David recounts his experiences sailing with former British Prime Minister Edward Heath, offering a unique glimpse into the life of a man who once led a nation.

From the camaraderie on board to the challenges faced during the races, David's anecdotes paint a vivid picture of life at sea. But it is the 1979 Fastnet Race that stands as a centrepiece of this episode—a maritime disaster marked by perilous storms and the resilience of the human spirit.

David's firsthand account of navigating through this storm is both harrowing and inspiring. His stories of survival and teamwork, offer listeners a front-row seat to one of the most dramatic events in sailing history.

As David shares his memories, he also reflects on the lessons learned from his time at sea and the friendships forged during those challenging times. His story is not just about sailing; it is about determination, leadership, and the pursuit of excellence in the face of adversity.

Whether you're a sailing enthusiast, a history buff, or simply someone who loves a good story, this episode promises to deliver an unforgettable experience. So hoist the sails and join us on this incredible voyage with David—a navigator, a storyteller, and a true adventurer at heart.

Don’t miss the link to the videos and photos in the episode information here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode387/

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/

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David Arnold joined the merchant navy at just 14. His tales offer a glimpse into the rigorous and sometimes harsh realities of naval training in the 1950s.

His story takes us through his progression in the merchant navy, where he earned his extra master's ticket, a rare and prestigious qualification that opened doors to a career in marine surveying and beyond.

David recounts his experiences with the Royal Naval Reserve, particularly his time aboard the nuclear submarine, Valiant where we are treated to a behind-the-scenes look at Cold War-era missions, including covert operations.

David's engaging storytelling and wealth of experience make for a captivating narrative.

Don’t miss the link to the videos and photos in the episode information here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode388/

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/

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Last year I was given the unique opportunity to visit the Nottingham War Rooms. The site is about to be re-developed so it was a rare chance to see a British Regional Seat of Government bunker that has lain relatively untouched since the end of the Cold War.

The voices you will hear are Dan Cordle, an Expert in Nuclear Culture & History and Parmi Uppal, Estates Manager for Homes England.

Don’t miss the link to the videos and photos in the episode information here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode387/

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/

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During the Cold War Sweden outwardly maintained its neutrality, however from the 1960s the U.S. secretly promised to provide military force in aid of Sweden in case of Soviet aggression. As part of the military cooperation, the U.S. provided much help in the development of the Saab 37 Viggen aircraft.

I spoke with Benke, a former Swedish Air Force pilot who flew the Viggen. He shares his path to becoming a pilot in the Air Force, the intricacies of flight training, encounters with Soviet aircraft during the Cold War, and the unique challenges faced by the Swedish Air Force.

Join me for an insightful discussion that highlights the passion for flying and the realities of Cold War military aviation!

Episode extras here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode386/

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/

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In the tense years of the early Cold War, American and Soviet women conducted a remarkable pen-pal correspondence that enabled them to see each other as friends rather than enemies.

In a compelling new perspective on the early Cold War, prizewinning historian Alexis Peri’s new book “Dear Unknown Friend” explores the correspondence between American and Soviet women beginning in the last years of World War II and continuing into the 1950s.

Previously unexamined, the women’s letters movingly demonstrate the power of the personal, as the pen pals engaged in a “diplomacy of the heart” that led them to question why their countries were so divided.

Buy the book here https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9780674987586

Episode extras here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode385/

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/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Mackay is a former Cold War special forces officer and author of Bubbleheads, SEALs and Wizards: America's Scottish Bastion in the Cold War. He continues his unvarnished anecdotes about his Cold War career as an officer in the Parachute Regiment.

The conversation extends to further experiences in East Berlin, West Germany, Nigeria, and Northern Ireland, highlighting the varied roles and military duties he undertook—from Flag Patrols in East Berlin to being shot by the IRA  with many stops in between.

Through David’s unique humorous and reflective storytelling he sheds light on the often absurd and dangerous realities of being a British officer during the Cold War.

