The Story

When was the last time you read a book? Literacy rates have plummeted across the developed world since the advent of the smartphone and the consequences for society are chilling, says James Marriott. But why does it matter that fewer of us are reading books? And what happens if we all just stop?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: James Marriott, columnist, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Jennifer Kennedy.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: The death of reading puts the world in a perilous placeFurther listening: Inside the British town contaminated by forever chemicalsClips: ABC, DW News, Good Morning America, TMZ, Tucker Carlson Network.Photo: Getty Images.

For centuries, people who’ve survived near-death experiences have told eerily similar and strange stories. They talk of bright lights, a feeling of euphoria, life flashing before their eyes. For much of that time, such accounts were often relegated to the realm of mysticism. But now, some scientists are beginning to reconsider what happens to you when you’re on the very edge of life and death.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryRead by: John NaishProducer: Sophie McNultyWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: The neuroscientists who had near-death experiences – and how it changed themPhoto: Getty Images

Did King Charles really tell Earl Spencer that Diana would soon be forgotten? In his new memoir, Swan Song, Diana’s brother makes a series of explosive claims about the King’s behaviour following her death — prompting a swift and unusually personal response from Buckingham Palace.Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey are joined by Andrew Morton, author of Diana: Her True Story, to examine Spencer’s disputed account and ask whether the Palace scored a “colossal own goal” by responding. He also reveals where Spencer’s version conflicts with Diana's own account, and explains why he believes the memoir is an attempt to take control of her story ahead of the 30th anniversary of her death.They also discuss William’s reported “multigenerational fury”, Harry’s relationship with the Spencer family and whether the book honours Earl Spencer’s pledge to protect Diana’s sons — or risks them reliving their grief.Who should have the final say over Diana’s story? Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.ukWatch us on YouTube.Read more: Hypocrite Spencer is peddling Diana's privacy, say King's alliesFurther listening: Catherine, Meghan, Camilla, Diana — the price of marrying a princeProducer: Robert WallaceVideo Producer: Eve ChadbournExecutive Producer: Priyanka DeladiaImage: Getty

Britain’s small boats saga has had a dramatic week. Wednesday saw 781 people arrive in Britain, the highest number of the year, while on Monday a dingy carrying 60 migrants was met at sea by the far-right activist ‘Danny Tommo’. Protests have since engulfed parts of the south coast, but why is this all happening now? And what can the government do to get a handle on it?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: Emma Yeomans, news reporter, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producers: Jesse Fox, Robyn Simon.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: How Danny Tommo came face to face with migrants in the ChannelFurther listening: Flights, visas, and kidnappers: The new migrant route to BritainClips: Danny Tommo YouTube, Channel 5 News, ITV News, BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight, Al Jazeera, The Central Club podcast, Dan Wootton (Facebook), BBC Politics.Photo: Getty Images.

In an area just north of Blackpool, a chemical factory sits on the River Wyre. In the past few years, journalists have detected large amounts of forever chemicals in land around the plant. And yesterday, some residents discovered they had high levels of these chemicals in their blood. So, what does this mean? And what can those tested do about it?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: George Odling, senior news reporter, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producers: Robyn Simon, Jesse Fox.With audio from: Lara Wildenberg.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Alarm over 'forever chemicals' in blood of Lancashire town residentsClips: CBN News, BBC News, BBC World Service, News4AJAX, ‘Dark Waters’ - Universal Pictures.Photo: James Speakman for The Times.

The US president will greet his Chinese counterpart at the start of a state visit later today. The two leaders will hold talks in Washington, DC tomorrow during which artificial intelligence is expected to be high on the agenda. Despite weeks of warnings about the devastation AI could cause to humankind, the two countries are locked in a battle for global domination of the technology. Could Donald Trump and Xi Jinping stop the escalation?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: Rana Mitter, professor of US-Asia relations, Harvard Kennedy School.Host: Luke Jones.Producers: Micaela Arneson, Jesse Fox.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: China’s AI is not the best but it can still come firstFurther listening: Will superintelligent AI destroy humanity? Clips: BBC, LiveNOW from FOX, USA Today, CNBC, C-SPAN.Photo: Getty Images.

Andy Burnham will meet Donald Trump in person for the first time today at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Top of the agenda are the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, North Sea drilling, trade deals and AI. So who wants what? Will there be any curveballs? And can the PM charm his opposite number in this first face-to-face?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: Ben Clatworthy, Whitehall editor, The Times.Host: Luke Jones. Producers: Olivia Case, Robyn Simon. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Andy Burnham is set to meet Trump: here are the potential flashpointsFurther listening: Has space become the final frontier for war?Clips: Sky, BBC, Channel 4, The Guardian, GB News, AP, Parliament.live, United Nations / YouTube. NBC, France24. Photo: Getty Images and Wikimedia Commons.

Anti-Ukrainian sentiment is on the rise in Poland.The rift stems, in part, from a historical dispute over a wartime massacre of Poles 83 years ago, which has bubbled to the surface in recent months. So, how did relations sour so quickly? And what does this mean for Polish support in the war against Russia?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: Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The TimesHost: Manveen RanaProducer: Sophie McNultyWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Poland and Ukraine reopen old wounds that lay buried for 80 yearsFurther listening: The Ukrainian plot to sink the Russian economyClips: BBC, Good Morning Britain, Gazeta Wrocławska, Grzegorz Braun - Facebook, Kancelaria Prezydenta RP - Facebook, RMF24.Photo: Jack Hill/The Times. 

Ironman ultra-triathlons demand competitors swim 2.4 miles, cycle 112 miles, and then run a full marathon, paying upwards of $1000 for the pleasure. It’s not everyone’s idea of a perfect Sunday, but for its growing base of devotees, it has become almost like a religion. So how did the sport grow from its low-key Hawaiian roots to a money-making global phenomenon? And what drives people to push their bodies to the limit?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryRead by: Rick Broadbent, sports writer, The Times.Producers: Harry Stott.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: $1,000 for 140 miles of suffering (in the rain) — why is Ironman so popular?Photo: Getty Images.