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Guarding the Wire at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (451)
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
Soviet - Afghan War, Mujahideen Resistance: The Brutal Fight for Zhawar (450)
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 s
Former MI5 & MI6 Legal Director Looks Back at His Time in Cold War Berlin (449)
Former Legal Director MI5 & MI6, 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
An officer in The Internal Troops of the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs (448)
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 f
Growing up in Soviet Ukraine in the 1960s and 70s (447)
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 offici
Secret Warriors - British Submarines during the Cold War (446)
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 (https://u
American MiG Pilot: Inside the Top Secret USAF "Red Eagles" MiG Squadron Part 2 (445)
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
High School Student to the Top Secret USAF Red Eagles Soviet MIG Squadron Part 1 (444)
Rob “Z-Man” Zettel is the author of American MiG Pilot - Inside the Top Secret USAF “Red Eagles. (https://amzn.to/4qIxHWn)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
The Moscow Playbook: How Russia Used, Abused, and Transformed Sports in the Hunt for Power (443)
I speak with Bruce Berglund, the author of The Moscow Playbook: How Russia Used, Abused, and Transformed Sports in the Hunt for Powe (https://amzn.to/4aumSRE)r, which is a fascinating journey through the world of Soviet sports and its intri
Chasing Rogue Nukes after the Fall of the Soviet Union (442)
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
Dead Drops and Disguises - A Female CIA Officer in 1980s Moscow (441)
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
Cold War British Army "stay behinds" - Live at the Imperial War Museum London (440)
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" Speci
Planning an Escape for 13 Years: How One Family Outsmarted the Iron Curtain (439)
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 ofEscaping the Grip of Eastern European Communism (https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9798999854704), tel
Why did the USA invade Grenada in 1983? (438)
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 launch
When Terrorism Went Global: Plane Hijackings and Violence in the 1970s (437)
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
When East German Soldiers Dreamed of Flying Over the Wall (436)
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 parti
Cold War Kid to Space Age Engineer via President Kennedy's last flight alive & RAF Upper Heyford (435)
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 l
Eyes at the Edge of the Iron Curtain - Life in a 1960s British Reconnaissance Regiment (434)
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 Museu (https://norfolktankmuseum.co.uk/)m for highlighting
What was Cold War British Army Conscription really like? (433)
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 (https://norfolktankmuseum.co.uk/) for highlighting Mile
The Berlin Airlift - Victories, Myths, and the Berlin Blockade (432)
The Berlin Blockade was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War when the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway, road, and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under Western control. I speak with Joseph Pearso
Surrounded and outnumbered 8-1 : A forgotten story of the Korean War (431)
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
Shaking Hands with China’s Second Most Powerful Man (430)
Bill Hodes was an American school child in 1950s Revolutionary China and this is the second part of his story. Among many stories we hear how he had the unique opportunity to meet one of China's most revered leaders, Zhou Enlai, the first P
An American Childhood in 1950s Revolutionary China (429)
Bill Hodes was a red diaper baby, a baby born to Communist parents. Bill shares stories about his parents, Bob and Jane Hodes, both convinced communists who were active in civil rights movements during the McCarthy period. He recounts their
The German Democratic Republic The Rise and Fall of a Cold War State (428)
Ned Richardson- Little has written a new book titled The German Democratic Republic: The Rise and Fall of a Cold War State. (https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9781350341517) It offers a differentiated picture of the communist state with a soph
Trust but Verify: When the Soviets Came to South Dakota (427)
I continue chatting with Dennis Greene about his incredible journey from a challenging childhood in segregated Savannah, Georgia to a distinguished military career. Dennis is made Senior Flight Commander responsible for 50 Minuteman nuclear
Help Cold War Conversations win an award
I am trying to win an award for Cold War Conversations in the Discover Pods Awards for best history podcast 2025 (https://discoverpods.com/2025-podcast-awards/) and I need your nomination to get me into the finals. All I need you to do is t
From Racially Segregated Savannah to Nuclear Missile Crew Commander (426)
Dennis Greene, is a former Air Force officer, who shares his incredible journey from a challenging childhood in segregated Savannah, Georgia to a distinguished military career. He reflects on his early inspirations, the realities of growing
The KGB defector who saved MI5 and changed the Cold War (425)
Oleg Lyalin, was a KGB officer whose actions would provide British intelligence with pivotal information during the Cold War. I speak with Richard Kerbaj, the author of a new book, 'The Defector,' (https://amzn.to/4h1ls40) which chronicles
Cold War Kids: The Unique Life of US Military BRATs (424)
Author Tom Hapgood is a US military BRAT aka the child of a parent or parents serving full-time in the United States Armed Forces. He talks about his 5 years in West Germany during the Cold War. He shares the challenges of moving every few
The Cambridge Five Cold War Spy Ring: Philby, Burgess, Maclean, Blunt & Cairncross (423)
The incredible story of the five most damaging spies in British history, from their recruitment at Cambridge University to their infiltration of the government and the security services, all while successfully eluding prosecution. I speak w