All our combat episodes in one convenient playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6j6YJmRWzt42kYiPGkcFfa?si=95e5366e4ad945a3

Buy David book here https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9781849955546

Episode extras here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode384/

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/

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David Mackay is a former Cold War special forces officer and author of Bubbleheads, SEALs and Wizards: America's Scottish Bastion in the Cold War. He returns by popular demand to share his compelling journey through military service in the British Army's Parachute Regiment.

From his humble beginnings in Scotland to his experiences in the Parachute Regiment, David recounts tales of courage, leadership, and the harsh realities of conflict.

Hear about his time in Northern Ireland, the challenges and adventures of United Nations Peacekeeping in Cyprus, and service in Cold War Berlin.

Discover how these experiences shaped his perspective on life, leadership, and the world. Join me for an unforgettable exploration of military life and its enduring impact.

All our combat episodes in one convenient playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6j6YJmRWzt42kYiPGkcFfa?si=95e5366e4ad945a3

Buy David's book here https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9781849955546

Episode extras here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode383/

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/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Author Daniela Richterova new book "Watching the Jackals" tells the untold history of Czechoslovakia's complex relations with Middle Eastern terrorists and revolutionaries during the closing decades of the Cold War

In the 1970s and 1980s, Prague became a favourite destination for the world's most prominent terrorists and revolutionaries. They arrived here to seek refuge, enjoy recreation, or hold secret meetings aimed at securing training, arms, and other forms of support. While some were welcomed with open arms, others were closely watched and were eventually ousted.

Watching the Jackals is the untold history of Czechoslovakia's complex relations with Middle Eastern terrorists and revolutionaries during the closing decades of the Cold War. Based on recently declassified intelligence files, Richterova unveils the story of Prague's engagement with various factions of the Palestine Liberation Organization, along with some of the era's most infamous terrorists, including Carlos the Jackal, the Munich Olympics massacre commander Abu Daoud, and the Abu Nidal Organization. In this gripping account, Richterova explains why "Cold War Jackals" gravitated toward Prague and how the country's leaders reacted to their visits, and she uncovers the role Czechoslovakia's security and intelligence apparatus – the StB (Státní bezpečnost) played in these, at times, dangerous liaisons.

Drawing on interviews and remarkably detailed records from the former Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic), Richterova offers readers interested in the intelligence world a fascinating account of how states use their spies to pursue covert policies with violent nonstate actors. The book also introduces new evidence and nuances into old debates about whether the Communist Bloc supported terrorism.

Episode extras here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode382/

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/

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The Gulf of Tonkin incident, was a pivotal moment that escalated U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

I talked with US Marine Veteran John F. Davies, who researched the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. He shares a personal connection and insights on the political and military decisions that led to one of America's most controversial conflicts.

Discover the intricate dance of diplomacy, military strategy, and political manoeuvring that shaped this critical historical period.

All our combat episodes in one convenient playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6j6YJmRWzt42kYiPGkcFfa?si=95e5366e4ad945a3

Episode extras here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode381/

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/

00:00 Introduction

01:23 Personal Connection to the Incident

03:45 Political Context and Decisions

15:30 The Gulf of Tonkin Incident

45:00 Consequences and Reflections

57:30 Conclusion

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Today we are transported back to a pivotal moment in history that occurred 35 years ago this month - the Romanian Revolution of 1989.

This episode is from our archive and features, Mark Brayne, a former Reuters and BBC journalist, who provides a gripping first-hand account of the tumultuous events that led to the fall of Nicolae Ceausescu. As Mark recounts his experiences, listeners are given a rare glimpse into the life of a journalist reporting from a war zone.

He embarks on a perilous journey to Bucharest, navigating roadblocks and dodging bullets to report on the revolution. His determination to capture the story amidst chaos and danger is a testament to the courage and resilience of journalists who risk their lives to bring us the news.

Beyond the historical events, Mark shares personal reflections on how these experiences shaped his life and career. The emotional intensity of covering such significant moments led him to a new path as a psychotherapist, helping others navigate their own traumas.

This episode is not just a recounting of history but an exploration of the human stories behind the headlines. It highlights the bravery of journalists like Mark, who venture into the unknown to bring us closer to the truth. For anyone interested in history, journalism, or the human condition, this episode is a must-listen.

Related episodes:

Episode extras here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode380/

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/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices