About Ian
Ian J. Sanders is an award-winning podcaster and public historian, best known as the creator and host of the Cold War Conversations podcast. His work captures firsthand accounts from individuals who experienced the Cold War, offering listeners an immersive perspective on this pivotal era.
The podcast has received over 5 million downloads and has garnered international critical acclaim, including features in the New York Times, The Guardian and the Berliner.
Ian is also a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and has worked on various projects with The Imperial War Museum, The Royal Armouries and the National Army Museum.
Beyond podcasting, Ian contributes to historical education through his roles at the Manchester Museum , as a volunteer for the Avro Heritage Museum and also as a regular speaker at the Manchester Military History Society.
His dedication to preserving and sharing Cold War history has made him a respected figure in the field of public history.
For more on Ian’s work, visit his LinkedIn profile or explore the Cold War Conversations podcast.
Why Ian?
Ian is an experienced public speaker and uses archive photos, audio, humour, and a genuine enthusiasm for the topics to provide a fascinating insight into his subjects. Ian provides detailed but easily accessible mainly Cold War and World War 2 history talks. The talks are suitable for all ages and genders and last between 60-90 minutes depending on your requirements.
He lives in Manchester and will happily travel UK-wide. Ian can also offer virtual presentations via Zoom. These are fully facilitated by Ian, all the participants need to do is click on the link sent to them, sit back, and enjoy the talk.
Who are the talks for?
Ian’s talks are designed to be of interest to everyone whether or not they have a direct interest in the subject. They are delivered in an entertaining manner without jargon and Ian is always willing to take questions at the end.
Please email me ian “at” coldwarconversations.com for pricing.
Current talks include:
Cold War
- Cold War Spies
- BRIXMIS
- Manchester and the NW during the Cold War
- 1983 – the year the Cold War almost turned hot
- Women’s stories of the Cold War
- Aviation Stories of the Cold War
World War 2
- Manchester during World War 2
- Westerplatte 1939 – The First Shots of World War 2 in Europe
- World War 2 invasion defences of Northwest England
- The 1944 Warsaw Uprising
World War 1
- Cambrai 1917 – The battle of Lateau Wood
- The Siege of Tsingtao – August 1914
Testimonials
Ashton & Sale Historical Society “I would like to extend my thanks for your fascinating and well-illustrated talk on Invasion Defences. Your talk certainly captivated our members as you may have realised by the large number of questions raised after your talk. Our membership feedback was extremely positive and I would certainly recommend your talk to other local or social history groups.”
The Manchester Military History Society “Probably our best crowd ever! Ian brought along many of his podcast fans and delivered a very entertaining and engaging talk about 1983 – the year the Cold War almost turned hot.”
The Manchester Centre for Regional History (MCRH) “Brilliant talk! Very well pitched. Everyone I spoke to afterwards really enjoyed it”
Manchester Histories Festival “A ‘tour de force’ and a thoroughly interesting and professional talk with those human touches.”