Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs

Latest Episodes:

Sir Ernest Shackleton: The Boss - Part 1 Oct 19, 2025

Show notes

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 preparing for another Antarctic voyage, and was buried on South Georgia Island, where his legacy as one of history’s greatest explorers endures.

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

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Join the Into History Network for ad-free access to this and many other fantastic history podcasts! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.intohistory.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Sir Ernest Shackleton: The Boss - Part 2 Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

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 Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join the Into History Network for ad-free access to this and many other fantastic history podcasts! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.intohistory.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Bonus: US Navy Chief Petty Officer (Retired) Scott Baxter [Bonus] Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

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 Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join the Into History Network for ad-free access to this and many other fantastic history podcasts! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.intohistory.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Ship's Log: The Marine Electric - The Shipwreck That Changed the Coast Guard Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

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.

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The Murder of Kim Wall - The Submarine Case Sep 23, 2025

Show notes

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:

Kim Wall Memorial Fund: https://www.iwmf.org/programs/kim-wall-memorial-fund/
Remembering Kim Wall: https://www.rememberingkimwall.com/
A Silenced Voice, by Ingrid and Joachim Wall: https://www.amazon.com/Silenced-Voice-Life-Journalist-Wall/dp/1542018110

My guest for this episode is Alfred Dockery from Blue Ridge True Crime. https://www.BlueRidgeTrueCrime.com. 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 Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join the Into History Network for ad-free access to this and many other fantastic history podcasts! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.intohistory.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Sea Shanties and Tall Ships with Captain Tom Kastle Sep 16, 2025

Show notes

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 theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sean Sigfried⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join the Into History Network for ad-free access to this and many other fantastic history podcasts! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.intohistory.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Bonus: The Music of Captain Tom Kastle Sep 16, 2025

Show notes

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/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The Sinking of RMS Lusitania - Part 2 Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

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

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 Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The Sinking of RMS Lusitania - Part 1 Aug 26, 2025

Show notes

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 Sigfried⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join the Into History Network for ad-free access to this and many other fantastic history podcasts! ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.intohistory.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The Exxon Valdez Disaster Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

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

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join the Into History Network for ad-free access to this and many other fantastic history podcasts! ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.intohistory.com/shipwreckspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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