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:

Sicilian Expedition Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

In 415 BC, the city state of Athens would embark on a campaign to conquer the island of Sicily. However, a series of decisions would turn this idea from bad, to worse, to one of the worst disasters in military history. This is the story of the Sicilian Expedition.

Sources

"The Peace of Nicias and the Sicilian Expedition" By Donald Kagan

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

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Retreat_of_the_Athenians_from_Syracuse_(Litho).jpeg

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

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Doctor Samuel Mudd Jun 06, 2025

Show notes

In the early morning hours of April 15, 1865, Dr. Samuel Mudd had a man come to his home with a fractured fibula. Mudd set the man’s injury. That man was John Wilkes Booth - the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln. Mudd would claim not to have known Booth - or have been a part of the assassination plot. He said he was just a doctor doing his job. But was that true? This is the story of Dr. Samuel Mudd.

Sources

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

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Drmudd4wiki.jpg

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

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Kemper Rebellion of 1804 Jun 05, 2025

Show notes

In 1804, in the bayous of modern day Louisiana, three brothers would embark on a campaign of burning and pillaging against the Spanish government. They did this out of spite - and the desire to declare a republic.

Sources

"Republic of Scoundrels" by Jane Plummer, the chapter 'The Troubled Trio'

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

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Heist of the Stone of Scone Jun 04, 2025

Show notes

On December 25, 1950, in the early morning hours, four Scottish students from the University of Glasgow broke into Westminster Abbey in London and removed the Stone of Scone - a symbol of Scottish nationhood and independence - which had been taken by England’s King Edward 650 years earlier. This is the story of the Heist of the Stone of Scone.

Sources

"The Taking of the Stone of Destiny" by Ian Hamilton

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1950_removal_of_the_Stone_of_Scone

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

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_of_Scone#/media/File:Coronation_Chair_with_Stone_of_Scone,_Westminster_Abbey_(3611549960).jpg

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

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Stone of Scone Jun 03, 2025

Show notes

From the mid 800s until 1296, a 300 pound block of sandstone would be where every Scottish monarch was crowned. But after it was stolen by the British, this nondescript piece of rock would go on to have a remarkable journey. This is the story of the Stone of Scone.

Sources

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Stone-of-Scone

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

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Replica_of_the_Stone_of_Scone,_Scone_Palace,_Scotland_(8924541883).jpg

The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at advertising@airwavemedia.com

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Great Smog of London Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

On Dec. 5, 1952, a thick layer of smog settled over the city of London - which was not an unusual thing. But due to cold weather, windless conditions and collected airborne pollutants - this fog remained until Dec. 9. The result was England’s worst Air Pollution disaster ever - with more than 10,000 people dying from respiratory issues. This is the story of the Great Smog of London.

Sources

https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/collections/london-stories/the-great-smog-of-1952/

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

The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at advertising@airwavemedia.com

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Battle of Karánsebes: When the Austrian Army Attacked Itself May 30, 2025

Show notes

In late 1788, an Austrian army on the march came across some people selling large quantities of alcohol. When the cavalry started buying the liquor, the infantry wanted in on the action. But some people don’t like to share, and when shots were fired, the melee descended into one of the worst friendly fire incidents in history. This is the story of the Battle of Karánsebes.

Sources

"The Brassey's Book of Military Blunders" by Geoffrey Regan

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kar%C3%A1nsebes

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:II._Jozsef_es_katonai_1787-ben.JPG

The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at advertising@airwavemedia.com

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The Teddy Bear May 29, 2025

Show notes

Teddy bears are cute and cuddly. Children cling to them for comfort. They have inspired countless books and stories and songs. They are the backbone of a $12 billion industry. Most of us probably know the Teddy Bear is named after a beloved US President - but beyond that - what do we really know? This is the story of the Teddy Bear.

Sources

https://corporate.steiff.com/en/steiff-teddy/history/

https://www.nps.gov/thrb/learn/historyculture/storyofteddybear.htm

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

Image @ Matt Breen

The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at advertising@airwavemedia.com

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The Denver Spiderman May 28, 2025

Show notes

Steve Silverman from the Useless Information Podcast joins us to tell the story of a gruesome and unusual murder. In Denver, Colorado, 1941, a man was found murdered in his own home. The weird part - all the doors and windows were locked from the inside. The question - how was the killer able to make his getaway. This is the story of the Denver Spiderman.

Steve Silverman, Useless Information Podcast - https://uselessinformation.org

Image: https://www.pexels.com/photo/low-angle-view-of-man-standing-at-night-316681/

The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at advertising@airwavemedia.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Halifax Explosion May 27, 2025

Show notes

On Dec. 6, 1917, the French cargo ship SS Mont-Blanc collided with a Norwegian vessel in the harbor of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Mont-Blanc, loaded with high explosives, caught fire and exploded, devastating the Richmond district of Halifax. Nearly 1800 people were killed, and 9,000 injured. The blast was the largest human-made explosion at the time.

Sources

The Canadian Encyclopedia - https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/halifax-explosion

Maritime Museum of the Atlantic - https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Halifax_Explosion_-_harbour_view_-_restored.jpg

The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at advertising@airwavemedia.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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