BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 379) — Most movies focus on the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor, but the true story of December 7th, 1941, involves a coordinated global offensive across the Pacific. In this episode, history professor Joshua Donohue returns to explore what the movies miss—including attacks on Wake Island, the Philippines, and military installations across Oahu that extended far beyond the harbor itself. From civilian casualties to pilot heroics to the international scope of Japan's ambitious assault, we separate fact from fiction across multiple Pearl Harbor films.

Josh's Latest Work

• Embattled Marines at Air Station Ewa

Chapters

0:00 Intro & Two Truths and a Lie Game

3:16 From Here to Eternity: Life Before the Attack

10:20 The Global Scope of Japan's Offensive

12:40 Wake Island Under Siege

20:04 Oahu's Airfields and Widespread Attacks

28:23 American Aircraft in the Air During the Attack

43:20 Civilian Casualties and Friendly Fire

58:23 American Morale and the Movies' Coverage

1:05:02 Pilots Beyond Pearl Harbor

1:11:13 The Final Countdown: What If Scenario

1:22:32 Two Truths and a Lie Answer Reveal

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• Support my sponsors
• Become a BOATS Producer (name in credits + ad-free episodes)
• Join the BOATS Discord
• Get the BOATS email newsletter
• Email me: [email protected]
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BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 378) — Discover the historical accuracy behind the 2025 film "Nuremberg" which is adapted from Jack El-Hai's book "The Nazi and the Psychiatrist."

Get Jack's Book: The Nazi and the Psychiatrist

Learn about the real Dr. Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek) and his complex relationship with Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe) during the historic Nuremberg trials. What did the filmmakers get right and what did they change from the true story? Tune in to find out!

Also Mentioned

• Jack El-Hai Official Website
• Nuremberg (2025 Film)
• 22 Cells in Nuremberg by Douglas Kelley
• Howie Trieste's Book on Nuremberg Experiences
• Stars and Stripes Military Newspaper

Chapters

0:00 Intro

2:35 Movie Overview - Nuremberg and Main Characters

5:45 Historical Grade and Book Comparison

9:10 Goering's Capture by Allied Forces

14:20 Douglas Kelley's Role as Psychiatrist

18:55 Goering and Rudolf Hess Relationship

23:45 Goering's Narcissism and Motivations

29:00 Concentration Camp Films and Kelley's Turning Point

33:15 Reporter Character and Kelley's Departure

37:00 Howie Trieste's Story as German-Jewish Translator

41:45 Kelley Handing Over Research to Prosecutors

45:15 Goering's Cyanide Pill and Suicide

48:00 Final Lessons and Democracy Warnings

50:30 Behind-the-Scenes Film Production Story

52:15 Two Truths and a Lie Answer Reveal

Support My Work

• Support my sponsors
• Become a BOATS Producer (name in credits + ad-free episodes)
• Join the BOATS Discord
• Get the BOATS email newsletter
• Email me: [email protected]

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BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 377) — The first season of FX’s “Feud” chronicles the turbulent making of the 1962 thriller “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?” Over eight episodes set against Hollywood's fading Golden Age, “Feud” focuses on a simmering resentment between aging stars Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, on-set clashes over performances and camera work, and the film’s premiere.

Get Scott's book

Where to watch Feud

 To help us separate fact from fiction in the series today is Scott Eyman, whose new biography Joan Crawford: A Woman’s Face reveals Crawford’s journey from orphan to screen legend using thorough research from personal papers, studio records, and the Robert Aldrich archives at UCLA.

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:39 TV series synopsis

00:03:16 Two truths and a lie

00:04:07 Interview

01:19:11 Two truths and a lie answer

Also mentioned in this episode

• Joan Crawford: A Woman's Face by Scott Eyman

Support my work

• Support my sponsors
• Become a BOATS Producer (name in credits + ad-free episodes)
• Join the BOATS Discord
• Get the BOATS email newsletter
• Email me: [email protected]
• Get my video podcasting class

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BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 376) — This special three-in-one episode is a thorough exploration of the true story behind the U.S. government's top secret program investigating UFOs called Project Blue Book. In 2019, the History Channel released a dramatized version of Project Blue Book's reports starring Aidan Gillen as Dr. J. Allen Hynek.

Ufologist Rob Kristoffersen will help us uncover the true story behind each episode of the twenty episodes in the TV series. Then, the third part of our episode today is to talk to David O'Leary (Creator of Project Blue Book) and Sean Jablonski (Showrunner of Project Blue Book) to go behind what it took to make a series about UFOs that is based on true events.

Where to watch Project Blue Book

Listen to Rob's awesome podcast, Our Strange Skies

Read the U.S. Air Force fact sheet on Project Blue Book

Answer this question from the episode:

What do you think people are seeing when they report UFOs? 

