Did WWII really start in 1931 in Asia?

Yes, it pretty much did - ten years before Pearl Harbor. Today, we investigate how and why the Japanese Empire attacked itself – and how that led to war with China and beyond! We are joined by expert historian, Quin Cho (Archival Researcher for https://www.pacificatrocities.org/). Quin has literally written the book on this: The Kwantung Army and the Japanese Occupation of Manchuria, available from September 2025.

This is the second of three episodes in Dad & Me's series on modern Japan. Check out the photos from our research trip on https://www.dadandmelovehistory.com/

After the end theme music, you'll find these questions:

1. When did World War II begin for the USA?

2. When did World War II begin in Europe?

3. In Asia-Pacific, war began between Japan and which country?

4. How did Japan fake an attack on the Japanese-owned railway in Manchurian, in north-east China in 1931?

5. Which country faked an attack against Poland in 1939?

6. Why do you think these countries choose to fake an attack by the other side?

Here's our website, where you'll find photos, info about each episode and links to our social media: dadandmelovehistory.com - here, you can also listen to episodes.

We also strongly recommend the family-friendly History Detective podcast, as advertised in our pod. Check out historydetectivepodcast.com!

For mature history lovers: read industry reviews of Dad's World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available as e-books, as well as in paperback. Dad's first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.

Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going. We will bring you episodes throughout the year, so stay subscribed on your podcast app!

Podcast cover art by Molly Austin

All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Sound effects are used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2025 © BBC

Re-released for July 4!

The one where we play lots of music and explain what it means. The production company behind Hamilton the Musical gave us the full rights to use and publish their music in our pod – so you'll hear some big numbers in this episode. You'll also learn a lot about history from a hip-hop musical that treats its audience as the intelligent beings that our listeners are!

There are some big plot spoilers in here – but no worse than if you simply listen to the musical's soundtrack. On Disney+, Hamilton the musical is rated PG-13, but we spare you the worst of the language here. You will hear 'd**n' and 'h*ll' amid the lyrics of the songs we include from the Hamilton musical. (Lin-Manual Miranda, the creator of Hamilton, also composed the music for Moana; the two sound rather different.)

Here are some questions to see how much you understood from today's show:

1. What was James' favourite line from the musical?

2. In the song "Guns and Ships" which country was the superpower and who were they fighting against?

3. What do you think George Washington meant when his character sang "History has its eyes on me"?

4. Do you think different people can believe different versions of the same period of history?

5. Where did they make the new US capital and what is it called?

6. The Hamilton Project found that the musical has what percentage of historical accuracy?

Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. Look on our webpage for images that accompany each episode.

And join us on: Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

Have fun!

Dad & Me

Podcast cover art by Molly Austin

Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, 2016. Copyright © Warner Music.

Japan isolated itself from other countries for centuries. In the land of the samurai, tradition and honour were central. Guns were seen as dishonourable – until they weren't. We see how Japan only changes its capital city via anagram (this could be next: Yo-ok-t?). So we investigate the remarkable Meiji modernisation period of a century or so ago, which launched Japan as a superpower – and prepared Japan to be a world-leader in technology, as the country still is today.

Check out the photos from our trip on https://www.dadandmelovehistory.com/

After the end theme music you'll find these questions:

1. What was a 'shogun'?

2. What was Kyoto?

3. What anagram of KYOTO did the Japanese capital move to?

4. Which country was Commodore Perry from and what did he force Japan to do in the 1850s and 1860s?

5. Japan modernised its education system, economy, transport, communications and what else?

6. By the early 1900s, Japan's modernisation made its power rise. What countries did Japan invade before 1941?

Here's our website, where you'll find photos, info about each episode and links to our social media: dadandmelovehistory.com - here, you can also listen to episodes.

We also strongly recommend the family-friendly History Detective podcast, as advertised in our pod. Check out historydetectivepodcast.com!

For mature history lovers: read industry reviews of Dad's World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available as e-books, as well as in paperback. Dad's first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.

Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going. We will bring you episodes throughout the year, so stay subscribed on your podcast app!

Podcast cover art by Molly Austin

All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Sound effects are used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2025 © BBC

We look at the rise of the Nazis and how they created and ruled what they called Germany's "Third Reich".

When Hitler became 'Chancellor' - that means prime minister - Germany was still a democracy. How did Hitler and the Nazis turn a country with elections and a variety of political parties (groups) into a dictatorship where the Nazi party had eliminated all other groups, giving themselves total power?

There are lots of photos from our trip to Germany on https://www.dadandmelovehistory.com/

WARNING regarding young children: towards the end, we do discuss the Holocaust.

After the end theme music you'll find these questions, followed by outtakes:

1. What does the German word "Reich" mean?

2. In the summer of 1914 in Munich, what news was announced that Hitler liked?

3. Before the Nazis' 1923 attempt to take over Germany, Hitler was not well-known. When the Nazis tried to begin a revolution in 1923 in Munich to take over Germany, why do you think they failed?

4. What do you think Hitler and the Nazis gained from this failed revolution of 1923?

5. The people of Germany later voted for Hitler and the Nazi Party more than for any other party. When did Hitler become 'Chancellor' (Prime Minister) of Germany?

6. What was 'Dachau' and why do you think the Nazis wanted it to be built so soon after the Nazis took over Germany?

7. What were the Nuremberg Trials and who was Rudolf Hess?

8. Why were these trials important?

Here's our website, where you'll find photos, info about each episode and links to our social media: dadandmelovehistory.com.

We also strongly recommend the family-friendly History Detective podcast, as advertised in our pod. Check out historydetectivepodcast.com!

For mature history lovers: read industry reviews of Dad's World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available as e-books, as well as in paperback. Dad's first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.

Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going. We will bring you episodes throughout the year, so stay subscribed on your podcast app!

Podcast cover art by Molly Austin

All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Sound effects are used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2024 © BBC

A beacon of hope, the Statue of Liberty has welcomed millions of immigrants to the United States and to a new life. The statue overlooks New York harbour, close to Ellis Island immigration centre: if the USA is a land of immigrants, Ellis Island is where those immigrants landed.

Built by France for the USA, there was some debate about which city the statue should be placed in. Then there was how to pay for a pedestal large enough to hold Liberty.

We are grateful to Suzanne Mannion, Director of Public Affairs at the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, for arranging our visit, and to our interviewee, Jonathan da Silva, Assistant Manager of the American Family Immigration History Centre on Ellis Island.

After the end theme music you'll find these questions, followed by outtakes and an extra recording we made in the Statue of Liberty Museum:

1. Where was the first federal immigration centre for the USA?

2. What was the 'kissing post'?

3. Why do you think immigrants would be happy to see the Statue of Liberty when their ship arrived in New York?

4. Who paid for the pedestal - the base platform - that the Statue of Liberty would be built on?

5. Can you name any other city that requested that the Statue of Liberty be placed their area?

6. What do the seven rays or spikes on the Statue's crown represent?

Here's our website, where you'll find photos, info about each episode and links to our social media: https://www.dadandmelovehistory.com/ - here, you can also listen to episodes.

For mature history lovers: read industry reviews of Dad's World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available as e-books, as well as in paperback. Dad's first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.

Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going. We will bring you episodes throughout the year, so stay subscribed on your podcast app!

Podcast cover art by Molly Austin

All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Sound effects are used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2024 © BBC

We investigate the special operations that occurred ahead of the D-Day landings of over 130,000 Allied troops on the Nazi-controlled beaches of northern France

We look at the role of special troops who parachuted into Nazi-occupied France ahead of the D-Day beach landings. With help from a very special expert guest, we focus on a mission for US Army Rangers at a headland near the beaches, called Pointe du Hoc.

After the end theme music you'll find these questions, followed by the outtakes:

1. Which Allied countries took part in the D-Day landings?

2. What was this operation called?

3. Why did Allied special forces parachute into France before the D-Day beach landings?

4. Why was it important to disrupt railway lines and German communication centres?

5. Why was Pointe du Hoc an important piece of land?

6. What challenges did the US Rangers face?

Our website, where you'll find photos, info about each episode and links to our social media, is https://www.dadandmelovehistory.com/ - where you can also listen to episodes.

For mature history lovers: read industry reviews of Dad's World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available as e-books, as well as in paperback. Dad's first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.

Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going. We will bring you episodes throughout the year, so stay subscribed on your podcast app!

Podcast cover art by Molly Austin

All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Sound effects are used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2023 © BBC

The history of the women's game – from China to Britain, the US, Australia and Europe.

