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What is it really like to descend two and a half miles beneath the Atlantic and come face to face with RMS Titanic? This week on Titanic Talk, Alexandra Boyd and Nelson Aspen welcome legendary Titanic explorer Dik Barton, former Director of Operations for RMS Titanic Inc. and Ambassador for the British Titanic Society. Speaking from the historic White Star Line headquarters in Liverpool, Dik shares extraordinary stories from his 22 dives to Titanic — including helping oversee the recovery of thousands of artifacts, his involvement with the famous “Big Piece”, touching Titanic’s ship’s wheel on the seabed, and the terrifying six hours his submersible spent trapped beneath the stern. He also talks about working alongside teams connected with James Cameron’s Titanic, what the wreck reveals about the ship’s violent breakup, his admiration for Quartermaster Robert Hichens, and why he believes J. Bruce Ismay has been unfairly portrayed. The conversation also touches on the new play Unsinkable at Liverpool’s Hope Street Theatre and a forthcoming Titanic and White Star Line exhibition at the historic White Star Line building. Above all, Dik explains why Titanic’s artifact collection must be preserved together for future generations. Find out more at DikBarton.com Alexandra’s documentary Ship of Dreams: Titanic Movie Diaries brings together cast members from James Cameron’s Titanic to tell their behind-the-scenes stories. Her forthcoming book, The Titanic Movie Diaries: Actors’ Stories From the Set of Titanic, featuring the memories of sixteen actors who worked on the film, will be published by The History Press on March 25, 2027. #titanic  #rmstitanic  #DikBarton #TitanicExplorer #titanichistory  #jamescameron  #BruceIsmay #whitestarline  #TitanicTalk #shipofdreams  #TheTitanicMovieDiaries Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES  For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack  SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast WATCH US on YouTube TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com @nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

The first episode of Season Four of Titanic Talk opens with writer/director Matthew Reynolds and actor Joseph Winder, who join Alexandra Boyd and Nelson Aspen to discuss their new play, Unsinkable. The play explores the life and legacy of J. Bruce Ismay, chairman of the White Star Line and one of Titanic’s most controversial survivors. Matthew discusses growing up in Liverpool and the city’s connection to Titanic, while Joseph talks about the challenge of portraying a man so often reduced to the role of villain. Together they explore Ismay’s family, ambitions, survival of the disaster, survivor’s guilt and the public judgement that followed him for the rest of his life. Unsinkable' is an emotionally charged drama that interrogates the nature of masculinity, hubris and guilt. Through tense philosophical dialogue, it explores the blurred line between survival and cowardice. Can historical drama help us look again at people we think we already understand? A fascinating start to Season Four of Titanic Talk. GET YOUR TICKETS for the play which runs September 30th to October 3rd at the Hope Street Theatre in Liverpool HERE! Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES  For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack  SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast WATCH US on YouTube TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com @nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

Nelson Aspen and Alexandra Boyd kick off season four with a candid catch-up on what they’ve both been doing between episodes. The conversation moves from personal updates and new merch to books, documentaries, and why Titanic still resonates so deeply with new generations.  In this episode, Nelson and Alexandra talk through their shared Titanic universe, their creative projects, and the ways age, reinvention, and fandom continue to shape their work. Follow the season four rollout for new guests and upcoming Titanic discussions.Watch Ship of Dreams: Titanic Movie Diaries if you haven’t already.Keep an eye out for Alexandra’s book launch and her third Titanic weekend appearance Join the conversation by commenting with your thoughts on Titanic films, AI, and favorite ship-centered movies.Pick up merch if you want to be “merched up” for Titanic Weekend.Alexandra's photographer Suzanna RothmeyerPreorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES  For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack  SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast WATCH US on YouTube TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com @nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

Nelson and Alexandra wrap up Season 3 with a look back at the wonderful conversations they've had this year. LISTEN AGAIN TO ~ The Amazon Prime release of Ship of Dreams: Titanic Movie Diaries The release of Nelson's book Kindred Spirits: A Titanic TaleTitanic exhibition organizer, Joe GoldAuthor of The Six, Steven SchwankertSpecial Round table episode on The Queen Mary for the 113th AnniversaryTitanic actress Fannie Brett Brittany Butler and Zach Douglas musing on Rose's life post Jack/Titanic and before she met Brock in an episode called 'Rose's Heart Will Go On'The recovery of bodies with death care expert, Clinton BonelliDavid Scott-Beddard of the British Titanic Society Kelly Skwarkan on the failed of leadership of the captain of the CalifornianDan E Parkes author. The Captain, The Daughter & the SpyAlex 0wens-Sarno - Cora in TitanicWe took time to remember one of our Titanic family who passed away on Thanksgiving Day. Ellen Mower O'Brien is the frozen Mother with Baby in James Cameron's film. Here's a link to her Go Fund Me Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES  For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack  SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast WATCH US on YouTube TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com @nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

For the final episode of Season Three Nelson and Alexandra came full circle and back to James Cameron's Titanic with one of the film's most memorable, and arguably the cutest, supporting characters. Alex Owens-Sarno was seven going on eight years old when she landed her first film role opposite Leonardo Di Caprio. Alex tells us about dancing with Leo, working with James Cameron and her infamous death scene that was cut because it was too upsetting. Alex is all grown up now and works an actress, writer and comedienne.  Follow her work on  Instagram @alex_sarno Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES  For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack  SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast WATCH US on YouTube TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com @nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

Nelson and Alexandra spend an intriguing and revealing conversation with Dan Parkes, cinematographer and the author of a fascinating and meticulously researched book he wrote about Captain Smith of Titanic and the legacy his daughter lived with throughout her storied life - a pilot, a politician and married to a spy who died in suspicious circumstances... This conversation could have spanned two Titanic Talk Episodes.  The telling of Helen Melville Russell Cooke's life (1898-1973) in Dan's book takes the shape of an edge-of-your-seat thriller. This book is a must-read for all Titanic enthusiasts looking for new and as yet uncovered human stories of the individuals effected by the Titanic tragedy. BUY Dan's Book TITANIC LEGACY: The Captain, The Daughter and The Spy FOLLOW @parkesproductions LEARN more about Dan on his WEBSITE Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES  For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack  SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast WATCH US on YouTube TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com @nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

In this episode, Nelson and Alexandra talk Titanic's rescue with Kelly Skwarcan. She is an author, speaker and researcher weaving in the stories of three ship's captains in her book - The Full Tale of the Titanic: Iron and Ice  and into her interactive case study presentation “Leadership in Crisis: The Titanic, Carpathia, & Californian”. Two ships were close to Titanic as she sank. The Carpathian and the Californian. Captain Lord ignored Titanic's SOS signals despite being only ten miles away and during the official enquiry he tried to cover up his failings. In an opposite demonstration of leadership, Captain Rostrun of the Californian turned his ship around and steered through a field of icebergs to help pick up survivors. Hear about how Kelly uses the stories of the two captains' different responses to train military cadets in the art of leadership combining her research and passion for the Titanic with the HEXACO personality test. LINKS ~ Kelly's Book IRON & ICE: The Full Tale of the Titanic on Amazon Kelly's website ~ kellyskwarcan.com Instagram ~ @kellyskwarcan Listen to Kelly's Narativ Leadership Story Talks podcast episode HERE Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES  For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack  SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast WATCH US on YouTube TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com @nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

Find out all about the workings and origin of the British Titanic Society from their chairman David Scott-Beddard, who also owns White Star Memories, one of the premiere Titanic exhibition companies in the world. He was also a key player in finding, raising awareness, raising funds and restoring one of Titanic's tender ships -  the Nomadic. Listen to this fascinating new episode where Nelson and Alexandra hear also about David's new venture restoring two train carriages that travelled Titanic passengers from Waterloo to Southampton. LINKS for this episode ~ Nomadic is dry docked at Titanic Belfast TitanicBelfast.com/explore/ss-Nomadic David's collection of memorabilia White Star Memories Exhibition Hub, the immersive Titanic exhibition: www.exhibitionhub.com Sculpter Allen St Geroge: alanstgeorge.com Titanic Boat Train Heritage: titanicboattrainheretagetrust.org  Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES  For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack  SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast WATCH US on YouTube TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com @nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

This is a solemn and unusual episode, Nelson and Alexandra speak with Clinton Bonelli. They met their new Titaniac friend on the Queen Mary over Titanic Weekend 2025 and immediately found each other to be kindred spirits. Clinton's is a mortuary science specialist and death care professor, so Nelson had the idea to invite him on to Titanic Talk to tell us about the recovery of the bodies of Titanic's victims and how they were treated in 1912. It's well known that only one lifeboat returned to pick up survivors in the water, many passengers would have gone down with the ship and many didn't survive longer than fifteen minutes in the freezing water of the Atlantic. Clinton's background in funeral arrangement and embalming and his research on who was buried at sea, who was laid to rest in Halifax in the cemetery and whose bodies were returned to their families outlines, even in death, the unbalanced distinction of the classes. Follow Clinton on Instagram @clintonb1979 and @pedantictitanic Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES  For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack  SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast WATCH US on YouTube TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com @nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

