Program: ABC Rewind

Source:ABC Radio National

Latest Episode

Brought to you by

ABC Radio National

The home of gripping narrative history series. Dive into true stories told by the people who lived through them.

Broadcast on ABC Radio National: Sundays 4pm.

Episodes

Sorted by latest

01 | A Grave Matter

The man who stole the atomic bomb. And why he did it.

Published: 16 Dec 2025Tue 16 Dec 2025 at 5:00am

02 | A Split Life

The world’s most dangerous spy?

Published: 16 Dec 2025Tue 16 Dec 2025 at 4:45am

03 | Unstable Elements

The fate of the world is decided: Klaus Fuchs joins a top-secret atomic mission. The race to build the bomb is on. In Birmingham, England, Klaus Fuchs is working on “TUBE ALLOYS” – the codename for the British atomic bomb project.

Published: 16 Dec 2025Tue 16 Dec 2025 at 4:30am

04 | A stable bond

The spy meets his spymaster - presenter Rosa Ellis' great-aunt Ursula. She's a housewife and mother living in the English countryside. And she also works for the Soviets.

Published: 16 Dec 2025Tue 16 Dec 2025 at 3:45am

05 | An irreversible reaction

A double life gets more dangerous. Fuchs joins America's bomb project and the race with Russia is on. But as the nuclear mission ramps up, security tightens too.

Published: 16 Dec 2025Tue 16 Dec 2025 at 3:30am

06 | Camp Y

Lives are on the line. The Fuchs family is drawn into the espionage as the atomic bomb project takes a deadly turn. Klaus is at the covert Manhattan Project laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Published: 16 Dec 2025Tue 16 Dec 2025 at 3:15am

07 | Critical Mass

The interrogation of a spymaster. Ursula is questioned as Klaus Fuchs returns to England. Secrets threaten to be spilled and loyalties are tested. The war has ended, and the physicist could have a promising future.

Published: 16 Dec 2025Tue 16 Dec 2025 at 3:00am

08 | The uncertainty principle

The spy catchers close in. Klaus Fuchs is caught in the crosshairs. Spymaster Ursula has outwitted the interrogators - but can he? As he settles down in England, British intelligence services are following him at every turn.

Published: 16 Dec 2025Tue 16 Dec 2025 at 2:45am

09 | Dead cat, live cat

A double life implodes. Klaus Fuchs faces judge and jury, but will he confess? A future as an eminent physicist is slipping away. And the friends who took him in as a young scientist are blindsided - they want answers.

Published: 16 Dec 2025Tue 16 Dec 2025 at 2:30am

10 | Fallout

Jail awaits - Klaus Fuchs is going down. But will he take his spy handler Ursula with him? British intelligence wants names. As Fuchs is forced to face his past, Ursula tries to run from hers.

Published: 16 Dec 2025Tue 16 Dec 2025 at 2:15am

Feature articles

New evidence about 1998 waterfront dispute

Former prime minister John Howard has always downplayed involvement in the waterfront dispute, but new evidence raises more questions about the government's knowledge of the events leading up to it.

Peter Reith and John Howard in the House of Representatives.

Published: 2 Apr 2025Wed 2 Apr 2025 at 7:00pmby Geraldine Fela

Conspiracy? War on the waterfront

INTRODUCING — Conspiracy? War on the waterfront

On 8 April 1998 Australians woke up to the startling news that dogs and men in balaclavas were invading the docks around the country, locking out workers.

Dark port skyline with cranes and a cargo ship at dusk, reflected in the water

Published: 15 Dec 2025Mon 15 Dec 2025 at 4:45amwith Jan Fran

01 Conspiracy? If it quacks like a duck

When Patrick Stevedores locks out and fires 1400 wharfies overnight on April 8, 1998, it divides the country. But behind all this is a story of high drama and political intrigue, a complex web of double dealing and high-stakes leaks.

Duration: 35 minutes 8 seconds

Published: 16 May 2025Fri 16 May 2025 at 2:22amwith Jan Fran

02 Conspiracy? Bosom Buddies

When the Opposition Labor Party breaks the news in Parliament about a secret group of ‘industrial mercenaries’ training in Dubai to take over the wharfies' jobs some big questions are asked: who exactly is behind the training operation, and is the…

Duration: 32 minutes 41 seconds

Published: 16 May 2025Fri 16 May 2025 at 2:22amwith Jan Fran

03 Conspiracy? The farmers come to town

After the collapse of the Dubai plan Patrick Stevedore's boss Chris Corrigan turns to Plan B, training fresh-faced farmers to work as wharfies.

Duration: 35 minutes 39 seconds

Published: 16 May 2025Fri 16 May 2025 at 2:22amwith Jan Fran

Discover more podcasts

Download the ABC listen app to hear more of your favourite podcasts

Program: ABC Rewind

01 | A Grave Matter

02 | A Split Life

03 | Unstable Elements

04 | A stable bond

05 | An irreversible reaction

06 | Camp Y

07 | Critical Mass

08 | The uncertainty principle

09 | Dead cat, live cat

10 | Fallout

New evidence about 1998 waterfront dispute

INTRODUCING — Conspiracy? War on the waterfront

01 Conspiracy? If it quacks like a duck

02 Conspiracy? Bosom Buddies

03 Conspiracy? The farmers come to town

Discover more podcasts

Footer