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
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.
18 snips
Mar 12, 2026 • 15min
Gandhi’s Salt March
A retelling of Gandhi’s 1930 march to the sea and why he chose salt as a political symbol. Brief sketches of his early activism in South Africa and return to India. The walk’s growing crowds, nonviolent civil disobedience, mass arrests, and its place in the path to independence are highlighted.
16 snips
Mar 11, 2026 • 16min
A Mother’s Pride: The Founding of PFLAG
A 1973 gathering in Greenwich Village sparks the birth of a parents’ group supporting gay children. A mother’s public letter and marching in Christopher Street push parents into activism. The story traces the group’s national growth, responses to tragedies like Harvey Milk’s assassination and the AIDS crisis, and the movement’s shift toward political and legal battles.
12 snips
Mar 10, 2026 • 16min
Dr. King’s Assassin Pleads Guilty
A tense retelling of the assassin’s criminal past, escape, and life on the run. The story traces radicalizing influences and the surge of segregationist ideology. It revisits the Memphis sanitation strike and the moments leading up to the killing. The narrative follows the arrest, guilty plea, later recantation, and lingering conspiracy claims.
6 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 16min
The First Barbie
A look at how a grown-up doll idea sprang from paper dolls and a trip to Europe. The story follows design choices, naming, and a rocky Toy Fair debut. Learn how clever TV marketing flipped rejection into massive sales. The tale also covers a founder’s health struggles, career comeback, and lasting influence on toys and medical products.
24 snips
Mar 7, 2026 • 1h 5min
Saturday Matinee: Hit Parade
A vivid tour of David Bowie’s many reinventions and how his chameleon-like persona shaped chart success. Stories cover reissued hits, the Space Oddity breakthrough, glam stardom and Ziggy, the soul-pop pivot and Fame, the Berlin experimental phase and Blackstar’s late surge. Comparisons with contemporaries and memorable live moments round out the musical portrait.
Mar 6, 2026 • 17min
The First Lady’s First Press Conference
A look at Eleanor Roosevelt’s groundbreaking decision to hold women-only press conferences and how they became a weekly tradition. The story explores her partnership with reporter Lorena Hickok and how media coverage shaped her public role. The narrative follows her wartime radio appeals and the dramatic day of her final press conference and FDR’s death.
Mar 5, 2026 • 17min
The Boston Massacre
A vivid retelling of the March 5, 1770 street clash that turned deadly. Tensions over British troops stationed in Boston and the petty disputes that ignited violence are explored. The legal drama of the trials and how the verdicts fanned anti-British sentiment are highlighted. The story is placed in the larger sweep toward the first shots of the Revolution.
5 snips
Mar 4, 2026 • 19min
The Inauguration of Thomas Jefferson
A dramatic recount of March 4, 1801 when Thomas Jefferson takes the oath amid an unfinished Capitol and tense politics. Scenes explore early clashes with Washington, the bank compromise with Hamilton, and the fallout over foreign policy. The heated 1800 election, an electoral tie with Aaron Burr, Hamilton's decisive intervention, and Jefferson's presidency and later legacy are all highlighted.
