Popular Reviews of Cold War Conversations

Im a simple man, I like history, I like cold war subject matter. This is a great listen, all the guests first hand accounts are fascinating. The variety is incredible. Don't think it's all espionage, theres ordinary people's stories from behind the iron curtain, there's Eastern block football episodes there's army episodes there's air force episodes, Berlin specific episodes, and everything in between. Newest fave is Bob flying the mig 29.

Without question the best, most well researched and balanced podcast on the modern history of the cold war. The interviewees are top notch and fascinating and the host Ian is exceptional and is preserving human stories of an amazing time that is still (just) in living human memory. I wish I could give it more than five stars.

Excellent podcast for the history nut and for anyone with a passing interest. A really diverse range of subjects covered, and all fascinating. Well worth a go.

Excellent history podcast rich in detail, perspectives, and great storytelling. I highly recommend this podcast. If you are on the fence, or just don't know where to start, please allow me to suggest: Yuri Gagarin (172), Portland Spy Ring (138-139), and The Last British Commandant in West Berlin (136-137). These are outstanding episodes and likely to get you hooked.

This is an incredibly interesting and informative podcast. Ian has interviewed such a wide variety of folks who have fantastic lived experiences of the Cold War. If I could give more than five stars, I would.

The really engaging first hand conversations are really well done and make you feel like you are right in the heart of this particular period.

I'm embarrassed to say I discovered this Pod less than a year ago, but not embarrassed to say I've burnt through all of his episodes since then. If you're even slightly interested in recent world history, and specifically the divisions between the east and west, please listen to the those that were there and who were affected by (and/or had an affect on) that period in our collective history. They all chose and choose to speak to Ian, and I can understand why. He's so laid back and knowledgeable. Absolute gem of a podcast.

Brilliant podcasts. Every podcast is in depth, interesting and relevant. We really enjoy listening to the podcasts and Ian does a great job.

Absolutely magnificent , I loved Ian's obvious enthusiasm for the whole period and non egocentric interviewing style, he relaxes his guests and establishes a rapport that has them delving into, and expressing their feelings about their cold war experiences that takes you right to the era. His approach reminds me of Dan Carlin's genuine wish to convey his interests and passion for his area of expertise as displayed in the excellent Hardcore Histories podcast. Keep at it Ian, all power to you!

Having recently started some Cold War wargaming, I was keen to find out more about the period. An online search revealed this podcast and I haven't looked back since. It's important that we remember history, and this podcast does a superb job of it, by actually talking to the people that were involved. Great work, and long may it continue!

This is a brilliant podcast with some fascinating and very interesting guests. I really look forward to the Saturday release of each new episode. The variety of topics makes it a fantastic resource. Ian the main host, has a very good style of interview. He allows his guests to speak with few interruptions, while being good at teasing out interesting detail. Like all good interviewers it is very much about his guests and their stories and not about him. If you're looking for a new podcast to listen to and you like mid to late 20th century history, this is well worth a listen.

Great coverage of all aspects of the cold war

A treasure-trove of diverse and historically important Cold-War reminiscences! 5 stars!

I can't express how much I love this podcast. Ian does a wonderful job and finds such a wide variety of guests. We've heard about life behind the Iron Curtain in almost every Warsaw Pact country, as well as having high level journalists, diplomats and military personnel share their experiences. I discovered this podcast through Spybrary, promptly binged it to get current, and began financially supporting it in January 2020. I am very proud to do so. Thanks for all your hard work, Ian. I look forward to many more episodes!

Superb mix of experts of the era and those that actually lived it. Not just about the military history but the everyday lives of the people in and around the DDR. You'll find something new and end up down a rabbit hole, or rather bunker.

Listening to these podcasts makes me rethink my idea of Europe and the world we live in. Sometimes it is serious business, sometimes just hilarious. Ian Sanders’ Cold War Conversations is one of the best podcasts that I know.

Whether you know Le Carré by heart or are approaching the Cold War for the first time, this podcast provides a wealth of information about this strange historical moment at the confluence of ideology and geography. Not only does Ian get fascinating guests, who all seem to have a sense of humor, but he is the best kind of interviewer; informed enough to ask good questions and modest enough to make sure the guests are the stars.

I am a child of the cold war and I do enjoy listening to the stories about what people on both sides did during the cold war.

Brilliantly curated cold war history presented via gentle probing of eyewitnesses or researchers by a fella who is clearly knowledgeable but not an annoying know-it-all and who allows the guests to speak. Fantastic for newbies to the genre; neither jargon nor assumptions of expertise involved yet not dumbed down either.

I am quite thankful Ian started this podcast, and we, as current and future listeners are fortunate he is preserving so much history!!!!