Advertise on podcast: Unsinkable: The Titanic Podcast

Happy 2026! Join me in a new season as I take a look at Titanic's historiography, changing legacy, and questions of its over-commodification. Feel free to reach out with feedback! All of the books I recommend can be found here, where you can purchase and support the podcast + local independent bookstores: https://bookshop.org/shop/unsinkablepod Support the show Support Unsinkable on Patreon for as little as $1/month: https://www.patreon.com/unsinkablepod Or buy me a coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/labeadles Buy Unsinkable shirts here!: https://www.bonfire.com/unsinkable-the-first-t-shirt/ Support the pod via my Bookshop Storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/unsinkablepod Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsinkablepod/

Join author Richard Stone and myself as we discuss his work Project Mayflower: Building and Sailing a 17th Century Replica--a detailed and important dive into the legacy of the Mayflower and how its replica (a joint venture between the US and the UK) has also resonated for several generations.  You can find the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/80949/9781493084364 The Titanic and the Mayflower stand as perhaps the two most iconic vessels in modern cultural memory, legacies enduring not through military conquest or commercial success, but through their profound symbolic resonance in the collective imagination. Both ships represent pivotal moments of transition and aspiration—the Mayflower carrying Pilgrims toward religious freedom and a new world in 1620, though as we discuss in the interview this isn’t 100 percent accurate, the Titanic embodying Edwardian confidence and technological hubris in 1912. Each voyage ended in a way that amplified its mythology: the Mayflower's grueling journey and harsh first winter became foundational to American identity and Thanksgiving tradition, even though that’s also more myth that reality, while the Titanic's catastrophic sinking on its maiden voyage became the ultimate cautionary tale about human overconfidence. What unites them most powerfully is how they've transcended their historical moments to become cultural touchstones—the Mayflower as shorthand for American origins and pioneer spirit, the Titanic as a universal metaphor for tragedy, class division, and the limits of progress.  Support the show Support Unsinkable on Patreon for as little as $1/month: https://www.patreon.com/unsinkablepod Or buy me a coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/labeadles Buy Unsinkable shirts here!: https://www.bonfire.com/unsinkable-the-first-t-shirt/ Support the pod via my Bookshop Storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/unsinkablepod Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsinkablepod/

Come along as we unpack a veritable grab-bag of "what if" questions, some submitted by listeners! These are questions that perhaps can't warrant their own episode but are important to address nonetheless. Thanks to Pablo as always and to you, the listeners, for being here! Support the show Support Unsinkable on Patreon for as little as $1/month: https://www.patreon.com/unsinkablepod Or buy me a coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/labeadles Buy Unsinkable shirts here!: https://www.bonfire.com/unsinkable-the-first-t-shirt/ Support the pod via my Bookshop Storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/unsinkablepod Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsinkablepod/

Titaniac alert! This is a fun and moving one.  Tim Baker is an actor, screenwriter, and firm believer that iced coffee should be its own food group. A Midwest-born, East Coast-raised transplant, he now calls Los Angeles home. Fueled by a healthy dose of sarcasm and a lifelong love for history, he writes about dynamic, flawed, and multifaceted characters—probably because he finds perfect people incredibly boring. His daily routine consists of a three-mile run, followed by several hours of trying to keep up with the stories in his head and petting every dog he sees. Find his new novel here: https://www.amazon.com/He-Jumped-First-sweeping-forbidden-ebook/dp/B0FTTDDHJS?ref_=ast_author_mpb Support the show Support Unsinkable on Patreon for as little as $1/month: https://www.patreon.com/unsinkablepod Or buy me a coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/labeadles Buy Unsinkable shirts here!: https://www.bonfire.com/unsinkable-the-first-t-shirt/ Support the pod via my Bookshop Storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/unsinkablepod Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsinkablepod/

