Cover art for podcast Based on a True Story

Based on a True Story

313 EpisodesProduced by Dan LeFebvreWebsite

We've all seen movies that claim to be 'based on a true story', but have you ever wondered how accurate they are? That's what we'll find out as we compare Hollywood with history.

episodes iconAll Episodes

Farewell

February 22nd, 2024

0:39

An important message from RadioPublic

This Week: Immortal Beloved, Knute Rockne All American

March 25th, 2024

25:58

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between March 25th and March 31st as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as …

This Week: Waterloo, The Blue Max, Hitler: The Rise of Evil

March 18th, 2024

22:17

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between March 18th and March 24th as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as …

This Week: Schindler's List, Valkyrie, Rome

March 11th, 2024

21:58

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between March 11th and March 17th as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as …

War Dogs with David Packouz

March 6th, 2024

2:08:30

In 2016's War Dogs, we learn the true story of two young men who win a $300 million contract from the Pentagon to arm America's allies in Afghanistan. Today, we'll talk to one of the real people the movie was based on, …

This Week: The Alamo, Selma, Mary Queen of Scots

March 4th, 2024

26:01

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between March 4th and March 10th as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as …

This Week: Waco, The Crucible, Seabiscuit

February 26th, 2024

24:28

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events from February 26th to March 3rd as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well …

This Week: Letters from Iwo Jima, Malcolm X, Flags of Our Fathers

February 19th, 2024

28:11

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between February 19th and February 25th as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies …

This Week: Mata Hari, The St. Valentine's Day Massacre, Young Guns

February 12th, 2024

23:25

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between February 12th and February 18th as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies …

This Week: Mary Queen of Scots, The Pacific, Julia

February 5th, 2024

19:36

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between February 5th and February 11th as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies …

This Week: Lincoln, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Buddy Holly Story

January 29th, 2024

31:05

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between January 29th and February 4th as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies …

This Week: Zulu, Steve Jobs, U-571

January 22nd, 2024

29:48

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between January 22nd and January 28th as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies …

Darkest Hour with Furman Daniel

January 17th, 2024

1:29:02

Last year, we covered the early life of Winston Churchill with biographer Furman Daniel. Today, we'll bring chat with Furman again to learn more about Churchill during World War II as he was depicted in the 2017 movie

This Week: Sully, El Chapo, The French Revolution

January 15th, 2024

28:34

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between January 15th and January 21st as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies …

This Week: Milk, Roman Empire, Walk the Line

January 8th, 2024

23:19

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between January 8th and January 14th as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as …

Chariots of Fire with Keep the Flame Alive

January 3rd, 2024

1:04:19

This summer, the Summer Olympics return to Paris, France for the first time since the 1924 games that were shown in the classic movie Chariots of Fire. So in our first episode of 2024, we'll look forward to warmer days …

This Week: Emancipation, Bonnie and Clyde, I, Tonya

January 1st, 2024

30:15

Happy 2024!

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events from the first week of the year as they were shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the …

This Week: Joyeux Noel, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Evel Knievel

December 25th, 2023

35:27

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events from this week in history that were shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well as …

Classic: The History of Christmas with Heather LeFebvre

December 19th, 2023

49:24

Why is Christmas on December 25th? Why is a tree part of the tradition? Where did the idea of giving gifts come from?

On today's episode we'll go back to an interview with Heather LeFebvre from 2019 to learn more about …

This Week: The Man Who Invented Christmas, Band of Brothers, At Eternity's Gate

December 18th, 2023

31:09

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events from this week in history that were shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well as …

This Week: W.E., Young Winston, The Right Stuff

December 11th, 2023

39:45

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events from this week in history that were shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well as …

Napoleon with Alexander Mikaberidze

December 6th, 2023

2:14:41

Alexander Mikaberidze is a historian and professor at Louisiana State University who specializes in Napoleonic studies. Today he'll join the podcast …

This Week: Tora! Tora! Tora!, Pearl Harbor, Wake Island

December 4th, 2023

48:32

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events from this week in history that were shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well as …

This Week: Little Big Man, Public Enemies, Dahmer

November 27th, 2023

39:12

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events from this week in history that were shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well as …

This Week: JFK, LBJ, The Pianist

November 20th, 2023

45:15

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events from this week in history that were shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well as …

The Mafia in Casino, Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco, and The Sopranos with Scott Hoffman

November 15th, 2023

1:53:44

Author Scott Hoffman takes us inside how well the movies like Casino, Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco, and the TV series The Sopranos portray the Outfit and the Mafia. To hear more Mafia stories, pick up Scott's book called

This Week: Silkwood, Young Winston, Saving Lincoln

November 13th, 2023

31:00

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events from this week in history that were shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well as a …

This Week: Mayflower: The Pilgrims' Adventure, From Hell, All Quiet on the Western Front

November 6th, 2023

29:28

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events from this week in history that were shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well as a …

Chaplin with Scott Eyman

October 31st, 2023

1:11:42

Classic film historian Scott Eyman's new book is out today! It's called Charlie Chaplin vs. America: When Art, Sex and Politics Collided, so today …

This Week: Ali, Argo, Gunpowder

October 30th, 2023

39:20

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events from this week in history that were shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well as a …

This Week: Jobs, The Pacific, Tombstone

October 23rd, 2023

1:04:44

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events from this week in history that were shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well as a …

Gettysburg with Gregory J.W. Urwin

October 17th, 2023

2:10:45

We travel back to the 1993 film Gettysburg along with military historian and author Gregory J.W. Urwin to find out how well it does showing the …

This Week: The Patriot, MacArthur, X-Men: First Class

October 16th, 2023

34:08

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in these movies: The Patriot, MacArthur

This Week: Eight Men Out, 1492: Conquest of Paradise, The Right Stuff

October 9th, 2023

39:25

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in these movies: Eight Men Out, 1492: Conquest of Paradise, and The Right Stuff.

Events from This Week in …

This Week: Black Hawk Down, Sergeant York, Che!

October 2nd, 2023

36:13

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in these movies: Black Hawk Down, …

This Week: Robinson Crusoe, Alexander, 61*

September 25th, 2023

29:57

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in these movies: Robinson Crusoe, …

This Week: Patty Hearst, Chaplin, Tolkien, Turn

September 18th, 2023

29:14

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in these movies and TV series: Patty …

JFK with Marty Morgan

September 14th, 2023

3:15:18

Conspiracies still swirl around the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Many of those were depicted in Oliver Stone's 1991 film JFK, and today we'll dig deep into the true story with …

This Week: United 93, A Star-Spangled Story, Frida

September 11th, 2023

23:58

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in these movies: United 93, A …

This Week: Geronimo, The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid, All Eyez on Me

September 4th, 2023

26:10

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Geromino: An American Legend, The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid, and All Eyez On Me.


Did you enjoy this …

This Week: Krakatoa, From Hell, Rome

August 28th, 2023

26:46

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Krakatoa East of Java, From Hell, and

This Week: Sweet Dreams, Pompeii, Saving Mr. Banks

August 21st, 2023

23:12

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Sweet Dreams, Pompeii, and Saving …

This Week: The Pacific, The Crucible, The Battle of Britain

August 14th, 2023

25:55

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in The Pacific, The Crucible, and The …

Little Big Man with Gregory J.W. Urwin

August 9th, 2023

1:38:51

Historian and author Gregory J.W. Urwin joins Based on a True Story to separate fact from fiction in the 1970 satirical western Little Big Man.


Learn …

This Week: Hatfields & McCoys, The Walk, Frost/Nixon

August 7th, 2023

29:31

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Hatfields & McCoys, The Walk, …

This Week: Rush, Patton, Braveheart

July 31st, 2023

26:42

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Rush, Patton, and Braveheart.

