Best Luzon Podcasts (2024)

1
The Liberation of Luzon with John McManus - Episode 401 1:57:51

10d ago1:57:51

1:57:51

In the first episode of Season 4, Seth and Bill welcome good buddy John McManus as the trio takes on the topic of the Liberation of Luzon in 1945. The guys discuss the initial landings and successes while also getting into Douglas MacArthur's personal feelings and courage displayed on the island during the campaign. The guys then dig into some of t…

1
The Battle for Manila with John McManus-Episode 402 1:34:23

3d ago1:34:23

1:34:23

This week, Seth, Bill and good friend John McManus take a look at the the battle for the Filipino capital of Manila. The team dissects the incredibly violent and horrific fight for General Douglas MacArthur's beloved Pearl of the Orient. The fighting in Manila was one fo the most violent combat areas of the entire war and the team breaks the fighti…

1
The Battle off Samar with Jon Parshall (both episodes combined) 3:00:33

14d ago3:00:33

3:00:33

Again, due to popular request, we have combined both Samar episodes with Jon Parshall into this long-form version. This is both parts 1 and part 2 combined. Hope you enjoy.This week Seth, Bill and good pal Jon Parshall get into the much anticipated Battle off Samar! The guys get into the background of the epic fight, the commanders on both sides, E…

1
The Battle of Surigao Strait with Jon Parshall and Tony Tully (Both Episodes Combined) 3:15:26

17d ago3:15:26

3:15:26

Due to popular request, I have combined both parts of the Surigao Strait shows and released them as one, here. As Bill and I prepare for Season 4, please enjoy the long-form version of Surigao Strait with our buddies Jon Parshall and Tony Tully.By Jon parshall, William toti, Seth paridon

1
Want to help an active duty person transition to civilian industry? 6:22

21d ago6:22

6:22

Captain Bill Toti talks about what led him to write his book, "From CO to CEO: A Practical Guide for Transitioning from Military to Industry Leadership." The book is available here: https://www.amazon.com/CO-CEO-Practical-Transitioning-Leadership/dp/1637630638/ref=sr_1_1?crid=323AAEQTQ2XJZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hpvYz2JpfclBGK_hqITNxCgAXH0a7JJFfYxQNXVDWy…

1
We Answer MORE of Your Questions-Episode 335 1:51:15

24d ago1:51:15

1:51:15

This week, Seth, Bill and new guest, retired US Army Major Shawn Bergstrom return to answer another round of your questions. In this final episode of season 3, we get into some cool topics that include, the fate of battleships, the morality and necessity of liberating the Philippines, and more. Tune in and see if your question is one of the ones we…

1
We answer your questions about the Pacific War-Episode 334 1:53:21

1M ago1:53:21

1:53:21

This week Seth and Bill answer your questions in this first part of our Q&A session. The team welcomes new guest retired Army Major Shawn Betgstrom to the crew to moderate the questions and lead the team as we go through the many fantastic questions sent in by our audience. We hope you guys enjoy this episode, and we will definitely do this again.…

1
Captain Toti's Memorial Day Remarks, May 27, 2024 13:13

1M ago13:13

13:13

From Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, Mims, Florida.By william Toți

1
Wrapping up 1944 in the Pacific-Episode 333 1:21:15

1M ago1:21:15

1:21:15

This week Seth and Bill wrap up 1944 in the Pacific as we near the end of Season 3. The guys go through the reasons why 1944 was the tipping point in the war in the Pacific with Bill's Top 4 List. We discuss leadership, training, logistics, industrial base and much more. Tune in as we wrap up the most pivotal year in World War II in the Pacific.#ww…

1
Camp Toccoa: One Camp's Big Impact on World War II 24:41

1M ago24:41

24:41

Join 11th Airborne Division historian Jeremy C. Holm for this special presentation originally given during the dinner banquet for Toccoa, Georgia's famous 2023 World War II Weekend. Jeremy was invited to speak on the impact that Camp Toccoa had on both the airborne and the outcome of the war. Attending the dinner were several Children of Currahee, …

