Jane M is here! Normal schedule resumes tomorrow... whatever that means. Today, Jane and Jane chat power outages, Björn Ulvaeus, and Euston toilets. Plus, Jane speaks with David Collins, Northern Editor of The Sunday Times, about his book 'Saffie', which tells the story of the youngest victim of the Manchester Arena terror attack and her family's fight for justice. If you fancy sending us a postcard, the address is: Jane and Fi Times Radio, News UK 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF Send your suggestions for the next book club pick! If you want to contact the show to ask a question and get involved in the conversation then please email us: janeandfi@times.radio Follow us on Instagram! @janeandfi Podcast Producer: Eve Salusbury Executive Producer: Rosie Cutler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tensions are rising between India and Pakistan after 26 people were killed in Kashmir - the disputed region that sits between them. Now, India has fired missiles into Pakistan and Pakistan says it’s killed dozens of Indian soldiers. But why is Kashmir a flashpoint and could this be the spark that takes the two nuclear powers to war? 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: Andrew Whitehead, former BBC India Correspondent and author of ‘A Mission in Kashmir.’ Host: Luke Jones. Producer: Olivia Case. Further Reading: Why did India attack Pakistan? The Kashmir crisis explained. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do hackers take down a high street staple? What started as a contactless payment outage at Marks and Spencer, quickly became the retail fortnight from hell, as cyber attacks have brought brands to a crashing halt in online trading over the last two weeks. So who is behind it, and what are their methods? And more importantly, how do you guard yourself in an evermore online world? 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: Mark Sellman, Technology Correspondent, The Times Host: Luke Jones Producer: Rosie Stopher Further reading: Who are Scattered Spider hackers linked to the M&S cyberattack? M&S and Co-op cyberattackers ‘tricked IT into resetting passwords’ M&S staff share war stories of ‘toughest’ week after cyberattack Clips: Sky News, BBC, ITV Photo: The Times Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eight years before the Grenfell tragedy, a fire in a high-rise building killed six people. Now a Sunday Times investigation has raised serious questions about the cladding used on those flats and thousands of others in the UK. So is this Britain's biggest corporate scandal? 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: Martina Lees, Senior Property Writer, The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Further reading: A high-rise fire killed Catherine. The cladding firm kept on selling. Photo: Steve Bell / Shutterstock. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You could say one of the few good things to come out of the pandemic was the chance to work from home, avoid the daily commute, and get a better work-life balance. But, for some hardy souls, being out of the office and away from the boss’s scrutiny is a chance to get a second job, or even a third... or forth. But how are they doing it, and is it even legal? 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: Ben Ellery Host: Luke Jones Producer: Shabnam Grewal Further reading: The rise of ‘polygamous workers’ — and efforts to catch them out Clips:tiktok.com/@rroomfies; tiktok.com/@martabassof; tiktok.com/@soambitiousdomm; tiktok.com/@salarytransparentstreet; instagram.com/thejamescooperjr/ Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published last January. For almost two years, two armies have fought a brutal civil war in Sudan, Africa’s third largest country. Over 150,000 have died, 11 million have been displaced and evidence of genocidal war crimes have emerged. So why has the war in Sudan been forgotten? The Times’ Special Correspondent Anthony Loyd has recently returned from a reporting trip on the frontline and tells The Story about the people he met. This episode includes descriptions of war and rape. 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: Anthony Loyd, Special Correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Edward Drummond. Clips: BBC. Photo: Anthony Loyd/The Times. Watch Anthony’s video from Sudan Further reading: Inside Sudan’s forgotten war: 150,000 dead, 11 million displaced Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finally, the crypto episode is here. And after a lowdown on the vibe shift towards the industry in Washington, Katie is joined by Binance's new CEO, Richard Teng, who is tasked with making the case for the company that was beset by scandal under previous CEO and founder, Changpeng Zhao “CZ”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Virginia Giuffre died by suicide last week, aged 41. Jeffrey Epstein’s key accuser was instrumental in putting Ghislaine Maxwell behind bars and had also accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault. He’s always denied the claims and settled the case for a rumoured £12 million. So was justice done for Giuffre and the other survivors? And how did a woman from the right side of the tracks end up being trafficked around the world? 