Share your opinion in the BOATS Discord

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:24 Synopsis

00:03:47 Rob Kristoffersen on Project Blue Book season one

01:25:48 Rob Kristoffersen on Project Blue Book season two

02:41:26 David O'Leary and Sean Jablonski on creating Project Blue Book

Support my work

• Become a BOATS Producer (name in credits + ad-free episodes)
• Great deals from my sponsors
• Join the BOATS Discord
• Get the BOATS email newsletter
• Email me: [email protected]
• Get my video podcasting class

Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/376

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BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 375) — Donald Rumsfeld served as the U.S. Secretary of Defense twice in his career, including during the 9/11 attacks. Today, we'll learn how the movies "Vice", "W." bring a fictional portrayal of Rumsfeld. We'll also look into the accuracy of the documentary "The Unknown Known" which interviews Rumsfeld himself.

⁠Get William's book⁠

Separating fact from fiction for us today is William Cooper, whose new historical fiction novel "The Trial of Donald H. Rumsfeld" is available now.

⁠Where to watch Vice⁠

⁠Where to watch W.⁠

⁠Where to watch The Unknown Known⁠

Answer this question from the episode: What impact do you think Rumsfeld has had in U.S. politics today?

⁠Share your opinion in the BOATS Discord⁠

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:15 Movie synopsis

00:02:13 Two truths and a lie

00:03:27 Interview

01:09:02 Two truths and a lie answer

Also mentioned in this episode

• ⁠Follow William on Bluesky⁠
• ⁠(BOATS EP. 196) — Moneyball with William Cooper⁠
• ⁠(BOATS EP. 335) — Vice with William Cooper⁠
• ⁠Search Rumsfeld's archive at Rumsfeld.com⁠
• ⁠William's Non-Fiction Book: "How America Works . . . and Why It Doesn’t"⁠

Support my work

• ⁠Become a BOATS Producer (name in credits + ad-free episodes)⁠
• ⁠Great deals from my sponsors⁠
• ⁠Join the BOATS Discord⁠
• ⁠Get the BOATS email newsletter⁠
• ⁠Email me: [email protected]⁠
• ⁠Get my video podcasting class⁠

Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: ⁠https://links.boatspodcast.com/375

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 375) — Donald Rumsfeld served as the U.S. Secretary of Defense twice in his career, including during the 9/11 attacks. Today, we'll learn how the movies "Vice", "W." bring a fictional portrayal of Rumsfeld. We'll also look into the accuracy of the documentary "The Unknown Known" which interviews Rumsfeld himself.

Get William's book

Separating fact from fiction for us today is William Cooper, whose new historical fiction novel "The Trial of Donald H. Rumsfeld" is available now.

Where to watch Vice

Where to watch W.

Where to watch The Unknown Known

Answer this question from the episode: What impact do you think Rumsfeld has had in U.S. politics today?

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:15 Movie synopsis

00:02:13 Two truths and a lie

00:03:27 Interview

01:09:02 Two truths and a lie answer

Also mentioned in this episode

Support my work

Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/375

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BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 374) — Today we'll rejoin Billy the Kid's outlaw gang as they continue their attempts to escape the law following the events in Young Guns (BOATS EP. 146). Was Brushy Bill Roberts a real person? Was he Billy the Kid? What other creative liberties did the filmmakers take in telling the true story of Billy the Kid?

Where to watch Young Guns II

Follow Josh's podcast

To help us unravel the historical accuracy of Young Guns II, we'll be joined by Josh, the host of The Wild West Extravaganza podcast.

Is Young Guns or Young Guns II a better movie?

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:15 Movie synopsis

00:02:13 Two truths and a lie

00:03:27 Interview

01:09:02 Two truths and a lie answer

Also mentioned in this episode

Support my work

Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/374

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 373) — Learn about legendary aviator Amelia Earhart as she was portrayed onscreen by Hilary Swank in the 2009 biopic. To uncover the true story, today we'll talk with author, documentarian, and host of Chasing Earhart , the only podcast dedicated entirely to Amelia Earhart: Chris Williamson.

Where to watch Amelia

Get Chris's book

Chris Williamson has an array of work with the Chasing Earhart Project, including the book "Rabbit Hole: The Vanishing of Amelia Earhart & Fred Noonan."

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:15 Movie synopsis

00:02:13 Two truths and a lie

00:03:27 Interview

01:09:02 Two truths and a lie answer

Also mentioned in this episode

Support my work

Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/373

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 372) — Travel back to the Old West for a tale of revenge, Pinkerton agents, and frontier justice in the wake of the Civil War. One of those former Pinkerton agents in the movie is John Scobell (Gbenga Akinnagbe), making 2025's Trail of Vengeance the first movie to feature John Scobell as one of its main characters.

Where to watch Trail of Vengeance 

Get Rob's book

To help us separate fact from fiction in the movie today is author Rob Hilliard, whose book "In Freedom's Shadow" is a historical novel based on John Scobell. How well does the movie tell us John Scobell's true story? Let's find out!

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:09 Movie synopsis

00:02:05 Two truths and a lie

00:03:18 Interview

01:31:54 Two truths and a lie answer

Also mentioned in this episode

Support my work

Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/372

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 371) — How well do you know about the real Bruce Lee? There are a lot of myths that came out of the movie "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story" so today we'll pull another classic episode from the Based on a True Story vault.

Where to watch Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story

⁠Get Matthew's book⁠

Matthew Polly authored "Bruce Lee: A Life," called the definitive biography by The New York Times. His research revealed Lee's more complex humanity, debunking decades of Hollywood myths.

Did you enjoy this episode?

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