Review It Yourself

Author and Historian Richard M. Jones returns to discuss his favourite Titanic film: Raise the Titanic (1980). Sean was disappointed.

Rich and Sean then talk about Julian Fellowes Titanic (2012), modern-day 'sensationalist' Titanic documentaries and the identity of 'Jack the Ripper', Hunting Hitler and more.

The second hour of the podcast delves into Richard's writing process and how he sometimes gets mistaken for a tour guide.

Chapters:

0:08 Introduction to Raise the Titanic

9:30 The Music and Visuals

22:08 Adaptations and Differences

36:46 The Ethics of Raising the Titanic

47:57 Inconsistencies and Trivia

53:45 Missed Opportunities in Titanic Films

54:42 Documentaries on the Titanic

58:53 The Impact of Titanic Films

1:01:25 Critique of Titanic 2012 Series

1:04:39 Sensationalism in Modern Titanic Documentaries

1:07:16 Writing and Researching Books

1:17:30 Starting the Writing Journey

1:43:29 The Role of Passion in Writing

1:46:32 Promoting Your Work and Engagement

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Richard M. Jones joins Sean to discuss his 2025 book 'The Titanic Fleet'; in which he explores all the ships involved in the Titanic disaster. Rich also talks about the other four books he has published this year alone and his older books.

A book detailing all the ships connected with the Titanic disaster seems an obvious book to write, yet no-one had written it!

Rich and Sean also discuss Titanic souvenirs, conspiracy theories about the ship, and the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) Titanic content.

Chapters:

1:51 The Titanic Fleet

4:03 Richard's Writing and Publishing Process

6:38 Titanic Research and Discoveries

7:51 Richard's Personal Connections to Titanic History

12:50 The Impact of Conspiracy Theories

14:23 The Role of Media in Titanic's Legacy

18:57 The Amount of Ships involved on 14th & 15th April 1912.

22:47 The Aftermath of the Titanic Disaster

29:48 The Forgotten Tragedies of the Sea

35:46 Discussion of Titanic Films

42:19 Exploring Historical Narratives

48:06 The Role of History in Modern Context

58:46 Upcoming Projects and Book Releases

1:10:59 Closing Remarks and Future Talks

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Sean and Dr Steph Lay discuss the 1994 film 'The Crow', whilst Sarah is distracted by Steph's gothy-little cat Jade.

Our Guest:

Doctor Steph Lay is a parapsychologist, photographer and writer. She is also a cognitive psychologist and wrote her PhD on the 'Uncanny Valley'.

Check Out City of Secrets here: https://cityofsecrets.blog

Chapters

0:57 New Introductions and Guests

2:49 The Crow: A 1994 Classic

3:48 Unearthing The Crow's Atmosphere

6:27 Personal Connections to The Crow

9:38 Exploring the Film's Themes

19:06 The Story Unfolds

26:57 The Crow's Unique Visuals

34:13 The Emotional Core of The Crow

43:49 Character Dynamics and Development

1:02:14 The Climax and Character Resolutions

1:07:02 Reflecting on Loss and Redemption

1:09:03 Final Thoughts on The Crow

1:19:28 Plugging Projects and Ghost Stories

1:23:45 Feedback and Future Episodes

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Will the trailer for Scream 7 (2026) sucker Sean and Sarah back into the Scream Franchise?

Will they rekindle their love of horror films with the trailer for Primate (2026)?

Listen in to find out!

Chapters:

0:29 Scream 7 Trailer Reactions and Expectations

7:58 Exploring Dark Tourism in Horror

12:19 Primate and The Potential of Modern Horror

16:47 The Search for Solid Films

21:37 The Purge and Its Untapped Potential

23:07 Closing Thoughts and Farewell

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Military Historian, Author, and Battlefield Guide Paul Reed join Sean to discuss a BBC documentary that he took part in, Meet The Ancestors Series 5, Episode 3: The Forgotten Battlefield. The documentary details a group of amateur archaeologists called The Diggers, who discovered a complex trench system containing the remains of over 200 fallen soldiers, in the Ieper (Ypres) area.

In an act of what Paul describes as "rescue archaeology" the diggers and historians-including Paul himself, race against time to uncover as much as they can before the area is completely covered by the building of an industrial estate. Paul also talks about what happened after the cameras stopped rolling.

From the educational remit of British television in the early 2000's, to the emergence of amateur archaeology, and World War One remembrance and myths, this episode has it all.

Raised Questions:

-Did you know the BBC made a rival programme to Channel Four's Time Team?

-Why weren't professional archaeologists interested in World War One battlefields back in the early 2000's?

-Why wouldn't The Diggers be allowed to do their work today?

-Why does wood survive in Flanders Field?

-Why is it important to show the reality of war in documentaries?

