Shows
History DispatchesHistory of the Periodic Table of ElementsFor over a hundred years the Periodic Table of Elements has shaped and organized every naturally occurring element in a surprisingly simple and elegant manner. But this was not always the case, and it took centuries of understanding to organize the Periodic Table into what it is today.
Sources
he Periodic Table: Its Story and Its Significance" by Eric R. Scerri
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_periodic_table
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Periodic_table_large.png
2025-07-1713 min
History DispatchesMystery of the Mary CelesteOn December 4, 1872, the merchant ship Mary Celeste was discovered adrift and deserted in the Atlantic Ocean off the Azores. Her lifeboat was missing. The last entry in her log was dated ten days earlier. She had plenty of provisions, and her cargo was intact. The captain's and crew's belongings were undisturbed. None of those who had been on board were ever seen or heard from again. This is the mystery of the Mary Celeste.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Celeste
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history...2025-07-1618 min
History DispatchesBoudica - The Celtic Warrior Queen2,000 years ago in the mists and forest of Britain, the Celtic warrior Queen Boudica led a revolt against the mighty Roman Empire, almost throwing them out of Britain for good. This is the story of Boudica.
Sources
"Boudica: Iron Age Warrior Queen" by Richard Hingley and Christina Unwin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boudica
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Boudicca
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boudicca-or-Boadicea.jpg
History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network...2025-07-1516 min
History DispatchesCarol Kaye: First Lady on BassIn 1957, Carol Kaye, a 22-year old mother and musician, was invited to a recording session with the legendary Sam Cook. What followed was a 65+ year career in which she would be one of the most accomplished bass players in rock and popular music - appearing on over 10,000 records. This is the story of bass player extraordinaire Carol Kaye.
Sources
"https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/forgotten-heroes-carol-kaye
https://www.vulture.com/2016/04/carol-kaye-sets-record-straight.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Kaye
https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/07/business...2025-07-1418 min
History DispatchesBroken Arrow: Americas Missing NukesOver the past 80 years the United States has built tens of thousands of nuclear bombs. The problem is that several of them have simply gone missing, without a trace. These six weapons are the United States' broken arrows.
Sources
https://www.atomicarchive.com/almanac/broken-arrows/index.html;
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/command-and-control-broken-arrows-how-many-nuclear-accidents-have-we-had/
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220804-the-lost-nuclear-bombs-that-no-one-can-find
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapon#/media/File:Little_Boy_bomb.jpg
History Dispatches...2025-07-1118 min
History DispatchesThe Coelacanth: Discovery of a Living FossilOn December 22, 1938, Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer, the curator of a museum in East London, South Africa, came upon a large fish caught in the net by a trawler. It was unlike anything she had ever seen. And it wasn’t long before the strange fish with vivid blue scales was an international sensation. And that’s because the strange fish was supposed to be extinct - having disappeared from the earth 66 million years earlier. This is the story of the Coelacanth.
Sources
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coelacanth
https://en.w...2025-07-1015 min
History DispatchesCatacombs of ParisBeneath the city of Paris lies a network of tunnels stretching hundreds of kilometers. Many of which are not totally explored. Their origin dates back to the Middle Ages, and today are home to a massive cemetery. This is the story of the Catacombs of Paris.
Sources
https://www.catacombes.paris.fr/en/history/site-history
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/strange-maps-paris-catacombs; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mines_of_Paris
Image: Vlastula at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catacombes_de_Paris.JPG
2025-07-0915 min
History DispatchesLost Army of CambysesIn 525 BC, an army of 50,000 Persians - under the orders of King Cambyses II - set out from Thebes into the western desert of Egypt. Their goal was to subjugate the Oracle of Amun at the Siwa Oasis. The army was never seen again, and legend is that the entire army had been swallowed by a sandstorm. This is the story of the Lost Army of Cambyses.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Army_of_Cambyses
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-lost-armyfound-at-las_b_372293
Image...2025-07-0815 min
History DispatchesHildegard of Bingen: The Mystic Visionary NunThroughout the 1100's the abbess Hildegard of Bingen was one of the most influential figures in medieval Europe. An astounding theologian, scholar, writer, and musician, she was also wrote hundreds of letters to numerous popes, kings and emperors. All while being overcome with mind melting visions from God.
Sources
Hildegard of Bingen by Fiona Maddocks
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hildegard_von_Bingen.jpg
History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com
Interested in...2025-07-0716 min
History DispatchesThe Execution of King Louis XVI - From History DailyThe 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
Interested in advertising...2025-07-0517 min
History DispatchesNathan HaleOn 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...2025-07-0425 min
History DispatchesTriangle Shirtwaist Factory FireIn 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...2025-07-0313 min
History DispatchesEdward Carter: The Long Road to a Congressional Medal of Honor AwardEdward 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
2025-07-0219 min
History DispatchesPope Joan: The Legendary Female PopeIn 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
2025-07-0114 min
History DispatchesAdventures of the Stanley CupThe 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_Cu...2025-06-3020 min
History DispatchesLeaning Tower of PisaTaking 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...2025-06-2714 min
History DispatchesWorld’s Oldest Message in a BottleIn 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
Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at advertising@airwavemedia.com...2025-06-2610 min
History DispatchesBilly PossumIn 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 Podcas...2025-06-2526 min
History DispatchesSt. Valentine’s Day MassacreOn 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
ht...2025-06-2421 min
History DispatchesHistory of the LobotomyIn 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...2025-06-2314 min
History DispatchesAbraham Lincoln BrigadeIn 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...2025-06-2017 min
History DispatchesMagawa: The Hero RatIn 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
Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us...2025-06-1911 min
History DispatchesBook of KellsAround 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...2025-06-1817 min
History DispatchesDisco Demolition NightIn 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
2025-06-1715 min
History DispatchesCharles Gordon and the Siege of KhartoumFrom 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...2025-06-1621 min
History DispatchesGreat Molasses FloodIn 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...2025-06-1311 min
History DispatchesIron BrigadeThe 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...2025-06-1215 min
History DispatchesWhen the Creator of Sherlock Holmes Saved a Man from PrisonIn 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...2025-06-1114 min
History DispatchesThe Goat Who Sailed Around the World - TwiceIn 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...2025-06-1011 min
History DispatchesSicilian ExpeditionIn 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
2025-06-0927 min
History DispatchesDoctor Samuel MuddIn 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
...2025-06-0619 min
History DispatchesKemper Rebellion of 1804In 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
Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad...2025-06-0514 min
History DispatchesHeist of the Stone of SconeOn 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/wi...2025-06-0426 min
History DispatchesStone of SconeFrom 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
...2025-06-0313 min
History DispatchesGreat Smog of LondonOn 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
...2025-06-0215 min
History DispatchesBattle of Karánsebes: When the Austrian Army Attacked ItselfIn 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%A1n...2025-05-3010 min
History DispatchesThe Teddy BearTeddy 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...2025-05-2917 min
History DispatchesThe Denver SpidermanSteve 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...2025-05-2824 min
History DispatchesHalifax ExplosionOn 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_Explosion2025-05-2716 min
History DispatchesThe Liberty BellThe Liberty Bell is one of the most iconic pieces of American symbolism. Despite a crack that has rendered it useless for over a century, it still represents American liberty and freedom. But why? This is the story of the Liberty Bell.
Sources
National Park Service - https://www.nps.gov/inde/learn/historyculture/stories-libertybell.htm
US History.org - https://www.ushistory.org/libertybell/
Image by William Zhang: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Liberty_Bell_2017a.jpg
The Explorers Podcast is...2025-05-2614 min
History DispatchesRobert Emmet and the Speech from the DockOn September 19, 1803, Irishman Robert Emmet was convicted of treason for his role in a failed uprising earlier that year. Accordingly, Emmet was executed - another in a long line of Irish rebels. Except Robert Emmet did one thing that would bring him lasting fame. At his trial, he gave an impassioned speech - one of the finest - that would inspire Irish nationalists to this day. This is the story of Robert Emmet and his famed Speech from the Dock.
Sources
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Emmet2025-05-2318 min
History DispatchesTheft of the Mona LisaIn 1911, a man disguised as a maintenance worked walked into the Louvre right before it opened. He proceeded to steal the Mona Lisa, and go uncaught for two years. The theft turned the painting from well-known, to the most famous work of art in history. This is the story of the theft of the Mona Lisa.
Sources
"The Thefts of the Mona Lisa" by Noah Charney
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Lisa#/media/File:Mona_Lisa,_by_Leonardo_da_Vinci,_from_C2RMF_retouched.jpg2025-05-2215 min
History DispatchesSinking of the USS IndianapolisOn June 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis was returning from a secret mission - the delivery of the nuclear bomb that would ultimately be dropped on Hiroshima. In the early morning hours the cruiser was struck by two torpedoes. The ship sank in 12 minutes. Nearly 1200 men went into the ocean. Only 316 came out alive. This is the story of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis.
Sources
"The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis Triggered the Worst Shark Attack in History - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/sinking-uss-indianapolis-triggered-worst-shark-attack-history-25715092/
Surviving the Sinking...2025-05-2118 min
History DispatchesPony ExpressBefore 1860 to send a letter from the east to west coast would take months. However, in April of 1860 the Pony Express was created, and riders on horseback could cross the American frontier in just 10 days. This extreme feat would become ever enshrined in the American West. This is the story of the Pony Express.