1
PFC Manuel Pérez, Medal of Honor - One Paratrooper's Assault on Fort McKinley in 1945 52:31

1M ago52:31

52:31

Join 11th Airborne Division historian Jeremy C. Holm as we discover the story of Private First Class Manuel Pérez, a Paratrooper from the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division, whose incredible actions on February 13, 1945 would earn this Angel the Medal of Honor. As one newspaper put it, "he fought with the strength of one hund…

1
US Naval Academy World War II Legacy of Valor event 1:30:02

2M ago1:30:02

1:30:02

Seth joins Bill at his alma mater, the US Naval Academy, on April 24, 2024, along with Captain Stan Fisher, USN and Lt. Col Pete Owen, USMC (Ret), at the Legacy oof Valor event. Hosted by the US Naval Academy Alumni Association. Copyright US Naval Academy Alumni Association.By Pete owen, Stan fisher, William toti, Seth paridon

1
The Liberation of Leyte Part 2 with John McManus-Episode 332 1:15:21

2M ago1:15:21

1:15:21

This week Seth, Bill and John McManus wrap up the liberation of Leyte by talking about the fights at Breakneck Ridge, the Japanese landings and the subsequent US counter landings at Ormoc Bay. The guys get into the stories of the 11th Airborne Division, 77th Infantry Division and the bravery and actions of one General Douglas MacArthur. Tacked into…

1
Private Elmer Fryar, Medal of Honor - One Angel's Incredible Fight on Leyte in 1944 38:23

2M ago38:23

38:23

Join 11th Airborne Division historian Jeremy C. Holm as we discover the story of Private Elmer Fryar, a Paratrooper from the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division, whose incredible actions on December 8, 1944 would earn this former Marine the Medal of Honor. Elmer's story has never been fully told like this before and it is an h…

1
Operation KING II-The Liberation of Leyte Part 1 with John McManus 1:38:53

2M ago1:38:53

1:38:53

Thhis week Seth and Bill welcome back good friend and fantstic historian John McManus to talk about GEN Douglas MacArthur's long-anticipated return to the Philippines. Mac and the 6th Army land on Leyte on October 20, 1944 to liberate the first portion of the archipelago as MacArthur's crusade to liberate the place he called home finally takes off.…

1
The Battle off Cape Engano-Battle of Leyte Gulf with Jon Parshall-Episode 330 1:33:19

2M ago1:33:19

1:33:19

This week Seth, Bill and good buddy Jon Parshall wrap up the Battle of Leyte Gulf with the final carrier battle of World War II, the Battle off Cape Engano. Halsey takes the cheese and chases Ozawa's decoy carrier force north, away from San Bernadino Strait, to destroy what is left of the Imperial Japanese Navy's once mighty aircraft carrier task f…

1
Captain Toti keyote speaker at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery Memorial Day Observance 0:50

2M ago0:50

0:50

Hey, folks, Captain Bill Toti here—and I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know that I’m going to be keynote speaker at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery Memorial Day Observance, on May 27th 2024 at 10 am.By William toti

1
The Battle off Samar Part 2 with Jon Parshall-Episode 329 1:38:30

2M ago1:38:30

1:38:30

This week Seth, Bill and buddy Jon Parshall wrap up the epic clash off Samar during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The guys get deep into the weeds about the legendary destroyer charge of USS Johnston, USS Samuel B. Roberts, USS Hoel and USS Heerman as well as the other destroyer escorts of Taffy 3. The guys dispel a few of the myths about the battle an…

1
The Battle off Samar Part 1 with Jon Parshall-Episode 328 1:24:36

3M ago1:24:36

1:24:36

This week Seth, Bill and good pal Jon Parshall get into the much anticipated Battle off Samar...Part1! The guys get into the background of the epic fight, the commanders on both sides, Ernest Evans, Ziggy Sprague, and others as they start to break down some of the myths surrounding one of the most well-known naval battles in all of history. The guy…

1
Submit your Questions for the end of Season 3! 3:29

3M ago3:29

3:29

We will be accepting questions by April 14, 2024 for recording the final episode of Season 3.By Seth Paridon, William toti

1
The Battle of Surigao Strait Part 2 with Jon Parshall and Tony Tully-Episode 327 1:13:07

3M ago1:13:07

1:13:07

This week Seth and Bill welcome back grat buddy Jon Parshall and Tony Tully to wrap up the conversation about the Battle of Surigao Strait during the Battle for Leyte Gulf. The foursome gets deep in the weeds discussing the destroyer action in the strait and, of course, the gunfire portion of the battle. American battleships West Virginia, Tennesse…

