Best 9/11 podcasts 2021: interviews and series on September 11 attacks, Osama Bin Laden and War on Terror

Apple and Spotify feature a range of 9/11 podcasts - from ‘The Intelligence Angle’ to David Dimbleby’s ‘Fault Line: Blair, Bush and Iraq’
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

It was a day that changed the world and anyone of a certain age can remember where they were when they heard of the terror attacks on the Twin Towers on 11 September 2001.

Twenty years on, there is more information available now than ever before and the US global war on terror continues.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

For those who were either too young to remember the events, it can be hard to understand how four planes could be hijacked on US soil, let alone lead to the devastating loss of 3,000 lives and the US’s longest war.

So, if you are interested in learning more about the series of events which led up to and succeeded the attacks on 9/11 - or maybe you want a quick history lesson on what happened - here is a list of podcasts to help you understand.

Fox News: Rewind 9/11

This seven episode long series was released on 1 September 2021, it tells the story of the events before, immediately after and in the years following the September 2001 terror attacks.

From the 1979 Soviet move into Afghanistan and the US’ retaliation by arming the mujahideen to the present day, Fox anchors present the facts and speak with various witnesses and experts to understand the impact of the attacks on the world, particularly on the US and its allies.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

You can listen on Apple, Spotify, Google or wherever you get your podcasts.

Conflicted

(episodes 9/11, War on Terror and Iraq)

This podcast looks at the various degrees of conflict in the middle-east and the impact globally. There are three episodes of interest to those looking to learn more about 9/11 and the aftermath - titled ‘9/11’, ‘War on Terror’ and ‘Iraq’)

Hosted by Thomas Small, a Middle East expert, and Aimen Dean, a former jihadist turned British double agent inside Al Qaeda, the conversations provide insight on intelligence provided to the US government and what advice was given. Dean also lived in Afghanistan for a while, which he talks more about on their latest episode ‘Afghanistan and the Taliban’.

Each episode lasts about an hour, there are also episodes on topics such as Iran, Russia and Yemen.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

You can listen to the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify and the podcast’s official website.

Blindspot: The Road to 9/11

This eight-episode series is produced by HISTORY and WNYC channels, incorporating interviews with more than 60 people.

From FBI agents, high-level bureaucrats and journalists to experts and people who knew the terrorists personally, the hosts will piece together how the terror attack was carried out and whether there was prior information which could have stopped the attackers from hijacking the planes.

You can listen to this podcast on Apple, or the NPR website. 

The Fault Line: Blair, Bush and Iraq

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

British journalist David Dimbleby achieves one of the best interviewees for the subject of how 9/11 impacted the US and UK - as he interviews Tony Blair in 2020.

Dimbleby also speaks with politicians, spies and weapons inspectors, as he asks how and why the UK came to invade Iraq.

The podcast looks at the 18 months in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and the unwavering friendship of Blair and Bush. Dimbleby asks how the attack and the invasion of Iraq shaped the political landscape today.

You can listen on Apple, Spotify and wherever else you listen to your podcasts.

Letters from America: Bush Jr Years

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This BBC Radio 4 podcast series is one from the ‘Letters from America’ podcast, looking at pivotal events which shaped former presidents’ careers.

The Bush Jnr series delves into 2001-2004, from the 9/11 attacks to the war on terror and invasion of Iraq. These events defined George W Bush’s first term.

The series promises to be “A fascinating social, cultural and political look at American life from Alistair Cooke”

Listen on BBC Sounds or Apple podcasts.

9/11 Stories: Remembering September 11, 2001

This podcast series is brought to listeners by Q103.4, in partnership with the Feel Good foundation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Hosts Barasch and McGarry are lawyers from NYC who have dedicated their lives to helping the 9/11 victims’ families get compensation and access to information.

Each episode, they speak to a different first responder, celebrities and everyday people whose lives were forever altered that day. The podcast raises funds for the Feel Good Foundation.

You can listen on iHeart podcasts or the official podcast website. 

9/11 The intelligence angle

This series is brought by the International Spy Museum and was purposely made to inform students of the role intelligence played in the events which followed the 9/11 attacks.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Conversations revolve around how intelligence allowed the US government to identify the perpetrators and their ties to extremist movements - and ultimately how the US army tracked and killed Osama Bin Laden.

The series was released ahead of the tenth anniversary of the attacks, in September 2011.

You can listen on Apple podcasts. 

9/12

From host Dan Taberski (Missing Richard Simmons, Surviving Y2K, Running From ‘Cops’) this new podcast looks at what happened on 9/12, the day after the attacks.

He speaks with people who lived in the Washington and lower Manhattan areas and how the days that followed 9/11 were a realisation that the world as they knew it had changed forever.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Taberski offers insight into how 9/11 changed the average person, twenty years on from the attacks.

You can listen on Amazon music podcasts exclusively.

A message from the editor:

Thank you for reading. NationalWorld is a new national news brand, produced by a team of journalists, editors, video producers and designers who live and work across the UK. Find out more about who’s who in the team, and our editorial values. We want to start a community among our readers, so please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and keep the conversation going.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.