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:

Boxers, Briefs, Corsets and Codpieces – introducing You’re Dead To Me Sep 05, 2026

Show notes

This week, we're bringing you a special teaser of You're Dead To Me, the BBC's hit comedy podcast that takes history seriously.

In this episode, host Greg Jenner is joined by historian Dr Serena Dyer and comedian Vic Michaelis to explore the surprisingly fascinating history of underwear. From Roman underpants and medieval linen shifts to corsets, stockings and modern bras, they uncover how changing fashions, beauty standards and social norms shaped what people wore beneath their clothes.

Expect hidden history, myth-busting and a lot of laughs. If you enjoy what you hear, find You're Dead To Me wherever you get your podcasts.

Website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07mdbhg

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Rocket Mail: when the Postal Service attempted to deliver mail via cruise missile Sep 04, 2026

Show notes

There are many ways that we deliver mail today: car, truck, ship, plane, on foot. But one thing mail doesn't do is travel via rocket. Except for when the US Post Office tried to do so in 1959 by loading 3,000 letters onto a cruise missile. This is the story of Rocket Mail.

Sources

https://www.postalmuseum.org/blog/experimenting-with-rockets/

https://postalmuseum.si.edu/collections/object-spotlight/regulus-missile-mail-letter

https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/fad-to-fundamental-airmail-in-america-historic-airplanes-unusual-and-experimental/missile

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mail-delivery-rocket-never-took-180963557/

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

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

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St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

In France in August of 1572, the marriage of the King’s sister - a Catholic - to a prominent Protestant prince was supposed to unite the nation’s warring factions. However, militant Catholics in Paris would instead launch a shocking attack on their rivals. When the killing ended, tens of thousands of Protestants would be slaughtered - and the Wars of Religion were reignited. This is the story of the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre.

Sources

https://www.britannica.com/event/Massacre-of-Saint-Bartholomews-Day

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Bartholomew%27s_Day_massacre

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La_masacre_de_San_Bartolom%C3%A9,_por_Fran%C3%A7ois_Dubois.jpg

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

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Mausoleum of Halicarnassus: One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

In the city of Halicarnassus, the king Mausolus died around 350 BC. His wife then embarked on construction of a tomb so grand that it would rival the pyramids. Fourteen stories tall, three layers, immaculate sculptures, and enough grandeur to humble the grumpiest Roman, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus has gone down as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Sources

https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Turkey/_Periods/Greek/_Texts/LETGKB/Mausoleum*.html#note:short_description_by_Pliny

https://turkisharchaeonews.net/site/mausoleum-halicarnassus

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

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Philips_Galle,_Mausol%C3%A6et_i_Halikarnassos,_1572,_KKSgb10002-5,_Statens_Museum_for_Kunst.jpg

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

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Blucifer - The Demon Horse of Denver International Airport Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

Public art is a common site in many cities. But not many pieces of public art are in such a prominent place, nor are they so weird as Blucifer - a 32-foot tall statue of a blue mustang with fiery red eyes right outside Denver International Airport. A statue that not only looks like a demon, but is rumored to be inhabited by one - and killed its creator. This is the story of Blucifer.

Sources

https://www.cpr.org/2019/11/04/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-blucifer-the-demon-horse-of-dia/

https://www.uncovercolorado.com/blucifer-blue-mustang-statue-denver-airport/

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

Image: Courtesy of Nick North

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

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How Star Wars almost never happened - Part 2 Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

In Part 2 of our look at the creation of Star Wars - we talk about the challenges involving the casting, design, production and marketing of the film.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_(film)

https://www.biography.com/movies-tv/george-lucas-star-wars-facts

https://everything-everywhere.com/the-history-of-star-wars/

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Star_wars2.svg

Sponsor

Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box. New subscribers only. While supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details).

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

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How Star Wars almost never happened - Part 1 Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

In the summer of 1977 the film Star Wars was released - igniting a global phenomenon that continues to this day. But the Star Wars that we know and love almost never happened. It was rejected by almost every major studio. In Part 1 of our story about the creation of Star Wars - we talk about the roots of the film, its creator - George Lucas - and the struggles with the script and financing.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_(film)

https://www.biography.com/movies-tv/george-lucas-star-wars-facts

https://everything-everywhere.com/the-history-of-star-wars/

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Star_wars2.svg

Sponsor

Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box. New subscribers only. While supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details).

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

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Story of the Polygraph Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

The ability to tell if someone is lying has long been something humans have attempted to perfect. From torture to psychology, it is the holy grail of criminal investigation. In 1921, a PhD student and police rookie, John Larson, may have cracked the code by inventing the polygraph. It is an invention, many said, that was sure to change the face of criminology forever. Or maybe not. Did he instead unleash a monster into the world? This is the story of the polygraph.

Sources

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/lie-detector-1000-words/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/why-creator-first-lie-detectors-regret-invention-polygraph-machine-inventor-180985222/

https://illumin.usc.edu/lie-detection-the-science-and-development-of-the-polygraph/

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygraph#/media/File:Leonarde_Keeler_1937.jpg

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Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box. New subscribers only. While supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details).

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

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Roger Bannister and the 4-minute mile Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

On a blustery, wet day in May of 1954, British runner Roger Bannister - an Oxford medical student - accomplished a long distance running feat that many had said would never be achieved. It would make Bannister the sportsperson of the year - and his achievement is hailed as one of the greatest sports moments of 20th century. This is the story of Roger Bannister and the 4-minute mile.

Sources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb5AtK08gPM

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

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Roger_Bannister_1953.jpg

Sponsor

Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box. New subscribers only. While supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details).

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

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Sliced Bread and the time it was banned Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

Sliced bread is a simple yet ingenious invention with a surprisingly short history. Almost as soon as it came onto the market, it took over American bakeries and became a staple in every household. Except, for a brief few months in 1943 when the United States government banned this incredible product. This is the story of sliced bread and the time it was banned.

Sources

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

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-ridiculous-reason-why-the-us-enacted-a-wartime-ban-on-sliced-bread-salesand-why-it-didnt-last-long-180985834/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/america-banned-sliced-bread

Image: By Fran Hogan - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fresh_made_bread_05.jpg

Sponsor

Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box. New subscribers only. While supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details).

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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