Plausibly Live - The Dave Bowman Show

On the bright morning of  August 6, 1945  (Japan time), a solitary B-29 floated gently over the city of Hiroshima. It was not an unusual sight, nor was it unexpected. In many ways Hiroshima had been either lucky or protected during the devastating air raids that had recently set many Japanese cities on fire. There were rumors that Hiroshima had some special protection because of some secret relati...

On this weeks gripping episode of “Dave Does History” on the  Bill Mick Live Show ,  historian Dave Bowman takes us back to the harrowing final voyage of the USS Indianapolis during World War II. We  explore the top-secret mission that led to the ship’s fateful journey, the catastrophic torpedo attack by a Japanese submarine, and the horrific ordeal faced by the surviving crew members in shark-inf...

In this compelling episode of "Bill Mick Live," Dave Bowman delves into the historical intricacies of political assassinations, focusing on the death of Tiberius Gracchus in 133 BCE. Dave explores the turbulent period of the Late Roman Republic, drawing striking parallels between ancient Rome and contemporary political climates. As he dissects the motives and consequences of Gracchus&#39...

The story of Charles Guiteau and his attack on President James A. Garfield is a gripping tale of ambition, delusion, and tragedy. Charles Guiteau, a troubled and erratic individual, became fixated on President Garfield and convinced himself that he was destined to play a significant role in American politics. His unrelenting quest for recognition and power culminated in a fateful encounter on  Jul...

On  June 25, 1876 , General George Armstrong Custer and his troops faced a formidable alliance of Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors led by legendary leaders Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. This clash, often referred to as “Custer’s Last Stand,” has been etched into the annals of history not only for its dramatic and tragic outcome but also for its profound impact on the course of...

In this episode of Dave Does History on Bill Mick Live, historian Dave Bowman takes listeners on a deep dive into the War of 1812, examining the complex causes and significant consequences of the conflict. The discussion covers the war’s origins, including British impressment of American sailors, trade restrictions, and territorial disputes involving Native American tribes. Bowman explains how the...

NOTE:  This particular episode is focused mainly on the issue of Veterans and how they relate to the younger generation of Veterans and Active Duty personnel. If you are not a Veteran or Active Duty, you may find that it is not relevant to you. Or maybe you will. But it’s really aimed at the Veteran – and specifically Navy Submarine Veteran – community. – Producer Henri Yesterday was Women Veteran...

On February 22, 1770, eleven year old Christopher Seider was killed in the streets of Boston. He is generally considered by historians to be the first person to die in the American Revolution. The British Taxes imposed in 1767 under the Townsend Acts led a firestorm of Colonial protests, particularly – and to no one’s surprise – in Boston. The Colonials had boycotted British imports since the impl...

In this episode of Plausibly Live, host Dave Bowman sits down with acclaimed author and executive producer Charles Lachmann to discuss his riveting new book, “Codename Nemo.” Lachmann delves into the captivating true story behind the capture of the Nazi U-boat U-505 during World War II, revealing the intense research and dedication that went into bringing this historical thriller to life. Listener...

The enigma machine was supposed to be Nazi Germany's unbreakable code machine. It's network carried the bulk of the German secret communications from the 1920's through the end of WWII in May of 1945. The machines carried by German Naval units, including U-Boats, were a complex gizmo of gears and wheels and keys, that required the correct plug in board to produce the encrypted messages...

We have this… myth… in our heads. It’s born from a combination of Manifest Destiny and the desire to see ourselves in a certain light, but the truth is that the Constitution of the United States was highly radical, highly controversial and absolutely not universally proclaimed as the best way of governing ourselves in 1787. Not only were there vicious and lengthy diatribes in newspapers and town m...

Among the memories I have from my time in New London, CT, at US Navy Submarine School, is a few moments on a bright but very cold January afternoon, listening to an audio tape. The problem with such memories is that I remember the sounds more than I recall the technical details. We were told that this was a highly classified recording of the direct loss of USS Scorpion on May 22, 1968. For all I k...

