Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs

The Loch Ard was a 3-masted, iron-hulled clipper of the Loch Line. On the 1st of June 1878, bound from London to Melbourne, it struck the rocks on the isolated coast of Victoria, Australia in a heavy fog. Of the 18 passengers and 36 crew, only 18 year old apprentice Thomas Pearce, and 19 year old Eva Carmichael. Their struggle to survive was made possible by the generosity of the local people of Victoria.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes, notes, and merchandise can be found at shipwrecksandseadogs.com.

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Best selling author John U. Bacon joins me to discuss his new book, Gales of November, and the behind the scenes stories of the crewmembers. We discuss their families, loved ones, and personalities that made up the crew of the famed ship. Gales of November can be purchased at the author's web site, johnubacon.com, Amazon, or wherever books are sold. (No commission is paid to Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs.)

A video version of this episode is also available. 

*Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of Gales of November was provided to Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs by the pub...

The Mayflower II—the replica of the 1620 ship that brought the Pilgrims to America and launched a nation—is seen by some 2.6 million visitors to Plymouth annually and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. But there is much more to the replica’s story than meets the eye. In fact, the origins of Project Mayflower began in the 1950s not with an American, but with a British World War II veteran named Warwick Charlton who had what seemed an impossible dream: to build a historically accurate replica, sail her across the Atlantic, and present the finished product as a t...

This is the true story of the 1821 whaleship Essex, the doomed Nantucket vessel whose catastrophic encounter with a massive sperm whale helped inspire Moby-Dick. After the Essex was rammed by the massive whale, the Essex was destroyed, leaving its crew stranded thousands of miles from land.
During their harrowing struggle for survival in their open-boat journey. Some of the men would survive, but only by engaging in the "custom of the sea." The story of the whaleship Essex is one of the most haunting tales from maritime history, and was the inspiration behind Herman Melville's novel Moby Dick.
...

A Shipwreck, an Act of Cannibalism, and a Murder Trial that Changed Legal History. Four men in a lifeboat.
Two weeks without food. One impossible choice that would reshape the boundaries between survival and murder. On May 19, 1884, the yacht Mignonette set sail from England on what should have been an uneventful voyage. When their vessel sank in the Atlantic, Captain Thomas Dudley and his crew found themselves adrift in a tiny lifeboat. As days turned to weeks, they faced an unthinkable choice: starve to death or resort to cannibalism.

My guest for this episode is the...

The total loss of SS Yarmouth Castle in 1965 is the deadliest passenger ship disaster off the American coast since the burning of SS Morro Castle in 1934. Eighty-four passengers and two crew died in the early-morning hours of November 13, 1965, when the cruise liner SS Yarmouth Castle caught fire and sank near Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas. Four others would die later from their injuries. The ship had 552 people aboard on her weekend round trip between Miami and Nassau. Her total loss marks the deadliest passenger ship disaster off the coast of the United States since the burning of the...

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the sinking, this is a replay of Episode 33, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was an American Great Lakes freighter that sank in Lake Superior during a terrible storm on November 10, 1975. The ship's crew of 29 men all perished and were never recovered. The Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest ship on North America's Great Lakes when it was launched on June 7, 1958. It remains the largest ship to have sunk in the Great Lakes. The Fitzgerald's tragic demise inspired Gordon Lightfoot's hit song “The Wreck of th...

The Star of Bengal was a three-masted steel sailing ship that met a tragic end off the coast of Alaska on September 20, 1908. While transporting over 138 cannery workers, mostly Asian immigrants, and a cargo of canned salmon from Wrangell, Alaska to San Francisco, California, the ship was caught in a fierce gale. Two accompanying tugboats were forced to release their towlines, leaving the Star of Bengal to be driven onto the rocky shore near Coronation Island. The vessel broke apart in the storm, and the frigid waters claimed the lives of more than 100 people, making it one of Alaska’s de...

The SS Andaste was a semi-whaleback, self-unloading freighter built in 1892 by the Cleveland Shipbuilding Company. In 1925, a self-unloading system was added to her deck making her a bit top-heavy and unstable. On September 9, 1929, she was lost in a storm on Lake Michigan, while transporting a load of gravel from Ferrysburg (Grand Haven), Michigan to Chicago. All 25 on board perished. The wreck of the Andaste has never been found, but Great Lakes shipwreck hunters are actively searching for her.

Jennifer Keefer of the Grand Haven Area Convention & Vistor's Bureau joins me as a guest, and provided assistance with...

Anthony Cummins, also known as Captain Tonz, is a retired marine captain, and real-life modern day pirate. I spoke with him in Episode 37, and he told of taking a humber barge across the Bay of Biscay, and his creative escape from Gibraltar. 

I had the chance to catch up with Captain Tonz again, and he shares more of his interesting stories including a dicey shipwreck, smuggling camels, and how pirates can, and do, help preserve the health of the world’s oceans.

There is a special acknowledgement and thank you at the conclusion of this epi...

Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874–1922) was an Anglo-Irish explorer best known for his daring Antarctic expeditions during the Heroic Age of Polar Exploration. Born in County Kildare, Ireland, and raised in London, Shackleton first ventured south with Robert Falcon Scott on the Discovery Expedition (1901–1904), before leading his own journeys aboard Nimrod (1907–1909) and Endurance (1914–1917). Though he never reached the South Pole, his leadership during the Endurance expedition—when his ship was crushed by ice and he led all 28 men to safety—earned him lasting fame as a model of courage, resilience, and leadership under pressure. Shackleton died of a heart attack in 1922 while prepar...

Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874–1922) was an Anglo-Irish explorer best known for his daring Antarctic expeditions during the Heroic Age of Polar Exploration. Born in County Kildare, Ireland, and raised in London, Shackleton first ventured south with Robert Falcon Scott on the Discovery Expedition (1901–1904), before leading his own journeys aboard Nimrod (1907–1909) and Endurance (1914–1917). Though he never reached the South Pole, his leadership during the Endurance expedition—when his ship was crushed by ice and he led all 28 men to safety—earned him lasting fame as a model of courage, resilience, and leadership under pressure. Shackleton died of a heart attack in 1922 while prepar...

