Eyewitness

Submerged: Life on a Fast Attack Submarine in the Last Days of the Cold War

  Former US Navy Commander Henry Rausch is the author of Submerged: Life on a Fast Attack Submarine in the Last Days of the Cold War. Henry shares his experiences from training to life aboard a submarine, emphasising the challenges, mishaps, and camaraderie among the crew. He provides vivid descriptions of the rigorous training, the … Read more

In Conversation with Margot Honecker

Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeListen on Amazon MusicListen on Podcast AddictBecome a Patron! In this short Cold War Conversations bonus episode, I speak with Jon Benjamin, who recounts his meetings with Margot Honecker, the unrepentant architect of East Germany’s education system and widow of GDR leader Erich Honecker. In 2012 and 2013, … Read more

Doped, Abused and Abandoned: Growing Up in East Germany’s Sports System

Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeListen on Amazon MusicListen on Podcast AddictBecome a Patron! This episode covers themes of physical and emotional abuse, as well as suicide. If you need support, please follow the links below. UK https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ Rest of the World  https://findahelpline.com/i/iasp Kerstin recounts her harrowing childhood and life experiences in East Germany. She … Read more

Rebel Queen: The Cold War, Misogyny, and the Making of a Grandmaster

Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeListen on Amazon MusicListen on Podcast AddictBecome a Patron! Susan Polgar is the author of Rebel Queen: The Cold War, Misogyny, and the Making of a Grandmaster. Born to a poor Jewish family in Cold War Budapest, Susan Polgar had the odds stacked against her growing up in … Read more

The Keys to Armageddon: A Cold War Nuclear Missile Officer’s Story

Jim is a former Minuteman nuclear missile officer who served in the US Air Force. He is currently a Ranger at the National Parks Service Minuteman Missile  National Historic Site in South Dakota. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeListen on Amazon MusicListen on Podcast AddictBecome a Patron! Jim shares first-hand accounts of life … Read more

Surviving the Fastnet Sailing Disaster with a British Prime Minister

David recounts his experiences sailing with former British Prime Minister Edward Heath, offering a unique glimpse into the life of a man who once led a nation. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeListen on Amazon MusicListen on Podcast AddictBecome a Patron! From the camaraderie on board to the challenges faced during the races, … Read more

From the Merchant Navy to Covert Hunter Killer Nuclear Submarine Missions

David Arnold joined the merchant navy at just 14. His tales offer a glimpse into the rigorous and sometimes harsh realities of naval training in the 1950s. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeListen on Amazon MusicListen on Podcast AddictBecome a Patron! His story takes us through his progression in the merchant navy, where … Read more

Baltic Skies : A Swedish Air Force Pilot’s Cold War

  During the Cold War Sweden outwardly maintained its neutrality, however from the 1960s the U.S. secretly promised to provide military force in aid of Sweden in case of Soviet aggression. As part of the military cooperation, the U.S. provided much help in the development of the Saab 37 Viggen aircraft. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen … Read more

From Cold War Berlin to Belfast – A Para’s Story Pt 2

  David Mackay is a former Cold War special forces officer and author of Bubbleheads, SEALs and Wizards: America’s Scottish Bastion in the Cold War. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeBecome a Patron! The conversation extends to further experiences in East Berlin, West Germany, Nigeria, and Northern Ireland, highlighting the varied roles and … Read more