Released with our recordings from the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, we bring you not only the history but the vibes too – all sprinkled with plenty of dad jokes from James! At the end of today's episode (after our outro theme song), you'll hear some World Cup extras, a bonus dad joke from James, and an outtake or two. For a broader angle on football today – from powerchair to amputee – and how we try to make a positive difference, take a look at my webpage and socials for https://www.notyouraverageenglandfan.com/

Our website, where you'll find photos, info about each episode and links to our social media, is https://www.dadandmelovehistory.com/

For mature history lovers: read industry reviews of Dad's World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available as e-books, as well as in paperback. Dad's first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.

Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going. We will bring you episodes throughout the year, so stay subscribed on your podcast app!

Podcast cover art by Molly Austin

All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Sound effects used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2023 © BBC

Today's episode comes from Washington DC, where we investigate why the capital was positioned there. And then, for our big question, we debate who wins the title of greatest US President ever!

We are delighted to be joined by special guest Patrick Lau, who works for the US government in Washington, has a Masters' degree in political science and is a history buff! He is also a former high school student whom Dad taught a long, long time ago!

At the end of today's episode (after our outro theme song), you'll hear the questions (see below) and then bags of outtakes!

Here are some questions to test your skills:

1. Why was the USA's new capital city called Washington?

2. Why was the city of Washington built where it was built?

3. How many of America's first 18 presidents owned slaves?

4. What was significant about the letter Jefferson sent to an African-American?

5. What did Patrick say makes a great President?

6. Why did James choose Abraham Lincoln as the greatest ever president?

Our website, where you'll find links to our social media, is https://www.dadandmelovehistory.com/

For mature history lovers: read industry reviews of Dad's World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available as e-books, as well as in paperback. Dad's first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.

Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going. We will bring you episodes throughout the year, so stay subscribed on your podcast app!

Podcast cover art by Molly Austin

All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Sound effects used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2023 © BBC

Today's episode comes from the Imperial War Museum, London, where we investigate: Odette, the spy; Roy and Bob's great escape at sea; Daisy's story of imprisonment in Hong Kong.

We are delighted to be joined by co-host Benji – and we are amazed by how he happens to find his own family history in the museum.

At the end of today's episode (after our outro theme song), you'll hear the questions (see below) and then the outtakes.

Here are some questions to test your listening skills:

1. Which museum were we in?

2. Who was the relative whose name Kim and Benji found embroidered (sewn) on a bedsheet from a World War II prisoner camp in Hong Kong?

3. What's the difference between an "internee" and a "prisoner of war"?

4. What happened to Roy and Robert?

5. What role/job did Odette perform when she was parachuted into France?

6. What happened to Odette after she was arrested by Nazi forces?

For mature history lovers: read industry reviews of Dad's World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available as e-books, as well as in paperback. Dad's first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.

Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going. We will bring you episodes throughout the year, so stay subscribed on your podcast app!

Podcast cover art by Molly Austin

All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

We are joined by two wonderful guests from the town of Gander in remote Newfoundland, Canada, where locals showed amazing kindness to people from all over the world, following the terrible events of 9/11. We only briefly mention the planes that crashed into the twin towers: we focus on the heart-warming humanity that followed.

This true story is sweeping the world through the award-winning musical Come From Away, and we make good use of having attained the rights to the music! Even better, we spend time with local journalist Janice Goudie and animal shelter manager Bonnie Harris, who found themselves at the centre of events – and at the centre of Come From Away. Janice was reporting on events on 11 September, 2001, as 38 planes, carrying nearly 7,000 passengers, landed at the remote Canadian town of Gander. Bonnie was determined to discover if there were any animals on board – and she received quite a surprise.

The population of the town almost doubled in just a couple of hours. How would the town cope? Well, the answer to that is: remarkably!

Janice now works for the Canadian Broadcasting Company, and we recommend this CBC cartoon strip resource, featuring Janice, as a way to educate suitably-aged children about 9/11.

At the end of today's episode (after our outro theme song), there are bags of extras – including lots of outtakes, additional interview material and bonus music from Come From Away!

Here are some questions to test your listening skills:

1. What was Janice's job?
2. Why were 38 planes - and nearly 7,000 passengers - forced to land in Gander?
3. What was Bonnie's job?
4. What examples of kindness can you remember that the islanders showed the passengers?
5. What types of animals were found on those planes?
6. Can you think of a time when someone has shown great kindness to you or when you have shown kindness to others?

For mature history lovers: read industry reviews of Dad's World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available as e-books, as well as in paperback. Dad's first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.

Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going. We will bring you episodes throughout the year, so stay subscribed on your podcast app!

Podcast cover art by Molly Austin

All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Sound effects used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2022 © BBC