Following nearly destroying our planet, our families have become allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet edged nearer to annihilation than at any other point during recent history. This happened following the discovery that an American reconnaissance aircraft identified the fact that Russian nuclear missile installations were being built in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the coast of American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around the island. The next phase was almost a fortnight of unbearable stress.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger was clear. If Kennedy, or the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, had fired on the other side, a cascade of worldwide nuclear attacks and retaliatory strikes might have ensued, casting mankind into all-out ruination.

This pivotal 1962 event has been covered extensively, in books, films, as well as TV documentaries. But, in its latest installment, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" has brought a completely new perspective into the story. The series is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives of the figures who, for 13 days, controlled the destiny of the world in their hands.

"What was the Kremlin thinking? What were the American side planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also an academic of global relations.

In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to question: "How can individuals detest each other to the point they go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how spectacular the fact that individuals can be allies or else have the potential to be total enemies," states Max Kennedy, son of RFK, related to JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly in instances where countries have gone to war, and it just illustrates the profound irrationality involved to engage in warfare."

A Brink of Catastrophe

What is notable about this event was that, because it unfolded so publicly, people around the world were able to observe almost in real time while it moved closer to armageddon. Even so, the threat of destruction was more imminent than anybody understood at the time.

"Virtually everyone in the White House were advocating for a military strike followed by an invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. struck Cuba using the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would've launched a tactical nuclear weapon against the American ships, which would have obliterated the naval vessels as well as sunk our largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have responded through an overwhelming counterattack that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t is a testament to both leaders, they managed to exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements around them demanded military action. As a result, Khrushchev removed the missiles in the Caribbean island and President Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism.

The Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the anxiety was palpable by everyone. The podcast's presenters were born in the years following the crisis, with Nina learned about the crisis through the Soviet education system, which portrayed a slightly different version of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, and it was a scary day," she says. "However for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know a great deal about it, because it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system the official line was that everything was always wonderful and positive."

Within the Khrushchev household, though, it was different. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she continues. In the years to come, though, that interpretation was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably balanced , expertly crafted so much so that Nina jokes it almost made her forget she already knew the ending. This is, partly, due to the participation of renowned scholars. Yet, truly, the most groundbreaking thing is the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it would be unthinkable that descendants of the heads of state of America and the USSR to appear side by side. That Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, must be seen as a sign of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Max. "Which is unfortunate since we connected really well and we are friends, something that is wonderful. Finally, following almost 60 years of nearly annihilating the world, our families are now friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is that we now are living living through a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to comprehend