Episode 1: The Meeting That Ended the Cold War: Reagan and Gorbachev at Reykjavik

In October 1986, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev met in Reykjavik, Iceland for what was supposed to be a preliminary discussion but nearly resulted in an agreement to eliminate all nuclear weapons. Though deemed a failure at the time, this "failed summit" paradoxically built the trust that accelerated the end of the Cold War. Ezra Wade explores how the personal chemistry between these ideological opponents created a breakthrough that formal diplomacy couldn't achieve, demonstrating how authentic human connection can transcend political division when world leaders step beyond their talking points.