The Steam & Splendor Network Podcast

A Deep Dive with Parks Stephenson

Join hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton for a gripping exploration of maritime history with renowned researcher Parks Stephenson. A retired Navy veteran and Executive Director of the USS Kidd Museum, Parks brings unparalleled expertise from his extensive research and multiple expeditions to the Titanic wreck site. In this episode, we challenge long-held assumptions and dive into the technical mysteries of the world’s most famous shipwreck: * Engineering Icons: A comparative look at Titanic’s watertight bulkheads and design against its 1912 contemporaries. * The Collision Revisited: Could Titanic have experienced a grounding event in addition to the famous sideswipe? * The Ultimate "What If": Examining the physics and probability of whether the ship could have survived a direct, head-on impact with the iceberg. * The Coal Fire Theory: A fresh perspective on how the bunker fire impacted Titanic's stability—but in a way you likely haven't heard before. * From the Abyss: First-hand accounts from Parks regarding his submersible dives to both Titanic and USS Johnston. Don't miss this deep dive into the mechanics, myths, and modern discoveries of maritime history. Listen on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music Subscribe to the Steam & Splendor Network on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SteamAndSplendor Support the podcast and our channel and receive early access and perks: http://patreon.com/TheSteamandSplendorNetwork Or buy us a coffee! http://buymeacoffee.com/steamandsplendornetwork Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesteamandsplendornetwork Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/TheSteamandSplendorNetwork]

A New Study of the Lifeboat Launching Sequence: Reexamining the Evidence

Join hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton as they welcome fellow researcher Bill Wormstedt for an exclusive look at their upcoming paper, Titanic: The Lifeboat Launching Sequence, A New Study. Ahead of its April 10, 2026, release, the trio discusses a multi-year project born from a desire to critically examine an alternate chronology recently proposed by another researcher. By returning to the primary sources to reconcile conflicting accounts, they have worked to refine our collective understanding of the ship’s final hours and provide a clearer perspective on the launching sequence.  Rather than simply adjusting existing models, the team returned to the primary sources to reexamine their own chronology, which was developed with researcher George Behe. This methodical "back to basics" approach has yielded a wealth of fascinating new insights, uncovering subtle details and overlooked testimony that shed fresh light on the sequence of events during the sinking.  In this episode, the authors pull back the curtain on their research process and present a summary of their most significant findings. It is a must-listen for anyone interested in the technical history and the evolving narrative of the Titanic disaster. *Titanic: The Lifeboat Launching Sequence, A New Study, which is a book-length article, will be available for free on wormstedt.com, beginning on April 10, 2026. Listen on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music Subscribe to the Steam & Splendor Network on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SteamAndSplendor Support the podcast and our channel and receive early access and perks: http://patreon.com/TheSteamandSplendorNetwork Or buy us a coffee! http://buymeacoffee.com/steamandsplendornetwork Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesteamandsplendornetwork Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/TheSteamandSplendorNetwork]

Titanic: Newspapers, Testimony, and the Problem of Truth

Hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton are joined by fellow researchers, authors, and longtime collaborators Bill Wormstedt and Mike Poirier for a lively and thought-provoking discussion on historical research methods—and the ongoing debate over how the story of the Titanic should be studied and understood. Should historians rely only on official inquiry testimony and private letters from survivors, or can newspaper interviews and trade-press accounts also be trusted? Are later-in-life recollections valuable, or should researchers limit themselves strictly to statements given in 1912? What can be learned by comparing conflicting accounts from the very same survivor—and can we ever truly be confident that we know the full and accurate story of the sinking? Join the conversation as specific survivor statements—both credible and questionable—are examined, challenged, and debated, in a revealing search for where the truth really lies. Listen on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music Subscribe to the Steam & Splendor Network on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SteamAndSplendor Support the podcast and our channel and receive early access and perks: http://patreon.com/TheSteamandSplendorNetwork Or buy us a coffee! http://buymeacoffee.com/steamandsplendornetwork Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesteamandsplendornetwork Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/TheSteamandSplendorNetwork]

Bringing Titanic Back to Life: Inside the 2025 Real-Time Sinking, Historians' Edition

Season 2 of The Steam & Splendor Network Podcast launches with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Titanic Sinks in Real Time: 2025 Historians’ Edition. Hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton take listeners inside the making of this ambitious new recreation, revealing how historical research, technology, and factual storytelling came together to bring Titanic’s final hours to life like never before. From a meticulously crafted, fully immersive audio experience to the historical details that shaped every moment of the sinking, this episode explores what makes this edition unique. Tad and Kent also discuss the many ways in which real-time recreations go beyond audience engagement—serving as powerful research tools that allow historians to test theories, uncover new insights, and better understand survivor accounts, and the disaster itself. Packed with fascinating examples, historical detail, and expert insight, this episode offers a rare look at how the past is reconstructed—and re-examined—through modern tools. Don’t miss this compelling deep dive into the recreation of one of history’s most studied maritime tragedies. Listen on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music Subscribe to the Steam & Splendor Network on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SteamAndSplendor Support the podcast and our channel and receive early access and perks: http://patreon.com/TheSteamandSplendorNetwork Or buy us a coffee! http://buymeacoffee.com/steamandsplendornetwork Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesteamandsplendornetwork Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/TheSteamandSplendorNetwork]

The Steam & Splendor Network First Anniversary Special!

It’s been a full year since The Steam & Splendor Network first launched—and what a journey it’s been! In this special first anniversary episode, hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton take a nostalgic trip through the highlights of the past year. From memorable moments and favorite episodes to surprising discoveries and behind-the-scenes insights, they reflect on everything that’s made the channel and podcast so special. But that’s not all—Tad and Kent also offer an exciting glimpse into what’s coming next for Steam & Splendor. New stories, deeper dives, and thrilling topics await in the year ahead. Whether you’ve been with us from day one or you’re just climbing aboard, this is an episode you won’t want to miss! Listen on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music Subscribe to the Steam & Splendor Network on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SteamAndSplendor Support the podcast and our channel and receive early access and perks: http://patreon.com/TheSteamandSplendorNetwork Or buy us a coffee! http://buymeacoffee.com/steamandsplendornetwork Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesteamandsplendornetwork Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/TheSteamandSplendorNetwork]