The Mariner's Mirror Podcast

The Society for Nautical Research and the Lloyds Register Foundation

The world's No.1 podcast dedicated to all of maritime and naval history. With one foot in the present and one in the past we bring you the most exciting and interesting current maritime projects worldwide: including excavations of shipwrecks, the restoration of historic ships, sailing classic yachts and tall ships, unprecedented behind the scenes access to exhibitions, museums and archives worldwide, primary sources and accounts that bring the maritime past alive as never before. From the Society for Nautical Research, and the Lloyds Register Foundation. Presented by Dr Sam Willis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Jul 21

    Seashells, Spies and the British Empire: The Extraordinary World of Vernon MacAndrew

    What begins as the story of a shell collector quickly becomes something far more intriguing… In this episode, we explore the remarkable life of Vernon MacAndrew, a wealthy naturalist, sailor and photographer whose passion for collecting seashells carried him across the maritime highways of the British Empire. Following in the footsteps of his famous naturalist grandfather, MacAndrew transported his own yacht to the Red Sea and the Philippines in search of rare specimens. Yet among his photographs are not just shells and beaches, but Arab leaders, camel-mounted fighters, Hashemite flags and senior British officials operating in one of the most strategically sensitive regions of the world. Was he simply pursuing science, or was something more going on? To find out more Dr Sam Willis spoke with Dartmouth historian Jonathan Turner, who introduces a newly discovered archive of more than 5,000 photographs and reveals how MacAndrew's travels illuminate the connections between maritime exploration, natural history, photography, imperial power and global shipping networks. We also visit Dartmouth Museum to examine some of the spectacular shells MacAndrew collected, objects of extraordinary beauty that open a window onto the cultures, environments and sea routes of the early twentieth century. From the shores of Aqaba to the reefs of the Philippines, this is a story of curiosity, adventure and empire—showing how something as seemingly modest as a shell collection can reveal an entire maritime world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. Jul 7

    The Spanish Inquisition Vs English Mariners

    In this episode we uncover some fantastic stories of English sailors being caught up in the Spanish Inquisition. To find out more Dr Sam Willis spoke with Theresa Tinsley, who explores in detail how, between 1558 and 1604, more than 400 subjects of Elizabethan England found themselves in contact with the Inquisition. Fabulous records survive which detail their experiences and testimonies, and which provide a fresh perspective on this crucial period of religious divergence that occurred in a world bursting with new maritime trade and exploration. The varied experiences of merchants, sailors, diplomats, and prisoners of war highlight cases of persecution, conversion, and a healthy bit of religious ambivalence. By exploring the actual workings of the Inquisition in detail, it encourages us to question the cruelty and scale of the Inquisition's actions against the English, rumours and myths which fed anti-Spanish propaganda at the time, and which continue to colour our perceptions today. In particular we hear about how the Spanish Inquisition worked in ports - hotbeds of suspicion because of the cultural exchange that inevitably happened there, caused by hugely varied populations of converts, foreigners, enslaved people and displaced populations converging. Theresa has written about all of this in a fabulous new book called English Encounters with the Spanish Inquisition: Faith, Nationhood, and Heresy.     Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Jun 30

    Secret Warriors: British Submarines in the Cold War

    Today we're exploring one of the most secretive and dangerous arenas of the Cold War, the silent world of submarines. To find out more Dr Sam Willis spoke with Paul Brown, whose new book explores the tense underwater cat and mouse game that played out between global superpowers during decades of nuclear brinkmanship, from covert missions beneath arctic ice to near catastrophic encounters hidden from public view for years. This is a story of technology, strategy and the extraordinary people who served in these vessels, knowing that just one mistake could trigger a global conflict. We hear about the research behind the book, the real-life drama that inspired it, and why the legacy of Cold War submarine warfare still matters today. Paul’s Book is called Secret Warriors, British Submarines in the Cold War.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. Jun 15

    Rebellion at Sea: The Great Naval Mutinies of 1797

    In this episode, we explore the great naval mutinies of 1797. This was during the French Revolutionary Wars, when Britain was fighting France at sea and relying heavily on the Royal Navy to maintain its power, security, trade routes, and global empire. But on British shores at a time when invasion of England seemed highly likely, the fleets mutinied at the great anchorages of Spithead and the Nore. The mutinies represent two of the most serious manifestations of collective resistance in eighteenth century Britain. It's a story set against a backdrop of tension and shifting loyalties. This isn't just the story of rebellion; it's a study of what happens when order begins to fracture from within. It's about what happens when people are driven to the edge and the choices they make under intense stress, when resistance and survival are intrinsically linked, like a ship and its keel. To find out more, Dr Sam Willis spoke with Callum Easton. He is the author of the brilliant book, The 1797 Naval Mutinies and Popular Protest in Britain which won the 2025 Sir Julian Corbett Prize in Modern Naval History. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. Jun 1

