This episode explores the history and evolution of shortwave radio, from its early days as a tool for global connection to its use as a propaganda instrument during the World War II and Cold War eras. Against the backdrop of AM radio's limitations, shortwave emerged as a means to transmit signals across vast distances by leveraging the ionosphere. The discussion highlights how amateur radio operators first discovered shortwave's potential, leading to its adoption by commercial stations and governments alike. More significantly, the episode details how shortwave became a battleground for ideological warfare, with nations like Germany, the Soviet Union, and the United States using it to disseminate propaganda and counter-propaganda. For instance, the U.S. government launched initiatives like the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe to combat communist influence, while Cuba's Radio Havana broadcast voices critical of American civil rights abuses. As the Cold War ended, shortwave's role shifted, setting the stage for its takeover by fringe groups and extremists, a topic to be explored in subsequent episodes.
