Cold War Cast

Osad

• 
  Biological War by Annie Jacobsen 16.09.2026 23min

  Today I’m reviewing the recent book by Annie Jacobsen, Biological War, about a scenario where an errant biological weapon escapes a laboratory in Russia and hits the United States. It’s a grim and disturbing book - and really interesting. I cover the book from a Cold War perspective- there’s a lot about the Soviet biological weapons program as well as a few other general points.
• 
  Kuril Islands and Sakhalin: Japan’s Cold War Frontier 11.09.2026 54min

  Vladimir Putin recently visited the Kuril Islands, sparking protest from Japan. Today we’re talking about the dispute between Japan and Russia over these islands that goes all the way back to the absolute earliest days of the Cold War. We’ll cover this area’s historical past between the Ainu, Russia and Japan up through the modern talks on the islands. We’ll also spend some time on Japan’s early days of the Cold War and turn towards the US amid simmering tensions with the USSR. We’ll also cover the strategic significance of these islands for the USSR and the modern challenges they present for Japan
• 
  Alas, Babylon & A Canticle for Leibowitz: Can Civilization Survive Nuclear War? 19.08.2026 27min

  Today we’re looking at two books that ask the question of what really happens to civilization in the aftermath of nuclear war. Alas, Babylon deals with the immediate aftermath of a nuclear war up until the first year after in a small Florida town. Canticles of Liebowitz looks out over a thousand years later and the struggle to preserve scraps of knowledge from before the bomb. If civilization is cumulative and relies on building on the past, what happens when those systems of support and institutions of knowledge begin to collapse? Everyone knew nuclear war wouldn’t be pretty, but these books take a look at beyond the first order of effects for a sobering look at what was looming for mankind. While these books are different in style, they both come from a period of time (1959-60) when Americans felt particularly vulnerable, as it was believed the Soviets jumped ahead of the US in weapons technology - a sneak attack could happen any moment, they believed. These two books have a place in the canon of Cold War pop culture. Support this show by liking, subscribing, sharing, etc. and going to our family business reddragonherbs.com for unique gift ideas…or tea for yourself.
• 
  Australia in the Vietnam War 27.07.2026 37min

  In the years after World War II, Australia, a bastion of Anglo/European civilization on the fringe of Asia, looked north with trepidation. Communism was on the march and once again Australia felt vulnerable. They decided to make their stand against communism along with their American allies and Vietnam.Today we are talking about Australia’s experience in the Vietnam war, which looked a lot like the American experience in Vietnam, but with its own unique circumstances. Towards the end, I talk about the film The Odd Angry Shot from 1979, which captures the ambiguity of the Vietnam war very well.
• 
  The War That Built South Korea - Vietnam 11.07.2026 49min

  When the United States went looking for friends during the Vietnam War, few countries answered. Foremost among them was impoverished and war-torn South Korea. South Korea’s participation in the Vietnam War gets overshadowed by the American experience, but it turned out to be pivotal for the young nation and the Cold War in Asia. We’ll talk about the considerations to get involved in a far flung conflict, the battlefield experience and how a few household names got their start in the Vietnam war (Samsung and Hyundai). We will also talk about the tensions that flared with the North Koreans during the time and how the experience forged a bond between the United States and Republic of Korea that lasts until the present day.
• 
  Congo’s World Cup Standing Guy - Patrice Lumumba 25.06.2026 17min

  Everyone is wondering why the Democratic Republic of Congo has the fan that stands and poses as a statue for the duration of their matches. He is channeling the likeness of Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of Congo. Today we’re telling the Cold War story of Lumumba. This is a fascinating chapter of Africa’s decolonization and a turbulent chapter of the cold war that took place deep in the heart of Africa. Lumumba is seen as a martyr for Congolese independence and “Lumumba Vea” hopes his schtick inspires the Congolese squad to victory.
• 
  Animal Farm by George Orwell 12.05.2026 18min

  Animal Farm by George Orwell was just remade into an animated film by Angel Studios. In this episode I give a little background info about Orwell, his life and the world around him to help understand Animal Farm. This is one of the earliest and most important -and most enduring- works of the Cold War. I know most of us have either read it or seen the 1951 (CIA sponsored) cartoon, so I’m mostly reaching out to people encountering it for the first time now…but maybe it’s been a while for you! Enjoy. This one is short and more off the cuff than usual.
• 
  The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951) 06.05.2026 25min

  Today we’re talking about one of the key films of the Cold War, The Day The Earth Stood still. In the film a humanoid alien, Klaatu, delivers a message to Earth - live peacefully or else. Through Klaatu’s interactions with humans we look at our society through a mile high (or 200 million “earth miles”?) lens. It’s a good snapshot of Cold War America and fears for the future - utopia or destruction…and it’s up to us (which isn’t promising, as we’ll see). On some levels it seems like beauty pageant tier politics, but digging a little deeper it brings up questions of the use of force in order to shape the world as you want it. This is one of the best sci-fi films ever made. Enjoy.
• 
  Chuck Norris: A Cold War Tribute 27.04.2026 33min

  Chuck Norris was a hero of American cinema forged in the Cold War. Today we’re going to honor his life from a Cold War perspective. His character begins with real life service in the Air Force in Korea. He would go on to work in the military industrial complex, lose a brother in Vietnam and take on America’s enemies, both foreign and domestic on the silver screen. We’ll discuss Missing in Action, Invasion USA, Delta Force, Good Guys Wear Black and more.
• 
  Ghosts of the Cold War: Iran’s F-14 Tomcats 13.04.2026 33min

