When Terrorism Went Global: Plane Hijackings and Violence in the 1970s (437)

When Terrorism Went Global: Plane Hijackings and Violence in the 1970s (437)

Author: Ian Sanders January 3, 2026 Duration: 1:00:51
In the 1970s, a network of radical extremists terrorised the West with intricately planned plane hijackings and hostage-takings. Among them was the young Leila Khaled with her jewellery made from grenade rings, the hard-drinking Carlos the Jackal in shades and designer suits, and the radical leftists of the Baader-Meinhof Gang. United by their hatred of Israel, capitalism and ‘Western imperialism’, they unleashed a series of audacious attacks that brought governments to their knees and glued the world to their televisions in morbid fascination. Drawing on decades of research, recently declassified government files, secret documents, and original interviews with hijackers, spies, witnesses and victims, I speak with Jason Burke, the author of “The Revolutionists - The Story of the Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970s” takes us into the lives and minds of the perpetrators of these often-deadly operations. Buy the book here https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9781847926067 Related episodes: Watching the Jackals: Prague’s Covert Liaisons with Cold War Terrorists and Revolutionaries https://coldwarconversations.com/episode382/ Terrorism in the Cold War https://coldwarconversations.com/episode205/ Episode extras ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/episode437⁠ 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 also 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/⁠⁠ CONTINUE  THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION 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   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: 50

Cold War Conversations
Podcast Episodes
What was Cold War British Army Conscription really like?  (433) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:22
We hear the fascinating story of Miles, a British National Service conscript during his military service in the late 1950s. I’d like to give special thanks for the Norfolk Tank Museum for highlighting Miles’ story and on…
The Berlin Airlift - Victories, Myths, and the Berlin Blockade (432) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:35
The Berlin Blockade was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War when the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway, road, and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under Western control. I spea…
Shaking Hands with China’s Second Most Powerful Man (430) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:25
Bill Hodes was an American school child in 1950s Revolutionary China and this is the second part of his story. Among many stories we hear how he had the unique opportunity to meet one of China's most revered leaders, Zho…
An American Childhood in 1950s Revolutionary China (429) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:21
Bill Hodes was a red diaper baby, a baby born to Communist parents. Bill shares stories about his parents, Bob and Jane Hodes, both convinced communists who were active in civil rights movements during the McCarthy perio…
Trust but Verify: When the Soviets Came to South Dakota (427) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:12
I continue chatting with Dennis Greene about his incredible journey from a challenging childhood in segregated Savannah, Georgia to a distinguished military career. Dennis is made Senior Flight Commander responsible for…
Help Cold War Conversations win an award [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01
I am trying to win an award for Cold War Conversations in the Discover Pods Awards for best history podcast 2025 and I need your nomination to get me into the finals. All I need you to do is to nominate Cold War Conversa…