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PODCAST

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY Times

Experience the Cold War like never before with Cold War Conversations — an award-winning podcast recommended by The New York Times. Each week, host Ian Sanders brings you raw, firsthand accounts from the people who lived through one of history’s most tense and transformative eras — soldiers, spies, civilians, and more. These aren’t stories from textbooks. They’re unfiltered voices from the frontlines of history — emotional, gripping, and deeply human. This is Cold War history, told from the

history documentary

All Episodes

68:57

Guarding the Wire at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (451)

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY... ·

2026/04/10

Chris was a US Marine assigned to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a sprawling US base on the Communist island of Cuba. Chris describes the guard duty along the fence line, where the proximity to the Cuban border created an unusual tension. Chris also shares anecdotes of encounters with defectors and the fascinating dynamics of life on the base. From observing Cuban life across the fence to the camaraderie among Marines, his stories paint a vivid picture of military life. Chris also touches on the

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60:36

Soviet - Afghan War, Mujahideen Resistance: The...

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY... ·

2026/04/03

In this episode, historian and writer Michael G. Stroud explores how decades of political instability drew the Soviet Union into Afghanistan in 1979—and why the intervention quickly spiralled into a protracted and unwinnable war. From the struggle to control vast, rugged terrain to the challenge of winning support from a fiercely independent population, we examine the realities faced by Soviet and Afghan government forces. At the centre of the discussion are the battles for Zhawar, a vast

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77:47

MI6 Director Looks Back at His Time in Cold War...

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY... ·

2026/03/28

Former MI6 Director David Bickford takes us behind the scenes of one of the most unusual and precarious postings of the Cold War. Arriving in Berlin in 1979, the city is still technically under Allied occupation—surrounded by East Germany and governed through a complex web of agreements dating back to the Second World War. He recounts the day-to-day realities of maintaining access routes into the city, negotiating with the Soviets without the backing of force, and managing constant disputes over

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48:51

An officer in The Internal Troops of the Soviet...

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY... ·

2026/03/21

Ihor reflects on his time serving as an officer in the Soviet Union’s Ministry of Interior troops. After volunteering for military service, he found himself travelling from Lviv to Lithuania to begin officer training in communications and field operations.The training program brought together recruits from across the Soviet Union and beyond communications; these troops had a wide range of responsibilities—from guarding strategic facilities to responding to hostage crises and public disturbances

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49:16

Growing up in Soviet Ukraine in the 1960s and 70s (447)

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY... ·

2026/03/14

Born in Lviv in Ukraine, in 1958, Ihor grew up in a city where borders shifted, but memories endured. In this episode, he recalls a childhood shaped by silence, censorship, and family stories that could only be told in private. While official history came from Moscow, a very different past survived in the countryside—passed down by grandparents who had lived through empire, war, and occupation. This is a unique personal account of what it meant to grow up in Soviet Ukraine in the 1950s and

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75:25

Secret Warriors - British Submarines during the Cold...

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY... ·

2026/03/07

During the Cold War, some of the most dangerous encounters between East and West took place far beneath the ocean’s surface.I speak with historian Dr. Paul Brown, author of Secret Warriors: British Submarines during the Cold War. Brown reveals the extraordinary covert missions carried out by Royal Navy submarines as they monitored Soviet naval bases near Murmansk and the Barents Sea. British boats gathered vital intelligence by recording the acoustic signatures of Soviet submarines, trailing

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48:20

American MiG Pilot: Inside the Top Secret USAF "Red...

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY... ·

2026/02/28

Lt Col Rob “Z-Man” Zettel is the author of American MiG Pilot - Inside the Top Secret USAF “Red Eagles. He tells the Red Eagles story for the first time through the experiences of a pilot who flew Soviet MiGs to their maximum performance in simulated combat engagements, often several times a day, against some of the very best fighter pilots hand-picked from the ranks of the USAF, US Navy and US Marine Corps.With controls labelled in Russian and the only spare parts being the ones they could

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50:11

High School Student to the Top Secret USAF Red Eagles...

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY... ·

2026/02/21

Rob “Z-Man” Zettel is the author of American MiG Pilot - Inside the Top Secret USAF “Red Eagles. In part one of a two-part episode, he reveals how he made it into this top-secret US operation that wouldn't feel out of place in 'Top Gun'. From a high school student with no aviation background, Rob discovered he had a natural aptitude for flying via the USAF Reserve Officer Training Corps. He then joined the USAF, progressing to an Aggressor Squadron where his unit replicated enemy tactics,

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61:34

The Moscow Playbook: How Russia Used, Abused, and...

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY... ·

2026/02/14

I speak with Bruce Berglund, the author of The Moscow Playbook: How Russia Used, Abused, and Transformed Sports in the Hunt for Power, which is a fascinating journey through the world of Soviet sports and its intricate ties to politics as a means of soft power and national pride.We learn how the Soviets achieved strategic advantage through women's sports, the abuse of amateur status, the controversial topic of doping and how sports science revolutionised the performance of athletes. Listeners

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52:09

Chasing Rogue Nukes after the Fall of the Soviet...

