TITANIC TALK

This week on Titanic Talk, Alexandra Boyd and Nelson Aspen welcome Darren Winston of Freeman’s, America’s oldest auction house, for a fascinating look inside the world of Titanic memorabilia, historic objects and high-end auctions.

Darren tells the extraordinary story of discovering John Jacob Astor IV’s gold Patek Philippe pocket watch and jeweled gold pencil case during what began as an ordinary house call in New York. Both objects had remained within the Astor family for more than a century after being recovered with Astor’s body following the sinking of RMS Titanic.

When the pieces went under the hammer in April 2026, Astor’s watch sold for $800,000 and the gold pencil case for $160,000 before buyer’s premium.

Darren also takes us behind the scenes of the auction world: how remarkable objects are discovered, authenticated, protected and marketed; why estimates and reserves matter; and what happens when bidding takes off — or doesn’t.

Alexandra and Nelson also reveal the Titanic artifacts they would most love to own, while Darren explains why a simple object can become an extraordinary connection to history.

And in an unexpected finale, we discover how Darren once sold his enormous collection of Aerosmith memorabilia — to Aerosmith themselves.

Find Titanic Talk wherever you listen to podcasts.

Freeman's Auctions

#Titanic #RMSTitanic #JohnJacobAstor #TitanicArtifacts #TitanicAuction #TitanicHistory #FreemansAuction #PatekPhilippe #TitanicTalk #JamesCameronsTitanic

Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES 

For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack 

SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc

Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast

WATCH US on YouTube

TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE

Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com
@nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale

Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

What is it really like to descend two and a half miles beneath the Atlantic and come face to face with RMS Titanic?

This week on Titanic Talk, Alexandra Boyd and Nelson Aspen welcome legendary Titanic explorer Dik Barton, former Director of Operations for RMS Titanic Inc. and Ambassador for the British Titanic Society.

Speaking from the historic White Star Line headquarters in Liverpool, Dik shares extraordinary stories from his 22 dives to Titanic — including helping oversee the recovery of thousands of artifacts, his involvement with the famous “Big Piece”, touching Titanic’s ship’s wheel on the seabed, and the terrifying six hours his submersible spent trapped beneath the stern.

He also talks about working alongside teams connected with James Cameron’s Titanic, what the wreck reveals about the ship’s violent breakup, his admiration for Quartermaster Robert Hichens, and why he believes J. Bruce Ismay has been unfairly portrayed.

The conversation also touches on the new play Unsinkable at Liverpool’s Hope Street Theatre and a forthcoming Titanic and White Star Line exhibition at the historic White Star Line building.

Above all, Dik explains why Titanic’s artifact collection must be preserved together for future generations.

Find out more at DikBarton.com

Alexandra’s documentary Ship of Dreams: Titanic Movie Diaries brings together cast members from James Cameron’s Titanic to tell their behind-the-scenes stories.

Her forthcoming book, The Titanic Movie Diaries: Actors’ Stories From the Set of Titanic, featuring the memories of sixteen actors who worked on the film, will be published by The History Press on March 25, 2027.

#titanic  #rmstitanic  #DikBarton #TitanicExplorer #titanichistory  #jamescameron  #BruceIsmay #whitestarline  #TitanicTalk #shipofdreams  #TheTitanicMovieDiaries

Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES 

For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack 

SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc

Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast

WATCH US on YouTube

TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE

Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com
@nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale

Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

The first episode of Season Four of Titanic Talk opens with writer/director Matthew Reynolds and actor Joseph Winder, who join Alexandra Boyd and Nelson Aspen to discuss their new play, Unsinkable.

The play explores the life and legacy of J. Bruce Ismay, chairman of the White Star Line and one of Titanic’s most controversial survivors.

Matthew discusses growing up in Liverpool and the city’s connection to Titanic, while Joseph talks about the challenge of portraying a man so often reduced to the role of villain.

Together they explore Ismay’s family, ambitions, survival of the disaster, survivor’s guilt and the public judgement that followed him for the rest of his life.

Unsinkable' is an emotionally charged drama that interrogates the nature of masculinity, hubris and guilt. Through tense philosophical dialogue, it explores the blurred line between survival and cowardice.

Can historical drama help us look again at people we think we already understand?

A fascinating start to Season Four of Titanic Talk.

GET YOUR TICKETS for the play which runs September 30th to October 3rd at the Hope Street Theatre in Liverpool HERE!

Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES 

For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack 

SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc

Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast

WATCH US on YouTube

TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE

Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com
@nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale

Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

Nelson Aspen and Alexandra Boyd kick off season four with a candid catch-up on what they’ve both been doing between episodes. The conversation moves from personal updates and new merch to books, documentaries, and why Titanic still resonates so deeply with new generations. 

In this episode, Nelson and Alexandra talk through their shared Titanic universe, their creative projects, and the ways age, reinvention, and fandom continue to shape their work.

• Follow the season four rollout for new guests and upcoming Titanic discussions.
• Watch Ship of Dreams: Titanic Movie Diaries if you haven’t already.
• Keep an eye out for Alexandra’s book launch and her third Titanic weekend appearance 
• Join the conversation by commenting with your thoughts on Titanic films, AI, and favorite ship-centered movies.
• Pick up merch if you want to be “merched up” for Titanic Weekend.
• Alexandra's photographer Suzanna Rothmeyer

Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES 

For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack 

SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc

Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast

WATCH US on YouTube

TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE

Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com
@nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale

Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

Nelson and Alexandra wrap up Season 3 with a look back at the wonderful conversations they've had this year.

