The award-winning podcast preserving the stories of the Cold War before they are lost…subscribe for free. Produced by Ian Sanders FRHistS
Ron Mackay further recounts his experiences in Romania, a country teetering between Soviet influence and a desire for independence, offering a fascinating glimpse into a time of uncertainty and intrigue. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeListen on Amazon MusicListen on Podcast AddictBecome a Patron! Among many stories, Ron visits an RAF base in … Read more
In 1967 a young British professor found himself in Bucharest, Romania, under the most intriguing circumstances. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeListen on Amazon MusicListen on Podcast AddictBecome a Patron! Ron Mackay shares his fascinating experiences as he navigated life and teaching in a communist country. When he set foot on Romanian soil, … Read more
Few operations in Cold War history capture the imagination quite like Operation Eagle Claw. I have the privilege of welcoming back James Stejkal, a Special Forces veteran, to delve into the intricacies of this audacious mission. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeBecome a Patron! Operation Eagle Claw, conceived as a daring rescue … Read more
In the late 1970s, the United States found itself at the centre of hostage crisis with 52 US Embassy staff held hostage in Iran. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeBecome a Patron! Our latest episode takes you on a journey through the tumultuous events of 1980, exploring the covert operation known as … Read more
It’s 40 years since the film Threads was shown on British TV. It portrayed the effects of a nuclear attack on the city of Sheffield, England and the eventual long-term effects of nuclear war on civilization. It therefore seems apt to publish a tour I had of the Hack Green Regional Seat of Government Bunker … Read more
On April 30, 1980, six heavily armed gunmen burst into the Iranian embassy on Princes Gate, overlooking Hyde Park in London. There they took 26 hostages, including embassy staff, visitors, and three British citizens. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on Amazon MusicListen on Podcast AddictBecome a Patron! I talk with Britain’s bestselling historian Ben … Read more
BRIXMIS and its operations behind enemy lines in East Germany continue to fascinate the listeners of Cold War Conversations. In August 2024 I was honoured to be invited to the National Army Museum in London to interview Andrew Long, the author of BRIXMIS and the Secret Cold War – Intelligence Collecting Operations Behind Enemy Lines … Read more
The Spycatcher affair remains one of the most intriguing moments in the history of British intelligence and a pivotal point in the public’s relationship with the murky world of espionage and security. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeBecome a Patron! It lifted the lid on alleged Soviet infiltration of British services and … Read more
Jack Downey was the longest-held prisoner of war in American history. He was a CIA officer captured in China during the Korean War and imprisoned for twenty-one years. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on Amazon MusicListen on Podcast AddictBecome a Patron! I speak with Barry Werth the author of Prisoner of Lies – Jack … Read more
Beginning with the death of Stalin in 1953, the “sixties” era in the Soviet Union was just as vibrant and transformative as in the West. The ideological romanticism of the revolutionary years was revived, with a renewed emphasis on egalitarianism, equality, and the building of a communist utopia. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on … Read more