Dave Does History

Ever wonder why a weak-hitting batter gets called a “Punch and Judy hitter”? Today on Dave Does History , we go from the batter’s box to the puppet booth to uncover the wild, whacking world of Punch and Judy. These slapstick puppets have been causing mayhem since the 1600s, and their names still echo through baseball dugouts today. From their anarchic roots in Italy to seaside fame in Britain and...

In the spring of 1721, Rome became the stage for one of the most politically charged papal conclaves in history. Over thirty-nine tense days and seventy-five ballots, powerful factions battled for control of the Church’s future. Out of this storm emerged a quiet and steady figure—Michelangelo dei Conti, who would become Pope Innocent XIII. On this episode of Dave Does History , we take you behind...

It was a clear spring day, May 7, 191 5, when a British ocean liner—the RMS Lusitania—slipped beneath the waves off the southern coast of Ireland. She had left New York six days earlier, bound for Liverpool, and was now just hours from her destination. On board were nearly two thousand souls—men, women, children, businessmen, families, and a significant number of Americans. The war in Europe had r...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we take a thoughtful—and occasionally hilarious—look at the differences between oral and written traditions. From ancient scrolls to text messages filled with emojis, we explore how meaning changes when words are spoken versus when they are inked. With a detour through Eddie Izzard’s comedy, a stop at the Talmud, and a glance at your phone’s last LOL, this ep...

Today on Dave Does History , we bring you the astonishing story of Nellie Bly—the fearless reporter who exposed cruelty inside an asylum, circled the globe faster than Phileas Fogg, and redefined what women could do in journalism. Born Elizabeth Jane Cochran, Bly smashed through 19th-century expectations with a pen, a passport, and relentless grit. From undercover stunts to war reporting, her care...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we travel back to May 4th, 1919—when thousands of Chinese students flooded Tiananmen Square, outraged by the betrayal of the Treaty of Versailles. What began as a protest against foreign domination and political weakness became the spark that lit modern China’s fire. From cultural upheaval to the birth of new political movements, this was no ordinary student...

She was called “the only man in the cabinet,” the Iron Lady of Israeli politics before that nickname ever reached London. From a childhood dodging pogroms in Kiev to signing Israel’s Declaration of Independence, Golda Meir’s journey was anything but ordinary. In this episode of Dave Does History , we dive into the life of the Milwaukee schoolteacher who became a stateswoman, fundraiser, wartime le...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we follow Stonewall Jackson into the shadows of Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863—the day the thunder rolled through the Wilderness. With audacity that bordered on reckless, Jackson launched one of the most daring flank attacks in American military history, shattering the Union right and changing the tide of the battle. But triumph came at a cost. In the confus...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we step into the tangled thickets of Virginia’s Wilderness to relive the first day of the Battle of Chancellorsville—May 1, 1863. It was a day filled with promise, hesitation, and bold defiance, as Union General Joseph Hooker surrendered the initiative and Robert E. Lee seized it. With vivid storytelling and sharp analysis, we explore how one day of missteps...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we explore the boldest land deal in American history—the Louisiana Purchase. Signed on April 30, 1803 , this momentous decision doubled the size of the young republic, redrew the map, and set the United States on a course for continental dominance. But it was more than a bargain—it was a gamble filled with political controversy, diplomatic drama, and far-reac...

Welcome to Dave Does History , with a special year-long focus on the Liberty! 250 series, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. From the causes of the American Revolution to the enduring meaning of liberty, this is not your high school history class. It is history the way it should be: honest, riveting, and vital to understanding today’s world.

Today on Dave Does History , we journey into the remarkable life of James Monroe — soldier, statesman, and the Last Founding Father to serve as President. Often overshadowed by louder names, Monroe quietly forged a nation, expanded its borders, and warned the Old World to keep its hands off the New. From the bloody fields of Trenton to the bold declaration of the Monroe Doctrine, his story is one...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we march back to 1805 and the windswept shores of Derna, Libya, where a handful of U.S. Marines etched their place in American legend. From the burning sands of the desert to the thundering guns offshore, the Battle of Derna was the first time the Stars and Stripes flew in victory on foreign soil. Join Dave as he explores the grit, glory, and gamble behind th...

