Review It Yourself

Military Historian, Author, and Battlefield Guide Paul Reed join Sean to discuss a BBC documentary that he took part in, Meet The Ancestors Series 5, Episode 3: The Forgotten Battlefield. The documentary details a group of amateur archaeologists called The Diggers, who discovered a complex trench system over 200 fallen soldiers, in the Ieper (Ypres) and Boesinghe (now Boezinge).In an act of what Paul describes as "rescue archaeology" the diggers and historians-including Paul himself, race against time to uncover as much as they can before the area is completely covered by the building of an industrial estate. Paul also talks about what happened after the cameras stopped rolling.From the educational remit of British television in the early 2000's, to the emergence of amateur archaeology, and World War One remembrance and myths, this episode has it all.Raised Questions:-Did you know the BBC made a rival programme to Channel Four's Time Team?-Why weren't professional archaeologists interested in World War One battlefields back in the early 2000's?-Why wouldn't The Diggers be allowed to do their work today?-Why does wood survive in Flanders Field?-Why is it important to show the reality of war in documentaries?Chapters:0:06 Welcome to Review It Yourself1:14 Revisiting The Forgotten Battlefield2:55 The Evolution of BBC Documentaries7:31 The Role of 'The Diggers'9:19 Post-War Reconstruction Challenges10:48 Discoveries Beneath the Surface13:53 Amateurs vs. Professionals in Archaeology15:28 The Significance of Archaeological Finds21:02 Understanding the Reality of War23:28 The Human Cost of Conflict30:15 The Reality of Identification34:59 Forgotten Events of the Past38:54 The Fog of War40:47 Officer Casualties and Leadership45:44 Findings from the Battlefield Trench47:45 Unearthing History56:34 The Weight of Remembrance1:01:20 Reflections on Loss1:06:21 The Reality of War1:08:09 Commemoration vs. Reality1:16:56 Modern Discoveries1:23:05 The Role of DNA1:28:58 The Future of Historical Narratives1:33:57 Sharing Knowledge and PassionThe Programme on BBC iPlayer (UK Only): https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0074n0m/meet-the-ancestors-series-5-3-the-forgotten-battlefieldPaul's Podcast: Further Information can be found in Paul's podcast: The Old Front Line:-Battlefield Archaeology & Essex Farm Episode (3rd April 2020).-Forgotten Battlefield: The Reunion Episode (1st April 2023).The Old Front Line Website: https://oldfrontline.co.uk/Thanks for Listening!Find us here: X: @YourselfReviewInstagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Sean and Fraser McCallum, Imperial War Museum employee and author of Cold War Britain: 50 Years in the Shadow of the Bomb, continue their Cold War discussion.Our Guest:https://shop.iwm.org.uk/blogs/news/cold-war-britain -A blog about the book on the Imperial War Museum Website, with a link to the shop. This podcast is not an advertisement, and the link is here for you to do your own research on the book. You can buy it from whatever seller you want, we're not trying to influence you. Sean and Sarah highly recommend the book though!Chapters:0:10 The Evolution of Airborne Weapons1:03 Scotland's Nuclear Dilemma2:20 Greenham Common and Women's Activism3:51 The Anxiety of Nuclear Threats5:20 Eisenhower and Churchill's Perspectives10:14 The Impact of Cold War Culture14:09 Remembering Cold War Conflicts19:38 The Falklands War and Its Legacy26:01 The Aftermath of Yugoslavia's Conflict27:29 Short Attention Spans in History31:14 The Depressing Continuity of Conflict35:21 Cultural Reflections on Cold War40:45 The Legacy of 'Threads'47:58 The Evolution of Cold War Cinema53:59 The Book as a Gateway to History55:08 Final Thoughts on Cold War LegacyThanks for Listening!Find us here: X: @YourselfReviewInstagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

'Keep a hold of those 99 balloons, tear down this wall Mr Gorbachev and make a shelter of your internal doors, we're diving into the Cold War in Britain'. Sean is joined by Imperial War Museum employee and author of Cold War Britain: 50 Years in the Shadow of the Bomb, Fraser McCallum.A two-hour exploration of the Cold War from a purely British stand-point, this begins as a discussion of Fraser's book and rapidly becomes an in-depth, humorous and passionate discussion between two lads who love history.References:-The parade that Sean was talking about was the "Victory Celebration" Parade in London on 8th June 1946, which omitted the Polish Forces.-The Channel Four programme Sean was talking about was the 2010 documentary 'Bloody Foreigners: The Untold Battle of Britain'.Our Guest:https://shop.iwm.org.uk/blogs/news/cold-war-britain -A blog about the book on the Imperial War Museum Website, with a link to the shop. This podcast is not an advertisement, and the link is here for you to do your own research on the book. You can buy it from whatever seller you want, we're not trying to influence you. Sean and Sarah highly recommend the book though!Podcast Sting:Marv from Pods Like Us podcast. Find It Here: https://marvsmooth.podbean.com/Chapters: 0:05 Welcome to Cold War Britain0:27 The Role of the NHS3:13 Labour Government and Idealism versus Reality5:32 Making History Accessible6:30 The Lack of books on Britain's role in the Cold War8:17 The Cold War and British Identity8:47 The Challenge of Academic History9.40 A book with Winston Churchill and David Bowie0:05 Welcome to Cold War Britain0:27 The Role of the NHS3:25 Historical Context and Modern Politics5:32 Making History Accessible8:17 The Cold War and British Identity8:47 The Challenge of Academic History12:48 Did Churchill under-estimate Stalin?16:44 The Dilemma of Poland18:13 The Suez Crisis19:10 The Vietnam War and British Involvement23:45 The UK/US 'Special Relationship'25:20 The UK/USSR relationship-A Marriage of Convenience?42:09 Protests and Changing Attitudes44:15 The Cultural Impact of the Cold War50:23 Cinema and Cold War Narratives56:16 Reflections on History and Film59:00 The Evolution of Britain's Nuclear ArsenalThanks for Listening!Find us here: X: @YourselfReviewInstagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

A classic episode as Sean, Clayton and Shawn dive into one of the most beloved Christmas films of all time: The Holiday (2006). Eyelid kissing, across-the-pond relationships and characters 'so English it hurts' combine to make this episode unmissable.Sean takes some time to teach Clayton and Shawn some chocolate-based English phrases.Who moved where, after the credits roll?Chapters:0:08 Christmas Special Introduction2:01 Jude Law's Charisma3:06 Love Actually vs. The Holiday9:10 Characters and Their Arcs12:37 Jack Black's Unexpected Charm21:53 Unrequited Love Reflections23:51 Iris's Transformation43:55 The Power of Friendship55:36 Emotional Climax of the Film1:12:09 Fluffy Christmas Movie Expectations1:16:13 Sweet Treats and Chocolate1:22:23 Wrapping Up the YearThanks for Listening!Find us here: X: @YourselfReviewInstagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

This [film] is 87 minutes of awesome, pure awesome! My Love for this film is so strong!Doctor Erica Canela joins Sean to discuss nothing to do with history. Opting for something completely different, Erica guests to defend the incredibly montage-filled Rocky IV (1985).Chapters:0:04 Introduction to Rocky IV4:49 The Essence of Rocky IV30:24 The Stakes of the Fight41:34 Training Montage Showdown51:02 The Final Showdown58:30 Reflection and ConclusionThanks for Listening!Find us here: X: @YourselfReviewInstagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

'The blast wave from a thermonuclear weapon has been likened to an enormous door, slamming in the depths of hell'-Narrator, The War Game.Sean and Sarah go from very silly (Sean has been eating too many Brandy-infused Mince Pies) to incredibly serious whilst discussing one of the most harrowing films they've ever seen: The 1966 BBC Nuclear War pseudo-documentary programme, The War Game. Banned from TV broadcast until 1984, when it was show alongside Threads (1984) this is a must-see film.A harrowing film showing a nuclear strike on the South of England, infused with British humour alongside horrific details of the impact of radiation, this is peak British Television.Please Note: This podcast episode contains one use of the term ‘coloured’. This is quoted directly from the film purely as part of a historical discussion and review of the film, and is not meant to cause any offence/distress. It highlights the 1960's society, which was still grappling with racial and social prejudice, and allows us to discuss the film in it's historical context.References:The V2 attack on Woolworths in London, occurred on Saturday 25th November 1944, and killed 168 people.Chapters:0:03 Welcome to the Podcast1:16 A Heavy Discussion, a Silly Start!1:56 The War Game3:48 The Impact of Nuclear War10:26 British Responses to Nuclear Threats16:32 Society's Fragility23:00 Exploring the Horrors25:43 The Psychological Toll29:10 The Aftermath of Destruction33:09 The Reality of Survival37:27 Triage and Resource Allocation42:28 The Bleak Future45:45 Children of the Fallout49:11 The Illusion of Hope53:42 Historical Context and Reflection57:54 Cautionary Tales1:01:37 Preparing for the Unknown1:06:14 The Limits of Survival1:08:21 Closing Thoughts and ReflectionsThanks for Listening!Find us here: X: @YourselfReviewInstagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

