World War 2 LIVE

Mark Fastoso
  • 4.7 (62)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. The Battle of Guadalcanal - Episode 4: Halsey Takes Command

    5D AGO

    The Battle of Guadalcanal - Episode 4: Halsey Takes Command

    The struggle for Guadalcanal reached a critical turning point when a new commander stepped in. In this episode of World War 2 Live, Dr. John C. McManus and Kevin Hymel examine the moment William F. Halsey Jr. took command in the South Pacific—and how his leadership helped shift the momentum of the campaign. Aggressive, determined, and willing to take risks, Halsey brought a new energy to a fight that had been hanging in the balance. John and Kevin break down: • Why the situation on Guadalcanal had become so precarious • Halsey’s leadership style and immediate impact • The naval and air challenges facing both sides • How command decisions shaped the course of the campaign • What Halsey’s arrival meant for the broader Pacific War This is a pivotal chapter in our ongoing Guadalcanal series—where the outcome was far from certain, and leadership made all the difference. 🎯 Stump the Chumps Returns! Stick around for our viewer Q&A segment, where we tackle your questions. Have a question or a photo you want us to examine? 📩 Send it to: worldwar2live@gmail.com 📈 Help the Channel Grow If you’re enjoying World War 2 Live: 👉 Subscribe on YouTube 👉 Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform Your support helps us keep bringing you more in-depth World War II content. Join us as we continue exploring some of the most important and hard-fought campaigns of World War II. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 hr
  2. The Thin Red Line: What It Gets Right About Guadalcanal

    APR 24

    The Thin Red Line: What It Gets Right About Guadalcanal

    What does The Thin Red Line get right about war—and where does it take artistic license? In this episode of World War 2 Live, Dr. John C. McManus and Kevin Hymel take a deep dive into one of the most thought-provoking World War II films ever made. Set during the Battle of Guadalcanal, The Thin Red Line offers a very different portrayal of combat—one that focuses as much on the inner lives of soldiers as it does the battle itself. John and Kevin break down: • How accurately the film depicts Guadalcanal • The contrast between Hollywood storytelling and historical reality • The leadership, morale, and combat experience of soldiers in the Pacific • What the film captures emotionally that many war movies miss • Where the movie diverges from the historical record This episode is also part of our ongoing Guadalcanal series, where we’re exploring one of the most important and hard-fought campaigns of the war from multiple angles—history, storytelling, and lived experience. 📈 Help the Channel Grow If you’re enjoying World War 2 Live: 👉 Subscribe on YouTube 👉 Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform It really helps more people discover the show. 🎬 More Episodes Coming As Mark transitions out of his work at PBS, we’re gearing up for more in-depth video episodes, so stay tuned—there’s a lot more on the way. 📩 Got a question for Stump the Chumps? Send it to: worldwar2live@gmail.com Join us as we continue to explore World War II—not just the battles, but the stories, perspectives, and human experiences behind them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 11m
  3. The Battle of Guadalcanal - Episode 3: Rescue Plane Down

    APR 17

    The Battle of Guadalcanal - Episode 3: Rescue Plane Down

    In the chaos of Guadalcanal, one little-known story captures something essential about the American war effort: they didn’t leave their own behind. In this episode of World War 2 Live, Dr. John C. McManus and Kevin Hymel dive into a remarkable and often overlooked episode from the campaign—the rescue of a downed U.S. Army Air Forces C-47 supply plane. Based on Kevin’s article “Rescue Plane Down,” this is a story of determination, improvisation, and the relentless commitment to recover both aircraft and crew under dangerous conditions. Together, John and Kevin explore: • What happened when the C-47 went down on Guadalcanal • The risks involved in mounting a rescue in an active combat zone • How different branches of the U.S. military worked together under pressure • Why stories like this rarely make it into the broader history of the campaign • What this moment reveals about the “leave no man behind” mindset It’s a powerful reminder that beyond the major battles and famous names, the war was filled with acts of grit, ingenuity, and loyalty that defined those who fought it. 🎯 Stump the Chumps Returns! In this episode, we take on a new challenge from a viewer who sent in a collection of mysterious and unusual World War II photos. Can we figure out what we’re looking at—and what’s really going on in these images? Have something you want us to identify or a question you want answered? 📩 Send it to: worldwar2live@gmail.com If you enjoy the episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share. And join us as we continue uncovering the stories of World War II—both the well-known and the forgotten. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min
  4. The Battle of Guadalcanal – Episode 2: Hanging in the Balance

    APR 3

    The Battle of Guadalcanal – Episode 2: Hanging in the Balance

    When the Marines secured their foothold on Guadalcanal, the battle was far from over. What followed was not a quick victory—but a brutal, back-and-forth struggle across jungle, sea, and sky. In this episode of World War 2 Live, Dr. John C. McManus and Kevin Hymel continue their deep dive into Guadalcanal, exploring how the campaign evolved into one of the most complex and hard-fought battles of the war. Drawing on powerful historical accounts, including insights from Richard Frank’s definitive work on Guadalcanal, John and Kevin break down: • Why Guadalcanal was unlike any other Pacific battle • The growing importance of Henderson Field • The deadly balance between land, sea, and air combat • Japanese miscalculations—and the cost of getting it wrong • The brutal realities faced by both Marines and Japanese forces in the jungle As the campaign unfolds, one thing becomes clear: this is not a battle of sweeping advances—but a grinding fight for survival in one small, critical piece of terrain. 🎯 Stump the Chumps! Stick around for our viewer Q&A where we tackle your questions—and this episode includes a great moment where a viewer writes in to correct one of John’s previous answers, bringing new and fascinating insight to the discussion. We love these moments—because they make the show better. 📩 Got a question for Stump the Chumps? Send it to: worldwar2live@gmail.com If you enjoy the episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share. And join us as we continue our series on Guadalcanal—one of the most important and hard-fought campaigns of World War II. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 5m
  5. The Battle of Guadalcanal – Episode 1: The Landings

    MAR 27

    The Battle of Guadalcanal – Episode 1: The Landings

    When U.S. Marines hit the beaches of Guadalcanal in August 1942, the Pacific War entered a new phase. This wasn’t just another landing—it was the beginning of a brutal, months-long struggle across jungle, sea, and sky that would test everything the Allies had. In this episode of World War 2 Live, Dr. John C. McManus and Kevin Hymel break down the opening of the Guadalcanal campaign: • Why Guadalcanal mattered strategically • What the Marines faced in the first landings • The early naval and air battles that shaped the fight • Japanese miscalculations—and how they responded • How coordination (and miscoordination) defined the opening phase This is where the tide in the Pacific began to turn. 🎯 Stump the Chumps Returns! Stick around for our viewer Q&A segment where we tackle your questions. We also finally reveal the answer to one of our most intriguing questions yet: What’s the story behind that mysterious Nazi flag a viewer asked about? 📩 Got a question for Stump the Chumps? Send it to: worldwar2live@gmail.com If you enjoy the episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share—and join us as we continue breaking down the most important battles of World War II. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 hr
  6. The Sicilian Campaign Episode 5: The End

    MAR 20

    The Sicilian Campaign Episode 5: The End

    John C. McManus and Kevin Hymel discuss the significant events following the Sicilian campaign in World War II, including Mussolini's fall from power, the strategic decisions made by Eisenhower regarding the Italian campaign, and the complexities of partisan warfare in the Balkans. They delve into leadership changes within the U.S. Army, particularly the transition from General Terry Allen to General Clarence Huebner, and the controversies surrounding General Patton, including his infamous slapping incidents. The conversation also touches on the Italian armistice negotiations, the economic impact of the black market during the war, and the strategic necessity of retaking the Aleutian Islands. Finally, they reflect on Patton's legacy and the cultural representations of war in movies and literature. Send us your questions for Stump the Chumps to: worldwar2live@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 3m
  7. Diving into Band of Brothers Episode 3 - CARENTAN

    MAR 13

    Diving into Band of Brothers Episode 3 - CARENTAN

    In this episode, John C. McManus and Kevin Hymel delve into the intricacies of the Band of Brothers series, focusing on the Battle of Carentan and its strategic significance during WWII. They explore character portrayals, particularly Albert Blythe's experience with combat fatigue. In the Stump the Chumps segment they take questions from around the workd and discuss the broader themes of racial tensions and the contributions of African American soldiers. Send us your questions for Stump the Chumps at: worldwar2live@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 4m
  8. Diving into Band of Brothers Episode 2 - DAY OF DAYS

    MAR 6

    Diving into Band of Brothers Episode 2 - DAY OF DAYS

    In this episode, John C. McManus and Kevin Hymel delve into the second part of the Band of Brothers series, exploring the complexities of D-Day, the experiences of Easy Company, and the significance of George Luz's footage. They discuss the portrayal of combat, the challenges of communication, and the dynamics of leadership in wartime. The Stump the Chumps segment touches on the cooperation between American and Canadian forces, the psychological impact of combat, and the lessons learned from World War II that remain relevant today. Watch Mark's interview with George Luz Jr at: https://youtu.be/R2FGr8ud-d4 Send us questions for Stump the Chumps at: worldwar2live@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 6m
See All (30)

4.7
out of 5
62 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
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mark Fastoso
  • Show Website
    World War 2 LIVE

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