Today on Dave Does History , we set sail with Esek Hopkins, the fiery, flawed, and first Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Navy. Before John Paul Jones declared he had not yet begun to fight, Hopkins was already in the thick of it—raiding British ports, outmaneuvering orders, and making enemies in Congress. But his story is no straightforward hero’s tale. From triumph in Nassau to tragedy aboa...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we journey back to April 25, 404 BCE—the day the mighty city of Athens fell and the Peloponnesian War came to a crushing end. After nearly thirty years of conflict, starvation, and political chaos, Sparta stood triumphant and Athens bowed to a brutal new order. We will explore the final moves of the war, the rise of Lysander, and the long-term fallout for Gre...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we turn the clocks back to April 24, 1183 BCE—the day Troy burned. Join Dave as he walks through the smoldering ruins of the legendary city, uncovering the epic tale of gods, warriors, betrayal, and a giant wooden horse. From Achilles’ wrath to Aeneas’ escape, this story shaped empires and echoed through time. Drawing from Homer, Virgil, and archaeological cl...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we mark the birthday of James Buchanan—America’s only bachelor president and, many say, its most ineffectual. Born April 23, 1791, Buchanan entered office with unmatched experience and left it as the nation shattered into civil war. What went wrong? Was he a victim of circumstance or a man who mistook inaction for wisdom? Join us as we explore Buchanan’s trag...

Pope Francis has died, and the world now turns its eyes to the smoke above the Sistine Chapel. In this episode of Dave Does History , Dave Bowman joins Bill Mick to break down the ancient—and often misunderstood—process of the papal conclave. From medieval roof removals to modern-day power plays, Dave explores the rituals, rules, and raw politics of picking the next pope. Was it always this secret...

Today on Dave Does History , we journey back to the sacred soil of the Palatine Hill for the story that launched an empire. From the flames of Troy to the she-wolf’s lair on the banks of the Tiber, discover how Aeneas, Romulus, and Remus forged the foundations of Rome—not just as myth, but as history, taught and believed by the American Founding Fathers. Join Dave as he channels Livy, pierces the...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we dive into the fiery moment that launched America onto the global stage—the 1898 declaration of war against Spain. From the mysterious explosion of the USS Maine to the explosive headlines of Hearst and Pulitzer, we explore how media, politics, and patriotism collided to send the United States into war. Was it a fight for Cuban freedom—or the birth of an em...

In episode of Dave Does History , we take you to Lexington Green on the morning of April 19, 1775—the moment the American Revolution began. But this is more than musket fire and marching redcoats. It is the story of Ebenezer Bowman, a seventeen-year-old who stood his ground and helped ignite a war for independence. Join Dave as he explores not just America's history, but his own legacy. From a...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we explore the meaning and importance of preserving monuments and historic sites—especially those that make us uncomfortable. From the international mission of ICOMOS and UNESCO to a personal journey through Hamburg, South Carolina, Dave shares why even the most controversial markers of the past deserve to be remembered, not removed. Join us as we uncover how...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we salute one of America’s greatest unsung heroes—Joe Foss. From dust-choked South Dakota fields to the war-torn skies over Guadalcanal, Foss became a WWII flying ace, Medal of Honor recipient, governor, football commissioner, and NRA president. His story is not just about dogfights and medals—it is about grit, service, and what it truly means to be an Americ...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we journey to the windswept heights of Masada, where nearly two thousand years ago, Jewish rebels made their final, fateful stand against the Roman Empire. Was it mass suicide, martyrdom, or myth? Host Dave unpacks the powerful story passed down from Josephus, explores the archaeological evidence, and examines how Masada became a national symbol—and a caution...

In 1561, the skies over Nuremberg erupted in what witnesses described as a celestial battle—spheres, rods, crosses, and a massive black spear appeared above the city at dawn. Was it divine warning, extraterrestrial war, or misunderstood natural phenomenon? This week on Dave Does History , we explore Hans Glaser’s famous broadsheet, the Reformation-era mindset behind it, and how this event morphed...