Mission Iran: Special Forces Berlin & Operation Eagle Claw, JTF 1-79

  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

Den of Spies: The October Surprise – A Covert Cold War Operation

  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

Doorsteps of Hell – a US Marine platoon commander in the Vietnam War

Tom Williams fought the enemy, every day, without fail, he would record the day’s events in his diary. It is these diaries (which Tom has to this day), that enables him to tell the story of Vietnam in the late sixties/early seventies like it really was. John Brooker is a remarkable Australian veteran who shared … Read more

The longest-held prisoner of war in American history

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

Mafia Spies and the Plot to Kill Fidel Castro

  Thomas Maier an investigative journalist is our guide to the shadowy world of organized crime and espionage where shares insights from his extensive research and writing, including his latest book and drama documentary “Mafia Spies,” which explores the unlikely alliance between the CIA and the mafia in their attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro. Listen … Read more

The sinking of the USS Scorpion and the Velvet Revolution

I’m a big fan of the History Daily podcast, where my good friend Lindsay Graham takes you back in time to explore a momentous moment that happened ‘on this day’ in history. Visit Historydaily.com or search History Daily in your podcast app to learn more. As an introduction to History Daily I have selected two … Read more

The President’s Kill List – Assassination and US Foreign Policy since 1945

  Luca Trenta is an associate professor at Swansea University and has recently authored The President’s Kill List: Assassination and US Foreign Policy Since 1945. We dig in detail into the contents of the book delving into the history of Cold War CIA operations including instances of electoral interference and assassination. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen … Read more

A US Diplomat’s Son in Cold War Soviet Union, Nicaragua and Cuba

  In this fascinating interview, Patrick D. Joyce recounts his unique experience growing up as the son of a U.S. diplomat during the Cold War. Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTubeBecome a Patron! Living in the diplomatic community of the Soviet Union, Nicaragua, and Cuba, Patrick shares vivid memories of his father’s career … Read more

America’s Cold War Scottish Bastion

  David McKay 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! His book highlights the Scottish bases’ significant role in supporting the US military over three decades. David brings his expertise … Read more