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History Dispatches

Matt and McKinley Breen
History Dispatches
Latest episode

366 episodes

  • History Dispatches

    How Star Wars almost never happened - Part 2

    26/08/2026 | 23 mins.
    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

    Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at advertising@airwavemedia.com

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

    How Star Wars almost never happened - Part 1

    24/08/2026 | 16 mins.
    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

    Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at advertising@airwavemedia.com

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

    Story of the Polygraph

    21/08/2026 | 21 mins.
    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

    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
  • History Dispatches

    Roger Bannister and the 4-minute mile

    19/08/2026 | 20 mins.
    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

    Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at advertising@airwavemedia.com

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

    Sliced Bread and the time it was banned

    17/08/2026 | 19 mins.
    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
    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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