Did you …

This Week: At Eternity's Gate, Bonnie and Clyde, USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage

July 24th, 2023

34:04

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in At Eternity's Gate, Bonnie and …

Hotel Rwanda with Jens Heycke

July 19th, 2023

1:13:49

The author of Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire, Jens Heycke, joins Based on a True Story to help us separate fact from fiction in the film Hotel …

This Week: Anastasia, Eight Men Out, Dahmer

July 17th, 2023

27:35

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Anastasia, Eight Men Out, and Dahmer.

This Week: Battle of Britain, Hamilton, One Nation, One King

July 10th, 2023

27:38

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Battle of Britain, Hamilton, and One …

Schindler's List with Dan McMillan

July 7th, 2023

1:29:29

Dan McMillan is the author of How Could This Happen: Explaining the Holocaust, and he's joining the podcast to help us separate fact from fiction in …

This Week: 1776, Lawrence of Arabia, Project Blue Book

July 3rd, 2023

28:19

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in 1776, Lawrence of Arabia, and

Young Winston with Furman Daniel

June 28th, 2023

1:12:25

Today's episode looks at how well the 1972 film Young Winston shows early years of Winston Churchill before he became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Joining us today is Furman Daniel, author of the upcoming …

This Week: 37 Days, Gettysburg, The Trench

June 26th, 2023

25:04

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in 37 Days, Gettysburg, and The Trench.

This Week: Lizzie, The Hobbit, They Died with Their Boots On

June 19th, 2023

23:53

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Lizzie, The Hobbit, and They Died …

The Thin Red Line with Marty Morgan

June 15th, 2023

2:34:51

1998's The Thin Red Line is set during the Guadalcanal Campaign of World War II. How well did it do telling the true story? Historian and author Marty Morgan joins Based on a True Story to help us separate fact from …

This Week: Waterloo, J. Edgar, Amelia

June 12th, 2023

22:35

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Waterloo, J. Edgar and Amelia.

Did …

This Week: The Longest Day and Saving Private Ryan

June 5th, 2023

33:42

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in The Longest Day and Saving Private …

My Place in the Sun with George Stevens, Jr.

June 3rd, 2023

57:14

We'll do something a little different today. Instead of learning about the history behind a movie, we'll learn about the history of Hollywood itself …

This Week: Watchmen, Harriet, Midway

May 29th, 2023

38:48

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Watchmen, Harriet and Midway.

Did you …

Chernobyl Part 5

May 24th, 2023

51:17

HBO's Chernobyl miniseries tells the story of the worst nuclear disaster in history. Today, we'll be looking at the final episode in the miniseries …

This Week: The Messenger, Bonnie and Clyde, Dunkirk

May 22nd, 2023

28:28

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in The Messenger, Bonnie and Clyde and

Chernobyl Part 4

May 17th, 2023

42:08

HBO's Chernobyl miniseries tells the story of the worst nuclear disaster in history. Today, we'll be looking at the fourth episode in the miniseries …

This Week: The Other Boleyn Girl, The Spirit of St. Louis, Amelia

May 15th, 2023

29:34

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in The Other Boleyn Girl, The Spirit of …

Chernobyl Part 3

May 10th, 2023

36:21

HBO's Chernobyl miniseries tells the story of the worst nuclear disaster in history. Today, we'll be looking at the third episode in the miniseries …

This Week: Band of Brothers, Operation Finale, Amazing Grace

May 8th, 2023

36:03

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Band of Brothers, Operation Finale

Chernobyl Part 2

May 3rd, 2023

49:48

HBO's Chernobyl miniseries tells the story of the worst nuclear disaster in history. Today, we'll be looking at the second episode in the miniseries …

This Week: Gods and Generals, The Right Stuff, The Hindenburg

May 1st, 2023

52:06

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Gods and Generals, The Right Stuff

Chernobyl Part 1

April 26th, 2023

46:00

HBO's Chernobyl miniseries tells the story of the worst nuclear disaster in history. Today, we'll be looking at the first episode in the miniseries …

This Week: Troy and Chernobyl

April 24th, 2023

22:18

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Troy and Chernobyl.

Did you enjoy …

This Week: The Conspirator, Pearl Harbor, The Red Baron

April 17th, 2023

21:23

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in The Conspirator, Pearl Harbor and

This Week: Apollo 13, The Conspirator, Titanic

April 10th, 2023

27:09

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Apollo 13, The Conspirator and

This Week: Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Grant and Lincoln

April 3rd, 2023

26:39

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in The Assassination of Jesse James by …

A United Kingdom with Jens Heycke

March 30th, 2023

1:01:45

In the 2016 movie A United Kingdom, we learn about the controversial interracial marriage between Seretse Khama and Ruth Williams. How well did the movie do telling the true story? Author Jens Heycke joins Based on a …

This Week: Immortal Beloved and The Highwaymen

March 27th, 2023

28:20

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Immortal Beloved and The Highwaymen.

This Week: Waterloo, The Blue Max and Hitler: The Rise of Evil

March 20th, 2023

23:17

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Waterloo, The Blue Max and Hitler: …

This Week: Schindler's List, Valkyrie and Rome

March 13th, 2023

21:29

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Schindler's List, Valkyrie and Rome.

Radioactive with Lauren Redniss

March 8th, 2023

57:45

Today we're learning about the 2019 movie Radioactive with Lauren Redniss, who is the artist and author who wrote the book of the same name that the …

This Week: The Alamo, Selma and Malcolm X

March 6th, 2023

20:33

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in The Alamo, Selma and Malcolm X.

Did …

This Week: Waco, The Crucible and Seabiscuit

February 27th, 2023

24:06

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Waco, The Crucible and Seabiscuit.

This Week: Malcolm X, Flags of Our Fathers and Patton

February 20th, 2023

23:34

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Malcolm X, Flags of Our Fathers and

This Week: Mata Hari, The St. Valentine's Day Massacre and Young Guns

February 13th, 2023

20:20

For the week between February 13th to February 19th, we'll be learning about historical events that were depicted in Mata Hari, The St. Valentine's …

One Night with the King with Michael LeFebvre

February 9th, 2023

1:19:40

Today we're learning about the 2006 movie One Night with the King. Dr. Michael LeFebvre is a Fellow at the Center for Pastor Theologians and an Old …

This Week: Mary Queen of Scots, The Pacific and Julia

February 6th, 2023

17:57

For the week between February 6th to February 12th, we'll be learning about historical events that were depicted in Mary Queen of Scots, The Pacific

This Week: Lincoln, All Quiet on the Western Front and The Buddy Holly Story

January 30th, 2023

30:15

For the week between January 30th to February 5th, we'll be learning about historical events that were depicted in Lincoln, All Quiet on the Western …

This Week: Steve Jobs, U-571 and The Challenger Disaster

January 23rd, 2023

26:49

For the week between January 23rd to January 29th, we'll be learning about historical events that were depicted in Steve Jobs, U-571 and The …

King Arthur with Professor Dorsey Armstrong

January 20th, 2023

1:00:22

Today we're learning about the 2004 movie King Arthur starring Clive Owen and Keira Knightley. Professor Armstrong is a medievalist who has been published numerous times over decades for her work studying the legends of …

This Week: El Chapo, La Révolution française and Zulu

January 16th, 2023

22:36

For the week between January 16th to January 22nd, we'll be learning about historical events that were depicted in El Chapo, La Révolution française (

This Week: Roman Empire, Walk the Line and Sully

January 9th, 2023

24:51

For the week between January 9th to January 15th, we'll be learning about historical events that were depicted in Netflix's Roman Empire, Walk the …

Introducing Based on a True Story This Week

January 9th, 2023

2:27

Introducing Based on a True Story This Week, a fun new way to learn about movies that portray events that happened this week in history and the true story behind them.


Learn more

https://links.boatspodcast.com/thisweek


Spartacus with Barry Strauss

January 5th, 2023

46:59

Today we're learning about the 1960 movie Spartacus that was directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier and Jean Simmons. We'll learn about the real history from Barry Strauss, author of The …

Classic: The Man Who Invented Christmas

December 17th, 2022

53:22

Today we're replaying an episode of Based on a True Story from 2018 about the 2017 movie The Man Who Invented Christmas. The story the movie tells …

Bonus: History Daily Presents The Signing of the World War One Armistice

December 10th, 2022

25:14

Today we'll learn about the World War One armistice from our friends at the History Daily podcast.