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 If you've been affected by anything you've heard in this episode, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or the Rape Crisis rape and sexual abuse support line on 0808 500 2222. Guest: Helen Rumbelow, Feature Writer and Columnist, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Further reading: Virginia Giuffre’s battle to escape the pastVirginia Giuffre obituaryClips: BBC, Miami Herald, NBC, 60 Minutes Australia. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The trial of Sean Combs - the hip-hop producer and rapper otherwise known as P Diddy, Puff Daddy, Love, and a plethora of other aliases - will begin next week, with the jury selected on Monday. As he pleads not guilty to racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, how did he get to this point? And how did he build his celebrity empire? 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: Megan Agnew, Senior Features Writer at The Times and Sunday Times. Host: Luke Jones. Producer: Rosie Stopher. Further reading: The downfall of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs — by those who knew him Further listening: The P Diddy lawsuits: The downfall of a rap legend Clips: NBC, CBS, PBS, BBC, Fox News, MTV, Off the Cuff Radio. Photo: Getty images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nigel Farage is throwing the kitchen sink at Labour and he’s not being subtle about it. As Reform UK ramps up its local election efforts, Farage is fielding candidates in councils up and down the country. But the real showdown is in Runcorn and Helsby, where Reform is plotting a high-profile coup in the upcoming by-election. What’s at stake in Runcorn, and why should Keir Starmer be worried? 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: Geraldine Scott, The Times’ Senior Political Correspondent. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Euan Dawtrey, Taryn Siegel and Edith Rousselot. Further reading: Labour and Reform in fierce battle for Runcorn & Helsby seat Clips: Sky News, Reform UK Youtube, Nigel Farage Youtube and Facebook, Channel 4, Green Party TikTok, Liberal Democrats Youtube. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An American Biosciences company claims to have ‘de-extincted’ prehistoric dire wolves. Next they plan to bring back the woolly mammoth and the dodo. But even if they could, should they? 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: Tom Whipple, Science Writer, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Shabnam Grewal. Further reading: Why are scientists bringing back woolly mammoths from extinction?Long-extinct dire wolf to howl again thanks to ancient DNA Further listening: The cost of being ugly Clips: Colossal Biosciences, Game of Thrones/HBO. Photo: Colossal Biosciences. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harvard has sued the Trump administration over multibillion-dollar funding cuts in the biggest escalation yet in the battle between the government and higher education. What does the showdown mean for the ideological freedom of American institutions and has Trump taken on a fight he can’t win? 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: Gerard Baker, Columnist, The Times and Editor-at-Large, The Wall Street Journal. Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Sam Chantarasak. Clips: Bloomberg, NBC News, NDTV, C-SPAN, Getty/Grinberg, Paramount, Pathe Newsreels. Photo: Getty Images. Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published last December. Australia is the first country to block under-16s from social media -- and age-verification AI could be a crucial tool in the ban. We spoke to our journalist who has been to the industry-leader’s HQ to find out if the technology actually works. And if it does, could the UK follow suit? 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: Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Sam Chantarasak. Further reading: Can AI tell if a teen lies about their age? Clips: ABC News, 10 News First Australia, BBC Radio 4. Photo: Getty Images Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Lucy and Holly ask why a new generation of investors is turning to one of the world’s oldest assets: gold. Joined by Brian Byrnes from Moneybox, together they unpack gold’s historical role in the economy, its incredible performance, and how it compares to trendier assets like Bitcoin and tech stocks. Is gold still relevant in a digital-first world? Why are younger investors increasingly drawn to it? And does it have any downsides? Plus, we hear from young financial coach Laura Ann Moore, on how it fits into our own long-term investment plan. Guests: Brian Byrnes, Head of Personal Finance at Moneybox Contact: Lucy and Holly at: moneyteam@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.