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History Dispatches

Matt and McKinley Breen
History Dispatches
Latest episode

385 episodes

  • History Dispatches

    The Brazen Bull - One of the cruelest torture devices in history

    07/10/2026 | 17 mins.
    What goes around comes around is often a saying to make someone feel better - but in the case of the Brazen Bull it was apt. The Brazen Bull was a legendary and cruel torture device from the ancient world. And its first victim was the man who created it.

    Sources

    https://www.livius.org/articles/person/phalaris/bull-of-phalaris/

    https://www.livius.org/articles/person/phalaris/

    Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pierre_Woeiriot,_The_Brazen_Bull_of_Phalarus,_NGA_54032.jpg

    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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  • History Dispatches

    Rikers Island Salvador Dali Art Heist

    05/10/2026 | 22 mins.
    Rikers Island - the New York City jail complex - was the home for nearly 40 years to a painting by surrealist master Salvador Dali. He donated the painting to Rikers in 1965, and it hung in the facility until 2003 - when it disappeared - and has never been found. This is the story of the Rikers Island Art Heist.

    Sources

    https://www.insideedition.com/how-a-salvador-dali-drawing-was-stolen-from-rikers-island-58539

    https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2004/jul/15/warden-sentenced-for-stealing-dali-painting-from-rikers-island-jail/

    https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a22854081/rikers-island-stolen-salvador-dali-painting/

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

    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
  • History Dispatches

    The SS Eastland Disaster: The worst disaster in Great Lakes history

    02/10/2026 | 18 mins.
    The deadliest day in on the Great Lakes was not a ferocious storm far out to sea. But rather a calm day in a Chicago harbor. That is when a passenger steamer listed and rolled into the lake, claiming 844 lives. This is the story of the SS Eastland Disaster.

    Sources

    https://eastlanddisaster.org/

    Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Eastland_disaster#/media/File:Eastland_Postcard_-_View_of_Eastland_taken_from_south_side_of_river_shortly_after_accident.png

    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
  • History Dispatches

    Loving Day - The story of Richard and Mildred Loving

    30/09/2026 | 14 mins.
    In 1958, Richard Loving - a white man - married Mildred Jeter - a black woman. The newlyweds would be arrested a year later in Virginia - where mixed race marriages were illegal. Eight years and countless court cases later, the Supreme Court - on June 12, 1967 - would strike down that law. This is the story of Richard and Mildred Jeter - and Loving Day.

    Sources

    https://time.com/archive/6916188/loving-day/

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

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loving_v._Virginia

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

    Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mildred_and_Richard_Loving_1967_by_UPI.jpg

    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
  • History Dispatches

    Hannibal's most daring achievement: Crossing the Alps

    28/09/2026 | 24 mins.
    When Hannibal - the sworn enemy of Rome wanted to attack Italy - he had a problem. Going by sea was impossible, and invading by land was almost as difficult as it required crossing the Alps, which are some of the most formidable mountains in the world. The key word though is 'almost.' Because in 16 harrowing days Hannibal and his army did exactly that - crossed the Alps - in one of the greatest achievements in military history.

    Sources

    https://www.livius.org/sources/content/hannibal-in-the-alps/

    https://www.livius.org/articles/person/hannibal-3-barca/hannibal-in-the-alps/

    https://www.maajournal.com/index.php/maa/article/view/490/416

    Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heinrich_Leutemann_-_Hannibals_%C3%9Cbergang_%C3%BCber_die_Alpen_(cropped).jpg

    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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About 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.
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