Podcasts about Iron Curtain

As hostilities behind the Iron Curtain worsened, a large number of Soviet Jews began to apply for exit visas, most commonly to Israel. Most of these applications came from Jews living in territories in the Western part of the Soviet Union, including regions annexed during World War II. The vast majority of these applications were denied, giving rise to the plight of the Refuseniks. Narrated by Rebecca Naomi Jones and featuring Gemma R. Birnbaum, executive director of the American Jewish Historical Society. Image: From the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews collection at AJHS, P-906. The Wreckage is made possible by funding from the Ford Foundation. Additional funding is provided through the American Jewish Education Program, generously supported by Sid and Ruth Lapidus.

Joni Marie Iraci is a retired registered nurse who returned to school in her later years to pursue her love of writing. Her latest thriller 'Vatican Daughter' is a fictional story set around the first American pope as he is about to ascend the throne of St.Peter. It's based on little-known facts that take us into a cauldron of secrecy, hypocrisy and power, and takes the reader on a suspenseful journey through the cities of Rome and Venice as one woman attempts to expose the Vatican treachery and retrieve her kidnapped daughter from behind the walls of the most powerful entity on earth.   Jonathan Gershfield is a multi-award-winning TV director and screenwriter who has previously written for the big screen, the small screen and the stage. His high-profile series include Death in paradise and Dead Ringers. His'The House of the Rising Son' was spawned from his own front-line experience as a father grappling with the highs and lows of family life. It's a novel for Dads who often get it wrong but are trying their best, and the teenage boys who are fighting for their freedom, undeterred by dubious ideas and poor judgement. It's been optioned for an 8-part TV series.  Reverend Penny Stephens was a vicar in a village parish before working as a hospice chaplain. She now takes services in the Diocese of Rochester, where she is an Honorary Canon of the Cathedral. Her job has inspired the main character in 'Till Death Do Us Part', a cosy crime novel, marking the start of a new series.  ... J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 30 psychological thrillers and domestic noir novels, and the Emmy award winning co-host of A Word on Words. She also writes contemporary fantasy as Joss Walker, including the award-winning Jayne Thorn series. With millions of books sold across 30 countries, her work has also received multiple TV options. Her new twisted psychological thriller 'Last Seen' is about the bonds of family and the disconnect between memory and truth.  Jan Stirling Locke was born in Edinburgh and grew up in Newcastle. She trained and worked as a Registered Nurse at the Royal Victoria infirmary in the city. As a young woman, Jan travelled alone through Europe in search of love and adventure, of which she found plenty. Much of her writing reflects her experiences during her travels in Europe behind the Iron Curtain. The second book in her Von Werstein trilogy 'Restoration' is the follow-up to Deception - a sweeping saga that takes place in WW2 and beyond.  Sarah Landenwich is a writer, writing instructor, and a classically trained pianist. Her debut novel 'The Fire Concerto' was inspired by her love of music of the Romantic period, and pays tribute to 19th Century female musicians, artists, and scholars who have been largely forgotten. Filled with tension and surprises, the book vividly captures the brutal realities for women of exceptional talent in the 19th Century.

Smuggling bibles into the Communist East Bloc of Europe was a high stakes game back in the 1970s and 1980s. Back then, many Christians in the West had no clue that fellow believers under authoritarian regimes were actively persecuted for their faith. Some Christians did, however.A handful even took it upon themselves to try and help those suffering under Communism, by getting them Bibles and Christian literature.“Thomas” was one of those Western Christians taking risks to help the Persecuted Church. He and a small band of believers ran smuggling routes to equip and encourage the faithful. This is a part of Christian history that far too few know about. But the growing cultural pressures today resemble the authoritarian pressures endured by Christians under Communist regimes during the Cold War.So it's critical we ramp up our knowledge of this historical era. That is precisely why Thomas joined this episode of the Christian Emergency Podcast. Thomas relates his experience taking risks to help the faithful. Those risks eventually led to real costs, including jail time.A costly faith is what Christians need to ponder today. How can you respond to growing cultural pressures? What lessons can you take away from the believers who ran bibles behind the Iron Curtain? How can we collectively play small roles to help the Church stand? Listen in and learn fascinating insights relevant for today's challenges.If you find this episode helpful, please giveus a positive rating and review wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. Also share this episode with a friend so they too can be blessed by these insights.To learn more about resources mentioned in this episode, see the following.Tripping: The True Story of Bible Smugglers inGermany, by Thomas Henderson (book)Christian Emergency Alliance (Website)Christian Emergency Alliance (Twitter / X):@ChristianEmerg1Christian Emergency Alliance (Facebook):@ChristianEmergencyChristian Emergency Alliance (Instagram)The Christian Emergency Podcast is aproduction of the Christian Emergency Alliance.Soli Deo Gloria

In one of our most vulnerable conversations yet, Craig Glass, a former Bible smuggler behind the Iron Curtain, sits down to share the raw truth about shame, masculinity, and the generational wounds that are silently destroying men.Craig's journey began with a childhood accident involving a pitchfork and his younger brother, a secret he buried under a lie for over 30 years. That single moment of shame shaped his life and led him on a mission to help men confront the darkness they hide from the world. Today, he reveals how to break free from the patterns of fear, anger, and isolation that are passed down from father to son.This isn't just a conversation; it's an intervention for any man who has ever asked himself, "Do I have what it takes?"Find out more about Craig Glass's work:➡️ The Godly Man Project (Free Booklet): https://www.godlymanproject.org/➡️ Peregrine Ministries: https://peregrineministries.org/➡️ Craig's Book, "Noble Journey": https://www.amazon.com/Noble-Journey-Craig-M-Glass/dp/1976567955CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - The Pitchfork Incident: A 30-Year-Old Secret00:54 - Smuggling Bibles Behind The Iron Curtain08:41 - The Difference Between Guilt & Shame18:35 - The Meaning Behind Peregrine Ministries26:03 - Do Generational Curses Actually Exist?30:30 - The Crisis of Modern Masculinity38:40 - Lessons from the Rwandan Genocide Survivors44:38 - A Story of Suicide, Despair, and a Second Chance53:17 - The 4 Pillars of a Godly Man (Compassion, Confidence, Conviction, Courage)56:40 - How To Break The CycleListen to the full COS Business Podcast episode:► Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1jSQ8OQSi0rprCcxTGx0KB?si=hpkxA-nkQOWSs6uBf7dYbg&nd=1&dlsi=6a5996bc19e449b4► Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/colorado-springs-business-podcast/id1492740546CONNECT WITH US:► Website: https://cosbizpodcast.com/► Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/cos.bizpodcast/► Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/COSBusinessPodcast

In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Marlena Pavlos-Hackney, who grew up under the weight of communist rule in Poland before finding freedom and opportunity in America. She shares vivid memories of empty store shelves, ration cards, and the solidarity movement that helped bring down the Iron Curtain—experiences that instilled in her a deep appreciation for liberty. Marlena eventually built her American dream, opening a restaurant in Michigan and serving her community for decades. But in 2020, government lockdown orders threatened to take it all away. Rather than close her doors, she chose to resist mandates she believed echoed the heavy hand of the regime she left behind. In part one of her powerful story, Marlena reflects on her journey from surviving communism to defying destructive COVID restrictions in defense of freedom.

