The Chernobyl Podcast
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The official podcast of the miniseries Chernobyl, from HBO and Sky. Join host Peter Sagal (NPR’s “Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!”) and series creator, writer and executive producer Craig Mazin after each episode as they discuss the true stories that shaped the scenes, themes and characters. Chernobyl airs Mondays at 9 PM on HBO and Tuesdays at 9 PM on Sky Atlantic. The Chernobyl Podcast is also available to stream on HBO NOW and HBO GO starting Monday, May 6 at 10 PM.
7 Episodes
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74Peter Sagal and Craig Mazin are back for a special bonus episode. They’re joined by actor Jared Harris (Valery Legasov) to discuss filming Chernobyl, Harris’s experience portraying Legasov and the global reaction to the miniseries.
The Chernobyl Podcast is produced by HBO in conjunction with Pineapple Street Media. Original music by Kaan Erbay
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Peter Sagal and Craig Mazin discuss the fifth and final episode of Chernobyl. Valery Legasov (Jared Harris), Boris Shcherbina (Stellan Skarsgård) and Ulana Khomyuk (Emily Watson) risk their lives and reputations to expose the truth about Chernobyl. On the podcast, Mazin exposes the truth about the finale. He compares the real show trial with the series's depiction, explaining where he took liberties and why. We’ll also hear from production designer Luke Hull about recreating the trial room. And finally, Sagal and Mazin talk about what’s happened since Chernobyl, and what they’ve taken away from this series.
The Chernobyl Podcast is produced by HBO in conjunction with Pineapple Street Media. Original music by Kaan Erbay.
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Peter Sagal and Craig Mazin discuss the penultimate episode of Chernobyl. Valery Legasov (Jared Harris) and Soviet Deputy Prime Minister Boris Shcherbina (Stellan Skarsgård) consider using lunar rovers to remove radioactive debris, while Ulana Khomyuk (Emily Watson) faces government hurdles in determining the truth about the cause of the explosion. Sagal and Mazin go deep on the exclusion zone; from where they filmed it, to the first person accounts the rooftop cleanup is based on. And yes, they talk about the puppy scene.
The Chernobyl Podcast is produced by HBO in conjunction with Pineapple Street Media. Original music by Kaan Erbay.
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Peter Sagal and Craig Mazin discuss the third episode of Chernobyl. Lyudmilla Ignatenko (Jessie Buckley), a Pripyat resident, ignores warning about her firefighter husband’s (Adam Nagaitis) contamination; Valery Legasov (Jared Harris) lays out a decontamination plan, complete with human risks. On the podcast, Mazin breaks down how they filmed the divers scene with additional commentary from director Johan Renck. Sagal and Mazin talk about scenes that were left on the cutting room floor, how much of Jessie Buckley's actions mirror the real Lyudmilla Ignatenko's, and more.
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Peter Sagal and Craig Mazin discuss the second episode of Chernobyl. With untold millions at risk after the explosion, nuclear physicist Ulana Khomyuk (Emily Watson) makes a desperate attempt to reach Valery Legasov (Jared Harris) and warn him about the threat of a second explosion that could devastate the continent. Mazin sheds light on the real-life scientists who inspired the composite character Khomyuk and demystifies how nuclear radiation works. He also gives context about seemingly small details, like the poem being read on the radio, and we get more surprising answers from Sagal's "really?" questions.
The Chernobyl Podcast is produced by HBO in conjunction with Pineapple Street Media. Original music by Kaan Erbay.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 26, 1986, Ukrainian SSR. Plant workers and firefighters put their lives on the line to control a catastrophic 1986 explosion at a Soviet nuclear power plant. Peter Sagal and Craig Mazin discuss these events and more behind the series premiere of Chernobyl. They talk about what drew Mazin to this story, and dig into when and why he deviated from what really happened.
The Chernobyl Podcast is produced by HBO in conjunction with Pineapple Street Media. Original music by Kaan Erbay.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
"The Chernobyl Podcast" is the official podcast of the miniseries Chernobyl, from HBO and Sky. Join host Peter Sagal (NPR’s “Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!”) and series creator, writer and executive producer Craig Mazin as they discuss the true stories that shaped the scenes, themes and characters after each episode airs. The Chernobyl Podcast is available wherever you listen to podcasts, and you can stream it on HBO NOW and HBO GO starting Monday, May 6 at 10 PM.
"The Chernobyl Podcast" is produced by HBO in conjunction with Pineapple Street Media. Original music by Kaan Erbay.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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When the radioactive cloud came over central Sweden it was raining, so for the next ten years there were restrictions on how much fish, game, mushrooms, and wild berries one could eat. Reindeer kept by the Sami population could not be sold, instead had to be destroyed due to contamination.
