Codename Sunbeam - The story of MI6’s greatest Cold War spy (418)

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY Times

Ian Sanders

Documentary, History, Society & Culture

4.8 • 865 Ratings

🗓️ 22 August 2025

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

He was a KGB colonel. A double agent. And the most valuable spy Britain ever had. Born into a world of secrets & silence in Moscow Oleg Gordievsky’s journey takes us from the waning days of Stalin to his disillusionment with the Soviet system and his defection to MI6. He lived a secret life at the heart of Soviet intelligence — all while feeding classified information to London. From within the KGB’s London station, he exposed espionage operations, influenced diplomacy at the highest level, and warned of dangerous Soviet paranoia at the height of nuclear tensions. When discovery loomed, Britain launched one of the most daring escapes in espionage history. This is the astonishing true story of betrayal, conscience, and survival in the darkest shadows of the Cold War. Related episodes: 1983 – the year the Cold War almost turned hot https://coldwarconversations.com/episode316/ Episode extras ⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/episode418/⁠ 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

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Cold War Conversations, the home of real stories of the Cold War.
0:05.8	Ever wondered what power is. Power is transforming the sun into your own energy source.
0:12.6	Power is getting energy companies to pay you. Power is enjoying your morning coffee,
0:18.2	knowing you created the energy to make it.
0:21.9	Well, you and the colossal ball of fire in the sky.
0:25.0	Because with solar panels from Hive, the sun works for you.
0:28.8	Hive, know your power.
0:30.8	May not cover all electricity usage, roof and weather dependent.
0:33.4	Paid for surplus requires eligible SEC tariff.
0:36.2	The door clicked shut behind him with a finality that Oleg Gordievsky would never forget.
0:42.3	He stood for a moment in the narrow hallway of his Moscow flat staring at the deadbolt.
0:48.3	It had been locked when he arrived.
0:50.3	He never used the deadbolt.
0:53.3	It was the smallest thing, a simple twist of metal. He never used the deadbolt.
0:59.9	It was the smallest thing, a simple twist of metal, but not in the life of a spy.
1:03.1	Such details scream louder than sirens.
1:08.0	This is Cold War Conversations.
1:12.6	If you're new here, you've come to the right place to listen to Cold War History.
1:17.0	Please make sure you follow us in your podcast app so you don't miss future episodes.
1:23.5	He was a KGB colonel, a double agent, and the most valuable spy Britain ever had.
1:29.5	Born into a KGB family in Moscow, Oleg Gordievsky's journey takes us from the waning days of Stalin to his disillusionment with the Soviet system and his defection to MI6. For more
1:36.6	than a decade he lived a secret life at the heart of Soviet intelligence, all the while
	...

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