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The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War

Seth Paridon, William Toti
World War II
Pacific War
Pearl Harbor
Japan
Japanese Navy
USS Indianapolis
Guadalcanal
U.S. Navy
Peleliu
Okinawa
Imperial Japanese Navy
Douglas Macarthur
United States Navy
Leyte Gulf
Battle Of Midway
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

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Artwork for The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War

Latest Episodes

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall along with a new guest, their good friend, Filipino historian Desiree Benipayo, Guerrilla movement that began in 1942 almost immediately after the Japanese invaded. Desiree gives a unique perspective into the l... more

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a break from the Philippines to look at some archival footage. First, The guys take a look at footage from the USS Birmingham, a Cleveland class light cruiser that saw a tremendous amount of action in the ... more

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall are joined by the very good friend author and historian James Scott for the first episode of our new series called Sunday Scuttlebutt. In this once a month, maybe, series Seth and John and a guest we'll tackle... more

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome back their good friend author and historian John Bruning to the show To discuss the birth of the Filipino guerrilla movement. John gets into some of the more polarizing figures of the movement, includin... more

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Recent Guests

Desiree Benipayo
Filipino historian, author (Honor. The Legacy of Jose Abad Santos), documentary filmmaker, and public speaker
Author and filmmaker
Episode: Filipinos in the Guerilla Movement 1942-45 with Desiree Benipayo – Episode 617
Pete Owen
Author and historian researching Marine aviation; author of Fighting Falcons: The Campaigns of VMF-221 in the Pacific
Author of Fighting Falcons
Episode: VMF-221: The Fighting Falcons in the Pacific War with guest Pete Owen - Episode 601
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
Sal Mercogliano
Owner of the What's Going On With Shipping YouTube channel
What's Going On With Shipping
Episode: Fast Oilers and Logistics in the Pacific War with Sal Mercogliano – Episode 545
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
Jon Parshall
Contributor to the podcast and participant in the Q&A
Episode: Get Us Your Questions for Audience Q&A!

Hosts

Seth Paridon
Historian and deputy director of the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum; co-host focused on Pacific War history.
Jon Parshall
Co-host and historian, author, with deep background in Pacific War scholarship.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.8k ratings
  • Disappointing episode

    I’ve been listening to the latest episode, Empire of Ashes — Truman, Hirohito, and Total War, and find that I’m having a difficult time making it all the way through to the end.

    The topic – the use of the atomic bomb, the decision-making involved in dropping it, and the struggle on the part of the Japanese to decide whether or not to surrender – is intrinsically fascinating.

    However, notwithstanding the seriousness of the topic, including potentially millions of casualties if the US is forced... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Willy ‘45
    United Statesa month ago
  • WWII POW

    Love all the deep insights of the podcast. My grandfather was a Battling Bastard of Bataan, death march survivor, hell ship survivor and finally survivor of the Japanese camp Omini Machi. I’m often amazed how he and so many survived such horrific conditions. Thanks guys!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gunsmoke399
    United Statesa month ago
  • Excellent podcast, folks!

    I’m currently using your podcast as a supplement to Pike’s astounding ‘Hirohito’s War’ … sooo would love an episode that expands on the innovations in US anti-aircraft gunnery tech between Battles of Midway and Philippine Sea. Please.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jammyjimmy
    Canada2 months ago
  • Excellent

    In depth, articulate, well thought out discussions on the history of the pacific war. These podcasts are worthwhile listening for the most knowledgeable of history buffs.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Roberttatatatatayayyayayyaytyy
    United States3 months ago
  • Best WW2 Pacific Podcast

    Fantastic show seasons 1 through 4: five solid stars. Seasons 5 and 6: two or three stars, not really my cup of tea. Still, the first four seasons are the best WWII Pacific-theater history you can get. Would highly recommend checking out the books that the hosts & guests mention during almost every episode. Excellent show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bedsurfer
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests often bring new archival insights that complement host expertise.
Shows deep, well-researched analysis of Pacific War history.
A few listeners note political discussions occasionally interrupt the flow.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#97
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#171
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#187
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#106
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#38
Hong Kong/History
Apple Podcasts
#135
Sweden/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Filipinos in the Guerilla Movement 1942-45 with Desiree Benipayo – Episode 617
Q: How did the resistance movement begin and who did it include?
Desiree explains that resistance began at the community level, with home guards and town militias forming to protect families as the Japanese advanced; the movement quickly drew in a wide cross-section from peasants to students, professionals, and even foreign or mixed-heritage volunteers.
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.

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?

Two veteran historians host a rigorous deep-dive into Pacific War events, battles, and leadership decisions, often pairing archival context with scholarly analysis and occasional guest experts. Episodes routinely dissect strategy, logistics, and personalities shaping the U.S. victory in the Pacific, with a strong emphasis on naval and ground campaigns, prisoner experiences, and postwar repercussions. Unique strengths include a blend of archival research, museum-level perspectives, and a willingness to challenge conventional narratives, making it a solid choice for history buffs, military professionals, and listeners seeking thorough, source-driven discussions. Listeners can expect detailed maps, battle-by-battle breakdowns, and occasional a... more

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1. The WW2 Podcast
2. The History of WWII Podcast
3. WW2: Both Sides of The Wire
4. History of the Second World War
5. WW2 Stories & Real War Stories

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this podcast launched 4 years ago and published 240 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. Desiree Benipayo
2. Pete Owen
3. Sara Vladic
4. Jon McManus
5. Sal Mercogliano
6. Justin Pyke
7. Craig Symonds
8. Rich Frank

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