Learn more about History Daily:

All Quiet on the Western Front with Dr. Christopher Warren

December 2nd, 2022

58:29

All Quiet on the Western Front has been adapted to the screen multiple times since World War I veteran Erich Maria Remarque published his novel of …

Dahmer with Robyn Maharaj

November 21st, 2022

1:21:33

Dahmer was watched for 865 million hours in the first 28 days, making it one of the most popular Netflix originals of all time. Today we'll dive into …

Pirates of the Caribbean with Colin Woodard

November 8th, 2022

1:04:56

Disney has released five movies in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, and while they're clearly fictional movies they pull from and have …

Being the Ricardos with Michael Karol

November 3rd, 2022

1:07:15

The 2021 Amazon Original Movie Being the Ricardos tells us the story behind the scenes of the husband/wife team behind I Love Lucy, Dezi Arnaz …

A Nightmare Before Halloween Part 2

October 25th, 2022

2:26:11

This is part 2 of 'A Nightmare Before Halloween' with 16 spooky stories to help you get into the Halloween spirit!


Find the podcasts in this episode

A Nightmare Before Halloween Part 1

October 24th, 2022

2:29:30

This Halloween season, enter the woods for a unique and truly epic podcast experience! Around the campfire, Shane Waters will introduce 31 crime …

Pearl Harbor with Marty Morgan

October 11th, 2022

3:40:12

Released in 2001, Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor is often criticized as being entirely inaccurate as it attempts to tell the story of the surprise attack on December 7th, 1941 that led to the United States entering World …

The X-Files with Rob Kristoffersen

September 26th, 2022

1:16:28

The classic TV series The X-Files is fiction, but there are some true stories and UFO cases that inspired episodes of the series. To help us learn more about them, we'll chat with UFO researcher and host of Our Strange …

Dolemite Is My Name with Mark Jason Murray

September 7th, 2022

1:32:43

Dolemite Is My Name is the 2019 biopic about Rudy Ray Moore, the comedian, singer, actor, and film producer who has often been given the nickname the …

W.E. with Andrew Lownie

August 19th, 2022

1:11:19

The movie's title W.E. stands for Wallis and Edward. Was the movie correct to suggest King Edward VIII's reason for abdicating the throne in 1936 was …

Zero Dark Thirty with Peter Bergen

August 3rd, 2022

53:49

Zero Dark Thirty shows the decade-long search for Osama bin Laden. Peter Bergen is the author of The Rise and Fall of Osama bin Laden and he joins us today to dig into the true story behind the movie.

Learn more about …

Lawless with Matt Bondurant (Remastered)

July 25th, 2022

55:53

This episode was originally released on August 28, 2017. This is a remastered version of that interview.

Matt Bondurant joins us today episode as we compare what really happened with the movie Lawless. Matt's …

Jurassic Park/Jurassic World with Jack Horner

July 13th, 2022

58:03

Jack Horner was the Paleontology Consultant on all six of the Jurassic Park/Jurassic World movies. He joins Based on a True Story to chat about the …

Monty Python's Life of Brian with Adele Reinhartz

June 20th, 2022

49:24

Not all movies try to be historically accurate, and yet they still depict moments in history. To help us extract history from the satirical comedy, …

Dunkirk with Joshua Levine

June 4th, 2022

1:21:30

Operation Dynamo, also known as the Miracle at Dunkirk, was an event that many believe kept Britain in World War II before the United States even joined the fight as it took place between May 26 - June 4, 1940. Today …

The Conqueror with Ryan Uytdewilligen

May 11th, 2022

1:00:28

Today we'll be talking about the 1956 movie The Conqueror with author Ryan Uytdewilligen.


Learn more about the true story

  • Get Ryan's book, Killing …

'Doc' Durant in Hell on Wheels with Sheila Myers

April 28th, 2022

1:07:41

We're joined by author Sheila Myers to learn about the real character of Thomas 'Doc' Durant in AMC's Hell on Wheels.


Want to hear more stories of the …

Tesla with Richard Munson

March 28th, 2022

1:14:19

Author Richard Munson joins the podcast to discuss the historical accuracy of the 2020 movie 'Tesla.'

Dig deeper into the true story

  • Pick up Richard's …

Worth with Kenneth Feinberg and Camille Biros

March 10th, 2022

1:00:35

The 2020 movie Worth shows how Kenneth Feinberg (played by Michael Keaton) and Camille Biros (played by Amy Ryan) tackled the impossible task of determining the worth of life to help families affected by the September …

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter with Dr. Brian Dirck

February 26th, 2022

57:31

Dr. Brian Dirck is a Professor of History at Anderson University and author of multiple books on President Lincoln. He joins us today to chat about …

They Died with Their Boots On with Gregory J. W. Urwin

February 8th, 2022

1:33:32

Today we'll be learning about George Armstrong Custer as he was depicted in the classic 1941 film They Died with Their Boots On.

To help us separate fact from fiction in the movie, we’ll be chatting with Professor …

Frances with Jack El-Hai

January 25th, 2022

1:00:51

The 1982 movie Frances tells the story of Hollywood actress Frances Farmer and how her struggles with mental health issues affected her career. We'll …

Moneyball with Will Cooper

January 12th, 2022

1:04:25

Moneyball tells the story of sabermetrics and the Oakland Athletics' 2002 season and joining us to separate fact from fiction is attorney Will Cooper, who worked in the A's clubhouse during the timeline of the movie.


Did …

Bonnie and Clyde with John Neal Phillips

December 14th, 2021

1:49:17

Historian and author John Neal Phillips joins the show to chat about the historical accuracy of the 1967 movie Bonnie and Clyde.


Learn more about the …

Project Blue Book with David O'Leary and Sean Jablonski

November 18th, 2021

1:02:37

Today we'll be chatting with the Creator and Showrunner of the History Channel's Project Blue Book about what it takes to create a TV show that is …

At Eternity's Gate with Steven Naifeh

November 2nd, 2021

1:20:00

Steven Naifeh is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who has a new book out called Van Gogh and the Artists He Loved. He'll be joining us today to learn …

The Pacific Part 3 with Marty Morgan

October 26th, 2021

2:51:19

Our three-part series covering HBO's The Pacific wraps up today with the last three episodes.

Episodes we're covering today:

8. Iwo Jima

9. Okinawa

10. …

The Pacific Part 2 with Marty Morgan

October 14th, 2021

2:39:04

We're continuing our look at the HBO miniseries The Pacific by looking at the three episodes that cover Peleliu.

Episodes we're covering today:

5. Peleliu Landing

6. Peleliu Airfield

7. Peleliu Hills


Learn more about Marty's …

The Pacific Part 1 with Marty Morgan

September 28th, 2021

2:49:27

Today we're kicking off a three-part series on the HBO miniseries The Pacific by looking at the first four episodes.

Episodes we're covering today:

1. Guadalcanal/Leckie

2. Basilone

3. Melbourne

4. Gloucester/Pavuvu/Banika


Defiance with Roland Tec

September 14th, 2021

51:32

Roland Tec's mother, Nechama, wrote the book that 2008's Defiance was based on. He was also a co-producer on the movie, so we'll get to hear some …

Lafayette with Mike Duncan

August 27th, 2021

1:03:55

The Marquis de Lafayette is a historical figure who has been largely left out of the cultural spotlight. So, instead of looking at a single movie, …

Harriet with Dr. Kate Clifford Larson

August 4th, 2021

49:21

Today we'll hear from Dr. Larson, the historical consultant on the 2019 movie Harriet about the life of Harriet Tubman.


Learn more about the true story

1492: Conquest of Paradise with Patrick Wyman

July 20th, 2021

1:01:53

Patrick Wyman is a historian, host of the Tides of History podcast and author of The Verge. He joins us today to dive into the historical accuracy of …

J. Edgar with Paul Letersky

July 13th, 2021

1:18:35

The 2011 biopic from Clint Eastwood offers a look into the life of J. Edgar Hoover. Today we'll be talking to author and former FBI agent Paul …

Band of Brothers Part 3 with Marty Morgan

July 4th, 2021

2:22:38

We're wrapping our series on Band of Brothers today as we look as the last three episodes of the HBO miniseries.

Episodes we're covering today:

8. The …

Band of Brothers Part 2 with Marty Morgan

June 22nd, 2021

3:01:24

Today we're continuing our look at the historical accuracy of Band of Brothers as we cover episodes six and seven while Easy Company is in Bastogne. We'll wrap up the series in our next episode of Based on a True Story.

Band of Brothers Part 1 with Marty Morgan

June 6th, 2021

2:19:35

June 6th, 2021 is the 77th anniversary of D-Day. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers. So, today we'll kick off a 3-part miniseries of our own where we cover Band of Brothers 

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World with Gordon Laco

May 11th, 2021

1:17:04

Today we'll learn about the historical accuracy of 2003's Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Helping us separate fact from fiction is Gordon Laco, who was the Lead Technical Advisor and Historical …

The Last Samurai with Dr. Brian Dirck

April 14th, 2021

1:00:29

In 2003's The Last Samurai we learn the story of Captain Nathan Algren, an American soldier who travels to Japan to train the early Imperial Japanese …

The Passion of The Christ with Dr. David Chapman

April 2nd, 2021

1:13:58

In Christianity, Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Today we're going to learn about the depiction of that event on screen as we saw in 2004's The Passion of The Christ. To help us learn more, …

The Highwaymen with John Neal Phillips

March 17th, 2021

1:25:35

On this episode of Based on a True Story, we'll learn from the research consultant on The Highwaymen about the historical accuracy of the film. John …

The Duellists with Alexander Mikaberidze

March 5th, 2021

1:03:07

We're going back to 1977 and Ridley Scott's feature film directorial debut, The Duellists. The movie tells the tale of two soldiers in Napoleon's …

Greyhound with Gordon Laco

February 17th, 2021

1:21:58

Released in 2020, Greyhound was written by Tom Hanks, who also starred in the lead role. The movie was based on a novel by C.S. Forester called The …

The Conspirator with Dr. Brian Dirck

February 5th, 2021

55:20

2010's The Conspirator tells the story of Mary Surratt and her alleged involvement in Lincoln's assassination. Dr. Brian Dirck joins us again to …

Waterloo with Alexander Mikaberidze

January 12th, 2021

1:12:19

Today we'll learn about the classic 1970 film Waterloo and its depiction of Napoleon's final defeat. Joining us to discuss the historical accuracy of 

Donnie Brasco with Joe Pistone and Leo Rossi

January 4th, 2021

53:05

In the movie Donnie Brasco we see the story of an FBI agent who goes into deep cover infiltrating the New York mafia families. The truth is Donnie Brasco was the under-cover name for Joe Pistone. He joins us today along …

The Alamo with Stephen L. Hardin

December 18th, 2020

1:27:23

How much of 2014's The Alamo really happened? To help us separate fact from fiction in the movie, we’ll be chatting with professor, historian and …

Wake Island with Gregory J. W. Urwin

December 7th, 2020

1:18:36

Wake Island was attacked on the same day as Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 (December 8th on Wake Island across the International Date Line). A few months later, on August 11th, 1942, Paramount Pictures released the …

Lincoln with Dr. Brian Dirck

November 18th, 2020

56:29

How historically accurate was 2012's Lincoln? To help us separate fact from fiction in the movie, we’ll be chatting with Dr. Brian Dirck, who is a …

Glory with Gregory J. W. Urwin

November 5th, 2020

1:22:29

1989's Glory is currently the most requested movie to cover. Gregory J. W. Urwin is an author, military historian, and Professor at Temple University. He'll join us today to separate fact from fiction in Glory.


Learn …

Project Blue Book Season 2 with Rob Kristoffersen

October 21st, 2020

1:23:24

Back on episode #152 of Based on a True Story, we covered season 1 of the History Channel's Project Blue Book. Today, Rob Kristoffersen comes back on the podcast to talk about the events we saw in season 2.


Learn more …

Selma with Dr. Clayborne Carson

October 6th, 2020

54:16

Dr. Clayborne Carson is the Martin Luther King, Jr., Centennial Professor of History at Stanford University and the founding director of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute at Stanford. He …

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford with Chris Wimmer

September 24th, 2020

1:17:19

Chris Wimmer is the host and producer of the extremely popular Legends of the Old West and Infamous America podcasts. He joins us today to compare …

Stonewall with Eric Marcus

September 8th, 2020

1:07:37

Eric Marcus is a journalist, founder and host of the Making Gay History Podcast. He joins us today to compare history with the 2015 Roland Emmerich …

Windtalkers with Judith Avila

August 27th, 2020

1:02:08

The 2002 John Woo movie 'Windtalkers' tells the story of a Navajo code talker during World War II. Is the film historically accurate?

Judith Avila is the author of Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir By One of the …

Patton with Furman Daniel

August 12th, 2020

1:22:57

Author Furman Daniel joins us today to separate fact from fiction in the classic World War II film Patton.


Learn more about the true story

  • Get Furman's …

Operation Finale

July 30th, 2020

59:12

Our story today covers the capture of the notorious Nazi criminal Adolf Eichmann. The operation to hunt him down and bring him to justice was …

Just Mercy with Erica Kelley

July 14th, 2020

1:11:27

Erica Kelley is the host of the Southern Fried True Crime podcast. She joins us today to separate fact from fiction in the 2019 movie Just Mercy.


Gettysburg with Jim Hessler and Eric Lindblade

July 1st, 2020

1:25:04

Today marks the 157th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863).

How much of the movie's depiction of the battle is historically …

Saving Private Ryan with Marty Morgan

June 6th, 2020

2:10:59

June 6th, 1944. D-Day.

Fast forward 76 years and today, June 6th, 2020, we'll chat with author and historian Marty Morgan to separate fact from …

Midway with Craig Symonds

May 25th, 2020

1:19:00

Craig Symonds is the Earnest J. King Professor of Maritime History at the Naval War College as well as Professor Emeritus of History at the U.S. …

Alexander with Ryan Stitt

May 11th, 2020

1:36:16

Ryan Stitt is the host of The History of Ancient Greece Podcast, and he joins us today to separate fact from fiction in the 2004 movie Alexander.

Mutiny on the Bounty with Brandon Huebner

April 28th, 2020

1:36:59

1962's Mutiny on the Bounty is one of the most popular requests to cover and today we'll do that with the help of Brandon Huebner, the host of The …

Les Miserables with Maurice Samuels

April 14th, 2020

1:08:10

Maurice Samuels, Author and Yale's Betty Jane Anlyan Professor of French, joins the Based on a True Story podcast to separate fact from the fiction we saw in 1998's depiction of Les Miserables.


Learn more about the true …

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story with Matthew Polly

April 3rd, 2020

1:03:27

Author Matthew Polly joins the Based on a True Story podcast to separate fact from the fiction we saw in 1993's Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story.

Matthew's …

12 Years a Slave with Professor Greg Jackson

March 24th, 2020

1:21:47

Today we'll learn about the historical accuracy of the movie 12 Years a Slave with Professor Greg Jackson from the History That Doesn't Suck podcast.


Project Blue Book Season 1 with Rob Kristoffersen

March 11th, 2020

1:28:23

UFO expert Rob Kristoffersen joins Based on a True Story to discuss the historical accuracy of the History Channel's TV show Project Blue Book.

