Cold War Conversations By cover art

Cold War Conversations

By: Ian Sanders
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  • Summary

  • Award-winning real stories of the Cold War told by those who were there. Every week we interview an eyewitness of the Cold War. Across soldiers, spies, civilians, and others, we aim to cover the whole range of Cold War experiences. Hosts Ian Sanders, James Chilcott, and Peter Ryan bring your ears into the heart of the Cold War. Reading a history book is one thing, but hearing a human voice, with every breath, hesitation and intonation brings a whole new dimension to understanding what it was like to be there. We cover subjects such as spies, spying, the Iron Curtain, nuclear weapons, warfare, tanks, jet aircraft, fighters, bombers, transport aircraft, aviation, culture, and politics. We also cover personalities such as Fidel Castro, JFK, Ronald Reagan, Nikita Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev, Yuri Andropov, Mikhail Gorbachev, Konstantin Chernenko, Margaret Thatcher, John F. Kennedy, Josef Stalin, Richard Nixon, Lech Walesa, General Jaruzelski, Nicolae Ceaușescu. Other subjects include Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Romania, Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin, West Berlin, East Berlin, Cuban missile Crisis, Berlin Airlift, Bay of Pigs, SALT, Perestroika, Space Race, superpower, USSR, Soviet Union, DDR, GDR, East Germany, SDI, Vietnam War, Korean War, Solidarność, Fall of the Wall, Berliner Mauer, Trabant, Communist, Capitalist, Able Archer, KGB, Stasi, STB, SB, Securitate, CIA, NSA, MI5, MI6, Berlin Wall, escape, defection, Cuba, Albania, football, sport, Bulgaria, Soviet Union, Poland, China, Taiwan, Austria, West Germany, Solidarity, espionage, HUMINT, SIGINT, OSINT, IMINT, GEOINT, RAF, USAF, British Army, US Army, Red Army, Soviet Army, Afghanistan, NVA, East German Army, KAL007, T-72, T-64, Chieftain, M60 The podcast is for military veterans, school teachers, university lecturers, students and those interested in Cold War history, museums, bunkers, weapons, AFVs, wargaming, planes, A Level, GCSE students
    © 2023 Cold War Conversations
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Episodes
  • Commanding a Cold War US Navy Nuclear Missile Submarine (343)

    Commanding a Cold War US Navy Nuclear Missile Submarine (343)
    Apr 26 2024
    Bill Woodman is a former US Navy nuclear missile submarine commander, who shares his rich experiences from joining the US Naval Academy in 1964 to commanding two SSBN submarines, the USS James Monroe and the USS Alabama during the Cold War. Bill opens up about his initial aspirations, rigorous training at the Naval Academy, and his challenging interviews with the legendary Admiral Rickover who directed the original development of US naval nuclear propulsion and controlled its operations for three decades. He gives detailed insights into submarine operations, leadership challenges, operational readiness exercises, and the constant concern of being detected by enemy or friendly forces. We also delve into Bill's personal challenges and the pressures on submarine families, his final patrol commanding the USS Alabama, and reflections on movies and literature that accurately depict submarine life. Throughout, Bill shares anecdotes illustrating the camaraderie, mental fortitude, and technical prowess required to lead in the silent, unseen world of submarine warfare. Extra episode content here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode343/ The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we welcome one-off donations via the same link. Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/ Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Love history? Join Intohistory https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod 00:00 A Harrowing Introduction to Admiral Rickover 00:33 Joining the Cold War Underwater: Bill Woodman's Journey 02:40 The Rigorous Path to Becoming a Submariner 04:33 The interview with Admiral Rickover 11:09 From Nuclear Power School to Submarine Command 15:50 Commanding the Depths: Life as a Submarine Commander 31:37 The Psychological and Family Challenges of Submarine Life 40:27 Life Aboard a Nuclear Submarine: The Stark Realities 41:36 Routine and Readiness: The Cycle of a Submariner 43:12 Rigorous Testing: Ensuring Operational Excellence 47:22 The Unthinkable Scenario: Letters of Last Resort and Defence Conditions 49:45 Cold War Cat and Mouse: Encounters at Sea 51:04 Leadership Under Pressure: A Harrowing Rescue at Sea 01:00:46 Interactions and Exercises: Allied Navies and the Soviet Shadow 01:07:05 Reflections on Command and the Unseen Challenges of Submarine Life 01:13:59 Submarine Cinema: Authentic Portrayals and Personal Recommendations 01:15:27 Closing Thoughts and Acknowledgments Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • My friend the Bridge of Spies spy - Part 2 (342)

