The History Podcast

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Drawn to a family legend about his German-Jewish family's dramatic escape from Nazi Germany in 1936, the writer Joe Dunthorne accidentally discovers a far more disturbing history.

EPISODE 1

Half-Life: Trailer

Drawn to a family legend about his German-Jewish family’s dramatic escape from Nazi Germany in 1936, the writer Joe Dunthorne accidentally discovers a far more unsettling history. A confession hidden on page 1692 of his great-grandfather Siegfried’s unpublished memoir leads Joe into a story of radioactive toothpaste, unexploded bombs and erased histories, exploring the many ways the past continues to haunt the present - even when we try to ignore it. A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

2 min
EPISODE 2

Half-Life: 1. Daughter of Radium

Drawn to a family legend about his German-Jewish family’s dramatic escape from Nazi Germany in 1936, the writer Joe Dunthorne accidentally discovers a far more disturbing history. A conversation with his granny, who spent her childhood brushing her teeth with the radioactive toothpaste her father Siegfried manufactured, leads Joe to finally read his great-grandfather's nearly 2000-page long unpublished memoir. Hidden on page 1692 he finds an unsettling confession. Written and presented by Joe Dunthorne, (based on his book Children of Radium: A Buried Inheritance) Produced by Eleanor McDowall Music by Jeremy Warmsley Mixing engineer, Mike Woolley Story consultant, Sarah Geis Executive producer, Alan Hall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

29 min
EPISODE 3

Half-Life: 2. The Quiet Town by the River

Dangers lurk beneath the soil, in the town where Joe's great-grandfather worked. Written and presented by Joe Dunthorne Produced by Eleanor McDowall Music by Jeremy Warmsley Mixing engineer, Mike Woolley Story consultant, Sarah Geis Executive producer, Alan Hall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

28 min
EPISODE 4

Half-Life: 3. Lost

Joe's research into his great-grandfather's work takes him to Ammendorf, south of Berlin - one of the key sites of Nazi Germany's chemical weapons production. Written and presented by Joe Dunthorne Produced by Eleanor McDowall Music by Jeremy Warmsley Mixing engineer, Mike Woolley Story consultant, Sarah Geis Executive producer, Alan Hall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

29 min
EPISODE 4

Half-Life: 4. Young Republic

Joe follows in his great-grandfather's footsteps to Turkey where he was employed, it seems, making gas masks. Written and presented by Joe Dunthorne Produced by Eleanor McDowall Music by Jeremy Warmsley Mixing engineer, Mike Woolley With thanks to David McDowall Story consultant, Sarah Geis Executive producer, Alan Hall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

29 min
EPISODE 5

Half-Life: 5. The Road Through the Mountains

A letter from Joe’s great-grandfather, leads him to the east of Turkey and the story of a massacre, kept silent for many years Written and presented by Joe Dunthorne Produced by Eleanor McDowall Music by Jeremy Warmsley Mixing engineer, Mike Woolley With thanks to Jaclynn Ashly and David McDowall Story consultant, Sarah Geis Executive producer, Alan Hall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

28 min
EPISODE 6

Half-Life: 6. Tranquility

After the war, Joe's great-grandfather attempts to build a new life in the United States where his mental health begins to deteriorate. Written and presented by Joe Dunthorne Produced by Eleanor McDowall Music by Jeremy Warmsley Mixing engineer, Mike Woolley Story consultant, Sarah Geis Executive producer, Alan Hall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

29 min
EPISODE 7

Half-Life: 7. The City Forgets

In Munich, Joe traces a very different side to his family history, events that were left out of his great-grandfather’s memoir. Written and presented by Joe Dunthorne Produced by Eleanor McDowall Music by Jeremy Warmsley Mixing engineer, Mike Woolley Story consultant, Sarah Geis Executive producer, Alan Hall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

29 min
EPISODE 8

Half-Life: 8. A Fracture

In this final episode, Joe follows the opening of a public memorial and engages with a private reckoning. Written and presented by Joe Dunthorne (based on his book Children of Radium: A Buried Inheritance) Produced by Eleanor McDowall Music by Jeremy Warmsley Mixing engineer, Mike Woolley Translator in Berlin: Francesca Schweiger Recordings of the memorial unveiling: Phoebe McIndoe Story consultant, Sarah Geis Executive producer, Alan Hall Commissioning editor, Daniel Clarke A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

30 min

See All Season 7 (9)

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Drawn to a family legend about his German-Jewish family's dramatic escape from Nazi Germany in 1936, the writer Joe Dunthorne accidentally discovers a far more disturbing history.