Cold War Britain: Fifty years in the shadow of the bomb (422)

Cold War Conversations Podcast

Ian Sanders

Society & Culture, Documentary, History

4.8 • 758 Ratings

🗓️ 19 September 2025

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Fraser McCallum is the author of a new book Cold War Britain: Fifty years in the shadow of the bomb which gives a fascinating insight into a period that shaped the fabric of British society. The Cold War defined the history of Britain in the second half of the twentieth century as much as it did that of the US and the Soviet Union. Cold War Britain is an exploration into the multifaceted dimensions of Britain’s experience during the Cold War era. By weaving together history, politics, literature, and popular culture, this book invites readers to immerse themselves in the vibrant tapestry of Cold War Britain, offering fresh insights and perspectives into how this global conflict shaped the fabric of British society. Buy the book here https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9780008743994 Fraser’s Cold War Playlist Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/cold-war-britain-the-soundtrack-to-the-book/pl.u-NRp7s3pq7o Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2lZ7HBrKKyBj31wXKXx2nq?si=m2U2HNafQ7O13d3NlYHbYw&pi=X-UioH1WQdW2J Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode422 Enter the book giveaway (expires 27th Sep 2025) https://coldwarconversations.com/giveaway/ Related episodes How Cold War Britain Prepared for Nuclear War https://pod.fo/e/172825 The Cold War Atomic Spies https://pod.fo/e/1fa45e Portland Spy Ring Part 1 ⁠https://pod.fo/e/292bd⁠ Portland Spy Ring Part 2 ⁠https://pod.fo/e/4471e⁠ The Happy Traitor - The Life of Soviet Spy George Blake https://pod.fo/e/b8583 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	This is Cold War Conversations, the home of real stories of the Cold War.
0:06.3	I will be doing a live podcast at the Imperial War Museum in London on the 1st of November.
0:12.8	Be great to see you there. More details at coldwarconversations.com slash live.
0:19.1	Now on with your episode. For 30 years we've been opening doors,
0:25.6	opening doors for small businesses and large, opening fully stocked fridges and same-day deliveries,
0:31.6	opening birthdays and graduations and new homes and happy tiers and new shun't-havs,
0:36.8	opening ambulances and life-saving support,
0:39.6	opening roads that open up cities and countries and continents,
0:43.5	opening up the world.
0:45.4	See how the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter can open doors for your business
0:48.7	at your local Mercedes-Benz dealer today.
0:51.9	There's this period in 1962,
0:55.8	we're on the exact same day the film adaptation of Dr. No
0:58.3	is released and the Beatles' first single
1:00.7	Love We Do is released and it's like these are the two
1:02.7	totemic parts of British culture
1:04.9	that dominate the 60s.
1:07.6	The Beatles arguably still untouched really
1:09.9	in the pop music pantheon and Bond you know still
1:13.8	continually reinvents itself and it becomes one of Britain's great cultural exports
1:18.1	this is Cold War Conversations if you're new here you've come to the right place to
1:25.6	listen to Cold War History.
	...

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