Sources
"The Saga of the Pony Express" by Joseph J. Di Certo
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pony_Express#/media/File:Pony_Express_Poster.jpg just the top portion
2025-05-2014 min
History DispatchesArk of the CovenantThe Ark of the Covenant was one of the most sacred objects to the Israelites. It represented God's presence on Earth. Yet most people’s knowledge of the ark comes from a movie - Raiders of the Lost Ark. So what exactly was the fabled Ark of the Covenant?
Sources
"What is the Ark of the Covenant? - https://www.livescience.com/64932-the-ark-of-the-covenant.html
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ark_of_the_Covenant"
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Benjamin_West_-_Joshua_pa...2025-05-1913 min
History DispatchesGreat Canadian Maple Syrup HeistIn 2011-2012, a gang of thieves orchestrated the theft of 3000 tons of maple syrup - valued at nearly $19m Canadian dollars - from a storage facility in Quebec. Adjusted for inflation, it is the biggest theft in Canadian history. This is the story of the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist.
Sources
The Sweetest Heist - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adCQ9cwYA8o
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Canadian_Maple_Syrup_Heist
‘The Sticky’ true story: Inside the real Great Canadian Maple Syru...2025-05-1620 min
History DispatchesDivorce of Catherine of AragonCatherine of Aragon and Henry the VIII have one of the most important marriages, and divorces in history. But why did it take Henry separating England from the Catholic Church to do something as simple as a divorce? Turns out Cathrine was a shrewd and feisty woman that did everything to protect her position. This is the story of the divorce of Cathrine of Aragon.
Sources
"Catherine of Aragon: The Spanish Queen of Henry VIII" by Giles Tremlett
Katherine of Aragon: https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace...2025-05-1517 min
History DispatchesMoctezuma's GoldOn the night of June 30, 1520, Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes and his troops attempted to escape from Tenochtitlan. The Spanish loaded themselves down with eight tons of treasure. However, their escape didn't go well. The result was what the Spanish called La Noche Triste - the Night of Sorrows. At least half of Cortes’ men were killed - and all the loot was gone. This is the story of Moctezuma’s Gold.
Sources
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Sad_Night_(Noche_Triste)_(Conquest_of_Mexico)_Painting.jpg
2025-05-1422 min
History DispatchesThe Peshtigo Fire - History's Deadliest WildfireOctober 8, 1871, the same night as the Chicago Fire, a massive blaze was spreading a few hundred miles north. It would level millions of acres, and claim more than 1200 lives, making it history's deadliest wildfire. This is the story of the Peshtigo Fire.
Sources
"The Great Peshtigo Fire; An Eyewitness Account" by Peter Pernin
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peshtigo_fire
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Peshtigo_Fire_showing_people_seeking_refuge_in_the_Peshtigo_River.jpg
...2025-05-1315 min
History DispatchesGreat Chicago FireOn October 8, 1871, the city of Chicago was mired in a drought with only one inch of rain over the past three months. And it was in these dry, parched and windy conditions that a fire started. It would rage for two full days, killing more than 300 people, consuming 17,500 buildings and homes, and cause more than $220 million in damage. This is the story of the Great Chicago Fire.
Sources
The Great Chicago Fire and the Web of Memory: https://greatchicagofire.org
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Chicago_Fire
2025-05-1216 min
History DispatchesThrasybulus - the man who saved Athenian democracyIn 404 BC, democracy was in tatters. Athens was under the control of tyrants and hope was draining. But one man, Thrasybulus, would defy the odds, return from exile, and restore democracy to Athens.
Sources
"Thrasybulus and the Athenian Democracy: the Life of an Athenian Statesman" by R J Buck
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrasybulus
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bust_of_%22Thrasybulus_Athenienses%22_1935_-_1080x1350.jpg
The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com
Interested...2025-05-0920 min
History DispatchesThe Death of Glenn MillerFrom 1938-1942, Glenn Miller and his Orchestra had 16 number one records and 69 top 10 hits. He was one of the most popular musicians of the era. And then, in December of 1944, Miller boarded a plane in England bound for Paris. He was never seen again. This is the story of the death of band leader Glenn Miller.
Sources
National Museum of the United States Air Force: https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196150/maj-glenn-miller-army-air-force-band/
NPR: 80 years later, Glenn Miller's sudden disappearance remains unsolved - https://www.npr.org/2024/12/13/nx-s1-5206680/glenn-miller-disappearance-unsolved-80...2025-05-0820 min
History DispatchesZheng Yi Sao - the Pirate Queen of Southeast AsiaIn the first decade of the 1800s the South China Sea became a hotbed for piracy, with the largest pirate fleet ever assembled defeating the Chinese and Portuguese navy. This fleet was led by an unlikely admiral - the prostitute turned pirate queen Zheng Yi Sao.
Sources
"Pirates of the South China Coast, 1790–1810", by Dian Murray
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E9%84%AD%E4%B8%80%E5%AB%82.jpg
The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com
Interested in advertising on...2025-05-0719 min
History Dispatches1883 Eruption of KrakatoaOn August 27, 1883, the volcanic island of Krakatoa exploded. It was a blast heard more than 3,000 miles away. 70% of the island and its surrounding archipelago were destroyed. More than 36,000 people died. It is one of the deadliest and most destructive volcanic events in recorded history. This is the 1883 Eruption of Krakatoa.
Sources
The Atlantic: The Volcanic Eruption of Krakatoa: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1884/09/the-volcanic-eruption-of-krakatoa/376174/
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1883_eruption_of_Krakatoa
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:De_uitbarsting_van_de_Krakatau,_KITLV_5888.tiff?page=1
2025-05-0617 min
History DispatchesThe Pleasant Valley War - America's Bloodiest Family FeudIn 1887, Pleasant Valley, Arizona, became the battlefield for the bloodiest feud in American history. It would leave dozens dead, and slaughter two entire families. This is the Pleasant Valley War.
Sources
"Pleasant Valley War" by Jinx Pyle
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleasant_Valley_War#/media/File:Grabill_-_The_Cow_Boy.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...2025-05-0517 min
History DispatchesWu Zetian - China's Only Female EmperorThroughout history there has only been one woman to rule the Chinese empire. This was Wu Zetian - who rose from the rank of imperial concubine - to that of emperor of China. Her rise to power was a very bloody trip.
Sources
"Empress Wu Zetian: the only woman to rule China, and who would be hated for it" - https://www.historyextra.com/period/medieval/empress-wu-zetian-china-rule-life-reputation/
"Wu Zhao: Ruler of Tang Dynasty China" - https://www.asianstudies.org/publications/eaa/archives/wu-zhao-ruler-of-tang-dynasty-china/"
Wikipedia: https...2025-05-0215 min
History DispatchesJoshua Glover: Freedom FoundIn the mid-1850's a young man named Joshua Glover was a slave in Missouri. He would escape, and settle in Wisconsin - only to be recaptured, freed by an abolitionist mob, and escape again to Canada once and for all. His story caused a clash between federal and state courts, and helped spark the establishment of the Republican Party - who main goal was to end slavery in America.
Sources
"Finding Freedom: The Untold Story of Joshua Glover, Runaway Slave" by Walter T. McDonald, Ruby West JacksonFile:Prison...2025-05-0117 min
History DispatchesThe Bombing of the Rainbow WarriorOn July 10, 1985, in the harbor of Auckland, New Zealand, a bomb planted on the Greenpeace ship - the Rainbow Warrior - went off - opening a hole in her hull. A few minutes later, another bomb exploded. The ship sank within minutes - and one person was dead. So who was behind the bombing? Extremists of some kind? Political enemies? The answer would shock the world.
Sources
"The Bombing of the Rainbow Warrior" - https://www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/about/our-history/bombing-of-the-rainbow-warrior/
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org...2025-04-3022 min
History DispatchesJan Žižka - the one-eyed general who never lost a battleIn 1419, Jan Žižka would help lead the Hussite Revolution. He led armies of peasants against professional knights using amazing tactics, and gunpowder, cementing himself as one of history's greatest military commanders.
Sources
"Warrior of God: Jan Zizka and the Hussite Revolution" by Victor Verney
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_%C5%BDi%C5%BEka#/media/File:Zizka_tabor_statue.jpg
The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com
Interested in advertising on the Ex...2025-04-2920 min
History DispatchesThe Kyūjō IncidentIn August, 1945, the Japanese government was on the verge of surrendering to Allied forces - and ending WWII. But on the night of August 14-15, a group of Japanese officers went into action. Their plan was to take the emperor hostage, and scuttle peace talks - and thus continue the war - which would have likely cost the Allies hundreds of thousands of lives - and the Japanese - millions.
