The Steam & Splendor Network Podcast

Hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton welcome author and researcher Mark Chirnside back on the podcast to discuss his latest release, Olympic & Titanic: Triumph and Disaster.

In this episode, Mark reveals compelling new findings and stories that make this book a standout addition to maritime history. Whether you are new to the subject or a lifelong researcher, this detailed work offers fresh discoveries on nearly every page while recontextualizing the legacy of the Olympic-class ships.

The conversation also explores the evolving challenges facing maritime historians as the field increasingly transitions from print to digital and social media platforms.

Purchase the book:  Autographed copies are available at https://markchirnside.co.uk/

Mark Chirnside's Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkChirnside.author

X: https://x.com/Mark_Chirnside

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Hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton are joined by Patrick Cornelius Vida—President of the RMS Olympic Steinway Association and founder of The White Star Line Quintet—for crucial updates on the campaign to preserve a legendary piece of maritime history: the Steinway piano from Olympic’s luxurious À la Carte Restaurant.

In this episode, Patrick shares an important update on the acquisition process, revealing how close the society is to securing the instrument and what steps remain to ensure it stays on public display for future generations. We dive into the ongoing discussions with museums and prospective venues, the challenges still ahead, and exactly how the public can join the effort to save this historic artifact.

Learn more about the RMS Olympic Steinway Association:  https://www.rmsolympicpiano.com/en/  

Donate to save the Olympic piano via Paypal: [email protected]

Donate via GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/ffe7428e

Purchase The White Star Line Quintet CD, with a signed commemorative booklet (all proceeds go towards preserving the piano): https://www.thewhitestarlinequintet.com/en/recordings

Listen to the Steam & Splendor Network Podcast on:
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Subscribe to the Steam & Splendor Network on YouTube:
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Support the podcast and our channel and receive early access and perks:
http://patreon.com/TheSteamandSplendorNetwork

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Join hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton for a gripping exploration of maritime history with renowned researcher Parks Stephenson. A retired Navy veteran and Executive Director of the USS Kidd Museum, Parks brings unparalleled expertise from his extensive research and multiple expeditions to the Titanic wreck site.

In this episode, we challenge long-held assumptions and dive into the technical mysteries of the world’s most famous shipwreck:

• Engineering Icons: A comparative look at Titanic’s watertight bulkheads and design against its 1912 contemporaries.
• The Collision Revisited: Could Titanic have experienced a grounding event in addition to the famous sideswipe?
• The Ultimate "What If": Examining the physics and probability of whether the ship could have survived a direct, head-on impact with the iceberg.
• The Coal Fire Theory: A fresh perspective on how the bunker fire impacted Titanic's stability—but in a way you likely haven't heard before.
• From the Abyss: First-hand accounts from Parks regarding his submersible dives to both Titanic and USS Johnston.

Don't miss this deep dive into the mechanics, myths, and modern discoveries of maritime history.

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Join hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton as they welcome fellow researcher Bill Wormstedt for an exclusive look at their upcoming paper, Titanic: The Lifeboat Launching Sequence, A New Study. Ahead of its April 10, 2026, release, the trio discusses a multi-year project born from a desire to critically examine an alternate chronology recently proposed by another researcher. By returning to the primary sources to reconcile conflicting accounts, they have worked to refine our collective understanding of the ship’s final hours and provide a clearer perspective on the launching sequence. 

Rather than simply adjusting existing models, the team returned to the primary sources to reexamine their own chronology, which was developed with researcher George Behe. This methodical "back to basics" approach has yielded a wealth of fascinating new insights, uncovering subtle details and overlooked testimony that shed fresh light on the sequence of events during the sinking. 

In this episode, the authors pull back the curtain on their research process and present a summary of their most significant findings. It is a must-listen for anyone interested in the technical history and the evolving narrative of the Titanic disaster.

*Titanic: The Lifeboat Launching Sequence, A New Study, which is a book-length article, will be available for free on wormstedt.com, beginning on April 10, 2026.

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Hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton are joined by fellow researchers, authors, and longtime collaborators Bill Wormstedt and Mike Poirier for a lively and thought-provoking discussion on historical research methods—and the ongoing debate over how the story of the Titanic should be studied and understood.

Should historians rely only on official inquiry testimony and private letters from survivors, or can newspaper interviews and trade-press accounts also be trusted? Are later-in-life recollections valuable, or should researchers limit themselves strictly to statements given in 1912? What can be learned by comparing conflicting accounts from the very same survivor—and can we ever truly be confident that we know the full and accurate story of the sinking?

Join the conversation as specific survivor statements—both credible and questionable—are examined, challenged, and debated, in a revealing search for where the truth really lies.

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Season 2 of The Steam & Splendor Network Podcast launches with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Titanic Sinks in Real Time: 2025 Historians’ Edition. Hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton take listeners inside the making of this ambitious new recreation, revealing how historical research, technology, and factual storytelling came together to bring Titanic’s final hours to life like never before.

From a meticulously crafted, fully immersive audio experience to the historical details that shaped every moment of the sinking, this episode explores what makes this edition unique. Tad and Kent also discuss the many ways in which real-time recreations go beyond audience engagement—serving as powerful research tools that allow historians to test theories, uncover new insights, and better understand survivor accounts, and the disaster itself.

Packed with fascinating examples, historical detail, and expert insight, this episode offers a rare look at how the past is reconstructed—and re-examined—through modern tools. Don’t miss this compelling deep dive into the recreation of one of history’s most studied maritime tragedies.

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Subscribe to the Steam & Splendor Network on YouTube:
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Support the podcast and our channel and receive early access and perks:
http://patreon.com/TheSteamandSplendorNetwork

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http://buymeacoffee.com/steamandsplendornetwork

Find us on Instagram:
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It’s been a full year since The Steam & Splendor Network first launched—and what a journey it’s been! In this special first anniversary episode, hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton take a nostalgic trip through the highlights of the past year. From memorable moments and favorite episodes to surprising discoveries and behind-the-scenes insights, they reflect on everything that’s made the channel and podcast so special.

But that’s not all—Tad and Kent also offer an exciting glimpse into what’s coming next for Steam & Splendor. New stories, deeper dives, and thrilling topics await in the year ahead. Whether you’ve been with us from day one or you’re just climbing aboard, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

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Subscribe to the Steam & Splendor Network on YouTube:
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Support the podcast and our channel and receive early access and perks:
http://patreon.com/TheSteamandSplendorNetwork

Or buy us a coffee!
http://buymeacoffee.com/steamandsplendornetwork

Find us on Instagram:
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In this episode, hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton are joined by Siegfried, Paul, and Colin from Project Vaterland—a fascinating digital reconstruction project bringing the Hamburg America Line’s revolutionary SS Vaterland back to life as she appeared in 1914. The team shares insights into the extensive research and the creative process behind the project, the challenges of building an accurate and detailed 3D model of both the ship’s exterior and many of her interior passenger and crew spaces, and what drives their passion for maritime history.

The conversation also dives into how the Vaterland and her intended running mates—Imperator and Bismarck (known as the Ballin Trio)—stack up against contemporaries like Titanic and the other Olympic-class liners, and Cunard’s Lusitania and Mauretania.

Things take a thought-provoking turn as the group explores a fascinating "what if" scenario: how might the competition for the transatlantic passenger trade between Cunard, White Star, and Hamburg America have unfolded if World War I had never occurred? Vaterland was bigger than Titanic, but learn why it was revolutionary, beyond just its sheer size.

Find the Project Vaterland website here:  If you have skills in computer modeling and are interested in volunteering your time, or if you’d like to support the project with a financial donation, visit: 
https://project-vaterland.de/

Listen on:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music

Subscribe to the Steam & Splendor Network on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@SteamAndSplendor

Support the podcast and our channel and receive early access and perks:
http://patreon.com/TheSteamandSplendorNetwork

Or buy us a coffee!
http://buymeacoffee.com/steamandsplendornetwork

Find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thesteamandsplendornetwork

Support the show

Hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton are joined by Patrick Cornelius Vida, the President of the RMS Olympic Steinway Association, and founder of The White Star Line Quintet. Patrick shares the ongoing efforts to preserve the historic Steinway piano from Olympic’s À la Carte Restaurant and ensure it remains accessible to the public. He also delves into the origins and mission of The White Star Line Quintet, a group dedicated to reviving the music of Titanic and other White Star Line vessels. Through their performances, the group plays a vital role in supporting the piano’s preservation. The episode also explores how listeners can get involved and contribute to this unique preservation project.

Learn more about the RMS Olympic Steinway Association:  https://www.rmsolympicpiano.com/en/  

Donate to save the Olympic piano via Paypal: [email protected]

Donate via GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/ffe7428e

Purchase The White Star Line Quintet CD, with a signed commemorative booklet (all proceeds go towards preserving the piano): https://www.thewhitestarlinequintet.com/en/recordings

Listen to the Steam & Splendor Network Podcast on:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music

Subscribe to the Steam & Splendor Network on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@SteamAndSplendor

Support the podcast and our channel and receive early access and perks:
http://patreon.com/TheSteamandSplendorNetwork

Or buy us a coffee!
http://buymeacoffee.com/steamandsplendornetwork

Find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thesteamandsplendornetwork

Support the show

Hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton are joined by historian, researcher, and podcaster L.A. Beadles for an open and in-depth discussion of the challenges that are facing the Titanic community, and the research community, as a whole. Among the issues discussed include aging demographics, a significant lack of gender diversity, and the rise of negativity within the community. Why these trends have persisted is discussed, as well as possible solutions and a path forward.   

Listen to Unsinkable: The Titanic Podcast: New episodes coming this summer! We highly recommend L.A.'s podcast.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1843812

Listen to the Steam & Splendor Network Podcast on:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music

Subscribe to the Steam & Splendor Network on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@SteamAndSplendor

Support the podcast and our channel and receive early access and perks:
http://patreon.com/TheSteamandSplendorNetwork

Or buy us a coffee!
http://buymeacoffee.com/steamandsplendornetwork

Find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thesteamandsplendornetwork

Support the show