The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War

Seth Paridon, William Toti

World War II

Pearl Harbor

Pacific War

Japan

Japanese Navy

USS Indianapolis

Guadalcanal

U.S. Navy

Peleliu

Okinawa

Imperial Japanese Navy

United States Navy

Leyte Gulf

Battle Of Midway

Douglas Macarthur

Japanese Military

Masters Of the Air

Admiral William Halsey

Battle Off Samar

Iwo Jima

The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast is the creation of Seth Paridon and Bill Toti. Seth is a World War II historian with over 20 years experience who's many roles also was serving as a chief historian for The National WWII Museum for 15 years. Bill is not a historian, but is a retired submarine commodore and military planner with a special interest in the Pacific War. Bill has a un... more

1.7k ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	219	Founded	4 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	CoursesHistoryEducation

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Latest Episodes

The Battle for Wake Island

This week we are combining both Wake Island episodes as Seth and Jon prep for Season 6. Enjoy. #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavy... more

5 May 2026 • 3 hrs 25 min

Come Hang out Seth and Jon at The National Museum of the Pacific War on October 16-17, 2026.

Special Announcement here gang: Both Jon and myself, along with John McManus , will be at The National Museum of the Pacific War's annual conference in October. The museum's annual conference will conference will feature several speakers, including b... more

1 May 2026 • 2 min

Attack on Pearl Harbor--The First Wave

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at the attack on Pearl Harbor, the first wave in this super-long episode. We've combined the two parts of the first wave into this massive episode while we prepare for Season 6. Enjoy.

28 Apr 2026 • 2 hrs 16 min

Touring the National Naval Aviation Museum

This week Seth Paridon, and his son, take you through the National Naval Aviation Museum located on NAS Pensacola in Pensacola, Florida. Yours truly and my son take an annual "History with Dad" trip, and my boy selected P'Cola as this year's destinat... more

21 Apr 2026 • 1 hr 8 min

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Recent Guests

Sal Mercogliano

Owner of What's Going On with Shipping channel

What's Going On with Shipping

Episode: Shipbuilding and Fleet Repair in the PTO with Sal Mercogliano – Episode 549

Sara Vladic

New York Times bestselling author, historian

Author

Episode: The Dangerous Shore with Sara Vladic – Episode 547

Jon McManus

Special guest, historian

—

Episode: Pacific War Historians Chat with John McManus - Episode 546

Justin Pyke

A historian who has done extensive work on military aviation history, particularly on the China Air War

Military Aviation History channel (YouTube)

Episode: The Air War Over China 1937-40 with Justin Pyke - Episode 514

Craig Symonds

Foremost naval historian and author

Episode: Annapolis Goes to War: The Naval; Academy Class of 1940 with Craig Symonds - Episode 510

Rich Frank

Noted historian of the Asia Pacific War

Episode: Deadly Effective: US Subs vs the Imperial Japanese Army-with Rich Frank - Episode 501

Sean Bergstrom

Retired United States Army Major Cavalry Officer and MC for the Q&A

Episode: Get Us Your Questions for Audience Q&A!

James Scott

Former Nieman Fellow at Harvard University, author of Black Snow

Episode: The Strategic Bombing Campaign Over Japan with James Scott-Episode 415

John Bruning

New York Times Best Selling author and military historian

Episode: The Ace Race 1944-45 with John Bruning - Episode 413

Hosts

Seth Paridon

Historian and Deputy Director of the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum; co-host and co-creator focused on rigorous WW2 Pacific history.

Jon Parshall

Historian, author, and co-host; provides scholarly depth and critical perspective alongside Seth.

Jon McManus

Historian and guest on the show; contributes expert analysis and narrative context.

Bill Toti

Former submarine captain and military planner; brings practical, leadership-focused Pacific War insights.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.7k ratings

Jon may know WWII but has no understanding of the status of the nation today
Amazed at the ignorance of Jon’s political comments about ICE in Minneapolis.
Jon, have you thought about why they are there? It is because the democrat party hates the country and long to destroy it. Four years of Joe Biden resulted in 12 million illegals invading our nation and overwhelming our social welfare system.
Walz’s illegal sanctuary city policies means your MN government protects illegal immigrants from the consequences of their criminal activities at the expense of the rights ... more
Apple Podcasts
1
American Patriot1963
United Statesa month ago
Guaranteed a great time & you always learn something
Keep doing what you’re doing, and can’t wait for the 1942 book to come out.
Apple Podcasts
5
----JW----
United Kingdoma month ago
My Favorite Podcast
Absolutely the best history podcast. I have been listening since part way through season 1 and cannot give Seth, Bill, Jon, enough credit for their efforts. I always had a big draw to history and ww2 but these guys bring it in at another level. I am 35 so probably younger than most listeners but due to the spark they gave me I found a surviving St Louis veteran and reached out to him. At 102 yrs old he was delighted to have someone younger interested in his story. Folks, listen, learn, pay respe... more
Apple Podcasts
5
Ford Driver 73
United States2 months ago
Excellent
This podcast has been a honey hole of knowledge and insight that I couldn’t have ever imagined. Seth Bill and John complement each other extremely well with their different backgrounds and studies. I can’t thank these 3 enough for putting this podcast together. It’s really sparked my interest and desire to learn more about the Pacific side of the war and especially the naval battles that don’t get the attention they really deserve. Please don’t ever stop making episodes of this show.🙏🇯🇵 ICE ... more
Apple Podcasts
5
Eaor1
United States2 months ago
Absolute best WWII podcast ever!
Love the show and the dialogue between the hosts and the guest. Great information concerning the actions in the pacific war. Keep up the good work you all are doing!
Apple Podcasts
5
VPN excellent
United States2 months ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise in-depth research and detailed storytelling.

Fans appreciate guest expertise and host banter that stays informative.

Some listeners note interruptions between hosts can be distracting, but praise overall depth and nuance.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#86	United States/History
Apple Podcasts	#154	Canada/History
Apple Podcasts	#235	United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts	#140	Australia/History
Apple Podcasts	#102	Belgium/History
Apple Podcasts	#111	Hong Kong/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Season 5 Finale--Questions and Answers on the Pacific War

Q: If the Japanese force had been spotted earlier, how would US forces have been deployed on December 7th?

There is no crystal-clear answer; the discussion acknowledges contingency planning and the limits of foresight, with plans varying based on what was known about the enemy and what could be sustained logistically.

Q&A on the Pacific War Round 2 with special guest Bill Toti - Episode 533

Q: What were the responsibilities for the commander of the Naval District of Hawaii leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor?

The commander should have coordinated defenses, but significant responsibility fell on General Short.

Q&A on the Pacific War Round 2 with special guest Bill Toti - Episode 533

Q: Could success or failure in Burma really have had an impact on the outcome of the Pacific War?

The impact on the Pacific War is linked to India's stability as a British colony, but logistical challenges would have limited Japan's success.

Pacific War Q&A Round 1 with special guest Bill Toti - Episode 532

Q: Why didn't the US and Japan suffer a morale hit akin to the loss of the HMS Hood?

Bill notes that while the loss of the HMS Hood significantly affected British morale, the U.S. and Japan didn't face analogous public morale crises about lost ships.

Pacific War Q&A Round 1 with special guest Bill Toti - Episode 532

Q: What has Bill Toti been up to since leaving the podcast?

Bill shares insights about his role on the staff of the Deputy Secretary of War, focusing on maritime and naval matters.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show consistently delivers deep dives into the Pacific Theater of World War II, focusing on battles, strategy, and the people who shaped the conflict. Episodes combine rigorous historical analysis with accessible storytelling, often featuring guests with firsthand or scholarly perspectives. Listeners tend to appreciate thorough research, nuanced debates, and long-form discussions that unpack complex campaigns rather than offering quick soundbites. A notable strength is the hosts' willingness to challenge conventional narratives while maintaining engaging banter and clear takeaways, which makes it a strong fit for listeners who want both rigor and storytelling. The format and guest mix also position it well for sponsorships and collabor... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The WW2 Podcast
2. History of the Second World War
3. The History of WWII Podcast
4. WW2: Both Sides of The Wire
5. Key Battles of American History

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 4 years ago and published 219 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Sal Mercogliano
2. Sara Vladic
3. Jon McManus
4. Justin Pyke
5. Craig Symonds
6. Rich Frank
7. Sean Bergstrom
8. James Scott

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