The Steam & Splendor Network Podcast

Hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton are joined by Patrick Cornelius Vida—President of the RMS Olympic Steinway Association and founder of The White Star Line Quintet—for crucial updates on the campaign to preserve a legendary piece of maritime history: the Steinway piano from Olympic’s luxurious À la Carte Restaurant.

In this episode, Patrick shares an important update on the acquisition process, revealing how close...

Join hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton for a gripping exploration of maritime history with renowned researcher Parks Stephenson. A retired Navy veteran and Executive Director of the USS Kidd Museum, Parks brings unparalleled expertise from his extensive research and multiple expeditions to the Titanic wreck site.

In this episode, we challenge long-held assumptions and dive into the technical mysteries of the world’s most famo...

Join hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton as they welcome fellow researcher Bill Wormstedt for an exclusive look at their upcoming paper, Titanic: The Lifeboat Launching Sequence, A New Study. Ahead of its April 10, 2026, release, the trio discusses a multi-year project born from a desire to critically examine an alternate chronology recently proposed by another researcher. By returning to the primary sources to reconcile conflicting...

Hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton are joined by fellow researchers, authors, and longtime collaborators Bill Wormstedt and Mike Poirier for a lively and thought-provoking discussion on historical research methods—and the ongoing debate over how the story of the Titanic should be studied and understood.

Should historians rely only on official inquiry testimony and private letters from survivors, or can newspaper interviews and...

Season 2 of The Steam & Splendor Network Podcast launches with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Titanic Sinks in Real Time: 2025 Historians’ Edition. Hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton take listeners inside the making of this ambitious new recreation, revealing how historical research, technology, and factual storytelling came together to bring Titanic’s final hours to life like never before.

Fr...

It’s been a full year since The Steam & Splendor Network first launched—and what a journey it’s been! In this special first anniversary episode, hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton take a nostalgic trip through the highlights of the past year. From memorable moments and favorite episodes to surprising discoveries and behind-the-scenes insights, they reflect on everything that’s made the channel and podcas...

In this episode, hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton are joined by Siegfried, Paul, and Colin from Project Vaterland—a fascinating digital reconstruction project bringing the Hamburg America Line’s revolutionary SS Vaterland back to life as she appeared in 1914. The team shares insights into the extensive research and the creative process behind the project, the challenges of building an accurate and detailed 3D model of...

Hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton are joined by Patrick Cornelius Vida, the President of the RMS Olympic Steinway Association, and founder of The White Star Line Quintet. Patrick shares the ongoing efforts to preserve the historic Steinway piano from Olympic’s À la Carte Restaurant and ensure it remains accessible to the public. He also delves into the origins and mission of The White Star Line Quintet, a grou...

Hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton are joined by historian, researcher, and podcaster L.A. Beadles for an open and in-depth discussion of the challenges that are facing the Titanic community, and the research community, as a whole. Among the issues discussed include aging demographics, a significant lack of gender diversity, and the rise of negativity within the community. Why these trends have persisted is discussed, as well as po...

Hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton are joined by author and researcher Steven Schwankert to discuss the documentary The Six and his upcoming book, The Six: The Untold Story of Titanic’s Chinese Survivors. For the first time, the identities and full stories of the Chinese passengers aboard the Titanic are fully revealed. Join us for an insightful conversation about the groundbreaking research and detective work that uncovered ...

Join hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton as they continue their discussion with researcher Mark Chirnside, diving into the historical record to uncover the truth about the safety, reliability, and durability of the Titanic and Olympic Class ships. How well-designed and safe was RMS Olympic—both before and after its post-Titanic disaster refit? Tune in as they examine the evidence, compare the design of these ships to thei...

Hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton are joined by author and researcher Mark Chirnside for an eye-opening discussion that challenges everything you thought you knew about the Titanic and her sister ships. Over the years, myths have surfaced claiming these iconic liners were poorly designed, made with subpar materials, and doomed from the start. But how much of that is actually true? Join us as we discuss the allegations, break down ...

Rejoin hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton as they continue their lively conversation with researchers, authors, and frequent collaborators Bill Wormstedt and Michael Poirier. In this conclusion, they dive into a range of topics, including a behind-the-scenes look at their upcoming book Lusitania: An Illustrated Biography, Volume II, insights into the Lusitania: The Greyhound’s Wake virtual museum experience, the Titanic lifeb...

Welcome aboard the maiden voyage of The Steam & Splendor Network Podcast. Hosts Tad Fitch and J. Kent Layton welcome researchers, authors and frequent collaborators Bill Wormstedt and Michael Poirier to reflect on some of our experiences collaborating to produce books such as On a Sea of Glass, The Life & Loss of RMS Titanic, as well as the two-volume set, Lusitania: An Illustrated Biography. We delve into the process we us...