On February 12, 1983, Signalman 3rd class Scott Baxter was on board the USS Jack Williams and participated in the search and rescue mission for the SS Marine Electric. Scott Baxter retired from the US Navy as a Signalman Chief Petty Officer, and I had the opportunity to speak with him about that cold, February morning and other memorable moments from his career. 

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sean Sigfried⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Listen AD-FREE by becoming an Officer's Club Member ! Join at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Shipwrecks and S...

This episode was originally published in August of 2024.
The bulk carrier SS Marine Electric went down on February 12th, 1983, 30 miles off the coast of Virginia during a severe winter storm. The World War 2 era ship had been been deteriorating for years and suffered from rust, corrosion, failed pumps, and faulty safety features that the ship's owners, Marine Transport Lines had neglected to repair. Only 3 out of 34 crewmembers survived the wreck. Many Coast Guard reforms were developed as a result of this tragedy, including the formation of the US Coast Guard rescue swimmer program.

...

Kim Wall was a fiercely independent journalist whose reporting spanned the intersections of identity, gender, culture, social justice, and global politics. Her life was tragically cut short in August 2017 when entrepreneur Peter Madsen brutally murdered her on board his submarine UC-3 Nautilus, which he built himself.

Links mentioned in the episode:

My guest for this episode is Alfred Dockery from Blue Ridge True Crime...

Tom Kastle has been a singer and folk musician for decades, traveling the world, collecting and performing maritime songs and stories, and captaining sailing ships on the Great Lakes. Onstage, he has performed theatrical roles ranging from musicals to Shakespeare and played a political pundit with the legendary Ed Asner in God Help Us! Tom is currently developing and touring two, one-man plays.

For more about Captain Tom Kastle, please visit https://www.tomkastle.com.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Original t...

This bonus episode is a companion to Episode 86, Sea Shanties and Tall Ships with Captain Tom Kastle. Please enjoy these three tracks:

1) Cold Winds

2) Rolling Home (Live)

3) The Bigler

Please visit https://www.tomkastle.com for more about Captain Tom.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Original theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sean Sigfried⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Listen AD-FREE by becoming an Officer's Club Member ! Join at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/ship...

On May 7th, 1915, RMS Lusitania was hit with a single torpedo from German submarine U-20, commanded by Walther Schweiger. A second explosion rocked the ship after the initial torpedo, which is still a source of controversy today. Of the known 1,960 on board, 1,197 people lost their lives, including 94 children. The sinking triggered worldwide outrage and accusations of war crimes.

To donate to the Joe Mazraani Memorial Fund to help preserve shipwreck exploration and maritime history, please follow this link: https://everloved.com/life-of/jospeh-mazraani/donate/?flow=202

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The tragic sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915 was a pivotal maritime disaster of World War I that claimed almost 1200 lives after a German U-boat torpedo struck the British ocean liner off the coast of Ireland. Part 1 of this 2 part series discusses the history of the Lusitiania as a luxury liner, political tensions as World War 1 began, and the events of the Lustiania's final voyage up until it was struck by a torpedo.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Original theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sean Sigf...

Just after midnight on March 24, 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef, in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Over 10 million gallons of crude oil spilled into the waters, killing hundreds of thousands of animals, and devastating the fragile ecosystem. This episode provides a detailed account of how this accident happened, and its ramifications.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Original theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sean Sigfried⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Go AD-FREE by becoming a Patreon Officer's Club Member! Join at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In 1864, the American packet ship Adriatic was on voyage from London to New York when it was captured and burned by the notorious Confederate raider CSS Tennessee. The passengers and crew were taken prisoner, but the ship fell out of memory. In 2016, Captains John Noonan and John Bricker, and their team of divers discovered the old sailing vessel, along with some of its artifacts.

John Noonan and John Bricker join me as guests to discuss the Adriatic, how they found, and the research involved to identify it.

Written, edited...

Rich chats with Deb Whitcraft, of the New Jersey Maritime Museum, which houses the world's largest collection of artifacts and memorabilia related to the Morro Castle.

https://njmaritimemuseum.org/

This bonus Flotsam & Jetsam episode is available for everyone. To hear more, please subscribe to the Officer's Club on Patreon, or subscribe to the Into History Podcast Channel.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. Original theme music by Sean Sigfried.

Go AD-FREE by becoming a Patreon Officer's Club Member! Join at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/shipwreckspo...

The Morro Castle shipwreck of 1934 was a tragic maritime disaster involving a luxury passenger liner operated by the Ward Line. On September 8, 1934, while en route from Havana to New York, the ship caught fire off the coast of New Jersey near Asbury Park, resulting in the deaths of 137 passengers and crew. The fire, which was later suspected to be an act of arson, spread rapidly due to strong winds and flammable materials onboard, forcing many to jump into rough seas. The burning vessel eventually ran aground on the beach, becoming a chilling symbol of maritime safety failures. The disaster...

In 2025, a team of eight students, scientists, and engineers from the University of Rhode Island conducted the first survey of known shipwrecks in the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary. Using URI’s new, state-of-the-art remotely operated vehicle, named “Rhody”, the student-led team documented 17 shipwrecks. Having embarked from Oswego, New York, aboard the research vessel Lake Guardian, which is owned and operated by the Environmental Protection Agency, the team discovered several new shipwrecks while mapping the lakebed.

Jason Fahy and Holly Pettus from the University of Rhode Island are my guests.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Mary Rose was a warship of the Tudor era of the English monarchy, built in 1510 during the reign of King Henry VIII. The hulking ship was the king's favorite for many years, until it inexplicably sank in Portsmouth Harbour in 1545 as it sailed out to meet the invading French fleet. Over 400 years later, the Mary Rose was raised and its artifacts preserved. My guest is author and historian Richard M. Jones.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠.

Original theme music by ⁠...

Listener Appreciation Week Day 5

When the SS Central America sank off the coast of South Carolina in 1857, it went down with millions of dollars worth of gold from California. The loss of the badly needed gold caused a run on the banks, and a financial crisis called the Panic of 1857.

As a thank you to all Shipwreck and Sea Dogs listeners, I am bringing you a bonus mini-episode each day this week.

As another bonus, all merchandise is 25% OFF during Listener Appreciation Week! Go to ⁠⁠⁠shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠ and use code LISTENER2025 at check out.<...

Listener Appreciation Week Day 4

Renowned French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot explored the polar regions for many years aboard his ship, the Pourquoi Pas. When fellow explorer Roald Amundsen's plane went missing in 1928, Charcot joined the search for the Norwegian. Amundsen himself was searching for the crashed Italian airship, Italia, and its captain Umberto Nobile.

As a thank you to all Shipwreck and Sea Dogs listeners, I am bringing you a bonus mini-episode each day this week.

As another bonus, all merchandise is 25% OFF during Listener Appreciation Week! Go to ⁠⁠⁠shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠...

Listener Appreciation Week, Day 3
During World War 2, the Germans captured several Dutch submarines, which included an experimental air venting device. The Germans put this to use, and used it on board some of their own U-boats. This led to the creation of a high-pressure, deepwater toilet waste system, and things did not quite go as planned.

As a thank you to all Shipwreck and Sea Dogs listeners, I am bringing you a bonus mini-episode each day this week.

As another bonus, all merchandise is 25% OFF during Listener Appreciation Week! Go to ⁠⁠shop...

Listener Appreciation Week, Day 2

Renowned ocean explorer Robert Ballard found the legendary Titanic in 1985, but it was a top-secret mission sponsored by the U.S. Navy that allowed Ballard to make his discovery.

As a thank you to all Shipwreck and Sea Dogs listeners, I am bringing you a bonus mini-episode each day this week.

As another bonus, all merchandise is 25% OFF during Listener Appreciation Week! Go to ⁠⁠⁠shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠ and use code LISTENER2025 at check out.

Please share this episode with a frien...

Listener Appreciation Week, Day 1: Heroes of Two Shipwrecks

Musicians Moss and Tracy Hills survived the sinking of the Greek cruise ship Oceanos in 1991, and then the Italian ship Achille Lauro in 1994. During both sinkings, the married couple stepped up and provided leadership and assistance to the passengers, and were critical to rescue efforts.

As a thank you to all Shipwreck and Sea Dogs listeners, I am bringing you a bonus mini-episode each day this week.

As another bonus, all merchandise is 25% OFF during Listener Appreciation Week! Go...

Announcing the first ever Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Listener Appreciation Week! From June 16 - 20, 2025 a bonus mini-episode will be published each day as a special thank you to listeners.

Also, from now through June 20th, all merchandise is 25% OFF. Go to https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com and use code LISTENER2025 at checkout.

Learn more about your...

William Bligh makes his miraculous voyage to Timor in the small launch, and Fletcher Christian and his fellow mutineers take the Bounty to the uninhabited Pitcairn Island. Meanwhile, 16 of the Bounty crew remain on Tahiti and are captured by Captain Edward Edwards of HMS Pandora. The Pandora itself wrecks on the Great Barrier Reef, killing 31 crew and 4 of the prisoners. The court martials result in Bligh being exonerated and 3 of the mutineers executed. The mutineers establish a settlement on Pitcairn Island, and their descendants still reside on the island. In 2012, the Bounty replica sank off the coast of North...

The legendary story of the Mutiny on the Bounty. In part 1 of this 2-part series, the Bounty departs England for Tahiti to obtain breadfruit. The crew become comfortable on Tahiti and form relations with the women. Commanding Lt. William Bligh becomes increasingly hostile toward his officers, and insults and humiliates them regularly, setting up the muitiny led by Acting Lt. Fletcher Christian.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

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This guest episode is from History Daily hosted by Lindsay Graham. November 16, 1720. The trials of notorious pirates Anne Bonny, Mary Read, and John Rackham begin in Spanish Town, Jamaica. A co-production from award-winning podcasters Airship and Noiser.

For more information about History Daily, please visit https://www.historydaily.com/

For ad-free episodes of History Daily, shipwrecks and Sea Dogs, and many more fantastic history podcasts, please subscribe to Into History, at IntoHistory.com/shipwreckspod.

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The H.L. Hunley was a submarine built by the Confederate States of America in 1863, during the American Civil War. Two tragic mishaps during testing resulted in the deaths of 13 crewmen in Charleston Harbor, including its namesake, Horace Lawson Hunley. The Hunley was finally put into action in 1864, when it successfully ventured into the Atlantic Ocean, and rammed the USS Housatonic with its spar torpedo, and sank her. The Hunley was the first submarine to ever sink an enemy ship. But the submarine disappeared with its 8 crewmen, and its location remained a mystery for over a hundred years. Today...

The American sailing vessel Adriatic collided with the French steamship Le Lyonnais on November 2, 1856, off the coast of Nantucket in what can best be described as a maritime hitand-run. Adriatic’s captain, Jonathan Durham, rendered no aid and left the passenger steamship to fend for herself. 114 people died in the collision and in the days that followed.

In August of 2024, Jennifer Sellitti, her partner Joe Mazraani, and a team of explorers discovered, dived, and identified the wreckage of Lyonnais on the eastern edges of Georges Bank. The book includes an epilogue that chronicles what it...

The Princess Sophia was a Canadian passenger steamship that tragically sank on October 25, 1918, after striking Vanderbilt Reef in Lynn Canal near Juneau, Alaska. Caught in a severe snowstorm with strong winds and poor visibility, the ship ran aground and was unable to be evacuated due to worsening weather. Despite rescue ships waiting nearby, conditions prevented any safe transfer of passengers. When the storm intensified, the Princess Sophia broke apart and sank, killing all 353 people on board, making it the worst maritime disaster in the history of the Pacific Northwest.

Written, edited, and produced by...

Rich joins Lindsay Graham, host of History Daily, American History Tellers, and American Scandal, for a discussion of the book The Wager by David Grann. HMS Wager HMS Wager was a British Royal Navy ship that became famous for its dramatic wreck and subsequent mutiny in 1741, off the desolate coast of Chilean Patagonia.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

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On July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis was struck by two torpedoes from the Japanese submarine I-58. The ship sank in just 12 minutes, leaving almost 900 men stranded in the water. For 4 days, the men suffered from horrific shark attacks, dehydration, and exposure. Of the 1,195 on board, only 316 ultimately survived.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

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Shipwrecks...

The SS Western Reserve was the first steel-hulled bulk carrier on the Great Lakes, launched in 1890 for the Minch Transportation Company. Its owner and designer, Peter G. Minch, took his family for a vacation cruise on a late summer day in 1892. The vessel was caught in a strong gale on Lake Superior on August 30th, 1892, and all but one of its 28 occupants was lost, including Peter G. Minch and his family. The location of the ship was unknown until 2024, when the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society discovered the long-lost wreck.

Written, edited, and produced...

Famed pirate Henry Every went by many names, but earned his nickname "King of Pirates" when he plundered the Mughul treasure ship, Ganj-i-Swai in 1695. Valued at over $100 million today, it is believed to be the most lucrative pirate haul in history. His brutal savagery also was notorious, leading to a worldwide manhunt for his capture. Henry Every mysteriously disappeared from history in 1696, but there are many rumors of what became of him.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

This special bonus episode features guests Dr. Scarlett Smash and Dr. Craken McCraik from the Marine Conservation Happy Hour Podcast. Join us as we discuss the conspiracy theories of the Titanic/Olympic switch, the legend of the supposedly prophetic "Titan" novel written 2 decades before the Titanic sank, and the story of an interracial married couple who boarded the Titanic.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

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The barque Cataraqui crashed into the rocks of King Island, Tasmania, in the Bass Strait, August 4, 1845. The ship was carrying emigrants, mostly families, from England to New South Wales to start a new life. Of 409 on board, only 9 survived, including only 1 passenger. All of the women and children perished. The wreck of the Cataraqui is Australia’s deadliest civil maritime disaster in history.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. Original theme music by Sean Sigfried. All episodes, images, and sources can be found at shipwrecksandseadogs.com.

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Roald Amundsen was a Norwegian explorer renowned for being the first to reach the South Pole on December 14, 1911, beating Robert Falcon Scott's British expedition. A skilled navigator and leader, he used innovative techniques learned from the Inuit, such as dog sledding and wearing fur clothing, to survive in extreme polar conditions. Amundsen also led the first successful navigation of the Northwest Passage in 1906 and later became the first confirmed person to reach the North Pole by airship in 1926. He tragically disappeared in 1928 during a rescue mission in the Arctic.

Written, edited, and produced by...

The first in a planned series of future episodes about the world's most well-known lighthouses. The enormous Lighthouse of Alexandria is the most famous lighthouse of all time, and stood for 1500 years on the shore of Alexandria, Egypt, and It is one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. Hook Lighthouse in Ireland is over 1200 years old and is the oldest, intact, operational lighthouse in the world. The Eddystone off the coast of England has gone through numerous iterations, dating back to the 1600's.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. Original theme music...

The U.S. Navy brig Somers was part of an experimental apprentice program to teach young men, mostly teenagers, to be naval officers. During a return voyage to Africa in 1842, Captain Alexander Slidell Mackenzie learned of a mutiny plot, orchestrated by Philip Spencer and other young crewmen. Spencer was the son of Secretary of War John Spencer, and already had a reputation as a troublemaker. Acting swiftly, Mackenzie ordered the execution of the alleged ringleaders, Philip Spencer, Samuel Cromwell, and Elisha Small. The event sparked a heated debate about naval discipline, the potential miscarriage of justice, and the proper...

The pleasure yacht Wawinet sank on September 21, 1942, in Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada. The Wawinet was owned by retired NHL defenseman Bert Corbeau who played for the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Corbeau was Plant Supervisor at Midland Foundry and Machine Company, of Midland, Ontario, and he was taking the workers out for an evening boating excursion.

Corbeau was an experienced captain and knew the waters and channels very well. The Wawinet suddenly listed over and took on water, just south of Beausoleil Island, and began taking on water. 25 of the 42 men on board, including Corbeau...

(This episode was oiginally released in January of 2023.)

On the evening of January 28, 1980 the United States Coast Guard cutter Blackthorn was leaving Tampa Bay on its way to its home base in Galveston, Texas. It was a cool, calm, and pleasant night as the Blackthorn headed out. At the same time, the SS Capricorn was inbound to the bay. Through a series of missteps and miscommunications, the Blackthorn and Capricorn collided almost head-on, killing 23 Coast Guardsmen. Rich's wife Dawn joins the show again as a guest.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich...

Bonus Episode from La Fayette, We Are Here! podcast.

This particular conflict goes by multiple names and definitions. While it is globally recognized as the Seven Years' War, it is more commonly referred to in America as the French and Indian War, and in Canada as the War of Conquest. These wars are all interconnected and are part of a vast global struggle between the two superpowers of the mid-eighteenth century: France and Great Britain.

Considered by many as the first true world war, it continues to reverberate even today. Embark on a historical journey...