1
The Battle of Surigao Strait Part 1- with Jon Parshall and Tony Tully-Episode 326 1:08:05

3M ago1:08:05

1:08:05

This week Seth and Bill are joined by great buddy Jon Parshall and Jon's co-author and new guest, Tony Tully! The foursome breaks down the early stages of the Battle of Surigao Strait during Leyte Gulf and get into the commanders, the ships and the PT attack before breaking for next week's showdown of the big guns. Tune in and get into the weeds wi…

1
The Battle of Leyte Gulf-Battle of the Sibuyan Sea with Jon Parshall-Episode 325 1:58:10

3M ago1:58:10

1:58:10

This week Seth, Bill and great pal Jon Parshall tackle the first "official" fight in the greater Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea. The first in our four-episode series on the largest naval battle in human history sees the trio taking a deep dive into the submarine actions of USS Darter and USS Dace, as well as some of Halsey's de…

1
Historical review of Masters of the Air Episode 9 1:11:27

3M ago1:11:27

1:11:27

This week Seth, Bill and Tommy take a look at the final episode of Masters of the Air Part 9. The guys go into the POW march to Moosburg, Gale "Buck" Cleven's escape, Johnny "Bucky" Egan's days as POW, Rosie Rosenthal's final mission, and much more. Join the team as they wrap the final episode and give their thoughts on the series as a whole.Image …

1
Historical review of Masters of the Air Episode 8 57:28

4M ago57:28

57:28

This week Seth, Bill and Tommy take a look at Masters of the Air Part 8. The team discusses the accuracy, tropes and history behind some of the scenes in the penultimate episode of the Apple TV series.Image courtesy Apple TV#wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihist…

1
The Air Battle of Formosa-with Jon Parshall 1:59:21

4M ago1:59:21

1:59:21

This week Seth, Bill and great buddy Jon Parshall get together to discuss one of the more unknown events of the Pacific war, the Air Battle of Formosa. In early October 1944, Admiral William F, Halsey's Task Force 38 launched a series of devastating air strikes on the Japanese bastion of Formosa in preparation for the liberation of the Philippines …

1
Formosa or the Philippines-King versus MacArthur-Episode 323 1:24:37

4M ago1:24:37

1:24:37

This week Seth and Bill take a very deep dive into the decision to either invade Formosa or liberate the Philippines in the fall of 1944. The two options were both on the table for the JCS in 1944, and the favored option isn't the one you are thinking of. The team takes a look at the roots of the Philippine obsession by MacArthur and the desire to …

1
Historical review of Masters of the Air Episode 7 1:10:31

4M ago1:10:31

1:10:31

This week Seth, Bill, and Tommy take a look at Masters of the Air Part 7. The team dives into actual POW life in Europe during WWII, discuss the P-51 Mustang and its importance in the Allied aerial effort over Europe in 44 and 45 as well and dig into some of the personalities of the real men portrayed in the episode and even get into a few unknown …

1
The Invasion of Peleliu Part 3 of 3-Operation STALEMATE II-with Dave Holland 1:50:14

4M ago1:50:14

1:50:14

This week Seth and Bill are rejoined by good friend Dave Holland to wrap up the bloody Operation STALEMATE II, the fight for Peleliu. This week the team gets into the stories of Eugene Sledge's K-3-5, the story of Medal of Honor recipient Arthur Jackson, more of the bloody fighting for Bloody Nose Ridge, and the tragic death of Sledge's company com…

1
Historical review of Masters of the Air Episode 6 1:08:18

4M ago1:08:18

1:08:18

This week Seth, Bill and Tommy discuss Masters of the Air Part 6. The guys get into the nuts and bolts of escape and evasion, the POW interrogations of John "Bucky" Egan and Allied prisoners, Flak Houses, and the emotional toll taken on the airmen of the 8th Air Force and others in the skies over Europe.Image courtesy Apple TV#wwii #wwiihistory #ww…

1
Review of Masters of the Air Episode 5 1:04:06

4M ago1:04:06

1:04:06

This week Seth, Bill and Tommy take a look at Masters of the Air Episode 5. The trio breaks down the episode and get into the historical detail regarding the October 10, 1943 8th Air Force mission to Munster, Germany. The third in a row for the Mighty Eighth, Munster was the worst of them all for the 100th Bomb Group and a new emerging hero, Robert…

1
The Invasion of Peleliu Part 2 of 3-Operation STALEMATE II with guest Dave Holland 2:04:05

4M ago2:04:05

2:04:05

This week Seth and Bill welcome back an old friend from Season 1, Dave Holland to talk about the 1st Marine Division's tragic fight for Peleliu. The trio gets into the fight starting at D Plus 1 and goes through the bloodletting and destruction of the 1st Marines on Peleliu. Tune in and see what the boys have to say about the end of the fight for T…

1
Review of Masters of the Air Episode 4 1:15:37

4M ago1:15:37

1:15:37

This week Seth, Bill and Tommy take a look at Masters of the Air Episode 4. The team gets into the nuts and bolts of the episode diving into topics such as the ground crews, leave in London, the American Red Cross, morale within the 8th Air Force and the beginning of the infamous Black Week in October 1943.Image courtesy of Apple TV#wwii #wwiihisto…

1
Operation STALEMATE II-The Invasion of Peleliu Part 1 of 3 1:32:16

5M ago1:32:16

1:32:16

In this first of three episodes on Peleliu, Seth and Bill tackle the opening stages of the infamous invasion of Peleliu on September 15, 1944. The veteran 1st Marine Division is assigned to invade the coral bastion of Peleliu in what was promised by their commanding General to be a "tough quickie" of an operation. The fighting on the beaches and at…

1
Review of Masters of the Air Episode 3 1:10:31

5M ago1:10:31

1:10:31

This week Seth, Bill, and Tommy take a look at Masters of the Air Episode 3. The guys dive into the 100th Bomb Group's role in 8th Air Force Mission 84, the infamous Regensburg/Schweinfurt Double Strike of August 17, 1943. We look into the actual history of the mission, and the roles of Gale "Buck" Cleven, Curtis Biddick, Harry Crosby, and more.Ima…

1
Unauthorized Looks at Pacific War Books 1:08:14

5M ago1:08:14

1:08:14

This week Seth and Bill fulfill another viewership request as they sit down and give a list of some of their top WWII Pacific theater-related books. This list is not in any order, nor is it comprehensive, but off the top of our heads. Hopefully, this will help some of you guys fill up your libraries. Next week we get back to the war.Here is our lis…

1
Review of Masters of the Air Episode 2 54:28

5M ago54:28

54:28

Seth, Bill and Tommy are back to give their take on Masters of the AIr Episode 2. The guys discuss the Trondheim Mission and give their takes on the personalities depicted in this specific episode, including Curtis Biddick and Harry Crosby. The team also gives their breakdown of the combat scenes shown so far, specifically the flak and fighters in …

1
Unauthorized Picks for Pacific War Flicks 1:53:43

5M ago1:53:43

1:53:43

This week Seth and Bill take a step back from the battlefields to discuss an oft-requested topic, our picks for WWII Pacific-themed movies. Many of you have asked what our favorite, or in some cases not so favorite, films are that relate to the Pacific theater of WWII, well here you go. The team gives their go-to's, some known and some relatively u…

1
Review of Masters of the Air Episode 1 55:12

5M ago55:12

55:12

Seth, Bill, and new crewman Tommy Lofton take a look at Masters of the Air Episode 1. The team breaks down the show, what was right, what was wrong, and how they liked it. As always, the crew throws in historical accuracy where needed and tells the real story of what happened to the real people at the right times. Tune in into this limited run seri…

1
Sa 6.5 Milyong Kasapi ng Build, Build, Build 5:55

5M ago5:55

5:55

Kung binabasa mo ito at bahagi ka ng Build, Build, Build Team, kung wala ka, hindi tayo makagagawa ng 29,264 kilometrong kalsada, 5,950 na mga tulay, 11,340 na mga estrukturang pang-iwas ng baha, 222 evacuation centers, 150,149 na mga silid-aralan, 214 na mga paliparan, at 451 na mga daungan. Ang Pilipinas ay nasa mas magandang katayuan ngayon dahi…