Chapters:

0:06 Welcome to Review It Yourself

1:14 Revisiting The Forgotten Battlefield

2:55 The Evolution of BBC Documentaries

7:31 The Role of 'The Diggers'

9:19 Post-War Reconstruction Challenges

10:48 Discoveries Beneath the Surface

13:53 Amateurs vs. Professionals in Archaeology

15:28 The Significance of Archaeological Finds

21:02 Understanding the Reality of War

23:28 The Human Cost of Conflict

30:15 The Reality of Identification

34:59 Forgotten Events of the Past

38:54 The Fog of War

40:47 Officer Casualties and Leadership

45:44 Findings from the Battlefield Trench

47:45 Unearthing History

56:34 The Weight of Remembrance

1:01:20 Reflections on Loss

1:06:21 The Reality of War

1:08:09 Commemoration vs. Reality

1:16:56 Modern Discoveries

1:23:05 The Role of DNA

1:28:58 The Future of Historical Narratives

1:33:57 Sharing Knowledge and Passion

The Programme on BBC iPlayer (UK Only):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0074n0m/meet-the-ancestors-series-5-3-the-forgotten-battlefield

Paul's Podcast:

Further Information can be found in Paul's podcast: The Old Front Line:

-Battlefield Archaeology & Essex Farm Episode (3rd April 2020).

-Forgotten Battlefield: The Reunion Episode (1st April 2023).

The Old Front Line Website:

https://oldfrontline.co.uk/

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Sean and Fraser McCallum, Imperial War Museum employee and author of Cold War Britain: 50 Years in the Shadow of the Bomb, continue their Cold War discussion.

Our Guest:

https://shop.iwm.org.uk/blogs/news/cold-war-britain -A blog about the book on the Imperial War Museum Website, with a link to the shop. This podcast is not an advertisement, and the link is here for you to do your own research on the book. You can buy it from whatever seller you want, we're not trying to influence you. Sean and Sarah highly recommend the book though!

Chapters:

0:10 The Evolution of Airborne Weapons

1:03 Scotland's Nuclear Dilemma

2:20 Greenham Common and Women's Activism

3:51 The Anxiety of Nuclear Threats

5:20 Eisenhower and Churchill's Perspectives

10:14 The Impact of Cold War Culture

14:09 Remembering Cold War Conflicts

19:38 The Falklands War and Its Legacy

26:01 The Aftermath of Yugoslavia's Conflict

27:29 Short Attention Spans in History

31:14 The Depressing Continuity of Conflict

35:21 Cultural Reflections on Cold War

40:45 The Legacy of 'Threads'

47:58 The Evolution of Cold War Cinema

53:59 The Book as a Gateway to History

55:08 Final Thoughts on Cold War Legacy

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'Keep a hold of those 99 balloons, tear down this wall Mr Gorbachev and make a shelter of your internal doors, we're diving into the Cold War in Britain'. Sean is joined by Imperial War Museum employee and author of Cold War Britain: 50 Years in the Shadow of the Bomb, Fraser McCallum.

A two-hour exploration of the Cold War from a purely British stand-point, this begins as a discussion of Fraser's book and rapidly becomes an in-depth, humorous and passionate discussion between two lads who love history.

References:

-The parade that Sean was talking about was the "Victory Celebration" Parade in London on 8th June 1946, which omitted the Polish Forces.

-The Channel Four programme Sean was talking about was the 2010 documentary 'Bloody Foreigners: The Untold Battle of Britain'.

Our Guest:

https://shop.iwm.org.uk/blogs/news/cold-war-britain -A blog about the book on the Imperial War Museum Website, with a link to the shop. This podcast is not an advertisement, and the link is here for you to do your own research on the book. You can buy it from whatever seller you want, we're not trying to influence you. Sean and Sarah highly recommend the book though!

Podcast Sting:

Marv from Pods Like Us podcast. Find It Here: https://marvsmooth.podbean.com/

Chapters:

0:05 Welcome to Cold War Britain

0:27 The Role of the NHS

3:13 Labour Government and Idealism versus Reality

5:32 Making History Accessible

6:30 The Lack of books on Britain's role in the Cold War

8:17 The Cold War and British Identity

8:47 The Challenge of Academic History

9.40 A book with Winston Churchill and David Bowie

0:05 Welcome to Cold War Britain

0:27 The Role of the NHS

3:25 Historical Context and Modern Politics

5:32 Making History Accessible

8:17 The Cold War and British Identity

8:47 The Challenge of Academic History

12:48 Did Churchill under-estimate Stalin?

16:44 The Dilemma of Poland

18:13 The Suez Crisis

19:10 The Vietnam War and British Involvement

23:45 The UK/US 'Special Relationship'

25:20 The UK/USSR relationship-A Marriage of Convenience?

42:09 Protests and Changing Attitudes

44:15 The Cultural Impact of the Cold War

50:23 Cinema and Cold War Narratives

56:16 Reflections on History and Film

59:00 The Evolution of Britain's Nuclear Arsenal

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A classic episode as Sean, Clayton and Shawn dive into one of the most beloved Christmas films of all time: The Holiday (2006). Eyelid kissing, across-the-pond relationships and characters 'so English it hurts' combine to make this episode unmissable.

Sean takes some time to teach Clayton and Shawn some chocolate-based English phrases.

Who moved where, after the credits roll?

Chapters:

0:08 Christmas Special Introduction

2:01 Jude Law's Charisma

3:06 Love Actually vs. The Holiday

9:10 Characters and Their Arcs

12:37 Jack Black's Unexpected Charm

21:53 Unrequited Love Reflections

23:51 Iris's Transformation

43:55 The Power of Friendship

55:36 Emotional Climax of the Film

1:12:09 Fluffy Christmas Movie Expectations

1:16:13 Sweet Treats and Chocolate

1:22:23 Wrapping Up the Year

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Cold War fists, broken pride, and the ultimate 80s showdown.

When an exhibition fight turns fatal, boxing becomes geopolitics in one of the most iconic sports movies of the 1980s.

In this episode of Review it Yourself, we dive into Rocky IV, exploring Cold War tension, masculinity, spectacle, and why this so-called “montage movie” still packs an emotional punch. Joining us is award-winning historian, writer, and editor Erica Canela, who steps into the ring to defend what she calls a “cinematic banger.” When Boxing Became the Cold War Released at the height of US–Soviet tensions, Rocky IV pits American champion Rocky Balboa against Soviet powerhouse Ivan Drago in a bout loaded with symbolism. From the explosive glove-crash opening to the brutal exhibition match that kills Apollo Creed, this film doesn’t hide its political stakes.

We Explore:

• The Cold War framing of America vs the USSR

• Spectacle, patriotism, and 1980s excess

• The cultural impact of Drago’s “If he dies, he dies”

• How sport becomes a proxy for ideological warfare Is it subtle? No. Is it effective? Absolutely.

Beyond the Montages: Male Friendship and Mortality.

While often remembered for its soundtrack and training sequences, Rocky IV continues a deeper thread running throughout the Rocky franchise: male friendship, pride, ageing, and identity.

We discuss:

• Apollo Creed’s fear of irrelevance

• Rocky’s loyalty and emotional restraint

• Adrian’s devastating “You can’t win” confrontation

• The cost of refusing to accept mortality Behind the spectacle lies a surprisingly emotional story about men confronting the end of their prime. America, the 80s, and Cinematic Excess From Lamborghinis to robot butlers, James Brown to steroid-fuelled super-athletes, Rocky IV is a time capsule of 1985.

We unpack:

• Why the film is nearly one-third montage

• The myth vs reality of Soviet sports science

• How 80s cinema balanced sincerity with spectacle

• Why this film still resonates 40 years later Is it corny? Sometimes. Is it iconic? Undeniably.

About Our Guest:

Erica Canela Erica Canela is an award-winning historian, writer, and editor with a passion for cultural history and storytelling.

You can connect with Erica here:

• Twitter/X: @ericanela

• Website: https://ericanela.co.uk/

• Publications: https://amzn.eu/d/0fwXYu3s

Support Review It Yourself

If you enjoy intelligent, passionate debate about film both good and bad — you can support Review it Yourself in the following ways:

-Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast platform

-Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts — it genuinely helps!

Follow on social media:

• Twitter/X: @YourselfReview

• Instagram: @reviewityourselfpodcast2021

-Contact:[email protected]

Your support helps keep independent film podcasting alive. Whether you see it as propaganda, pop culture gold, or pure 80s nostalgia, Rocky IV remains one of the most memorable boxing films ever made — and perhaps the most politically charged.

Lace up your gloves. It’s Christmas Day in Moscow.

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'The blast wave from a thermonuclear weapon has been likened to an enormous door, slamming in the depths of hell'

-Narrator, The War Game.

Sean and Sarah go from very silly (Sean has been eating too many Brandy-infused Mince Pies) to incredibly serious whilst discussing one of the most harrowing films they've ever seen: The 1966 BBC Nuclear War pseudo-documentary programme, The War Game. Banned from TV broadcast until 1984, when it was show alongside Threads (1984) this is a must-see film.

A harrowing film showing a nuclear strike on the South of England, infused with British humour alongside horrific details of the impact of radiation, this is peak British Television.

Please Note: This podcast episode contains one use of the term ‘coloured’. This is quoted directly from the film purely as part of a historical discussion and review of the film, and is not meant to cause any offence/distress. It highlights the 1960's society, which was still grappling with racial and social prejudice, and allows us to discuss the film in it's historical context.

References:

The V2 attack on Woolworths in London, occurred on Saturday 25th November 1944, and killed 168 people.

Chapters:

0:03 Welcome to the Podcast

1:16 A Heavy Discussion, a Silly Start!

1:56 The War Game

3:48 The Impact of Nuclear War

10:26 British Responses to Nuclear Threats

16:32 Society's Fragility

23:00 Exploring the Horrors

25:43 The Psychological Toll

29:10 The Aftermath of Destruction

33:09 The Reality of Survival

37:27 Triage and Resource Allocation

42:28 The Bleak Future

45:45 Children of the Fallout

49:11 The Illusion of Hope

53:42 Historical Context and Reflection

57:54 Cautionary Tales

1:01:37 Preparing for the Unknown

1:06:14 The Limits of Survival

1:08:21 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

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