x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast

The Society for Nautical Research and the Lloyds Register Foundation

The world"s No.1 podcast dedicated to all of maritime and naval history. With one foot in the present and one in the past we bring you the most exciting and interesting current maritime projects worldwide: including excavations of shipwrecks, the restoration of historic ships, sailing classic yachts and tall ships, unprecedented behind the scenes access to exhibitions, museums and archives worldwide, primary sources and accounts that bring the maritime past alive as never before. From the Society

history

All Episodes

39:16

Founding an Empire: Maritime Glasgow and the Clan Line

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast ·

2026/04/06

This episode continues our mini series on the history of the Clan Line,one of the most prominent and enduring British shipping companies of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Founded in Glasgow in 1878 by Sir Charles Cayzer, the line began with a small fleet of steamships and quickly grew into a major force in maritime commerce. Its ships, all bearing the 'Clan' prefix in their names, became a familiar sight across the world’s oceans, linking Britain with India, South Africa, and the Far

en

36:29

From Merchant Navy to Drug Kingpin: The Inventor of...

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast ·

2026/03/23

In this episode of the Mariner’s Mirror podcast, we explore the extraordinary life of Harold Derber — a British Merchant Navy veteran whose early training as a wireless operator during the Second World War set him on an unexpected and remarkable path. From the dangers of Atlantic convoys to the political turbulence of the Cold War, Derber’s story moves far beyond the bridge of a ship.Derber would go on to become one of the pioneers of the modern drug trade, developing the concept of the “drug

en

52:30

From Glasgow to the Cape: The Ships of the Clan Line

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast ·

2026/03/16

This episode continues our mini series on the history of the Clan Line, one of the most prominent and enduring British shipping companies of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Founded by Charles Cayzer, the Clan Line became synonymous with reliability, global trade expansion and the professionalisation of British merchant shipping. At its peak, it had one of the largest merchant fleets in the world, forming a crucial part of Britain's maritime commercial power. These ships linked Britain to its

en

37:25

Murder, Modern Literature, and the Great Ocean Liner

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast ·

2026/03/02

In today’s episode, we leave the dockyards and engine rooms behind to step aboard the ocean liner as it appears not at sea, but on the page. From the gilded salons of Edwardian fiction to the psychological depths of modernist prose, ocean liners have long served as floating stages for human drama, capturing the hopes, tensions, and contradictions of the modern age. We explore how writers such as E.M. Forster, Noël Coward, Virginia Woolf, Katherine Mansfield, and Agatha Christie used these vast ships

en

32:55

To The Edge of the World: One woman. One ship. One...

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast ·

2026/02/16

The true story of Mary Ann Patten, a nineteen-year-old woman who, in the summer of 1856, took command of a clipper ship and navigated it around Cape Horn.What drives someone to leave behind security, reputation, and the expectations of society to sail into the unknown? In this episode, we explore To The Edge of the World with author Tilar Mazzeo—a gripping true story of adventure, obsession, and the irresistible pull of the sea. We discuss the extraordinary life at the heart of this book: a woman

en

38:00

The Glenlee: A Survivor of the Seven Seas

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast ·

2026/02/02

This episode explores the fascinating history of the Glenlee, a tall ship built in Glasgow 1896 and restored by the Clyde Maritime Trust. Originally a cargo ship, the Glenlee survived fifteen voyages around Cape Horn and later served as a Spanish Navy training vessel during the fascist dictatorial rule of Francisco Franco. After being neglected, she was rescued and restored, showcasing Scotland's maritime heritage. To find out more Dr Sam Willis spoke with Lauren Henning, the Glenlee's learning and

en

34:07

The Naval Fiction Interviews: Katie Daysh, Hiram...

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast ·

2026/01/19

Dr Sam Willis meets Katie Daysh, author of the acclaimed Nightingale & Courtney series. Her novels—rich with atmosphere, character, and emotional depth—have quickly earned a devoted following, and today we explore the world she’s so vividly created. Katie shares the inspirations behind her central figures, Hiram Nightingale and Arthur Courtney, exploring their powerful bond, the tensions of command, and the inner battles that shape them. We discuss the themes that give her books their distinct

en

36:24

For Glory, Not Gold: Expeditions Through Arctic Lands...

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast ·

2026/01/12

Hubert Sagnières studies, collects, and publishes works on early explorers and has himself completed numerous explorations: In 2024, he piloted a single-engine plane on a circumnavigation of the globe, honoring the centenary of the first around-the-world flight in 1924 by the Douglas “Chicago” aircraft. He has traveled in the Indonesian archipelago, visiting remote islands and has spent time with the Dayak tribes of Borneo and the Mentawai people of Siberut Island. He has completed over 20

en

36:21

The Naval Fiction Interviews: Patrick O'Brian, Jack...

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast ·

2026/01/05

In this episode, we explore the magic behind the Aubrey–Maturin novels—often hailed as the greatest naval fiction series ever written—and uncover what makes Patrick O’Brian’s storytelling so enduring, vivid, and beloved.Dr Sam Willis speaks with Dean King, O’Brian’s acclaimed biographer and one of the foremost experts on the author’s life and work.Together, we delve into the rich themes that define the books: the complex friendship between Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin; the interplay of duty,

en

33:49

The Naval Fiction Interviews: David Davies and...

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast ·

2025/12/23

Dr Sam Willis continues our mini series on naval fiction, interviewing authors and finding out all about their naval creations. In this episode, we welcome David Davies, author of the acclaimed Matthew Quinton Journals, for an in-depth conversation about his Restoration-era naval hero and the richly layered world he sails through, one of the most fascinating and volatile eras in maritime history.Davies explores the major themes at the heart of Matthew Quinton’s adventures: a young gentleman thrust

en

36:01

The Naval Fiction Interviews: Julian Stockwin and...

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast ·

2025/12/12

Dr Sam Willis introduces a new mini-series on naval fiction, featuring interviews with authors talking about their naval creations. In this episode, he meets Julian Stockwin, a renowned author known for his Thomas Kydd novels, which span 27 books and 23 years, culminating most recently in "Admiral". The books cover a huge array of history and themes, from brotherhood, friendship and loyalty to naval duty and professionalism, adventure, exploration and the maritime world of the great Age of

en

37:56

A Corsair's Meal: Maritime Malta 5

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast ·

2025/11/28

For the final episode in our mini series on the rich maritime history of Malta Dr Sam Willis and Daisy Turnbull find themselves out in a boat in Valletta’s grand harbour, and this time we’re being treated to a culinary extravaganza: a meal that would have been eaten by Maltese corsairs. The Matese corsairs were a major ingredient in Maltese maritime history and cultural identity, embodying the island’s strategic role at the crossroads of the Mediterranean. Operating from Malta under the Knights of

en

36:58

Island Fortress - Malta in World War 2: Maritime Malta 4

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast ·

2025/11/26

Continuing our mini series on the fascinating maritime history of Malta, we jump several centuries forward to the Second World War, in which Malta, an isolated rock in the middle of the Mediterranean, suddenly found itself at the very heart of the war. To the north the Italians were flexing their naval muscles; to the south the Germans had invaded North Africa; to the east and west ran a crucial maritime artery of global trade and military movement between Gibraltar and Suez. To find out more about

en

39:06

Seapower and The Knights of St John: Maritime Malta 3

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast ·

2025/11/24

The Order of St John was founded in the eleventh century in Jerusalem as a religious and military order dedicated to caring for sick and poor pilgrims in the Holy Land. How they ended up over 1000 miles away on an island in the middle of the Mediterranean, embedded in one of the greatest fortifications of the medieval world,is one of history's greatest maritime stories. In this episode, Dr Sam Willis and maritime historian Liam Gauci from Heritage Malta explore that history. They visit the Grand

en

32:50

Shipwrecks of Malta: Maritime Malta 2

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast ·

2025/11/21

Malta’s strategic location at the centre of the Mediterranean, combined with its long maritime history,means that its sea-beds are rich with heritage. In this episode we explore Malta's astonishing underwater cultural heritage, managed by Heritage Malta.Visiting the headquarters of Malta's Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit, Dr Sam Willis speaks with Maja Sausmeka, the Senior Principal Officer for Maritime Archaeology at Heritage Malta. They discuss in depth Gozo's Phoenician shipwreck, the oldest

en

43:21

Valletta's Grand Harbour and the Rolex Middle Sea...

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast ·

2025/11/19

This is the first episode in a new miniseries on the rich and fascinating maritime history of Malta. The episode is recorded on a yacht in the centre of Valletta's historic Grand Harbour, at the opening of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, one of the world's most famous yacht races.Dr Sam Willisuncovers the history of the race and its magnificent historic surroundings with Liam Gauci fromHeritage Malta, which safeguards Malta's many museums, historic sites and landmarks. They discuss the economic and

en

32:18

The Frozen Frontier: The Scottish National Antarctic...

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast ·

2025/11/04

Dr Sam Willis and archivist Zach Schieferstein discuss the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition of 1902-1904 led by William Spears Bruce. The expedition's vessel, the Scotia, was extensively rebuilt for polar exploration, featuring two laboratories and advanced scientific equipment. The Scotia established Omond House, the first permanent weather station in the South Orkney Islands, and collected foundational data on Antarctic seas. Despite challenges, the expedition made significant scientific

en

43:58

HMS Victory's Conservation

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast ·

2025/10/22

In this episode, Dr Sam Willis discusses the conservation of HMS Victory. As the flagship of Admiral Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar, Victory holds immense historical and cultural significance, but preserving her is proving to be a monumental challenge.Simon Williams, who leads the ship’s conservation project 'HMS Victory: The Big Repair', shares the unexpected realities of working on the 260-year-old wooden vessel, including the discovery of extensive degradation. What began as a plan to

en

37:45

Where Nelson Died

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast ·

2025/10/21

In this commemorative episode of Mariner’s Mirror Podcast, host Dr Sam Willis marks the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar by exploring the exact location and circumstances of Admiral Lord Nelson’s death aboard HMS Victory on the 21st of October 1805. Joined by Andrew Baines, Executive Director of Museum Operations at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth, and Dr Dan O’Brien, historian of undertakers and funerals in Eighteenth Century England, the discussion unfolds on the very

en

56:34

Lifeboats and Lessons: Memories of Safety at Sea

The Mariner"s Mirror Podcast ·

2025/10/14

Studying the history of safety at sea reveals how hard-earned lessons from past tragedies have shaped the protections we rely on today. For centuries, seafaring was one of the most dangerous human activities. Shipwrecks, storms, fires, and collisions claimed countless lives, often because of poor ship design, inadequate training, or the absence of regulations. By understanding this history, we see how each disaster spurred reforms—from better lifeboats and signalling systems to international safety

en

270 results

Similar Podcasts

The Old Front Line

Paul Reed

Today In History with The Retrospectors

The Retrospectors

جنود خلدهم التاريخ

ALSUMOOD PODCAST

Film History - Daily

Inception Point Ai

Madonna - Biography Flash

Inception Point Ai