The Story

When Ceri Menai-Davis’ five year old son Hugh was diagnosed with cancer, his whole family’s life was transformed. The emotional toll was unimaginable, but alongside that came myriad other hidden costs, and he soon found there was no support available. So why does the UK not help families going through this most devastating moment? And could a new law, championed by Ceri, change that?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryYou can find more information and support Ceri’s work here: https://www.hughslaw.uk/ Guest: Ceri Menai-Davis, co-founder and director of policy, It’s Never You.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Harry Stott.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Nobody should be bankrupted for spending time with their dying childFurther listening: Why are more young people getting bowel cancer?Photo: Ceri Menai-Davis.

The Notting Hill Carnival began in the sixties as a celebration of the culture of Britain’s Windrush generation - but as the tradition has swelled there are issues of overcrowding and violence. Critics question the policing costs, which run into the tens of millions. With the future of Carnival now a political lightning rod, how long can the party go on?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Andy Silvester, London editor, The Times.Host: Manveen RanaProducers: Robert Wallace, Emily Webb.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Notting Hill Carnival, 60 years on: how it began — and what’s nextClips: BBC, Sky News, The Independent, GB News, ThamesTVPhoto: Getty Images.

It’s a crime that many victims don’t know is illegal. Now a Times investigation has found that online platforms are hosting graphic content depicting women being sexually assaulted while they sleep, despite UK laws banning depictions of rape.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Constance Kampfner, political correspondent, The Times.Zoe Watts, survivor and founder of #endeyecheck campaign. Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Emily Webb and Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comIf you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:Rape Crisis England & WalesNHS - Help after rape and sexual assaultCriminal Cases Review CommissionAppeal - Charity and law practiceRead more: Revealed: Social media content depicting sex assaults on sleeping womenPhoto: Getty Images.

The tech giant Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion and add child-safety measures to its platforms, after settling a landmark trial against a coalition of American states. So, will the forthcoming measures actually lead to real change? And why has 2026 become a year of social media backlash? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Danny Forston, West Coast correspondent, The Sunday TimesHost: Luke JonesProducers: Sophie McNulty, Jennifer KennedyWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Meta agrees to child safety features in social media addiction caseFurther listening: The Times Tech PodcastClips: NBC News, CBS News, CNN, The Guardian. Photo: Getty Images.

At least 360 have died, with hundreds more still missing, after a flash flood in Nepal. Experts are warning that a second flood may be imminent.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: David Brown, chief news correspondent, The Times.Adam Vaughan, environment editor, The Times.Host: John Pienaar.Producers: Sandra Mitchell, Sofia Johanson.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Nepal flash floods latestPhoto: Getty Images.

Does the king get to decide where his grandkids go to school? Could we build data centres underground? And why was the CIA chief in Moscow this week? You asked, so we answered, in this edition of our monthly Q&A series.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Jack Blackburn, history correspondent, The Times. Chris Stokel-Walker, tech journalist. Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times. Marc Bennetts, foreign correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times. Hosts: Manveen Rana, Luke Jones.  Producers: Micaela Arneson, Jennifer Kennedy. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Digital cities: the future of Britain’s data centresFurther listening: The Ukrainian plot to sink the Russian economyPhoto: Getty Images.

Ten days ago, Natalie Harp was a name known almost exclusively to those in Washington's political circles but when a Democratic senator name-checked her in a campaign speech, it caused a war of words. So who is she and why does she matter so much to the president?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Philip Wegmann, White House reporter, The Wall Street Journal.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Olivia Case, Jennifer Kennedy. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: How Trump’s Ever-Present Executive Assistant Became the Talk of WashingtonFurther listening: The fraudsters pardoned by TrumpClips: Jon Ossoff / YouTube, Forbes, CNN, CSPAN, ABC7, One America News Network, Decoding Fox News / Twitter, Real News Insights, Global News, Brut / Facebook, Daily Mail, Fox.Photo: Getty Images.

Meteorologists are warning about a “Godzilla” El Niño which will cause extreme weather, food shortages and economic disruption. While the weather pattern happens regularly and mostly affects countries around the Pacific, its effects will be far reaching. What should we expect in the UK?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Adam Vaughan, environment editor, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Producers: Robert Wallace and Julia Webster.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: How will the ‘worst El Niño on record’ affect the UK?Further listening: Why this summer's drought could lead to food shortages Clips: BBC, Sky News, ITV News, 10News, Channel 4, The GuardianPhoto: Getty Images.

We’re publishing our monthly Q&A episode this Thursday. Send us your questions by Wednesday, 26 August, 12pm BST.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comFurther listening: Q&A: Public transport hell and ‘creepy’ AI glasses