54 episodes

You've heard the stories. You’ve felt for the people involved. But what happens after the cameras shut off and the reporters walk away? Just because a story disappears from the news doesn’t mean it’s gone. So what happened to the nuclear disaster at Fukushima? or the trapped Chilean Miners? And did anything actually come out of the Ice Bucket Challenge? Join Global News reporter, Erica Vella on this unique history podcast as she takes you inside these stories and talks to the people at the heart of each one to find out exactly what’s happened since. 

Global News What Happened To...‪?‬ Curiouscast

    • History
    • 4.6 • 474 Ratings

You've heard the stories. You’ve felt for the people involved. But what happens after the cameras shut off and the reporters walk away? Just because a story disappears from the news doesn’t mean it’s gone. So what happened to the nuclear disaster at Fukushima? or the trapped Chilean Miners? And did anything actually come out of the Ice Bucket Challenge? Join Global News reporter, Erica Vella on this unique history podcast as she takes you inside these stories and talks to the people at the heart of each one to find out exactly what’s happened since. 

    The Vancouver Riots | 8

    The Vancouver Riots | 8

    On June 15, 2011, riots broke out in Vancouver following Game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup final downtown after The Canucks were defeated by the Boston Bruins in a stunning 4-0 win.
    A report found that total damage caused by the riot was just over $3.7 million. There were 112 businesses and 122 vehicles damaged, and 52 assaults were reported against civilians, police and emergency personnel.
    On this episode of What happened to…? Erica Vella speaks with those who were in the ground experienced the riot first hand and learns more about the push for change and accountability following the riots.
    Find out more at https://globalnews.ca/news/9899622/what-happened-to-2011-vancouver-riots/
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    • 39 min
    Toronto Bathhouse Raids | 7

    Toronto Bathhouse Raids | 7

    On February 5, 1981, Toronto Police launched Operation Soap. Officers ambushed four Toronto bathhouses in a series of coordinated raids following a six-month investigation, which led to almost 300 patrons being arrested on the street.
    The raids were a watershed moment for Toronto's Queer community because, thousands of activists protested along the streets of Toronto and decided to fight the attacks in court.
    On this episode of What happened to…? Erica Vella speaks with members of the Queer community about the 1981 Toronto bathhouse raids. She learns about the public’s response, and ultimately, how communities came together to create lasting change.
    Find out more at https://globalnews.ca/news/9888886/what-happened-to-the-1981-toronto-bathhouse-raids/

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    • 42 min
    TikTok security concerns | 6

    TikTok security concerns | 6

    TikTok is one of the most popular apps around the world, with more than one billion users, but in February of 2023, Canada's federal government announced a ban of the app on government devices.
    It's a move several countries have made in recent months.
    TikTok has maintained the app isn’t unique in the amount of information it collects and all social media companies should be looked at with the same scrutiny.
    On this episode of What happened to…?, Erica Vella speaks with experts about whether these concerns are legitimate and if similar measures will be taken against other social media apps.
    Find out more at https://globalnews.ca/news/9899774/what-happened-to-tiktok-security-concerns/
    Contact:
    Email: erica.vella@globalnews.ca
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    • 19 min
    Introducing... Uncharted: Crime and Mayhem in the Music Industry | The Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash | 1

    Introducing... Uncharted: Crime and Mayhem in the Music Industry | The Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash | 1

    The old days of air travel were quite risky…compared to today, the chances of your flight going down were far greater …every airport had kiosks and coin-operating vending machines where you could buy life insurance before you headed to the gate—you know, just in case you thought you weren’t going to make it to your final destination…
    1977 was one of the worst years for accidents in aviation history…in addition to several violent hijackings every month—sometimes with fatal results—There were also passenger plane crashes with great loss of life…including the worst aviation disaster of all time when two 747s planes collided on a runway in the Canary Islands, killing 583 people.
    Frank Sinatra’s mother, the Prime Minister of Yugoslavia, and all but one member of the University of Evansville basketball team died in crashes…
    But then there were the events of October 20, 1977, when a rickety chartered plane went down in a swamp in Mississippi…on board were members of Lynyrd Skynyrd…six of the 24 passengers died, including singer Ronnie Van Zandt, guitarist Steve Gaines, backup singer Cassie Gaines, and assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick…both pilots also died…
    What happened?
    Have I got a story for you...
    Like what you hear? You can find and follow Uncharted: Crime and Mayhem in the Music Industry on your favourite podcast app or by clicking here: https://link.chtbl.com/uncharted-rssdrop
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    • 30 min
    TikTok text-to-speech voice | 5

    TikTok text-to-speech voice | 5

    TikTok is one of the most popular social media applications with more than 1 billion users around the world.
    On this episode of What happened to…? Erica Vella speaks to Bev Standing, the original voice behind TikTok’s text-to-speech feature. She also speaks with Kat Callaghan, the woman behind TikTok’s current text-to-speech character “Jessie.” She learns about the adoption and evolution of the feature, and how it changed the way users create and interpret TikTok videos.
    Find out more at: https://globalnews.ca/news/9888850/what-happened-to-tiktok-text-to-speech-voice/
    Contact:
    Email: erica.vella@globalnews.ca
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    • 26 min
    Ukrainian Airlines FLIGHT PS752 | 4

    Ukrainian Airlines FLIGHT PS752 | 4

    Kourosh Doustshenas met Forough Khadem in 2010 but a relationship between the couple wouldn't blossom until years later.
    The couple planned to get married, but before that could happen, Khadem traveled to see her family in Iran. Her return ticket to Canada was scheduled for Dec. 21, 2019, but the flight changed and she was now scheduled to depart on Jan. 8, 2020.
    By the beginning of January 2020, tensions between the U.S. and Iran began to escalate following the death of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani who was killed by a U.S. airstrike as he and others travelled from Baghdad’s international airport on Jan. 3, 2020.
    As the couple watched the news unfold Forough Khadem boarded Flight PS 752 on Jan. 8 and was one of the 176 people killed after the two surface-to-air missiles struck the plane.
    On this episode of What happened to…? Erica Vella speaks with Dousteshenas about his experience and the work he does with the Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims. She also learns more about what the international community has done to seek accountability from Iran.
    Find out more at https://globalnews.ca/news/9899880/what-happened-to-ukraine-international-airlines-flight-ps752/
    Contact:
    Email: erica.vella@globalnews.ca
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    • 46 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
474 Ratings

474 Ratings

SanMif ,

Can’t Get Enough!

I have become Erica Vella’s biggest fan. I love her “What Happened To…?” Podcast. Her journalism/reporting is intelligent and interesting. I hang on every word. The theme of the show speaks for itself. She works on the follow through after a story has lost its lustre. The best parts are when she jumps in and says something like “before we go on, let me explain…” So good! The stories go in-depth without losing you. Add it to your favourites. You’ won’t be sorry. Thanks for the great work.

Ecard14 ,

Professional and interesting

I appreciate a well produced and informative podcast. With everyone and their brother having the ability to record a podcast, there are too many hosts and guests talking over each other and rambling or repeating themselves. Thank you for an exceptional product! Binge listening and subscribed for every upcoming episode.

Mazda5mama ,

Thai Cave Rescue

This was the first one I listened to and it was so well done. Erica did a great job. I am now following this podcast and will be listening to the rest of the episodes.

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