Following nearly destroying the world, our relatives are allies’: a gripping audio series featuring JFK and Nikita Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet came nearer to annihilation more so than ever in recent history. This happened after a US reconnaissance plane discovered the fact that Soviet atomic missile sites were being built on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the US mainland. In response, U.S. President John F Kennedy directed a naval task force to impose a maritime blockade around Cuba. What followed constituted nearly 14 days filled with unbearable stress.

An Catastrophic Danger

The danger remained clear. If President Kennedy, or his Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against their enemy, a cascade of worldwide nuclear attacks followed by counterstrikes would have followed, thrusting humanity into all-out oblivion.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined endlessly, through volumes, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" introduces a novel element to this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted by Max Kennedy alongside Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders who, for two tense weeks, held the fate of the world within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What were Washington planning?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the unique appeal of the podcast lies in its attempt to explore: "How can individuals detest one another and go against each other?"

"It was not lost on me how remarkable it is that individuals can be friends or have the potential to be complete adversaries," states Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, related to the late president and now a writer and attorney. "History shows this dynamic repeatedly when nations have gone to war, and it just illustrates the sheer folly involved to engage in warfare."

The Brink of Disaster

What’s remarkable about this event was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide were able to observe nearly as it happened while it moved closer to disaster. Nonetheless, the risk of destruction was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"Almost all officials among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike and an invasion," notes Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked the Cubans using the naval blockade, undoubtedly the Russians on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, which would have sunk our naval vessels and destroyed our largest and most important naval force. In turn, we would have responded through massive retaliation that would have eradicated most life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, they managed to keep their heads and calmly negotiate when everyone in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles from the Caribbean island while Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew American missiles from NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was immense, as was the sense of optimism.

The Different Perspective

Still, during those two weeks of October 1962, the tension was felt by everyone. The podcast's co-hosts were born shortly after these events, with Nina being taught about it via the Soviet school curriculum, which painted an alternative version of what happened.

"You said your father remembers it, describing it as a frightening time," she says. "But for Soviet citizens, the public really didn’t know that much about it, because it was a tense situation, whereas in the Soviet Union the official line was that everything was always fine and sunny."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, however, it was different. "I was informed what a great occasion for the USSR, because it represented a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. Subsequently, though, that interpretation would not be shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, the crisis was viewed as a failure for the Soviet leader, simply he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is so balanced , well produced that Nina quips it almost made her forget the known the ending. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear side by side. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of hope.

"We aren't the pioneers," notes Nina. "After 1991, a relative moved to America where he formed a close bond with the former president's family."

"But we were strangers prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we’re friends, something that is wonderful. Ultimately, after almost 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, a little bit."

Modern Echoes with Present Perils

Is that truly the case? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is that we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe in its history, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp