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
Mar 3, 2026 • 15min
John Dillinger’s Jailbreak
A daring 1934 jailbreak using a carved wooden gun and inside help. Earlier bank heists, weapons raids, and a notorious shootout that escalated law enforcement efforts. Capture, extradition, and the federal manhunt that branded him Public Enemy Number One.
Mar 2, 2026 • 16min
The Election of Pope Pius XII
A 1939 papal election and the sudden responsibility of leading the Church as Europe erupts into war. The Vatican surrounded by fascist, Nazi, and Soviet powers struggles with neutrality and behind-the-scenes diplomacy. Secret efforts to shelter Jews in churches and convents clash with heated debates about public condemnation and long-term legacy.
Feb 28, 2026 • 60min
Saturday Matinee: Ladies of Lore
A deep dive into Deirdre of the Sorrows and her lasting cultural footprint. They trace the Ulster Cycle and how monks preserved oral myths. The retelling explores prophecy, exile, betrayal, and a tragic death that sparks war. Later segments follow Deirdre’s reinterpretation through poetry, music, nationalist revival, and modern feminist reclaiming.
Feb 27, 2026 • 16min
The Rosenstrasse Protests
A mass street protest in Berlin forces Nazi authorities to release imprisoned men married to non-Jewish partners. Women gather at Rosenstrasse, confront guards, and refuse to disperse despite intimidation. Nazi propaganda chiefs debate how to respond as tensions escalate and a standoff ends with the prisoners freed.
Feb 26, 2026 • 18min
The Birth of Radar
A 1935 field test that first detected aircraft with reflected radio waves and sparked a race to build coastal radar stations. The story follows skeptical military leaders, conditional funding, and the rapid construction of the Chain Home network. It highlights how radar was integrated into a central defense system and how that technology helped Britain fend off large aerial attacks as war began.
Feb 25, 2026 • 18min
The Execution of France’s “Lonely Hearts Killer”
A chilling early 20th century murder case centered on a lonely hearts scheme and sudden disappearances. Neighbors notice strange nighttime activity near a pond. Women team up to investigate and pressure police. Investigators uncover notebooks, burned bone fragments, and unsettling evidence that led to a dramatic public execution.
Feb 24, 2026 • 17min
The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
A deep dive into the 1868 showdown that made a president the first to face impeachment. Political battles over the Tenure of Office Act and control of the War Department take center stage. Clashes over Reconstruction policy, clashes with Edwin Stanton, and Ulysses S. Grant’s pivotal role shape the drama. The Senate trial’s razor-thin vote and the political aftermath are highlighted.
Feb 23, 2026 • 16min
The Cato Street Conspiracy
A plotted assassination of the Prime Minister and cabinet in 1820. The role of an agent provocateur who fed false intelligence to British authorities. A staged newspaper story used to lure radicals into a trap. A dramatic raid on a loft that ends in violence, trial, and execution.
Feb 21, 2026 • 39min
Saturday Matinee: The Secret World of Roald Dahl
A dive into the hidden chapters of Roald Dahl's life, from wartime pilot and spy recruit to social maneuvering in Washington. Tales of unconventional British intelligence units and seduction missions that aimed to shape politics. Exploration of how storytelling and high-society access blurred lines between literature and espionage.
14 snips
Feb 20, 2026 • 17min
Nazis in New York
A 1939 Nazi rally in Madison Square Garden draws 20,000 and sparks violent clashes. The rise of the German-American Bund and its leader Fritz Kuhn is explored. A dramatic onstage protest by Isidore Greenbaum turns the crowd against the rally. The aftermath shows public backlash, legal action, and the Bund's collapse.