In the midst of increased tariffs and enforcement of the Navigation Acts, an angry group of merchants, plantation owners, and residents of Providence, Rhode Island slipped out under the cover of darkness on June 10, 1772, and boarded HMS Gaspee. After a short battle, the Rhode Islanders burned the British vessel, and shot and wounded its commander, Lt. William Duddingston. The Gaspee Affair, as it came to be known, was the result of increased tensions between colonists and the British government. My guest for this episode is Michael Troy, of American Revolution Podcast.

Shipwrecks and Sea...

On the 13th of January, 2012 the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia struck a rocky outcropping off the coast of Italy. The ship lost power and propulsion, and came to rest on its starboard side, just meters from the island of Giglio. Panic and chaos ensued on board, with over 4000 passengers and 1000 crew. Captain Francesco Schettino altered the planned course of his ship to perform a sail-by salute, close to Giglio, without informing Costa operations. His mistress, Moldovan dancer Domnica Cemortan, was on the bridge at the time of the accident. Twenty-seven passengers and five crew were killed in the...

Bonus Episode from La Fayette, We Are Here! podcast.

The Nouvelle France (New France) is the French colonization of North America. Over a couple of centuries, the French established settlements all over North America, especially along the St. Lawrence and Mississippi River but also in Nova Scotia, Florida, Louisiana and more.

New France existed from the first adventures of Jacques Cartier in 1534 to the end of the Seven Years' War in 1763 and the signature of the treaty of Paris, that saw France lose most of its American possessions. It is a remarkable, violent, tragic and pe...

The Royal Tar was a Canadian steamship built in 1835. On October 25, 1836, the ship was on voyage from Eastport, Maine to Portland, Maine. On board were 72 passengers, 21 crew, and a large caravan of animals that were part of a traveling menagerie. The caravan included horses, lions, camels, a tiger, birds, reptiles, and even an elephant. when the ship's boiler ran dry due to a leak. When the boiler became red hot, it ignited the timber and supports above. The crew was unable to control the fire, and were forced to save themselves. Panic ensued, with passengers, crew, and terrified animals t...

Food aboard ships during the Age of Sail (roughly from the 16th to the 19th centuries) was far from luxurious, chosen for its durability rather than flavor or nutritional value. Sailors were at sea for extended periods with no refrigeration, so provisions had to withstand long voyages. The cuisine was monotonous, barely edible, and nutritionally deficient by modern standards. Sailors endured long periods of hunger and boredom over these meals, but advances over time, such as adding lemon or lime to prevent scurvy, improved their overall diet somewhat.

Joining Rich for this episode is the creator and...

Captain Samuel Francis Knowles began his career on the sea at a very young age, honing his skills as a teenager aboard ships out of Boston. He would go on to captain several ships including the Norway and the Mary S. Ames. Captain Frank survived a fire on board the Norway, with all hands saved, and a hurricane that sank the Mary S. Ames. Throughout his years on the seas, Captain Frank had many adventures, and his legacy lives on through his ships' logs, diaries, and notes. Captain Frank's great-great-granddaughter Amy Giannotti joins me as my guest. Amy is...

On October 9, 1862, David Henry White was kidnapped at sea from the United States merchant ship Tonawanda by Captain Raphael Semmes of the CSS Alabama. The young man was from a free, black family of Lewes, Delaware, and was employed on the Tonawanda by the Cope Line as a passenger cook.

Dr. Andrew Sillen, author of Kidnapped at Sea, discusses the story of David Henry White, his life while enslaved on the CSS Alabama, and the Lost Cause myth proliferated by the memoir of Semmes.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes...

The Skeleton Coast of Namibia is infamous for the countless shipwrecks scattered along its shores, a haunting reminder of the treacherous conditions mariners have faced for centuries. Thick, unpredictable fogs, strong Atlantic currents, and hidden sandbars have made navigating this coastline perilous, often leading ships to run aground. Some of the wrecks, dating as far back as the early Portuguese explorers, remain visible today, slowly being reclaimed by the sands. The coast earned its name because of these wrecks and the skeletal remains of whales, seals, elephants, and even humans found on its shores.

Notable shipwrecks, like...

The Ocean Ranger disaster occurred on February 15, 1982, when the semi-submersible offshore drilling rig sank off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, in the North Atlantic. A severe winter storm caused massive waves and hurricane-force winds, leading to water breaching the rig’s ballast control room. A series of mechanical and human errors in handling the flooding worsened the situation, and eventually, the rig capsized. Tragically, all 84 crew members on board died, marking the worst disaster in Canadian offshore oil exploration history.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www...

Ships of the Crusades

Joining me for this episode is Dr. Nicholas Morton, Associate Professor with the School of Arts and Humanities at Nottingham Trent University. Dr. Morton has written many books, including The Mongol Storm: Making and Breaking Empires in the Medieval Near East.

The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated by European Christians between the 11th and 13th centuries, aimed at reclaiming the Holy Land from Muslim control. These campaigns involved significant military efforts that spanned several decades, resulting in ongoing conflicts between European powers and Muslim territories in the Middle...

The bulk carrier SS Marine Electric went down on February 12th, 1983, 30 miles off the coast of Virginia during a severe winter storm. The World War 2 era ship had been been deteriorating for years and suffered from rust, corrosion, failed pumps, and faulty safety features that the ship's owners, Marine Transport Lines had neglected to repair. Only 3 out of 34 crewmembers survived the wreck. Many Coast Guard reforms were developed as a result of this tragedy, including the formation of the US Coast Guard rescue swimmer program.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can...

History Daily

From Noiser and Airship, this is History Daily, hosted, edited, and executive produced by Lindsay Graham.

Audio editing and sound design by Mollie Baack.

Music by Lindsay Graham.

This episode is written and researched by James Benmore.

Executive Producers are Steven Walters for Airship, and Pascal Hughes for Noiser.

