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:

History of the Lobotomy Jun 23, 2025

Show notes

In 1935, the first lobotomy was preformed, ushering in the era of one of history's worst medical practices. Over the next 30 years, tens of thousands of them would be preformed, earning its inventor a Nobel Prize. This is the history of the lobotomy.

Sources

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4291941/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3640229/

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

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

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Abraham Lincoln Brigade Jun 20, 2025

Show notes

In the late 1930s, nearly 3000 Americans traveled to Spain to fight in a civil war that would leave upwards of half a million dead. Many of these Americans were socialists and communists - but more than that - virtually all of them were united for the hatred of fascism. This is the story of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade.

Sources

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

Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives: https://alba-valb.org

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

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

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Magawa: The Hero Rat Jun 19, 2025

Show notes

In 60 countries across six continents, millions of people live in constant fear of landmines. There are many tactics to remove these explosives, but the most fascinating is using mine sniffing rats. And one of the greatest of those rats is Magawa.

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-59951255

https://apopo.org/latest/in-loving-memory-of-magawa/

APOPO Website: https://apopo.org

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

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Book of Kells Jun 18, 2025

Show notes

Around 800 AD, monks in Scotland and Ireland created a book containing the four gospels. But the book was more than just the religious texts. It was filled with intricate artwork, including full page illustrations, vivid colors, and elaborate Celtic knotwork. Today it is recognized as a masterpiece of Insular illumination and script. This is the story of the Book of Kells.

Sources

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

https://digitalcollections.tcd.ie/concern/works/hm50tr726?locale=en

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:KellsFol032vChristEnthroned.jpg

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

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Disco Demolition Night Jun 17, 2025

Show notes

In the summer of 1979, Major League Baseball's Chicago White Sox had a fantastically dumb idea. Sell cheap tickets if fans brought a disco record. The vinyl would then be all blow up. While it sounds dumb, it got far worse as this publicity stunt turned into a riot.

Sources

https://www.chicagohistory.org/disco-demolition-night/; https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230922-the-night-angry-rock-fans-destroyed-disco-music

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

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

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Charles Gordon and the Siege of Khartoum Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

From March 13, 1884, to January 26, 1885, the city of Khartoum, Sudan, was surrounded by insurgents bent on establishing an Islamic state. For 10 months, 7,000 Egyptian troops and 30,000 civilians - under the command of Major General Charles Gordon - an Englishman - held out - hoping for relief troops to arrive. This is the story of Charles Gordon and the Siege of Khartoum.

Sources

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

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

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:General_Gordon%27s_Last_Stand.jpg

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

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Great Molasses Flood Jun 13, 2025

Show notes

In January of 1919, a tank containing millions of gallons of molasses burst in the north end neighborhood of Boston. The resulting flood claimed over 20 lives, millions of dollars in damage, and took months to clean up. This is the story of the Great Molasses Flood of Boston.

Sources

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

https://www.boston.gov/news/100-years-ago-today-molasses-crashes-through-bostons-north-end

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Molasses_Flood#/media/File:BostonMolassesDisaster.jpg

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

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Iron Brigade Jun 12, 2025

Show notes

The Iron Brigade is the story of one of the finest fighting forces in United States history. Made up of 'western men' from Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan, the brigade would sustain the highest casualty rate of any unit in the American Civil War.

Sources

"The Iron Brigade, A Military History" by Alan T. Nolan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Brigade"

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_American_Soldier,_1862_-_by_H._Charles_McBarron.jpg

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

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When the Creator of Sherlock Holmes Saved a Man from Prison Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

In 1903, George Edalji was falsely accused of maiming several animals, and sentenced to seven years in prison. However, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, would take up the case, and exonerate an innocent man.

Sources

"The Man Who Would Be Sherlock: The Real Life Adventures of Arthur Conan Doyle" by Christopher Sandford

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Conan_Doyle#/media/File:Arthur_Conan_Doyle_by_Walter_Benington,_1914.png

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

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The Goat Who Sailed Around the World - Twice Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

In July of 1771, famed naval explorer Captain James Cook returned to England after circumnavigating the world. And he had great praise and admiration for one of his crew - who had completed a second circling of the world. That crew member was a goat - who is only known to history as the Well-Traveled Goat. This is her story.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Well-Travelled_Goat

https://blogs.bl.uk/untoldlives/2019/04/the-well-travelled-goat.html

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

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