Learn …

Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier with Michael Wallis

February 18th, 2020

1:04:19

Author Michael Wallis joins the Based on a True Story podcast to separate fact from the fiction we saw in Disney's 1955 film Davy Crockett: King of …

Downton Abbey with Lady Carnarvon

February 3rd, 2020

43:19

Downton Abbey was filmed at Highclere Castle, which is Lady Carnarvon's home. On this episode of the Based on a True Story podcast, she'll join us to talk about the historical accuracy of the Downton Abbey movie and TV …

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves with Dr. Sean McGlynn

January 27th, 2020

54:59

There are many versions of Robin Hood's story that have been on the big screen. Today we'll chat with historian Dr. Sean McGlynn about the 1991 …

1917 with Doran Cart

January 16th, 2020

1:03:07

Doran Cart is Senior Curator at the National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. He joins us today to talk about the historical …

The Imitation Game with Mark Cotton

January 6th, 2020

2:26:04

Mark is the producer of the official Bletchley Park podcast. He joins us today to discuss the historical accuracy of the 2014 film The Imitation Game and do some fact checking on the original Based on a True Story …

Young Guns with Chris Wimmer

December 27th, 2019

1:11:05

How much do you know about Billy the Kid? On the popular Infamous America podcast, Chris Wimmer has dug deep into the life of one of most famous …

Christmas Special 2019 with Heather LeFebvre

December 1st, 2019

50:29

As the Christmas season approaches, let's take a step back from the hustle and bustle to learn about the history and festivities over the millennia …

First Man

November 20th, 2019

1:04:06

Our story today is as close to traveling through time and space as we can without a single mention of the Doctor. That's because today we're going to travel back in time to discuss the true story of Neil Armstrong as we …

The Crucible

November 4th, 2019

1:24:55

The story of the Salem witch trials was brought to the world's spotlight thanks to Arthur Miller's play The Crucible. Today, we'll look at the historical accuracy of the 1996 movie based on that play.


Did you enjoy this …

Tombstone with Chris Wimmer

October 26th, 2019

1:07:59

Today (October 26th) is the anniversary of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Chris Wimmer is the Host and Producer of the Legends of the Old West podcast. He joins us today to separate fact from the fiction of the events …

Tolkien with John Garth

October 4th, 2019

1:08:43

Historian and Tolkien scholar John Garth breaks down the historical accuracy of the 2019 biopic about the life of J.R.R. Tolkien simply called Tolkien

Tag with Tag Brothers Patrick and Joe

September 17th, 2019

1:06:18

The story behind 2018's Tag seems almost too ridiculous to be true. What better way to separate fact from fiction than by chatting with some of the …

Turn: Washington's Spies with Michael Troy

August 18th, 2019

1:03:52

In a first for Based on a True Story, today we'll chat about the TV series Turn: Washington Spies. Joining me to dive behind the history of the …

Mary Queen of Scots

August 1st, 2019

1:07:00

The story of Mary Stuart and her cousin Queen Elizabeth I is one that's been told many times over. We've looked at the story from Elizabeth's side …

Cleopatra with Dr. Zahi Hawass

July 9th, 2019

26:16

Today I'm honored to be joined by the renowned Dr. Zahi Hawass to learn more about how much of the 1963 classic film Cleopatra was historically accurate.

 

Find Dr. Zahi Hawass online at:

Change

June 24th, 2019

5:22

This isn't a normal episode of Based on a True Story. Let's take a few moments to chat about some of the changes coming to the podcast.

Questions or concerns?

Reach out to me at dan@basedonatruestorypodcast.com

Learn more …

Loving Vincent

June 17th, 2019

41:54

Today's episode will talk about the renowned artist Vincent van Gogh as depicted in the movie Loving Vincent.


Did you enjoy this episode?

  • Leave a …

The Longest Day with Marty Morgan

June 3rd, 2019

1:27:45

D-Day was June 6th, 1944. The 75th anniversary is this week, and if there's one movie that has changed the perception of the invasion it's The Longest Day. So, we'll chat with author and historian Marty Morgan to find …

Troy

May 20th, 2019

42:45

Today we'll travel back in time to the days of Greek mythology as we compare the 2004 movie Troy with history. 


Did you enjoy this episode?

  • Leave a …

Eight Men Out

May 6th, 2019

1:17:12

This is the story of the 1919 Black Sox scandal that rocked the world of Major League Baseball.


Did you enjoy this episode?

  • Leave a comment: 

Seabiscuit

April 22nd, 2019

1:08:35

It's been called a rags to riches story, and an inspiration to millions. But how much of 2003's Seabiscuit actually happened? Let's find out!


Did you …

The Perfect Storm

April 8th, 2019

38:25

Sometimes, Hollywood exaggerates nature's fury on screen. Today, we'll learn about one of the stories that reminds us how scary it can really be.


Did …

The Return of the King

April 1st, 2019

1:25:44

Two years ago, we covered The Fellowship of the Ring as an April Fools Day surprise. Last year, it was a little less of a surprise when we continued …

Malcolm X

March 25th, 2019

1:02:31

Today we'll learn about Malcolm X, the man whose childhood saw his family get attacked by the KKK to an adulthood where he turned to robbery and …

LBJ

March 11th, 2019

1:11:13

Last episode we learned about Oliver Stone's 1991 film JFK. This week we'll learn about the 2016 film LBJ that covers President Lyndon Baines Johnson, the man who became President the moment John F. Kennedy was …

JFK

February 25th, 2019

55:21

To say Oliver Stone's 1991 film JFK caused a lot of controversy is an understatement. With all the conspiracies circling the assassination of President Kennedy, let's take some time to compare JFK to history.


Did you …

Bohemian Rhapsody

February 11th, 2019

49:55

Rami Malek stars in the blockbuster film about Freddie Mercury's life. Since it's release, there have been many reviews who have dinged the film for its historical accuracy. Are they right? Let's compare history with …

The Catcher Was a Spy

January 28th, 2019

51:21

Going from Major League Baseball player to spy isn't your average change in jobs. But then, Moe Berg wasn't your average baseball player. Let's dig into Moe's life as we compare The Catcher Was a Spy with history.


Did …

Minisode: Aladdin

January 21st, 2019

54:46

As a special treat, you'll get access to one of the minisodes that are normally exclusive to Based on a True Story patrons on the weeks between …

The Greatest Showman (Revisited)

January 14th, 2019

1:02:58

A couple years ago, we covered The Greatest Showman as a pre-release episode. In other words, the podcast episode came out before the movie did. In that episode, we learned about the life of P.T. Barnum. In this …

All the President's Men

December 31st, 2018

1:20:52

President Nixon's resignation in 1974 was the first time for a U.S. president. That same year, Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein released their book that went into detail how they broke the …

A Christmas Carol

December 24th, 2018

2:59:07

Last week on the podcast, we learned all about the life of Charles Dickens as it was told in the movie The Man Who Invented Christmas. While that’s …

The Man Who Invented Christmas

December 17th, 2018

53:13

It's time to get in the Christmas spirit! The subject of our episode today is the 2017 movie about Charles Dickens and his writing of A Christmas …

Finding Neverland

December 3rd, 2018

46:36

The 2004 film Finding Neverland stars Johnny Depp as J.M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan. How much of the movie was true and how much was changed? …

Hidalgo

November 19th, 2018

25:33

In his first movie after Lord of the Rings, Viggo Mortensen portrays Frank T. Hopkins as he rides on his horse, Hidalgo, in The Ocean of Fire long-distance race. How much of the movie really happened? Let's find out.


Did …

Rob Roy with Moxie LaBouche

November 5th, 2018

32:21

Called the Scottish Robin Hood, Rob Roy's story has been the subject of books and movies. Today, one of the most popular renditions of that is the …

Professor Marston and the Wonder Women

October 22nd, 2018

43:36

After inventing the lie detector test, William Moulton Marston came up with the character of Wonder Woman. His inspiration was his wife Elizabeth, …

Che!

October 8th, 2018

1:10:34

Today marks the 51st anniversary of revolutionary Che Guevara's capture that led to his death. How much do you know of his story?