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY... ·

2026/02/07

Susan Miller continues the story of her CIA career, recalling a harrowing experience of the 1991 US embassy fire in Moscow, and the unexpected humanity displayed by a KGB officer who helped save lives during the crisis. Episode one is here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode441/In Poland, a KGB walk-in claims to have microfiche containing the names of every spy the KGB was running overseas. And as CIA Chief in Vilnius, Susan is confronted by another KGB walk-in with a box of weapons-grade

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49:20

Dead Drops and Disguises - A Female CIA Officer in...

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY... ·

2026/01/31

I explore the remarkable journey of a CIA operations officer who transitioned from a quiet childhood in California to the thrilling world of espionage. What began as a joke application to the CIA turned into a life-changing opportunity. The episode delves into her rigorous training, including paramilitary courses that prepared her for the realities of fieldwork and thrilling stories from her time in Moscow during the late 1980s. Susan also gives tradecraft insights on surveillance techniques

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54:23

Cold War British Army "stay behinds" - Live at the...

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY... ·

2026/01/24

This special episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the Imperial War Museum London, in October 2025. I speak with Colin Ferguson, a veteran from the British Army‘s covert Special Observation Post Troop. This "stay behind" Special OP Troop consisted of selected soldiers in 6-man patrols whose task was to dig in large underground hides known as "mexe" shelters along the inner German border. They would then allow the main Soviet forces to pass over them before deploying to two

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83:11

Planning an Escape for 13 Years: How One Family...

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY... ·

2026/01/17

What would you risk to escape a totalitarian state—and how long would you be willing to wait?In this gripping episode, Peter Kasl, author of Escaping the Grip of Eastern European Communism, tells the extraordinary true story of his family’s escape from behind the Iron Curtain. Born into a country transformed by repression after the 1968 Prague Spring and the Soviet invasion, Peter grew up in a world of fear, surveillance, and whispered conversations. He recounts how his uncle’s defection

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50:22

Why did the USA invade Grenada in 1983? (438)

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY... ·

2026/01/10

The US invasion of Grenada in 1983 remains a pivotal event in both Caribbean and Cold War history. President Reagan, fearing the spread of communism in the Caribbean and the safety of US citizens, initiated military action. US forces launched a swift invasion, aiming to seize control of the island and restore order. However, the operation was fraught with challenges. Intelligence failures, miscommunication, and the chaotic nature of the military operation raised questions about the effectiveness

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60:51

When Terrorism Went Global: Plane Hijackings and...

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY... ·

2026/01/03

In the 1970s, a network of radical extremists terrorised the West with intricately planned plane hijackings and hostage-takings. Among them was the young Leila Khaled with her jewellery made from grenade rings, the hard-drinking Carlos the Jackal in shades and designer suits, and the radical leftists of the Baader-Meinhof Gang. United by their hatred of Israel, capitalism and ‘Western imperialism’, they unleashed a series of audacious attacks that brought governments to their knees and glued the

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74:59

When East German Soldiers Dreamed of Flying Over the...

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY... ·

2025/12/27

Andrew was a British modern languages student in 1989. He recounts the serendipitous moment when he stumbled upon an advert for a work and holiday trip to the GDR. The trip was organized by the Great Britain GDR Society, which allowed participants to experience life behind the Iron Curtain. For just £120, students could immerse themselves in a culture that was vastly different from what they knew. The only requirement was to join the society, which piqued the curiosity of our guest, who had

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87:11

Cold War Kid to Space Age Engineer via President...

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY... ·

2025/12/20

Keith Longstreth takes us through an extraordinary life shaped by the rhythms and risks of the Cold War. Born into an Air Force family, Keith grew up on bases across the world—from Scotland to Italy to Texas, where he describes a poignant last farewell to President Kennedy before his assassination. His career in the USAF placed him behind the scenes of America’s most critical aircraft, including time at RAF Upper Heyford during the tense early 1980s. There, he lived through chemical-attack

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63:01

Eyes at the Edge of the Iron Curtain - Life in a...

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY... ·

2025/12/13

This is the 2nd part of the story of Miles, a British National Service conscript during his military service in the late 1950s. I’d like to give special thanks for the Norfolk Tank Museum for highlighting Miles’ story and one of his relatives for putting me in contact with him. Throughout the episode, our Miles shares captivating anecdotes and the thrill of being part of a light armoured reconnaissance regiment. He vividly recounts the challenges of operating various armoured vehicles, including

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59:22

What was Cold War British Army Conscription really...

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY... ·

2025/12/06

We hear the fascinating story of Miles, a British National Service conscript during his military service in the late 1950s. I’d like to give special thanks for the Norfolk Tank Museum for highlighting Miles’ story and one of his relatives for putting me in contact with him. Miles shares vivid memories of receiving his call-up papers, the initial medical examination, and the challenges of basic training at Catterick Camp. From the camaraderie formed among recruits to the rigours of physical

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59:43

Surrounded and outnumbered 8-1 : A forgotten story of...

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY... ·

2025/11/22

This is the largely untold story of Task Force Faith, the U.S. Army soldiers who although outnumbered 8-1 by Chinese troops fought valiantly during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War. Author Steve Fogel has written a new book called A Task Force Called Faith - The Untold Story of the U.S. Army Soldiers Who Fought for Survival at Chosin Reservoir and Honor Back Home We discuss the dramatic events that unfolded on the eastern side of Chosin, contrasting the well-documented Marine

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