LISTEN AGAIN TO ~

• The Amazon Prime release of Ship of Dreams: Titanic Movie Diaries 
• The release of Nelson's book Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale
• Titanic exhibition organizer, Joe Gold
• Author of The Six, Steven Schwankert
• Special Round table episode on The Queen Mary for the 113th Anniversary
• Titanic actress Fannie Brett 
• Brittany Butler and Zach Douglas musing on Rose's life post Jack/Titanic and before she met Brock in an episode called 'Rose's Heart Will Go On'
• The recovery of bodies with death care expert, Clinton Bonelli
• David Scott-Beddard of the British Titanic Society 
• Kelly Skwarkan on the failed of leadership of the captain of the Californian
• Dan E Parkes author. The Captain, The Daughter & the Spy
• Alex 0wens-Sarno - Cora in Titanic

We took time to remember one of our Titanic family who passed away on Thanksgiving Day. Ellen Mower O'Brien is the frozen Mother with Baby in James Cameron's film. Here's a link to her Go Fund Me

Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES 

For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack 

SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc

Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast

WATCH US on YouTube

TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE

Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com
@nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale

Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

For the final episode of Season Three Nelson and Alexandra came full circle and back to James Cameron's Titanic with one of the film's most memorable, and arguably the cutest, supporting characters. Alex Owens-Sarno was seven going on eight years old when she landed her first film role opposite Leonardo Di Caprio.

Alex tells us about dancing with Leo, working with James Cameron and her infamous death scene that was cut because it was too upsetting.

Alex is all grown up now and works an actress, writer and comedienne. 

Follow her work on 

Instagram @alex_sarno

Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES 

For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack 

SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc

Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast

WATCH US on YouTube

TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE

Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com
@nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale

Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

Nelson and Alexandra spend an intriguing and revealing conversation with Dan Parkes, cinematographer and the author of a fascinating and meticulously researched book he wrote about Captain Smith of Titanic and the legacy his daughter lived with throughout her storied life - a pilot, a politician and married to a spy who died in suspicious circumstances...

This conversation could have spanned two Titanic Talk Episodes.  The telling of Helen Melville Russell Cooke's life (1898-1973) in Dan's book takes the shape of an edge-of-your-seat thriller. This book is a must-read for all Titanic enthusiasts looking for new and as yet uncovered human stories of the individuals effected by the Titanic tragedy.

BUY Dan's Book TITANIC LEGACY: The Captain, The Daughter and The Spy

FOLLOW @parkesproductions

LEARN more about Dan on his WEBSITE

Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES 

For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack 

SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc

Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast

WATCH US on YouTube

TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE

Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com
@nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale

Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

In this episode, Nelson and Alexandra talk Titanic's rescue with Kelly Skwarcan. She is an author, speaker and researcher weaving in the stories of three ship's captains in her book - The Full Tale of the Titanic: Iron and Ice  and into her interactive case study presentation “Leadership in Crisis: The Titanic, Carpathia, & Californian”.

Two ships were close to Titanic as she sank. The Carpathian and the Californian. Captain Lord ignored Titanic's SOS signals despite being only ten miles away and during the official enquiry he tried to cover up his failings. In an opposite demonstration of leadership, Captain Rostrun of the Californian turned his ship around and steered through a field of icebergs to help pick up survivors. Hear about how Kelly uses the stories of the two captains' different responses to train military cadets in the art of leadership combining her research and passion for the Titanic with the HEXACO personality test.

LINKS ~
Kelly's Book IRON & ICE: The Full Tale of the Titanic on Amazon
Kelly's website ~ kellyskwarcan.com
Instagram ~ @kellyskwarcan

Listen to Kelly's Narativ Leadership Story Talks podcast episode HERE

Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES 

For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack 

SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc

Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast

WATCH US on YouTube

TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE

Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com
@nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale

Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

Find out all about the workings and origin of the British Titanic Society from their chairman David Scott-Beddard, who also owns White Star Memories, one of the premiere Titanic exhibition companies in the world. He was also a key player in finding, raising awareness, raising funds and restoring one of Titanic's tender ships -  the Nomadic.

Listen to this fascinating new episode where Nelson and Alexandra hear also about David's new venture restoring two train carriages that travelled Titanic passengers from Waterloo to Southampton.

LINKS for this episode ~

Nomadic is dry docked at Titanic Belfast

TitanicBelfast.com/explore/ss-Nomadic

David's collection of memorabilia White Star Memories

Exhibition Hub, the immersive Titanic exhibition: www.exhibitionhub.com

Sculpter Allen St Geroge: alanstgeorge.com

Titanic Boat Train Heritage: titanicboattrainheretagetrust.org 

Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES 

For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack 

SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc

Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast

WATCH US on YouTube

TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE

Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com
@nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale

Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...

This is a solemn and unusual episode, Nelson and Alexandra speak with Clinton Bonelli. They met their new Titaniac friend on the Queen Mary over Titanic Weekend 2025 and immediately found each other to be kindred spirits.

Clinton's is a mortuary science specialist and death care professor, so Nelson had the idea to invite him on to Titanic Talk to tell us about the recovery of the bodies of Titanic's victims and how they were treated in 1912. It's well known that only one lifeboat returned to pick up survivors in the water, many passengers would have gone down with the ship and many didn't survive longer than fifteen minutes in the freezing water of the Atlantic.

Clinton's background in funeral arrangement and embalming and his research on who was buried at sea, who was laid to rest in Halifax in the cemetery and whose bodies were returned to their families outlines, even in death, the unbalanced distinction of the classes.

Follow Clinton on Instagram @clintonb1979 and @pedantictitanic

Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES 

For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack 

SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc

Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast

WATCH US on YouTube

TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE

Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com
@nelsonaspen    Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale

Alexandra -  alexandraboyd.co...