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:

The Execution of King Louis XVI - From History Daily Jul 05, 2025

Show notes

The Execution of King Louis XVI as brought to you by wonderful History Daily. Host Lindsay Graham takes us on a dramatic recreation of the events of that fateful day in 1793 - when the French Revolution took a step that few had ever imagined. This episode is presented in partnership with History Daily. Thanks to Lindsay Graham and his team.

https://www.historydaily.com

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hinrichtung_Ludwig_des_XVI.png

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

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Nathan Hale Jul 04, 2025

Show notes

On the morning of September 22, 1776, 21 year old Nathan Hale was escorted to the gallows in New York City near modern-day 66th St. and Third Avenue. He was to be hanged for being a spy. When given a chance for some final words, he was reportedly to have said one sentence that would resonate to this day. 'I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.' This is the story of Nathan Hale.

Sources

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

"Nathan Hale," by M. William Phelps

https://nypl.getarchive.net/media/last-words-of-captain-nathan-hale-the-hero-martyr-of-the-american-revolution-5cee80\

Image: The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. (1800 - 1910). Nathan Hale. Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47df-d863-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

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

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Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

In late afternoon on March 25, 1911, a small spark would ignite on the 8th floor of the Triangle Factory. The spark would turn into a blaze that would leave 146 dead. And the worst part is that almost all of these deaths were preventable. This is the story of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.

Sources

Triangle: The Fire that Changed America by David Von Drehle

Image: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Image_of_Triangle_Shirtwaist_Factory_fire_on_March_25_-_1911.jpg#

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

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Edward Carter: The Long Road to a Congressional Medal of Honor Award Jul 02, 2025

Show notes

Edward Carter was an American soldier of mixed race. He fought the Japanese in Shanghai. The fascists in Spain. And the Nazis in Europe. And on March 23, 1945, Carter single-handedly wiped out two machine gun nests, a mortar team, killed six Germans, and captured two more, despite being wounded five times. For his actions, Carter would - ultimately - receive the Congressional Medal of Honor - although it would take more than 50 years to be recognized. This is his incredible story - which is filled with tragedy and heartbreak - as well triumph.

Sources

"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_A._Carter_Jr.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/3347931/medal-of-honor-monday-army-sgt-1st-class-edward-carter-jr/

https://www.nps.gov/people/edwardcarterjr.htm

"Honoring Sergeant Carter: A Family's Journey to Uncover the Truth About an American Hero" by Allene Carter and Robert L. Allen

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

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

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Pope Joan: The Legendary Female Pope Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

In the 1200s a legend surfaced of a female pope who ruled for two years, disguised as a man. And while it was just that - a legend - that did not stop Pope Joan from being considered real for hundreds of year. And desite being nothing more than myth, Pope Joan would have an abnormally large impact on the Catholic Church.

Sources

"The Myth of Pope Joan" by Alain Boureau

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Papesse_Jeanne_BnF_Français_599_fol._88.jpg

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

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Adventures of the Stanley Cup Jun 30, 2025

Show notes

The Stanley Cup - hockey's greatest prize - is meant to be experienced - by the fans and the players. As a result, the treasured trophy has been through many, many adventures in its 130+ years. It’s been lost, stolen, tossed in a river, and even used as a flower pot. These are the Adventures of the Stanley Cup.

Sources

https://www.nhl.com/news/stanley-cup-has-strange-and-colorful-past

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

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

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1930_Stanley_Cup.jpg

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

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Leaning Tower of Pisa Jun 27, 2025

Show notes

Taking 200 years to build the Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the world's most iconic structures. Built in wet soil, engineers have been fighting gravity for nearly a thousand years. And seemingly by sheer willpower, the structure still stands today.

Sources

https://www.towerofpisa.org/; https://www.britannica.com/topic/Leaning-Tower-of-Pisa

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/pisa/interventions.html

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leaning_Tower_of_Pisa_in_the_1890s.jpg

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

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World’s Oldest Message in a Bottle Jun 26, 2025

Show notes

In 1784, 44 Japanese sailors ventured off towards an island in the Pacific in search of a mysterious treasure. They would not be heard of again - until 151 years later when a bottle was found detailing the fate of the crew. This is the story of Chunosuke Matsuyama and the world’s oldest Message in a Bottle.

Image: https://www.pexels.com/photo/clear-glass-bottle-on-brown-sand-4724049/

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

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Billy Possum Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

In 1909, wealthy Georgia widow Susie Wright Allgood saw a business opportunity. She wanted to create a new stuffed toy that would usurp the popular Teddy Bear. Her new toy was Billy Possum - inspired by President William Howard Taft. For this episode, we are joined by Howard Dorre from the podcast Plodding Through the Presidents.

Sources

"How a Stuffed Animal Named Billy Possum Tried—and Failed—to Replace the Teddy Bear as America’s National Toy" by Howard Dorre - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-a-stuffed-animal-named-billy-possum-triedand-failedto-replace-the-teddy-bear-as-americas-national-toy-180986072/

Awesome Podcast by Howard and his wife: https://www.ploddingthroughthepresidents.com

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

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

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St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

On Feb. 14, 1929, seven members and associates of Chicago's North Side Gang were lured into a garage at Lincoln Park - lined up - and killed in a hail of machine gun fire. The killings were believed to have been orchestrated by Al Capone - and exposed the mob violence that was gripping many of the nation’s big cities. No one would ever be charged in the killings. This is the story of the Valentine’s Day Massacre.

Sources

"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Valentine's_Day_Massacre

https://stvalentinemassacre.org"

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Valentine%27s_Day_Massacre_-_view_from_above.jpg

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

Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at advertising@airwavemedia.com

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