

History Dispatches
Matt and McKinley Breen
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 10, 2026 • 17min
Dolly the Sheep
On July 5, 1996, a Finn-Dorset sheep was born at the Roslin Institute in Scotland. The sheep’s name was Dolly - and she was the first mammal ever cloned from an adult somatic cell. This is the story of Dolly - the sheep that made history.
Sponsor
Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active.
Sources
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-scientists-kept-the-birth-of-dolly-the-worlds-first-cloned-mammal-a-secret-for-seven-months-180986009/
https://www.nms.ac.uk/discover-catalogue/the-story-of-dolly-the-sheep
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_(sheep)
History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com
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Mar 9, 2026 • 19min
Destruction of Melos
Being a democracy we often think of Athens as the good guys of ancient Greece. And in some ways they were - if such a label can be applied to a two and a half thousand year old civilization. But in other ways they were absolutely evil. Such as when they decided that their voluntary organization to help defend Greece now had mandatory membership, and defiance meant total destruction. This is the story of the Siege of Melos and the Melian Dialogue.
Sponsor
Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active.
Sources
https://www.thelatinlibrary.com/imperialism/readings/thucydides8.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Melos
Image: By ZDE - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abandoned_sulfur_mines,_Milos,_153059.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

Mar 6, 2026 • 12min
Whisky War
In the far north the Kennedy Channel - which is the border between Greenland and Canada - lies tiny Hans Island. The island was claimed by the two neighbors - but it was so inconsequential - no one really bothered with the specifics of who owned what. That was until 1984, when Canadian soldiers landed on the island - raised their flag - and - to help cement their claim - left a bottle of whisky. This is the story of the Whisky War.
Sponsor
Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active.
Sources
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/denmark-canadian-deal-hans-island-ends-49-year-old-feud-arctic-isle-rcna33644
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisky_War
https://unric.org/en/the-whiskey-war-how-denmark-and-canada-used-diplomacy-to-solve-a-territorial-conflict/
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

Mar 5, 2026 • 17min
Pride Flag
One of the most internationally recognized symbols is the pride flag. While today it is synonymous with gay rights, it did not come from nowhere. It is the brainchild of the San Francisco based Gilbert Baker, whom many have declared the gay Betsy Ross. This is the story of Gilbert Baker, and the pride flag.
Sponsor
Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active.
Sources
https://gilbertbaker.com/history/
https://www.glbthistory.org/gilbert-baker
Image: by Ludovic Bertron - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rainbow_flag_and_blue_skies.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

Mar 4, 2026 • 17min
History of the Oreo
One of the most beloved and tasty sweet treats all over the world is the Oreo cookie. More than 40 billion Oreos are consumed each year - making it the most popular cookie in the world. This is the story of the Oreo.
Sponsor
Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active.
Sources
https://www.seriouseats.com/history-of-oreos-bravetart-cookbook
https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-the-oreo-cookie-1779206
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oreo
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

Mar 3, 2026 • 23min
Did Shakespeare Write Shakespeare?
One of greatest authors in history is William Shakespeare. Renowned for numerous plays, poems, and more, he has produced some of the greatest contributions to the English literary canon. But that begs the question - did he write his plays? Yes he did. But that doesn’t mean the theory doesn’t have a fascinating history. This is the story of the Shakespeare authorship question.
Sponsor
Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active.
Sources
https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/william-shakespeare/shakespeare-authorship-question/
https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/shakespeare-authorship-question
https://shakespeareauthorship.com/
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Title_page_William_Shakespeare%27s_First_Folio_1623.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

Mar 2, 2026 • 19min
Mansa Musa - the Richest Man in History
In the 14th century - Mansa Musa - the ruler of the kingdom of Mali in West Africa - went on a Hadj to Mecca. To impress all that he met he had a retinue of as many as 60,000 - and brought with him 20 tons of gold. This has made many dub Mansa Musa the richest person in history.
Sponsor
Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active.
Sources
https://magazine.northwestern.edu/features/caravans-of-gold-fragments-in-time/a-golden-age-king-mansa-musas-reign
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansa_Musa
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47379458
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catalan_Atlas_BNF_Sheet_6_Mansa_Musa_(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

Feb 27, 2026 • 26min
Adolf Hitler's 1923 Beer Hall Putsch
In October of 1923, a young Adolf Hitler and his Nazi party attempted to seize control of the German government. The attempt failed - but it would thrust Hitler onto the national political stage. This is the story of Adolf Hitler and the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch.
Sponsor
Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_Hall_Putsch
https://www.history.com/articles/hitler-failed-beer-hall-putsch
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/beer-hall-putsch-munich-putsch
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_119-1486,_Hitler-Putsch,_München,_Marienplatz.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

Feb 26, 2026 • 21min
Kush
A tour of the ancient Kingdom of Kush along the Nile, exploring why Nubia is often overlooked. Traces Kush’s rise from early settlement through conquest of Egypt and military prowess. Highlights Kushite pyramids, art, powerful queens, mummification, and clashes with Assyria and Roman Egypt. Follows the kingdom’s decline and lasting archaeological legacy.

Feb 25, 2026 • 14min
White Squirrels of Olney
A quirky local wildlife tale about a century-old colony of albino squirrels that once numbered in the hundreds. The story covers how the white squirrels arrived, how the population grew and later declined, and the town’s unusual protections and festivals. Listeners hear about conservation efforts, community pride, and tips for spotting the rare animals.