December 14, 1911. Roald Amundsen becomes the first person to reach the South Pole.

All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

Duration: 00:18:04

The Halifax Explosion of 1917 occurred on December 6 when the SS Mont-Blanc, a French cargo ship laden with explosives, collided with the Norwegian vessel SS Imo in the narrow harbor of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The collision caused a massive explosion that devastated the surrounding area, resulting in approximately 2,000 deaths and injuring around 9,000 people. The blast obliterated buildings, started fires, and triggered a tsunami, causing widespread destruction in Halifax and the neighboring community of Dartmouth. It was the largest man-made explosion prior to the development of nuclear weapons, leaving a lasting impact on the city.

Written...

The USS Thresher (SSN-593) was a nuclear-powered submarine that tragically sank on April 10, 1963, during a deep-diving test about 220 miles off the coast of Massachusetts. This disaster resulted in the loss of all 129 crew members and civilians on board, marking the deadliest submarine disaster in U.S. history. The Thresher's sinking highlighted critical flaws in submarine design and emergency response procedures, leading to the implementation of the SUBSAFE program, which significantly improved the safety and reliability of subsequent U.S. Navy submarines. The exact cause of the sinking remains undetermined, but it is believed to involve a combination of mechanical...

Lord Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald (1775-1860), was a daring and influential British naval officer renowned for his unconventional tactics and audacious exploits during the Napoleonic Wars. Known for his strategic brilliance and fearless leadership, Cochrane earned a reputation as one of the most successful frigate captains in the Royal Navy, particularly for his devastating raids on enemy ships and coastal installations. His innovative use of fireships and his bold attacks on French and Spanish vessels contributed significantly to British naval victories. Beyond his naval career, Cochrane was also a reformer in politics, advocating for naval and parliamentary...

Lord Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald (1775-1860), was a daring and influential British naval officer renowned for his unconventional tactics and audacious exploits during the Napoleonic Wars. Known for his strategic brilliance and fearless leadership, Cochrane earned a reputation as one of the most successful frigate captains in the Royal Navy, particularly for his devastating raids on enemy ships and coastal installations. His innovative use of fireships and his bold attacks on French and Spanish vessels contributed significantly to British naval victories. Beyond his naval career, Cochrane was also a reformer in politics, advocating for naval and parliamentary...

The Lakonia was launched in 1929 as the Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (JVO) of the Netherlands Line as an ocean liner, servicing the route between Europe and the Dutch East Indies. After being converted to a troop ship during World War 2, she returned to passenger service until 1963, when she was sold to the Greek Line. The JVO was refurbished and renamed as the Lakonia, then relaunched as a cruise ship. In December of 1963, the ship was en route from Southampton, England to the Canary Islands with over over 1000 passengers and crew when a fire broke out in the hair salon, caused...

The 1881 Steamboat Victoria disaster in London, Ontario, Canada, remains one of the most tragic maritime accidents in Canadian history. On May 24, 1881, the Victoria, a paddlewheel steamboat, was packed with passengers enjoying a holiday excursion on the Thames River. However, tragedy struck when the boat became unstable, and its boiler came loose from its mountings. The boiler crashed through the support stanchions, causing the upper deck to collapse on those below, and the boat to sink. Over 180 passengers perished.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Orig...

From History Daily, hosted by Lindsay Graham, The Sinking of the Laconia. Get ad-free access to History Daily, Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs, and many other fantastic history podcasts, on the Into History podcast channel. Subscribe at IntoHistory.com/shipwreckspod.

September 12, 1942. During the Second World War, a German U-boat sinks the RMS Laconia, killing over 1,600 of the British liner’s passengers.

From Noiser and Airship, this is History Daily, hosted, edited, and executive produced by me, Lindsay Graham.

Audio editing by Muhammad Shahzaib.

Sound design by Mis...

On December 20, 1987, the Philippines experienced the worst peacetime maritime disaster in history when the MV Doña Paz, a passenger ferry, collided with the MT Vector, an oil tanker. The accident occurred near the Tablas Strait, resulting in a massive fire that engulfed both vessels. The MV Doña Paz was heavily overcrowded with an estimated 4,385 people. Only 25 passengers from the Doña Paz survived.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

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On the 9th of June, 1727, the Dutch East India Company vessel Zeewijk wrecked on Half Moon Reef of the Houtman Abrolhos, off the coast of Western Australia. The ship was not immediately destroyed and many of the ship's supplies were salvaged and brought to a small nearby coral island, later named Gun Island. After 9 months stranded on the island, the remaining survivors remarkably built a boat out of the scrap of the Zeewijk and sailed over 1600 miles to the Dutch settlement of Batavia on the island of Java.

Author and historian Dr. Howard Gray joins me once...

Salty Science are Chantale Bégin, Isabelle Côté Noelle Helder, and Lauren Shea, and all four of them are marine scientists. In December of 2023, they rowed across the Atlantic Ocean as part of The World's Toughest Row. They finished first in the women's division, and overall 7th out of 38 teams, finishing in front of many of the men's teams as well.

Their objective was to raise money and awareness to support charities focused on marine conservation education. I was able to chat with the team again to discuss the challenges and triumphs of their journey, and the...

For ad-free listening to Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs and many other fantastic history podcasts, subscribe to Into History, at IntoHistory.com/shipwreckspod.

The General Slocum shipwreck occurred on June 15, 1904, when the passenger steamboat caught fire while cruising along the East River in New York City. Carrying over 1,300 passengers, primarily members of the German-American community on an annual excursion, the disaster resulted in the loss of over 1,000 lives, mainly women and children. Outdated safety measures, locked gates, malfunctioning lifeboats, and inadequate life vests contributed to the tragedy, prompting significant reforms in maritime safety regulations and leaving a profound...

Subscribe to Into History for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and more. Get access to this, and many more history podcasts. Subscribe at IntoHistory.com/shipwreckspod.