Today's witnesses are from an email my friend in the Prayer Group received. She gets a daily email from www.dailyrosarymeditations.com Every day, it gives five snippets, each to encourage reflection on praying one mystery of the rosary. She found this day's snippets particularly powerful and wanted to share it. They are all about how Mary will conquer, and they are written by Mike Scherschligt.One - The Bishop I have become friends with Bishop Oliver Doeme Dashe, the Bishop of Maiduguri in North East Nigeria. In 2009 the Muslim terrorist group Boko Haram, which means “Western Education is Evil” began to attack Christians in his diocese.  In 2014 Boko Haram completely overran his diocese. The Nigerian military dropped their weapons and fled like children. Thousands of Catholics were killed, two hundred Church structures were burned, and one hundred thousand Catholics fled for their lives to neighboring countries. Fr. William, a priest from the diocese, told me as he drove from parish to parish to celebrate Mass, that the roads were littered with dead bodies. At any moment, he could be surrounded by Boko Haram, dragged from his car, and shot. In October of 2014 Bishop Oliver went before Our Lord Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration, traumatized and trembling, and began to pray the Rosary. Suddenly, Jesus appeared to the Bishop in a vision, holding a very long sword in his hands. When he saw Jesus, the Bishop said, “Lord, what is this?” He didn't answer, but he stretched out his arms and put the sword into the hands of Bishop Oliver. When he received the sword, it turned into a Rosary. Then Jesus spoke these words three times: “Boko Haram is gone! Boko Haram is gone! Boko Haram is gone!” And the vision ended. The message was clear, with the Rosary we shall conquer!At that time Boko Haram had complete control of the diocese. If anyone was seen or caught in public as a Catholic, Boko Haram would instantly kill them. Yet, despite the danger, Bishop Oliver began to go village to village and organize public Rosary processions. From the moment the people began public Rosary processions, Boko Haram has been driven out of his diocese. The Churches are being rebuilt, all of his parishioners have come back, and 97% of his diocese go to Mass every Sunday. Most importantly, the Church in his diocese is growing from strength to strength. At one parish alone, Bishop Oliver brought five hundred new adults into the Church. Mary came down through the Rosary and sent Boko Haram packing!Two - Austria  As we sat together and Bishop Oliver told me of these miraculous events, he said to me, “Michael, this is not the first time Our Mother has sent evil forces packing by the power of Rosary processions. Do you remember what took place in Austria after World War Two? Did you know that much of Austria was under the Iron Curtain after World War Two?” I did know, but I loved hearing it again from Bishop Oliver, so I didn't let on. After World War Two, Austria was divided up by the Allies. The Eastern half of the country and Vienna came under the control of the Soviets. Until 1991, the Soviets never lost a nation, but something different happened here. Fr. Petrus Pavlicek was inspired by the words of Our Lady at Fatima. She asked us to pray the Rosary every day because only she could help us.From 1947 to 1955, Fr. Pavlicek began gathering people in villages, towns, and cities across Soviet controlled Austria on the 13th of each month to pray the Rosary together in public. He called it the Rosary Crusade. Many people gathered at first, but they could not sustain their spiritual practices, so the Rosary Crusade ebbed and flowed. But Fr. Petrus persevered in his confidence in Our Lady. By 1955, eight years later, half a million Austrians had pledged to pray the Rosary, begging for the conversion of sinners, peace in the world and freedom in Austria. The Cold War intensified as the Soviets crushed the Hungarians. However, on March 24th, 1955, Eve of the Annunciation, to the world's surprise, the Soviets announced they would withdraw their troops from Austria in just three months. On May 15th, 1955, the Soviets signed a treaty guaranteeing the independence of Austria. In October of 1955, the month of the Rosary, the last Russian soldier left Austrian soil.Mary came down through the Rosary and sent the enemy packing!Three - BrazilIn 1964, the president of Brazil, João Goulart, wanted to make Brazil a Communist country. The archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, Cardinal de Barros Camara, in an address on national radio, called the people to resist publicly by praying the Rosary. President Goulart was so enraged that he insulted the people of Brazil in a public speech. He ridiculed the rosary, saying that it was his Marxist ideas that would reform and save Brazil, not the rosaries of simple women. That was a big mistake!Twenty thousand women hit the streets with their rosaries. They marched right into the midst of the Communist rally and prayed the rosary so loudly that it shut the rally down. On March 19th, more than 600,000 people marched through the streets of São Paolo praying the rosary in the famous “March of the Family with God toward Freedom.” President Goulart was so intimidated by the Rosary that he fled the country! Once again, Our Mother came down through Rosary and sent the enemy packing!Four - Philippines Ferdinand Marcos was an evil dictator who oppressed the Filipino people for twenty years. In 1986, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos rose up in a non-violent protest against the dictatorship. They filled the main highway and knelt before tanks and soldiers to pray the Rosary. President Marcos commanded the soldiers to run over the people with their tanks. Then Our Lady appeared to soldiers and to the entire crowd. She commanded the soldiers to stop their tanks and to do no harm to the people because she was the Queen of Heaven. That night, President Marcos fled the country.Once again, Mary came down through the Rosary and sent the enemy packing.  Five - The Danger of Comfort and ComplacencyBishop Oliver said, “Michael, you must come to Nigeria!” But I said, “No way! It's too dangerous, you might be dead before I get there.” Then I said, “Bishop Oliver – we are facing a more dangerous enemy in the West. We are not facing an enemy that can kill the body, but an enemy that is killing the souls of our loved ones with Materialism, comfort, isolation, and loneliness. We have everything we need, so we think we don't need God or each other.”Then Bishop Oliver said to me, “Let your people know that being close to Mary is the solution to all their challenges in this world. They should consecrate and reconsecrate themselves and their families to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Did not Mary say at Fatima, “God wants to establish in the world devotion to My Immaculate Heart – wanting to save it by this means.” Pray the Rosary every day and invite someone to pray with you, even if it means you have to change your routine. Finally, live the First Saturdays of Reparation as Mary requested, that on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, go to Mass, pray the Rosary, and go to Confession.” Bishop Oliver ended by saying very passionately, “Mary will conquer! But she needs your cooperation.” If you would like to receive these daily emails, you can go to www.dailyrosarymeditations.com. I will place a link for this specific day in the show notes in case you want to go back and read it again. https://www.dailyrosarymeditations.com/p/mary-will-conquer-september-1-2025  www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

Our 134th episode, which aired on July 27, 2025, and featured part two of our 80th anniversary look back at the roots music of the atomic age. Swan's Silvertone Singers – Jesus Is God's Atomic Bomb Bobby Marchan & The Clowns – Rockin' Behind the Iron Curtain Roy Acuff & His Smoky Mountain Boys – Advice to Joe Civil Defense Spot: Family Fallout Shelter Booklet with Fred McMurray H-Bomb Ferguson – Rock H-Bomb Rock Jerry Engler & The Four Ekkos – Sputnik (Satellite Girl) Civil Defense Spot: Nuclear Attack with Tony Bennett Buchanan Brothers with The Georgia Catamounts – There's a Power Greater Than Atomic Jay Chevalier – Khrushchev and the Devil Civil Defense Spot: Don't Use the Phone with Art Linkletter Arthur Crudup – I'm Gonna Dig Myself a Hole Al Rex – Hydrogen Bomb Bradley Kincaid – Brush the Dust from That Old Bible Homer Harris with Muddy Waters – Atomic Bomb Blues Civil Defense Spot: Protect Your Home with Boris Karloff Hank Williams/Luke the Drifter – No No Joe Christopher B. Cerf – (My) Fallout Filly (With the Atomic Kiss) Civil Defense Spot: Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow Linda Hayes with the Red Callender Sextette – A Unknown – H-Bomb Civil Defense Spot: Warning Signals with Pat Boone Dick “Two-Ton” Baker – Bert the Turtle (The Duck and Cover Song) Pilgrim Travellers – Jesus Is the First Line of Defense Al Barkle with the Tri-Tones – Sputnik II Jim Eanes – They Locked God Outside the Iron Curtain

Irina Nistor worked as a translator of TV programs in Romania under the Communist regime, and is known for secretly voicing over thousands of banned movie titles on VHS tapes smuggled in from the West in the four years between 1985 and the revolution. She was reckeoned to be the 2nd most famous voice in Romania after the Communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu. In a basement with two TVs, a VCR, and a microphone, she voiced four to six films a night, from Doctor Zhivago to cartoons her children watched. Though distribution was handled by her recruiter, Teodor Zamfir, her Romanian-language voice overs spread across the country, reaching crowded living rooms where families gathered around rare VHS players. These films offered Romanians a forbidden glimpse of life beyond the Iron Curtain—stories free of ideology, filled with possibility and freedom. While her precise role in communism's fall is immeasurable, Nistor's voice became one of defiance, opening a window to the wider world and inspiring hope under Ceaușescu's repressive regime. Related episodes: Childhood Memories of the 1989 Romanian Revolution https://pod.fo/e/2d696e Cold War, Warm Hearts – Hitchhiking behind the 1960s Iron Curtain https://pod.fo/e/2098ae A Childhood under the eye of the Secret Police https://pod.fo/e/a4730 My life laid bare through secret police files https://pod.fo/e/12e45f A Hungarian childhood in Cold War Romania https://pod.fo/e/1190aa Escaping from Cold War Romania https://pod.fo/e/11ad63 Emanuela – a Cold War Romanian Childhood https://pod.fo/e/f0376 Reporting the 1989 Romanian Revolution https://pod.fo/e/1ea8c Episode extras ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/episode419/⁠ 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

Closing out What the Hell's summer book series, we offer a timely reminder of the value of free speech and critical thinking from a time when it wasn't taken for granted. Charlie English discusses his book, The CIA Book Club: The Secret Mission to Win the Cold War with Forbidden Literature (Random House, 2025). Charlie chronicles George Minden's 1980s covert intelligence operation that smuggled literature into Poland from beyond the Iron Curtain. From its Manhattan headquarters, Minden's “book club” secretly sent ten million banned titles into the East and combated communist censorship, creating a vibrant culture in Poland that would outlast the toppled Soviet regime. What is the value of printed word in our society? Can ideas beat out on the battlefield? Charlie reminds us they can.Charlie English is a London-based non-fiction writer and the author of three internationally acclaimed books. He has appeared on NPR, the BBC and Channel 4, written for numerous newspapers and magazines including the New York Times, the Guardian, the Telegraph and the Independent, and given talks at Hay, Jaipur and the Royal Geographical Society, where he is a fellow. Formerly, he was Head of International News at Guardian News and Media.Find The CIA Book Club: The Secret Mission to Win the Cold War with Forbidden Literature here.Find the transcript here.

This week we'll be punching through the Iron Curtain and giving Christmas a black eye, as we seek to avenge a loved one, and prove to the world that a small man can hit a big one. Yes, it's Rocky IVAnd joining me to look for appropriate birthday presents for Paulie, is Paul Whitelaw. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Drama on a WednesdayFirst,  a look at the events of the day.Then, Boston Blackie starring Dick Kollmar, originally broadcast August 20, 1946, 79 years ago, Jealous Partners and Arson. A man burns down his own building, just after allowing the fire insurance to lapse! There's a woman behind the match!Followed by The Whistler, originally broadcast August 20, 1945, 80 years ago, X Marks the Murder. A woman has a theory about a series of murders. Then, The Green Llama starring Paul Frees, originally broadcast August 20, 1949, 76 years ago, The Perfect Prisoner.  The last show of the series. A talented sculptor named Frank Cobb is about to be pardoned from a "model prison." However, he's knifed to death before he can be officially told about the pardon. The Green Lama deals with a prison riot and an escape attempt by one hundred armed inmates. Followed by Top Secret starring Illona Massey, originally broadcast August 20, 1950, 75 years ago, The Church Without a Cross. An American intelligence agent investigating suspicious activity in a small Eastern European town behind the Iron Curtain. The town has a peculiar landmark: a church stripped of its cross — a symbolic absence that hints at the repression of religion under the new Communist regime.Finally, Lum and Abner, originally broadcast August 20, 1942, 83 years ago, Squires' $1100 Bill.  Lum signs the Squire's promissory note for $1100, that the Squire just happens to have on him!Thanks to Laurel for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.streamIf you like what we do here, visit our friend Jay at http://radio.macinmind.com for great old time radio shows 24 hours a day

