History Dispatches

In 1983, the Kremlin became convinced NATO was preparing to strike first with nuclear weapons. However, British Intelligence had a man inside London’s Soviet Embassy who discovered just how dangerously close the world was to nuclear war. His warnings to MI6 and Washington may be the only reason the Cold War didn’t go hot. This is the story of Oleg Gordievsky - MI6's most valuable Cold War Spy. Pre...

In the Middle Ages a cult emerged based up around a dog - a greyhound - named Guinefort. The dog had saved the life of a baby from poisonous snake - but had then been killed by the baby’s father - a knight - who thought the dog had attacked his child. The local people would embrace the heroics of the animal - and proclaim him a saint. This is the story of St. Guinefort the Greyhound. Sources https...

Around 1772, in Lyon, France, a man who today is known only as Tarrare was born with an absolutely insatiable appetite. He would eat garbage, live cats, dead bodies, and even allegedly a toddler. He was a medical marvel that became a street performer, and even got noticed by the French army for the potential to be a spy. This is the story of Tarrare - the World's Hungriest Man. Sources https://en....

On April 21, 1980, Rosie Ruiz stunned the world by winning the women’s crown at the Boston Marathon with a record time. The only problem was she had actually only run about one mile of the race - making it one of the great frauds in sports history. Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosie_Ruiz https://www.thisisjogon.com/videos/this-is-the-template-title-abn2m History Dispatches is part of the...

While a young man and on his way to college none other than Julius Caesar's ship was attacked by pirates. He was captured for ransom. But rather than a normal experience, he treated his captors like his servants, and told them exactly what he was going to do to them when he was freed. And in true Caesar fashion, he did exactly that. Sources https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/vellei...

On July 3, 1940, British forces attacked French ships at the naval base at Mers-el-Kébir on the coast of Algeria. The attack was part of a British plan to neutralize French ships to prevent them from falling into German hands after the Allied defeat in the Battle of France. The British attack killed nearly 1,300 French servicemen, and sank and damaged numerous vessels. It also seriously jeopardize...

Beautiful Jim Key was no ordinary horse. This remarkable creature could preform tricks, do basic math, recognize written words, and even write names. And he did this with the help of his trainer and friend - Doctor William Key - a former slave, self-taught veterinarian, and animal rights activist. This is the story of Beautiful Jim Key, the world's smartest horse. Sources "Beautiful Jim Key: The l...

Grace Hopper was a trailblazer. An American mathematician, she would go on to be known for her contributions to computer programming, software development, and the design and implementation of programming languages. She enjoyed a long and influential career in the computer industry - as well as the United States navy - rising to the rank of rear admiral. This is the story of computer programming i...

In the summer of 1917 two girls would photograph the remarkable. Proof of fairies, dancing in the beautiful Cottingley Beck in England. The photos were so convincing that they became a national sensation, convincing the millions that they were indeed proof of the magical. And it took half a century for the truth to come out. This is the story of the Cottingley Fairies. Sources https://www.bbc.com/...

On August 6, 1855, in Louisville, Kentucky, a bitter rivalry between the Democrats and the Nativist Know-Nothing Party erupted in a series of riots. Protestant mobs attacked Irish and German Catholic neighborhoods - leaving 22 people dead, dozens injured, and more than 100 homes and businesses torched and looted. This is the story of Bloody Monday. Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Mond...

Three tales of historic explosions including the Tunguska Incident, the 1883 Eruption of Krakatoa, and the Halifax Explosion. Have a blast checking these out. Enjoy this compilation of Season 1 episodes while we get ready for the new season of History Dispatches. Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Krakatoa_eruption_lithograph.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www....

Three stories of humanity's attempts to reign in animals. This includes the Great Emu War, the Alberta Rat Campaign, and Project Isabela. Enjoy this compilation of Season 1 episodes while we get ready for the new season of History Dispatches. Image: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-rat-on-green-grass-12964769/ History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested i...

