Based on a True Story

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.

Based on a True Story is a history podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 391 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Based on a True Story, a history show with 391 episodes published.

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  Episode #388

  The Odyssey with Neil Laird

  Jul 31, 20261h 9m

  BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 388) — Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey (2026) brings Homer’s epic journey to the screen as we follow Matt Damon’s Odysseus from the Trojan War through monsters, sirens, and a long road home. In this episode, we'll learn from author and former documentary filmmaker Neil Laird about the historical accuracy of the movie and how well it ties into Homer’s Odyssey. Guest Links Prime Time Troy: https://links.boatspodcast.com/388troy Prime Time Pompeii: https://links.boatspodcast.com/388pompeii Prime Time Travelers: https://links.boatspodcast.com/388travelers Neil Laird's Website: https://links.boatspodcast.com/388guest Chapters 0:00 Letter grade & Homer’s Odyssey 3:30 Troy (2004) vs The Odyssey (2026) 9:30 Monsters, cyclopses and mythical beasts 14:30 Circe’s island and men turned to pigs 19:30 Hades, Achilles and war guilt 23:30 Sirens, Scylla, Charybdis and hard choices 37:30 Calypso, lost years and the long road home Support my work Join the BOATS community: https://links.boatspodcast.com/community Become a BOATS Producer (name in credits + ad-free episodes): https://links.boatspodcast.com/producers Support my sponsors: https://links.boatspodcast.com/advertisers Email me: dan@basedonatruestorypodcast.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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  Episode #387

  Memphis Belle with Joshua Donohue

  Jul 7, 20261h 30m

  BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 387) — How accurate is the 1990 movie Memphis Belle ? Military historian Joshua Donohue returns to Based on a True Story to break down what the movie gets right, where Hollywood takes liberties, and what the real crew of the Memphis Belle actually experienced during World War II. Guest Links Josh's YouTube = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387guest Josh's Wake Island Article = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387wakearticle Josh's Pearl Harbor Article = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387ewaarticle Other Mentions Find where to watch the movie = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387movie Memphis Belle Unveiling = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387unveiling The Man Who Flew the Memphis Belle by Robert Morgan and Ron Powers = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387themanwhoflew Memphis Belle Documentary = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387documentary Memphis Belle - Air Force Fact Sheet = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387factsheet The Memphis Belle Museum Exhibit = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387museumexhibit Chapters 0:00 Intro and accuracy grade 2:13 Other bomber movies and context 12:37 The real Memphis Belle missions 22:15 Hollywood vs the real 25th mission 32:20 How lead bombers and formations worked 43:46 Bombing runs, smoke, and the Norden 52:13 Midair dangers and ball turret stories 1:15:02 The 1944 documentary and legacy 1:21:53 Josh's Bataan book project Support My Work Support my sponsors = https://links.boatspodcast.com/advertisers Become a BOATS Producer (name in credits + ad-free episodes) = https://links.boatspodcast.com/producers Join the BOATS Discord = https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Get the BOATS email newsletter = https://links.boatspodcast.com/newsletter Email me dan@basedonatruestorypodcast.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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  Episode #385

  The Legend of Bagger Vance with Steven Pressfield

  May 28, 202644 minS0

  <p>BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 385) — Have you ever wondered how much of The Legend of Bagger Vance is rooted in history? Steven Pressfield, author of the 1995 novel that inspired the 2000 film, joins Based on a True Story to unpack the story’s connections to the Bhagavad Gita, the real-life golfing legends Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen, and the choices Hollywood made when bringing the book to the screen. They also explore Steven’s approach to writing historical fiction and his latest novel, The Arcadian.</p><p>Guest Links</p>The Legend of Bagger Vance by Steven PressfieldThe Arcadia...

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  Episode #384

  Once Upon a Time in Hollywood with John Barker

  Apr 6, 202645 minS0

  <p>BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 384) — Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood tells a tale of alternative history. In this episode, we'll separate the film’s fairy-tale storytelling from the real history behind the Manson murders, Sharon Tate, Bruce Lee, Steve McQueen, and the Hollywood of 1969.</p><p>Listen to All the Right Movies</p><p>John's podcast breaks down the history of Hollywood, one film at a time. Check out All the Right Movies to learn all about the work that went into making movies, how much of it works, and more.</p><p><br></p><p...

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  Episode #383

  The Manhattan Project in Oppenheimer with Alice Lovejoy

  Feb 17, 202655 minS0

  <p>BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 383) — Did the Oppenheimer movie get the Manhattan Project right? Today, we'll dig into the film's portrayal of the project. From the Los Alamos we see in the movie to what we don't see in the movie such as Oak Ridge's massive factories, Hanford's plutonium production, and more that you don't ever see in the movie.</p><p>Get Alice's book</p><p>Alice Lovejoy is the author of Tales of Militant Chemistry, film scholar, and a professor at the University of Minnesota. She'll join us today to unravel the true story behind the...

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