Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY Times
Ian SandersExperience the Cold War like never before with Cold War Conversations — an award-winning podcast recommended by The New York Times. 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 frontli... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 465 | Founded | 8 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CultureHistoryDocumentary | |||
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Latest Episodes
I had the honour of speaking with Tony Dobbie, a former RAF V- Force bomber pilot who joined the RAF in 1960.
Tony shares amazing anecdotes from his training, including his experiences flying jets like the Meteor and the Vampire, and the transition ... more
Kris is a former conscript in the West German Bundeswehr during the Cold War. He shares his experiences from the moment he received his conscription notice at 17, ultimately joining the Luftwaffe, where he served with the Pershing nuclear missile sys... more
I delve into the fascinating world of Cold War propaganda with historian Rory Cormac, author of a new book “Fakers - 'A Top Secret Tale of Phantoms and Forgeries on the Disinformation Front Line'. The episode uncovers the clandestine operations carr... more
Flynn describes life as a US military child just 30 miles from the North Korean Border during the 1970s.
The political landscape of the time was tumultuous, marked by significant events such as the assassination of President Park and a number of ser... more
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Reviews
- Race-baiting and shtlib politics
The host implored listeners in the latest episode to rate and review the podcast. Well, here is my review: 3 very reluctant stars, for the host’s race-baiting with regards to the alleged lack of black witnesses interviewed by police after Kennedy was shot, and for the guest celebrating that Kamala Harris did well in one county in Texas. I don’t listen to podcasts about the Cold War because I want to endure 2020s shtlib political commentary.
Apple Podcasts3JoeP001
United Statesa month ago - Valuable and insightful record
Great work!
Apple Podcasts5FourpointoUnited Statesa month ago - History Alive
What an unbelievable archive of Cold War history. Ian is a master interviewer who knows when to be quiet. The stuff-to-fluff ratio is amazing: there just isn’t any fluff or housekeeping or long introductions or a desire to inject his own ego into his guests’ monologues. Thank you thank you for this treasure. I hope it gets included in a national archive one day.
Apple Podcasts5Nick Name James 2026United Statesa month ago - Well that was (important but) depressing….
I was 18 when the Chernobyl disaster happened. We all knew it was bad and experienced the consequences in all sorts of trivial ways… like not being able to get hold of Welsh lamb. All of which hardly compared to the extraordinary bravery and suffering of the workers who gave their lives preventing an even worse disaster.
Even now with years under my belt nothing quite prepared me for Ian’s bald and carefully researched rehearsal of events.
Memories of the terrible mistakes of Chernobyl and the... more
Apple Podcasts5Pension nerd
United Kingdoma month ago - Fascinating history
These conversations provide interesting perspectives on how the Cold War affected lives. Ian is wonderful at eliciting his guest’s memories by asking good questions and then letting the guests tell their stories.
Apple Podcasts5DanTancrediUnited States2 months ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #115 | United Kingdom/History |
Apple Podcasts | #146 |  Australia/History |
Apple Podcasts | #90 |  Norway/History |
Apple Podcasts | #123 |  Colombia/History |
Apple Podcasts | #140 |  Belgium/History |
Apple Podcasts | #143 |  New Zealand/History |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Cold War Conversations
What is Cold War Conversations about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Tapping into first-hand Cold War memories, this show gathers soldiers, spies, civilians, and experts to recount real-life experiences from across alliances and theaters. Episodes cover a wide swath of topics—from conscription in West Germany and nuclear-sharing dynamics to propaganda, espionage, submarine patrols, and urban upheavals behind the Iron Curtain. The format favors vivid, human-centered narratives, deep archival context, and nuanced discussions that connect personal memory with broader geopolitics. Listeners likely value rigorous research, captivating storytelling, and access to voices rarely heard in textbooks. A notable strength is the breadth of guests, spanning military personnel, historians, journalists, and authors, which k... more
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How many listeners does Cold War Conversations get?
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Which podcasts are similar to Cold War Conversations?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Cold War Conversations:
1. SpyCast
2. Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs
3. SPYCRAFT 101
4. True Spies: Espionage | Investigation | Crime | Murder | Detective | Politics
5. WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk
How many episodes of Cold War Conversations are there?
Cold War Conversations launched 8 years ago and published 465 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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What guests have appeared on Cold War Conversations?
Recent guests on Cold War Conversations include:
1. Rory Cormac
2. Martin Fitzgerald
3. Michael G. Stroud
4. David Bickford
5. Dr. Paul Brown
6. Rob Zettel
7. Rob Z-Man Zettel
8. Bruce Berglund
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