Cold War Conversations

Ian Sanders
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Sep 27, 2019 • 1h 10min

A Cold War Romance (82)

In 1986 GDR student Antje met a British guy who was installing sewing machines in the hosiery companies in East Germany. Unusually he was given quite a bit of freedom to socialise locally and he eventually asked Antje to marry him. However, with her prospective husband being a citizen of the capitalist West the process was far from simple…Now talking of the Capitalist West I’m sure you know some of our fans who are helping the podcast monthly via Patreon, so if you’d like to join this select band? Then head over to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ plus you get the sought after CWC coaster too.Back to today’s episode, Antje describes her early life in the GDR and how romance blossomed between East & West, despite the best efforts of East German bureaucracy to thwart the union. Now the story does have somewhat of a twist towards the end so make sure you keep listening.If you enjoyed this episode here is the other side of the coin. Genuine laugh out loud moments. "A 22 year old Briton working in East Germany (170)"We recorded our chat at The Barbican Centre in London, so excuse any background noise, I’m delighted to welcome Antje to Cold War ConversationsRadio GDRIf you are interested in East Germany we can highly recommend our friends over at Radio GDR.Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Sep 20, 2019 • 49min

Eyewitness to the 1991 Soviet Coup (81)

As a 24-year-old Kieran Williams was in Moscow staying with Soviet friends when the 1991 Moscow Coup occurred.He is a Professor at Drake University in the United States and previously he taught for nine years at University College London's School of Slavonic and East European Studies, where he was an associate professor in politics as well as a frequent consultant to the UK Foreign Office. He is a specialist in the politics of Central and Eastern Europe, he has authored or co-authored four books, including a prize-winning account of the 1968 events in Czechoslovakia and a biography of the writer-statesman Václav Havel.Now as I’m sure you know some of our fans who are helping the podcast financially, so if you’d like to join this select band? Then sign up to Patreon. For the price of a couple of coffees a month you help to cover the show’s increasing costs and keep us on the air, plus you get the sought after CWC coaster too.Just go to Patreon.com/coldwarpodBack to today’s episode, Kieran gives a rich eyewitness account of those edgy days with vivid descriptions of what he saw and felt during those tumultuous days. I’m delighted to welcome Kieran Williams to Cold War ConversationsDo visit our show notes at https://coldwarconversations.com/episode81 These include Kieran's photos of the Coup and some amazing audio he recorded in the streets of Moscow at the time - well worth a look!Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Sep 13, 2019 • 39min

Cuban Missile Crisis U2 Squadron Commander (80)

Col. William "Greg" Gregory served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and saw extensive combat over North Africa and Europe during World War 2.When the Air Force was created he continued his role as a pilot and eventually became part of the clandestine U-2 spy plane program, rising to the position of squadron commander. It was his squadron that flew many of the spy missions over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.He was later awarded a medal by the CIA for his service, as well as a letter of appreciation by President Kennedy.However…before we start I have to thank our fans who are helping the podcast financially.So how do you join this select band? Well sign up to Patreon for the price of a couple of coffees a month you help to cover the show’s increasing costs and keep us on the air, plus you get the sought after CWC coaster too.Just go to Patreon.com/coldwarpodToday’s episode is brought in conjunction with The Cold War Museum and I’m delighted to welcome Col William Gregory to Cold War Conversations.It was such an honour to speak to Greg and hear first-hand from someone so deeply involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Thanks again to the Cold War Museum for arranging the conversation.If you’d like to learn more then head over to our show notes which are at coldwarconversations.com/episode80 or will show as a link in some podcast apps. The show notes also have some videos relating to thisSupport the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Sep 6, 2019 • 1h 22min

Bridget Kendall - BBC Moscow Correspondent 1989 - 1995 (79)

Today we have James taking the helm again with a fascinating chat with Bridget Kendall, the BBC's Moscow correspondent from 1989 to 1995 when she was witness to the power struggles in the Soviet Communist party as Mikhail Gorbachev tried to introduce reform.However…before we start I have to thank our fans who are helping the podcast financially.So how do you join this select band? Well sign up to Patreon for the price of a couple of coffees a month you help to cover the show’s increasing costs and keep us on the air, plus you get the sought after CWC coaster too.Just go to Patreon.com/coldwarpodSo back to today’s episode. I’m delighted to welcome back James and his Cold War Conversation with Bridget Kendall.If you’d like to learn more and maybe didn’t get a chance to write down those book recommendations then head over to our show notes which are at https://coldwarconversations.com/episode79 or will show as a link in some podcast apps.Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Aug 30, 2019 • 52min

Watching Socialism: The Cold War Television Revolution in Eastern Europe (78)

Today we’re at the Wende Museum in Los Angeles at their Watching Socialism exhibition. Organized in collaboration with British-Slovenian media historian Sabina Mihelj and British cultural historian Susan Reid, this exhibition focuses on the impact of Cold War-era television programming in Eastern and Western Europe on private lives. Now many of our fans are the proud owners of a Cold War Conversations Coaster, a gift from me to thank them for helping the podcast financially.So how do you join this select band? Well for the price of a couple of coffees a month to cover the show’s increasing costs and keep us on the air you can get a coaster too.Just go to Patreon.com/coldwarpodSo back to today’s episode. I’m delighted to welcome Anna Rose Canzano of the Wende Museum to Cold War Conversations.If you’d like to learn more and see photos of the Wende museum and exhibition then head over to our show notes which are at coldwarconversations.com/episode78 or will show as a link in some podcast apps. The show notes also have some videos relating to this episode. Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Aug 23, 2019 • 55min