Let's find out as we …

Empire of the Sun

September 24th, 2018

40:19

Author J.G. Ballard wrote the novel Empire of the Sun based on his own childhood. That's the first level of creative difference between truth and fiction. By the time it was adapted for the big screen, there were bound …

United 93

September 10th, 2018

1:06:45

The world changed on Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. Today, we'll honor the memory of those who lost their lives that day as we look at the historical …

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

August 27th, 2018

44:03

On episode 106, we learned about the movie Elizabeth. That's the first of two movies in a series, so we're heading back to the time of Queen …

Rabbit-Proof Fence

August 13th, 2018

40:41

When three girls are taken from their homes, they risk their lives to find the rabbit-proof fence in Australia and walk home over a thousand miles …

Communion with Rob Kristoffersen

July 30th, 2018

1:09:55

Dive into the world of the supernatural as I'm joined by UFO expert Rob Kristoffersen to chat about Whitley Strieber's experience that we saw in the movie Communion.

Check out Rob's show at

Goodbye Christopher Robin

July 16th, 2018

35:19

How much do you know about the story behind Winnie the Pooh? Let's dive into the beloved children's stories as we compare history with the movie …

The Ghost and the Darkness

July 2nd, 2018

56:28

The Ghost and the Darkness tells the story of the man-eaters of Tsavo as they terrified railway workers in 1898. Did it really happen? Let's find out.

Sergeant York

June 18th, 2018

32:46

Learn more about World War I Medal of Honor recipient who was the subject of the 1941 Gary Cooper film simply called Sergeant York.


Did you enjoy this …

Elizabeth

June 4th, 2018

45:41

Producer Melissa requested we cover the movie Elizabeth, so pack your bags and travel back in time to the days just after King Henry VIII as we …

Black Hawk Down

May 21st, 2018

48:39

When Hollywood covers the Battle of Mogadishu, how much of what we see is accurate? That's what Based on a True Story Producer Brian wanted to know …

Housekeeping

May 21st, 2018

37:11

The term "housekeeping" in a podcast refers to the parts at the beginning or end of a show where the host makes announcements and updates. With the podcast coming back, I'll outline some of the changes as we peel back …

Lowell LeFebvre

April 23rd, 2018

16:49

One month ago today, my father passed away unexpectedly. As this podcast is something I do in my spare time, there are more important things going to eat up that time. For now, it's time to take a step back from the …

Jackie

April 16th, 2018

27:44

When President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, a family was left without a father. A wife without her husband. That's the scenario behind the 2016 Jackie, and the subject of this week's episode.


Did you enjoy this …

The Last of the Mohicans

April 9th, 2018

34:28

For generations, James Fenimore Cooper's classic American novel has been recreated in various forms for the big and small screen. As a novel, it's not entirely factual and yet it's a film many consider to be true by its …

King Arthur

April 2nd, 2018

38:46

To celebrate the show's anniversary and episode 100, we'll be looking at a story that's special to me...that of King Arthur. We can't hope to cover everything about Arthur that's been written for thousands of years in a …

The Two Towers

April 1st, 2018

1:07:27

Surprise! Enjoy April Fools Day with this special bonus episode as we continue our look at The Lord of the Rings trilogy.


Did you enjoy this episode?

Pirates of Silicon Valley

March 26th, 2018

51:49

Mac vs PC. It's a flame war that's fueled by people on both sides who love to hate the other side. How did it all start? We'll find out as we dig into the true story behind Pirates of Silicon Valley.


Did you enjoy this …

Bonnie and Clyde

March 19th, 2018

49:47

The 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde was one of the films that many consider to be the starting point for the taming of violence in mainstream Hollywood. …

The Monuments Men

March 12th, 2018

48:37

Did the Nazis really steal all that artwork we saw George Clooney, Matt Damon and Bill Murray chase after in The Monuments Men? That's what we'll …

Sweet Dreams

March 5th, 2018

38:01

Today is the 55th anniversary of the surprise death of country music legend Patsy Cline. In honor of her life, let's learn more about it as we compare history with the 1985 biopic, Sweet Dreams.


Did you enjoy this …

Anastasia

February 26th, 2018

54:56

The 1997 animated film Anastasia tells a beautifully touching tale of the Grand Duchess trying to find her family...but how much of the story we see …

BONUS: From Hell and the Historical Context

February 19th, 2018

2:55:08

This week we learned about Jack the Ripper's brutal murders. After you listen to the regular episode, this bonus episode will help us get a little …

From Hell

February 19th, 2018

58:49

Jack the Ripper was a serial killer before the term was coined. Be warned, today's episode contains some very disturbing content about the …

The Other Boleyn Girl

February 12th, 2018

50:17

2008's The Other Boleyn Girl gives us a peek into what it could've been like roaming the English court during King Henry VIII's reign. But how much …

The Hindenburg

February 5th, 2018

43:33

It was an event that was compared to the sinking of the Titanic, except when the Hindenburg crashed it was caught on film...ending the promising industry of commercial airship travel. This week we're comparing history …

The Founder

January 29th, 2018

42:55

How much of Michael Keaton's 2016 masterpiece is true to the history of McDonald's rise to the top of the fast-food industry?


Did you enjoy this …

The Man in the Iron Mask

January 22nd, 2018

40:25

In a highly requested episode, this week we're focusing on the film starring a young Leonardo DiCaprio heading up an all-star cast in this classic interpretation of the Alexandre Dumas classic.


Did you enjoy this episode?

Birth of the Dragon

January 15th, 2018

31:55

It was an epic fight between two martial arts masters...Bruce Lee and Wong Jack Man. But how much of the film that was inspired by this true event is …

Hawmps! with Scott Rank

January 8th, 2018

57:11

Ever heard of the U.S. Cavalry's attempts at replacing horses with camels? Historian, author and podcaster Scott Rank joins me on this episode to learn more about this little-known event in U.S. history.

Check out …

The Lost City of Z

January 1st, 2018

56:15

Happy New Year! Pack your backs for our first adventure of the year. We're headed to the Amazon today as we compare history with The Lost City of Z.


Christmas Special 2017

December 25th, 2017

1:38:36

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas! With today being Christmas, I wanted to do something a little different and share a few classic holiday tales to …

The Greatest Showman

December 18th, 2017

44:49

Just in time for Christmas day, a new film being released tells the story of a young P.T. Barnum's rise to riches. But who was the real P.T. Barnum and how did he really begin the "greatest show on earth"?


Did you enjoy …

Becoming Jane

December 11th, 2017

43:58

Jane Austen's relationship with Tom Lefroy was something we saw on screen during the 2007 film Becoming Jane. But was it real, or just a fictional …

Pearl Harbor and Tora! Tora! Tora! with Corey Constable

December 4th, 2017

1:03:02

December 7th is Pearl Harbor Day, and the perfect day to watch a movie in remembrance of that day. Which one should you watch? This week I'm joined …

Kingdom of Heaven

November 27th, 2017

37:33

Today is the 922nd anniversary of Pope Urban II preaching the Crusades. That's why we're going back to the 12th century this week to learn the true …

Das Boot

November 20th, 2017

1:11:12

Even today, Das Boot is seen as one of the defining films to showcase what World War II was like for German submariners. But was it true? That's what …

Darkest Hour

November 13th, 2017

34:40

In a couple of weeks, the movie Darkest Hour will dive into the life of Winston Churchill. With that in mind, let's do our own dive into the life of …

Grace of Monaco

November 6th, 2017

41:11

Nicole Kidman stars as actress Grace Kelly in a film that tells the story of her transition from Hollywood royalty to actual royalty as the Princess …

The Mothman Prophecies with Sam Fredrickson

October 30th, 2017

1:27:29

Happy Halloween! To get in the spirit of the season, this week I'll be joined by Sam Fredrickson from the Not Alone podcast as we dive into what really happened surrounding The Mothman Prophecies.

