Military Historian, Author, and Battlefield Guide Paul Reed join Sean to discuss a BBC documentary that he took part in, Meet The Ancestors Series 5, Episode 3: The Forgotten Battlefield. The documentary details a group of amateur archaeologists called The Diggers, who discovered a complex trench system over 200 fallen soldiers, in the Ieper (Ypres) and Boesinghe (now Boezinge).

In an act of what Paul describes as "rescue archaeology" the diggers and historians-including Paul himself, race against time to uncover as much as they can before the area is completely covered by the building of an industrial estate. Paul also talks about what happened after the cameras stopped rolling.

From the educational remit of British television in the early 2000's, to the emergence of amateur archaeology, and World War One remembrance and myths, this episode has it all.

Raised Questions:

-Did you know the BBC made a rival programme to Channel Four's Time Team?

-Why weren't professional archaeologists interested in World War One battlefields back in the early 2000's?

-Why wouldn't The Diggers be allowed to do their work today?

-Why does wood survive in Flanders Field?

-Why is it important to show the reality of war in documentaries?

Chapters:

0:06 Welcome to Review It Yourself

1:14 Revisiting The Forgotten Battlefield

2:55 The Evolution of BBC Documentaries

7:31 The Role of 'The Diggers'

9:19 Post-War Reconstruction Challenges

10:48 Discoveries Beneath the Surface

13:53 Amateurs vs. Professionals in Archaeology

15:28 The Significance of Archaeological Finds

21:02 Understanding the Reality of War

23:28 The Human Cost of Conflict

30:15 The Reality of Identification

34:59 Forgotten Events of the Past

38:54 The Fog of War

40:47 Officer Casualties and Leadership

45:44 Findings from the Battlefield Trench

47:45 Unearthing History

56:34 The Weight of Remembrance

1:01:20 Reflections on Loss

1:06:21 The Reality of War

1:08:09 Commemoration vs. Reality

1:16:56 Modern Discoveries

1:23:05 The Role of DNA

1:28:58 The Future of Historical Narratives

1:33:57 Sharing Knowledge and Passion

The Programme on BBC iPlayer (UK Only):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0074n0m/meet-the-ancestors-series-5-3-the-forgotten-battlefield

Paul's Podcast:

Further Information can be found in Paul's podcast: The Old Front Line:

-Battlefield Archaeology & Essex Farm Episode (3rd April 2020).

-Forgotten Battlefield: The Reunion Episode (1st April 2023).

The Old Front Line Website:

https://oldfrontline.co.uk/

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here:

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sean and Fraser McCallum, Imperial War Museum employee and author of Cold War Britain: 50 Years in the Shadow of the Bomb, continue their Cold War discussion.

Our Guest:

https://shop.iwm.org.uk/blogs/news/cold-war-britain -A blog about the book on the Imperial War Museum Website, with a link to the shop. This podcast is not an advertisement, and the link is here for you to do your own research on the book. You can buy it from whatever seller you want, we're not trying to influence you. Sean and Sarah highly recommend the book though!

Chapters:

0:10 The Evolution of Airborne Weapons

1:03 Scotland's Nuclear Dilemma

2:20 Greenham Common and Women's Activism

3:51 The Anxiety of Nuclear Threats

5:20 Eisenhower and Churchill's Perspectives

10:14 The Impact of Cold War Culture

14:09 Remembering Cold War Conflicts

19:38 The Falklands War and Its Legacy

26:01 The Aftermath of Yugoslavia's Conflict

27:29 Short Attention Spans in History

31:14 The Depressing Continuity of Conflict

35:21 Cultural Reflections on Cold War

40:45 The Legacy of 'Threads'

47:58 The Evolution of Cold War Cinema

53:59 The Book as a Gateway to History

55:08 Final Thoughts on Cold War Legacy

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here:

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'Keep a hold of those 99 balloons, tear down this wall Mr Gorbachev and make a shelter of your internal doors, we're diving into the Cold War in Britain'. Sean is joined by Imperial War Museum employee and author of Cold War Britain: 50 Years in the Shadow of the Bomb, Fraser McCallum.

A two-hour exploration of the Cold War from a purely British stand-point, this begins as a discussion of Fraser's book and rapidly becomes an in-depth, humorous and passionate discussion between two lads who love history.

