Following nearly annihilating the planet, our relatives are friends’: the thrilling audio series from JFK & Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In the month of October 1962, the world came closer to ruin more so than ever in the contemporary era. This occurred when an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered the fact that Soviet nuclear missile installations were being assembled on the island of Cuba, less than 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, President JFK directed the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to establish a naval blockade encircling the island. The ensuing period was almost a fortnight filled with unbearable tension.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger was clear. Should President Kennedy, or his Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a cascade of global nuclear attacks and counterstrikes would have followed, casting mankind into all-out oblivion.

The October crisis has been documented extensively, in volumes, films, as well as TV documentaries. However, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought an unprecedented element to the story. The series is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the men that, for two tense weeks, held the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin planning? What was Washington thinking?" questions Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s descendant and an academic of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to objectively ask: "How can individuals hate one another to the point they oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound the fact that people have the potential to be allies or else have the potential to be total enemies," adds Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of the late president and now an author as well as lawyer. "History shows this over and over when nations have gone to war, highlighting the sheer folly involved to fight."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is notable regarding this event was that, since it unfolded in the global spotlight, individuals around the world could watch almost in real time as it moved towards disaster. Nonetheless, the risk of annihilation was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors wanted an airstrike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans with the naval blockade, there is no question the Russians stationed there would've launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would have obliterated the naval vessels and destroyed America's primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The reality this did not occur is a testament to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed his missiles from Turkey. The relief was worldwide, as was the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Still, during those two weeks in October, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts came into the world shortly after the crisis, and Nina learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative narrative of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal regarding the crisis, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly wonderful and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was distinct. "I was informed that it was a triumphant occasion it was, as it represented eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, which was a positive thing," she adds. In the years to come, however, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unlikely Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This effect is, partly, thanks to contributions from historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect is the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that relatives of the leaders of America and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals can do that, and be so warm with each other, must be seen as a symbol of hope.

"We aren't the first," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, a relative Sergey Khrushchev’s son and became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate because we got along immediately and we’re friends, which is really great. Finally, following nearly six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our families are now friends, suggesting global relations is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes and Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we once again are living living through dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp