Episode Archives

Cold War Series: Admiral Gorshkov

Wrapping up his Cold War Series, Mark returns to his interview with Admiral Thomas Brooks about his co-written book, Admiral Gorshkov: The Man Who Challenged the U.S. Navy.  They discuss the man who led the Soviet Union Navy for 30 years. He survived Stalin’s purges, fought the Nazis in World War II and engaged the American…

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Historical Events in January

Often we think that historically, not much has happened in the middle of winter. However, that’s far from the truth. From Charlemagne to Henry VIII, Secession in the Civil War to the Soviets battling the Finns in the snow during WWII, there has been a lot of historical heat generated in January over the centuries….

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Cold War Series: Cold War In The Middle East

Continuing his Cold War Series, Mark revisits his conversation with Dr. Kate Tietzen about the turmoil in the Middle East during the difficult years following WWII to the final days of the USSR. Cold War studies often focus on events in Europe. However, the Cold War quietly and sometimes loudly raged in the Middle East….

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Cold War Series: Europe With Dr. Steve Bourque

In continuing the Cold War Series, Steve Bourque joins Mark to discuss his experiences in the U.S. Army during those years. We get the perspectives of a young enlisted man stationed in western Europe during the Cold War. We also get to look at the situation from another vantage point—when he returned later as an…

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Christmas in Wartime – Part II

In Part II of the Christmas in Wartime podcast, Mark reviews some of the happenings that American and Allied soldiers experienced during WWII. There are a few items from the home front and some from where the fighting occurred, as well as a few segments from POWs. First, a mention that I forgot to include…

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Christmas in Wartime – Part I

War brings few joyous moments. Over the years, Christmas time has provided a few glimmers of warmth. From a surprise victory for George Washington, to mules masquerading as reindeer in the Civil War, to a flare-lit soccer game between Brits and Germans in WWI, Mark shares some wartime Christmas memories.

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Cold War Series: Soviet Naval Challenge with Reid Senter Part II

Mark returns to the Cold War with Part II of the Soviet Naval challenge, this time covering surface operations. His guest is Reid Senter, a retired U.S. Navy Captain who served in the Mediterranean. They discuss various aspects of serving in an Amphibious Ready Group, facing the Soviet Navy whose main interest was protecting the…

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Cold War Series: The Soviet Naval Challenge with John Lindstedt Part I

In the first of a two-part interview, Mark speaks with John Lindstedt, who was a junior officer serving aboard a nuclear submarine in the Cold War years. They discuss the qualifications and training involved, the constant readiness, and the differences between U.S. and Soviet vessels. They also highlight the ever-present threat of the Soviet Navy…

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Cold War Series: Cuban Missile Crisis

October 28, 1962 marked the 13th and last day of the Cuban Missile Crisis. 58 years later, Mark kicks off his Cold War series by revisiting the origins of this conflict between superpowers, the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The two-week confrontation—October 16-28, 1962—kept the world on edge and in fear of escalating tensions that…

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Autumn Events in History: From the American Revolution to WWII

On this week’s podcast, I take a look at some historical events that happened in autumn from the American Revolution to the Civil War, World War I and World War II. I discuss the 1918 Meuse-Argonne offensive by the America Expeditionary Forces and the French army. Launched against the Germans on the Western Front, this…

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