The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War

Seth Paridon, William Toti

World War II

Operation Forager

Saipan

Battle Of the Philippine Sea

Holland Smith

Pacific War

Japanese Military

USS Indianapolis

United States Army

Biak

Masters Of the Air

Tinian

Books

Civilians

American Navy

Japanese Navy

Naval History

Gyokusai

Kamikaze Tactics

Admiral Ozawa

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	215	Founded	4 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	HistoryCoursesEducation

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Latest Episodes

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

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall wrap up Season 5 with a Q&A episode with their good buddy and Q&A emcee-Shawn Bergstrom. The team wraps up the massive amount of questions sent in with some really thought provoking answers to some excellent qu... more

14 Apr 2026 • 2 hrs 14 min

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

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome back buddy Sal Mercogliano @wgowshipping to talk about US Navy shipbuilding and fleet repair in the Pacific theater of Operations. The guys get into several Admirals you’ve probably never heard of and... more

7 Apr 2026 • 1 hr 56 min

Task Force 58 Under Attack 1943-45 Archival Footage – Episode 548

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at some utterly awesome archival footage. Remember when we said that the airspace over Task Force 58 was the most deadly anti-aircraft envelope on the planet in 44-45? Well, after watching this, you... more

31 Mar 2026 • 1 hr 48 min

The Dangerous Shore with Sara Vladic – Episode 547

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome author and historian Sara Vladic to the show to discuss her new book, The Dangerous Shore: How a Motley Crew of Scientists, Mobsters, Double Agents, Retirees, Volunteer Pilots (and a Boy Scout) Stopped ... more

24 Mar 2026 • 1 hr 27 min

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Recent Guests

Sara Vladic

New York Times bestselling author, historian

Author

Episode: The Dangerous Shore with Sara Vladic – Episode 547

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

Jon McManus

Historian and author notably focused on the US Army's experiences in the Pacific during World War II

Episode: The US Army at Pearl Harbor with John McManus - Episode 527

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

Rich Frank

Fantastic historian and good friend of the hosts

Episode: Countdown to Pearl Harbor-Diplomatic Warfare Part 2 with Rich Frank - Episode 513

Craig Symonds

Foremost naval historian and author

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

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

Caroline Alexander

Author and scholar, author of 'Skies of Thunder - The Deadly World War II Mission Over the Roof of the World'

Episode: Special Episode: Flying the Hump in the CBI with Caroline Alexander

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 States9 days 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 Kingdom15 days 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 Statesa month 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 Statesa month 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 Statesa month 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	#87	United States/History
Apple Podcasts	#193	Canada/History
Apple Podcasts	#228	United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts	#150	Australia/History
Apple Podcasts	#33	Chile/History
Apple Podcasts	#109	Norway/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.

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

Q: How did you gather information for your book?

I utilized personal memoirs, archives, and hometown newspapers to provide insights into the experiences and emotions of the class members.

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

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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