Best David Symonds Podcasts (2025)

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David Gendell - Battles at Annapolis 53:06

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2M ago53:06

53:06

David Gendell discusses his book, Battles at Annapolis: Two Remarkable Football Games in the Army-Navy Rivalry, with Preble Hall host, Stephen Phillips. The book covered the only two Army-Navy games played on the Naval Academy grounds. The first in 1893 was held on Worden Field, the second in 1942 at Thompson Field (Now Lejuene Hall), during World …

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Craig Symonds - Annapolis Goes to War 48:56

2M ago48:56

48:56

Craig Symonds, Professor Emeritus of History at the U.S. Naval Academy, discusses his latest book, Annapolis Goes to War: The Naval Academy Class of 1940 and its Trial by Fire in World War II.By U.S. Naval Academy Museum, Dr. Stephen Phillips

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Mike Fink: Intrepid's Fighting Squadron 18 - Flying High With Harris' Hellcats 1:01:27

3M ago1:01:27

1:01:27

In this, our 250th episode of Preble Hall, the United States Naval Academy Museum's own Education Specialist Sondra Duplantis interviews Mike Fink, author of Intrepid's Fighting Squadron 18 Flying High With Harris' Hellcats. Join us for an exciting journey as Fink takes us into the ready rooms, cockpits and battle spaces of the "Two-a-Day 18" and t…

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Will Wright & U.S. Naval Academy's 150th Anniversary Postal Stamp 24:43

3M ago24:43

24:43

In this episode of Preble Hall, Dr. Stephen Phillips interviews Will Wright, USNA Class of 1995, and a member of the offshore sailing team. They discuss the U. S. Postal Service stamp issued for the U.S. Naval Academy's 150th Anniversary that depicted Swift, one of the Academy's offshore sailing boats with Will and other midshipmen in Swift's crew.…

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Marc Leepson - Unlikely War Hero 43:51

6M ago43:51

43:51

In this episode, Marc Leepson discusses his book The Unlikely War Hero, A Vietnam War POW's Story of Courage and Resilience in the Hanoi Hilton. This book is a biography of Doug Hegdahl, a Sailor that fell off of USS Canberra (CA 2) into the Gulf of Tonkin. Hegdahl was captured by the North Vietnamese and landed in the Hanoi Hilton with other Ameri…

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Admiral James Stavridis and The Admiral's Bookshelf 36:27

6M ago36:27

36:27

Admiral James Stavridis discusses his latest book, The Admiral's Bookshelf. Published by the Naval Institute Press, it is third in a series following The Leader's Bookshelf and The Sailor's Bookshelf. He and host Stephen Phillips discuss works from Stavridis' collection that inspire, each connected to a theme. The books discussed include The Old Ma…

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From Ironclads to Admiral, John Lorimer Worden 1:37:26

7M ago1:37:26

1:37:26

John Quarstein and Robert Worden join Dr. Stephen Phillips to discuss their book, From Ironclads to Admiral: John Lorimer Worden and Naval Leadership. This important work is a detailed biography with emphasis on Worden's service on USS Monitor and other ironclads during the Civil War. Equally interesting is Worden's time as Superintendent at the U.…

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Brian Dickinson: Calm in the Chaos 58:22

10M ago58:22

58:22

Brian Dickinson joins Dr. Stephen Phillips on Preble Hall to discuss Brian's book, Calm in the Chaos, True Tales from Elite U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers and the Navy’s SAR Swimmer community to include the history of its development and some historical examples of this important mission. Listeners can follow Brian at: Https://briandickinson.ne…

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Operation Unified Assistance with Dr. John Sherwood 55:29

10M ago55:29

55:29

On the 20th anniversary of the Boxing Day Tsunami, Dr. Stephen Phillips discusses the U.S. Navy's humanitarian response, Operation Unified Assistance, with Dr. John Sherwood. This and other humanitarian responses are discussed in great detail in Sherwood's book, A Global Force for Good: Sea Services Humanitarian Operations in the Twenty-First Centu…

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Army-Navy Game 2024 with NHHC's Christopher Havern 38:26

11M ago38:26

38:26

To start Army-Navy week of 2024, Dr. Stephen Phillips discusses the Army-Navy Game with Christopher Havern, a historian at the Naval History and Heritage Command, but also an Army veteran and fan.By Dr. Stephen Phillips

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Last Days of the Schooner America with David Gendell 54:07

11M ago54:07

54:07

Dr. Stephen Phillips interviews David Gendell to discuss his book, The Last Days of the Schooner America. Gendell's book tells the story of the racing yacht for which the America's Cup is named, its service as a Confederate blockade runner, Naval Academy training vessel, and the plans to restore it at the Annapolis Yacht Yard during World War II as…

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LtCol Tom Williams, USMC-Ret, Doorsteps of Hell 1:00:06