PJ Ornot is a retired United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer, having served 24 years in the service. PJ was stationed in many locations throughout his career including North Carolina, Louisiana, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Florida. PJ and Rich discuss his experiences, including some rough rescues, a bizarre conspiracy, and emotional moments.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Orig...

On March 26, 2024, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland was struck by the container ship MV Dali. The bridge completely collapsed moments later. Eight construction workers were on the bridge at the time. Although two men were rescued, six are missing and presumed dead.

In this episode, I provide a timeline of events leasing to the disaster, including clips from the police radio. I also provide a short history of the bridge, and the MV Dali.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://ww...

The creator of the Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs original theme music, Sean Sigfried, joins me to talk about how we first interacted, the creation of the theme song, and his achievements. You'll also hear a few clips of some of his other compositions. And, in a strange twist, he winds up interviewing me!

Please follow Sean Sigfried on social media @SeanSecret or visit his website at seansigfried.com.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

The French shipwreck Medusa, which took place in 1816 off the coast of Mauritania, remains one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history. The vessel, carrying French officials, soldiers, and settlers to Senegal, ran aground due to navigational errors and negligence. Among the survivors, those left on a makeshift raft endured harrowing conditions, including starvation, dehydration, and resorting to cannibalism to survive. The tragic events of the Medusa disaster captivated public attention and inspired artistic works, such as Théodore Géricault's monumental painting "The Raft of the Medusa," which immortalized the plight of the survivors and the horrors th...

The French shipwreck Medusa, which took place in 1816 off the coast of Mauritania, remains one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history. The vessel, carrying French officials, soldiers, and settlers to Senegal, ran aground due to navigational errors and negligence. Among the survivors, those left on a makeshift raft endured harrowing conditions, including starvation, dehydration, and resorting to cannibalism to survive. The tragic events of the Medusa disaster captivated public attention and inspired artistic works, such as Théodore Géricault's monumental painting "The Raft of the Medusa," which immortalized the plight of the survivors and the horrors th...

From Airship, the studio behind American Scandal, American History Tellers, and History Daily, comes a new true crime history podcast that takes you inside the minds of some of our most notorious felons and outlaws, exploring the dark side to the American dream.

The debut season tackles one of the country’s most sensational cases: The Menendez Murders. In 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez brutally shot their parents. Prosecutors said it was a million dollar inheritance that led two greedy kids to murder. But the picture-perfect facade this family built hid troubling abuse; could these te...

The Vasa was a massive warship commissioned by King Gustav II Adolph of Sweden in the early 17th century. Designed to be the pride of the Swedish Navy, construction began in 1626 at the Royal Shipyard in Stockholm, under the supervision of master shipwright Henrik Hybertsson. The Vasa was intended to be a symbol of Sweden's military power and ambition in the Baltic region, with a total of 64 guns arranged on two decks. Its design incorporated the latest advancements in naval architecture, including a sleek hull and a high concentration of firepower.

However, the Vasa's inaugural voyage was...

The Steamship Pulaski was an American steam packet that exploded on June 14, 1838, 40 miles off the coast of North Carolina. The explosion occurred around 11 PM, while the ship was traveling from Charleston, South Carolina to Baltimore, Maryland. The explosion caused the ship to break in two and sink within an hour, killing 128 people and saving about 66.

Survivor Rebecca Lamar published an account of the disaster in 1854, titled, "The Loss of the Steamer Pulaski."

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠...

The sinking of the SS El Faro on October 1, 2015 was a devastating maritime disaster that occurred during Hurricane Joaquin. The American cargo ship, owned by TOTE Maritime, was en route from Jacksonville, Florida, to San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it encountered the powerful hurricane, leading to a distress call reporting a hull breach and severe listing. All 33 crew members tragically lost their lives, prompting investigations that revealed a combination of factors, including decisions made by the captain, malfunctioning equipment, safety concerns, and maintenance issues, all contributing to the disaster. The sinking of El Faro was the worst US commercial...

Real, modern-day pirate Capt. Tonz has led an adventurous and dangerous life on the seas, and has many stories to tell. From a young age, Capt. Tonz struck out on his own as a mariner and learned the tricks of his trade.

Capt. Tonz gives us a little taste of his life-story, and you can hear the rest on his own podcast, Original Pirate Material. Visit https://www.captaintonz.com for more.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean S...

The SS Atlantic disaster occurred on April 1, 1873, when the British steamship SS Atlantic, carrying over 900 passengers and crew, struck rocks off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. The ship was en route from Liverpool, England, to New York City but faced severe weather conditions and navigational errors that led to its tragic demise. The impact caused the vessel to quickly sink, resulting in the loss of around 550 lives, making it one of the deadliest maritime disasters of its time. Despite rescue efforts by local residents, the combination of rough seas, inadequate life-saving equipment, and the remote location of the...

In 1994 the passenger and vehicle ferry MV Estonia sank in the Baltic Sea during a violent storm. 852 of the 989 on board were lost, despite being in communication with other nearby ships. The cause of the ship's demise remains disputed and controversial.

For show notes, photos, and sources please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2022/09/20/estonia-ep4/.

For ad-free episodes, bonus content, exclusive events, a private Discord community and other great perks, please subscribe to Into History at IntoHistory.com/shipwreckspod.

Original theme music by Sean Sigfried.

Join Into History for ad-free listening and other great perks.

The Franklin Expedition of 1845 was a British voyage led by Sir John Franklin in an attempt to navigate the Northwest Passage, a coveted sea route through the Arctic. Comprising two ships, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, the expedition aimed to explore uncharted territories but tragically ended in disaster. The ships became trapped in ice off King William Island, and all 129 crew members perished. Despite numerous search missions, the fate of the expedition remained a mystery for over 150 years until the wrecks of the Erebus and Terror...

This episode was originally released on September 6, 2022.

