History Daily
History Daily
On History Daily, we do history, daily. Every weekday, host Lindsay Graham (American Scandal, American History Tellers) takes you back in time to explore a momentous event that happened ‘on this day’ in history. Whether it’s to remember the tragedy of December 7th, 1941, the day “that will live in infamy,” or to celebrate that 20th day in July, 1969, when mankind reached the moon, History Daily is there to tell you the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world—one day at a time. So if you’re stuck in traffic, bored at work—wherever you are, listen to History Daily to remind yourself that something incredible happened to make that day historic.
Episodes
Mentioned books
10 snips
Mar 24, 2026 • 15min
The John Christie Murders
A grisly London discovery reveals multiple hidden female bodies behind wallpaper. A desperate woman seeks an illegal abortion and turns to a neighbor who betrays her trust. A wrongful conviction and execution cast a long shadow before the true killer is unmasked. The case sparks a manhunt, confessions, and a national reckoning over capital punishment.
5 snips
Mar 23, 2026 • 15min
The First Passenger Elevator
A dramatic 1857 tale about a Yonkers accident that sparked a safety-driven invention. The inventor refines hoist design with guide rails and a spring-activated brake. A theatrical World's Fair demonstration proves the new mechanism. The story traces the installation that helped enable tall buildings.
28 snips
Mar 21, 2026 • 1h 1min
Saturday Matinee: History For The Reckoning
George Takei, famed actor and activist who survived WWII Japanese American incarceration, shares his family's experience. He recounts being housed in horse stalls, the train to Rohwer, life behind barbed wire, the loyalty questionnaire fallout, tensions at Tule Lake, legal rescues, and the long road to redress. Short, powerful stories that trace trauma, resilience, and the stakes for democracy.
9 snips
Mar 20, 2026 • 16min
Babe Didrikson’s Hitless Inning
A 1934 spring training surprise where a trailblazing sportswoman takes the mound and throws a hitless inning. Flashbacks cover her Olympic dominance, medal controversy, and the pay-for-play shift that sent her into baseball exhibitions. The story follows her later pivot to golf greatness, major championships, and a courageous return after cancer.
7 snips
Mar 19, 2026 • 17min
Discovering the Wreck of the SS Georgiana
A teen diver's 1965 discovery of a Civil War wreck and its 1863 artifacts sparks a deep dive into a blocked-runner's dramatic scuttling. Learn about covert Liverpool ship commissions and the booming transatlantic blockade trade. The story explores the vessel's secret design, bold tactics to outrun Union ships, and the wealthy operators who profited from wartime smuggling.
19 snips
Mar 18, 2026 • 16min
The Assassination of King George I of Greece
A dramatic political murder on a bustling Thessaloniki waterfront. The rise of a foreign-born king and his efforts to modernize Greece. Military defeats, a failed earlier attempt on his life, and the Balkan Wars that reshaped the region. The killing's ripple effects on national politics and the monarchy's future.
13 snips
Mar 17, 2026 • 19min
The Fight for the Unification of Italy
A fast-paced retelling of Italy’s long road to unity, from post-Napoleonic partitioning to mass revolts. Hear the rise of Young Italy and Mazzini’s early rebellions. Follow Garibaldi’s daring Sicilian campaign and his famous meeting with Victor Emmanuel. Learn how Cavour used diplomacy and alliances to topple Austrian control and stitch disparate states into one kingdom.
6 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 16min
The First F.A. Cup Final
A look at how Charles W. Alcock pushed to unify football rules and organized a landmark international match. The origins and messy logistics behind creating a nationwide knockout tournament are explored. The narrative builds to a low-key 1872 final that set a giant tradition in motion.
15 snips
Mar 14, 2026 • 28min
Saturday Matinee: Past Lives
A narrator recounts the surprising childhood and abduction of the future Apostle of Ireland. Listeners hear about his years in captivity as a shepherd and a dream that prompted escape. The show explores Roman identity in late Britain, the collapse after Rome, and what Patrick's own writings can and cannot tell us.
12 snips
Mar 13, 2026 • 15min
The Dunblane Massacre
A recounting of the March 13, 1996 school shooting and the immediate chaos that followed. Exploration of the perpetrator’s background and early inquiries. The rise of the Snowdrop Campaign and its push for sweeping handgun bans. Long-term effects on law, community recovery, memorials, and the town’s eventual signs of healing.
