EPISODE · May 28, 2026 · 43 MIN
The Legend of Bagger Vance with Steven Pressfield
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.Guest LinksThe Legend of Bagger Vance by Steven PressfieldThe Arcadian by Steven PressfieldSteven Pressfield's WebsiteChapters0:00 Intro and movie synopsis2:43 Meet Steven Pressfield5:35 Is Bagger Vance based on history?11:32 Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, and real golf history18:07 The missing 10 years after World War I27:18 What the movie changed from the book40:02 Writing historical fiction with Steven Pressfield52:06 The Arcadian and final thoughtsSupport my workSupport my sponsorsBecome a BOATS Producer (name in credits + ad-free episodes)Join the BOATS DiscordGet the BOATS email newsletterEmail me: [email protected] my video podcasting classSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What this episode covers
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. Guest LinksThe Legend of Bagger Vance by Steven PressfieldThe Arcadian by Steven PressfieldSteven Pressfield's Website Chapters 0:00 Intro and movie synopsis 2:43 Meet Steven Pressfield 5:35 Is Bagger Vance based on history? 11:32 Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, and real golf history 18:07 The missing 10 years after World War I 27:18 What the movie changed from the book 40:02 Writing historical fiction with Steven Pressfield 52:06 The Arcadian and final thoughts Support my workSupport my sponsorsBecome a BOATS Producer (name in credits + ad-free episodes)Join the BOATS DiscordGet the BOATS email newsletterEmail me: [email protected] my video podcasting class 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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The Legend of Bagger Vance with Steven Pressfield
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