References:

-The parade that Sean was talking about was the "Victory Celebration" Parade in London on 8th June 1946, which omitted the Polish Forces.

-The Channel Four programme Sean was talking about was the 2010 documentary 'Bloody Foreigners: The Untold Battle of Britain'.

Our Guest:

https://shop.iwm.org.uk/blogs/news/cold-war-britain -A blog about the book on the Imperial War Museum Website, with a link to the shop. This podcast is not an advertisement, and the link is here for you to do your own research on the book. You can buy it from whatever seller you want, we're not trying to influence you. Sean and Sarah highly recommend the book though!

Podcast Sting:

Marv from Pods Like Us podcast. Find It Here: https://marvsmooth.podbean.com/

Chapters:

0:05 Welcome to Cold War Britain

0:27 The Role of the NHS

3:13 Labour Government and Idealism versus Reality

5:32 Making History Accessible

6:30 The Lack of books on Britain's role in the Cold War

8:17 The Cold War and British Identity

8:47 The Challenge of Academic History

9.40 A book with Winston Churchill and David Bowie

0:05 Welcome to Cold War Britain

0:27 The Role of the NHS

3:25 Historical Context and Modern Politics

5:32 Making History Accessible

8:17 The Cold War and British Identity

8:47 The Challenge of Academic History

12:48 Did Churchill under-estimate Stalin?

16:44 The Dilemma of Poland

18:13 The Suez Crisis

19:10 The Vietnam War and British Involvement

23:45 The UK/US 'Special Relationship'

25:20 The UK/USSR relationship-A Marriage of Convenience?

42:09 Protests and Changing Attitudes

44:15 The Cultural Impact of the Cold War

50:23 Cinema and Cold War Narratives

56:16 Reflections on History and Film

59:00 The Evolution of Britain's Nuclear Arsenal

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here:

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A classic episode as Sean, Clayton and Shawn dive into one of the most beloved Christmas films of all time: The Holiday (2006). Eyelid kissing, across-the-pond relationships and characters 'so English it hurts' combine to make this episode unmissable.

Sean takes some time to teach Clayton and Shawn some chocolate-based English phrases.

Who moved where, after the credits roll?

Chapters:

0:08 Christmas Special Introduction

2:01 Jude Law's Charisma

3:06 Love Actually vs. The Holiday

9:10 Characters and Their Arcs

12:37 Jack Black's Unexpected Charm

21:53 Unrequited Love Reflections

23:51 Iris's Transformation

43:55 The Power of Friendship

55:36 Emotional Climax of the Film

1:12:09 Fluffy Christmas Movie Expectations

1:16:13 Sweet Treats and Chocolate

1:22:23 Wrapping Up the Year

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here:

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This [film] is 87 minutes of awesome, pure awesome! My Love for this film is so strong!

Doctor Erica Canela joins Sean to discuss nothing to do with history. Opting for something completely different, Erica guests to defend the incredibly montage-filled Rocky IV (1985).

Chapters:

0:04 Introduction to Rocky IV

4:49 The Essence of Rocky IV

30:24 The Stakes of the Fight

41:34 Training Montage Showdown

51:02 The Final Showdown

58:30 Reflection and Conclusion

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here:

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'The blast wave from a thermonuclear weapon has been likened to an enormous door, slamming in the depths of hell'

-Narrator, The War Game.

Sean and Sarah go from very silly (Sean has been eating too many Brandy-infused Mince Pies) to incredibly serious whilst discussing one of the most harrowing films they've ever seen: The 1966 BBC Nuclear War pseudo-documentary programme, The War Game. Banned from TV broadcast until 1984, when it was show alongside Threads (1984) this is a must-see film.

A harrowing film showing a nuclear strike on the South of England, infused with British humour alongside horrific details of the impact of radiation, this is peak British Television.

Please Note: This podcast episode contains one use of the term ‘coloured’. This is quoted directly from the film purely as part of a historical discussion and review of the film, and is not meant to cause any offence/distress. It highlights the 1960's society, which was still grappling with racial and social prejudice, and allows us to discuss the film in it's historical context.

References:

The V2 attack on Woolworths in London, occurred on Saturday 25th November 1944, and killed 168 people.

Chapters:

0:03 Welcome to the Podcast

1:16 A Heavy Discussion, a Silly Start!