Noah Angell is an artist who has exhibited and performed internationally. He's also an author - last year he published his first book, Ghosts of the British Museum, a meticulously-researched, genre-defying narrative non-fiction work about the storied museum's many ghosts. He's currently at work on his first feature-length documentary film, and is speaking to us today from Durham, North Carolina. Join me for a truly meaningful conversation about artifacts, the energies they hold, the importance of oral history, and how we can denaturalize museums to further understand the oft-violent but infinitely important histories of cultures around the world. We discuss the similarities between his work on the British Museum's artifacts and those of Titanic, the hauntings of the museum and Titanic's alleged hauntings, plus many etcs.  Buy your copy here to support Noah, the pod, and independent booksellers: https://bookshop.org/a/80949/9781800961357 Support the show Support Unsinkable on Patreon for as little as $1/month: https://www.patreon.com/unsinkablepod Or buy me a coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/labeadles Buy Unsinkable shirts here!: https://www.bonfire.com/unsinkable-the-first-t-shirt/ Support the pod via my Bookshop Storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/unsinkablepod Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsinkablepod/

Join me for a fantastic interview with renowned lawyer and journalist Adam Cohen, whose new non-fiction work--Captain's Dinner: A Shipwreck, an Act of Cannibalism, and a Murder Trial that Changed Legal History--takes a look at one of the most controversial maritime cases of all time, on the cusp of the age of steam. From Author's Equity: "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. Their decision to sacrifice the youngest—17-year-old cabin boy Richard Parker—ignited a firestorm of controversy upon their rescue. Instead of being hailed as heroes and survivors, Dudley and his crew found themselves at the center of Regina v. Dudley and Stephens, a landmark murder trial that would establish the legal precedent that necessity cannot justify murder—a principle that continues to shape Anglo-American law today. In Captain's Dinner, acclaimed journalist, Pulitzer Prize juror, and New York Times bestselling author Adam Cohen masterfully depicts both the harrowing weeks at sea and the sensational trial that followed." Purchase it here: https://bookshop.org/a/80949/9798893310597 Support the show Support Unsinkable on Patreon for as little as $1/month: https://www.patreon.com/unsinkablepod Or buy me a coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/labeadles Buy Unsinkable shirts here!: https://www.bonfire.com/unsinkable-the-first-t-shirt/ Support the pod via my Bookshop Storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/unsinkablepod Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsinkablepod/

*Yes, mange is real in humans, I looked it up! *The film podcast I mention is Unspooled, with Amy Nicholson! Enjoy this fun dive into the life, love and manic-pixie-dream-boy aura of our favorite fictional Titanic third class passenger. Thanks to Pablo, as always, for joining me on this adventure. Support the show Support Unsinkable on Patreon for as little as $1/month: https://www.patreon.com/unsinkablepod Or buy me a coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/labeadles Buy Unsinkable shirts here!: https://www.bonfire.com/unsinkable-the-first-t-shirt/ Support the pod via my Bookshop Storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/unsinkablepod Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsinkablepod/

In this second part of my exploration of the Astor fortune and its relationship with Mackinac Island and native communities, I look at the ways by which the fur trader impacted the island and its ecosystems, both human and non-human. I also break down the evolution of the island into a tourist destination, how the Astors bowed out of it as the fur business died down, but how ultimately they ended up back there in spirit. The Grand Hotel’s history also highlights here the growth of tourism, a leisure class, and a century-long national obsession with Gilded Age romanticism and luxury. Finally, we unpack the life of Titanic passenger John Jacob Astor IV, who walked on board as its wealthiest passenger because of his ancestors’ decisions; he perished in the cold water that night, but the myths of his legacy live on. How is he somehow on Mackinac now? Who are the island’s ghosts? Come along and find out. Support the show Support Unsinkable on Patreon for as little as $1/month: https://www.patreon.com/unsinkablepod Or buy me a coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/labeadles Buy Unsinkable shirts here!: https://www.bonfire.com/unsinkable-the-first-t-shirt/ Support the pod via my Bookshop Storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/unsinkablepod Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsinkablepod/

Visit my Bookshop link to buy the book club books and support the pod plus indie booksellers! https://bookshop.org/shop/unsinkablepod New pod merch can be found here: https://www.bonfire.com/store/unsinkable-the-titanic-podcast/ 20% of proceeds will be donated to World Central Kitchen! Support the show Support Unsinkable on Patreon for as little as $1/month: https://www.patreon.com/unsinkablepod Or buy me a coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/labeadles Buy Unsinkable shirts here!: https://www.bonfire.com/unsinkable-the-first-t-shirt/ Support the pod via my Bookshop Storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/unsinkablepod Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsinkablepod/

