World War 2 LIVE Podcast By Mark Fastoso cover art

World War 2 LIVE

World War 2 LIVE

By: Mark Fastoso
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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

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Episodes
  • Operation Market Garden: The American Story They Missed

    Operation Market Garden: The American Story They Missed
    Oct 23 2026
    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

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    59 mins
  • A Bridge Too Far: Are the Battle Scenes Accurate?

    A Bridge Too Far: Are the Battle Scenes Accurate?
    Oct 16 2026
    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

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Our Fans Chose the Greatest WWII Movie — A Bridge Too Far

    Our Fans Chose the Greatest WWII Movie — A Bridge Too Far
    Oct 9 2026
    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

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    1 hr and 3 mins
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