If you could change a single moment in history, what would you choose to change and why? This question has inspired an entire genre of fiction that explores worlds in which significant historical events had a dramatically different outcome. In this episode of Warming Up to the Cold War, we're discussing the merits of alternate history and using the Apple TV+ series For All Mankind as a case study. I compare and contrast the real timeline with the alternate timeline beginning with a Soviet moon landing and analyze how the arc of For All Mankind parallels the real Space Race and all of the pros and cons that come with this kind of alternate history story.
31 May 2021
Ep 008 - Collapse of Albanian Pyramid Schemes
Welcome back to Warming Up to the Cold War! This episode is all about the pyramid schemes that took over Albania in the mid-1990s and whose collapse resulted in anarchy throughout the nation. While pyramid schemes became a trend across the post-Communist bloc, they were able to reach full saturation in Albania due to the lack of trust in the federal government and the branding of the schemes as the new form of entrepreneurship. My good friend Sarah Turek of The Bad Idea Corner is back to help me discuss the distinctions between multi-level marketing companies, pyramid schemes, and Ponzi schemes as well as the huge impact the collapse had on Albanian citizens.
26 Apr 2021
Ep 007 - Suez Canal 1956 & 2021
How many ships does it take to block the Suez Canal? The answer depends on the year and the size of the ship. The Ever Given recently captured the world's attention when it hit the bank of the Canal in March 2021 and completely blocked the width of the waterway for a week. However, in 1956, it took 51 ships and boats for the Egyptians to make the Suez Canal impassable. In this episode, we explore the history of the Suez Canal and the context of its closures as well as the anticipated impacts of Ever Given on global shipping and the international economy.
23 Mar 2021
Ep 006 - Remembrance of German POWs at Fort Custer
Welcome back! This week we're talking about Volkstrauertag or 'German National Day of Mourning' at the Fort Custer National Cemetery in Michigan. The 1953 memorial service honoring German POWs side-by-side with their American counterparts was the first remembrance of any Axis POWs, which shone a national spotlight on the cemetery and the surrounding community. In the first part of this episode, Shelby explains the cultural and historical factors that lead to this unique ceremony - such as Michigan's strong German heritage and the peaceful behavior of the POWs during their internment. The second half talks about how the West German government used the annual ceremony as a platform to develop the alliance between the Federal Republic of Germany and the United States. The narrative presented reflected the tensions during the Cold War Era more so than it represented the 26 POWs being honored, which is why this small ceremony had international implications.
6 Feb 2021
Ep 005 - Muhammad Ali & the Moscow Olympics
This week's episode takes us back to 1980 and the American-led boycott of the Moscow Summer Games. Join Shelby in learning about the State Department's secret weapon in African diplomacy - none other than boxing legend Muhammad Ali! As we'll find out, this idea sounded great on paper but was mostly unsuccessful, with only 2 of the 5 African nations on the tour deciding to participate in the boycott. Regardless, this episode is important because it highlights the perspective of non-aligned nations on the Cold War and provides an opportunity to learn about Tanzania, Nigeria, Kenya, Liberia, and Senegal. We also get to explore the impact of the boycott on the Moscow Games and the implications on the selection of the first country to host the Olympics post-COVID.
5 Jan 2021
Ep 004 - Nuclear Power a la française
Happy New Year! The first episode of 2021 takes a bird's eye view of nuclear power in France. Shelby is joined by her sister Shanyn, who is taking college-level French courses, to share her insights on the practical and cultural reasons for France's heavy use of nuclear energy. They cover the beginnings of the nuclear energy commission to the contemporary challenges facing the future of nuclear power in France. Join the Reidle sisters as they learn about all things nuclear power and have some fun talking about the French people's love of protesting and high-tech projects!
7 Dec 2020
Ep 003 - Prohibition: US vs. USSR
This episode looks at the numerous attempts at prohibition in Russia (paying special attention to Gorbachev's "semi-prohibition" in the 1980s) and compares them with America's infamous prohibition in the 1920s. While this episode doesn't strictly adhere to the Cold War Era, there are a lot of fun anecdotes from both Cold War superpowers and insights into the different political systems and the impact of public opinion.
10 Nov 2020
Ep 002 - Satelloons and Sheldahl
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a satelloon!? In this episode, Shelby talks about the Echo I and II satellite balloons (aka satelloons) and why an orbiting satellite got more public attention in 1960 than space shuttle launches have gotten in recent decades. Also discussed is Shelby's internship at the Northfield Historical Society and her work with the materials from Sheldahl Inc., a company who is well-known for its contributions to the Echo Project and other contract work for NASA.
1 Nov 2020
Ep 001 - The Treasure of Stolpsee
The first episode of Warming Up to the Cold War focuses on the legendary treasure at the bottom of the Stolpsee lake in Germany as well as two notable, but ultimately unsuccessful attempts to recover the submerged items. From a notorious conman to local folklore about the night the mysterious treasure was sunk, this story is more complicated than it appears on the surface. Join Shelby and special guest Sarah Turek (of The Bad Idea Corner) as they discuss Stolpsee's place among treasure hunts, The Curse of Oak Island, time capsules, and more!
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