WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk
The World War II podcast with comedian Al Murray and historian James Holland.
We Have Ways of Making You Talk dives deep into WWII history, exploring key battles, forgotten front lines, and incredible untold stories. Whether you're fascinated by the Battle of Britain, the D-Day landings, or the Eastern Front, this show offers a rich, detailed look at the war that shaped the modern world.
Al and James bring a unique blend of expert knowledge and humour, discussing everything from the Third Reich, Churchill's leadership, and the Fall of Berlin, to World War 2 tanks, fighter planes, and naval battles. Expect historical insights, lively tangents, and discussions on iconic second world war events like Operation Barbarossa, the Pacific Theatre, and the North African campaign.
Join our membership club for extra content, livestreams and ad-free listening: patreon.com/wehaveways
For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com
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241. The Washington Putsch
As Donald Trump’s followers tried to seize control of Washington’s Capitol many writers and commentators sought historical parallels to explain how American democracy had come to this. James Holland and Al Murray look back at the rise of fascism to exa...
51 min
652
240. The Wings of Pegasus, by George Chatterton...
Brigadier George Chatterton's memoirs, read by Al Murray, tell the extraordinary story of his time as a soldier for the British Army who then went on to become the Commander of the Glider Pilot Regiment during the Second World War.A Goalhanger ...
17 min
653
239. The Wings of Pegasus, by George Chatterton...
Brigadier George Chatterton's memoirs, read by Al Murray, tell the extraordinary story of his time as a soldier for the British Army who then went on to become the Commander of the Glider Pilot Regiment during the Second World War.A Goalhanger ...
23 min
654
238. Sidney Cotton’s Private Airforce
Sidney Cotton played an important role in the development of photographic reconnaissance, taking pictures of Germany and Holland at the start of the war.His personal driver was a young man called Geoffrey Turnham. In these memoirs, sent to us by his g...
20 min
655
237. Robert Bowen - Fighting With Screaming Eagles
Merry Christmas from We Have Ways of Making You Talk. Over the next 12 days Al and James are reading extracts from some of their favourite books about the Second World War. Today Al is reading from Fighting With Screaming Eagles, by Robert Bowen
40 min
656
236. The Man Who Said Don’t Go
News that Sir Brian Urquhart has died at the age of 101 leads Al Murray and James Holland inexorably back to the intense days prior to the battle of Arnhem. Did Urquhart tell Browning to cancel Market Garden? Was his intelligence ignored?
48 min
657
235. Vere Hodgson - Diary of the War
Merry Christmas from We Have Ways of Making You Talk. Over the next 12 days Al and James are reading extracts from some of their favourite books about the Second World War. Today Rachel Holland is reading an extract from Vere Hodgson’s war diary.&n...
19 min
658
234. Cornelius Turner - Operation Bunghole
Merry Christmas from We Have Ways of Making You Talk. Over the next 12 days Al and James are reading extracts from some of their favourite books about the Second World War. Today Al is reading from Operation Bunghole, by Cornelius Turner.
15 min
659
233. Stanley Christopherson - An Englishman At War
Merry Christmas from We Have Ways of Making You Talk. Over the next 12 days Al and James are reading extracts from some of their favourite books about the Second World War. Today James is reading from An Englishman At War, by Stanley Christopherson.
18 min
660
232. Jeffrey Quill - Spitfire
Merry Christmas from We Have Ways of Making You Talk. Over the next 12 days Al and James are reading extracts from some of their favourite books about the Second World War. Today Al is reading from Spitfire, by Jeffrey Quill
26 min
661
231. Heinz Knoke - I Flew For The Fuhrer
Merry Christmas from We Have Ways of Making You Talk. Over the next 12 days Al and James are reading extracts from some of their favourite books about the Second World War. Today James is reading an extract from I Flew For The Fuhrer, by Heinz Knoke.
18 min
662
230. In Conversation with Richard Herring
Al Murray joins Richard Herring to talk about his latest book ‘The Last 100 Years (give Or Take) and All That’. They discuss what it was like writing the book and cover a range of topics including the First World War, the Moon landing and the Balkans. ...
57 min
663
229. George Chatterton - The Wings of Pegasus
Merry Christmas from We Have Ways of Making You Talk. Over the next 12 days Al and James are reading extracts from some of their favourite books about the Second World War. Today Al is reading an extract from The Wings of Pegasus, by George Chatterton....
9 min
664
228. Cecil Beaton - Far East
Merry Christmas from We Have Ways of Making You Talk. Over the next 12 days Al and James are reading extracts from some of their favourite books about the Second World War. Today James is reading extracts from Cecil Beaton's war diaries.
20 min
665
227. Crimes of the Wehrmacht
One of the enduring myths arising from the war is that the extreme violence in the east was carried out by the Waffen SS, not the Wehrmacht. Historian and former US serviceman Waitman Wade Beorn tells Al Murray and James Holland about the atr...
57 min
666
226. Louis Hagen - Arnhem Lift
Merry Christmas from We Have Ways of Making You Talk. Over the next 12 days Al and James are reading extracts from some of their favourite books about the Second World War. Today Al is reading from Arnhem Lift, by Louis Hagen.
23 min
667
225. Anthony Cotterell - After D-Day
Merry Christmas from We Have Ways of Making You Talk. Over the next 12 days Al and James are reading extracts from some of their favourite books about the Second World War. Today James is reading an extract from Anthony Cotterell’s war reporting.
31 min
668
224. Richard Rhodes James - Chindit
Merry Christmas from We Have Ways of Making You Talk. Over the next 12 days Al and James are reading extracts from some of their favourite books about the Second World War. Today Al is reading from Chindit, by Richard Rhodes James.
15 min
669
223. Anthony Cotterell - A Day At The Seaside
Merry Christmas from We Have Ways of Making You Talk. Over the next 12 days Al and James are reading extracts from some of their favourite books about the Second World War. Today James is reading an extract from Anthony Cotterell’s war reporting.
16 min
670
222. Photo Reconnaissance
Intelligence expert Taylor Downing argues that photo reconnaissance of occupied Europe should be at the forefront of all discussions about intelligence during the Second World War. He describes in detail the incredible process of how photos w...
52 min
671
221. Confusion on Gold Beach
James Holland explains the challenges of researching the events of D Day for his new book about the Sherwood Rangers. Al Murray discusses the difficulty of relying on the memories of men caught up in dangerous events.
60 min
672
220. A National Scandal
Al Murray and James Holland discuss the plight and treatment of our nuclear test veterans of the 1940s and 50s. They are joined by campaigning journalist Susie Boniface to discuss the government's mistreatment of the veterans and the litany of ill...
62 min
673
219. Rudolph Hess
Why did Hess fly to Scotland and on whose authority? What was his role in the Reich and was his sentence fair? James Holland and Al Murray also discuss the role of the Gurkhas in the Second World War. We Have Ways has a membership club whic...
51 min
674
218. Pathfinder and Master Bomber
Between November 1943 and October 1944 Charles Owen DSO DFC flew 55 missions as part of Bomber Command. His extraordinary hand written diary describes these sorties in brilliant detail. Al Murray reads extracts here. With many thanks to his son, Oliver...
34 min
675
217. Man for Man
James Holland and Al Murray reopen the debate about the relative merits of Allied and Axis soldiers. Plus was there ever the possibility of the American, British and Canadian forces swapping beaches in Normandy?
56 min