    'Supposed Killed or Drowned': The Lost Women of the Merchant Navy in WW1 and WW2

    In this episode we explore a part of maritime history that has too often drifted beneath the surface: women who served at sea in the First and Second World Wars, and who died for their service. To find out more, Dr Sam Willis spoke with Nina Baker, author of a fabulous new book exploring the lives of those women. Nina has created the first complete list of all of these women and has written detailed profiles for those who were Scottish, bringing their stories to light for the first time. These are women who travelled and worked to survive, but disappeared doing so. By tracing those lives, Nina's work says a great deal about what their absences reveal about all sorts of things: danger, memory, class, migration, and of course, the human cost of maritime life. We hear about the research behind the book, the voices history chose to preserve, and of course, the ones it allowed to sink beneath the waves. We also explore why those stories matter now, and how recovering them changes the way we understand both the sea and the societies built around it. And just to make this episode even more interesting, if it's in any way possible, Nina herself has a great story: She became one of the first women navigation officers in the British Merchant Navy, a pioneer in opening up access to seafaring careers for women. She rose through the ranks of an industry that for centuries had been male dominated. She also shares some of her early maritime experiences. Her book is called “Supposed Killed or Drowned by Enemy Action at Sea” Scottish Merchant Navy women who died as a result of enemy action in the First and Second World Wars. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. May 18

    The Naval Fiction Interviews: Chris Durbin, Edward Carlisle and George Holbrooke

    In this episode of The Mariner’s Mirror Podcast, we continue our naval fiction series with Chris Durbin, author of the excellent Carlisle & Holbrooke Naval Adventures. Set during the global conflict of the Seven Years’ War, the series follows two Royal Navy captains—one a colonial Virginian, the other from Hampshire—as they navigate war, politics, and shifting loyalties in a world on the brink of revolution. Drawing on a 24-year career as a Royal Navy warfare officer, Durbin brings an authentic edge to his storytelling, capturing the realities of life at sea—from fleet actions and convoy duty to the personal pressures of command. In this conversation, we explore how he blends history with fiction, the challenges of writing naval warfare, and the wider historical forces shaping his characters’ lives. With seventeen novels in the series and the story moving toward the American Revolution, Durbin’s work offers a vivid and immersive take on a defining period of maritime history. If you’re new to the series, you can catch up on previous conversations with authors spanning the centuries—from the 17th century with David Davies, to the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars with Julian Stockwin, Katie Daysh, and Philip K. Allen. We’ve even delved into the life behind Patrick O’Brian’s work with his biographer for a broader perspective. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. May 4

    The Naval Fiction Interviews: Philip K. Allan and Alexander Clay

    In this episode, we continue our deep dive into naval fiction with the prolific and insightful Philip K. Allan. Since 2018, Philip has built an impressive body of work, most notably his Alexander Clay series set during the Age of Sail. Following a Royal Navy officer through the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, the series brings to life a global naval career—from home waters to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, and South America. Along the way, readers experience everything from commerce raiding and blockades to dramatic ship-to-ship combat and fleet battles, all while gaining a vivid sense of life at sea and the shifting alliances of the era. More recently, Philip has turned his attention to the Second World War with his Wolves series, exploring the deadly struggle between Allied convoys and German U-boats. If you enjoy this conversation, be sure to check out our other episodes in the naval fiction series, featuring contemporary authors writing naval fiction across the centuries and a fascinating look into the life behind Patrick O’Brian’s iconic work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. Apr 20

    Spies in the Shipyard: Espionage and the Rise of Spain’s 18th-Century Navy

    This episode explores the shipyards, political intrigue, and naval ambitions of 18th-century Spain at a pivotal moment in its emergence as a modern maritime power. Once dominant in the wake of its vast American empire, Spain by the mid-1700s faced a rapidly changing world, as Britain and France competed fiercely for control of the seas. At the centre of this transformation lay the Marquess de la Ensenada, an ambitious and influential minister determined to rebuild Spain’s naval strength. His reforms reshaped the navy from the ground up: new bases rose at Ferrol, Cartagena, and La Carraca; naval administration was overhauled; officers were professionalised; and shipbuilding became a central priority of the state. Looking beyond Spain’s borders, Ensenada’s programme embraced foreign expertise. British shipbuilding methods were adopted, officers were sent abroad to gather knowledge, and skilled shipwrights were discreetly recruited from London—efforts that sometimes edged into espionage. The result was a bold and complex naval experiment that brought both friction, and lasting impact. Dr Sam Willis spoke with Dr Catherine Scheybeler to explore the ambitions, achievements, and limitations of Ensenada’s naval revolution, and its enduring significance in the history of European sea power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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About

The world's No.1 podcast dedicated to all of maritime and naval history. With one foot in the present and one in the past we bring you the most exciting and interesting current maritime projects worldwide: including excavations of shipwrecks, the restoration of historic ships, sailing classic yachts and tall ships, unprecedented behind the scenes access to exhibitions, museums and archives worldwide, primary sources and accounts that bring the maritime past alive as never before. From the Society for Nautical Research, and the Lloyds Register Foundation. Presented by Dr Sam Willis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    The Society for Nautical Research and the Lloyds Register Foundation
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    278
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Society for Nautical Research and the Lloyds Register Foundation
  • Show Website
    The Mariner's Mirror Podcast