My Story   Talk 24 Developing the curriculum and choosing the faculty Welcome to Talk 24 where I'm reflecting on God's goodness to me throughout my life. Last time I was talking about all the improvements we were able to make to the campus at Mattersey. We were, of course, grateful to the Lord for these improvements, especially for the provision of sufficient finances to build the new hall of residence and the beautiful new Chapel and classrooms. But these were never an end in themselves. They were the means to an end. Their purpose was to facilitate the training and education of men and women to understand the Bible and to become more effective servants of the Lord Jesus Christ.   But even more important than the erection of buildings was the development of the curriculum and the choosing of the faculty. And to do that it was first necessary to determine our aims and objectives. What follows is taken from one of our early college prospectuses. If the terminology sounds a little old-fashioned today, please remember that it's now almost half a century since I first wrote them. The NIV had only just been published and much of our preaching was based on the text of the Authorised Version (KJV) of the Bible.   But even if the language might need updating, I believe that these aims and objectives would still be highly appropriate for any pentecostal or charismatic Bible college today and would form an excellent basis for its curriculum. They should certainly be the goal of every local church!   Aims and Objectives The general purpose of the college is to train men and women for Christian service at home and overseas. This training involves not only the imparting of a comprehensive theological education but also emphasises the development of Christian character and spiritual growth.   Because the college takes a positive stand for the authority and inspiration of Holy Scripture, its aims are essentially biblical. They may be summarised as follows:   1.     That opportunity might be given to those who are called to the work of the ministry to fulfil the will of Christ that his servants should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach (Mark 3:14). 2.     That through their ministry the gospel might be preached to every creature (Mark 16:15) and that disciples might be made of all nations (Matthew 28:19). 3.     That the gospel might be preached with signs following (Mark 16:20) and the churches be established in the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:4). 4.     That God's servants might be able always to give a reason for the hope that is in them (1 Peter 3: 15) and to speak the things which become sound doctrine (Titus 2:1). 5.     That God's workmen might be approved unto God, being able rightly to divide the word of God (2 Timothy 2:15) and to contend earnestly for the faith once for all time delivered to the saints (Jude 3). 6.     That God's people might come to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ and that each individual part of his body might so function in its proper order that the church will make edification of itself in love (Ephesians 4:13-16). 7.     That the word of God may be entrusted to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2). 8.     That those who seek to love God with all their heart and soul might also love him with all their mind (Matthew 22:37). 9.     That the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit might be manifested in the lives of all God's people (1 Corinthians 12:7-11, Galatians 5:22-23). 10.That the church which is the bride of Christ might be ready and prepared for his coming (Ephesians 5:25-27; 2 Corinthians 11: 2; Revelation 19:9, 21-22). Developing the curriculum In using the word curriculum, I am referring to the entire College programme, not just the academic timetable. This included worship in chapel five mornings a week, weekly student prayer groups, days of prayer at least once a term, and church on Sundays with opportunities for students to sing, testify or preach, as invited by the local pastors.   We experienced some wonderful times of blessing, particularly in our Wednesday morning Chapel services, which were longer than on the other days and where the resident faculty and staff were present as well as all the students. It was the spiritual life of the College that provided the inspiration and motivation for the academic discipline of study in the classroom.   But there was, of course, plenty of inspiration in the classroom too. That derived from the quality of our teaching staff – more of which in a moment – and the subject matter of the courses most of which were directly related to the Bible, the inspired word of God.  Of course, the structure of the timetable varied over the 27 years I was Principal, but the underlying principles remained the same. What follows is just an example of what we were offering towards the end of my time as Principal. Courses available included:               Certificate in Biblical Studies (One Year)             Diploma in Biblical Studies (Two Years)             BA in Biblical Theology (Three Years)   and for suitable candidates who completed all three years we also awarded our             Diploma in Christian Ministry.   In addition to all this we were also validated to award an             MA in Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies which was a part-time two-year course. This was much appreciated by people already in church leadership some of whom had no formally recognised theological qualification. This was only possible because we had sufficient faculty members who had earned a Ph.D. But, without question, our most important course for people who wanted a thorough preparation for Christian ministry was our three-year B.A. in Biblical Theology combined with our Diploma in Christian Ministry. Over the three years these included teaching on the following   YEAR ONE Bible Survey, Hermeneutics and Homiletics, Evangelism, Care and Counselling, Christian Doctrine, Christian Leadership, Church History Survey, Children's and Youth Work, Other Faiths, and New Testament Greek. (For those who did not opt for Greek, there were special courses on the English Language, John's Gospel, and Luke/Acts).   YEAR TWO O.T. General, N.T. Christian Origins, Early Church History, The Holy Spirit, Mark in Greek, Christian Apologetics, Christian Ethics, 1 Corinthians in English, Romans in English, Anthropology, Hebrew, Media Work, Church Planting.   YEAR THREE O.T. Theology, N.T. Theology, Pentecostal Distinctives (The Baptism in the Holy Spirit and Divine Healing), History of Revival, Philosophy of Religion, John in Greek, Hebrew Set Texts, Christian Missions, Ecclesiology, Youth Work, Pastoral Training.   But no matter what course we provided, our aims and objectives remained the same throughout. Any qualification gained was never intended as an end in itself. Personally, I saw my own academic qualifications rather like the apostle Paul saw his Roman citizenship. He certainly would not glory in it. It meant nothing compared with the excellency of knowing Christ, but he wasn't afraid to make use of it when appropriate (Acts 22:25-28).   I knew that the success of the curriculum could only be measured by the extent to which its aims and objectives were being fulfilled in the lives of the students. And that could certainly not be accomplished by academic learning alone. Our students were accepted on this understanding. Any academic achievement they might gain would be a bonus. Their primary motivation must be a sense of calling, a desire to serve Jesus.   Choosing the faculty And, of course, our biblical aims and objectives so important to the development of our curriculum were equally relevant to the choosing of those who would be teaching its courses. They must not only be in agreement with our AoG Statement of Faith but also be people of experience in the work of God and have a divine anointing to teach. Academic ability in itself was not enough. I had had enough experience at Oxford where some of those teaching no doubt had great academic ability, but whose communication skills left much to be desired!   But of course, however great your ability to communicate, you need to know what you're talking about! I have listened too often to people with great communication skills preaching absolute nonsense! Even in some national and international conferences! So our choice of faculty was influenced by the need to find people who believed the Bible, were filled with the Spirit, knew their subject, and had a God-given ability to teach it.   And that meant the ability, not to make simple things sound difficult, but to make difficult things easy to understand. I think the greatest compliment I was ever paid about my preaching came from old George Hurt when he said to me, The thing I like about your preaching, Pastor, is that you never say anything I can't understand.   And if Eileen were still with us, she would readily confirm that wherever we went people would say the same. I am so grateful to God for that ability. I did not learn it. It was just the way he made me. But not just me. It's the true evidence of the ministry of every teacher, and I'm so grateful for those the Lord sent to work alongside me endowed with a similar gifting.   I have already mentioned Ernest and Joan Anderson who moved back into pastoral ministry in 1980 and John Carter who died at Mattersey in 1981 and their significant contribution to the life of the College. After their departure I was so pleased that Colin Warner, who had started with us as a visiting lecturer, accepted the invitation to come to us in a full-time capacity as our Director of Studies in 1980 and saddened by his decision to leave us in 1983.   Colin, who is now with the Lord, was a gifted man with great academic ability and did much in those early years to steer us towards a more academic curriculum. His decision to leave arose from a difference of opinion between us and I am aware that I could probably have handled things better. However, I'm glad to record that he went on to a fruitful ministry in the Coventry assembly and as a lecturer at Birmingham Bible Institute. A few years later we also worked happily together on the AoG Executive Council.   David and Beryl Allen joined us in September 1983 and faithfully served the College throughout my principalship, retiring in 2005, a year after me. Beryl taught the first-year English course and as College Librarian did a great job in turning what had previously been little more than a collection of books into a well organised and properly classified library. Towards the end of her time she was assisted by Anne Dyer, who caried on the great work after Beryl retired.   Dave, as he preferred to be called, had, like Beryl, formerly been a schoolteacher before entering the AoG ministry. He taught a variety of subjects including Church History, his knowledge of which never ceased to amaze me. He later became the College Dean, taking the responsibility for matters of discipline. Dave is now with the Lord, but I, along with many generations of Mattersey students, have every reason to be grateful for the massive contribution he and Beryl made to the success of the College.   Colin Hurt also joined us in 1983. Colin and Julia had been AoG missionaries in Malaysia and, on hearing him preach, I instantly recognised a man with an outstanding teaching ministry. Colin had no formal theological qualifications, but, for that matter, neither had I! Julia had received a word from the Lord that I was going to invite him to teach in the College, so when I asked to see him he happily accepted and the served the College full-time from 1983-85 and again, after a few years back on the mission field, from 1988-93. He taught a wide variety of subjects and was greatly appreciated by students and both he and Julia, who assisted Eileen on the domestic side, were great assets to the life of the College.   William and Anthea Kay joined us in 1984. Eileen and I already had a strong relationship with William and Anthea because of the years we spent together in Basingstoke. My only reluctance in inviting them to come to Mattersey was that I wasn't sure if the Board of Governors would approve. Three things might count against William. He was a personal friend, and the appointment might look like favouritism. He was not an AoG minister, and he had a PhD which might be seen as a negative rather than a positive because of the anti-academic attitude of some of our ministers at the time.    But the Lord encouraged me with a verse in Isaiah which lit up for me as I was praying about William: I have called him, I will bring him, and he will succeed in his mission. So I shared my concerns with the Board and was delighted to hear George Forrester, the chairman, say, Well brothers, I think that if David feels that we should appoint this brother, we should do so and the Board unanimously agreed.   Anthea ran the College's Correspondence Course Department for several years and William taught a variety of courses until his departure in 1994 to a post with the University of Wales. But his main contribution to the College was his firsthand knowledge of Higher Education, his personal encouragement to me to do an MTh and then a PhD, and his help in enabling us to get accreditation for our BA in Biblical Theology. He went on to help other Pentecostal colleges across Europe and beyond to gain similar accreditation and did indeed succeed in the mission to which God had called him.   The next member of faculty to join us full-time was Vernon Ralphs who served as Director of Studies from 1986 until his retirement in 2000. Along with those I have already mentioned, Vernon was a key player in helping the College upgrade its academic programme. He also had a clear prophetic edge prophesying in 1986 that within three years the Iron Curtain that divided Eastern Europe from the West would be removed, and it was of course in 1989 that the Berlin Wall was broken down.   Teaching staff who joined us full-time late on included Richard Davis, Glenn Balfour, Andrew Davies, Dave Garrard, and Robin Routledge.   Richard Davis replaced Brian Quar as Bursar but also taught some of our courses after he had completed our MA in Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies. He served the College from 1994 until some time after I retired.   Glenn Balfour and Andrew Davies were both former students who had taken our London BD course back in the eighties. They had gone on to acquire Master's degrees and eventually PhDs in Theology. They started to lecture part-time in 1994 and in 2000 took up permanent posts with us. They continued to serve well beyond my principalship, Glenn becoming Principal for a short period and Andrew a Professor at Birmingham University.   Dave and Ruth Garrard were Canadians who served as missionaries in Africa. They came to Mattersey in 1996, Ruth working with Eileen on the domestic side, and Dave, who had a PhD relating to Missions, bringing fresh insights on the subject and teaching a variety of other courses too. He was still teaching at Mattersey when I left.   And finally, at about the same time, Robin Routledge joined the faculty. A local Baptist minister with a charismatic experience and a PhD in Old Testament Studies, Robin was a highly valued member of our team and eventually became full-time during Paul Alexander's time as principal.   But of course the full-time faculty, important as they were, were by no means the only reason for the success of the College. Over the years there were many visiting lecturers, as well as various chaplains, secretaries, cook supervisors, kitchen and domestic staff, gardeners, and maintenance engineers. These all got a mention in my final report to Conference in April 2004 the text of which I will include in a later talk. For now, it is enough to say that I will always be profoundly grateful to all concerned for their contribution, however great or small. As I have often said, We could not have done it without you.  

A sinister house in Prague hides many dark secrets. Delta Green sends Marcus Abrams and several other agents through a secret path under the Iron Curtain. They find a lair filled with abominations and occult power. Can they find its secrets and survive its dangers?

Today, legendary singer, songwriter, and friend of Israel, Pat Boone, joins me to talk about Pat's life and work—and his role in helping launch The Fellowship onto the national stage.Join us as Pat discuss his important bond with my father, Fellowship Founder Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, of blessed memory—a friendship that dates back to the early 1990s. After the Iron Curtain fell, my abba approached Pat and asked him to co-host a program, appealing for Christians to help fund the freeing and transporting of Russian Jews to Israel. Pat didn't hesitate, and the Christian community immediately responded with an outpouring of donations and support. It's a partnership and friendship that has only grown over the years!Join me and Pat Boone as we discuss this lasting friendship and Pat's love for Israel and The Fellowship.

One of the world's leading executive coaches and an accredited business psychologist, Alex Lazarus has worked with CEOs and leaders around the world to navigate change and build high-performance cultures. And as the founder of Lazarus & Maverick, she and her team help leaders navigate complexity and deal with that unique sense of isolation that you get when you're sitting in the big chair at the head of the boardroom table. Her own background in leadership roles in global businesses like Virgin, Fox and Disney means she has that vital lived experience to connect with the leader that she's working with.I'm curious to understand more about the journey Alex has been on to build this perspective on leadership and life, and of course to explore the Unlock Moments that defined the choices she's made. This is going to be a masterclass in leadership – let's dive in! --The Unlock Moment podcast is brought to you by Dr Gary Crotaz, PhD. Downloaded in over 120 countries. Sign up to The Unlock Moment newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/ywhdaazp Find out more at https://garycrotaz.com and https://theunlockmoment.com

On this episode, director of Global Missions, Jim Ritchie, interviews Dr. Carla Sunberg, General Superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene, and Dr. Franklin Cook, former regional director of Eurasia for the Church of the Nazarene and founding editor of Holiness Today. Jim speaks with Dr. Sunberg and Dr. Cook about a book they recently co-authored, Pulling Back the Curtain on the Former Soviet Union (The Foundry Publishing). This book chronicles the experiences of missionaries in the former Soviet Union following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Iron Curtain. It details the challenges and efforts involved in establishing a ministry and sharing the gospel in this challenging world area.

In today's final visit to Dumfries House and the Boswell Book Festival we get out in nature as we forage for Free Food with Mo Wilde and find the Wilderness Cure, we go to Bird School with Adam Nicolson and we travel behind the former Iron Curtain with Charlie English and the CIA Book Club. Plus we'll find some new books in the RNIB Library.

Welcome to a new type of episode I'm calling Cold War Short Stories — a collection of stories from our listeners and social media followers. These are fascinating Cold War tales that may not fill a full episode, but are far too good to leave untold. So keep them coming! Your Cold War memories, or those of a loved one, are part of history. Share them with us! If you have a story to share, whether in text or audio form, you can send it to me at ian "at" coldwarconversations.com. In this first edition, we've got a brilliant mix: a memory from the Cuban Missile Crisis, a chance encounter with a Cold War legend, a 13-year-old's unexpected flight behind the Iron Curtain, some poignant family reflections from the Korean War, and a visitor's eerie timing as they arrived in Ukraine just as the Chernobyl disaster was unfolding. Links. Robin Stock's web site https://theextraordinarylivesofordinarypeople0.wordpress.com/cuba-rockets-and-me/ Russell Phillips web site https://russellphillips.uk/ Article about Russell's story  https://coldwarconversations.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Saga-June-2000.pdf Episode extras ⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/episode413⁠ 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

Never Shut Up #RTTBROS #Nightlight The Voice That Wouldn't Stay Silent "But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." Acts 4:19-20Richard Wurmbrand spent fourteen years in Romanian communist prisons for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Three of those years were in solitary confinement thirty feet underground. The communists tried everything to break him, torture, starvation, psychological warfare, but they couldn't stop him from speaking about his Savior.When they released him in 1964, you might think he would have quietly lived out his remaining years in peace. After all, he had already paid a tremendous price for his faith. But that's not what happened.Instead, Wurmbrand wrote "Tortured for Christ" and began traveling the world, telling everyone about the underground church behind the Iron Curtain. Here was a man who had every reason to be bitter, every excuse to give up on ministry, but instead he said something that has stuck with me: "The cruelest thing you can do to a Christian is to make him comfortable."Wurmbrand understood what Peter and John understood in our text. When you've experienced the life-changing power of Jesus Christ, when you've seen what God can do in the darkest circumstances, you simply cannot keep quiet about it. It becomes like fire shut up in your bones.Sometimes we American Christians get too comfortable. We worry about what people might think if we share our faith. We're afraid we might offend someone. But if we've truly experienced God's grace, if we've been rescued from sin and death, how can we not tell others?Wurmbrand suffered more for his faith than most of us ever will, but he never stopped speaking about Jesus because he understood that the gospel is too good to keep to ourselves.What's keeping you quiet today? We have the greatest news in the world to share. People are dying without hope, and we have the answer. We simply cannot keep quiet about what we've seen and heard.Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

In this deeply moving episode of Most Memorable Journeys, I speak with a remarkable woman whose life story reads like a journey from suppression to soulful awakening.Born and raised in Czechoslovakia, behind the borders of the Western world, her early years were shaped by the restrictions of life before the Velvet Revolution. But it was in the aftermath of political transformation that another, more personal revolution began—one of intuition, healing, and empowerment.✨ In this episode, we explore:• What life was like behind the Iron Curtain• How she discovered she was born intuitive and deeply empathetic• The synchronistic events that led her to manifest a life by the sea in Cyprus• Her journey through heartbreak, loss, and the healing power of inner work• Why emotional trauma lives in the body—and how it affects our health and relationships• How she now helps women heal through somatic therapy, quantum energy work, and NLPHer story is not just about healing—it's about remembering who you truly are and reclaiming your power after pain. Through the wisdom of her own experience, she now guides other women to live emotionally healthy, embodied, and fulfilled lives.

The story of the CIA, told from the inside out by veteran agent Eloise Page. Starring Kim Cattrall, Ed Harris and Johnny Flynn.As Egypt's Nasser seizes the Suez Canal, global powers scramble. The British want control back. The Soviets move in. And the CIA races to keep Egypt from slipping behind the Iron Curtain. In the shadow games of empire, Eloise Page watches the balance of power shift.Cast: Eloise Page..........Kim Cattrall Allen Dulles..........Ed Harris Richard Helms..........Johnny Flynn Frank Wisner..........Geoffrey Arend Young Eloise Page..........Elena Delia Richard Bissell..........Ian Porter Clover Dulles..........Laurel Lefkow James Jesus Angleton..........Philip Desmeules President Eisenhower..........Kerry Shale John Foster Dulles..........Nathan Osgood Addy Hawkins..........Carlyss Peer Prime Minister Eden..........Rufus Wright Elizabeth..........Laurel Lefkow Queen Frederika..........Marina KoemAll other parts played by the castOriginal music by Sacha PuttnamWritten by Greg Haddrick, who created the series with Jeremy Fox Sound Designers & Editors: John Scott Dryden, Adam Woodhams, Martha Littlehailes & Andreina Gomez Casanova Script Consultant: Misha Kawnel Script Supervisor: Alex Lynch Trails: Jack Soper Sonica Studio Sound Engineers: Paul Clark & Paul Clark Sonica Runner: Flynn Hallman Marc Graue Sound Engineers, LA: Juan Martin del Campo & Tony DiazDirector: John Scott Dryden Producer & Casting Director: Emma Hearn Executive Producers: Howard Stringer, Jeremy Fox, Greg Haddrick and John Scott DrydenA Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4

***PLEASE LISTEN TO THE END***In this special episode of the podcast we here a personal update from our guest today Ericka Verba on the ongoing establishment of Trumpist fascism in LA, his use of ICE and the climate of fear.Join us as we welcome Ericka Verba, Director and Professor of Latin American Studies at California State University, Los Angeles, to delve into her landmark biography Thanks to Life: A Biography of Violeta Parra. Drawing on decades of scholarship, personal encounters, and the cultural currents of the Cold War, Verba brings to light the life, art, and enduring legacy of Chile's most revolutionary folk icon.In this episode, we explore:A Life in Song and Vision How Parra's self-taught artistry—from her seminal “Gracias a la vida” to her pioneering visual exhibitions at the Louvre—reshaped Latin American culture and protest music.Roots of Radicalism Verba's own political awakening through early friendships with Chilean musicians, and how her firsthand experience performing Parra's repertoire informs her deep archival research.The Cultural Cold War The role of folk music in social movements on both sides of the Iron Curtain, and how Parra navigated—and challenged—the geopolitical battles of the 1950s and '60s.Gender, Class, and Creativity An examination of the gendered and classed dynamics that shaped Parra's career—and the broader struggles of women artists in twentieth-century Latin America.Unearthed Discoveries The grants, fieldwork, and archival excavations (from NEH to Fulbright to local cultural affairs) that helped Verba uncover new facets of Parra's story—including never-before-published letters and performance documents.Legacy and Influence How Parra's work inspired generations—from the Nueva Canción movement to contemporary artists like Mercedes Sosa and Joan Baez—and what her message of “life and gratitude” means today.Whether you're passionate about musical history, Latin American studies, or the intersections of art and politics, this conversation with Ericka Verba illuminates the remarkable life of a woman whose songs became the soundtrack of resistance. Tune in for a richly textured journey through archives, concert halls, and the heart of cultural revolution.*****STOP PRESS*****I only ever talk about history on this podcast but I also have another life, yes, that of aspirant fantasy author and if that's your thing you can get a copy of my debut novel The Blood of Tharta, right here:Help the podcast to continue bringing you history each weekIf you enjoy the Explaining History podcast and its many years of content and would like to help the show continue, please consider supporting it in the following ways:If you want to go ad-free, you can take out a membership hereOrYou can support the podcast via Patreon hereOr you can just say some nice things about it here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Samantha Smith, an 11 year-old from Maine, New England, left for the USSR on 7th July, 1983, as the personal guest of Soviet Premier Yuri Andropov. Her adventure began with a letter she wrote him, bluntly asking if he intended to start a war or conquer the United States. After the letter was published in Pravda, Andropov invited her to visit Russia, attending the Bolshoi Ballet, touring Lenin's Tomb, and staying at the Artek summer camp in Crimea. In this episode Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how Smith's journey to the land described as an "Evil Empire" by President Reagan captured the hearts of millions; recall the showbiz career awaiting her upon returning to the United States; and uncover the tributes paid to her after the plane crash that ended her life… Further Reading: • ‘The Surprising Story of the American Girl Who Broke Through the Iron Curtain' (Smithsonian Magazine, 2018): https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/surprising-story-american-girl-who-broke-through-iron-curtain-180969043/ • ‘11-year-old Samantha Smith leaves for visit to the USSR' (History, 2009): https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/samantha-smith-leaves-for-visit-to-the-ussr Love the show? Support us!  Join 

Elvira Bary is an author, researcher, and creator working at the intersection of storytelling, self-discovery, and political insight. She also runs an insightful YouTube channel on Russian politics, history, and culture, where she explores how Russia's history continues to shape the choices that the country makes today. Elvira writes historical fiction and dark fantasy rooted in Russian history and imagination, blending rich detail with unexpected twists, very much in accordance with Russian history itself, narrative that are being reshaped and challenged in the light of Putin's decision to invade Ukraine full-scale in 2022.----------LINKS:https://elvirabary.com/about-elvira/ https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabary https://x.com/elvirabary ----------DESCRIPTION:Exploring Russian History, Culture, and Contemporary Politics with Elvira BarryIn this episode, Jonathan interviews Vera Barry, an author, researcher, and creator who specializes in Russian history, culture, and politics. They discuss the intricacies of Russian historical fiction, the current socio-political climate in Russia, and the far-reaching implications of Putin's regime. Vera shares her personal experiences, including her career challenges following her anti-war stance, her battle with cancer, and her journey as an immigrant in the United States. The conversation also delves into the cultural isolation caused by the Iron Curtain, the psychology of Russian wartime narratives, and the lack of Western integration for Russian literary talent.----------CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction to Elvira Barry00:38 The Impact of Russian History on Modern Politics00:58 Support and Gratitude01:45 Elvira's Background and Motivations03:41 Challenges Faced by Russian Intellectuals05:20 The Emotional Toll of War08:13 The Struggle of Russian Dissidents09:32 Elvira's Journey to YouTube12:14 Exploring Russian History Through Fiction13:42 The Dark Legacy of Russian History17:21 The Russian Revolution and Its Aftermath17:41 Russian Immigrants in China20:50 The Rise of Totalitarianism in Russia24:48 Western Misunderstandings of Russian Intentions28:12 The Philosophical Divide Between Russia and the West31:22 The Legacy of Soviet Intellectual Property34:38 The Cultural Impact of Russian Literature37:35 Cultural Erasure and Fabricated Confidence38:24 A Father's Inventive Spirit41:46 Struggles and Sacrifices in Russia42:28 Conformity and Non-Conformity in Putin's Russia46:10 The War in Ukraine and Its Impact49:42 Life in Small Towns and Military Contracts53:16 Escaping Russia: A Hairdresser's Story57:22 The Psychology of Vatniks and Propaganda01:02:17 Fantasy Literature and Male Identity in Russia01:06:29 Challenges for Russian Authors in the West01:09:57 Promoting Russian Culture and Experience01:13:05 Conclusion and Future Topics----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Alan and Anoosh Bullock share how God defied the odds, tearing down walls to raise a ministry that would touch countless lives. (J2690)

Send us a textMarc and Claire Headley host a Friday evening Q&A session to answer viewer questions about Scientology while sharing insider experiences from their years in the Sea Organization.• Clearing up misconceptions about the state of "Clear" in Scientology and its marketing as a solution to life's problems• Revealing how Sea Org members were prevented from interacting with non-Scientologists in Clearwater• Explaining that Scientology has never "cleared" even a single city block despite decades of operation• Discussing L. Ron Hubbard's Mission Earth books and their inappropriate, explicit content• Analyzing how David Miscavige contradicts Hubbard's instructions while maintaining control• Estimating current Scientology membership at approximately 10,000 active members worldwide• Sharing respect for former members who speak out publicly about abuses• Breaking down why the "superhuman abilities" promised by OT levels fail to materializeJoin us next Sunday, June 8th, for a special episode. Support our channel through the merch store featuring Xenu-themed items, or pick up Marc's book "Blown for Good: Behind the Iron Curtain of Scientology."Support the showBFG Store - http://blownforgood-shop.fourthwall.com/Blown For Good on Audible - https://www.amazon.com/Blown-for-Good-Marc-Headley-audiobook/dp/B07GC6ZKGQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Blown For Good Website: http://blownforgood.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2131160 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2131160.rss YOUTUBE PLAYLISTS: Spy Files Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWtJfniWLwq4cA-e...

Day 1,219.Today, after what some are calling a ‘triumphant' NATO summit in the Hague, we assess the pledges made by President Donald Trump, and ask whether it was a historic achievement by Secretary General Mark Rutte. Then we do deeper dives into Ukraine's military and strategic innovations, and the threat posed by Russia on Europe's eastern flank, with dispatches from Lithuania and Latvia.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.David Blair (Chief Foreign Correspondent). @davidblairdt on X.Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.With thanks to Baiba Braže (Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs). @Braze_Baiba on X.Content Referenced:Why calling Trump Daddy got Nato what they wanted (David Blair in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06/25/how-nato-conquered-trump/Europe is building a new ‘Iron Curtain'– with millions of landmines (David Blair in The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06/24/lithuania-iron-curtain-landmines-europe/ An Interview With Andriy Zagorodnyuk (Professor Phillips O'Brian's Substack):https://open.substack.com/pub/phillipspobrien/p/an-interview-with-andriy-zagorodnyuk?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=webSIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/ Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.NOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In-Depth Analysis of Western Policy Towards Ukraine and Russia | John ForemanJohn Foreman, former UK defense attache to the Russian Federation and now an independent consultant specializing in Russia, Ukraine, and international security, joins the channel to discuss Western policies towards the Ukraine crisis and the broader implications for international security. The episode delves into the strategic goals and limitations of both the US and European approaches, the role of NATO, and the importance of military innovation and industrial collaboration. The conversation also explores the impact of Trump's and Biden's policies on the conflict, the necessity of increased European defense spending, and the challenges and potential strategies for Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia. Thank you to all our supporters for making these discussions possible. Stay tuned for upcoming events in Lviv, Kyiv, and Odesa.----------CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction to John Foreman and His Expertise00:50 Acknowledging Support and Upcoming Events01:55 Current Western Policy on Ukraine03:53 Trump vs. Biden: Differences in Approach06:59 Challenges in American and European Policies11:51 NATO's Role and European Defense18:32 UK Defense Review and Strategic Shifts38:21 Concluding Thoughts on Defense and Innovation----------As the UK Defence Attache to the Russian Federation from 2019 to 2022, John Foreman advised senior UK officials and ministers on Russian military and security affairs and represented the UK Chief of Defence Staff to the Russian General Staff. He had a front-row seat for the tense meetings and negotiations that immediately preceded Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. John Foreman is an independent consultant specialising in Russia, Ukraine, and international security, with over 20 years of diplomatic, operational, and corporate experience in the defence and security sector. He facilitated the largest UK ministerial/defence visit to Moscow since 1944, negotiated a bilateral treaty to reduce operational risk, and informed UK Russia policy and strategy. Currently, he is a visiting lecturer to King's College London, a mentor to future UK defence attaches and advisors. ----------LINKS: https://twitter.com/exexpat19https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-l-foreman/https://www.spectator.co.uk/writer/john-foreman/https://www.ambassadorllp.com/who-we-are/john-foreman----------ARTICLES:https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2023/03/05/britains-most-recent-defence-attache-in-moscow-on-the-failings-of-valery-gerasimov----------LINKS: https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/06/24/could-trump-get-a-nobel-peace-prize-heres-what-we-know-as-allies-champion-israel-iran-efforts/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/trump-nobel-peace-prize-withdrawal-ukraine-ceasfire-b2776295.htmlhttps://www.news.com.au/world/middle-east/blood-on-his-hands-pakistan-turn-on-donald-trump-over-nobel-peace-prize-furore/news-story/d5ce83dddb5c45c732e766f733903fbd----------Car for Ukraine has once again joined forces with a group of influencers, creators, and news observers during this summer. Sunshine here serves as a metaphor, the trucks are a sunshine for our warriors to bring them to where they need to be and out from the place they don't.https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/summer-sunshine-silicon-curtainThis time, we focus on the 6th Detachment of HUR, 93rd Alcatraz, 3rd Brigade, MLRS systems and more. https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/summer-sunshine-silicon-curtain- bring soldiers to the positions- protect them with armor- deploy troops with drones to the positions----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

With the world on the brink of another war, there's no one more essential to hear from than Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author of Gulag, Iron Curtain, Red Famine (which cites Andrea's grandfather, a Holodomor survivor), Twilight of Democracy, and Autocracy Inc. In this urgent conversation, we go to the frontlines of authoritarianism, from MAGA's playbook at home to Putin's alliances abroad, from Orban's Hungary to the rising threat of war with Iran. We begin in Poland. In 2023, a broad democratic coalition ousted the far-right, anti-LGBTQ+ Law and Justice party, which had spent years eroding democratic institutions. But in a razor-thin presidential race this year, that same authoritarian force clawed its way back. The takeaway? Democracy isn't a destination. It's a constant, high-stakes battle. “Everybody always wants to write the story of populism and say that it's over, or it's here for good, or we're finished, or we've won. And that's not what the story is going to look like,” says Applebaum. “This is the ongoing struggle that all of us will be in, probably for the next few decades, maybe into the foreseeable future. The argument about the nature of the state is now here with us. And neither one side nor the other has achieved a definitive victory, I would say, either in Europe or in the United States.” Then, Iran. Trump launched airstrikes without congressional approval or public debate, risking another U.S. war. Many in the Iranian opposition welcome blows to the brutal regime, but without strategy or legality, this is more of Trump's lawless chaos. Meanwhile, Putin watches. His alliance with Iran is not ideological, but tactical, with one shared mission: destabilize democracies and sow chaos worldwide. Applebaum discusses how Hungary became the MAGA model, what Poland's resistance can teach the U.S., and why the fight for democracy is far from over. This isn't a time for hope alone. It's a time to act. Because autocracy isn't resting. And neither can we. Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit! EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION: NEW! We now have a Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other, join on Patreon.  NEW! We now have a Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other, join on Patreon.  June 30 4pm ET – America has been here before. Book club discussion of Lillian Faderman's The Gay Revolution: The Story of the Struggle NEW! Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect, join on Patreon.  Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join, join on Patreon.  Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group, join on Patreon.  Have you taken Gaslit Nation's HyperNormalization Survey Yet? Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and the first ~40 minutes are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit for our community

On 11 September 1951, the 9.55am train from Prague to Aš, in Communist Czechoslovakia was hijacked and driven to freedom in West Germany. One hundred and eleven people were on board and 34 of them never returned, starting new lives on the other side of the Iron Curtain.The remaining 77 returned to Czechoslovakia to face state security, the Státní bezpečnost, and many were jailed.Rachel Naylor uses an archive interview with Karel Ruml, one of the hijackers, who went on to move to the United States.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic' and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy's Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they've had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America's occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.(Photo: A steam train in Czechoslovakia in 1960. Credit: Alamy)

Send us a textMarc Headley unveils the grueling daily schedule of Scientology's Sea Organization members, from early morning musters to midnight cleaning sessions, and everything in between.• Sea Org members work approximately 100-120 hours weekly for about $50 ($45 after taxes)• Basic schedule runs from 9am to midnight daily, with additional all-nighters expected at least once weekly• Members perform "Chinese School" at musters, reciting Scientology definitions and policies in unison• Saturday "renovations" require all members to perform construction, maintenance, or landscaping regardless of their regular position• Food budget for Sea Org members is approximately $1 per person per day• Sea Org members receive less compensation and time off than prison inmates or factory workers in developing countries• Members develop creative strategies to catch sleep, including hiding in auditing rooms where disturbance is prohibited• David Miscavige's inspections create "chaos machines" resulting in additional work, reassignments, or punishmentsIf you want to learn more about life in Scientology's Sea Organization, check out Marc's book "Blown for Good: Behind the Iron Curtain of Scientology" available in hardback, Kindle, and Audible.Support the showBFG Store - http://blownforgood-shop.fourthwall.com/Blown For Good on Audible - https://www.amazon.com/Blown-for-Good-Marc-Headley-audiobook/dp/B07GC6ZKGQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Blown For Good Website: http://blownforgood.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2131160 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2131160.rss YOUTUBE PLAYLISTS: Spy Files Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWtJfniWLwq4cA-e...

“Women are still judged by a different metric than men”Amol Rajan speaks to Martina Navratilova, one of the greatest-ever tennis players, about her life and career. The story of her rise to the top of the game is as remarkable as the number of tournaments she managed to win.Born behind the Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia in 1956, she was 11-years-old when she watched Soviet tanks roll in to the country as Moscow sought to reassert control and quash political reform.Navratilova, who played in her first tennis tournament when she was eight, rose to both national and international prominence in the years that followed.But in 1975, following the Czech government's efforts to control her tennis career, she defected. Aged 18, Navratilova sought asylum in the United States, where she later became an American citizen.During the late 1970s and 1980s she dominated the international tennis circuit, and by the time she retired, she'd won 59 major singles and doubles titles.But throughout her life, Navratilova has generated headlines on the front pages of newspapers, as well as the back.She came out as being gay in 1981, a rare thing for high-profile athletes to do at the time, and quickly became a prominent figure in the gay rights movement. More recently, however, she's found herself at odds with some groups due to her views on transgender athletes.She's also battled cancer on two separate occasions.Thank you to the Amol Rajan Interviews team for their help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.Presenter: Amol Rajan Producers: Ben Cooper, Joel Mapp Sound: Dave O'Neill Editor: Nick HollandGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Martina Navratilova. Credit: Roy Rochlin/Getty)

The Diplomacy of Détente: Cooperative Security Policies from Helmut Schmidt to George Shultz (Routledge, 2020) investigates the underlying reasons for the longevity of détente and its impact on East–West relations. The volume examines the relevance of trade across the Iron Curtain as a means to facilitate mutual trust, as well as the emergence of new habits of transparency regardless of recurring military crises. A major theme of the book concerns Helmut Schmidt's foreign policy and his contribution to the resilience of cooperative security policies in East–West relations. It examines Schmidt's crucial role in the Euromissile crisis, his Ostpolitik diplomacy and his pan-European trade initiatives to engage the Soviet Union in a joint perspective of trade, industry and technology. Another key theme concerns the crisis in US–Soviet relations and the challenges of meaningful leadership communication between Washington and Moscow in the absence of backchannel diplomacy during the Carter years. The book depicts the freeze in US–Soviet relations after the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan, the declaration of martial law in Poland, and Helmut Schmidt's efforts to serve as a mediator and interpreter working for a relaunch of US–Soviet dialogue. Eventually, the book highlights George Shultz's pivotal role in the Reagan Administration's efforts to improve US-Soviet relations, well before Mikhail Gorbachev's arrival. This book will be of interest to students of Cold War studies, diplomatic history, foreign policy and international relations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The Diplomacy of Détente: Cooperative Security Policies from Helmut Schmidt to George Shultz (Routledge, 2020) investigates the underlying reasons for the longevity of détente and its impact on East–West relations. The volume examines the relevance of trade across the Iron Curtain as a means to facilitate mutual trust, as well as the emergence of new habits of transparency regardless of recurring military crises. A major theme of the book concerns Helmut Schmidt's foreign policy and his contribution to the resilience of cooperative security policies in East–West relations. It examines Schmidt's crucial role in the Euromissile crisis, his Ostpolitik diplomacy and his pan-European trade initiatives to engage the Soviet Union in a joint perspective of trade, industry and technology. Another key theme concerns the crisis in US–Soviet relations and the challenges of meaningful leadership communication between Washington and Moscow in the absence of backchannel diplomacy during the Carter years. The book depicts the freeze in US–Soviet relations after the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan, the declaration of martial law in Poland, and Helmut Schmidt's efforts to serve as a mediator and interpreter working for a relaunch of US–Soviet dialogue. Eventually, the book highlights George Shultz's pivotal role in the Reagan Administration's efforts to improve US-Soviet relations, well before Mikhail Gorbachev's arrival. This book will be of interest to students of Cold War studies, diplomatic history, foreign policy and international relations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs

The Diplomacy of Détente: Cooperative Security Policies from Helmut Schmidt to George Shultz (Routledge, 2020) investigates the underlying reasons for the longevity of détente and its impact on East–West relations. The volume examines the relevance of trade across the Iron Curtain as a means to facilitate mutual trust, as well as the emergence of new habits of transparency regardless of recurring military crises. A major theme of the book concerns Helmut Schmidt's foreign policy and his contribution to the resilience of cooperative security policies in East–West relations. It examines Schmidt's crucial role in the Euromissile crisis, his Ostpolitik diplomacy and his pan-European trade initiatives to engage the Soviet Union in a joint perspective of trade, industry and technology. Another key theme concerns the crisis in US–Soviet relations and the challenges of meaningful leadership communication between Washington and Moscow in the absence of backchannel diplomacy during the Carter years. The book depicts the freeze in US–Soviet relations after the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan, the declaration of martial law in Poland, and Helmut Schmidt's efforts to serve as a mediator and interpreter working for a relaunch of US–Soviet dialogue. Eventually, the book highlights George Shultz's pivotal role in the Reagan Administration's efforts to improve US-Soviet relations, well before Mikhail Gorbachev's arrival. This book will be of interest to students of Cold War studies, diplomatic history, foreign policy and international relations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

Katja Hesse, daughter of Vice Admiral Gustav Hesse of the East German Navy, shares her deeply personal story of growing up behind the Iron Curtain. In this fascinating conversation, Katja provides rare insights into life in the GDR as the child of a high-ranking officer— from an idyllic childhood in privileged housing to working at the Grand Hotel Berlin. She recounts her father's harrowing World War 2 escape from the Sudetenland, her experiences of political indoctrination in school and life within a family loyal to the East German government. Katja also describes her work at guest houses for East Germany's elite , where she served dignitaries including Erich Honecker and Egon Krenz. This is a moving and revealing glimpse into a unique Cold War upbringing— and into the personal costs of German reunification for families like Katja's. Buy Katja's book here https://www.engelsdorfer-verlag.de/Belletristik/Romanhafte-Biografien/Ostprinzessinnen-tragen-keine-Krone::7605.html Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode407/⁠ 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