1y ago1:00:06

1:00:06

Dr. Stephen Phillips interviews LtCol Tom Williams, USMC-Ret, to discuss his book Doorsteps of Hell, the first in his memoir series entitled Heart of a Marine. Doorsteps of Hell relays Tom's stories from childhood, life as a cadet a North Georgia College, becoming an Officer of Marines, and his service as an infantry officer in Vietnam. LtCol Willi…

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Navy SEAL Brandon Webb's novel "Steel Fear" 53:28

1y ago53:28

53:28

John Sherwood interviews former Navy SEAL Sniper Brandon Webb about his naval career and his novel, Steel Fear. Webb is the author of 12 books. He served in the Navy for 13 years as a rescue swimmer and SEAL. Steel Fear is a murder mystery that takes place on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72).By Dr. John Sherwood

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Marine General Kenneth F. “Frank” McKenzie Jr., Ret. 1:01:06

1y ago1:01:06

1:01:06

John Sherwood interviews General Kenneth F. “Frank” McKenzie Jr., USMC Ret. about his new book The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century. General McKenzie served as the commander of CENTCOM from March 2019 to April 2022. In that role, he oversaw the 2020 strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, the leader of the Iranian Quds Force; and…

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Dr David Winkler - Witness to Neptune's Inferno 39:00

1y ago39:00

39:00

Dr. Stephen Phillips interviews Dr. David Winkler to discuss his book, Witness to Neptune's Inferno: The Pacific War Diary of Lieutenant Commander Lloyd Mustin, USS Atlanta (CL 51).By Dr. Stephen Phillips

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Edward J. Marolda on Admirals Under Fire, Part II 1:05:37

1+ y ago1:05:37

1:05:37

Dr. John Sherwood interviews Dr. Edward J. Marolda about his new book Admirals Under Fire: The U.S. Navy and the Vietnam War. Dr. Marolda is the author of nine books on the Navy in Vietnam and worked as a civilian historian for the U.S. Navy for 40 years. This is Part 2 of a two-part episode on this important contribution to the historiography of t…

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Edward J. Marolda on Admirals under Fire, PT 1 47:03

1+ y ago47:03

47:03

Dr. John Sherwood interviews Dr. Edward J. Marolda about his new book Admirals Under Fire: The U.S. Navy and the Vietnam War. Dr. Marolda is the author of nine books on the Navy in Vietnam and worked as a civilian historian for the U.S. Navy for 40 years. This is Part 1 of a two-part episode on this important contribution to the historiography of t…

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Dr. Abby Mullen: The United States in the First Barbary War, 1800-1805 1:01:27

1+ y ago1:01:27

1:01:27

Dr. Abby Mullen discusses her forthcoming book To Fix a National Character: The United States in the First Barbary War, 1800-1805 with Tyler Pitrof. A periodic host of Preble Hall herself, Dr. Mullen is currently serving as an assistant professor in the History Department at the United States Naval Academy.…

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Dr. Sam Limneos: Honor at the Naval Academy, 1845-1875 54:14

1+ y ago54:14

54:14

Dr. Sam Limneos discusses his recent Ph.D. dissertation, “More Nobility of Soul: Honor at the United States Naval Academy, 1845-1875,” with John Sherwood. Dr. Limneos served for four years as an archivist at the U.S. Naval Academy before joining the Naval History and Heritage Command in 2023 as the Deputy Branch Head of the Navy Archives.…

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David Petraeus on CONFLICT 52:07

1+ y ago52:07

52:07

Dr. John Sherwood interviews General David H. Petraeus about his new book, co-authored with Andrew Roberts, entitled Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine. Topics covered include the characteristics of strategic leadership in war; and how technology has changed war since World War II. He also offers some career advice to midshipme…

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Charles Lachman: Codename Nemo aka U-505 50:21

1+ y ago50:21

50:21

Dr. Stephen Phillips interviews author Charles Lachman to discuss his book, Codename Nemo: The Hunt for a Nazi U-Boat and the Elusive Enigma Machine, which tells the story of the U.S. Navy's capture of the German U-boat, U-505 on June 4, 1944.By Charles Lachman, Dr. Stephen Phillips

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Ronald H. Spector on the Wars of Decolonization in Asia 52:58

1+ y ago52:58

52:58

Ronald H. Spector sits down with John Sherwood and guest host Randy Papadopoulos to discuss his book, A Continent Erupts: Decolonization, Civil War, and Massacre in Postwar Asia, 1945-1955By Randy Papadopoulos, Ronald H. Spector, Dr. John Sherwood

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Anselm van der Peet on the Netherlands Navy 49:39

1+ y ago49:39

49:39

Dr. Anselm van der Peet of the Netherlands Institute for Military History discusses the history of the Royal Netherlands Navy from the end of World War II to the present with John Sherwood.By Dr. Anselm van der Peet, Dr. John Sherwood

