The Story

A public inquiry is currently investigating the deaths of over 2000 mental health inpatients in the care of NHS trusts in Essex. The inquiry resumes this week, but the fact it exists at all is largely down to the campaign of one woman; Melanie Leahy, whose son Matthew died in Chelmsford in 2012.

This programme includes material that some listeners may find distressing, including descriptions of suicide.

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Guest: Melanie Leahy, campaigner and mother of Matthew.
Host: Daniel Gordon.
Producers: Daniel Gordon, Edward Drummond.
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If you’ve been affected by any of the issues raised, the following organisations can help:

SANE is a charity which provides emotional support and specialist services for people who need help with their mental health and their families. Its helpline, SANEline, is 0300 304 7000. Details of other ways to get in touch can be found at sane.org.uk

MIND is another mental health charity offering support, its main information line is 0300 102 1234 Details of other helplines can be found at mind.org.uk

The Samaritans provides 24 hour emotional support to people struggling to cope or relatives bereaved by suicide. Call 116 123, or visit samaritans.org.

Clips: Melanie Leahy, Essex Police, Lampard Inquiry, Sky News, The Telegraph, UK Parliament Youtube channel, Channel 5 News.
Photo: JOE GIDDENS/PA
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In 1992, Helen Down's brother Richard was studying for a master’s in artificial intelligence at Cardiff University. There, he had a brief side hustle as a sperm donor - a confession he'd only made to his family as an adult. Through a DNA website, the link was made and Helen met her niece and nephew for the first time in 2024 - the product of her brother’s sperm donation 30 years ago. So, what exactly happened at at the family reunion? And how did these new family members unlock an even bigger mystery?

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

Read by: Helen Down.
Producer: Dave Creasey.
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Read more: What happened when a sperm donor met his unknown kids
Photo: Tim Jobling, Duncan Elliot for The Times Magazine.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melania Trump this week releases her new documentary 'Melania' which takes viewers inside the enigmatic first lady’s second term. Directed and produced by Melania herself, it's a project that's had plenty hype and some controversy. The studio Amazon MGM bought the rights for $40 million - the highest price ever paid for a documentary. So, what do we learn about real Melania - the power behind the throne with firm views on her husband’s actions?

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: Meghan Agnew, Senior Features Writer, US.
Host: Luke Jones.
Producers: Dave Creasey and Micaela Arneson.
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Read more: Sensitive Trump, Melania the boss… inside the first lady’s second term
Clips: The Today Show, BBC News. Rolling Stones, Gimmie Shelter, Decca Records (UK).
Photo: Getty Images.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer is visiting China, becoming the first UK prime minister to travel to Beijing in eight years. His trip comes amid a queue of world leaders seeking meetings with Xi Jinping, as some countries look for leverage in an increasingly volatile global order. But can China be trusted as a global partner? And as the US appears to be stepping back from its role as the world’s policeman, what kind of power is China prepared to become?

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:
Cindy Yu, columnist and contributing editor at The Times & The Sunday Times.
Isabel Hilton, journalist and China watcher.

Host: Manveen Rana.
Producers: Julia Webster, Harry Stott, and Sophie McNulty.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: What Keir Starmer and Xi Jinping said in China (and what they meant)
Further listening: Is China’s mega-embassy a mega-spy base?
Clips: BBC, World Economic Forum, CBS, APT, DRM News
Photo: Getty Images.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a whirlwind start to the year. In just three weeks, tensions between Donald Trump and Iran have escalated, the U.S. captured Venezuela's President Maduro, while British politics has been rocked by defections and leadership challenges. And we're still only in January. To help cut through the chaos, we’re taking a moment to answer your biggest questions about what’s been happening.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

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

Hosts: Manveen Rana & Luke Jones
Producer: Sophie McNulty
Further listening:
Everything you need to know about the Iran protests
Has ICE become the US president’s ‘private army’?
Starmer v the ‘King of the North’ - who really won?
Photo: Getty Images.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.