What do you get when two Titanic enthusiasts get together to geek out over one of the staples of 1990's Titanic documentary: Answers from the Abyss (1999)?You get nerdy chaos.Sean is joined by Ryan 'The Dalek Man' Wade this time around. Ryan brings his insight into the documentary, the Titanic disaster and lesson learned from the tragedy... when Sean let's him get a word in that is.Chapters:1:29 Introduction to Titanic Enthusiasts15:09: A piece of Titanic (allegedly) fell off a truck37:36 Captain Smith's Role in the Titanic Disaster37:48 Exploring Titanic's Lifeboats and Safety Measures42:37 Theories on Titanic's Final Moments44:13 Investigating the Stern's Implosion and Explosion47:10 Titanic's Stern: A Hidden Tragedy49:46 Eyewitness Accounts and Historical Misunderstandings51:30 The Debate on Titanic's Final Moments53:47 Theories on the Ship's Breakup57:13 The Iceberg's Impact: A Fatal Encounter1:00:02 Lifeboat Protocols and Miscommunication1:05:52 Societal Impact of the Titanic Disaster1:06:35 Lessons Learned from Titanic1:08:33 Modern Documentaries vs. Classic Approaches1:10:50 The Personal Side of Titanic Stories1:19:16 Current Titanic Exploration Challenges1:20:57 Ryan's Titanic Model Making Journey1:27:00 Future Titanic Podcast Plans1:32:22 Wrap-Up and FarewellThanks for Listening!Find us here: X: @YourselfReviewInstagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Katja Hoyer, German-British Historian, Author and Journalist joins Sean and Sarah to discuss the dilemma facing German actors since 1945: whether to take Nazi roles or not.They examine 'memory politics' of the Second World War, the stereotypical Nazi portrayal seen in Hollywood over the years such as Wolf Kahler, through to modern German actors like Sandra Hüller, Daniel Brühl, Franka Potente, among others.From Star Wars, Commando Comics to Coronation Street, this episode truly examines a rarely-discussed issue in films with the trademark humour that you've come to expect from Sean and Sarah, whilst maintaining a respectful tone given the historical context.Question Raised:-How quickly did this issue rear it's head in post-war Germany?-Could a German family join Coronation Street?-How many films/television series does Sean mention?-When did the stereotypical Nazi villain begin?-What was the reaction to The Untergang [Downfall] in Germany?-Do all film villains have to be either German or well-spoken English characters?-Will German topics other than the Nazis ever be of interest to the international film scene?Books:-Der Brand [The Fire] by Jörg Friedrich, published in 2002. The Song that Sean was trying to think of for 'Deutschland 83':-"Major Tom (Coming Home)" by Peter Schilling.Our Guest:https://www.katjahoyer.uk/Read The Article Here:https://www.katjahoyer.uk/p/the-nazi-dilemma-facing-german-actorsChapters:0:05 Welcome to Review It Yourself0:46 Introducing Katja Hoyer2:29 The Inspiration Behind the Article5:08 German Actors and Nazi Stereotypes6:58 Portrayals in Film10:44 The Impact of Historical Memory11:10 The Modern German Actor16:18 The Balance of Typecasting17:57 The Complexity of Nazi Depictions20:34 Female Actors and Their Roles23:17 The Challenges of Representation33:22 The Role of Nationality in Acting36:46 The Future of German Cinema41:01 Shifting Perspectives in Film57:23 Cultural Stereotypes in Modern Media1:00:48 Upcoming Projects of Katja HoyerThanks for Listening!Find us here: X: @YourselfReviewInstagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021

Preview It Yourself Returns! Sean and Sarah watch what Sean thought was the teaser trailer for Christopher Nolan's Odyssey (2026), before discussing his filmography. It turned out to be a concept trailer. Never mind.Do you enjoy Nolan's films or endure them?Chapters:0:07 Introduction to Odyssey Trailer0:27 Thoughts on Matt Damon2:03 Concerns About the Cast4:42 Storytelling Challenges6:58 Nolan's Recent Films9:45 Adapting Epic Poetry14:25 Trailer Impressions16:35 Character Development Issues23:57 Anticipation and Apprehension25:33 Final Thoughts and Farewell*Sean meant King Ethelstan, not Ethelstad.Thanks for Listening!Find us here: X: @YourselfReviewInstagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021