Around three in the morning on May 13, 1862, the lookouts aboard a Union Naval vessel blockading Charleston Harbor was surprised to see a vessel bearing down upon his ship. Sounding the alarm, the gun ports were opened and all was brought to preparation to open fire. It was then that the lookout noticed that the ship approaching wasn’t coming on too fast and flying from it’s mast appeared to be a...

Perhaps the most prescient act of the framers of the US Constitution was the establishment of an amendment process by which the document could be modified. Not in some instant, light and transient way, but with involvement of the peoples representatives, the States and the people themselves. It’s not easy to do, and, in fact, it should not be. As George Washington himself once said, any amendment...

Today, we embark on a journey back to the dawn of the American experiment. Our spotlight shines on the  first presidential term of George Washington , a time when the nation’s destiny hung in the balance. On  April 30, 1789 , amidst the grandeur of Federal Hall in New York City, Washington stepped onto a second-floor balcony to take the oath of office. His inaugural address, delivered with humilit...

On  April 24, 1183bce  (as determined by Eratosthenes the Beta), the City of Troy fell to the Greeks after nine years of devastating siege and bloody war. Few people today realize how many of our cultural values have been inculcated into us by the events of that day. The defeated Trojans would wander west and finally resettle in another city, this time one with seven hills. The Greeks would soon f...

In the intriguing world of naval history and maritime technology, few things capture the imagination quite like the evolution of the submarine. In a special episode of "Bill Mick Live" on April 9, 2024, Dave Bowman, a seasoned historian and submarine veteran, dives deep into the legacy of submarines, from their early inception to their critical role in modern naval warfare. With his uniq...

In the latest episode of “What The Frock,” listeners were treated to the unique banter and insightful discussions that have become the hallmark of this engaging podcast. Hosted by the dynamic duo of Rabbi Dave and Friar Rod, this episode once again proved why this podcast has captured the hearts and minds of its audience. The episode kicks off with Rabbi Dave’s playful teasing of Friar Rod’s choic...

On the evening of  April 2, 1917 , President Woodrow Wilson stood before an excited Congress and Gallery, and asked that the nation declare war on Imperial Germany. In a strange way, this was the penultimate Wilson moment. He would ask – already knowing the answer – the nation to follow his leadership into a war to make the world safe for democracy. We are told that he had spent the night before i...

What if… we had a President who disagreed with Congress on everything? And when I say, “everything,” I mean… “everything?” What if the Congress passed a law that was so important to the national development of our society that it was deemed in many places, and a “new birth of freedom,” and the President, vetoed it? What would the reaction be? If this were to happen, how would it change the course...

Many people say that they “hate” Daylight Savings Time. Is that actually the case? Or is what they actually hate the twice a year fiddling with digital clocks in their cars? So it was that on March 19, 1918, the United States enacted the Standard Time Act, much of which remains on our law books today. But, was it just a war measure designed to held beat the Huns? Or was it a vast conspiracy by US...

One of the least discussed and acknowledged periods in US History got its start on March 11, 1880, with the birth of the man, Harry L. Laughlin, who would be among the driving figures in the eugenics movement in the United States. The ideas for which he would advocate included sterilization and would not actually end until well into the 1970s. It all sounds good on the surface – to improve humans...

On Monday, the Supreme Court released its much anticipated but anti-climatic per curiam ruling in Trump v Anderson, the Colorado attempt to remove him from the 2024 Primary ballot. While there was nothing truly surprising in the ruling – that it is Congress that decides to enforce 14.3 – there was a bit of blowback from the fact that Justice Barrett appeared at first glance, to join the dissent in...

On  February 27, 1951 , the United States ratified the 22nd Amendment, a pivotal moment in American constitutional history that imposed term limits on the presidency. This landmark amendment was the culmination of decades of debate over the concentration of power in the executive branch and reflected the nation’s evolving attitudes toward leadership and democracy.

Welcome to “Dave Does History,” on Bill Mick Live, this week we have a journey through the annals of history to the heart of the American Civil War, focusing on one of its lesser-known yet pivotal figures, General Joseph Finegan, and the defining moment of his military career: the Battle of Olustee. We will delve into the life of General Finegan, from his early days to his strategic triumph in Flo...