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:

Apollo 1 Disaster May 22, 2026

Show notes

On Jan. 27, 1967, three astronauts boarded Apollo 1 to conduct a launch simulation test. What followed next was one of the most devastating moments in NASA's history. This is the story of the Apollo 1 Disaster.

Sources

https://www.nasa.gov/mission/apollo-1/

https://airandspace.si.edu/explore/stories/apollo-missions/apollo-1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_1

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apollo1-Crew_01.jpg

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

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Max von Pettenkofer - the Father of Modern Hygiene May 21, 2026

Show notes

Hygiene is a critical component to one's health. But our understanding of hygiene goes back only to the mid-19th century, where a Bavarian chemist, Max von Pettenkofer, turned hygiene principals from a series of old wives tales to a hard science. This is the story of Max von Pettenkofer, the father of modern hygiene.

Sources

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2723483/pdf/12199_2008_Article_BF02898030.pdf

https://www.mvp.uni-muenchen.de/en/institute/geschichte/

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Joseph_von_Pettenkofer#/media/File:Max_von_Pettenkofer2.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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Exploding Whale of Florence May 20, 2026

Show notes

In 1970, a 45 foot long, eight ton whale washed up on the beach near Florence, Oregon. Local officials weren’t sure what to do with the stinking, decomposing whale - so they decided to get rid of it by blowing it up with half a ton of dynamite. This is the story of the Exploding Whale of Florence.

Sources

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

https://www.xplodingwhale.com/

https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/florence_whale_explosion/

https://davebarry.substack.com/p/the-exploding-whale

Watch the whale blow up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6CLumsir34

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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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The Frank Slide May 19, 2026

Show notes

In the early morning hours of April 29, 1903, an enormous landslide in the mining town of Frank, Alberta, swept down the mountainside, killing dozens of people, and leaving half of the town buried. The worst part, if the town had listened to local lore, it could have been preventable.

Sources

https://www.geoinstitute.org/news/case-study-frank-slide

https://ags.aer.ca/our-science/turtle-mountain/frank-slide

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Slide#/media/File:News03a.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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Henry Knox and the Guns of Ticonderoga May 18, 2026

Show notes

In late 1775, British and American forces were locked in a stalemate around Boston. The British were dug in, and the Americans lacked the heavy artillery to unseat them. And that’s when a Boston bookseller - 25 year old Henry Knox - suggested that artillery recently captured at Fort Ticonderoga be hauled overland to Boston. The only problem was that Fort Ticonderoga was more than 300 miles away, and many said bringing 60 tons of artillery over lakes, rivers and mountains - in the winter - was impossible. This is the story of Henry Knox and the Guns of Fort Ticonderoga.

Sources

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/guns-ticonderoga

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

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

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Siegeofbostonartillery.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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Sergeant Gander May 15, 2026

Show notes

Military units often have mascots, but not many are as impactful as Sgt. Gander, a massive Newfoundland dog donated to the Royal Rifles of Canada. Sgt. Gander was the quintessential military dog - and his actions during World War II saved many lives during the Battle of Hong Kong.

Sources

https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canada/sergeant-gander-and-his-handler-memorial

https://www.hkvca.ca/cforcedata/indivreport/indivdetailed.php?regtno=X200#gsc.tab=0

Image: Canada. Dept. of National Defense / Library and Archives Canada - https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/fra/accueil/notice?idnumber=3241498&app=FonAndCol&resource=folderlist&ecopy=a116791-v6

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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Oseberg Viking Ship May 14, 2026

Show notes

The Oseberg ship is one of the finest surviving examples of a viking longship. It was discovered - along with two bodies - in a large burial mound at the Oseberg farm near Tønsberg, Norway. This is the story of the Oseberg ship - one of the finest relics from the Viking Age.

Sources

https://www.vikingtidsmuseet.no/english/

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

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Oseberg-ship

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Excavation_Oseberg_ship_1.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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Christ College Fire of 1867 May 13, 2026

Show notes

In late 1867, the Headmaster's house at Christ College, New Zealand, caught on fire. This was not uncommon at the time, but what is uncommon is this fire involved a quack fire chief, false accusations, and a comedy of errors.

Sources

"College!: a history of Christ's College" by Don Hamilton

Special thanks to Taurapa

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

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

Gargoyles May 12, 2026

Show notes

Gargoyles are creepy. They are twisted, leering, tortured looking statues. Their mouths are often wide open - and serve as the exit of a water spout. So what is the story behind this unnerving bit of architecture? Was the gargoyle a ward against evil? Or was it something more sinister? This is the story of the gargoyle.

Sources

https://mymodernmet.com/what-is-a-gargoyle/

https://www.ancient-origins.net/artifacts-other-artifacts/gargoyles-0012253

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

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

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

Goiânia Cesium 137 Incident May 11, 2026

Show notes

In September of 1987 two looters in Goiânia, Brazil, stole an unattended device carrying the highly radioactive Cesium 137. After breaking open the device, the radioactive material spread throughout the city, causing massive panic and taking four lives.

Sources

https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/Pub815_web.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goi%C3%A2nia_accident

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

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

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