Sources
The Kyujo Incident: The Coup that Almost Kept Japan in WWII - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUM2ccfQJMc
2025-04-2819 min
History DispatchesThe Cod WarsFrom the 1950s through the 1970s, a David and Goliath story would play out across the North Atlantic. The United Kingdom and Iceland engaged in a viscous dispute over fishing rights. And the winner may surprise you. This is the story of the Cod Wars.Sources"How Iceland Beat the British in the Four Cod Wars" - https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-were-cod-wars"The Cod Wars explained: The conflict between Iceland and Britain" - https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-cod-wars-explained-the-conflict-between-iceland-and-britain"Cod wars and how...2025-04-2517 min
History DispatchesBobbi Gibb - the First Woman to Run the Boston MarathonOn an April morning in Boston in 1966, despite being told she was physically incapable of running 20+ miles, Bobbi Gibb slipped into the crowd of 500 runners. Three hours and 21 minutes later, she became the first woman to ever run the fabled Boston Marathon.SourcesBobbi Gibb Marathon Pioneer: https://www.sportsmuseum.org/curators-corner/bobbi-gibb-marathon-pioneer/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobbi_Gibb"A Run of One's Own" by Roberta 'Bobbi' Gibb: http://www.runningpast.com/gibb_story.htmThe Explorers Podcast...2025-04-2414 min
History DispatchesThe Zimmerman Telegram - the note that brought America into World War IIn 1917, Germany was desperate to keep the United States out of World War I - even as they prepared to launch unrestricted submarine warfare on all shipping in the European theater. To that end, German officials sent a telegram to the Mexican government, proposing they declare war of the United States - tying up American resources. The only problem was the message was intercepted and the plot exposed - causing the plan to completely backfire.Sources"Documents that changed the way we live" by Joseph JanesWikipedia...2025-04-2315 min
History DispatchesWilliam Walker and the Filibuster WarIn 1855, an American newspaperman, lawyer and doctor, William Walker, led a small, private army to Central America, and within a year, was recognized as the President of Nicaragua. Walker’s actions would unite people from five nations to rise up against him. This is the story of the Filibuster War.Sources"William Walker's Wars" by Scott MartelleWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Walker_(filibuster)Image - Library of Congress: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Walker_by_Brady.jpg...2025-04-2220 min
History DispatchesEnheduanna: History's First AuthorOver 4,000 years ago, the high priestess Enheduanna put pen to clay and wrote the Exaltation of Inanna, making her the earliest known named author in world history.Sources"Documents that changed the way we live" by Joseph JanesWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EnheduannaImage: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Disk_of_Enheduanna.JPGThe Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.comInterested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us...2025-04-2108 min
History DispatchesCaptain Vernice Armour: The first African American female combat pilotIn the early 2000's, Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour took to the skies piloting a Cobra heliocopter, defying the odds of everyone saying she can't. This is the story of Captain Vernice Armour, the first African-American female combat pilot.Sourceshttps://www.unsungheroeseducation.com/Transcripts/Vernice%20Armour%20Interviews.pdf Image (cropped from original): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-120518-M-HF911-372.jpgThe Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.comInterested in advertising on the Explorers...2025-04-1813 min
History Dispatches1527 Sack of RomeIn May of 1527, 20,000 mutinous soldiers of Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire descended on Rome. What would follow was the absolute devastation of the city and its population, the gutting of the power of the Papacy, and the end of the High Renaissance era.SourcesMedievalists.net: https://www.medievalists.net/2022/06/sack-rome-1527/Smart History: https://smarthistory.org/sack-of-rome/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sack_of_Rome_(1527)Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Sack_of_Rome.jpg2025-04-1723 min
History DispatchesWładysław Anders organizes a Polish Army in exile in WWIIIn the first months of WWII, millions of Polish citizens and soldiers were deported to the Soviet Union. As prisoners of war, hundreds of thousands perished from cold, starvation and execution. But after the German invasion of Russia, these exiles and prisoners were crafted into an army to fight the Nazis. The man to lead them was Wladyslaw Anders. This is the tale of Ander’s exiled Polish army.Sources"An Army in Exile: The Story of the Second Polish Corps" by Władysław AndersWikipedia: http...2025-04-1616 min
History DispatchesSidi Mubarak BombaySidi Mubarak Bombay grew up a slave - taken from his home in Africa to India. But that didn't stop him from being one of the most accomplished explorers and travelers of Central Africa. Over a period of 20 years, Bombay traveled = with the most famous African explorers, including Richard Francis Burton, Henry Morton Stanley, David Livingston, and Richard Speke.SourcesBlack Past: https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/sidi-mubarak-bombay-a-k-a-mbarak-mombee-1820-1885/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidi_Mubarak_BombayImage: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66...2025-04-1519 min