Check out Sam's show at

Loving

October 23rd, 2017

35:00

Loving was released in 2016 and depicts the story of Richard and Mildred Loving as they struggled against racial barriers. Their case, Loving v …

The Right Stuff

October 16th, 2017

1:26:30

The 1983 film The Right Stuff is considered by many to be an epic masterpiece. Before the Apollo program, The Right Stuff tells the story of the …

Mata Hari

October 9th, 2017

41:30

We're diving into the classics this week as we compare history with Mata Hari. Released in 1931, Mata Hari tells the story of the woman who many considered to be one of the most dangerous spies during World War I.


Did …

Flash of Genius

October 2nd, 2017

32:49

If you're a fan of history, 2008's Flash of Genius tells the story about something that probably never even crossed your mind. One man's journey to inventing the intermittent windshield wiper and how the huge car …

Enemy at the Gates

September 25th, 2017

51:58

Get a look at a different angle of World War II as we compare the 2001 film Enemy at the Gates with history.


Did you enjoy this episode?

  • Leave a …

Ip Man

September 18th, 2017

36:55

If you're a fan of Kung Fu movies, Ip Man is one you've already seen. If you think everything you saw on the screen actually happened, you might be …

Rush

September 11th, 2017

49:19

Formula One racing in the 1970s was about more than just fast cars. This week we'll compare history with the 2013 Ron Howard movie Rush.


Did you enjoy …

Breach

September 4th, 2017

45:04

Spies and espionage between Russia and the USA. It almost seems like it could be a subject in today's headlines, but on this week's episode we'll …

Lawless with Matt Bondurant

August 28th, 2017

1:01:11

Matt Bondurant joins us on this week's episode as we compare what really happened with the movie Lawless. Matt's grandfather, Jack, and two grand-uncles that were the inspiration for his book that the movie is based on,

The Ten Commandments (Part 2)

August 21st, 2017

1:28:47

This week we'll conclude our look into the historical accuracy of Cecil B. DeMille's classic film, The Ten Commandments.


Did you enjoy this episode?

The Ten Commandments (Part 1)

August 14th, 2017

1:42:29

With almost four hours of movie and plenty of religious subject matter to cover, we'll have to split this movie up into two parts to do it justice. On this episode we'll cover all the way up until the movie's …

Genius

August 7th, 2017

42:08

2016's Genius tells the story of book editor Max Perkins and the authors he discovered, including Thomas Wolfe, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest …

A Few Good Men

July 31st, 2017

32:14

Can you handle the truth? This week we'll see how much of A Few Good Men we can compare with history.


Did you enjoy this episode?

  • Leave a comment: 

Cool Runnings

July 24th, 2017

33:38

Jamaica we have a bobsled team! Every sports fan loves the story of an underdog's rise to success. Disney's Cool Runnings is that and more. But is it …

Valkyrie

July 17th, 2017

56:14

Political mutiny and clandestine plots against Adolf Hitler are the subject of this week's episode as we compare history with 2008's Valkyrie.


Did you …

Dunkirk

July 10th, 2017

34:19

Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk comes out on July 21st, but before it does let's take a moment to learn the true story so you can judge the film's …

The Patriot

July 3rd, 2017

48:54

July 4th is America's birthday, and this week we'll honor that as we compare history with Mel Gibson's epic Hollywood blockbuster, The Patriot.


Did …

Tombstone

June 26th, 2017

1:00:46

Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday have earned quite a reputation thanks to numerous Hollywood incarnations over the years. Arguably one of the most popular …

Schindler's List

June 19th, 2017

51:24

It was one of the darkest hours in the world and amidst the horrors, Oskar Schindler managed to help save many lives from certain death. This week we'll find out how much of it was actually true as we compare history …

Behind the True Story of Bitter Harvest

June 12th, 2017

39:18

In a first for Based on a True Story, we'll get an exclusive peek behind the true story of Bitter Harvest from the film's writer, Richard …

The Experiment

June 5th, 2017

55:41

Adrien Brody and Forest Whitaker put on a great performance in The Experiment in a story that's based on what most consider the most controversial …

A League of Their Own

May 29th, 2017

45:46

May 30th, 1943 was opening day for a new league. Did women really replace the men in baseball during World War II? This week on the podcast we'll learn more about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League as …

Men of Honor

May 22nd, 2017

42:47

Carl Brashear was the first to do many things. This week we'll compare history with Cuba Gooding Jr and Robert DeNiro's film Men of Honor.


Did you …

Cadillac Records

May 15th, 2017

40:20

In a special listener request, we'll cover Cadillac Records and learn the true story behind the history of blues in Chicago.


Did you enjoy this …

The Untouchables

May 8th, 2017

40:08

Special guest Cody Wheat from the Shots of History podcast joins me this week as we compare history with The Untouchables.


Did you enjoy this episode?

Citizen Kane

May 1st, 2017

32:31

Today, Citizen Kane is considered by many to be one of the greatest films of all time. However, when the movie Citizen Kane was released, the man who's life inspired the film was outraged. He tried his best to keep the …

Mulan

April 24th, 2017

25:24

No one expects Disney's Mulan to be very historically accurate, but let's take a few moments to learn more about the real story behind the movie.


Did …

Lawrence of Arabia

April 17th, 2017

42:36

Very few classic films from Hollywood have shaped how people in the U.S. see the Middle East more than Lawrence of Arabia...but is the movie …

USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage

April 10th, 2017

55:11

It was the single worst sea disaster in the U.S. Navy, and it was covered up by the U.S. government at the end of World War II. Learn the true story …

Newsies

April 3rd, 2017

46:35

Newsies tells the story of the little guys (quite literally, the young newsboys) against "the man". In this case, "the man" being newspaper barons …

The Fellowship of the Ring

April 1st, 2017

53:13

You know the story. Frodo and his band of companions start the journey to take the One Ring to Mordor. But is the story we saw on the big screen true …

Braveheart

March 27th, 2017

53:38

William Wallace is still considered to be an incredibly important person in Scottish history. But is Mel Gibson's version accurate to the real …

The Men Who Stare at Goats

March 20th, 2017

38:25

Who doesn't love a good conspiracy theory? We've got a doozy this week as we compare history with The Men Who Stare at Goats.


Did you enjoy this …

Walt Before Mickey

March 13th, 2017

56:17

Are you a Disney fan? Then you'll love this deep dive into the remarkable early life of Walt Disney as we compare history with the movie Walt Before …

Everest

March 6th, 2017

48:21

There's outdoor sports, then there's extreme outdoors activities. In this week's episode we'll compare history with Hollywood's version of Everest.


Lion

February 27th, 2017

41:52

Did you watch the Oscars last night? What a crazy turn of events with the whole Best Picture scandal. While most of the media will be covering Warren …

Bitter Harvest

February 20th, 2017

40:03

This Friday, Bitter Harvest hits the theaters and tells a story that most people haven't heard. Learn the true story before you go see the film.


Did …

Florence Foster Jenkins

February 13th, 2017

38:45

Florence Foster Jenkins is up for a couple Academy Awards. Let's find out how accurate the movie is by comparing Hollywood with history.


Did you enjoy …

Black Mass

February 6th, 2017

45:14

Compare history with Hollywood's version of Black Mass.


Did you enjoy this episode?

  • Leave a comment: 

13 Hours

January 30th, 2017

43:50

Compare history with Hollywood's version of 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi.


Did you enjoy this episode?

  • Leave a comment: 

The Big Short

January 23rd, 2017

54:13

Compare history with Hollywood's version of The Big Short.


Did you enjoy this episode?

  • Leave a comment: 

Titanic

January 16th, 2017

1:19:42

You've seen the movie. But how much of Titanic was true, and how much of it was made up for the film? Let's compare history with Hollywood's …

The Pianist

January 9th, 2017

32:48

He lived through unthinkable measures. At a time when millions were slaughtered, including his family and friends, Wladyslaw Szpilman managed to …

Hidden Figures

January 2nd, 2017

32:23

This week we'll do something a bit different as we look ahead. Instead of learning about a movie that's already been released, we'll look ahead to a movie coming out this next weekend.