1:56 The War Game

3:48 The Impact of Nuclear War

10:26 British Responses to Nuclear Threats

16:32 Society's Fragility

23:00 Exploring the Horrors

25:43 The Psychological Toll

29:10 The Aftermath of Destruction

33:09 The Reality of Survival

37:27 Triage and Resource Allocation

42:28 The Bleak Future

45:45 Children of the Fallout

49:11 The Illusion of Hope

53:42 Historical Context and Reflection

57:54 Cautionary Tales

1:01:37 Preparing for the Unknown

1:06:14 The Limits of Survival

1:08:21 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here:

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you get when two Titanic enthusiasts get together to geek out over one of the staples of 1990's Titanic documentary: Answers from the Abyss (1999)?

You get nerdy chaos.

Sean is joined by Ryan 'The Dalek Man' Wade this time around. Ryan brings his insight into the documentary, the Titanic disaster and lesson learned from the tragedy... when Sean let's him get a word in that is.

Chapters:

1:29 Introduction to Titanic Enthusiasts

15:09: A piece of Titanic (allegedly) fell off a truck

37:36 Captain Smith's Role in the Titanic Disaster

37:48 Exploring Titanic's Lifeboats and Safety Measures

42:37 Theories on Titanic's Final Moments

44:13 Investigating the Stern's Implosion and Explosion

47:10 Titanic's Stern: A Hidden Tragedy

49:46 Eyewitness Accounts and Historical Misunderstandings

51:30 The Debate on Titanic's Final Moments

53:47 Theories on the Ship's Breakup

57:13 The Iceberg's Impact: A Fatal Encounter

1:00:02 Lifeboat Protocols and Miscommunication

1:05:52 Societal Impact of the Titanic Disaster

1:06:35 Lessons Learned from Titanic

1:08:33 Modern Documentaries vs. Classic Approaches

1:10:50 The Personal Side of Titanic Stories

1:19:16 Current Titanic Exploration Challenges

1:20:57 Ryan's Titanic Model Making Journey

1:27:00 Future Titanic Podcast Plans

1:32:22 Wrap-Up and Farewell

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here:

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katja Hoyer, German-British Historian, Author and Journalist joins Sean and Sarah to discuss the dilemma facing German actors since 1945: whether to take Nazi roles or not.

They examine 'memory politics' of the Second World War, the stereotypical Nazi portrayal seen in Hollywood over the years such as Wolf Kahler, through to modern German actors like Sandra Hüller, Daniel Brühl, Franka Potente, among others.

From Star Wars, Commando Comics to Coronation Street, this episode truly examines a rarely-discussed issue in films with the trademark humour that you've come to expect from Sean and Sarah, whilst maintaining a respectful tone given the historical context.

Question Raised:

-How quickly did this issue rear it's head in post-war Germany?

-Could a German family join Coronation Street?

-How many films/television series does Sean mention?

-When did the stereotypical Nazi villain begin?

-What was the reaction to The Untergang [Downfall] in Germany?

-Do all film villains have to be either German or well-spoken English characters?

-Will German topics other than the Nazis ever be of interest to the international film scene?

Books:

-Der Brand [The Fire] by Jörg Friedrich, published in 2002.

The Song that Sean was trying to think of for 'Deutschland 83':

-"Major Tom (Coming Home)" by Peter Schilling.

Our Guest:

https://www.katjahoyer.uk/

Read The Article Here:

https://www.katjahoyer.uk/p/the-nazi-dilemma-facing-german-actors

Chapters:

0:05 Welcome to Review It Yourself

0:46 Introducing Katja Hoyer

2:29 The Inspiration Behind the Article

5:08 German Actors and Nazi Stereotypes

6:58 Portrayals in Film

10:44 The Impact of Historical Memory

11:10 The Modern German Actor

16:18 The Balance of Typecasting

17:57 The Complexity of Nazi Depictions

20:34 Female Actors and Their Roles

23:17 The Challenges of Representation

33:22 The Role of Nationality in Acting

36:46 The Future of German Cinema

41:01 Shifting Perspectives in Film

57:23 Cultural Stereotypes in Modern Media

1:00:48 Upcoming Projects of Katja Hoyer

Thanks for Listening!

Find us here:

X: @YourselfReview

Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.