Three stories from Ancient Egypt, including the Library of Alexandria, the Lost Army of Cambyses, and the Rosetta Stone. Enjoy this compilation of Season 1 episodes while we get ready for the new season of History Dispatches. 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...

Three tales from the twilight of the Athenian Golden Age, including Alcibiades, the Sicilian Expedition, and Thrasybulus. Enjoy this compilation of Season 1 episodes while we get ready for the new season of History Dispatches. Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Akropolis_by_Leo_von_Klenze.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in ad...

Three episodes featuring audacious robberies. This includes the Great Maple Syrup Heists, the Theft of the Mona Lisa, and the Heist of the Irish Crown Jewels. Enjoy this compilation of Season 1 episodes while we get ready for the new season of History Dispatches. History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us...

The largest, deadliest conflict in human history is World War II. Claiming tens of millions of lives it is a story unlike any other. Listen as we delve into the overview of this most awesome conflict, and journey through the European theater of the war. Sources https://wwiifoundation.org/timeline-of-wwii/ https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/world-war-ii-key-dates https://www.pbs.org/...

On October 18, 1968, at the summer Olympics in Mexico City, American long jumper Bob Beamon leaped into history - literally. On his first attempt, Beamon would not only set a world record in the long jump - he would obliterate it - in one of the most astounding moments in sports history. This is the story of Bob Beamon and his record setting long jump. Sources https://www.espn.com/sportscentury/fe...

In the second half of the fifth century BC, the Athenian general and statesmen, Alcibiades, would lead an absolutely incredible life. He acted as a key advisor for Athens, their rival Sparta, and both cities exiled him. All while kicking up scandals, and loving every second of it. This is the story of Alcibiades. Sources "The Life of Alcibiades" by Jacqueline de Romilly File:Alcibades_being_taught...

From 1764-1767 a monster terrorized the province of Gévaudan in south central France. It’s believed that 113 people were killed - many with their throats ripped out - by the mysterious creature. It is a mystery that still haunts the region to this day. This is the story of the Beast of Gévaudan. Sources https://www.geriwalton.com/the-beast-of-gevaudan/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_G%C3%A...

For decades the roadsides of America were dotted with curious red signs. Always appearing in a sequence of four or five, and usually with a witty or clever saying, they became synonymous with American motoring culture, and an icon of mid-century American highways. This is the story of the Burma-Shave signs. Sources https://www.backwoodshome.com/feeling-nostalgic-now-youll-rave-heres-the-story-of-b...

While the American Civil War would answer the question of slavery once and for all, its bloody overture would take place five years earlier, when the territory of Kansas would go to war with itself to determine if it should be a free or slave state. It was a brutal guerrilla conflict that would claim dozens of lives. This is the story of Bleeding Kansas. Sources "Bleeding Kansas" by Nicole Etcheso...

The Great Sphinx of Giza is one of the most famous monuments of antiquity - and nearly every person has heard about it - and seen it. But what is the history of the Sphinx? When was it built? And why? This is the story of the Great Sphinx of Giza. Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Sphinx_of_Giza https://www.history.com/articles/the-sphinx Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sp...

For more than a decade, the energy company Enron was at the top of the food chain. Named Forbes most innovative company six years in a row, it had a stock price of nearly a hundred dollars a share. The company was raking in hundreds of millions of dollars in profit. Or so everyone thought. Then, in late 2001, the entire house of cards came crashing down - destroying a company and the savings of th...

53 Africans - taken illegally from their homes - revolted on a ship - the Amistad - bound for a slave plantation in Cuba. But taking control of the ship did not mean they were free. They ended up on the shores Long Island, and what followed were legal proceedings that would determine the life - or death - of these men. This is the story of the Trial of the Amistad Sources "Mutiny on the Amistad" b...

In 1839, 53 captives, mostly taken from modern day Sierra Leone, were being transported to a plantation in Cuba aboard the Amistad. Lead by Sengbe Pieh, the African revolted, and took command of the ship. They tried to bring the ship back to Africa, but would instead end up off the coast of Long Island - setting the stage for a dramatic trial that would mean life or death. This is the story of the...