World War 2 LIVE

Mark Fastoso

Welcome to World War II Live! Join historians John C. McManus and Kevin Hymel each week for an entertaining, informal, and cutting-edge dive into the history of the Second World War. These aren’t just any hosts—John is a professor of U.S. military history, author of fifteen award-winning books, and one of the nation’s top experts. Kevin has written five acclaimed books (including a trilogy on Patton), consults on films and documentaries, and brings the battlefields to life with his tours. On World War II Live, we’re here to answer your questions—big or small—while also sharing behind-the-scenes stories from their research, their tours, and their time working with documentaries. Expect a mix of serious insights, surprising details, and a touch of humor as they explore every corner of the war and what it means to us today. Subscribe, send in your questions, and join the conversation—because this is your chance to talk history with the experts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 5d ago

    Operation Market Garden: The American Story They Missed

    What was the American experience of Operation Market Garden—and is there more to the story than A Bridge Too Far tells us? In this episode of World War 2 Live, John C. McManus and Kevin Hymel dive into John’s book, September Hope, to explore the American side of Operation Market Garden. From the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions to the American infantry and armored units fighting in the Netherlands, we look beyond the familiar story of Arnhem to examine the wider campaign, its challenges, and the men who fought it. We discuss the airborne landings, the struggle to capture and hold key bridges, the fighting around Nijmegen and the Waal River crossing, and the decisions that shaped the operation’s outcome. Along the way, John shares insights from his research, and Kevin brings his own questions and perspectives to the conversation. Help us name our World War 2 Live audience! We want a name for the people who watch, listen, ask questions, and join us on this WWII history adventure. Some of the ideas already suggested include: 2 Live Crew The Never Stumpers The North Platte Canteen Band The Stumpers But we want to hear from you! Have a better idea? Tell us in the comments below or send us an email at worldwar2live@gmail.com. We’re collecting suggestions and will put the leading contenders to a vote. And if you haven’t subscribed yet, now’s the time! We have a lot in the works for the future, with more great WWII history, fascinating guests, books, battles, questions, and plenty of new ideas we want to explore with you. Subscribe to World War 2 Live and be part of what comes next. Have a question for John and Kevin? Send it to worldwar2live@gmail.com for a future edition of Stump the Chumps. Thanks for watching and listening—and for helping us build this community! #WorldWar2 #OperationMarketGarden #SeptemberHope Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Operation Market Garden: The American Story They Missed

  2. Oct 16

    A Bridge Too Far: Are the Battle Scenes Accurate?

    You voted A Bridge Too Far your favorite World War II movie. Now it’s time to get into the action! In Part 2 of our look at this classic 1977 film, John C. McManus and Kevin Hymel break down its major battle scenes and compare Hollywood’s depiction of Operation Market Garden with what really happened in September 1944. From the desperate fighting at Arnhem Bridge and the iconic command to “Bring up the PIAT!” to the perilous Waal River crossing, we examine what the film gets right, where it takes dramatic liberties, and how effectively it captures the chaos and human cost of combat. Along the way, we discuss the real soldiers behind the movie’s memorable moments, debate a story about how the Nijmegen bridge was saved, and explore why A Bridge Too Far remains such a compelling portrayal of one of the Allies’ most ambitious—and costly—operations of World War II. What do you think? Does A Bridge Too Far deserve its reputation as one of the greatest WWII movies ever made? Tell us in the comments! If you enjoy World War II history without losing sight of the people who fought it, subscribe to World War II Live and join the conversation. #WorldWarII #ABridgeTooFar #OperationMarketGarden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    A Bridge Too Far: Are the Battle Scenes Accurate?

