Logo for The Sound: Mystery of Havana Syndrome

The Sound: Mystery of Havana Syndrome

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. 

Don’t stay in the dark. Subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts or at brazen.fm/plus and get exclusive bonus episodes for The Sound and all our shows, as well as ad-free listening and early access to new podcasts. For the latest from Brazen delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletters at brazen.fm/newsletters.

Copyright © 2024 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. 

Don’t stay in the dark. Subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts or at brazen.fm/plus and get exclusive bonus episodes for The Sound and all our shows, as well as ad-free listening and early access to new podcasts. For the latest from Brazen delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletters at brazen.fm/newsletters.

Copyright © 2024 Brazen
6hr 36min
Thumbnail for "Introducing The Sound: Mystery of Havana Syndrome".
Starting in Cuba, a mysterious medical condition spreads among US diplomats and spies. Are they under attack?
Thumbnail for "Episode 1: Jericho".
A mystery begins at the US Embassy in Havana, Cuba.
Thumbnail for "Episode 2: The Immaculate Concussion".
Havana Syndrome cases are spreading. Investigators flock to Cuba while politicians start hunting for a culprit.
Thumbnail for "Episode 3: Speak of the Devil".
Some wonder if the Havana Syndrome health problems are real or imagined.
Thumbnail for "Episode 4: The Frey Effect".
With Havana Syndrome cases in nearly every continent, some investigators propose a new, strange theory.
Thumbnail for "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
Thumbnail for "Episode 6: A Silent Injury".
A CIA officer in Moscow gets sick and fundamentally changes the narrative surrounding “Havana Syndrome”
Thumbnail for "Episode 7: The Two Exits".
Nicky goes to the scene of the alleged crime in Havana, Cuba.
Thumbnail for "Episode 8: Hammers and Nails".
We answer our central question: What happened here?
Thumbnail for "Bonus: Fresh Doubts out of Washington".
The intelligence community tries to close the door on “Havana Syndrome” with the latest DNI report
Thumbnail for "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.
Thumbnail for "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
Thumbnail for "Introducing Fur & Loathing".
Nicky Woolf is back with a new investigation into another equally unusual incident.
Thumbnail for "Meeting Nicky Woolf: Answering the Global Mystery of Havana Syndrome".
What is Havana Syndrome? Nicky Woolf speaks with Project Brazen co-founder Tom Wright about his upcoming investigative podcast, THE SOUND: Mystery of Havana Syndrome.