The Steam & Splendor Network Podcast

Hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton welcome author and researcher Mark Chirnside back on the podcast to discuss his latest release, Olympic & Titanic: Triumph and Disaster.
In this episode, Mark reveals compelling new findings and stories that make this book a standout addition to maritime history. Whether you are new to the subject or a lifelong researcher, this detailed work offers fresh discoveries on nearly every page while recontextualizing the legacy of the Olympic-class ships.

The conversation also explores the evolving challenges facing maritime historians as the field increasingly transitions from print to digital and social media platforms.

Purchase the book:  Autographed copies are available at https://markchirnside.co.uk/

Mark Chirnside's Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkChirnside.author
X: https://x.com/Mark_Chirnside

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Hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton are joined by Patrick Cornelius Vida—President of the RMS Olympic Steinway Association and founder of The White Star Line Quintet—for crucial updates on the campaign to preserve a legendary piece of maritime history: the Steinway piano from Olympic’s luxurious À la Carte Restaurant.
In this episode, Patrick shares an important update on the acquisition process, revealing how close the society is to securing the instrument and what steps remain to ensure it stays on public display for future generations. We dive into the ongoing discussions with museums and prospective venues, the challenges still ahead, and exactly how the public can join the effort to save this historic artifact.
Learn more about the RMS Olympic Steinway Association:  https://www.rmsolympicpiano.com/en/  
Donate to save the Olympic piano via Paypal: donate@rmsolympicpiano.com
Donate via GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/ffe7428e
Purchase The White Star Line Quintet CD, with a signed commemorative booklet (all proceeds go towards preserving the piano): https://www.thewhitestarlinequintet.com/en/recordings
Listen to the Steam & Splendor Network Podcast on:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music

Subscribe to the Steam & Splendor Network on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@SteamAndSplendor

Support the podcast and our channel and receive early access and perks:
http://patreon.com/TheSteamandSplendorNetwork

Or buy us a coffee!
http://buymeacoffee.com/steamandsplendornetwork

Find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thesteamandsplendornetwork
Support the show

Join hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton for a gripping exploration of maritime history with renowned researcher Parks Stephenson. A retired Navy veteran and Executive Director of the USS Kidd Museum, Parks brings unparalleled expertise from his extensive research and multiple expeditions to the Titanic wreck site.
In this episode, we challenge long-held assumptions and dive into the technical mysteries of the world’s most famous shipwreck:
Engineering Icons: A comparative look at Titanic’s watertight bulkheads and design against its 1912 contemporaries.
The Collision Revisited: Could Titanic have experienced a grounding event in addition to the famous sideswipe?
The Ultimate "What If": Examining the physics and probability of whether the ship could have survived a direct, head-on impact with the iceberg.
The Coal Fire Theory: A fresh perspective on how the bunker fire impacted Titanic's stability—but in a way you likely haven't heard before.
From the Abyss: First-hand accounts from Parks regarding his submersible dives to both Titanic and USS Johnston.
Don't miss this deep dive into the mechanics, myths, and modern discoveries of maritime history.
Listen on:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music

Subscribe to the Steam & Splendor Network on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@SteamAndSplendor

Support the podcast and our channel and receive early access and perks:
http://patreon.com/TheSteamandSplendorNetwork

Or buy us a coffee!
http://buymeacoffee.com/steamandsplendornetwork

Find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thesteamandsplendornetwork
Support the show

Join hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton as they welcome fellow researcher Bill Wormstedt for an exclusive look at their upcoming paper, Titanic: The Lifeboat Launching Sequence, A New Study. Ahead of its April 10, 2026, release, the trio discusses a multi-year project born from a desire to critically examine an alternate chronology recently proposed by another researcher. By returning to the primary sources to reconcile conflicting accounts, they have worked to refine our collective understanding of the ship’s final hours and provide a clearer perspective on the launching sequence. 
Rather than simply adjusting existing models, the team returned to the primary sources to reexamine their own chronology, which was developed with researcher George Behe. This methodical "back to basics" approach has yielded a wealth of fascinating new insights, uncovering subtle details and overlooked testimony that shed fresh light on the sequence of events during the sinking. 
In this episode, the authors pull back the curtain on their research process and present a summary of their most significant findings. It is a must-listen for anyone interested in the technical history and the evolving narrative of the Titanic disaster.
*Titanic: The Lifeboat Launching Sequence, A New Study, which is a book-length article, will be available for free on wormstedt.com, beginning on April 10, 2026.
Listen on:
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Subscribe to the Steam & Splendor Network on YouTube:
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Support the podcast and our channel and receive early access and perks:
http://patreon.com/TheSteamandSplendorNetwork

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http://buymeacoffee.com/steamandsplendornetwork

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Hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton are joined by fellow researchers, authors, and longtime collaborators Bill Wormstedt and Mike Poirier for a lively and thought-provoking discussion on historical research methods—and the ongoing debate over how the story of the Titanic should be studied and understood.
Should historians rely only on official inquiry testimony and private letters from survivors, or can newspaper interviews and trade-press accounts also be trusted? Are later-in-life recollections valuable, or should researchers limit themselves strictly to statements given in 1912? What can be learned by comparing conflicting accounts from the very same survivor—and can we ever truly be confident that we know the full and accurate story of the sinking?
Join the conversation as specific survivor statements—both credible and questionable—are examined, challenged, and debated, in a revealing search for where the truth really lies.
Listen on:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music

Subscribe to the Steam & Splendor Network on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@SteamAndSplendor

Support the podcast and our channel and receive early access and perks:
http://patreon.com/TheSteamandSplendorNetwork

Or buy us a coffee!
http://buymeacoffee.com/steamandsplendornetwork

Find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thesteamandsplendornetwork
Support the show