History DispatchesAlfred the Great and the Great Heathen ArmyThe year was 865 AD, and the largest viking army ever assembled landed on the shores of England. What ensued was 20 years of pillage and conquest that was only stopped by the young king of Wessex, Alfred the Great.Sources"Alfred the Great" by David J. SturdyImage: Author and @Steve Daniels - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Statue_of_King_Alfred_in_Wantage_Market_Square.jpgThe Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com...2025-04-1418 min
History DispatchesThe Rosetta Stone is discovered in 1798On July 15, 1799, French soldiers discovered a large stone slab along the Nile Delta. They knew it was something special. But no one at the time realized it was the key to opening up the vast history of ancient Egypt. This is the story of the Rosetta Stone.SourcesBritish Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/everything-you-ever-wanted-know-about-rosetta-stone"The Rosetta Stone: Unlocking the Ancient Egyptian Language" - https://arce.org/resource/rosetta-stone-unlocking-ancient-egyptian-language/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosetta_Stone Image: @Hans Hillewaert - https...2025-04-1121 min
History DispatchesJohnny AppleseedFor five decades John Chapman wandered the American frontier, from Pennsylvania to Illinois, planting thousands of apple trees and changing the American frontier. In the process, he established himself as one of America’s most foundational myths. This is the story of Johnny Appleseed.Sources"Johnny Appleseed: the man, the myth, the American story," by Howard MeansImage: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=637870The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.comInterested in...2025-04-1018 min
History DispatchesGuy Fawkes and the Gunpowder PlotOn the evening of Nov. 4, 1605, a man in a cloak, hat and riding boots was discovered in a small storage room - called an undercroft - directly under Westminster Palace in London. Hidden in the room were 36 barrels of gunpowder. The man was Guy Fawkes. His plan was to blow up Parliament. This is the story of the Gunpowder Plot. Sources"Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot" - https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/history-and-stories/guy-fawkes-and-the-gunpowder-plot/#gs.lflwi2Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes2025-04-0921 min
History DispatchesThe Battle of Blair Mountain - America's Largest Labor UprisingWest Virginia, 1921, saw 10,000 miners begin a march to push for better pay and conditions, as well as recognized unions. They would be stopped on the slopes of Blair Mountain - but not until after several days of bitter fighting. It was the largest armed uprising in the United States since the Civil War. This is the story of the Battle of Blair Mountain.Sources"The battle of Blair Mountain: the story of America's largest labor uprising," by Robert ShoganImage: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blair-miner...2025-04-0814 min
History DispatchesThe Heist of the Irish Crown JewelsOn July 6, 1907, at Dublin Castle, in Dublin, Ireland, Sir Arthur Vicars, the Ulster King of Arms, opened up his safe in his office library. In doing so, he revealed the theft of Jewels of the Order of St. Patrick - more commonly known at the Irish Crown Jewels. The theft of the jewels - which today would be worth in the millions - has never been solved.Sources"Royal Raid: The curious case of the Irish Crown Jewels" - https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-62924392"The Theft...2025-04-0714 min
History DispatchesAlberta Rat CampaignIn the 1950's, Alberta, Canada, was under attack. By Rats! In response to an invasion of rats, the government of Alberta embarked on one of the most successful pest control campaigns in history.Sources"History of rat control in Alberta" - https://www.alberta.ca/history-of-rat-control-in-alberta Image: Poster released by the Alberta Department of Public Health circa 1948. (A17202b/Provincial Archives of Alberta)The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.comInterested in advertising on...2025-04-0413 min
History DispatchesKensington RunestoneIn 1898, Olof Ohman, a Swedish immigrant, was clearing some land in Minnesota, and came upon a large stone slab with some intricate runes - the kind used by Norse Vikings centuries earlier. After the runes were deciphered, it was determined that the runestone dated back to 1362, and marked the furthest western exploration of the legendary Viking explorers. This is the story of the Kensington Runestone.Sources"The Kensington Runestone Hoax" - https://ahotcupofjoe.net/2023/07/the-kensington-rune-stone-hoax/Wikepedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensington_RunestoneImage: https...2025-04-0315 min
History DispatchesBattle of Castle ItterIn the final days of the Second World War, one of the conflict's strangest battles took place. A group of French politicians, German soldiers, and American tankers teamed up to defend a castle from an attack by the SS. This is the story of the Battle of Castle Itter.Sources"The Last Battle: When U.S. and German Soldiers Joined Forces in the Waning Hours of World War II in Europe" by Stephen HardingThe Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network...2025-04-0214 min
History DispatchesBessie Coleman - the First African-American PilotOn June 15, 1921, Texas-born Bessie Coleman took to the sky in her airplane - and in the process, became the first black woman and first Native American to earn a pilot's license in the United States. In this episode, we look at this aviation pioneer.SourcesCradle of Aviation Museum: https://www.cradleofaviation.org/history/history/women-in-aviation/bessie-coleman.htmlSaturday Evening Post: https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2025/02/the-high-flying-feats-of-bessie-coleman/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessie_ColemanImage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bessie_Coleman...2025-04-0114 min
History DispatchesMemoirs of U.S. GrantFormer president Ulysses S Grant was penniless and dying. He was racing against the clock in order to complete his memoirs - and ensure the financial security of his family. The result would be one of the greatest pieces of non-fiction ever written. This is the story of U.S. Grant's memoirs. Sources"The Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant," by Ulysses S. Grant"The Complete Annotated Edition by Ulysses S. Grant," Edited by David S. Nolen, John F. Marszalek, Louie P. GalloImage: https...2025-03-3112 min
History DispatchesAlfred Nobel and the Creation of DynamiteIn 1866, a Swedish chemist came up with a concoction that went boom. And it would change the world - in ways no one could imagine. This is the story of Alfred Nobel and the creation of dynamite.SourcesNobel Prize Website: https://www.nobelprize.org/alfred-nobel/alfred-nobels-life-and-work/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Nobel"Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AlfredNobel2.jpgThe Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.comInterested...2025-03-2814 min
History DispatchesStonewall RiotsOn June 28, 1969, in New York City, a known gay bar called the Stonewall Inn was the site of a police raid - a common occurrence at that time. But this time, it backfired. Police lost control of the situation when anger turned to fury and soon, a multi-day riot broke out. The end result was the beginning of the gay liberation movement in the United States.Sources"The Stonewall Riots" by Laurie Collier HillstromImage: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stonewall_Inn_raid_sign_pride_weekend_2016...2025-03-2713 min
History DispatchesMonopoly - The Surprising History of the World's most Famous GameMonopoly is a game of crushing your opponents. You ruthlessly gobble up properties, drive your foes into bankruptcy, and emerge as a victorious real estate mogul. But the popular game actually has deeper roots - all the way back to 1902. And what’s amazing is that it was actually created as an anti-capitalist learning tool. Sources"Lizzie Magie and the history of Monopoly" - https://blogs.bl.uk/business/2023/03/lizzie-magie-and-the-history-of-monopoly-1.html"The secret history of Monopoly: the capitalist board game’s leftwing origins" -https://www.theguardian.com/life...2025-03-2614 min
History DispatchesBlack Bart - the Wild West's Gentleman BanditImagine trying to rob a stagecoach. Now try to do it 29 times - with nothing but an unloaded shotgun, a flour sack mask, and your wits. Then do it without firing a single shot, and maintaining the highest level of decorum you can imagine. That is the story of Black Bart, the Wild West’s gentlemen bandit.Sources"Gentleman Bandit: The True Story of Black Bart, the Old West's Most Infamous Stagecoach Robber" by John BoesseneckerImage: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charles_Bowles_aka_Black_Ba...2025-03-2518 min
History DispatchesBattle of Stamford Bridge1066 is a pivotal year in Western history as it marks the the Battle of Hastings - in which the Normans, under William, defeated the English, led by King Harold Godwinson. But many people don’t realize that just a few weeks before the Battle of Hastings there was a different fight - this between the English and the Norwegians - the latter led by the legendary King Harald Hardrada. This is the Battle of Stamford Bridge.Sources"1066: The Year of the Conquest" by David HowarthWikipedia: https://en...2025-03-2421 min
History DispatchesThe Ice BowlIn 1967, on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, the Green Bay Packers hosted the Dallas Cowboys for the NFL Championship - the coldest game in NFL playoff history. This is the story of the legendary Ice Bowl.SourcesCowboys vs. Packers: The Ice Bowl | 1967 NFL Championship - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe0XChUkWgUWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_NFL_Championship_GameThe Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com...2025-03-2119 min
History DispatchesVideo Game Crash of 1983In the 1980s, the United States video game industry was in a golden age. Arcades and home consoles were making billions of dollars and the market was full of incredible titles. And then overnight, it would all come tumbling down. This is the story of the video game crash of 1983.Sources"Before the Crash: Early Video Game History" edited by Mark J.P. Wolf"The Ultimate History of Video games" by Steven KentImage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Atari-2600-Wood-4Sw-Set.jpg2025-03-2013 min
History DispatchesThe Opium WarsIn the mid-1800s, Great Britain fought two wars against China. The reason was not to conquer territory. Or get gain valuable resources. No, this was to force Chinese officials to allow British-grown opium to be imported into their country. So perhaps we can call this the story of the ruthless English drug lords.Sources"Imperial Twilight: The Opium War and the End of China's Last Golden Age" by Stephen R. Platt"The Opium Wars in China" = https://asiapacificcurriculum.ca/learning-module/opium-wars-chinaWikipedia - https...2025-03-1919 min
History DispatchesHenry Avery and the Greatest Pirate Raid in HistoryOn September 7, 1695, English pirate Henry Avery led one of the most daring pirate attacks - and most lucrative - in history. And to top it all off - he got away with it. SourcesWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Every"Enemy of all Mankind" by Steven JohnsonImage: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_Every.gifThe Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.comInterested in advertising on the Explorers...2025-03-1824 min
History DispatchesAlexander Selkirk - the Real Robinson CrusoeIn 1719, Daniel Defoe published the book, “The LIfe and Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe.” The story is about a sailor who is stranded on an island for more than 20 years. It has gone on to be one of the most popular novels in western literature. In this episode, we tell the story of Alexander Selkirk, the man many believe to be the inspiration for Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe.Sources"The Real Robinson Crusoe" - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-real-robinson-crusoe-74877644/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Ale...2025-03-1722 min
