WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk - Podcast Rankings and reviews

A terrific presentation of information. Does not get bogged down while still presenting significant amounts of detail. Well worth the listening.

Ww2 is a category that Lacks personality on the various podcasts available. These two are not short on that, they do an excellent job of having a natural conversation about a variety of topics surrounding World War II that is both engaging and accurate. The One that fancies himself a comedian doesn’t give the U.S. enough credit for our role in the war. James Holland is outstanding, gives fair credit and criticism to all sides on the topic of the day. One of my favorite shows.

I’m amending this review to add further documentation of the fact that the man that calls himself a comedian really has a underlying distain for the US during the war. I chalk it up to national pride on his part. But ever more the proof that James Holland is the constant professional and fully understands that both nations played their part, and that ultimately had it not been for the US the word bleak is an understatement for what had happened to Great Britain without the support of the USA. 80 years since the war and so many Europeans have forgotten about what so many American serviceman did and the sacrifices they made. Those men and women went and fought on soil that meant nothing to them.

I’m a subscriber and a passionate listener

Have discovered “we have ways” this past year and the voices of James and Al have been constant companion on my dog walks.

Have been a WW2 nerd since primary school. My grandfather spent the war in Japanese POW camp and my father and other grandfather were Dutch Nationals in Indonesia and spent the war in an internment camp. Have paid special attention to those episodes on pow camps and have gained a lot more appreciation in what my father and grandfather’s experienced.

Have also loved the episodes with John McManus and would love more episodes on the Pacific (especially the Naval war) and the Far East, including Malaysia and Burma.

My only criticism of the show is sometimes it’s hard to follow the conversation. James and Al sometimes are trying to talk over each other and interrupt a lot.

Love the podcast and the guys, however I found the recent episodes on fighting in Normandy post D-Day to be tough to get through. Monty has perhaps been unfairly blamed for much that was outside his control, but Al and James may be over correcting in their support of Monty, to the point of narrowly presenting information that elevates his generalship while failing to address his tactical shortcomings. Also, the reading of German primary sources in an overwrought accent can come across as boorish. Still, wonderful on the whole.

Over the years this pod has devolved from sincere history into a promotional vehicle for Holland and Murray's careers. It can be quite good, but all too often it's just Al and Jim yukking it up and shilling for themselves. The occasional political commentary betrays an elitist bias (Murray is a direct descendent of William Makepeace Thackeray, after all), as well as a frankly bigoted and shockingly simplistic view of American culture and current affairs. Still, the pod's stature does attract big-name guests. Listen, but be aware that the hosts are mighty pleased with themselves -- and they might consider your views beneath their enlightened intellect.