The Sound: Mystery of Havana Syndrome
By Brazen
In December 2016, a US official in Havana went to the embassy medical centre to report a debilitating and confounding illness. The symptoms included headaches; nausea; hearing loss; problems with memory and vision – and its onset was characterized by hearing… something. A buzzing, hissing, grinding… sound.
Soon, a second official came down with the same symptoms. Then a third. Then a fourth. By the time the story went public in summer 2017, dozens of US diplomats, as well as some Canadians, had come down with what was becoming known as “Havana Syndrome.”
In this deep dive investigation, journalist Nicky Woolf peels back the layers of one of the most bizarre mysteries of the modern age. The Sound is a story about spycraft, technology, and the brain. It’s a story where, at every turn, you’re never quite sure what’s real and what’s an illusion. It’s a story about how the Cold War, maybe, never really ended.
The Sound is a Project Brazen production. For more fearless storytelling, search for the Brazen channel on Apple Podcasts or visit brazen.fm, home to all our podcasts, documentaries and newsletters. At Brazen, we show you how the world really works – from espionage and corruption to deal-making and organised crime, we’ll take you inside stories from hidden worlds.
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Latest episode
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Introducing Fur & Loathing
Nicky Woolf is back with a new investigation into another equally unusual incident. -
Bonus: The Music Behind The Sound with Attacca Quartet
A behind-the-scenes chat with Attacca Quartet, the Grammy Award-winning group that composed and performed THE SOUND's haunting theme music -
Bonus: Live from the International Spy Museum
In this bonus episode, Nicky joins an ex-CIA officer and a national security attorney for a live panel discussion at the International Spy Museum in Washington DC. -
Episode 8: Hammers and Nails
We answer our central question: What happened here? -
Episode 7: The Two Exits
Nicky goes to the scene of the alleged crime in Havana, Cuba. -
BONUS: Fresh Doubts out of Washington
The intelligence community tries to close the door on “Havana Syndrome” with the latest DNI report -
Episode 6: A Silent Injury
A CIA officer in Moscow gets sick and fundamentally changes the narrative surrounding “Havana Syndrome” -
Episode 5: The Great British Nuke Off
Nicky heads to the UK to build a device that could unlock the key to the mystery of Havana Syndrome -
Episode 4: The Frey Effect
With Havana Syndrome cases in nearly every continent, some investigators propose a new, strange theory. -
Episode 3: Speak of the Devil
Some wonder if the Havana Syndrome health problems are real or imagined.