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Dr. Jeremy Stöhs: European Naval Power 46:03

1+ y ago46:03

46:03

Dr. John Sherwood interviews Dr. Jeremy Stöhs about his new book, European Naval Power: From Cold War to Hybrid Wars. Stöhs is the co-head of the Austrian Center for Intelligence, Propaganda, and Security Studies at the University of Graz.By Dr. Jeremy Stöhs, Dr. John Sherwood

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CDR Randy Goguen - From Yeomanettes to Fighter Jets 1:29:36

1+ y ago1:29:36

1:29:36

Dr. Stephen Phillips interviews CDR Randy Gogen, USN-Ret, PhD, to discuss her book "From Yeomanettes to Fighter Jets: A Century of Women in the U.S. Navy."By Dr. Stephen Phillips, Dr. Randy Goguen, CDR Randy Goguen

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Peters, Bruns, and the Institute for Security Policy Kiel 51:12

1+ y ago51:12

51:12

John Sherwood sits down with Johannes Peters and Sebastian Bruns of the Institute for Security Policy Kiel (ISPK) to discuss all things Kiel: the history of Kiel, Kiel Week, the Kiel International Seapower Seminar (KISS), and the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University.By Joannes Peters, Sebastian Bruns, Dr. John Sherwood

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Dr. Sarah Kirchberger PLA Navy Part II 47:14

1+ y ago47:14

47:14

Part II of John Sherwood’s interview with China expert Sarah Kirchberger offers a contemporary “tour of China’s waterfront,” looking at China’s perceived maritime threats as well as the capabilities and characteristics of its contemporary Navy. Dr. Kirchberger also examines the current state of China’s shipbuilding and naval technology industries. …

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Dr. Sarah Kirchberger PLA Navy Part I 40:29

1+ y ago40:29

40:29

Dr. John Sherwood interviews Germany’s leading expert on the Chinese Navy, Dr. Sarah Kirchberger. In part one of a two-part interview, Dr. Kirchberger discusses the history of the PLA Navy and how it has evolved from a coastal and riverine force to one whose ambition is to dominate the Western Pacific. Part Two will focus on the PLA’s current capab…

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Captain Brett Crozier, USN-Ret, Surf While You Can 1:27:45

1+ y ago1:27:45

1:27:45

Dr. Stephen Phillips interviews Captain Brett Crozier, USN-Ret, to discuss his book, Surf While You Can, to include reviewing the COVID outbreak aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) in March of 2020 while he was in command. Team Step: http://www.teamstepusa.org/By Dr Stephen Phillips, Captain Brett Crozier

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Interview with Dr. Cameron McCoy, Part 2 53:36

1+ y ago53:36

53:36

Dr. John Sherwood of the Naval History and Heritage Command continues his interview with Dr. Cameron McCoy, the author of the new book, Contested Valor: African American Marines in the Age of Power, Protest, and Tokenism. In Part I of this interview, Dr. McCoy discussed the history of African American Marines during World War II and Korea. Today in…

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Interview with Dr. Cameron McCoy, Part 1 43:01

1+ y ago43:01

43:01

Dr. John Sherwood of the Naval History and Heritage Command interviews Dr. Cameron McCoy. Dr. McCoy is the author of the new book, Contested Valor: African American Marines in the Age of Power, Protest, and Tokenism (2023). He holds a Ph.D. In history from the University of Texas at Austin. He’s also Marine Lieutenant Colonel and a student in the A…

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Interview with Acting SECNAV Thomas Modly, Part 2 51:04

2y ago51:04

51:04

Dr. John Sherwood of Naval History and Heritage Command interviews former Acting Secretary of the Navy, Thomas Modly. A 1983 U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Modly is the author of the new book, Vectors: Heroes, Villains, and Heartbreak on the Bridge of the U.S. Navy (2023). In this episode, Sherwood and Modly discuss the COVID-19 outbreak on the aircr…

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Interview with Acting SECNAV Thomas Modly, Part 1 37:40

2y ago37:40

37:40

Dr. John Sherwood of Naval History and Heritage Command interviews former Acting Secretary of the Navy, Thomas Modly. A 1983 U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Modly is the author of the new book, Vectors: Heroes, Villains, and Heartbreak on the Bridge of the U.S. Navy (2023). In Part I of the podcast, Modly discusses his attempt to reform naval higher e…

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Good Luck Everyone 10:39

2y ago10:39

10:39

Dr. Claude Berube concludes his tenure as Director of the U.S. Naval Academy Museum with this episodeBy U.S. Naval Academy Museum