A native of Quebec, Canada, Pete Charette tells his story of becoming the Drug Enforcement Administration's go-to French speaking agent, traveling across the globe for DEA undercover operations. In this episode, Pete, often known as “Frenchy,” unfolds how he posed as a Corsican mobster and infiltrated the international narcotics trafficking network now known as “the French Connection.” About Pete Charette: Pierre "Pete" Charette's adventures spanned a heart-pounding 33 years as a police officer, undercover detective and DEA Special Agent throughout the United States and around the world. His investigative ability and imagination in numerous undercover roles took him from the United States into the French criminal underworld, the Iron Curtain and across the planet to untangle some of the world's largest criminal organizations. Risking his life on numerous occasions, he was instrumental in the takedown of Harold Rosenthal, head of the largest cocaine conspiracy organization in the United States. Throughout his career, he received numerous awards for his bravery and accomplishments in the war on drugs against the United States. Buy Pete Charette's books "One Hell of a Ride." Produced by The Mob Museum. To watch episodes of this podcast, visit YouTube For behind-the-scenes photos, merchandise and exclusive content, visit insidethelife.org For more on the Museum visit themobmuseum.org This program is presented by The Mob Museum and includes views and opinions of independent panelists and/or interviewees that do not necessarily reflect or represent the stance of The Mob Museum. Factual statements made by panelists/interviewees have also not been vetted by the Museum, and the Museum does not assert that such statements are truthful. All statements should be understood as the individual's perspective rather than a view expressed by The Mob Museum. This program has been made available by The Mob Museum for the private, non-commercial use of its audience. Such private use is intended for informational and educational purposes only. This program is subject to copyright protection, and those seeking to utilize the program or portions thereof, for anything other than private use should contact The Mob Museum at PR@themobmuseum.org.

When was Checkpoint Charlie created in Berlin? What triggered Stalin to enact a blockade on West Berlin? And how did the Western powers airlift over 2.3 million tons of supplies to their occupied zone of the city from 1948 to 1949? William and Anita are joined once again by Giles Milton, author of Checkmate in Berlin: The Cold War Showdown That Shaped the Modern World, to discuss the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, and the way in which the Iron Curtain hardened towards the end of the 1940s. ----------------- Empire Club: Become a member of the Empire Club to receive early access to miniseries, ad-free listening, early access to live show tickets, bonus episodes, book discounts, our exclusive newsletter, and access to our members' chatroom on Discord! Head to empirepoduk.com to sign up. For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com.  ----------------- Email: empire@goalhanger.com Instagram: @empirepoduk  Blue Sky: @empirepoduk  X: @empirepoduk Assistant Producer: Becki Hills Producer: Anouska Lewis Senior Producer: Callum Hill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stuart Maconie – broadcaster, prolific author – has a brilliant and original new perspective on the Beatles. His latest book With A Little Help From Their Friends identifies the 100 people who had the greatest impact on their story, from the inner circle to bit-part players – schoolfriends, girlfriends, managers, muses, support acts, advisors and exploiters. It's immensely entertaining – and revealing, even for obsessives like us. Look out for these in particular … … memories of his Mum taking him to see the Beatles in Wigan when he was three. … the Shakespearian supporting cast – “we know the Othellos and King Lears but there are a lot of Rosencrantz and Guildensterns” such as Marsha Albert, Melanie Coe, Pablo Fanque, Mr Mustard and the night with the poet Royston Ellis that inspired Polythene Pam. … villains of the piece who might have been misunderstood like the Maharishi and Allen Klein. … what Derek Taylor shouted at Peter Blake at the Q Awards. … the full extent of the Beatles' American merchandise catastrophe. … the “moving and spooky” sensation of standing on the spot in Woolton where John and Paul first met - and its repercussions. … the Sliding Doors moments and why no other band merits this kind of depth and detail. … the hoary redundant old saw about John v Paul – “guerilla genius v slick vaudevillian” and how Peter Jackson's Get Back made us all fall in love with them even harder and deeper than before..… the regrettable question he asked McCartney about Gerry & the Pacemakers. … the tragedy of Jimmie Nicol – “being a member of the Beatles, even briefly, was the nearest equivalent to going to the Moon”. … the impact of Paul's life with the Ashers on the band's intersections with art, theatre and poetry. … how the ‘Oldies But Goldies' album broke the band beyond the Iron Curtain. .. why Penny Lane is like a Play for Today. … and the greatest song the Beatles recorded. Order With A Little Help From Our Friends here: https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/with-a-little-help-from-their-friends-the-beatles-changed-the-world-but-who-changed-theirs-stuart-maconie?variant=54870051815803Find out more about how to help us to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Frank Gaffney is President of the Institute for the American Future, President and CEO of Save the Persecuted Christians, and host of “Securing America” on the Real America's Voice network. Gaffney formerly acted as an Assistant Secretary of Defense in the Reagan Pentagon. An Expanding Iron Curtain in Asia?

Episode 4531: Psyop In Korea; CCP Building The New Iron Curtain Over Asia

CLOSE OF THE COLD WAR:     1/4: The Picnic:A Dream of Freedom and the Collapse of the Iron Curtain by  Matthew Longo  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Picnic-Dream-Freedom-Collapse-Curtain/dp/0393540774/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= In August 1989, a group of Hungarian activists organized a picnic on the border of Hungary and Austria. But this was not an ordinary picnic―it was located on the dangerous militarized frontier known as the Iron Curtain. Tacit permission from the highest state authorities could be revoked at any moment. On wisps of rumor, thousands of East German “vacationers” packed Hungarian campgrounds, awaiting an opportunity, fearing prison, surveilled by lurking Stasi agents. The Pan-European Picnic set the stage for the greatest border breach in Cold War history: hundreds crossed from the Communist East to the longed-for freedom of the West. Drawing on dozens of original interviews―including Hungarian activists and border guards, East German refugees, Stasi secret police, and the last Communist prime minister of Hungary―Matthew Longo tells a gripping and revelatory tale of the unraveling of the Iron Curtain and the birth of a new world order. Just a few months after the Picnic, the Berlin Wall fell, and the freedom for which the activists and refugees had abandoned their homes, risked imprisonment, sacrificed jobs, family, and friends, was suddenly available to everyone. But were they really free? And why, three decades since the Iron Curtain was torn down, have so many sought once again to build walls? Cinematically told, The Picnic recovers a time when it seemed possible for the world to change. With insight and panache, Longo explores the opportunities taken―and the opportunities we failed to take―in that pivotal moment. 1956 BUDAPEST

CLOSE OF THE COLD WAR:     2/4: The Picnic:A Dream of Freedom and the Collapse of the Iron Curtain by  Matthew Longo  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Picnic-Dream-Freedom-Collapse-Curtain/dp/0393540774/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= In August 1989, a group of Hungarian activists organized a picnic on the border of Hungary and Austria. But this was not an ordinary picnic―it was located on the dangerous militarized frontier known as the Iron Curtain. Tacit permission from the highest state authorities could be revoked at any moment. On wisps of rumor, thousands of East German “vacationers” packed Hungarian campgrounds, awaiting an opportunity, fearing prison, surveilled by lurking Stasi agents. The Pan-European Picnic set the stage for the greatest border breach in Cold War history: hundreds crossed from the Communist East to the longed-for freedom of the West. Drawing on dozens of original interviews―including Hungarian activists and border guards, East German refugees, Stasi secret police, and the last Communist prime minister of Hungary―Matthew Longo tells a gripping and revelatory tale of the unraveling of the Iron Curtain and the birth of a new world order. Just a few months after the Picnic, the Berlin Wall fell, and the freedom for which the activists and refugees had abandoned their homes, risked imprisonment, sacrificed jobs, family, and friends, was suddenly available to everyone. But were they really free? And why, three decades since the Iron Curtain was torn down, have so many sought once again to build walls? Cinematically told, The Picnic recovers a time when it seemed possible for the world to change. With insight and panache, Longo explores the opportunities taken―and the opportunities we failed to take―in that pivotal moment. 1837 BUCHAREST

CLOSE OF THE COLD WAR:     3/4: The Picnic:A Dream of Freedom and the Collapse of the Iron Curtain by  Matthew Longo  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Picnic-Dream-Freedom-Collapse-Curtain/dp/0393540774/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= In August 1989, a group of Hungarian activists organized a picnic on the border of Hungary and Austria. But this was not an ordinary picnic―it was located on the dangerous militarized frontier known as the Iron Curtain. Tacit permission from the highest state authorities could be revoked at any moment. On wisps of rumor, thousands of East German “vacationers” packed Hungarian campgrounds, awaiting an opportunity, fearing prison, surveilled by lurking Stasi agents. The Pan-European Picnic set the stage for the greatest border breach in Cold War history: hundreds crossed from the Communist East to the longed-for freedom of the West. Drawing on dozens of original interviews―including Hungarian activists and border guards, East German refugees, Stasi secret police, and the last Communist prime minister of Hungary―Matthew Longo tells a gripping and revelatory tale of the unraveling of the Iron Curtain and the birth of a new world order. Just a few months after the Picnic, the Berlin Wall fell, and the freedom for which the activists and refugees had abandoned their homes, risked imprisonment, sacrificed jobs, family, and friends, was suddenly available to everyone. But were they really free? And why, three decades since the Iron Curtain was torn down, have so many sought once again to build walls? Cinematically told, The Picnic recovers a time when it seemed possible for the world to change. With insight and panache, Longo explores the opportunities taken―and the opportunities we failed to take―in that pivotal moment. 1994 ROMANIA

CLOSE OF THE COLD WAR:     4/4: The Picnic:A Dream of Freedom and the Collapse of the Iron Curtain by  Matthew Longo  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Picnic-Dream-Freedom-Collapse-Curtain/dp/0393540774/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= In August 1989, a group of Hungarian activists organized a picnic on the border of Hungary and Austria. But this was not an ordinary picnic―it was located on the dangerous militarized frontier known as the Iron Curtain. Tacit permission from the highest state authorities could be revoked at any moment. On wisps of rumor, thousands of East German “vacationers” packed Hungarian campgrounds, awaiting an opportunity, fearing prison, surveilled by lurking Stasi agents. The Pan-European Picnic set the stage for the greatest border breach in Cold War history: hundreds crossed from the Communist East to the longed-for freedom of the West. Drawing on dozens of original interviews―including Hungarian activists and border guards, East German refugees, Stasi secret police, and the last Communist prime minister of Hungary―Matthew Longo tells a gripping and revelatory tale of the unraveling of the Iron Curtain and the birth of a new world order. Just a few months after the Picnic, the Berlin Wall fell, and the freedom for which the activists and refugees had abandoned their homes, risked imprisonment, sacrificed jobs, family, and friends, was suddenly available to everyone. But were they really free? And why, three decades since the Iron Curtain was torn down, have so many sought once again to build walls? Cinematically told, The Picnic recovers a time when it seemed possible for the world to change. With insight and panache, Longo explores the opportunities taken―and the opportunities we failed to take―in that pivotal moment. 1967 BERLIN

Basketball, the Cold War, and rock band The Grateful Dead collide in this incredible true story. Presented by the late NBA star Bill Walton. Episodes weekly from 19 May. What do basketball, rock music, and tie-dye t-shirts have in common? And what about Mickey Hart, Sarunas Marciulionis, Arvydas Sabonis, and the US Dream Team? Well, they are all subject of the brand new season of Amazing Sport Stories: Bill Walton's The Grateful Team. It's Moscow, 1989, and Lithuanian basketball star Sarunas Marciulionis is walking nervously through the airport. If all goes to plan, a new life awaits playing basketball for the NBA in the US. But first, he must cross the Iron Curtain. Sarunas doesn't yet know the incredible journey he is about to go on. One which will involve political upheaval, the Olympic games, the US rock band The Grateful Dead - and, of course, tie-dye. The late NBA star and sports commentator Bill Walton presents this extraordinary true story. Bill passed away in 2024, not long after recording the series, and his family have given permission for its release following his death. Amazing Sport Stories brings you the greatest twists and personal journeys from sport history. Listen for inspiring tales of courage, drama, myths and legends from all over the globe. All told in mini seasons and one-off documentary episodes. #AmazingSportStories

ORIGINALLY RELEASED Jun 18, 2021 Kristen R. Ghodsee returns to the show, this time to discuss the life, work, and legacy of the famous Marxist Feminist Alexandra Kollontai. We discuss her life, her radicalization, her relationship with other famous revolutionaries, her role in the October Revolution, her enduring contributions to feminism, Marxism, and proletarian history, and much, much more.  Check out Kristen's work here: https://kristenghodsee.com/ Check out AK-47, Kristen's podcast dedicated to Kollontai here: https://kristenghodsee.com/podcast Here are all the previous episodes of RLR that Kristen has been a guest on: Red Hangover: https://revolutionaryleftradio.libsyn.com/red-hangover-legacies-of-20th-century-communism-w-dr-kristen-r-ghodsee International Women's Day: https://revolutionaryleftradio.libsyn.com/womens-day Women Behind the Iron Curtain: https://revolutionaryleftradio.libsyn.com/women-under-socialism ---------------------------------------------------- Support Rev Left and get access to bonus episodes: www.patreon.com/revleftradio Make a one-time donation to Rev Left at BuyMeACoffee.com/revleftradio Follow, Subscribe, & Learn more about Rev Left Radio HERE  

The Tech Bros., like Elon Musk and JD Vance puppetmaster Peter Thiel, see Trump as a means to an end: to build their own tech-state fiefdoms as they usher in the A.I. age, at the expense of us peasants. But can this unholy alliance survive Trump's disastrous trade war? And why do they fetishize hating Ukraine?  This week's special guest, Adrian Karatnycky, has been on the frontlines fighting for democracy both at home and abroad. In his critically acclaimed book Battleground Ukraine, Adrian traces Ukraine's struggle for independence from the fall of the Soviet Union to Russia's genocidal invasion today, drawing important lessons for protecting democracies worldwide. He has worked alongside civil rights legend Bayard Rustin and the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in America. He also supported Poland's Solidarity movement, which helped bring down the Iron Curtain, and played a key role, along with iconic Soviet dissident, writer, and Czech statesman Václav Havel, in preserving Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in the 1990s, when many thought the Cold War had ended.  In part two, we discuss the PayPal Mafia's war on Ukraine as part of a broader global assault on "wokeism" (a.k.a. Empathy and democracy), Adrian's impressions of meeting Curtis Yarvin, and how the war in Ukraine can ultimately end. For part one of their discussion, available in the show notes, Andrea and Adrian explore how Europe and the free world can survive the chaos of Trump's America First isolationism and Russia's weaponized corruption and election interference.  Thank you to everyone who joined the Gaslit Nation Salon live-taping with Patrick Guarasci and Sam Roecker, senior campaign advisors for Judge Susan Crawford, discussing their victory against Elon Musk in the pivotal Wisconsin Supreme Court race. The recording will be available as this week's bonus show.  Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation–we could not make the show without you!  Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit!   Show Notes: Battleground Ukraine: From Independence to the War with Russia by Adrian Karatnycky https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300269468/battleground-ukraine/ Part I of Our Discussion: Can the Free World Survive Putin and Trump? https://sites.libsyn.com/124622/can-the-free-world-survive-trump-and-putin   EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION: April 28 4pm ET – Book club discussion of Octavia Butler's The Parable of the Sower   Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join, available on Patreon. Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group, available on Patreon. Have you taken Gaslit Nation's HyperNormalization Survey Yet? Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and the first ~40 minutes are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit for our community   

In a powerful callout, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slammed Congress and the White House over insider trading. Elected officials shouldn't hold stocks—period. While Martha Stewart went to prison for it, members of Congress routinely outperform the market, raising red flags of insider trading. Donald Trump, for example, told people to buy stocks just before pausing tariffs, triggering a historic $304 billion windfall for billionaires, according to Bloomberg. How many people did Trump tell in private before hitting send on that social media post? Because that would be insider trading.  Corruption flows freely in America—like cheap wine at Mar-a-Lago. Now, MAGA Republicans are pushing the SAVE Act, requiring proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. It's voter suppression dressed up as security. Noncitizen voting is extremely rare, but this bill could disenfranchise millions—including women who changed their names for marriage and trans Americans. It's essentially a poll tax, nationalizing Jim Crow. Democrats could stop it in the Senate—unless a handful cave. Four House Democrats already backed it. If passed, this could become the next Citizens United, further empowering oligarchs like Elon Musk and paving Trump's path to authoritarian rule. What can you do? Show up. Protest. Call your senators, especially those who caved on the budget battle. Demand accountability. And yes, let's talk about AOC primarying Chuck Schumer or Kirsten Gillibrand—New York, an the nation, deserves better. For more on how to fight back, check the Gaslit Nation Action Guide at GaslitNationPod.com. Join us Monday, April 14, for a salon on defeating oligarchy, with special guests–Patrick Guarasci and Sam Roecker, senior advisors to Judge Susan Crawford's victorious Wisconsin Supreme Court campaign. Together, we're sand in their gears. In this week's bonus show, Gaslit Nation's special guest Adrian Karatnycky takes the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A. Adrian has been on the frontlines fighting for democracy both at home and abroad. In his critically acclaimed book Battleground Ukraine, he traces Ukraine's struggle for independence from the fall of the Soviet Union to Russia's genocidal invasion today, drawing important lessons for protecting democracies worldwide. He has worked alongside civil rights legend Bayard Rustin and the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in America. He also supported Poland's Solidarity movement, which helped bring down the Iron Curtain, and played a key role, along with iconic Soviet dissident, writer, and Czech statesman Václav Havel, in preserving Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in the 1990s, when many thought the Cold War had ended.  Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit! EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION: April 14 4pm ET – Live-taping with Patrick Guarasci, chief political strategist for Judge Susan Crawford, discussing their campaign's victory against Elon Musk in the pivotal Wisconsin Supreme Court race! April 28 4pm ET – Book club discussion of Octavia Butler's The Parable of the Sower   Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join, available on Patreon. Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group, available on Patreon. Have you taken Gaslit Nation's HyperNormalization Survey Yet? Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and the first ~40 minutes are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit for our community  Show Notes:  Here Are the Senate Democrats Who Helped Republicans Avert a Shutdown https://time.com/7268499/senate-democrats-budget-vote/ Will They Help MAGA Pass the SAVE Act? Here's How to Contact Them: https://www.congressionalinstitute.org/contact-congress/ Four Democrats Pass Bill Making It Harder for Married Women to Vote The House of Representatives—with the help of four Democrats—just passed a bill that could disenfranchise millions. https://newrepublic.com/post/193868/democrats-save-act-bill-harder-married-women-vote The SAVE Act threatens to block millions of Americans from voting while also imposing significant burdens on state and local election officials. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/dangers-congresss-latest-election-bill 3.5 Million Votes Canceled in 2024 Election: https://gaslitnation.libsyn.com/will-we-have-free-and-fair-elections-in-the-midterms U.N. expert decries near 'tyranny' in U.S. against minority voting rights https://www.reuters.com/world/us/un-expert-decries-gerrymandering-parts-us-that-denies-minority-voting-rights-2021-11-22/ Report of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Fernand de Varennes, on his visit to the United States of America https://www.splcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/files/report-un-special-rapporteur-minority-issues-march-2022.pdf Attack on Civil Rights: SPLC contributes to UN special report on state of minorities in the US https://www.splcenter.org/resources/stories/attack-civil-rights-splc-contributes-un-special-report-state-minorities-us/ Members of Congress again outperformed the stock market, report shows https://finance.yahoo.com/news/members-congress-again-outperformed-stock-162050482.html Andrew Ross Sorkin Suggests Government Officials May Have Sold Stocks Ahead of Trump Tariffs: ‘Would Not Shock Me' https://www.mediaite.com/tv/andrew-ross-sorkin-suggests-government-officials-may-have-sold-stocks-ahead-of-trump-tariffs-would-not-shock-me/ Ocasio-Cortez: Colleagues ‘should probably disclose' recent stock purchases now https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5242235-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-congress-stock-donald-trump-tariffs/ The Power of the Powerless by Vaclav Havel October, 1978 https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/wp-content/uploads/1979/01/the-power-of-the-powerless.pdf