Oct 30, 202655 minS1
Why did hundreds of American bombers fail to hit the German defenses at Omaha Beach on D-Day? And why was the bombing at Utah Beach so much more effective? In this episode of World War 2 Live, Kevin Hymel is joined by...
history
World War 2 LIVE
Hosted by Mark Fastoso · history · EN
About this Podcast:
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 <p style='c
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Contact path
Verified email
Booking probability
32%
Guest openness
Selective
80/100
Required Score
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What is World War 2 LIVE about?
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.
Who hosts World War 2 LIVE?
World War 2 LIVE is hosted by Mark Fastoso. The show has published 52 episodes to date.
What has World War 2 LIVE covered recently?
Recent episodes include "Why Allied Bombers Missed Omaha Beach on D-Day" (30 October 2026, 55 minutes), "Operation Market Garden: The American Story They Missed" (23 October 2026, 59 minutes), and "A Bridge Too Far: Are the Battle Scenes Accurate?" (16 October 2026, 66 minutes).
How often does World War 2 LIVE publish?
World War 2 LIVE publishes roughly weekly, with episodes averaging 63 minutes across 52 episodes.
How hard is it to get booked on World War 2 LIVE?
Booking probability for World War 2 LIVE is 32%, and the host is rated Selective on guests. World War 2 LIVE requires a Pod Score of 80 or higher. World War 2 LIVE's contact route on record: verified email.
About the host
Mark Fastoso hosts World War 2 LIVE, a history podcast with 52 episodes published.
Verified host email: ████████@████.comSign in to unlock →
Recent episodes
Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.
Oct 23, 202659 minS1What 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...
Oct 16, 20261h 6mS1You 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...
Oct 2, 202653 minS1The first American combat parachute drop of World War II was a disaster. By the end of the war, American airborne forces were conducting extraordinarily sophisticated operations. So how did they get from one to the...
Sep 25, 20261h 3mS1What happens when World War 2 Live leaves the studio and meets its audience? John McManus, Kevin Hymel and producer Mark Fastoso headed to We Have Ways Fest in the UK—and found ourselves in the middle of thousands of...
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Sep 11, 20261h 5mS1POINTE DU HOC: Debunking D-Day's Biggest Myth | World War II Live The guns were gone by the time the Rangers scaled the cliffs — but that fact has fueled one of the most persistent myths of D-Day. Dr. John C. McManus...
Sep 6, 20261h 8mS1Is The Forgotten Soldier one of the greatest firsthand accounts of World War II—or is it a story we can't completely trust? Guy Sajer's The Forgotten Soldier has become one of the best-known memoirs of the German...
Aug 28, 20261h 3mS1What happens when World War 2 Live meets Someone Talked at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia? You get a special crossover episode—and a fascinating look at one of the most ambitious D-Day projects we've...
Episode #44
How REAL is GREYHOUND?
Aug 21, 20261h 2mS1How realistic is Greyhound? John McManus and Kevin Hymel take a close look at the Tom Hanks WWII movie and separate Hollywood from the reality of the Battle of the Atlantic. Greyhound puts viewers on the bridge of a...
Episode #43
The Italian Campaign Debate | WW2 Hot Takes
Aug 7, 20261h 5mS1Was the Italian Campaign Worth It? John McManus and Kevin Hymel Debate Was the Allied campaign in Italy a necessary step toward victory in Europe—or a costly strategic mistake? In this special debate episode of World...
Jul 31, 20261h 7mS1Most accounts of the Pacific War treat Guadalcanal and New Guinea as two separate campaigns. But from the Japanese perspective, they were part of the same desperate struggle—and understanding that connection changes how...
Episode #41
Was the Invasion of Anzio Worth It?
Jul 24, 20261h 7mS1Why did one of the boldest Allied operations in Italy turn into months of brutal stalemate? In this episode of World War 2 Live, Dr. John C. McManus and Kevin Hymel examine the Battle of Anzio, one of the most...
Jul 17, 20261h 5mS1What makes a great leader in combat? In this episode of World War 2 Live, Dr. John C. McManus and Kevin Hymel explore one of the most moving stories to emerge from World War II: the bond between famed war correspondent...
Jul 10, 20261h 3mS1Why did two of World War II's most famous generals become legends—and do they deserve their reputations? In this episode of World War 2 Live, Dr. John C. McManus and Kevin Hymel tackle one of the most enduring debates...
Jul 3, 20261h 5mS1<p>After surviving the brutal landings at Salerno, the Allies faced a new challenge: breaking through some of the strongest defensive terrain in Europe.</p><br><p>In this episode of World War 2 Live, Dr. John C. McManus...
- Jul 3, 20261h 5mS1
After surviving the brutal landings at Salerno, the Allies faced a new challenge: breaking through some of the strongest defensive terrain in Europe. In this episode of World War 2 Live, Dr. John C. McManus and Kevin...
Episode #37
Salerno: The Invasion That Nearly Failed
Jun 26, 20261h 7mS1<p>Before the Allies could fight their way up Italy, they first had to survive one of the most dangerous amphibious operations of World War II.</p><br><p>In this episode of World War 2 Live, Dr. John C. McManus and...
Episode #37
Salerno: The Invasion That Nearly Failed
Jun 26, 20261h 7mS1Before the Allies could fight their way up Italy, they first had to survive one of the most dangerous amphibious operations of World War II. In this episode of World War 2 Live, Dr. John C. McManus and Kevin Hymel...
Jun 19, 20261h 1mS1<p>Before the war in Europe ended, Allied armies stood poised on the borders of Germany while the Red Army raced toward Berlin from the east. But should the Western Allies have pushed harder to capture Berlin before the...
- Jun 19, 20261h 1mS1
Before the war in Europe ended, Allied armies stood poised on the borders of Germany while the Red Army raced toward Berlin from the east. But should the Western Allies have pushed harder to capture Berlin before the...
Recent guests
Recent guests on World War 2 LIVE. Study who booked and why before you pitch.
J
John C. McManus
Curators’ Distinguished Professor of U.S. military history, Missouri University of Science and Technology
K
Kevin Hymel
historian and author
J
John McManus
Curator's Distinguished Professor of US military history at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, Missouri University of Science and Technology
R
Richard Frank
music educator, professional bassist
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