    My friend the Bridge of Spies spy - Part 2 (342)
    Apr 19 2024
    Burt recounts the surreal experience of learning about Fisher's true identity from a newspaper headline, the subsequent FBI interrogations, and the emotional courtroom testimony where he struggled to reconcile his friendship with the stark reality of espionage. Burt's journey leads him to Moscow in a failed attempt to reconnect with Fisher, revealing a labyrinthine world of secrets and paranoia. He shares a heartfelt letter he left for Fisher, expressing regret and longing for a simpler time when art, not intrigue, was their common ground. As a testament to the personal connection they shared, Burt unveils a handcrafted wooden box—a wedding gift made by Fisher himself—symbolizing the genuine human connection that endured despite the shadowy world they navigated. This episode is a poignant exploration of identity, memory, and the complex human relationships that defy the black-and-white narrative of the Cold War. Episode extras here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode342 The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and viaa simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we welcome one-off donations via the same link. Connect with us on social media for more Cold War content: Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations For the perfect gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life, visit our store at https://coldwarconversations.com/store/ If you love history, check out Into History at https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr
  • My friend the Bridge of Spies spy - Part 1 (341)

    My friend the Bridge of Spies spy - Part 1 (341)
    Apr 12 2024
    In a riveting episode that peels back the layers of Cold War espionage, we sit down with Burt, an artist who unwittingly befriended a man better known as Colonel Abel, the infamous Bridge of Spies Spy who was exchanged for shot down US U2 pilot Gary Powers. Burt knew Abel as Emil Goldfuss but his real name was Willie Fisher from Newcastle Upon Tyne in England. Fisher was a Soviet agent deeply embedded in the fabric of New York City's bustling art scene. Burt's tale unfolds in a studio building exclusively for artists, where he first crossed paths with Fisher in an old-fashioned elevator—an encounter that would mark the beginning of an unexpected friendship. Burt reminisces about their shared moments, from the peculiar request for a cup of turpentine to late-night discussions surrounded by the haze of cigarette smoke. He reflects on the nuances of their bond, the fatherly figure he saw in Fisher, and the mutual need for companionship that transcended the spy's professional obligations. Episode extras here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode341/ Don’t miss part two of this amazing conversation next week… The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and viaa simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we welcome one-off donations via the same link. Connect with us on social media for more Cold War content: Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations For the perfect gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life, visit our store at https://coldwarconversations.com/store/ If you love history, check out Into History at https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 7 mins
World Social Sciences
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Featured Article: The Best History Podcasts of All Time


If you’re a history buff looking for a new podcast to check out, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the array of options available. There are literally thousands of podcasts focusing on every corner of history. To help you know where to start, we’ve waded through nearly everything out there and selected just a few of the best of the best in history podcasts. And we've divided them by categories and interests. You’re sure to find your next favorite listen in our list.

Featured Article The Best History Podcasts of All Time

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Profile Image for J.Brock

Very interesting

I'm basing this review on the first episode, and it's a good place to start. But looking ahead the coming episodes look even more interesting as life in East Germany becomes central focus. The first episode was more an overview by an American who lived there for a time. Can't wait to see where it goes.

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Profile Image for Anonymous User

Fantastic

Okay, some of the topics are more intriguing then others, however all are narrated fantastically well and for any history- or Cold War fan, these are just solid gold! 5/5!

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Profile Image for A.Vatti

Just the best Podcast about the Cold War!!!

From 1947 to 1989 an undeclared War raged around the world. Affecting millions of people and threatening the Planet as a hole with Mutually Assured Destruction shortened to MAD which it really was.
Ian takes you on a journey through this time a journey from the depths of the Barent Sea through the Air over cold North Atlantic into the Woods of the Fulda Gap further to the Dschungels of Vietnam and down the streets of Urban Dschungels like Cities form Moskau, Prag to London, New York, and Washington DC and of course the Capital of Spys Berlin. But all those places together with the man-made means of War ranging from gigantic nuclear submarines to jet Fighters and strategic bombers down to the Tanks and nuclear-tipped Missiles. All are just the Stage for the real focus of Ian's work, the People who worked, played, and sometimes fought but always lived through it. So if you ever wondered how it was to play cat and mouse white the Soviet Navy and Air Force or how a real Soviet Spy control his emotions while he had two separate families and tried not to be caught by the FBI. Or how it felt to be brought up in a closed upcountry always under watchful eyes which didn't belong to your parents. Go ahead and listen to Ian and his guest from around the Globe but be aware you will be hooked does fascinating stories. You do help to preserve this immensely important part of human history.

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