‘After nearly annihilating the world, the families have become friends’: a thrilling podcast from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

During the month of October 1962, the world edged nearer to annihilation more so than ever during modern times. This occurred following the discovery that a US reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic missile sites were being built on Cuba, less than 160 kilometers off the coast of the US mainland. Reacting to this, U.S. President JFK commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a naval quarantine encircling Cuba. What followed constituted nearly two weeks filled with unbearable tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger was obvious. If President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a chain reaction involving global nuclear strikes followed by retaliatory strikes could have ensued, thrusting mankind into total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, through books, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" presents an unprecedented perspective into the story. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men that, over two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of the planet in their hands.

"What were the Kremlin planning? What was Washington considering?" ponders Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its endeavor to question: "Why do individuals hate each other and confront each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that individuals have the potential to be friends or else can become complete enemies," adds Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and now an author as well as attorney. "History shows this dynamic over and over when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality involved to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is striking regarding this event is that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, citizens globally were able to observe almost as it happened while it crept closer to disaster. Even so, the threat of destruction was more imminent than what anybody understood at the time.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike and an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "If we had struck Cuba with the naval blockade, it is certain Soviet forces on the ground would have deployed a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would've obliterated the naval vessels as well as sunk America's largest and most important fleet. And, the U.S. would have responded through massive retaliation which would have eradicated most life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in remain calm and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone in their governments were advocating military action. As a result, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Cuba and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American similar weapons from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, matched by a feeling of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Yet, for those 13 days in October, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, and Khrushcheva being taught about the crisis via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted a slightly different version of events.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a scary time," she says. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much about it, because it was a crisis, and in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always fine or positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was distinct. "They told me what a great occasion for the USSR, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to find a solution, and avoided the war, which was a wonderful thing," she adds. Subsequently, though, that interpretation was not held by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he refrained from destroying America."

A Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and expertly crafted that Nina jokes she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, in part, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most significant aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it would be inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva can do that, and exhibit such warmth toward one another, has to be a symbol of hope.

"We are not the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative moved to America where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"However we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "That is a shame since we got along immediately and we are friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our lineages are now allies, so I think global relations is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again are living in dark times. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to grasp