For ad-free access to Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs and other great history podcasts, subscribe to Into History at intohistory.com/shipwreckspod.

On the morning of May 9, 1980, the large freighter Summit Venture smashed into the Sunshine Skyway Bridge while entering Tampa Bay, Florida. The center section of the southbound span was destroyed, killing 35 motorists. This is the story of how it happened, and the tragedy it left in its wake. Rich's guest co-host for this episode is his wife Dawn Napolitano. Both Rich and Dawn grew up in the Tampa...

In 1940, after Nazi Germany's Western Europe invasion, France capitulated and became a puppet state, while Britain stood alone against Germany. Concerned about the French Naval fleet surrendering to Germany, Britain proposed an ultimatum to Vichy France, leading to a breakdown in their alliance. The events led to intense battles at Mers-El-Kebir and Dakar involving leading military figures of the period.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

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The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was an American Great Lakes freighter that sank in Lake Superior during a storm on November 10, 1975. The ship's crew of 29 men were all lost. She was the largest ship on North America's Great Lakes when it was launched on June 7, 1958. It remains the largest ship to have sunk in the Great Lakes.

The Fitzgerald's mysterious demise inspired Gordon Lightfoot's hit song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (1976), which helped make it the most famous shipwreck in the Great Lakes.

The Fitzgerald's wreckage is in two pieces at the bottom of Lake Supe...

The RMS Queen Mary has had a long and storied past as an ocean liner, transport ship during the war, and now as a museum ship. Undoubtedly, the ship has seen many deaths in board, and note then a few tales have been told of paranormal experiences in her halls.

Joining Rich for this episode as co-host is his wife Dawn Napolitano.

Voice acting by Allen Nail.

For ad-free access, bonus content, and exclusive events to many fantastic history podcasts, subscribe to Into History at intohistory.com/shipwreckspod.

Bonus episode! American Revolution Podcast by Michael Troy.

British Admiral Augustus Keppel and French Admiral Louis Guillouet, the comte d'Orvilliers lead fleets into the Atlantic. Each hope to destroy the other's fleet. After a relatively inconclusive battle at sea both battered fleets return to port. Disputes between top officers end careers on both sides. British Admirals Keppel and Palliser create a rift that divides naval officers and political leaders for a generation.

Visit https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic.

Written, edited, and produced...

In 1909, the RMS Republic of the White Star Line was struck by the SS Florida, and sank off Nantucket in the North Atlantic. It was rumored to be carrying a large quantity of gold, silver, and other valuables, but none of it has been found. Maritime writer James B. Connolly happened to be on board the ship, and he went to great lengths to get his articles about the accident published. Descendant of James B. Connolly, Paul O'Donnell joins me as my guest.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found...

August 1903. The famous Annie Oakley is arrested in Chicago for theft, a crime committed in order to obtain money to fuel her cocaine habit. And what a headline that made. America’s original sweetheart, the tiny sharpshooter who once entertained kings and queens, now reduced to petty thievery. Wasn’t long before newspapers throughout the country began to report on this fall from grace.

Enter in William Randolph Hearst, son of mining tycoon George Hearst, who ruled a media empire and had his eye on the white house. There was no story too sensational or salacious for him...

The crew of the D/V Tenacious returns to the Andrea Doria with a team of Italian divers to record the condition of the wreck from bow to stern. Italian divers Andrea Murdock Alpini, David D'Anna, and Marco Setti make an emotional dive to the legendary ship that was once the pride of Italy. Jenn Sellitti of D/V Tenacious is my guest.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

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A bonus episode of History Daily, hosted by Lindsay Graham.

Robert Smalls, born in 1839, was an enslaved African American in South Carolina. In 1862, during the American Civil War, Smalls commandeered a Confederate transport ship, the CSS Planter, and sailed it to the Union blockade, delivering vital intelligence to the Union forces. Smalls went on to serve as a naval officer in the Union Navy, becoming a symbol of bravery and heroism. Post-war, he became a prominent figure in South Carolina politics, advocating for civil rights and equality, and he played a significant role in shaping Reconstruction policies...

Pirate historian and enthusiast Captain Marrow joins me to talk all things Blackbeard. Blackbeard, whose real name is thought to be Edward Teach, was one of the most infamous and feared pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy in the early 18th century. He was known for his imposing appearance, with a long black beard and slow-match fuses burning under his hat, creating a terrifying image. Blackbeard's piracy career was marked by acts of violence and intimidation, and he met his end in a dramatic battle with British naval forces off the coast of North Carolina in 1718.

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If you dig the twisted, admire the outlandish, are enamored by the unusual, you’re in the right place. True Crime, the Supernatural, the Unexplained, now you’re speaking our language. If you agree, join us, as we dive into the darker side (you know, because it’s more fun over here ). Welcome to Total Conundrum.

Mata Hari fit society’s profile of a female spy so perfectly: beautiful, seductive, and duplicitous. That’s why the Germans, and the British, and the French all thought she must actually be a spy. Even when they couldn’t find any evidence of it. Here is the story of a woman who had many faults, but almost certainly not the one she was executed for. Hosted by Lori Davis.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.<...

In December 2023, the women of the Salty Science team will row 3000 miles unsupported across the Atlantic Ocean, participating in the "World's Toughest Row." Starting in the Canary Islands and ending at Antigua, they will row unsupported and be completely self-sufficient. They have committed their lives to understanding the threats facing our oceans and are raising money for three amazing organizations that are fighting to protect our oceans and its resources. The four women of Salty Science are a multigenerational team of marine scientists connected through years of research, mentorship, and education, and have a common penchant for pushing our...

North Sentinel Island is one of the most isolated places on the planet, and its people are extremely determined to keep it that way. The 1809 shipwreck of the HMS Primrose and the1867 wreck of the Nineveh found their passengers and crews as unwelcomed guests.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

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