1
The Invasion of Tinian with Jon Parshall 1:35:10

5M ago1:35:10

1:35:10

#wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museumBy Jon Parshall, Seth Paridon, William Toti

1
Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast Special Announcement 8:06

5M ago8:06

8:06

Seth and Bill have a quick special announcement to make regarding an upcoming WWII miniseries. Masters of the Air, premiering January 26 on Apple TV+ will be a cinematic adventure that needs to be seen by all WWII aficionados. Seth, Bill and new guest historian Tommy Lofton will dissect each new episode of Masters of the AIr the Monday after it air…

1
The Liberation of Guam with Jon Parshall 2:00:05

5M ago2:00:05

2:00:05

This week Seth, Bill, and Jon tackle the liberation of Guam as part of our continuing coverage of the pivotal Operation FORAGER. Following the Saipan operation, the Marines of the 3rd Marine Division, 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, and the Army's exceptional 77th Infantry Division cast their eyes on the former American territory of Guam. Invaded a…

1
The Invasion of Biak 1:25:44

6M ago1:25:44

1:25:44

This week Seth and Bill take a step back from Operation FORAGER to look at the invasion of Biak which occurred in May 1944. In this little-known operation, the 41st Infantry Division was tasked with invading the island off the coast of New Guinea in an effort to capture airfields for further support of the upcoming FORAGER and the push toward the P…

1
Special Episode: Touring the National WWII Museum's Pacific Galleries 54:08

6M ago54:08

54:08

In this special episode, Seth takes you through the National WWII Museum's Road to Tokyo Pacific galleries. Seth was a chief historian at the WWII Museum for 15 years and was one of the key contributors to the construction of the WWII Museum's campus. In this special episode, he takes you on a quick 40,000 foot view of the Pacific side of the museu…

1
The Mission Beyond Darkness-Battle of the Philippine Sea with Jon Parshall 1:48:55

6M ago1:48:55

1:48:55

This week Seth, Bill and Jon Parshall tackle the second day of the Battle of the Philippine Sea, also known as the Mission Beyond Darkness. On Jun e20, 1944 Admiral Marc Mitscher made the bold decision to launch his aviators in a risky, long-distanced duck strike. In an attempt to get the killing blows on Ozawa's carrier force Mitscher sent an enor…

1
Battle of the Philippine Sea-The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot with Jon Parshall 2:10:40

6M ago2:10:40

2:10:40

This week Seth, Bill and wingman Jon Parshall take a very deep dive into the first day of the Battle of the Philippine Sea, June 19, 1944, better known as The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. The trio looks at the Japanese plans, how they fell into American hands, and all the drama and intrigue between US Admirals as the largest Japanese fleet yet put …

1
The Invasion of Saipan Part 3 of 3 with Jon Parshall 1:31:25

7M ago1:31:25

1:31:25

This week Seth and Bill welcome back good buddy Jon Parshall to complete the three-part discussion on the pivotal invasion of Saipan. The team goes into deep detail on the final Japanese martial act on Saipan, the infamous Gyokusai of July 7, 1944. During the Gyokusai, two regiments of the 27th Infantry Division's 105th Infantry Regiment are overru…

1
The Invasion of Saipan Part 2 of 3 with Jon Parshall 1:46:32

7M ago1:46:32

1:46:32

This week Seth and Bill are again joined by good pal Jon Parshall to discuss the evolving invasion of Saipan. After the Marines pushed off of the beachhead, the advance inland progressed nicely until the 27th Infantry Division ran into incredibly difficult terrain and vicious Japanese defense at Naftan Point and Death Valley. In the resulting mess …

1
The Invasion of Saipan Part 1 of 3 with Jon Parshall 1:37:49

7M ago1:37:49

1:37:49

This week Seth and Bill welcome great pal Jon Parshall back to the show for a 3 episode run on the invasion of Saipan as part of Operation FORAGER. In this episode, the team discusses the pre-invasion bombardment, the first large deployment of the UDTs (forerunners of today's Navy SEALS), Draper Kaufmann, the landings by the 2nd and 4th Marine Divi…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Luzon Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide