History

History Dispatches

History Dispatches is a daily history show hosted by father and son duo Matt and McKinley Breen. The show covers people, places, events and even objects from throughout history. While any topic is fair game, Matt and McKinley hold a soft spot for the offbeat and wacky stories that most people don’t know about.

Latest Episodes:

Hopewell Earthworks Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

For several hundred years across the Ohio River Valley a civilization we know as the Hopewell Culture moved a lot of dirt. This dirt was moved into mounds and earthworks built with extreme precision and astounding size. This is the story of the Hopewell Earthworks.

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Sources

https://hopewellearthworks.org/

https://www.nps.gov/hocu/learn/historyculture/hopewell-ceremonial-earthworks.htm

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El Palo Alto Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

In 1769, a Spanish explorer camped under a tall, distinctive redwood tree along the banks of the San Francisquito Creek. Little did he know that tree would go on to become a living landmark - and the namesake for the city that grew up around it. This is the story of El Palo Alto - the tree that would define a community.

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Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Palo_Alto

http://famousredwoods.com/el_palo_alto/

https://www.savetheredwoods.org/redwoods-magazine/an-enduring-emblem/

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Evening_passenger_train_on_the_San_Francisco-San_Jose_railroad,_crossing_south_San_Francisquito_Creek.png

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The Original Ponzi Scheme Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

It takes a special art to get something named after you, positive or negative. Such is the case with the Ponzi scheme - one of the largest and most successful scams of all time. Charles Ponzi orchestrated this scam in the early 1920s, suckering thousands of people, and swindling $20 million. This is the story of the original Ponzi scheme.

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Sources

https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/law/ponzi-schemes

https://www.deanmead.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Substantive-Consolidation-Issues-Arising-in-Ponzi-Scheme-Bankruptcy-Cases.pdf

https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/behind-the-badge-case-histories-scams-and-schemes/ponzi-scheme

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ponzi1920.jpg

History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

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Indestructible Jack Lucas Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

In 1942, 14-year old Jack Lucas lied about his age to join the Marines - even bribing a notary to attest he was 17. Tired of missing out on the action, he later abandoned his unit to join another marine detachment - which was bound for Iwo Jima. He then joined in the invasion of the island - and in the process - became the youngest Marine to ever receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. He did this by diving on two grenades to save the lives of his comrades - and - miraculously - survived. This is the story of indestructible Jack Lucas.

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Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacklyn_H._Lucas

https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/incredible-story-jack-lucas-youngest-medal-honor-recipient-world-war-ii

https://www.military.com/marine-corps-birthday/badass-of-the-week-jacklyn-h-lucas.html

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lucas_JH.jpg

History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

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The East German Hot Air Balloon Escape Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

In September of 1979, two East German families escaped to the west using a very unconventional method - a hot air balloon. It was an escape that required failed prototypes, a near disaster, and raw gumption. This is the story of the East German Hot Air Balloon Escape.

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Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Germany_balloon_escape

https://thewallmuseum.com/en/balloon-escape-from-the-gdr

Popular Mechanics: Feb 1980; "The Freedom Balloon"

History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

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War of the Golden Stool Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

In 1900, a British colonial official demanded an African tribe - the Ashanti - give him a holy relic as a symbol of their capitulation to the English Crown. They refused - and instead took up arms against the British. The end result was thousands dead. This is the story of the War of the Golden Stool.

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Sources

https://adf-magazine.com/2022/08/nana-yaa-asantewaa-and-the-war-of-the-golden-stool/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Golden_Stool

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Stool

Images: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Typical_fight_in_the_forest,_Anglo-Ashanti_War_of_1900_(Battles_of_the_nineteenth_century,_1901).jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Ashanti.svg

History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

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Milwaukee Bridge War Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

The city of Milwaukee began as a collection of three towns around the mouth of the Milwaukee River. None of these communities liked each other very much, and vied for supremacy over the area. This competition would turn into open conflict, and the main target, was the cities' bridges. This is the story of the Milwaukee Bridge War.

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Sources

https://emke.uwm.edu/entry/bridge-war/

https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/ae-feature/bridge-wars/

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Milwaukee_1858.jpg

History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

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Florentine Diamond Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

The Florentine Diamond is a 137-carat diamond, known for its long association with European royalty. However, after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 - the diamond disappeared. And it would remain that way until November of 2025 - when the fate of the famed gem would be revealed. This is the story of the Florentine Diamond.

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Sources

https://www.instyle.com/florentine-diamond-found-story-mystery-value-11845394

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florentine_Diamond

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/arts/design/florentine-diamond-resurfaces-hapsburg.html

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Florentiner_Glaskopie_NHM_Ay762.jpg

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St. Olga of Kyiv Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

Saints, in the Christian tradition, are people that are in heaven and can influence the world. Most saints are there for their kindness, generosity, piety, or any number of good traits. And then there is St. Olga of Kyiv, who, as regent of Kievan Rus, avenged her husband by burying enemies alive, burning envoys, and torching entire cities in the name of revenge. This is the story of St. Olga of Kyiv.

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Sources

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Olga_by_Nesterov_in_1892_(cropped).jpg

History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

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Cher Ami - the Hero Pigeon Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

In darkest hours of World War I, more than 500 American troops were surrounded by the Germans in the Argonne Forest in France. They were facing furious fire - and were subject to artillery fire from their own forces. The American commander would need a hero to get word to his comrades to stop the shelling - and get his troops rescued. And a hero would step up. Or should we say - fly up. This is the story of Cher Ami - the pigeon who saved the Lost Battalion.

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Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cher_Ami

https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news/1210-cher-ami-the-pigeon-that-saved-the-lost-battalion.html

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