Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY Times

466 episodes

My Father - The Enemy of the People: A Bulgarian Family’s Cold War Story (465)
17/07/2026 | 59 mins.
Oggy Boytchev is a former BBC journalist with more than three decades of experience reporting from conflict zones across the Middle East, the Balkans and the former Soviet Union.

Born in 1955, Oggy grew up under the shadow of a family secret. His father had been branded an “enemy of the people” and interned without trial in a remote Bulgarian town, where he spent years under police supervision and forced labour. Even after his release, the family lived under the constant fear of surveillance, informers and political persecution.

From secretly listening to the BBC World Service through crackling radio signals to navigating a school system steeped in communist ideology, he shares what it was really like to come of age in one of the Soviet bloc’s most tightly controlled societies. Along the way, he reveals the lasting psychological impact of growing up unable to speak freely, the privileges and pitfalls of studying among the children of communist elites, and the shockwaves caused by the 1978 murder of Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov in London.

This is a remarkable story of resilience, caution and quiet resistance—offering a deeply personal perspective on everyday life in Cold War Bulgaria

Oggy’s latest novel, 'The Istanbul Connection ', is a gripping, morally complex thriller that explores the blurred lines between ideology and manipulation

Enter the book giveaway here
https://coldwarconversations.com/giveaway1/

Check outOggy's books here ⁠https://amzn.to/4wyGHjT⁠

Curated episode extras ⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/episode465/⁠

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Face to Face with the Srebrenica War Criminals (464)
10/07/2026 | 1h 12 mins.
Richard Lyntton’s life has taken him from Cold War Moscow to the deserts of the Gulf War and the shattered streets of Sarajevo.

In this powerful episode, he recalls studying in the Soviet Union during the hopeful Gorbachev years, travelling across Russia by train, and later serving as a tank commander during the First Gulf War.

At the heart of this conversation is Bosnia, where Richard witnessed the siege of Sarajevo, came face to face with Bosnian Serb war criminal Radovan Karadžić, and narrowly escaped trouble after secretly filming General Ratko Mladić.

Richard also describes documenting the aftermath of ethnic cleansing, filming evidence of war crimes, and later testifying at The Hague.

He shares his extraordinary journey from North London schoolboy and Russian-language student to British Army officer, UN observer, filmmaker, actor and thriller writer. His new book, Crown Deception, is out now.

It is a story of danger, moral complexity and survival — but also of humanity, resilience and the strange absurdities of war.

Check out Richard's books here https://amzn.to/4vh5fgx

Curated episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode464/

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Inside a Cold War USAF Fighter Squadron (463)
03/07/2026 | 1h 9 mins.
Step behind the wire of one of NATO’s most elite tactical fighter squadrons—the 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron—during the tense final years of the Cold War and into Operation Desert Storm.

Former US Air Force officer Michael Makatura’s new book, The Fightin’ Tenth, takes you inside the hardened aircraft shelters of Hahn Air Base and witness life on the front lines of the Cold War. From the heart of West Germany to the skies above Iraq, this gripping episode captures what it means to stand ready for war at a moment’s notice, fly the iconic F-16 Viper, and live among warriors with a shared sense of purpose and brotherhood.

Makatura’s story is filled with grit, fighter-pilot mockery, and raw honesty. Whether it’s enduring the mental gauntlet of Officer Training School, landing in Europe as a wide-eyed second lieutenant, or watching seasoned pilots prep for combat in the Middle East, The Fightin’ Tenth brings to life the unique culture, mission, and mindset of an American fighter squadron in an unforgettable era.

Buy the book and support the podcast https://amzn.to/4wnzzab

Curated episode extras⁠ ⁠⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/episode463

Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,

You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and receive 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.

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The Cambridge Five - new files reveal untold stories (462)
26/06/2026 | 1h 5 mins.
Antonia Senior’s new book, "Stalin’s Apostles", challenges what you may have believed about the Cambridge Five, a group of British citizens who spied for the Soviet Union.

Antonia argues that their actions during the Cold War have long been romanticised in popular culture., however, the reality is far more complex and tragic.

Kim Philby, Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt, and John Cairncross, were not merely glamorous rogues; their espionage activities had dire consequences for countless individuals in Eastern and Central Europe.

Antonia challenges the traditional narrative that often portrays them as victims of circumstance, highlighting instead the profound impact their betrayals had on nations and individuals who suffered under Stalinist regimes.

Drawing on recently released MI5 documents and various international archives, the episode sheds light on the meticulous research that uncovers the broader implications of the Cambridge Five's actions.

Buy the book and support the podcast here https://amzn.to/4uTaRxi

Linked Episodes.

To Catch a Spy – How the Spycatcher Affair Brought MI5 in from the Cold https://coldwarconversations.com/episode361/

CIA and MI6 Covert Action in Communist Albania at the Dawn of the Cold War https://coldwarconversations.com/episode459/

Burgess and the Cambridge Five Spy Ring https://coldwarconversations.com/episode148/

Charlotte Philby talks about her grandfather Soviet spy Kim Philby & her book “Edith & Kim” https://coldwarconversations.com/episode228/

The Cambridge Five Spy Ring: Philby, Burgess, Maclean, Blunt & Cairncross https://coldwarconversations.com/episode423/

An evening with Kim Philby https://coldwarconversations.com/episode186/

Curated video extras⁠ ⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/episode462

Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,

You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and receive 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 also welcome one-off tips via the same link.

Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in
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CONTINUE THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION

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Malta & West Germany - Memories of an RAF Childhood Abroad (461)
19/06/2026 | 1h 5 mins.
Mark Thompson shares his captivating journey as the child of Royal Air Force personnel during the Cold War. From the moment his parents met in Singapore to their adventures across various military bases, Mark's stories are filled with nostalgia and insight.

Mark's father, a skilled electrician, joined the Royal Air Force and was posted to different locations, including Malta and Germany. His childhood memories revolve around the vibrant life he experienced on these bases, from playing with friends to witnessing Vulcan bombers flying overhead. He recalls the joy of living in Malta, where he played on building sites and enjoyed family outings to Kalafrana, a recreational area for military personnel.

The conversation takes us to Germany, where Mark shares more about his life at RAF Laarbrück and Bruggen. With his father's work on flight simulators. The camaraderie among RAF families created a unique childhood experience, filled with adventures and the occasional mischief.

Mark’s reflections on his upbringing reveal a deep appreciation for the opportunities he had, despite the challenges of moving frequently and saying goodbye to friends. He candidly shares his thoughts on how military life has shaped his identity.

Curated video extras ⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/episode461

Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation,

You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and receive 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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About Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY Times

"Listening to even one episode of "Cold War Conversations" will make this sprawling, potentially intimidating period of history feel vivid and compelling." The New York Times Experience the Cold War like never before with Cold War Conversations — an award-winning podcast. Each week, host Ian Sanders brings you raw, firsthand accounts from the people who lived through one of history’s most tense and transformative eras — soldiers, spies, civilians, and more. These aren’t stories from textbooks. They’re unfiltered voices from the frontlines of history — emotional, gripping, and deeply human. This is Cold War history, told from the inside out. 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, wargamers, planes, A Level, GCSE students studying Superpower Relations and the Cold War.

Podcast website

Documentary History Society & Culture