BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 381) — My love of history started with the legend of King Arthur. While there are many King Arthur movies to pick from, today we'll learn about the one that marketed itself as being more historically accurate than the others.

Dorsey Armstrong on The Great Courses Plus

Historian Dorsey Armstrong breaks down the historical accuracy of the 2004 film King Arthur. Learn the true story behind the legends of Arthur, Guinevere, Merlin, the Round Table, and more.

Chapters

0:00 Intro

2:30 Movie's Historical Claims

5:10 Sarmatians and Lancelot

10:45 Merlin's Real History

15:20 Woads, Picts, and Round Table

22:00 Christianity and Pelagius

28:15 Final Mission and Freedom

34:50 Guinevere and Ice Battle

40:30 Battle of Badon Hill

45:15 Sword in the Stone

49:00 Legend Surprises

53:30 BOATS Update for 2026 and Outro

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BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 380) — Today we dive into the 2013 film Captain Phillips directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Tom Hanks—and discover how much of Hollywood's version actually matches the true story of the Maersk Alabama hijacking. Trial attorney Brian Beckcom, who represented the crew of the container ship after the Somali pirate attack, shares accounts of what really happened during this dramatic rescue operation and reveals the major inaccuracies that made it to the screen.

Lessons from Leaders with Brian Beckcom

Find where to watch the movie

Chapters

0:00 Intro

3:38 Today's Movie: Captain Phillips

5:19 The True Context of Somali Piracy

12:17 Why Captain Phillips Made His Fateful Decision

15:46 Security Protocols vs. Hollywood Drama

19:42 The First Pirate Attack

24:43 Pirates Board the Maersk Alabama

30:18 The Crew's True Heroism in the Engine Room

34:29 Captain Phillips' Role in the Crisis

40:35 The Navy Enters the Picture

43:22 The Truth Behind the Rescue Operation

49:47 Captain Phillips' Escape Attempt (Fact vs. Fiction)

54:51 The Final Navy Seal Operation

57:31 About Brian Beckcom's Podcast

59:03 Two Truths and a Lie Answer

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Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/380

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 379) — Most movies focus on the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor, but the true story of December 7th, 1941, involves a coordinated global offensive across the Pacific. In this episode, history professor Joshua Donohue returns to explore what the movies miss—including attacks on Wake Island, the Philippines, and military installations across Oahu that extended far beyond the harbor itself. From civilian casualties to pilot heroics to the international scope of Japan's ambitious assault, we separate fact from fiction across multiple Pearl Harbor films.

Josh's Latest Work

• Embattled Marines at Air Station Ewa

Chapters

0:00 Intro & Two Truths and a Lie Game

3:16 From Here to Eternity: Life Before the Attack

10:20 The Global Scope of Japan's Offensive

12:40 Wake Island Under Siege

20:04 Oahu's Airfields and Widespread Attacks

28:23 American Aircraft in the Air During the Attack

43:20 Civilian Casualties and Friendly Fire

58:23 American Morale and the Movies' Coverage

1:05:02 Pilots Beyond Pearl Harbor

1:11:13 The Final Countdown: What If Scenario

1:22:32 Two Truths and a Lie Answer Reveal

Support my work

• Support my sponsors
• Become a BOATS Producer (name in credits + ad-free episodes)
• Join the BOATS Discord
• Get the BOATS email newsletter
• Email me: dan@basedonatruestorypodcast.com
• Get my video podcasting class

Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/379

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.