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He survived Mao’s worst disasters… and secretly saved millions.
Then he invited Richard Nixon to China and changed the world.
He survived Mao’s worst disasters… and secretly saved millions.
Then he invited Richard Nixon to China and changed the world.
This is **Zhou Enlai** — China’s quiet premier for 27 years.
From famine to Cultural Revolution to ping-pong diplomacy, this *History Ignited* episode tells the complicated true story behind Billy Joel’s lyric.
**Timestamps:**
0:00 – Intro
1:20 – Who Was Zhou Enlai?
3:10 – Great Leap Forward Disaster
5:40 – Protecting Lives in the Cultural Revolution
8:15 – Ping-Pong Diplomacy & Nixon’s Visit
11:30 – Legacy & Why China Still Mourns Him
13:40 – Tea-riffic Joke!
Send us Fan Mail
About History Ignited:
History Ignited is the award-winning kids and family history podcast inspired by Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire. Each short episode explores the real stories behind the people, events, inventions, and cultural moments that shaped the world from the 1950s through the 1980s. Winner of the 2025 Webby People’s Voice Award for Best Kids & Family Podcast.
QUICK LINKS
This is an episodic podcast, so you can listen to it in any order, but episode one is a great place to start.
Listen to episode one hereHe survived Mao’s worst disasters… and secretly saved millions.
Then he invited Richard Nixon to China and changed the world.
This is **Zhou Enlai** — China’s quiet premier for 27 years.
From famine to Cultural Revolution to ping-pong diplomacy, this *History Ignited* episode tells the complicated true story behind Billy Joel’s lyric.
**Timestamps:**
0:00 – Intro
1:20 – Who Was Zhou Enlai?
3:10 – Great Leap Forward Disaster
5:40 – Protecting Lives in the Cultural Revolution
8:15 – Ping-Pong Diplomacy & Nixon’s Visit
11:30 – Legacy & Why China Still Mourns Him
13:40 – Tea-riffic Joke!
Send us Fan Mail
About History Ignited:
History Ignited is the award-winning kids and family history podcast inspired by Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire. Each short episode explores the real stories behind the people, events, inventions, and cultural moments that shaped the world from the 1950s through the 1980s. Winner of the 2025 Webby People’s Voice Award for Best Kids & Family Podcast.
Sound Carrot is your source for Family Podcast Discovery. Verified awesome, 0% boring.
Distraction free website, no flashing banners or adverts to steal your attention.
(Some shows do contain their own ads however).
At first I made this site for my kids, but like any dad I got a little over excited. I hope you find it as useful as they do.
Whether you want to listen to them together in the car, or alone in your room - the content is all safe for younger ears.
