Rad History

32. The End Of The Cold War Part 3

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 13:47:02 GMT

In Part Three of The End of the Cold War, we move to the front lines—East Germany in 1989—where the system begins to crack in real time. Through the story of the Berlin Wall and the people who lived in its shadow, we trace how mass emigration, grassroots protest, and Gorbachev’s hands-off policy collided to create a revolutionary moment. From the tense streets of Leipzig to the quiet realization that the regime could no longer enforce its will, this is the turning point—the moment fear breaks, and history accelerates toward the Wall’s collapse.

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31. The End Of The Cold War Part 2

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:40:00 GMT

In Part Two of The End of the Cold War, the pace accelerates as reform collides with reality. From Reagan and Gorbachev’s historic summits to the near-breakthrough at Reykjavik, détente begins to reshape the superpower rivalry. But inside the Soviet Union, perestroika and glasnost unleash forces no one can control—economic chaos, political upheaval, and rising nationalism. As Eastern Europe begins to slip from Moscow’s grasp and movements like Solidarity shatter communist authority, the old order starts to crumble in real time. The Cold War isn’t just ending—it’s unraveling. And the consequences will be irreversible.

Books I read for this series:

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30. The End Of The Cold War Part 1

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:19:00 GMT

In Part One of The End of the Cold War, we begin inside a Soviet Union already in decline. From Brezhnev’s stagnation to the brief rules of Andropov and Chernenko, this episode traces how corruption, economic decay, gerontocracy, and Cold War pressure left the USSR brittle by the mid-1980s. Then enters Mikhail Gorbachev: young, energetic, idealistic, and convinced socialism could still be saved. This is the story of the crumbling inheritance he received in 1985—and the deep contradictions that made reform both necessary and potentially catastrophic. The seeds of the Soviet collapse were already planted.

Books I read for this series:

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29. The Smiths Part 3

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 21:00:00 GMT

The sad saga of the breakup of The Smiths.

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28. The Smiths Part 2

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 20:24:28 GMT

The story of The Smiths through their artistic apex.

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27. The Smiths Part 1

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 20:30:00 GMT

Part one of our 3-part episode on The Smiths.

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26. Duck Hunt

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:41:53 GMT

The making and legacy of the classic NES game Duck Hunt.

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25. The Making Of A Few Good Men

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 21:28:32 GMT

Continuing our tribute to Rob Reiner's career, by telling the behind the scenes making of: A Few Good Men.

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24. The Making Of Stand By Me

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 19:11:20 GMT

Remembering Rob Reiner by telling the behind the scenes story of the making of the classic 80s movie Stand By Me.

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23. Toys "R" Us

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:25:13 GMT

The nirvana of your youth. Why was Toys R Us the best? How (weirdly) did it create the template for late 20th century "big box" retail? Why did it die? Why is it kind of back?

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22. A Christmas Story (The Movie)

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 20:33:25 GMT

You'll shoot yer eye out, kid!

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21. Hair Metal (Part 3)

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 19:33:30 GMT

It's the decline and fall of the hair metal empire. But you can never kill hair metal. It can only get stronger. So, the death and resurrection...

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20. Hair Metal (Part 2)

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 21:59:48 GMT

The height of Hair Metal! Bon Jovi! Poison! Guns N' Roses! Did Hair Metal have its appetite for (self) destruction baked in from the moment it conquered the world?

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19. Hair Metal (Part 1)

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 17:40:38 GMT

It’s the sound, and the look, that makes you instantly think: 1980s. It’s power ballads all the way down, because today we’re starting our look back at Hair Metal.

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18. The 1983 Invasion Of Grenada

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:57:45 GMT

The 1983 invasion of the tiny Caribbean nation of Grenada was the first major combat operation for the US military after the end of the Vietnam war.

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17. New Jack Swing

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 20:09:19 GMT

As the 80s turning into the 90s, one sound of young America was Grunge. The other was New Jack Swing. Did New Jack Swing help inspire Pharrell, Bruno Mars, and... KPop?

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16. Phil Hartman Part 2

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 20:00:55 GMT

The second half of Phil Hartman's career. Leaving SNL. NewsRadio. The tragic murder-suicide that ended his life. And what might have been...

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15. Phil Hartman Part 1

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 17:37:08 GMT

You might know him from... but did you know he had a flourishing career before comedy designing 70's album covers? Did you know that he co-wrote the movie Pee-wee's Big Adventure? How did he become "the glue" at Saturday Night Live, but also, the guy everyone wanted to write for on The Simpsons? This is the first part of the Phil Hartman story.

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14. Why The 80s Looked Like That: The Memphis Group

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Why did the 1980s look like the 1980s? Nickelodeon, Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, Miami Vice, Saved By The Bell? I'll tell you why: The Memphis Group was a short-lived but highly influential Italian design and architecture collective, founded by Ettore Sottsass in 1980. They radically challenged the era's prevailing minimalism and functionalism by creating postmodern furniture and objects with bold colors, geometric shapes, and playful, clashing patterns. THIS IS why the 1980s looked the way it did.

