This week on Titanic Talk, Alexandra Boyd and Nelson Aspen welcome Darren Winston of Freeman’s, America’s oldest auction house, for a fascinating look inside the world of Titanic memorabilia, historic objects and high-end auctions.

Darren tells the extraordinary story of discovering John Jacob Astor IV’s gold Patek Philippe pocket watch and jeweled gold pencil case during what began as an ordinary house call in New York. Both objects had remained within the Astor family for more than a century after being recovered with Astor’s body following the sinking of RMS Titanic.

When the pieces went under the hammer in April 2026, Astor’s watch sold for $800,000 and the gold pencil case for $160,000 before buyer’s premium.

Darren also takes us behind the scenes of the auction world: how remarkable objects are discovered, authenticated, protected and marketed; why estimates and reserves matter; and what happens when bidding takes off — or doesn’t.

Alexandra and Nelson also reveal the Titanic artifacts they would most love to own, while Darren explains why a simple object can become an extraordinary connection to history.

And in an unexpected finale, we discover how Darren once sold his enormous collection of Aerosmith memorabilia — to Aerosmith themselves.

Find Titanic Talk wherever you listen to podcasts.

Freeman's Auctions

#Titanic #RMSTitanic #JohnJacobAstor #TitanicArtifacts #TitanicAuction #TitanicHistory #FreemansAuction #PatekPhilippe #TitanicTalk #JamesCameronsTitanic

Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES

For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack

SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc

Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast

WATCH US on YouTube

TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE

Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com
@nelsonaspen Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale

Alexandra - alexandraboyd.co...

What is it really like to descend two and a half miles beneath the Atlantic and come face to face with RMS Titanic?

This week on Titanic Talk, Alexandra Boyd and Nelson Aspen welcome legendary Titanic explorer Dik Barton, former Director of Operations for RMS Titanic Inc. and Ambassador for the British Titanic Society.

Speaking from the historic White Star Line headquarters in Liverpool, Dik shares extraordinary stories from his 22 dives to Titanic — including helping oversee the recovery of thousands of artifacts, his involvement with the famous “Big Piece”, touching Titanic’s ship’s wheel on the seabed, and the terrifying six hours his submersible spent trapped beneath the stern.

He also talks about working alongside teams connected with James Cameron’s Titanic, what the wreck reveals about the ship’s violent breakup, his admiration for Quartermaster Robert Hichens, and why he believes J. Bruce Ismay has been unfairly portrayed.

The conversation also touches on the new play Unsinkable at Liverpool’s Hope Street Theatre and a forthcoming Titanic and White Star Line exhibition at the historic White Star Line building.

Above all, Dik explains why Titanic’s artifact collection must be preserved together for future generations.

Find out more at DikBarton.com

Alexandra’s documentary Ship of Dreams: Titanic Movie Diaries brings together cast members from James Cameron’s Titanic to tell their behind-the-scenes stories.

Her forthcoming book, The Titanic Movie Diaries: Actors’ Stories From the Set of Titanic, featuring the memories of sixteen actors who worked on the film, will be published by The History Press on March 25, 2027.

#titanic #rmstitanic #DikBarton #TitanicExplorer #titanichistory #jamescameron #BruceIsmay #whitestarline #TitanicTalk #shipofdreams #TheTitanicMovieDiaries

Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES

For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack

SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc

Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast

WATCH US on YouTube

TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE

Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com
@nelsonaspen Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale

Alexandra - alexandraboyd.co...

The first episode of Season Four of Titanic Talk opens with writer/director Matthew Reynolds and actor Joseph Winder, who join Alexandra Boyd and Nelson Aspen to discuss their new play, Unsinkable.

The play explores the life and legacy of J. Bruce Ismay, chairman of the White Star Line and one of Titanic’s most controversial survivors.

Matthew discusses growing up in Liverpool and the city’s connection to Titanic, while Joseph talks about the challenge of portraying a man so often reduced to the role of villain.

Together they explore Ismay’s family, ambitions, survival of the disaster, survivor’s guilt and the public judgement that followed him for the rest of his life.

Unsinkable' is an emotionally charged drama that interrogates the nature of masculinity, hubris and guilt. Through tense philosophical dialogue, it explores the blurred line between survival and cowardice.

Can historical drama help us look again at people we think we already understand?

A fascinating start to Season Four of Titanic Talk.

GET YOUR TICKETS for the play which runs September 30th to October 3rd at the Hope Street Theatre in Liverpool HERE!

Preorder THE TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES

For more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Titanic & Alexandra's upcoming book go to her Substack

SHIP OF DREAMS: TITANIC MOVIE DIARIES is on Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc

Facebook TikTok @titanic_talk_podcast

WATCH US on YouTube

TITANIC TALK Merchandise HERE

Nelson ~ nelsonaspen.com
@nelsonaspen Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale

Alexandra - alexandraboyd.co...