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Former Harvard athlete Chris Nowinski found stardom in the world of pro wrestling. Performing as the obnoxious villain Chris Harvard, he worked alongside superstars like The Rock and Hulk Hogan. Chris lived the dream, until one fateful match left him suffering from post-concussion syndrome. With his career seemingly at an end, Chris began researching sports-related head trauma and convincing athletes to donate their brains. His work helped shed new light on the dangers of impact sports.

Overcoming strict censorship, Slovenian band Laibach managed to put on one of the first Western rock concerts ever held in North Korea. This unlikely gig was the brainchild of Norwegian director, writer, and producer called Morten Traavik. But throughout the buildup, the event hung in the balance. Any misstep, any verbal slip up, any accidental critique of North Korea, and the whole concert could be cancelled.

Manvendra Singh Gohil, a real-life prince and next in line to a royal dynasty in the Indian state of Gujarat, grew up in a gilded cage. His family's desire to keep his blue blood away from ‘commoners’ meant that he missed out on formative experiences like making friends. After a failed marriage to a princess, Manvendra was determined to break out and explore the world, and his sexuality. With the help of his new friend Ashok, a gay rights activist, the prince began a process of self-acceptance that would be put to the ultimate test. (This episode was first broadcast in May 2022)

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar

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(Photo: Cassette tape. Credit: Getty Images)