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13. The 1982 Tylenol Murders

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:08:28 GMT

It's one of the biggest, unsolved mass-murder/serial killings of the 1980s. It changed how every product you buy appears in a store. It changed how crisis management happens. The 1982 Tylenol murders/poisonings is one of the craziest/most tragic stories of the 1980s.

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12. Total Request Live

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 13:00:03 GMT

This episode explores how MTV's Total Request Live changed the evolution of teen culture in media, how engagement with fans and the impact of social media have transformed entertainment for young audiences. The dynamic interaction between producers and fans and artists, laid the groundwork not only for reality television, but for social media.

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11. Bo Jackson Part 2

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 18:09:57 GMT

Part 2 of the Bo Jackson legend. The glory years with the Raiders and the Royals. The ubiquitous ads. The injury that ended his career. What Bo has been up to in recent years.

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10. Bo Jackson Part 1

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 18:57:52 GMT

This episode delves into the remarkable early part of the legend of Bo Jackson. His hardscrabble early life. His discovery of his remarkable athletic prowess, excelling in football, baseball and track-and-field. His extraordinary performances and the impact he had on Auburn football, including the unforgettable Iron Bowl against Alabama, and his recruitment first into professional baseball and then the NFL, ending with his unique deal with Al Davis: baseball first, football second.

Part 2 will go into his professional career.

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9. America's Funniest Home Videos

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 06:00:00 GMT

Did America’s Funniest Home Videos not only predict YouTube and social media, but did it invent reality television as well? How did Bob Saget feel about the show? And how did producers make sure that video of Dad getting hit in the nuts was real and not staged. We’ve got laughs from coast to coast because today, Rad History is taking a look at America’s Funniest Home Videos.

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8. The Challenger Disaster

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 06:00:00 GMT

It is maybe the one moment of tragedy where most 80s kids remember where they were when it happened. Today, RAD! 80s90s History is looking at the Challenger disaster.

Our guest is @fmanjoo

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7. The Rubik's Cube

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 06:00:00 GMT

How many possible permutations are there on a Rubik’s Cube? How did the Rubik’s Cube come out of the Soviet block before even Tetris did? And did the creator get rich off of his investment or not? It’s the 50th anniversary of its creation so today we’re looking at the history of the Rubik’s Cube.

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6. The Answering Machine - With Toni Trucks!

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Did you know that we could have had the answering machine decades before we actually got to buy one? Why the 1980s and 90s was an unusual time for an innovation explosion in communications technology. The history of the whole AT&T/Ma Bell breakup by the government. And how much did YOU beg your parents to get your own phone line in your bedroom?

The guest this episode is the actress Toni Trucks. @tonitrucks

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5. Fernando Valenzuela

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Why was Fernando Valenzuela’s screwball so difficult to hit? Why did he have that crazy pitching motion that batters initially laughed at? And was he the first great Mexican American baseball icon? We’ve got Fernandomania today, because Rad History is tackling the legend of the recently departed Fernando Valenzuela.

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4. Calvin And Hobbes - With Daniel Kibblesmith

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Was Calvin And Hobbes the greatest comic strip ever? Or maybe a great work of art of the 20th Century? Why did Bill Watterson disappear? Was Calvin "good" (morally)? Was Hobbes "real"? Why were there never any toys? Would we ever really want Calvin and Hobbes to come back?

With special guest @kibblesmith!

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3. Goldeneye 007 - With John Gruber

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Did Nintendo try to kill GoldenEye 007 before it was completed? Why did Shigeru Miyamoto keep telling the development team to tone down the violence. And why did the famous multiplayer aspect of the game almost didn’t happen? It’s slappers only on Rad History, because we’re diving into the history of THE game of the late 1990s, GoldenEye 007.

With Special Guest: John Gruber

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2. Blockbuster Video - With MG Siegler

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Why was Blockbuster so successful? Was it the DVD that killed Blockbuster? What was the deal with late fees? Is there any way Blockbuster, not Netflix, could have won out in the end?

Special guest: Venture Capitalist and Writer MG Siegler!

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1. The Golden Girls - With Christina Warren

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 04:30:00 GMT

Among other things, learn how Miami Vice inspired the Golden Girls, how the Golden Girls helped finance the making of the movie Reservoir Dogs, whether or not Betty White and Bea Arthur hated each other, where the Golden Girls house was, and the real ages of the actresses when they were playing Golden Girls.

Special guest, Christina Warren, @film_girl!

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Introducing: RAD! 80s90s History!

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 17:22:09 GMT

Announcing the new history podcast, RAD! 80s90s History! Coming October 9.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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