Unsinkable: The Titanic Podcast

Latest Episodes:

A Walk in Belfast Oct 16, 2022

Show notes

Join me for a walk through Titanic Quarter in Belfast, where my family I spent four glorious days back in August. I wish I could teleport back to the bar at Titanic Hotel right this instant. An old-fashioned. The halls of Harland and Wolff. It was a magical time.
In this episode I walk through the history of Harland and Wolff shipyard both literally and figuratively. I give some commentary on the stunning achievements of Titanic Belfast, the museum at the center of the Quarter. You'll hear my daughter set the record straight about her name and where she is in the first class lounge of Titanic tender ship Nomadic. And most importantly, I pay homage to the men who built this ship.
For more info on Belfast and Thomas Andrews, I recommend you look back at Gareth Russell's book Ship of Dreams.
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Support Unsinkable on Patreon for as little as $1/month: https://www.patreon.com/unsinkablepod
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Support the pod via my Bookshop Storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/unsinkablepod
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"In Here, It's Always 1912": An Interview with Kadi Brazil of the Titanic Museum Attraction Oct 03, 2022

Show notes

Join me in a FUN but also incredibly informative chat with actress and docent Kadi Brazil-- who works at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, where she portrays some of the ship's most iconic female passengers, historical and fictional (wink, wink, Rose reference). Kadi was so generous with her time and gives us a real sense of what it's like to work in a place where it's always, always 1912. From moving moments with visitors to some wacky anecdotes, this is one of my favorite interviews to date!
For peeks into her Titanic characters as well as other projects, follow Kadi on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/misskadimarie/
Find info on the museum here: https://titanicpigeonforge.com
Find me on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/unsinkablepod/?hl=en
Find Violet Jessup's memoir, which we mention, here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/titanic-survivor-violet-jessop/1141380852
If you enjoy the pod, please consider taking a moment to review on Apple or Spotify!

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All the Small, Powerful Moments: An Interview with Titanic Descendant Simon Medhurst Sep 26, 2022

Show notes

Join me a I talk with Simon Medhurst, who found out just about 10 year ago that he's actually the great-grandson of Titanic Quartermaster Robert Hichens. Hichens is quite the controversial figure in the ship's mythology, and Medhurst has been on a wild personal ride of discovery and reconciliation while also becoming an important voice in the online Titanic community.
You can buy Simon's book, Titanic Day by Day, here: https://penandswordbooks.com/titanic-day-by-day.html#.Yy_Ewy-B1-U
You can buy Sally Nillson's book about Robert Hichens here: https://bookshop.org/books/the-man-who-sank-titanic-the-troubled-life-of-quartermaster-robert-hichens/9780752460710
Both are available on Amazon as well but also please consider requesting from your local bookshop if possible!
Find Simon on Insta here: https://www.instagram.com/titanic_memorabilia/?hl=en
As always, THANK YOU for listening. You can find me on Insta and Twitter @UnsinkablePod
Support the show on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/unsinkablepod

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Titanic on Film: SOS Titanic (1979) Sep 19, 2022

Show notes

Join me as I revive my Titanic on Film series for this 70s time capsule of a TV movie--SOS Titanic. I ran from watching this one for years. A horrid Margaret Brown take, lots of 70s bangs and anachronistic hair, it just never appealed to me. But I finally ran into it head on and I examine its production, actors, themes a bit as well as highlight a few of the featured passengers. It's not on streaming currently (as of this episode's publication in September of 2022), but DVD copies are available on Amazon and other online shops.
Cheers, guys!
Make sure to subscribe and if you have a minute, leave a rating/review for the pod.

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Denis Lennon + Mary Mullin: In Search of the "Real Jack and Rose" in Cobh, Ireland Sep 10, 2022

Show notes

Welcome back to Unsinkable, I've missed you all! Join me in this tale of young love, forbidden romance, and a search for historical accuracy as I investigate the tale of Mary Mullin and Denis Lennon, two third class passengers from Ireland who boarded at Cobh, then Queenstown; their story is lean in facts but rich in mythology. Part of this story takes us to the 1990s, when a medical journalist named Monica O'Hara Keegan wrote about her past life regressions into a character that might have been some version of Mary. Trust me, it'll make some sense once you listen. This episode is a great mix of discussion about methodology and a bit of travelogue, as I share my family's experience in Cobh just this past August.
Cheers!
Here's a link to Monica's book:
https://www.amazon.com/Died-Titanic-Monica-OHara-Keeton/dp/0907768865

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An Update on the Clotilda + an Interview with Mike Foster Aug 29, 2022

Show notes

*Just a quick note to say I know the audio on this episode is a bit spotty and breathy; I had to use a Cloud recording because we had a few connection glitches on the day, my apologies!*
Join me for this, an update on the media involving + important work being done around the shipwreck of the Clotilda, which I featured in an Unsinkable side series episode this past spring. In this episode I speak with Mike Foster, whose ancestor William Foster captained (and burned) the slave ship. Mike has become a vocal advocate for Africatown and the legacy of the Clotilda; he speaks candidly with me about his relationship to descendants, his own emotional journey in becoming part of this story, and the ways in which Africatown is looking to the future. I am so grateful he gave me this time.
Mike's bio: Mike Foster was born in California in 1947, and raised there. He went into the United States Air Force in 1965 and served over 21 years. He has lived in ten states and four foreign countries, including England and Italy. He has kissed the Blarney Stone, been to the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, and served as a noncombatant tour in Vietnam. He is a published poet, and enjoys working on his family genealogy. He is married, a father and grandfather, and lives in Montana.

You can see the 60 Minutes interview we reference here: https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=mcafee&ei=UTF-8&p=mike+foster+60+minutes&type=E211US1490G0#id=2&vid=04f2e6628d337b1c0f920625d3920ce9&action=click
The books we reference:
-Zora Neale Hurston's Barracoon: The Story of the Last Black Cargo https://bookshop.org/books/barracoon-the-story-of-the-last-black-cargo/9780062748218
-Emma Langdon Roche's The Last Voyage of the Clotilda: https://bookshop.org/books/the-last-voyage-of-the-clotilda-the-true-story-of-the-last-slave-ship-voyage-1914/9781387870080
-Sylviane Diouf's Dreams of Africa in Alabama: https://bookshop.org/books/the-last-voyage-of-the-clotilda-the-true-story-of-the-last-slave-ship-voyage-1914/9781387870080
-And, of course, Ben Raines' The Last Slave Ship: https://bookshop.org/books/the-last-slave-ship-the-true-story-of-how-clotilda-was-found-her-descendants-and-an-extraordinary-reckoning-9781982136048/9781982136048
Support the Clotilda Descendants' Association here: https://theclotildastory.com/
And make sure to follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clotildadescendantsassociati

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Crosspost: Unsinkable x Titanic Talkline! Jul 29, 2022

Show notes

A very special crosspost: my appearance on the new podcast Titanic Talkline. I was honored to be in the first bath of guests, and Alexia's interviews are refreshing and fun. Make sure to search "Titanic Talkline" in whatever pod player you use and subscribe!
Find info here as well: https://www.facebook.com/TitanicTalkline/

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Season One Finale: A Kate Winslet Retrospective and What's to Come Jun 18, 2022

Show notes

Thank you for being part of Unsinkable during my first season. It's been an experiment, it's been joyful, I've met and spoken with so many people who have warmed my heart and challenged me to think more deeply. I love the Titanic community and I can't wait to bring you more content in the fall. For now, here's my love letter to Kate Winslet, to 1997 forever. A very special thank you to Hermes, Katja, Erin, and Emily for your Kate notes!
Join Patreon to support the pod over the summer and access bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/unsinkablepod

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Book Club: An Interview with Historian Steven Biel (Down with the Old Canoe: A Cultural History of the Titanic Disaster) Jun 03, 2022

Show notes

Dr. Biel and I discuss everything from the legacy of the various Titanic films to his surreal experiences aboard a ship in the North Atlantic as part of the group that accompanied the 1998 expedition to the wreck. He was there when the "Big Piece" saw the sunshine for the first time in 86 years. I was moved by our conversation and reminded of the importance of the passion of those in the Titanic community.
Buy his book here: https://bookshop.org/books/down-with-the-old-canoe-a-cultural-history-of-the-titanic-disaster/9780393316766?aid=80949&listref=the-cultural-history-of-the-ship
Leave me a voicemail to play on the pod! 512-650-8414
Support the pod on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/unsinkablepod

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