Growing up in Soviet Ukraine in the 1960s and 70s

  Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeListen on Amazon MusicListen on OvercastListen on Pocket CastsListen on Podcast AddictBecome a Patron!  Ihor grew up in Ukraine during the Soviet era. His story begins in November 1958, amid the complex historical backdrop of a city that has witnessed the ebb and flow of empires. With … Read more

Planning an Escape for 13 Years: How One Family Outsmarted the Iron Curtain

 Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeListen on Amazon MusicListen on Podcast AddictBecome a Patron! 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 … Read more

When Terrorism Went Global: Plane Hijackings and Violence in the 1970s

 Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeListen on Amazon MusicListen on Podcast AddictBecome a Patron! 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 … Read more

When East German Soldiers Dreamed of Flying Over the Wall

 Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeListen on Amazon MusicListen on Podcast AddictBecome a Patron! 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 … Read more

Shaking Hands with China’s Second Most Powerful Man

 Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeListen on Amazon MusicListen on Podcast AddictBecome a Patron!   Bill Hodes was an American school child in 1950s Revolutionary China and this is the second part of his story.  You can listen to episode 1 here. Among many stories we hear how he had the unique … Read more

New Orleans to Beijing: An American Childhood in 1950s Revolutionary China

 Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeListen on Amazon MusicListen on Podcast AddictBecome a Patron!   Bill Hodes life was steeped in the complexities of Cold War politics. Born to Communist parents in the United States, Bill’s early years were anything but ordinary. Growing up in a politically active household, he was surrounded … Read more

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

  Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeListen on Amazon MusicListen on Podcast AddictBecome a Patron! British history, politics, literature and popular culture that defined the Cold War era. 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 … Read more

The 2nd Most Famous Voice In Cold War Romania

 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 … Read more

Cold War Short Stories Episode 1

Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeListen on Amazon MusicListen on Podcast AddictBecome a Patron! Cold War Short Stories is a series of short tales from our listeners and social media followers. These are fascinating Cold War stories that may not fill a full episode, but are far too good to leave untold… Your … Read more

Childhood Memories of the 1989 Romanian Revolution

Traian grew up in Romania during the tumultuous 1980s under the shadow of the communist regime led by Nicolae Ceaușescu. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeListen on Amazon MusicListen on Podcast AddictBecome a Patron! We learn about the harsh realities of life under communism, where shortages of basic goods were commonplace. He shares … Read more