The Astor family name conjures images of Gilded Age opulence and tragedy—perhaps most famously embodied by John Jacob Astor IV, who perished aboard the Titanic in 1912. But the roots of one of America's first great fortunes stretch back much further, to the late 18th century when German immigrant John Jacob Astor built a fur trading empire that spanned from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Northwest. His American Fur Company turned remote outposts like Mackinac Island into crucial commercial hubs, fundamentally shaping the economic development of the American frontier. Over multiple generations, the Astors transformed their wilderness wealth into New York real estate, political influence, and cultural prestige, creating a dynasty that helped define what it meant to be American aristocracy but all built on the backs of the enslaved, the poor, the immigrants. Their story is one of ambition, innovation, and the complex legacy of fortunes built on both opportunity and exploitation during a pivotal era in American history. Part One explores the roots of all this. Part Two will explore the spiritual, physical, and cultural ghosts and legacies of Mackinac Island itself. The Root article I mentioned about slavery and NYC: https://www.theroot.com/how-slave-labor-made-new-york-1790895122 To support the pod and purchase the books I recommended: *Peter Stark’s Astoria: https://bookshop.org/a/80949/9780062964663 *Anderson Cooper’s Astor: https://bookshop.org/a/80949/9781482992199 Support the show Support Unsinkable on Patreon for as little as $1/month: https://www.patreon.com/unsinkablepod Or buy me a coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/labeadles Buy Unsinkable shirts here!: https://www.bonfire.com/unsinkable-the-first-t-shirt/ Support the pod via my Bookshop Storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/unsinkablepod Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsinkablepod/

What is Captain Smith hadn't gone down with the ship but instead lived to attend the inquiries and be inevitably torn apart by the press? How does he live with himself? How does Titanic's legacy change? Is there a chance it did happen and someone saw Smith in Baltimore years later? Wild to imagine right...? Support the show Support Unsinkable on Patreon for as little as $1/month: https://www.patreon.com/unsinkablepod Or buy me a coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/labeadles Buy Unsinkable shirts here!: https://www.bonfire.com/unsinkable-the-first-t-shirt/ Support the pod via my Bookshop Storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/unsinkablepod Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsinkablepod/

I'm back and energized for a whole new relevant and real era of Unsinkable. Take a listen! xLA Support the show Support Unsinkable on Patreon for as little as $1/month: https://www.patreon.com/unsinkablepod Or buy me a coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/labeadles Buy Unsinkable shirts here!: https://www.bonfire.com/unsinkable-the-first-t-shirt/ Support the pod via my Bookshop Storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/unsinkablepod Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsinkablepod/

Join me and Pablo for another riveting "what if" in Titanic land! What if Titanic had enough lifeboats for all its passengers and crew? Would they have been loaded in enough time? Would all lives have been saved? More? What would change about the ship's legacy? Support the show Support Unsinkable on Patreon for as little as $1/month: https://www.patreon.com/unsinkablepod Or buy me a coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/labeadles Buy Unsinkable shirts here!: https://www.bonfire.com/unsinkable-the-first-t-shirt/ Support the pod via my Bookshop Storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/unsinkablepod Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsinkablepod/

Ever wonder what became of Rose after she walked off of the Carpathia? Get in, let's go find out... Support the show Support Unsinkable on Patreon for as little as $1/month: https://www.patreon.com/unsinkablepod Or buy me a coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/labeadles Buy Unsinkable shirts here!: https://www.bonfire.com/unsinkable-the-first-t-shirt/ Support the pod via my Bookshop Storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/unsinkablepod Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsinkablepod/

This is a fun one! Pablo and I unpack the utter DESOLATION of a world without the success of 1997's Titanic. Imagine if somehow the Hollywood nutjobs who harassed James Cameron during the production were...right? That audiences wouldn't respond? How would it have affected what museums and memorial sites we have now, or how Titanic's legacy survives? What is pop culture without Jack and Rose? What is film history without this particular monocultural moment? I shudder to think! Support the show Support Unsinkable on Patreon for as little as $1/month: https://www.patreon.com/unsinkablepod Or buy me a coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/labeadles Buy Unsinkable shirts here!: https://www.bonfire.com/unsinkable-the-first-t-shirt/ Support the pod via my Bookshop Storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/unsinkablepod Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unsinkablepod/