The World War II podcast with comedian Al Murray and historian James Holland.
We Have Ways of Making You Talk dives deep into WWII history, exploring key battles, forgotten front lines, and incredible untold stories. Whether you're fascinated by the Battle of Britain, the D-Day landings, or the Eastern Front, this show offers a rich, detailed look at the war that shaped the modern world.
Al and James bring a unique blend of expert knowledge and humour, discussing everything from the Third Reich, Churchill's leadership, and the Fall of Berlin, to World War 2 tanks, fighter planes, and naval battles. Expect historical insights, lively tangents, and discussions on iconic second world war events like Operation Barbarossa, the Pacific Theatre, and the North African campaign.
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What did the Bismarck sinking mean for Hitler's naval plans? When were the wrecks of Hood and Bismarck discovered? Why does the rapid sinking of HMS Hood still cause so much debate? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 4 as they recount the thrilling chase of the battleship Bismarck, pride of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine, and the men and ships of Britain's Royal Navy determined to sink her. Start your free trial at patreon.com/wehaveways and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy live...
When was the Bismarck sunk? How did British destroyers contribute to the sinking of the Bismarck? Why did Bismarck take so much damage in order to sink? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 3 as they recount the thrilling chase of the battleship Bismarck, pride of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine, and the men and ships of Britain's Royal Navy determined to sink her. Start your free trial at patreon.com/wehaveways and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy livestreams, early access, ad-free...
What resources did the British deploy to hunt the Bismarck? How did British air power contribute to the sinking of the Bismarck? When did Bismarck get attacked by Fairey Swordfish torpedo planes? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 2 as they recount the thrilling chase of the battleship Bismarck, pride of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine, and the men and ships of Britain's Royal Navy determined to sink her. Start your free trial at patreon.com/wehaveways and unlock exclusive content and mo...
How did the Bismarck try to escape after sinking HMS Hood? Why was the Bismarck so hard to find in the Atlantic? When would Bismarck be safe from Royal Navy surface vessels? Join Al Murray and James Holland for Part 1 as they recount the thrilling chase of the battleship Bismarck, pride of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine, and the men and ships of Britain's Royal Navy determined to sink her. Start your free trial at patreon.com/wehaveways and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy livestreams,...
As a part of our continuing effort to commemorate the incredible global story of WW2, we present our ongoing ‘Family Stories’ series. This series tells YOUR relatives’ stories of derring do - both on the front line and home front. In this episode we hear your tales of Austrian POWs, Norwegian pranksters, and Italian partisans. With thanks to Alina Cleaver, Dag-Rune Gundersen, Dave King, Craig Green, Nick Clark, Lorenzo Grecomoro, and Karol Tereszczuk. Start your free trial at patreon.com/wehav...
Why do ships and planes paint their interiors green? How did the cold winters of the 1940s lead to the Fall of France? How did FDR break convention with his third and fourth presidential terms? Join James Holland and Al Murray for a classic war waffle episode, which includes a look at all the major events of every January 20th during WW2. Start your free trial at patreon.com/wehaveways and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy livestreams, early access, ad-free listening, bonus episodes, a...
Why should people remember the Holocaust? When did people start to commemorate the Holocaust? How do different countries around the world engage with Holocaust education? Listen to this exclusive extract from Waitman Wade Beorn and Alex Maws' talk from the latest We Have Ways Festival on the role and power of memory in Holocaust education. Start your free trial at patreon.com/wehaveways and listen more festival talks, as well as other subscriber perks. Enjoy livestreams, early access to podca...
When did Hood and Bismarck begin firing at each other? Why did the battle end so quickly? How fast did the result of the battle spread across the world? Join James Holland and Al Murray for Part 4 of this series on the titanic clash between two mighty warships that represented the pride of the British Royal Navy and the Nazi German Kriegsmarine. Start your free trial at patreon.com/wehaveways and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy livestreams, early access, ad-free listening, bonus epi...
Why was HMS Hood considered the peak of British sea power? Who was the commander of HMS Hood during The Battle of the Denmark Strait? When was HMS Hood built? Join James Holland and Al Murray for Part 3 of this series on the titanic clash between two mighty warships that represented the pride of the British Royal Navy and the Nazi German Kriegsmarine. Start your free trial at patreon.com/wehaveways and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy livestreams, early access, ad-free listening, bon...
Why was the Battleship Bismarck so feared? How well prepared were the British to fight the Bismarck? Is the Bismarck overrated? Join James Holland and Al Murray for Part 2 of this series on the titanic clash between two mighty warships that represented the pride of the British Royal Navy and the Nazi German Kriegsmarine. Start your free trial at patreon.com/wehaveways and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy livestreams, early access, ad-free listening, bonus episodes, and a weekly newsl...
Part one of a series on the Hood vs. Bismarck clash explores the critical intelligence that alerted the British to Operation Rheinübung, the German plan for the battleship Bismarck and cruiser Prinz Eugen to attack Allied shipping. It delves into the immense prestige and power of the Bismarck, a symbol of Nazi might, alongside the significant delays and setbacks faced by the Kriegsmarine. The episode concludes with Admiral Lutyens' fatalistic premonitions and the fateful departure of the German fleet, setting the stage for the epic pursuit.
Why did the Soviets bring a brass band to Finland? What is the significance of the Arcadia Conference in WW2? When was Operation Bodenplatte? Join James Holland and Al Murray as they discuss the major events of each January 1st in WW2. To watch the ad-free, video-supported, version of this episode, please head to our Patreon page directly. A Goalhanger Production Produced by James Regan Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Social: @WeHaveWaysPod Email: wehaveways@goalhange...
Why is remembrance still important now? Were Germans the 'bad guys' in WW2? What do relatives think of Montgomery and his legacy now? Join James Holland and Al Murray as they interview Henry Montgomery and Angela Findlay on the role remembrance plays in making a lasting peace in the 21st Century, and the important WW2 lessons Democracies can learn in 2026. A Goalhanger Production Produced by James Regan Editor: Charlie Rodwell Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Social: @WeHaveWaysPod Email: wehaveways@g...
Did my family fight in WW2? What did people do at home during WW2? What was life like in WW2? Join James Holland and Al Murray as they explore the fascinating Ancestry archives available to families wanting to learn more about family members and what they did during WW2. You can follow along & start exploring your family history at www.ancestry.co.uk/newyear A Goalhanger Production Produced by James Regan Editor: Charlie Rodwell Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Social: @WeHaveWaysPod Email: wehave...
As a part of our continuing effort to commemorate the incredible global story of WW2, we present our ongoing ‘Family Stories’ series. This series tells YOUR relatives’ stories of derring do - both on the front line and home front. In this episode we hear your tales of fishy goose, Christmas party war stories, and generous helpings of American butter! With thanks to Robert Horne, Damien, Neil, John Pilkington, Mike Griffin, and Chris Weall. Make someone a We Have Ways Club Member this Christmas –...
What happened to the Fairey Swordfish after Taranto? What was life like on the Arctic Convoys? How did aircrew cope with the polar conditions in an open cockpit? Join James Holland and Al Murray for part 4 of this exploration of the Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber, and the brave crews of the Fleet Air Arm who achieved incredible victories in an 'obsolete' airframe. Make someone a We Have Ways Club Member this Christmas – unlock the full WHW experience with exclusive live-streams, ad-free...
How many Italian ships were damaged or destroyed during the Taranto raid? Why did the British cancel the second day of attacks for Operation Judgement? When did the Italian fleet recover from the attack? Join James Holland and Al Murray for part 3 of this exploration of the Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber, and the brave crews of the Fleet Air Arm who achieved incredible victories in an 'obsolete' airframe. To watch the ad-free, video-supported, version of this episode, please head to our...
What happened in the Battle Of Taranto? Did the raid on Taranto catch the Italian defenders by surprise? How many Swordfish attacked the Italian fleet stationed at Taranto? Join James Holland and Al Murray for the second part of this mini-series exploring the Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber, and the brave crews of the Fleet Air Arm who achieved incredible victories in an 'obsolete' airframe. Make someone a We Have Ways Club Member this Christmas – unlock the full WHW experience with excl...
How did naval aviation develop out of The First World War? Why was the Fairey Swordfish so good? What is the nickname of a Fairey Swordfish? Join James Holland and Al Murray for part 1 of this exploration of the Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber, and the brave crews of the Fleet Air Arm who achieved incredible victories in an 'obsolete' airframe. Start your free trial at patreon.com/wehaveways and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy livestreams, early access to podcast episodes, a...
How did destroyers and escort groups protect convoys from U-Boat attack? When did convoy HX112 encounter the U-Boat 'Wolfpack' of Kretschmer and Schepke? What is a 'Pocket Battleship'? Join James Holland and Al Murray for part 6 of this deep dive on the war in the Atlantic, the most vital theatre of war in WW2 and the long-running campaign between the British Royal Navy and the Nazi German Kriegsmarine. Start your free trial at patreon.com/wehaveways and unlock exclusive content and more. En...
