BBC Sounds and Radio 4 presents the new 10-part investigative podcast…
Havana Helmet Club, presented by Jennifer Forde and Sam Bungey, delves into the mysterious phenomenon known as ‘Havana Syndrome’ – a baffling condition that has left stateside diplomats and CIA operatives reporting disorientating symptoms, from piercing sounds to debilitating neurological effects. The series launches first on BBC Sounds with the first two editions now able to stream from today (10th June), with new episodes dropped weekly. Havana Helmet Club will also broadcast weekly on Radio 4 from Tuesday 1 July.
Dylan Haskins, Commissioning Editor, says of the series:
“West Cork (2018) was a seminal true crime series in the podcast canon. It’s a huge coup for BBC to have this – the first series to be co-presented and produced by Sam and Jennifer since West Cork, and reuniting many of the original team. The access to so many key figures in the mysterious story of Havana Syndrome is unprecedented. From former spies to Cuban and US diplomats to Patient Zero – with whom it all begins. The series has been a huge undertaking for more than three years and the result is beautifully crafted narrative investigation.”
In 2016, US officials stationed in Cuba began experiencing what some described as standing in an invisible beam of energy, a sudden pressure in their skulls, or an excruciating, high-pitched noise. Their symptoms persisted long after the initial attack – vision and hearing loss, vertigo, brain fog, and an overwhelming sense of unease. Was this an act of espionage, an unknown energy weapon, or a case of mass hysteria? Havana Helmet Club seeks to unravel the truth.
With meticulous research and gripping storytelling, Forde and Bungey utilise their expertise in investigative audio journalism to explore the origins, victims, and global ramifications of Havana Syndrome. Listeners hear from those who claim to have been affected, as well as sceptics. Set against the backdrop of strained US-Cuba relations, as well as taking audiences through decades of Cold War tensions, covert operations, and scientific mysteries, this is at its core a story for our time about alternative truths, disinformation, and the fracturing of society.
“We were fascinated by the unsettling nature of Havana Syndrome – how it seems to exist in a space between science, politics, and human perception,” says Jennifer Forde, co-creator of the series. “We’ve spoken to key figures, whistleblowers, and those directly affected to uncover what might be behind this mystery.”
Sam Bungey adds, “Our aim is to present the human stories at the centre of this phenomenon—those who say their lives have been upended, and those who believe this is all an illusion. It’s a puzzle that remains unsolved, and we’re excited for listeners to join us on this journey.”
The series will also broadcast weekly on Radio 4 from Tuesday 1 July.