Defending the Cold War Pershing 2 nuclear missile (77)

Phil Logan served in the US Army from 1986-1991. He went through infantry school at Fort Benning, Georgia was sent to Germany and assigned to the ground defence force for the Pershing II tactical nuclear missiles. He describes in some detail defence tactics including against Special Forces, the Red Army Faction and anti-nuclear demonstrators.Phil was also there when the INF disarmament treaty was signed and recalls the Soviet inspectors visiting to verify the treaty obligations.Now many of our fans are the proud owners of a Cold War Conversations Coaster, a gift from me to thank them for helping the podcast financially.So how do you join this select band? Well for the price of a couple of coffees a month to cover the show’s increasing costs and keep us on the air you can get a coaster too.Just go to Patreon.com/coldwarpodSo back to today’s episode. I’m delighted to welcome Phil Logan to Cold War Conversations.Check out the videos relating to this episodein our show notes which are here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode77/  Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Aug 16, 2019 • 50min

The early days of the Cold War US Space program and origins of GPS (76)

Richard Easton is the co-author of GPS Declassified which examines the development of GPS or Sat Nav as some of us call it now, from its secret, Cold War military roots.Roger Easton, Richard's father, assisted in laying the foundations for the GPS system. However, Roger Easton worked also on the early US space program and Richard vividly describes his childhood when his father was working on the early US satellites.Visit the show notes here for videos and more information.Now before we start a special thanks to our select band of supporters who are helping us financially for the price of a cup of coffee a month to cover our increasing costs and keep us on the air. They are the proud owners of a CWC coaster- this years must have household accessory! Click here for more information.We welcome Richard Easton to Cold War Conversations.Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Aug 9, 2019 • 57min

Cold War Spy Stories from Eastern Europe (75)

Today we’re talking to Alison Lewis, a professor in German at the University of Melbourne.She is the author of several books, including one in German about love and gender in literature during Germany's reunification and a book in German about the Stasi's infiltration of the literary underground. We spoke to Alison in episode 71. In this episode we talk about her latest collaboration a new book called "Cold War Spy Stories from Eastern Europe."The book brings together a wide range of accounts compiled from the East German Stasi, the Romanian Securitate, and the Ukrainian KGB files. Now many of our fans are the proud owners of a Cold War Conversations Coaster, a gift from me to thank them for helping the podcast financially. In July Peter Lawaetz Winkler, Simon Curtis, Remy Louviere, Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker and Thomas Pohlentz joined this select band.For the price of a couple of coffees a month to cover the show’s increasing costs and keep us on the air you can get a coaster too? Just go to Patreon.com/coldwarpodSo back to today’s episode. We recorded in Manchester Central Library so do forgive us for any weird background noises. I’m delighted to welcome Prof Alison Lewis to Cold War Conversations.Show notes available here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode75/Buy the book on this link and help support the podcast.Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Aug 2, 2019 • 59min

A visit to World War 2 and Cold War airbase RAF Burtonwood (74)

I’m here today at the RAF Burtonwood Heritage Centre, near Warrington in the UK. Based on what was once the largest and longest-running military airbase in Britain. The Heritage Centre was established to preserve and uphold the history of the men, women and activities that occurred here.Now many of our fans are the proud owners of a Cold War Conversations Coaster, a gift from me to thank them for helping the podcast financially. For the price of a cup of coffee a month to cover the show’s increasing costs and keep us on the air you can get a coaster too?Just go to Patreon.com/coldwarpodOver 8,500 Americans were based at RAF Burtonwood during WW2 and over 70,000 service personnel served here during its 54-year history until closure in 1993. The heritage centre packs a lot of history in and make sure your listen to my visit to the cockpit of an actual C54 Skymaster as used in the Berlin Airlift – an unforgettable experience.Back to today’s episode, we welcome John Coterill, the Heritage Centre Manager at RAF Burtonwood to our Cold War ConversationVisit the show notes here. Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Jul 26, 2019 • 39min

Breaking the news of the 1991 Soviet Coup (73)

We speak today with Alistair Coleman who joined BBC Monitoring as a technician in 1989, just in time for the Berlin Wall. He was on a console night shift at Caversham, on the night of the coup against Soviet Leader Gorbachev in 1991 and describes that night as the highlight of his career at the time. Thanks to Andrew Adolfson, Rick Mason, Mike Smith, Ade Bryant and Ole Bjørsvik, the latest members of our select band of supporters who are helping us financially for the price of a cup of coffee a month to help keep us on the air. They will shortly be the proud owners of a CWC coaster- don’t you want one too? Just click hereBack to today’s episode, Alistair spent 15 years in short wave radio, radio telegraphy and satellite reception and research, providing the signals for monitors and editors to see foreign media. He tells a fascinating story of how the BBC obtained information about activity behind the Iron Curtain. We welcome Alistair Coleman to our Cold War Conversation. Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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