
Looking Back: Uncovering the Secrets of an Irish Home for Unwed Mothers
31/12/2025 | 15 min
As we look back at our international reporters' most memorable stories of the last year, we revisit a story about families from Ireland learning their full history. There, the Catholic Church once ran homes for unwed mothers. Until recently the church dominated life in Ireland and pregnancy outside marriage was considered shameful. Behind one of these homes a ghastly discovery has recently been made. It was a secret most people in the town knew about, but no one took any action until recently. And through reporting the story, our correspondent learned of a personal connection to this history.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Looking Back: What a Long Lost Typewriter Says About Chinese Culture
30/12/2025 | 7 min
As we look back at our international reporters' most memorable stories of the last year, we revisit the story of an important typewriter. It was recently discovered in a basement in upstate New York and it holds important clues about the origins of Chinese computing. The discovery also raises questions about language and culture.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Looking Back: Making Music from the Sounds of War
29/12/2025 | 6 min
As we look back at our international reporters' most memorable stories of the last year we revisit a story about a Ukrainian youth orchestra. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, the country has been hit with more than 50,000 drone strikes. The constant threats of war have changed many things about life in Ukraine, including the way the night time sounds. We meet members of a youth orchestra outside Kyiv who are marking the new sounds of their country with a sonic poem.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Looking Back: The Effects of Melting Glaciers in Europe
26/12/2025 | 9 min
As we look back at our international reporters' most memorable stories of the last year we revisit a story about how Europe is experiencing a changing climate. It is the world’s fastest warming continent with temperatures there increasing at twice the average global rate. That is melting Europe's glaciers, which may disappear by the end of the century, forever altering the continent's rivers with ripple effects on shipping. We go to the water’s source in the Swiss Alps to understand the changes taking place.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Looking Back: Canadians Grapple with the Wide Impacts of U.S. Tariffs
25/12/2025 | 8 min
As we look back at our international reporters' most memorable stories of the last year, we revisit a report from America’s neighbor to the north last April. Canada has seen wide ranging impacts from the tariffs on goods sent to the U.S.— from Canadian identity to the country’s politics and of course the economy. Even small businesses are feeling the change. We go to the Atlantic province of Nova Scotia to see how tariffs are playing out.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy



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