Hidden Figures tells the remarkable …

A Beautiful Mind

December 26th, 2016

28:22

On October 11th, 1994, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced their Nobel prize winners. Three brilliant scientists jointly won the coveted award. They were Professor John C. Harsanyi from the University of …

Joyeux Noël

December 19th, 2016

40:10

With the Christmas season upon us, I wanted to cover a film that'd help represent the Christmas spirit.

In 2005, French filmmaker Christian Carion …

Spotlight

December 12th, 2016

40:48

Tom McCarthy started his acting career with a short movie in 1989 called Roast Suckling. Although that's probably not something most have seen, he's one of those actors that you'd recognize when you see him. Probably …

The Sound of Music

December 5th, 2016

35:11

There are few movies that stand near the top of the all-time list for income. One of those movies is The Sound of Music.

With a budget of about $8 million when it was produced in the 1960s, it was one of the bigger …

Captain Phillips

November 28th, 2016

40:12

Between 2004 and 2016, Paul Greengrass directed a total of six movies. Four of those have Matt Damon in them. Three of them are about the fictitious …

Pocahontas

November 21st, 2016

33:14

With the Thanksgiving season upon us, I thought it'd be a great opportunity to travel back in time to the days of Colonial America. Then I realized …

Defiance

November 14th, 2016

39:38

Nechama Tec was born in Lublin, Poland in 1931. When she was eight years old, her life would forever change as Nazis invaded her hometown. As a …

The Wolf of Wall Street

November 7th, 2016

28:32

The latest in the line of collaborations between actor Leonardo DiCaprio and director Martin Scorsese is 2013's The Wolf of Wall Street. It received …

The Conjuring

October 31st, 2016

34:36

Happy Halloween! I wanted to do something special this week. I thought it'd be fun to cover the true story behind something scary. But after starting to look for some movies to fit the bill, I quickly realized most of …

Steve Jobs

October 24th, 2016

38:03

Few can debate the huge impact Steve Jobs had on the world. So it's no wonder that after Steve Jobs passed away in 2011, there was in influx of news and media surrounding the life of the outspoken Apple co-founder and …

Amazing Grace

October 17th, 2016

33:06

You've probably heard of the song Amazing Grace. It's one of those Christian hymns that just about everyone has heard, or at least heard of, at some point. It was first published in 1779 by John Newton.

While you may …

The Finest Hours

October 10th, 2016

32:07

In a retelling of one of the greatest moments in U.S. Coast Guard's history, The Finest Hours is a feel-good movie of true heroism. When sitting down …

The Black Dahlia

October 3rd, 2016

39:37

Elizabeth Short's murder was considered to be the crime of the century. And it's a mystery that many are still fascinated by, decades later. So when Brian De Palma directed a 2006 movie of the same name, many moviegoers …

Deepwater Horizon

September 26th, 2016

25:37

The movie Deepwater Horizon comes out on this Friday. So again we're going to take some time to look ahead at a movie. Before you go see the movie in theaters, let's take a few minutes to learn what happened before, …

The Great Escape

September 19th, 2016

36:26

Despite having an all-star cast and being based on a true story, most of the characters in the film didn't actually exist. Instead, Hollywood opted …

Argo

September 12th, 2016

28:31

Even though Argo starts off with text that says it's based on a true story, the movie was actually based primarily on two sources: a book by Tony Mendez, the CIA agent Ben Affleck plays, and a 2007 article on Wired by …

Pawn Sacrifice

September 5th, 2016

30:18

Pawn Sacrifice tells the story of one of the greatest chess players of all time—Bobby Fischer. How do you make the game of chess into an interesting story? With Bobby Fischer's life, you don't need to stretch it too far.

Apollo 13

August 29th, 2016

1:05:39

Ron Howard and Tom Hanks teamed up for their second of now four movies the duo have worked on together in 1995 with Apollo 13.


Did you enjoy this …

The Danish Girl

August 22nd, 2016

25:00

Lili Isle Elvenes, better known as Lili Elbe, was one of the first known recipients of a gender reassignment surgery. In 2015, her life was brought to the forefront of many people's minds when Alicia Vikander won an …

The Social Network

August 15th, 2016

36:12

The Social Network tells the story behind one of the world's most popular websites, Facebook. It's got everything that makes for a great …

Anthropoid

August 8th, 2016

52:35

Anthropoid hits theaters on Friday. It's the story of how the Czechoslovakian government, forced into exile after the Germans occupied their homeland in 1938, tried to fight back and take down Reinhard Heydrich at the …

Ali

August 1st, 2016

39:21

Will Smith would say Ali was the film he was most proud of as an actor. And it tells a very important story of a true legend: Muhammad Ali.

Although …

Pain & Gain

July 25th, 2016

30:51

Pain & Gain is the first comedy we've covered here on the show. It was also the first comedy for Michael Bay since another Miami-based story, Bad Boys II in 2003. Another first for Pain & Gain is that, unlike …

Zodiac

July 18th, 2016

39:43

In 2007, director David Fincher helmed the movie simply entitled, Zodiac, which tells the thrilling story of a rash of killings in the 1960s and 70s.

Despite the film's failure at the box office, the subject is one that …

Catch Me If You Can

July 11th, 2016

48:13

In 2002, Steven Spielberg started filming the life of Frank Abagnale. Fortunately it only took about four months of filming for Spielberg to get the shots he needed. On Christmas Day of 2002, Spielberg's DreamWorks …

The Hunt for Red October

June 27th, 2016

44:38

Tom Clancy is known for his captivating military stories with stunningly accurate technical details. Clancy's career started with a fascinating novel: The Hunt for Red October.

The Hunt for Red October is based on the …

Free State of Jones

June 13th, 2016

45:42

Next Friday, on June 24th, director Gary Ross, the three-time Academy Award nominated writer and director behind Seabiscuit, The Hunger Games and Pleasantville, has taken his place behind the camera once again in a …

300

May 30th, 2016

48:27

This year, Zack Snyder directed the epic Batman v Superman superhero movie, but it wasn't his first foray into comics. In fact, that came in 2006 …

Frost/Nixon

May 16th, 2016

43:53

Eight years ago, in 2008, Ron Howard directed the Oscar-nominated retelling of what are still the most popular political interviews to ever air on …

The Imitation Game

May 2nd, 2016

1:19:26

Benedict Cumberbatch and Kiera Knightley starred in 2014's The Imitation Game. Set in the midst of World War II, The Imitation Game tells the story of British mathematician Alan Turing and his quest to conquer the …

42

April 18th, 2016

29:27

On April 15th, Major League Baseball celebrates Jackie Robinson Day, in honor of the man who broke down racial barriers by becoming the first black player in the MLB. A few years ago, a movie named after Jackie's jersey …

The Revenant

April 2nd, 2016

37:36

When a movie says it's based on a true story, how much of that is actually real? In our first episode we'll look at the true story behind 2015's …

Loading ...

Listen to Based on a True Story

RadioPublic

A free podcast app for iPhone and Android

  • User-created playlists and collections
  • Download episodes while on WiFi to listen without using mobile data
  • Stream podcast episodes without waiting for a download
  • Queue episodes to create a personal continuous playlist
RadioPublic on iOS and Android
Or by RSS
RSS feed
https://feeds.megaphone.fm/LEFE6783117506

Connect with listeners

Podcasters use the RadioPublic listener relationship platform to build lasting connections with fans

Yes, let's begin connecting
Browser window

Find new listeners

  • A dedicated website for your podcast
  • Web embed players designed to convert visitors to listeners in the RadioPublic apps for iPhone and Android
Clicking mouse cursor

Understand your audience

  • Capture listener activity with affinity scores
  • Measure your promotional campaigns and integrate with Google and Facebook analytics
Graph of increasing value

Engage your fanbase

  • Deliver timely Calls To Action, including email acquistion for your mailing list
  • Share exactly the right moment in an episode via text, email, and social media
Icon of cellphone with money

Make money

  • Tip and transfer funds directly to podcastsers
  • Earn money for qualified plays in the RadioPublic apps with Paid Listens