History DispatchesLibrary of AlexandriaMore than 2,000 years ago, in Alexandria Egypt, Ptolemy II had a dream - to establish the greatest library the world had known. What emerged was one of the grandest institutions ever built, and the forerunner to all modern libraries. This is the story of the Library of Alexandria. Sources"Libraries in the Ancient World" by Lional CassonWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_AlexandriaImage: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ancientlibraryalex.jpgThe Explorers Podcast is part o...2025-03-1714 min
History DispatchesDrake's Brass Plate - Relic or Hoax?In 1933, a small brass plate was discovered near San Francisco - not far from where famed English privateer Francis Drake had supposedly landed back in 1579. It fit the description of a plate reportedly left by Drake - making it potentially one of the great relics of North American Exploration. SourcesWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake%27s_Plate_of_BrassScience Beat: Drake's Plate -- the end of the mystery? https://www2.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/NSD-Drakes-plate.html"Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...2025-03-1718 min
History DispatchesRosa ParksOn December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks would have enough. Sitting on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, she was told to give up her seat. She said no. Sick and tired of decades of segregation, racism and oppression, she would sit defiantly. This would lead into some of the most pivotal moments in the American civil rights movement.SourcesMontgomery Bus Boycott - https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/montgomery-bus-boycott "The Rebellious life of Rosa Parks" by Jeanne TheoharisImage: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rosa_Parks_in_watercolour...2025-03-1719 min
History DispatchesThe Head of Oliver CromwellOn January 30, 1661, Oliver Cromwell, one time Lord Protector and ruler of the English Commonwealth, was hanged for treason. After being cut down, his head was chopped off, and placed on a 20-foot pole above Westminster Hall. While that sounds nasty, the truly weird thing is that Oliver Cromwell had died three years earlier. In this episode, we take you on the story of the Head of Oliver Cromwell.Sources"The macabre tale of Oliver Cromwell's head" - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0j8vn2ne70o2025-03-1715 min
History DispatchesThe Dancing Plague of 1518In the boiling summer of 1518 in Strasbourg, France, one women started to dance in the street. But this was no ordinary dance. She continued until her feet were bloody And soon, she was joined by hundreds of other dancers, dancing until they passed out from exhaustion or death. Sources"A Time to Dance, a Time to Die" by John WallerImage: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Die_Wallfahrt_der_Fallsuechtigen_nach_Meulebeeck.jpgThe Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave...2025-03-1714 min
History DispatchesJunko Tabei - the First Woman to Summit Mount EverestOn May 16, 1975, Japanese mountaineer Junko Tabei reached the summit of Mount Everest - and in the process became the first woman to ever climb the highest point on earth. SourcesWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junko_TabeiWomen in Exploration: https://womeninexploration.org/timeline/junko-tabei/Junko Tabei, first to summit Everest in 1975: https://www.jobradshaw.co.uk/blog/junko-tabie-pioneering-mountaineer-and-first-women-to-summit-everest"Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Junko_Tabei_85_(3to4).jpgThe Explorers Podcast is part of the...2025-03-1716 min
History DispatchesWojtek the BearIn 1941, an exiled Polish army would find itself in Iran. There it would adopt an orphaned bear cub who would go on to serve the army as their mascot, fellow soldier, and their friend. Sources"The bear who was a private in the Polish army" - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4nd3n33yeoWikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wojtek_(bear)Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_badge_of_the_22nd_Artillery_Support_Company_of_the_2nd_Polish_Corps.jpg2025-03-1713 min
History DispatchesGreat Emu WarIn 1932, the Australian army began a military campaign to take on a horde of menacing invaders. These swarms of great beasts threatened the nation’s food supply, and the livelihoods of thousands of decent Australians. This is the Great Emu War. Sources"The Great Emu War: When Australians Lost to Flightless Birds: https://www.thecollector.com/great-emu-war/The Real Story Behind Australia’s Great Emu ‘War’ Of 1932 (And Why They Lost—Twice): https://www.forbes.com/sites/scotttravers/2024/12/26/the-real-story-behind-australias-great-emu-war-of-1932-and-why-they-lost-twice/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emu_War"Image...2025-03-1720 min
History DispatchesSaint Patrick: The Man Behind the LegendSaint Patrick holds the honor of being one of the most celebrated saints in history. But behind all of the celebration, shamrocks and myths, there is a real person. A man who lived 1,500 years ago and forever changed the history of Ireland, and the world.Sources"Saint Patrick Retold" by Roy FletchenerBritannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Patrick Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lá_Fhéile_Pádraig_Sona_Duit_-_Happy_Saint_Patrick%27s_Day.jpgThe Explorers Podcast is...2025-03-1713 min
History DispatchesIntroducing History DispatchesHistory Dispatches debuts Monday, March 17. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2025-02-2801 min