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PODCAST

Cold War Conversations

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 inside

history documentary

All Episodes

66:53

The Cambridge Five Cold War Spy Ring: Philby,...

Cold War Conversations ·

2025/09/26

The incredible story of the five most damaging spies inBritish history, from their recruitment at Cambridge University to their infiltration of the government and the security services, all while successfully eluding prosecution. I speak with Shawnna Morris the author of a new book The Cambridge Spy Ring: The Treachery of the Five Who Got Away. We explore the backgrounds, motivations, and the intricate web of espionage that defined the lives of Kim Philby, Donald McLean, John Cairncross, Guy

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59:57

Cold War Britain: Fifty years in the shadow of the...

Cold War Conversations ·

2025/09/19

Fraser McCallum is the author of a new book Cold War Britain: Fifty years in the shadow of the bomb which gives a fascinating insight into a period that shaped the fabric of British society.The Cold War defined the history of Britain in the second half of the twentieth century as much as it did that of the US and the Soviet Union. Cold War Britain is an exploration into the multifaceted dimensions of Britain’s experience during the Cold War era. By weaving together history, politics, literature,

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62:24

D.B. Cooper: The Unsolved Cold War Aircraft Hijack (421)

Cold War Conversations ·

2025/09/12

On November 24, 1971, a man using the alias Dan Cooper hijacked a Northwest Airlines flight, demanding a ransom of $200,000 and four parachutes. What followed was a daring escape that has left investigators and enthusiasts puzzled for over five decades.I sit down with Pat Boland, a true crime aficionado and expert on the D.B. Cooper case. Boland shares her deep dive into the many theories surrounding this infamous hijacking, which remains the only unsolved case of its kind in U.S. history. She

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72:20

A Royal Scots Dragoon Guard in Cold War Berlin (420)

Cold War Conversations ·

2025/09/05

I delve into the remarkable life of Peter Stewart, a former Royal Scots Dragoon Guard Chieftain tank driver whose experiences during the Cold War offer a unique perspective on military life. Peter's stories are filled with humour and nostalgia, particularly when he recalls his time in Berlin. His anecdotes are both entertaining and thought-provoking. Peter shares tales of training that tested the limits of his physical endurance, the friendships forged in the face of adversity, and the lessons

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56:05

The 2nd Most Famous Voice In Cold War Romania (419)

Cold War Conversations ·

2025/08/29

Irina Nistor worked as a translator of TV programs in Romania under the Communist regime, and is known for secretly voicing over thousands of banned movie titles on VHS tapes smuggled in from the West in the four years between 1985 and the revolution. She was reckeoned to be the 2nd most famous voice in Romania after the Communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu. In a basement with two TVs, a VCR, and a microphone, she voiced four to six films a night, from Doctor Zhivago to cartoons her children

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54:49

Codename Sunbeam - The story of MI6’s greatest Cold...

Cold War Conversations ·

2025/08/22

He was a KGB colonel. A double agent. And the most valuable spy Britain ever had.Born into a world of secrets & silence in Moscow Oleg Gordievsky’s journey takes us from the waning days of Stalin to his disillusionment with the Soviet system and his defection to MI6. He lived a secret life at the heart of Soviet intelligence — all while feeding classified information to London. From within the KGB’s London station, he exposed espionage operations, influenced diplomacy at the highest level, and

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49:13

A 98 Year Old USAF Veteran Remembers the Berlin...

Cold War Conversations ·

2025/08/15

The Berlin Airlift stands as one of the most significant events in Cold War history, a testament to the resilience and determination of the Allies in the face of Soviet adversity. I speak with 98 year old veteran Ralph Dionne, who played a crucial role in this monumental operation.Ralph details the story of the Berlin Airlift and shares his journey from basic training to becoming a flight engineer during the Airlift. His insights provide a unique perspective on the challenges faced by military

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65:57

The Atomic Bombing of Japan - The First Shots of the...

Cold War Conversations ·

2025/08/08

Today is 80 years since the atomic bombing of the Japanese city of Nagasaki. I talk with Stephen Walker who is the author of Shockwave: Countdown to Hiroshima. He has spent years researching the atomic bombings and highlights how they impacted Soviet/US relations in the early Cold War as well as US relations with their Allies. We reflect on the decisions made at the time, his interviews with the scientists who worked on them and the last surviving aircrew who dropped the bombs. Many aircrew

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58:05

Berlin: A Spy’s Guide to its Cold War History (415)

Cold War Conversations ·

2025/08/01

In the heart of Europe, Berlin stood as a city divided not only by walls but by ideologies. I dive into the world of espionage that thrived in this divided city with Special Forces and CIA veteran James Stejskal who has written a new book Berlin: A Spy’s Guide to its Cold War History in Story & Image. We explore in some detail the intricate web of intelligence operations that unfolded against the backdrop of a tense geopolitical landscape and James shares his own firsthand accounts and lesser

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78:53

With the US 1st Armored Division in Cold War West...