So this Titanic Talk episode is a little different. Nelson and Alexandra wanted to pose the question of what exactly happened to Rose after she disembarked the Carpathia. Who did she marry and have children with and why oh why didn't she sell The Heart of the Ocean!? These questions and many more, along with "WHO is your Titanic Crush?", are posed and answered with return guests - and fellow stars of Ship of Dreams: Titanic Movie Diaries, Brittany Butler, of the wonderful James Cameron's Titanic Scene by Scene podcast and uber, super fan Zach Douglas. Be sure to write to us on Instagram with your thoughts on Rose's life after Jack and also do tell us who is your Titanic crush? LINKS @Titanic_Talk_podcast Zach @zachdouglasdoggrooming Brittany @ibrittanybutler Titanic Scene by Scene @titanicbyscene Phaze Y2K @y2kphaze WATCH Alexandra's short film Boxer on the Wilderness Learn more about Titanic Survivor Celiney Alexander Yasbeck. HERE Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES  For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack  SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast WATCH US on YouTube TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com @nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

Nelson and Alexandra share an animated and nostalgic conversation with the charmingly French Fannie Brett. All three of them are 'ex-pat' Angelenos so they reminisce about Los Angeles life and work in the 90s and their dinners at El Coyote - and you though they only drank margaritas in Rosarito Beach, Mexico!  Fannie is still acting but she is also a renown voice actor/teacher, casting director and producer. She has a successful dubbing studio which she runs from Las Vegas. In 1996, however, she'd not long been in America when she was cast in Titanic as Benjamin Guggenheim's mistress Madame Aubert.  She describes in detail her audition process with Mali Fin on what was her first American film. If you are just starting out, you will learn a lot about the business of acting and see that the world of Titanic really was populated by people from all over the world. Titanic was a floating city of the rich and the poor and a myriad of nations were represented. Madame Aubert's part in the tragedy is particularly interesting... FYI - for you die-hard Titanic fans the etiquette coach/choreographer was Lynne Hockney and the onset photographer we were talking about is Merie Wallace Fannie's dubbing and voice actor training company is 7HM (Seven Holdings Media) For more information on her one-on-one training email her at [email protected] Fannie's Website  Instagram @fannie_brett Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES  For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack  SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast WATCH US on YouTube TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com @nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

Nelson and Alexandra had the pleasure of spending Titanic Weekend  (April 12th & 13th) on The Queen Mary in Long Beach CA presenting their book (Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale) and film (Ship of Dreams: Titanic Movie Diaries) respectively and joining the Titanic podcast triumvirate of Paul Carganilla and his Titanic Legacy podcast, and James Penca and his Witness Titanic podcast, in a roundtable recording made in front of a live audience in the Mauritania Room. LISTEN to a fascinating collection of origin stories, anecdotes and advice on how to deal with 'those critics' as these three podcasters cross-pollinate and agree that they are all connected by Titanic. LISTEN to Alexandra on Titanic Legacy LISTEN to Nelson on Titanic Legacy LISTEN to Witness Titanic Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES  For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack  SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast WATCH US on YouTube TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com @nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

Nelson and Alexandra spent a wonderful second podcast conversation with returning author and documentarian Steven Schwankert. In Season Two Steven was on the podcast talking about his extraordinary and groundbreaking film THE SIX about the surviving Chines passengers on Titanic who very few people had heard of since they disembarked at New York in 1912. Steven has expanded the story and his research into his new book The Six: The Untold Story of the Titanic's Chinese Survivors. He delves more deeply into the history of the Chinese sailors with more details that couldn't fit into a 100 minute feature film. LISTEN and you will learn a lot about this little known piece of Titanic survivor history. Learn about the documentary HERE Buy Steven's book HERE Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES  For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack  SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast WATCH US on YouTube TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com @nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

In this episode, Nelson and Alexandra learn a bit about the business of Titanic from Joe Gold of The Gold Group, the promotional company behind the Titanic Artefact Exhibition in Boston. Joe talks about some of the fascinating artefacts they have on display including a toilet from third class and a perfectly preserved wool suit retrieved from a leather suitcase in the debris field.  They discuss the importance of preservation and education. The Boston exhibition is one of more than forty around world. Retrieving dishes, eye glasses and every day objects tells up about the people who used those things and brings their lives a little closer to our understanding of life - if all too briefly - aboard the ship of dreams. Extended by popular demand, the exhibition in Boston continues at the Castle at Park Plaza until June 1st 2025. Be sure to catch Nelson's book signing there on Wednesday May 14th. Go to titanicboston.us for tickets Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES  For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack  SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast WATCH US on YouTube TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com @nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

Welcome to the 50th episode of Titanic Talk. That's something to celebrate along with Nelson's new book! Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale is a historical fantasy set on the ill-fated maiden voyage of Titanic and present day Manhattan. Nelson and Alexandra talk about his book, their upcoming presenting appearances on the Queen Mary in Long Beach on April 12th & 13th for the Titanic Anniversary Weekend and their hopes and expectations for events and guests in Season Three. Buy Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale on Amazon.com TITANIC ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND TICKETS www.titanicweekend.com We'll see you there! Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES  For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack  SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast WATCH US on YouTube TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com @nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...