From Cold War Berlin to Belfast – A Paratrooper’s Story Pt 2 (384)

From Cold War Berlin to Belfast – A Paratrooper’s Story Pt 2 (384)

Author: Ian Sanders January 18, 2025 Duration: 1:10:00
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/ Follow us on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social Follow us on Threads https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Love history? Join Intohistory https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's a human texture to history that official records often miss, the kind found in a personal recollection or a private fear. Cold War Conversations Podcast is built from those very materials, weaving a tapestry of the 20th century's defining standoff not with dry dates, but with the voices that held its weight. Host Ian Sanders acts as a careful curator, drawing out raw, firsthand accounts from an astonishing array of individuals-from soldiers who stared across the Berlin Wall to civilians who navigated the daily anxieties of the nuclear age, and even the spies whose shadows shaped events. This award-winning series, noted by The New York Times, moves beyond textbook summaries to deliver something far more compelling: intimate, often emotional testimony from the frontlines of a frozen conflict that was anything but cold for those living it. Each episode in this podcast feels like a direct conversation, pulling you into the personal dilemmas, narrow escapes, and quiet moments of defiance that defined the era. You'll hear the tension in a voice recalling a border crossing, the resolve in stories of protest, and the complex humanity behind the headlines. For anyone drawn to the profound impact of this period on global culture and society, this documentary-style podcast offers a gripping, deeply personal portal into the past, reminding us that history is ultimately a collection of individual stories waiting to be heard.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY Times
Podcast Episodes
From East Berlin to West Ireland (452) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Juli begins by recounting her early years in East Berlin, a time marked by the tragic loss of her father. Drafted into the army just days before her birth, her father continually deserted to see his family, ultimately le…
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Duration: 1:08:57
Chris was a US Marine assigned to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a sprawling US base on the Communist island of Cuba. Chris describes the guard duty along the fence line, where the proximity to the Cuban border created an unusual…
Growing up in Soviet Ukraine in the 1960s and 70s (447) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:16
Born in Lviv in Ukraine, in 1958, Ihor grew up in a city where borders shifted, but memories endured. In this episode, he recalls a childhood shaped by silence, censorship, and family stories that could only be told in p…
Secret Warriors - British Submarines during the Cold War (446) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:25
During the Cold War, some of the most dangerous encounters between East and West took place far beneath the ocean’s surface. I speak with historian Dr. Paul Brown, author of Secret Warriors: British Submarines during the…