Cold War Conversations ·

2025/07/25

Doug and Mike served in CS Company, 1st Battalion, 37th Armor in the US 1st Armored Division in West Germany.They provide vivid accounts of their basic training experiences, where they faced the rigors of military life for the first time. Doug recalls the challenges of adapting to the strict regimen and the camaraderie that formed among the recruits. As their stories transition to life in Germany, they reflect on the unique challenges and cultural experiences they encountered while stationed

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16:20

Cold War Short Stories Ep 1 (413)

Cold War Conversations ·

2025/07/22

Welcome to a new type of episode I'm calling Cold War Short Stories — a collection of stories from our listeners and social media followers. These are fascinating Cold War tales that may not fill a full episode, but are far too good to leave untold. So keep them coming!Your Cold War memories, or those of a loved one, are part of history. Share them with us! If you have a story to share, whether in text or audio form, you can send it to me at ian "at" coldwarconversations.com. In this first

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73:44

Korea: War Without End (412)

Cold War Conversations ·

2025/07/18

The Korean War is often called "the forgotten war"—a brutal, complex conflict that claimed millions of lives but has largely faded from public memory, particularly in the West. Yet its consequences are still very much with us today, shaping the geopolitical fault lines on the Korean peninsula and beyond. In their latest book, Korea : War Without End, Richard Dannatt and Robert Lyman challenge not just the memory but the understanding of the war, arguing that much of what we believe about Korea

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78:59

The Night a Nuclear Missile Exploded: A Firsthand...

Cold War Conversations ·

2025/07/11

In this gripping episode, we hear the harrowing account of Greg Devlin, a former US Air Force technician who barely survived a catastrophic explosion at a Titan II nuclear missile silo in 1980.He shares his journey from enlisting in the Air Force, the challenges he faced, and the fateful night that changed his life forever. Greg vividly describes how he and his colleagues struggle to contain a potentially cataclysmic situation. With gripping detail, he shares the moment the explosion occurred,

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57:51

The Cold War Origins of the War in Ukraine (410)

Cold War Conversations ·

2025/07/04

The legacy of the Cold War in Europe continues to impact present day events, most notably in Ukraine.In this episode I speak with author Stephan Kieninger about his new book Securing Peace in Europe - Strobe Talbott, NATO, and Russia After the Cold War. Talbott was a key figure in US President Clinton’s administration playing a pivotal role in shaping US foreign policy, We talk about the NATO negotiations with Mikhail Gorbachev, his successor Boris Yeltsin and subsequently Vladimir Putin. The

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66:41

The End of East Germany: A Communist Family’s...

Cold War Conversations ·

2025/06/27

This is the story of a Communist family in East Germany whose world was turned upside down by the implosion of the GDR.The story is told by Katja Hesse, whose father was a Vice Admiral in the Volksmarine, the East German Navy. We start the episode with Katja crossing into West Berlin on the night of 9th November 1989 and journey through the emotional landscape of certainties overturned by the opening of the Berlin Wall. Using her father’s diaries Katja shares in detail her memories and

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59:44

The Spy in the KGB Archive (408)

Cold War Conversations ·

2025/06/20

The story of how one man—a librarian for the KGB—became a traitor to the intelligence agency, stealing the most prized Soviet-era archives and smuggling them to the West.Historian and journalist Gordon Corera whose new book “The Spy in the Archive” tells the remarkable story of how Vasili Mitrokhin—an introverted archivist who loved nothing more than dusty archives—ended up changing the world. As the in-house archivist for the KGB, the secrets he was exposed to inside its walls turned him first

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75:32

Memories of an East German Naval Officer's Family (407)

Cold War Conversations ·

2025/06/13

Katja Hesse, daughter of Vice Admiral Gustav Hesse of the East German Navy, shares her deeply personal story of growing up behind the Iron Curtain. In this fascinating conversation, Katja provides rare insights into life in the GDR as the child of a high-ranking officer— from an idyllic childhood in privileged housing to working at the Grand Hotel Berlin. She recounts her father’s harrowing World War 2 escape from the Sudetenland, her experiences of political indoctrination in school and life

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70:28

Gorbachev - The Man Who Ended An Empire (406)

Cold War Conversations ·

2025/06/06

In the annals of history, few leaders have faced the monumental challenges that Mikhail Gorbachev encountered when he rose to power in the Soviet Union in 1985. His ascent came at a time when the nation was grappling with stagnation, disillusionment, and an economy on the brink of collapse. Gorbachev, the youngest General Secretary in Soviet history, was thrust into a leadership role that demanded not only a vision for reform but also the courage to confront an entrenched bureaucracy resistant to

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84:06

Policing the Berlin Wall with the Royal Military...

Cold War Conversations ·

2025/05/30

Simon Wood served in the British Army’s Royal Military Police in Berlin during the1980s. He describes the unique challenges he faced patrolling the Berlin Wall and policing British troops in the divided city. Discover the political tensions, the camaraderie with fellow soldiers, and the surreal moments such as being present at the post-mortem of Hitler’s deputy Rudolf Hess. We also hear about life at Checkpoints Charlie and Bravo, interactions with East German forces, and taking part in Flag

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88:05

"The aircraft exploded and the cockpit filled with...

Cold War Conversations ·

2025/05/23

Colonel Robert J. Graham, USAF (Ret.), was more than a fighter pilot—he was a leader, a warrior, and a witness to one of the most complex conflicts in modern history. From the chaotic early days of guerrilla warfare in Vietnam to the bureaucratic maze that engulfed the later years, Colonel Graham's four combat tours reveal the triumphs and tragedies of a war that reshaped his world and his nation.Buy Col Graham’s book here ⁠"One of the Few: A True Account of Courage and Stepping into the

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423 results

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