  3. Oct 9

    Our Fans Chose the Greatest WWII Movie — A Bridge Too Far

    Our fans have spoken: A Bridge Too Far is the greatest World War II movie ever made. After months of voting, World War 2 Live viewers chose the 1977 epic A Bridge Too Far as their #1 WWII movie, beating out classics including Patton, Saving Private Ryan, The Longest Day, Das Boot, and Tora! Tora! Tora! So why did this movie win? John McManus and Kevin Hymel take a deep dive into A Bridge Too Far, the story of Operation Market Garden, and what makes the film still hold up nearly 50 years after its release. They discuss the enormous scale of the production, the use of real aircraft and real paratroopers, the film's portrayal of Arnhem and the Allied defeat, and some of its most memorable characters and scenes. Was A Bridge Too Far the right choice for #1? You voted for it—now let's find out why. Subscribe to World War 2 Live for more WWII history, fascinating stories, expert discussion, and our weekly Stump the Chumps. Submit questions for Stump the Chumps to: worldwar2live@gmail.com #WWII #WorldWar2 #ABridgeTooFar #OperationMarketGarden #WW2Movies Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Our Fans Chose the Greatest WWII Movie — A Bridge Too Far

  4. Oct 2

    FROM NORTH AFRICA TO CORREGIDOR: The Evolution of American Airborne Warfare

    The first American combat parachute drop of World War II was a disaster. By the end of the war, American airborne forces were conducting extraordinarily sophisticated operations. So how did they get from one to the other? In this episode of World War 2 Live, John McManus, Kevin Hymel and Mark Fastoso trace the evolution of American airborne operations from the first combat drop in North Africa in 1942 through Sicily and ultimately to the remarkable operation at Corregidor in 1945. The story includes missed targets, scattered paratroopers, bad weather, friendly fire, lessons learned—and some remarkable innovations that changed the way American airborne forces went to war. We also look at the personalities behind the evolution of the American airborne, including Edson Raff, Matthew Ridgway and James Gavin, and examine how the lessons of early airborne operations shaped later drops in Normandy, Market Garden and beyond. And, as always, Mark puts John and Kevin to the test with questions from World War 2 Live viewers in Stump the Chumps. Have a question about World War II? Send it to worldwar2live@gmail.com and it could be featured in a future episode. If you enjoy World War 2 Live, subscribe and join the conversation. #WorldWar2 #WWII #Airborne #Paratroopers #MilitaryHistory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. Sep 25

    We Took World War 2 Live to We Have Ways Fest

    What happens when World War 2 Live leaves the studio and meets its audience? John McManus, Kevin Hymel and producer Mark Fastoso headed to We Have Ways Fest in the UK—and found ourselves in the middle of thousands of World War II enthusiasts, historians, authors, reenactors, aircraft, tanks, and one unforgettable live World War 2 Live show. In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of the festival and talk about what it was like to finally meet so many of the people who listen to and watch the show. We talk about: • Performing World War 2 Live in front of a packed audience • The live show that brought John and Kevin back to the stage where the podcast was born • Kevin's unexpected moment playing General George S. Patton • Meeting some of the biggest names in World War II history • Mark's experience of finding himself in “World War Two Nerdvana” • Live Stump the Chumps—and the questions our audience brought to the festival • Why doing World War 2 Live in front of a live audience felt completely different • And whether there might someday be a World War 2 Live event in the United States... It was an extraordinary few days—and this time, you get to come along with us. If you enjoy World War 2 Live, subscribe, like the video, and share it with someone who loves World War II history. Have a question for a future episode of Stump the Chumps? Email us at worldwar2live@gmail.com with “We Have Ways” in the subject line. #WorldWar2 #WWII #WorldWar2Live #WeHaveWaysFest #MilitaryHistory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    We Took World War 2 Live to We Have Ways Fest

  6. Sep 11

    POINTE DU HOC: Debunking D-Day's Biggest Myth

    POINTE DU HOC: Debunking D-Day's Biggest Myth | World War II Live The guns were gone by the time the Rangers scaled the cliffs — but that fact has fueled one of the most persistent myths of D-Day. Dr. John C. McManus and Kevin Hymel take aim at the idea, popularized by Cornelius Ryan's The Longest Day and cemented in the 1962 film of the same name, that the mission was a pointless waste because the guns "weren't there." In this episode, John and Kevin dig into what actually happened to the German battery at Pointe du Hoc: how French Resistance intelligence tracked the guns before the invasion, why the Germans moved them inland after relentless Allied bombing, and how Rangers Leonard Lomell and Jack Kuhn tracked down and destroyed the relocated guns anyway. They also unpack why taking the point still mattered even without the guns in place, how "perishable" intelligence shaped the mission, and how a gripping first draft of history can calcify into myth once it hits the big screen. Plus: a favorite World War II movies update, a reading-race check-in, and a book recommendation on the role of freed people during Sherman's March. 🎖️ Hosted by Dr. John C. McManus and Kevin Hymel, with producer Mark Filoso 👍 Like, subscribe, and drop a comment with your take on the Pointe du Hoc controversy 📘 Join our new World War II Live Facebook group for behind-the-scenes content 🎙️ Catch us live at We Have Ways Fest #WWII #DDay #PointeDuHoc #Normandy #MilitaryHistory #Rangers #WorldWarIILive Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    POINTE DU HOC: Debunking D-Day's Biggest Myth

  7. Sep 6

    THE FORGOTTEN SOLDIER: Can We Believe This Russian Front Memoir?

    Is The Forgotten Soldier one of the greatest firsthand accounts of World War II—or is it a story we can't completely trust? Guy Sajer's The Forgotten Soldier has become one of the best-known memoirs of the German experience on the Russian Front. For generations of readers, it has offered a gripping, often brutal account of combat on the Eastern Front. But how accurate is it? In this episode of World War 2 Live, John, Kevin and Mark take a closer look at the book, its extraordinary claims, the details that have been questioned, and the debate over whether Sajer's account can be taken at face value. Kevin considers it one of the best firsthand accounts of the war. John points to details that are difficult to document—or demonstrably questionable. And somewhere in between those two positions is a fascinating question: Can we believe The Forgotten Soldier? Have you read the book? What did you think? Let us know in the comments. And if you enjoy World War 2 Live, consider subscribing and joining the conversation with the World War 2 Live community on Facebook. That's where we'll be sharing behind-the-scenes material, asking for your questions, and bringing you along to events like We Have Ways Fest. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1841249357237679 #WorldWar2 #TheForgottenSoldier #WWII #EasternFront #RussianFront #WW2History #WorldWar2Live Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    THE FORGOTTEN SOLDIER: Can We Believe This Russian Front Memoir?

  8. Aug 28

    Omaha Beach in 3D: The Story Behind Keith Rocco's Incredible Diorama

    What happens when World War 2 Live meets Someone Talked at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia? You get a special crossover episode—and a fascinating look at one of the most ambitious D-Day projects we've been involved with. The centerpiece of this episode is Keith Rocco's extraordinary Omaha Beach diorama, created with dioramist Bernie Kempinski. The massive 3D recreation captures Omaha Beach in remarkable detail, from the landing craft and soldiers to the terrain and German gun positions. John and Kevin discuss how the diorama was created, the historical research behind it, and how closely it reflects what actually happened on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. The project also includes historical videos featuring John and Kevin, explaining details shown in the diorama and helping visitors understand the history behind what they're seeing. And, of course, Mark is still involved—but he's calling in from the beach! That means it's time for everyone's favorite part of the show: Stump the Chumps. If you're anywhere near Bedford, the Omaha Beach diorama will be on display at the National D-Day Memorial through the end of 2026. Watch, learn, and then tell us: what detail of the Omaha Beach diorama caught your eye? #WorldWar2 #WWII #DDay #OmahaBeach #KeithRocco #WorldWar2Live #SomeoneTalked #DDayMemorial #MilitaryHistory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Omaha Beach in 3D: The Story Behind Keith Rocco's Incredible Diorama
See All (52)

4.6
out of 5
84 Ratings

About

Welcome to World War II Live! Join historians John C. McManus and Kevin Hymel each week for an entertaining, informal, and cutting-edge dive into the history of the Second World War. These aren’t just any hosts—John is a professor of U.S. military history, author of fifteen award-winning books, and one of the nation’s top experts. Kevin has written five acclaimed books (including a trilogy on Patton), consults on films and documentaries, and brings the battlefields to life with his tours. On World War II Live, we’re here to answer your questions—big or small—while also sharing behind-the-scenes stories from their research, their tours, and their time working with documentaries. Expect a mix of serious insights, surprising details, and a touch of humor as they explore every corner of the war and what it means to us today. Subscribe, send in your questions, and join the conversation—because this is your chance to talk history with the experts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Fastoso
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mark Fastoso
  • Show Website
    World War 2 LIVE

You Might Also Like