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The Neptune Factor 1:17:34

2y ago1:17:34

1:17:34

Dr. Claude Berube, Director of the US Naval Academy Museum, interviews Dr. Nicholas Lambert on his forthcoming book, "The Neptune Factor: Alfred Thayer Mahan and the Concept of Sea Power".Dr. Lambert completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Oxford University.  He was the Class of 1957 Chair at the U.S. Naval Academy from 2016 to 2018.  H…

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Admiral Sir Ian Forbes 1:06:20

2y ago1:06:20

1:06:20

Dr. John Sherwood interviews Admiral Sir Ian Forbes on his combat experiences on HMS Glamorgan during the Falklands War.By U.S. Naval Academy Museum

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Vice Admiral Cutler Dawson 50:09

2y ago50:09

50:09

Dr. John Sherwood of NHHC interviews Vice Admiral Cutler Dawson on his book From the Sea to the C-Suite: Lessons from the Bridge to the Corner Office.By U.S. Naval Academy Museum

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My Mids are Awesome 17:05

2y ago17:05

17:05

In this short episode, I asked some of the plebes from my naval history class to say a few words about their research papers. This semester I asked them to write about something from the history of the Naval Academy.By U.S. Naval Academy Museum

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Questioning the Carrier Opportunities in Fleet Design for the U.S. Navy 29:35

2y ago29:35

29:35

Dr. Claude Berube interviews Commander Jeff Vandenengel about his new book, "Questioning the Carrier."Jeff Vandenengel is a naval officer with tours on three fast-attack submarines. Winner of the 2019 Admiral Willis Lent Award as the most tactically proficient submarine department head in the Pacific Fleet, he deployed to the Western Pacific three …

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Naval Medicine 24:49

2y ago24:49

24:49

Dr. Claude Berube, Director of the US Naval Academy, interviews Dr. Cori Convertito, Curator and Historian of the Key West Art and Historical Society about her work on maritime medicine in the Royal Navy.By U.S. Naval Academy Museum

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Areas of Operation during the Civil War 27:24

2y ago27:24

27:24

Dr. Claude Berube, Director of the US Naval Academy Museum, interviews Naval Academy graduate Dwight Hughes about his presentation during the 2023 McMullen Naval History Symposium.By U.S. Naval Academy Museum

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Andrew Blackley discusses his naval history articles 46:31

2y ago46:31

46:31

Dr. Tyler Pitrof interviews Andrew Blackley on some of his recent naval history articles.By U.S. Naval Academy Museum

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The Maine Maritime Museum 30:25

2y ago30:25

30:25

Samantha Sauer of the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine discusses experiential learning and the role of her museum.This interview was conducted during the 2023 McMullen History Symposium at the US Naval AcademyBy U.S. Naval Academy Museum

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USMC Aviation in World War II & Midway 24:43

2y ago24:43

24:43

Dr. Claude Berube, Director of the US Naval Academy, interviews retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel Pete Owen on his doctoral dissertation about US Marine Corps aviation during World War 2.This interview was conducted as one of a series with presenters of the 2023 McMullen Naval History Symposium, a biennial event organized by the US Naval Academy Hi…

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Soviet Amphibious Warfare 45:16

2y ago45:16

45:16

Dr. John Sherwood interviews PhD-candidate Ben Claremont on Soviet Amphibious Warfare doctrine.This interview was conducted as a result of the US Naval Academy History Department's biennial McMullen Naval History Symposium.By U.S. Naval Academy Museum

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The Viking Sword 27:59

2y ago27:59

27:59

Dr. Claude Berube, Director of the US Naval Academy Museum, interviews Naval Academy English Department Professor Jill Fitzgerald on how she's used a Viking sword in the museum's collection to teach her class.By U.S. Naval Academy Museum

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Vice Admiral Doug Crowder, USN (ret) and "Sea Stories" 1:06:59

2y ago1:06:59

1:06:59

Dr. John Sherwood interviews retired Vice Admiral Doug Crowder about his books and Sea Stories.By U.S. Naval Academy Museum

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The Economics of Seapower 43:07

2y ago43:07

43:07

Dr. John Sherwood of the Naval History & Heritage Command interviews Dr. Ahmed Rahman of Lehigh University (and formerly with the Economics Department of the US Naval Academy) on the economics of seapower.This episode was conducted as part of the USNA History Department's biennial McMullen Naval History Symposium in which some of the presenters wer…

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NATO Navies 1:00:23

2y ago1:00:23

1:00:23

The views and statements of all guests are their personal views and not those of their governments or military, in this case Germany and the German Federal Armed Forces.By U.S. Naval Academy Museum

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Treasure Convoys, the Panama Route, and the Civil War 23:26

2y ago23:26

23:26

Dr. John Sherwood, historian with the Naval History & Heritage Command, interviews Dr. Neil Chatelain about his research on moving gold during the Civil War. This interview was one of a series conducted during the Naval Academy History Department's biennialBy U.S. Naval Academy Museum