James Holland

James Holland is an internationally acclaimed historian, bestselling author, and broadcaster who has spent his career bringing the history of the Second World War to life for audiences around the world.

James co-hosts the hugely popular podcast We Have Ways of Making You Talk with comedian Al Murray, and together they front the annual sell-out live event, We Have Ways Fest. The pair also present the YouTube series WW2 Headquarters, travelling across Europe’s battlefields to bring the stories and sacrifices of the Second World War vividly to life.

His documentary work spans some of the most watched history programming of recent years, from the globally acclaimed Nazi Megastructures to the BAFTA-shortlisted Battle of Britain: The Real Story for the BBC and the award-winning series Cold War, Hot Jets.

As an author, James has also written a string of bestselling works of narrative non-fiction, including Normandy '44, Brothers in Arms, and his most recent, Cassino '44, published by Penguin in 2024. He is also the author of the acclaimed Jack Tanner fiction series. Beyond his writing and broadcast work, James is a Research Fellow at the University of St Andrews, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and Co-Founder and Creative Director of the Chalke Valley History Festival.

James also brings the lessons of the Second World War directly to the challenges faced by today’s leaders. In his keynote speeches, he examines decision-making under pressure, navigating uncertainty, fostering effective teamwork, and managing both risk and resilience when stakes are highest. Drawing on pivotal moments from history, he demonstrates how courage, judgement, and adaptability can determine outcomes, and how missteps can have lasting consequences. His talks are gripping, incisive, and immediately applicable, offering audiences not just a window into the past, but actionable insight on leading, adapting, and thriving in high-pressure, high-stakes environments.