How did the British government overhaul the port system to process convoys? What is a corvette? Why was life on an Atlantic convoy so dangerous? Join James Holland and Al Murray for part 5 of this deep dive on the war in the Atlantic, the most vital theatre of war in WW2 and the long-running campaign between the British Royal Navy and the Nazi German Kriegsmarine. Start your free trial at patreon.com/wehaveways and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy livestreams, early access to podcast...
Forget what you think you know about reality. The Rest Is Science is a mind-bending new show from Goalhanger that tears down familiar ideas… time, randomness, beauty, it will reveal just how bizarre the world truly is. Join Professor Hannah Fry and science creator Michael Stevens (aka Vsauce) twice a week to explore big, small and surprising questions as they deep dive into theories, concepts, objects and thoughts and take us on a journey into the unexpected. If you love digging into details tha...
What was so important about Cyril Thompson and the British Shipbuilding Commission in the USA? When was the first Liberty ship made? How did Hitler and the Luftwaffe prevent the U-Boats from becoming more effective in The Atlantic Ocean? Join James Holland and Al Murray for part 4 of this deep dive on the war in the Atlantic, the most vital theatre of war in WW2 and the long-running campaign between the British Royal Navy and the Nazi German Kriegsmarine. Start your free trial at patreon.com/w...
Why was this period known as 'The Happy Time' for Germany's U-Boats? How much merchant tonnage did the Allies lose to Nazi U-Boat aces? Has the impact of U-Boats on the Allied war effort been overstated in history since 1945? Join James Holland and Al Murray for part 3 of this deep dive on the war in the Atlantic, the most vital theatre of war in WW2 and the long-running campaign between the British Royal Navy and the Nazi German Kriegsmarine. Start your free trial at patreon.com/wehaveways an...
How did submariners survive for weeks at a time at sea on patrol? Were there any perks to joining the submarine service? Why did so many submariners in WW2 have bad breath? Listen to this exclusive extract from James M Scott and Roger Moorhouse's talk from this year's We Have Ways Festival on life in the submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy and the Nazi German Kriegsmarine. Start your free trial at patreon.com/wehaveways and to listen to the rest of this talk, and more get more subscribe...
Why was Norway attacked in WW2? Why might the Norwegian Campaign be considered a success at sea for the Allies? What was the result of The Fall Of Norway and France for Britain and its naval strategy? Join James Holland and Al Murray for part 2 of this deep dive on the war in the Atlantic, the most vital theatre of war in WW2 and the long-running campaign between the British Royal Navy and the Nazi German Kriegsmarine. Start your free trial at patreon.com/wehaveways and unlock exclusive conten...
Why is the battle of the Atlantic so crucial to the Allied war effort in WW2? How did Prien manage to sink Royal Oak in Scapa Flow? When did the civilian passenger liner Athenia get attacked by U-Boats? Join James Holland and Al Murray for part 1 of this deep dive on the war in the Atlantic, the most vital theatre of war in WW2 and the long-running campaign between the British Royal Navy and the Nazi German Kriegsmarine. Start your free trial at patreon.com/wehaveways and unlock exclusive co...
Why is Operation Pedestal such an important event in WW2? How many ships in the convoy were sunk by Axis forces? What happened to the tanker, the Ohio? Join James Holland and Al Murray for part 6 of this thrilling series on the siege of Malta, and how the very course of WW2 depended on the defence of this small island in the Mediterranean. Start your free trial at patreon.com/wehaveways and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy livestreams, early access to podcast episodes, ad-free listen...
When did Lord Gort and Sir Keith Park arrive on Fortress Malta? How many calories did people on Malta have each day for survival? What made George Screwball Beurling such a talented fighter ace? Join James Holland and Al Murray for part 5 of this thrilling series on the siege of Malta, and how the very course of WW2 depended on the defence of this small island in the Mediterranean. Start your free trial at patreon.com/wehaveways and unlock exclusive content and more. Enjoy livestreams, early...
Why did King George VI award Malta the George Cross? How did the 'Target Date' of starvation and surrender affect morale on the island? Were the Anti-Aircraft defences enough to blunt Kesselring's blitz on the island? Join James Holland and Al Murray for part 4 of this thrilling series on the siege of Malta, and how the very course of WW2 depended on the defence of this small island in the Mediterranean. Start your free trial at patreon.com/wehaveways and unlock exclusive content and more. E...