  Today we’re talking about the last Tomcats (you might remember them from “Top Gun”) on Earth - In Iran. This is a story of Iran and the United States aligned by the Cold War, then after the Islamic Revolution in 1979 the circumstances changed. Iran was left without American support for spare parts and maintenance. They kept the Tomcats flying by hook or crook through the war with Iraq and into the present day (well, maybe). This is a story of aviation history, Cold War politics, middle eastern conflict and one isolated nation defying the world. Enjoy!
• 
  Ghosts of the Cold War: Iran’s F-14 Tomcats 13.04.2026 33min

  Today we’re talking about the last Tomcats on Earth - Iran’s F-14s. Iran acquired them during a period of the Cold War when the US and Iran were aligned against the Soviet Union. After the Islamic Revolution American support was withdrawn and Iran was on her own to keep the planes flying without spare parts and tech support. This is a story of aviation history, espionage, Iran’s military and middle eastern conflict all in one.
• 
  USS Iowa: From WW2 through the Cold War 23.03.2026 37min

  The USS Iowa was built in anticipation of clashes with Japanese battleships in the Pacific. Although World War 2 ended without a mega showdown between battleships, the Iowa went on to write her story during the Cold War, coming in clutch during Anerica’s time of need. We’ll discuss the history of the ship, her impressive stats, her Cold War service and the future of battleships
• 
  Before Aliens: When Flying Saucers Were A Cold War Threat 28.02.2026 25min

  What’s scarier, aliens or commies? Today we’re talking about a period during the tense, paranoid and uncertain early Cold War where Americans saw a rash of UFO sightings, setting off a panic. It wasn’t the prospect of little green men that put the country on edge, it was the idea that these objects could be Russians with secret technology…and we would be defenseless. I use the 1950 B-film “The Flying Saucer” as a good illustration of where America’s mind was at around 1947-50. I’ll also discuss the origin of the “flying saucer” term and the famous Kenneth Arnold UFO sighting that kicked it all off. As always, go to Red Dragon Herbs to get yourself some tea to support this podcast
• 
  Kim Jong Un - Cold War Orphan 09.02.2026 24min

  Today we are talking about Kim Jong Un, the current (dear) leader of North Korea. We’ve been discussing current heads of state and how the Cold War has shaped them. Kim Jong Un really is a relic from the Cold War and in many ways still continues that history. We talk about his murky beginnings and his role in the current state, which is a throwback to the days of Mao and Stalin, with some homespun touches
• 
  Xi Jinping and the Cold War 02.01.2026 40min

  For Xi Jinping the Cold War never really ended. What we saw as a victory of democracy was a failure of weak men and a cautionary tale for Xi and the Chinese Communist Party. In this episode we talk about the chaos and suffering Xi endured in his young life to make him into the man he is today. The Cold War was a visceral experience for him that made him wary of chaos and disorder. I think looking at his Cold War experience helps explain this leader who is elusive to the outside world.
• 
  Cold War Nicolas Maduro and Venezuela 13.12.2025 26min

  Nicolas Maduro is in the news right now. When we look at his history and ideology, we find that he’s pretty much a guy that showed up late to the Cold War. We discuss his humble origins, training in Cuba and the current state of affairs.
• 
  Cold War Donald Trump 25.11.2025 42min

  Part 2 of our series on current world leaders and the Cold WarToday we’re looking at how the Cold War shaped Donald Trump and his experiences growing up during a period of peak American prosperity and moral authority, watching it decline then rising back up again. Although he had no military or political experience during this period, he reflected a mood in the country and became the poster child of free market capitalism during the 80’s. We talk about his history and how Cold War thinking shaped his present style of diplomacy. Yes, we talk about the draft deferments too. Like, share, subscribe and check out www.reddragonherbs.com
• 
  House of Dynamite 04.11.2025 11min

  Netflix just released House of Dynamite, a nuclear thriller that brings the looming horror of the Cold War and nuclear war to the present day. Today I’m giving you my off the cuff review of the show and a few things of interest for those of us into this kind of thing
• 
  Buzludzha - Cold War Halloween Special 31.10.2025 21min

  Today we’re talking about one of the creepiest relics of the Cold War, Buzludzha Monument in Bulgaria - an abandoned testament to communism’s unfulfilled ambitions. It resembles a giant concrete UFO on top of a mountain. Not only is it an artifact of a horrific period of history, many claim it’s haunted. We’ll discuss some of the strange things afoot in Buzludzha. In order to turn this into a true Halloween extravaganza, I’ll read Percy Shelley’s “ozymandias” , which this abandoned monument reminded me of. I’ll also bring my Soviet Union-obsessed eight year old on to tell a good Cold War joke he told me the other day. Like, subscribe, share and leave good reviews. Hit me up on instagram or X. Go to reddragonherbs.com to support the show financially
• 
  Cold War Putin and Zelensky 27.10.2025 33min

  Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky both had their formative and life altering moments during the Cold War. In this episode, we discussed their history and how the fall of the Soviet Union, a nation they were both citizens of, affected them. It’s interesting that both leaders had a front row seat to the same series of events and came to such divergent conclusions. Leave a review to help the show grow and visit www.reddragonherbs.com to support financially.