9/12 Podcast

The events of September 11 2001 are some of the most widely covered events in modern history. Even if you were born after this time, you would be familiar with the life-changing, gut wrenching footage and will have heard many of the stories of the day itself. Perhaps you’ve even been to see the impressive memorial and museum in New York to learn more about it.

While we could all probably name some of the changes that these events kickstarted, a detailed understanding of the longer-term impacts aren’t as imprinted in our narratives as the event itself.  Here is where I found the 9/12 podcast to be amazing.

Set out over 8 episodes (approx. 35 mins each), host Dan Taberski takes a documentary story-telling approach to exploring some of the profound impacts that the events of September 11 2001 had on culture, racism, politics, security and the way we interact with each other.  

I loved every minute of this podcast because the stories help articulate those long, far-reaching, inter-connected tendrils the impacts that disasters can have through wonderfully curated stories. It’ll help you understand some of the complexity facing people after life-altering events and I can easily see how teams could use it as part of training programs for new recovery workers or as a way to kick-start discussions.

While I recommend you listen to the whole thing, if you only have time to listen to one episode, go for episode 3 ‘Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Beautiful’. This episode richly documents the hostility and challenges that many Muslim Americans faced in the aftermath of these events, and highlights how some people in our communities are doubly penalised by disasters through no fault of their own.

Listen to the 9/12 podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts from.