Shortwave radio remains a potent tool for communication, especially in regions where governments seek to control information. The podcast highlight how this technology, capable of transmitting signals across vast distances by reflecting off the ionosphere, can be used to bypass censorship and deliver uncensored news to audiences living under repressive regimes. However, the very same characteristics that make shortwave valuable for promoting freedom of expression also make it an effective tool for spreading propaganda.

This podcast offer numerous examples of how authoritarian regimes, both historical and contemporary, have employed shortwave radio to disseminate their ideologies and control the narrative. Nazi Germany, for instance, utilised shortwave extensively to spread its propaganda during World War II, broadcasting messages aimed at demoralising enemy troops and promoting Nazi ideology. During the Cold War, both the U.S. and the Soviet Union engaged in a propaganda war, each utilising shortwave radio to broadcast their respective ideologies across the Iron Curtain. In the modern era, countries like North Korea, China, and Iran continue to use shortwave to spread propaganda, broadcasting programs that glorify their leaders and present a distorted view of their respective countries. Despite efforts to counter these broadcasts through jamming techniques and penalties for listening to foreign stations, shortwave remains a vital lifeline for those seeking independent news and information.