1.23.45 am.. everything started at 1.23.40... my face dropped while watching this series and.. Toptunov.. he was 25.. just 25 ! in memory of all who suffered and sacrificed
Where did they bury the equipment and clothing of the liquidators?
I was so looking forward to this podcast but didn't know it was a companion to the series. Dang. I'm going to keep listening to see if they provide more information.
Leave it to someone from NPR to try and make a horrible tragedy from decades ago about President Trump. Pathetic.
The music feels like it has radiation as well. It's really well done
Beautifully shot, acted and written. I am on my third viewing. Attention to detail is brilliant on every level!
Peter Sagals lack of self awareness makes his coming realization of his own participation in the state corruption more delicious.
о Чернобыле и не на русском, убийственно странно!
Easily one of the best mini-series I've ever seen. This podcast is a great companion piece.
As an Armenian, I was thrilled to see an Armenian character. Armenians are typically portrayed in a negative light on television shows but he was different. He was just a soldier doing his job.
Hello All. Do you know, is there somewhere a transcription for these postcasts?
omg! such a wonderful surprise!! 😍
amazing,good job.
Maybe another bonus podcast around Emmy time? A girl can dream.
This blows my mind "if you gonna believe the core has been exploded, you are a dead man now, no matter what you do! ". Just put yourself in that circumstances and you really need someone who is a true leader to guide you. I hope, a disaster like that never happens again to anyone wherever they live.
Love this bonus episode!!!! would love more surprise bonus episodes!!!
fascinating podcast and so well presented. thank you
Still
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A truly fascinating real life story, well done on the production. scarier than a horror flick.
such an amazing podcast #greenmonkey
Read the original book that the show is based on. It's called Chernobyl Prayer, by Svetlana Alexievich. It's a stunning testimony and worthy of your time.
Did this TV show convince you to be against nuclear power?
fantastic podcast well done to all involved 👍
is this series available on Netflix?
It's astounding to me that after such a tragedy, I see naive fools make the same mistakes as the characters in the sense that they ignore the dangers and go back there to visit for YouTube views. I saw a couple people inches from items reading over 1000 on the Geiger counter and not worried. Arrogance and overconfidence were the downfall of man then, and I see that nothing has changed here in present day.
Can you imagine that Russian communists' party official suggested banning those series as they 'demonise' the image of soviet people and soviet government? will it ever finish?
the courtroom scene where Legasov uses the blue and red cards to explain the sequence of disaster was brilliant. Ukrainian people, the world should never forget your heroic sacrifices for the greater good.
Riveting, horrifying, drama. a fantastic job by all involved and really enjoying the podcast. the Russian people have suffered hardships and horrors, through the years that we (hopefully) will never know. My daughter was born (UK) exactly 2 years following Chernobyl. Unfortunately she was born with her brain damaged. the consultant who diagnosed this said more babies were being born like this following chernobyl. I've never seen any chernobyl "follow up" research on humans only that sheep/agriculture were monitored. it's a terrible thing we've had to live with, with no answers. I often wonder if chernobyl was used as an easy excuse.
This bridge of death is legend, yes, many people stood there but nobody died from it.
Does anyone know the name of the book they talk about
Thank you for the show and for the podcast. I appreciated that no extra drama was added and that the Russian people were characterised with compassion. I was very effected by both broadcasts. Thank you.
fun thing you mentioned that you are surprised there was no cat food in soviet union. now lot of people buy cat food here but for me its still weird why people now buy cat food instead of giving some random food which is left after people eat, its kind of waste of money to buy cat food :)
greetings from Lithuania. many people here talk about this show, will try to find time to watch it :) watched like 30 mins already.
Thank you for the awesome work - podcast and series.
I want to say I'm surprised that it took till 2017 for them to build a containment area around it, but considering the whole thing was a giant shitshow from the beginning, I guess I'm not. This was an excellent series and set of podcasts. I would love to see/learn more about things like this in the future.
Castbox incorrectly says this episode is 47 minutes long when it's only TWO 🤔
This show is absolutely amazing. i hope we see more like it. I was young when this happened and we knew it was bad but really had no idea how bad it really was. I appreciate getting to know the stories about the people involved. thank you so much...... standing ovation!!
great job guys! I'm reading "voices of Chernobyl" these days and i would recommend viewers who liked the show to read this book. it tells the stories (the firefighter, old lady who refused to evacuate, etc) in a deeper individual level.