Beyond the Breakers

Feb 21 2025 200 ep. 52 mins 195
Beyond the Breakers Podcast artwork

Beyond The Breakers is a podcast about shipwrecks, loss, and lessons learned from maritime disasters. 

  History  Society & Culture
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Episode 148 - HMS Prince of Wales

Feb 21 2025 86 mins  
This week we are discussing a smashingly successful air attack conducted by the Empire of Japan in December 1941 (but not that one). Jump to around 14:30 to get right to the action Sources: Bell, Christopher M. “The ‘Singapore Strategy’ and the Deterrence of Japan: Winston Churchill, the Admiralty and the Dispatch of Force Z.” The English Historical Review, vol. 116, no. 46

Episode 147 - Empire of Troy

Feb 06 2025 81 mins  
It's all regional rivalries and riverine wrecks this week as we discuss the sidewheel steamer Empire of Troy (1843 - 1853). *jump to around [13:00] if you want to dive right in to the main part of the episode Sources: Allison, J. Thomas. Hudson River Steamboat Catastrophes: Contests & Collisions. The History Press, 2013. Ellis, David Maldwyn. “Albany and Troy - Commercial Riv

Episode 146 - SS Francisco Morazan

Jan 19 2025 56 mins  
We kick off Season 5 by getting back to the Great Lakes for the story of the SS Francisco Morazan *Taylor's new mic sounds great but we are still getting Tanner's audio situation resolved Sources: "Francisco Morazan." National Park Service, 2024. https://www.nps.gov/slbe/learn/historyculture/shipwreckmorazan.htm "Personaje Histórico Francisco Morazan." Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de

Episode 145.3 - "Bombs Away": SS Torrey Canyon, Pt. III

Dec 26 2024 74 mins  
In this final episode of Season 4, we conclude the tale of the oil tanker SS Torrey Canyon. Sources: Green, Anna and Timothy Cooper. “Community and Exclusion: The Torrey Canyon Disaster of 1967.” The Journal of Social History, vol. 48, no. 4, 2015, pp. 892 - 909. Gundlach, Erich. R. “Oil Tanker Disasters.” Environment, vol. 19, no. 9, December 1977, pp. 16 - 27. Petrow, Ric

Episode 145.2 - "That's The End Of Her": SS Torrey Canyon, Pt. II

Dec 05 2024 70 mins  
In Part II we get into the wreck itself and some of the initial attempts at salvage and containment Sources: Green, Anna and Timothy Cooper. “Community and Exclusion: The Torrey Canyon Disaster of 1967.” The Journal of Social History, vol. 48, no. 4, 2015, pp. 892 - 909. Hassler, Bjorn. “Accidental Versus Operational Oil Spills from Shipping in the Baltic Sea: Risk Governance

Episode 145.1 - "The Ocean Will Take Care of the Oil": SS Torrey Canyon, Pt. I

Nov 17 2024 60 mins  
This week we begin the story of the SS Torrey Canyon, the first major oil tanker spill in history. This part of the episode has us looking into the background of the vessel itself and her captain, Pastrengo Rugiati. Register for Terror Camp here!!! (virtual, December 6 - 8); this will include keynote speakers including author Julian Sancton (Madhouse at the End of the Earth) and Ja

**unlocked** November 2022 Bonus - The Finest Hours

Nov 16 2024 43 mins  
This is an old bonus episode that we are unlocking to hopefully poach some listens off of a certain very popular podcast about engineering disasters (with slides), which just released an episode about the true story of the Pendleton and the Fort Mercer Support the show

Episode 144 - Breakerween 2024 ft. Kaylee Matuszak

Oct 31 2024 61 mins  
Kaylee is back with us for Breakerween 2024 - this year we've got spooky tales of a haunted U-boat, fishing for Oldsmobiles, and a veritable fleet of ultrabuoyant American-made caskets. Support the show

Episode 143 - SS Robert E. Lee

Oct 26 2024 50 mins  
This week we have another U-boat episode, but this time we're down in the Gulf of Mexico to talk about the SS Robert E. Lee (booooo) Sources: "The Panic of 1907 and the Maine Man Who Caused It." New England Historical Society. https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/the-panic-of-1907-and-the-maine-man-who-caused-it/ "Robert E. Lee." Uboat.net. https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/shi

Episode 142 - HMS Speedy ft. Kelly (Born Under Punchs)

Oct 06 2024 119 mins  
This week we have wrangled a real live Canadian to discuss the October 1804 sinking of His Majesty's Armed Vessel Speedy and the impact of her loss on the province of Upper Canada. **one of our upcoming bonus episodes will look at the search for the Speedy's wrecksite** Sources: Baillod, Brendon. “The Enduring Mystery of the HMS Speedy.” Shipwreck World, 3 December 2019. https: