History Dispatches

In the far north the Kennedy Channel - which is the border between Greenland and Canada - lies tiny Hans Island. The island was claimed by the two neighbors - but it was so inconsequential - no one really bothered with the specifics of who owned what. That was until 1984, when Canadian soldiers landed on the island - raised their flag - and - to help cement their claim - left a bottle of whisky. This is the story of the Whisky War. Sponsor Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active. Sources https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/denmark-canadian-deal-hans-island-ends-49-year-old-feud-arctic-isle-rcna33644 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisky_War https://unric.org/en/the-whiskey-war-how-denmark-and-canada-used-diplomacy-to-solve-a-territorial-conflict/ History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most internationally recognized symbols is the pride flag. While today it is synonymous with gay rights, it did not come from nowhere. It is the brainchild of the San Francisco based Gilbert Baker, whom many have declared the gay Betsy Ross. This is the story of Gilbert Baker, and the pride flag. Sponsor Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active. Sources https://gilbertbaker.com/history/ https://www.glbthistory.org/gilbert-baker Image: by Ludovic Bertron - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rainbow_flag_and_blue_skies.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most beloved and tasty sweet treats all over the world is the Oreo cookie. More than 40 billion Oreos are consumed each year - making it the most popular cookie in the world. This is the story of the Oreo. Sponsor Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active. Sources https://www.seriouseats.com/history-of-oreos-bravetart-cookbook https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-the-oreo-cookie-1779206 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oreo History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of greatest authors in history is William Shakespeare. Renowned for numerous plays, poems, and more, he has produced some of the greatest contributions to the English literary canon. But that begs the question - did he write his plays? Yes he did. But that doesn’t mean the theory doesn’t have a fascinating history. This is the story of the Shakespeare authorship question. Sponsor Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active. Sources https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/william-shakespeare/shakespeare-authorship-question/ https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/shakespeare-authorship-question https://shakespeareauthorship.com/ Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Title_page_William_Shakespeare%27s_First_Folio_1623.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 14th century - Mansa Musa - the ruler of the kingdom of Mali in West Africa - went on a Hadj to Mecca. To impress all that he met he had a retinue of as many as 60,000 - and brought with him 20 tons of gold. This has made many dub Mansa Musa the richest person in history. Sponsor Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active. Sources https://magazine.northwestern.edu/features/caravans-of-gold-fragments-in-time/a-golden-age-king-mansa-musas-reign https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansa_Musa https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47379458 Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catalan_Atlas_BNF_Sheet_6_Mansa_Musa_(cropped).jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In October of 1923, a young Adolf Hitler and his Nazi party attempted to seize control of the German government. The attempt failed - but it would thrust Hitler onto the national political stage. This is the story of Adolf Hitler and the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch. Sponsor Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active. Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_Hall_Putsch https://www.history.com/articles/hitler-failed-beer-hall-putsch https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/beer-hall-putsch-munich-putsch Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_119-1486,_Hitler-Putsch,_München,_Marienplatz.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Along the Nile river, deep in antiquity, there was a powerful kingdom. They built pyramids, constructed grand palaces, and crafted beautiful artwork. They conquered neighbors, and fought off invaders. And existed for over a thousand years. But I am not talking about the Egyptians. Just look a little farther to the south and you will see amazing people, often overlooked. This is the story of the Kingdom of Kush. Sponsor Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active. Sources https://www.britannica.com/place/Nubia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Kush Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nubian_pyramids.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over a hundred years ago, a pair of albino squirrels took up residence in the woods in Olney, Illinois. At its peak, it was said that more than 800 of the white squirrels were in the area. Today that number is much less, but the squirrels are now protected and pampered by the town’s residents. This is the story of the White Squirrels of Olney. Sponsor Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active. Sources https://www.enjoyillinois.com/plan-your-trip/travel-inspiration/white-squirrels-of-olney/ https://www.ci.olney.il.us/visitors/white_squirrels/ https://www.ffa.org/ffa-in-the-usa/where-are-the-white-squirrels/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/can-a-small-towns-protections-for-albino-squirrels-inspire-other-cities-to-guard-wildlife-against-cats-180986007/ History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Scottish Clan MacLeod is an old, highly regarded family with a history going back over 700 years. Their traditional seat of power is Castle Dunvegan. Inside the castle lie not one, not two, but three different heirlooms of the MacLeod Clan. These are the Fairy Flag, the Dunvegan Cup, and Sir Rory Mor's Horn. Each has their own legendary - even magical - histories. This is the story of the Heirlooms of Dunvegan. Sponsor Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active. Sources https://www.dunvegancastle.com/castle/fairy-flag/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_Flag https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9qj5x92g1lo https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-Fairy-Flag-of-the-MacLeods/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Rory_Mor%27s_Horn https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunvegan_Cup Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_Flag#/media/File:Dunvegan_Cup,_Fairy_Flag,_Rory_Mor's_Horn_(photo,_sometime_before_1927).jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The shocking murder of two American officers in the Joint Security Area between North and South Korea threatens to start a war. This is the story of the Panmunjom axe murder incident - and the American and South Korean response - commonly known as Operation Paul Bunyan. Sponsor Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active. Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panmunjom_axe_murder_incident https://ns.clementspapers.org/briefing-books/korea-tree-incident Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:North_Korean_Axe_Murderers_at_DMZ_-_1976.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, if you want to listen to a something, chances are you can pop it up on your phone, and boom, there you go. But before that, there was the iPod, CDs, cassettes, and vinyl. But before that, there were wax cylinders. All the way back in 1888 they were the first commercial recording device. This is the story of the Phonograph Cylinder. Sources https://www.loc.gov/collections/edison-company-motion-pictures-and-sound-recordings/articles-and-essays/history-of-edison-sound-recordings/history-of-the-cylinder-phonograph/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonograph_cylinder ; https://www.hagley.org/librarynews/earliest-sound-recordings-short-history-cylinders Images: By M. Dupres: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonograph_cylinder#/media/File:Cilindrodefonografo.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 1920s, Emilio Carranza became an accomplished pilot, setting records for long distance flying throughout North America. His fame would spread, and he was dubbed the Lindbergh of Mexico. Sadly, he would die at the age of 22 while on a goodwill mission to the United States. This is the story of Emilio Carranza. Sources https://www.mentalfloss.com/history/why-mexican-aviation-legend-remembered-new-jersey-pine-barrens https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/emilio-carranza-memorial https://weirdnj.com/stories/local-heroes-and-villains/carranza/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emilio_Carranza Images: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Emilio_carranza.jpg and https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yonkers_Statesman_1928_06_14_12.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most ubiquitous and highest selling foods in the United States is the banana. From the big box Walmart, to your local mom and pop grocery store everyone sells them. But the banana we eat today is very different from less than a century ago. And that is because the banana we used to eat almost went extinct. This is the story of why bananas used to taste so different. Sources https://www.epicurious.com/ingredients/history-of-the-gros-michel-banana https://www.planthealthaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Panama-disease-FS.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavendish_banana https://www.britannica.com/science/Panama-disease History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On March 9, 1862, two ships met at Hampton Roads near where the James River flows into Chesapeake Bay. What followed was a historic clash - the first ever between iron clad ships. This is the story of the Monitor vs the Merrimack. Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hampton_Roads https://www.marinersmuseum.org/learn/explore-topics/uss-monitor-story/ Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ironclads_battle_7.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With just 70 men the gladiator slave Spartacus planned a revolt and escaped. Turning those 70 men into over 70,000. And in the process defeated multiple Roman armies and became one of the biggest thorns in the side the Roman Republic ever saw. This is the story of Spartacus. Sources https://www.livius.org/sources/content/plutarch/plutarchs-crassus/plutarch-on-spartacus/ https://www.livius.org/sources/content/appian/appian-spartacus/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Servile_War Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tod_des_Spartacus_by_Hermann_Vogel.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Valentine’s Day is a $20 billion a year industry in the United States. So how did St. Valentine’s Day become such a big deal? Today we will tell you by looking at who St. Valentine really was - and how his day has evolved into one of the biggest holidays - money wise - in the world. Sources https://www.history.com/articles/real-st-valentine-medieval https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine%27s_Day Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Matija_Bradaška_-_Sv._Valentin.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In November of 1520 the king of Sweden and Denmark, King Christian II, betrayed the Swedish nobility. After a feast, he imprisoned dozens of nobles and clergymen and then proceeded to execute 82 of them in the town square of Stockholm for heresy. This is the story of the Stockholm Bloodbath. Sources https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2021/11/the-stockholm-bloodbath-of-november-1520/ https://www.britannica.com/event/Stockholm-Bloodbath https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_Bloodbath Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stockholm_Bloodbath.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1781, Rachel Wall and her husband desperate for a better life - turned to piracy. Over a two-year period, their small band of marauders captured a dozen ships - and murdered 24 men. This is the story of Rachel Wall - America’s first female pirate. Sources https://pastispresent.org/2025/good-sources/in-her-own-words-the-life-and-death-of-rachel-wall-massachusetts-female-pirate/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Wall https://www.annebonnypirate.com/famous-female-pirates/rachel-wall/ History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases in the world, affecting over 500 million people. Today it is very manageable, and thanks to modern medicine most people can live a long, normal life. But that was not always the case. Before the 1920s diabetes was often a death sentence. At least until Frederick Banting and Charles Best found a way to isolate insulin from dog pancreases. This is the story of the discovery of insulin. Sources https://diabetes.org/blog/history-wonderful-thing-we-call-insulin https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6205949/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666970621000494 Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:C._H._Best_and_F._G._Banting_ca._1924_Insulin_P10103_0001.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the morning of August 27, 1979, a bomb exploded on a fishing boat off the coast of Ireland. Two children were amongst the dead, as was British statesman and naval officer Lord Mountbatten. The bombing was one of the most polarizing moments in the conflict simply known as ‘The Troubles’. This is the story of the Assassination of Lord Mountbatten. Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Lord_Mountbatten https://www.history.com/articles/mountbatten-assassination-ira-thatcher History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the island of Sri Lanka there is a mountain that is sacred to multiple religions. For thousands of years people have made pilgrimages to the summit of this peak to see the great rock formation that some say is the footprint of Adam - or Buddha - or St. Thomas the Apostle - or Shiva. This the story of Sri Pada - or Adam’s Peak. Sources https://sacredland.org/sri-pada-sri-lanka/ https://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/sri-pada/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam%27s_Peak History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

William Henry Harrison became the 9th president of the United States on March 4, 1841, and served out his presidency admirably. He generated no scandals, entered no wars, and caused no economic crisis. Of course that was helped by the fact that he served for one month before his untimely death. This is the story of William Henry Harrison, the shortest serving U.S. president. Sources https://millercenter.org/president/harrison https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/william-henry-harrison Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Henry_Harrison_crop.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lonnie Johnson is an accomplished aerospace engineer who has worked for NASA and the United States Air Force. He worked on the Stealth Bomber, and owns three tech companies. He has many awards, prizes, and patents. But Johnson is most famous for inventing one of the most beloved toys in history - the Super Soaker. Sources https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-37062579 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonnie_Johnson_(inventor) Image courtesy of Office of Naval Research: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:160202-N-PO203-046_%2824659795822%29.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1968 a Soviet nuclear submarine was lost beneath the waves of the Pacific Ocean, at a depth of over 15,000 feet. It was considered unattainable. Unless you are the CIA, who contracted with Howard Hughes, the famed Hollywood director and mega inventor, to specially construct a vessel to dredge the sub from the bottom of the ocean - all under the utmost secrecy. This is the story of Project Azorian. Sources https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/nukevault/ebb305/doc01.pdf https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/nukevault/ebb305/ https://www.cia.gov/legacy/museum/exhibit/project-azorian/ Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Azorian#/media/File:USNS_Glomar_Explorer_(T-AG-193).jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Japan is home to many unique places, but one of the most fascinating is Aoshima - aka - Cat Island. At its height, the tiny island of Aoshima was home to hundreds of cats - outnumbering humans by more than 35-1. This is the story of Cat Island. Sources https://japanswitch.com/ultimate-guide-to-aoshima-aka-cat-island-2/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/27/japans-cat-island-falls-victim-to-demographic-crisis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aoshima,_Ehime History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was a normal spring afternoon on April 20, 1979, when president Jimmy Carter, while visiting his home in Georgia, was attacked by a rabbit. This is the story of the Jimmy Carter rabbit incident, and the media storm it created. Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carter_rabbit_incident "The Other Side of the Story" by Jody Powell History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1996, Pepsi launched a new loyalty campaign. Buy Pepsi soda - get Pepsi points - which got you Pepsi branded stuff. For this campaign, a commercial featured a teenage boy flying a $37m fighter jet - which he had gotten using Pepsi points. It was all a good laugh until someone decided to redeem $700,000 of Pepsi points for the plane. This is the story of the Pepsi Points Jet Fighter Lawsuit. Watch the commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdackF2H7Qc Sources https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/getting-harrierd-away/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/1996-man-sues-pepsi-for-not-giving-him-a-harrier-jet/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_v._Pepsico%2C_Inc. History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On December 31, 1931, a trapper known as Albert Johnson shot and killed a Canadian police officer in the remote Northwest Territories. He fled into the wilderness, and proceeded to evade arrest for 48 days in -40 degree weather. But even today, his identity remains a mystery. This is the story of the Mad Trapper of the Rat River. Sources https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/albert-johnson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Johnson_(criminal) Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mad_Trapper-Na-1258-119.jpg#mw-jump-to-license History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Feb. 19, 1942, the Nazis invaded Winnipeg, Canada. However, these Nazis were Canadians engaging in one of the most realistic and detailed mock invasions ever put together. This is the story of ‘If Day’ - the simulated Nazi Invasion of Winnipeg. Sources https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/if-day https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/mb_history/13/ifday.shtml https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_Day Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fake_Nazi_soldiers_assaulting_a_Winnipeg_Free_Press_newsie,_19_February_1942.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the pristine waters of Lake Champlain Vermont there exists a legend. A creature over a hundred feet long rivaling that of even the famed Loch Ness monster. This is the story of Champ. - the wild and wonderful lake monster of Lake Champlain. Sources https://www.lakechamplainregion.com/heritage/champ "The untold story of Champ : a social history of America's Loch Ness Monster" by Robert E. Bartholomew https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champ_(folklore) History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the United States, one can go into a bar and rarely not find an India Pale Ale beer. The IPA, which emerged out of the craft brew revolution, is one of the most popular craft beers. Yet the origins of the IPA are fascinating - with heavy links to British colonialism. This is the story of the India Pale Ale - and its rise in popularity around the world. Sources https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-india-pale-ale-got-its-name-180954891/ https://beerconnoisseur.com/articles/complete-truth-about-origins-india-pale-ale-ipa/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_pale_ale Images: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mcewans_Pale_India_Ale.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The largest ski race in the world is the Vasaloppet, which is 90 kilometers in distance and attracts over 15,000 participants every year. And it all started when a renegade Swedish noble was on the run from the Danish king. This is the story of the Vasaloppet. Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Vasa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasaloppet http://www.vasaloppet.se/om-oss/sa-borjade-allt/ Images: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vasaloppet_Kortvasan_Oxberg.JPG https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:King_Gustav_Vasa_of_Sweden_Addressing_Men_from_Dalarna_in_Mora_(Johan_Gustaf_Sandberg)_-_Nationalmuseum_-_19512.tif?page=1 History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1859, the United States and Great Britain almost got into a shooting war. The reason - an American farmer shot and killed a pig on a disputed island in the Pacific Northwest. This is the story of the Pig War. Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pig_War_(1859) https://www.nps.gov/sajh/learn/historyculture/the-pig-war.htm Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Building_the_redoubt.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most famous extinct animals is the Dodo bird. Located on the island of Mauritius, it went extinct less than a century after it was first described. This opened the eyes of the world to the effects that humans can have on an untouched environment. However, the Dodo has been the target of a 500-year long smear campaign, and was nowhere near as foolish as many believe. This is the story of the Dodo bird. Sources https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/the-dodo-bird-the-real-facts-about-this-icon-of-extinction.html https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250714-why-history-got-the-dodo-so-absurdly-wrong https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodo Image: by BazzaDaRamble - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oxford_Dodo_display.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In late 1939, the Soviet Union decided to take control of neighboring Finland. The Soviet Union had a population of nearly 200 million - while Finland had 3.7 million. How hard could it be? Well, lots harder than anyone imagined. Within six weeks two Soviet Divisions were wiped out - and nearly 30,000 Red Army troops were dead. This is the story of the Battle of Suomussalmi. Sources https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/the-winter-wars-classic-victory/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Suomussalmi https://wbmf.online/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/WOJNA_ZIMOWA_EN_web.pdf Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_Finnish_Maxim_M-32_machine_gun_nest_during_the_Winter_War.jpgg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1979, a reactor at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant experienced a failure. It was triggered by a small issue that eventually turned into a partial meltdown. It is the closest the United States has ever come to a major nuclear incident, permanently shifting the popularity of nuclear power. This is the story of the Three Mile Island accident. Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Mile_Island_accident https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/3mile-isle https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/three-mile-island-accident Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Three_Mile_Island_(color)-2.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to legend, in 1776, a group of Continental officials, including George Washington, came to the home of Philadelphia upholster Betsy Ross, and asked her to create a flag to represent the young American republic. The result would be the famed Betsy Ross flag. But did this really happen? Let’s find out with the story of the Betsy Ross Flag. Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betsy_Ross_flag https://research.colonialwilliamsburg.org/Foundation/journal/Summer08/betsy.cfm Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RossBetsy.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From 1986 through 2013, a hermit occupied the area of Belgrade Lake, Maine. During those 27 years he lived virtually without human contact, and survived through burglary. - over a thousand of them - before finally being caught. This is the story of the North Pond Hermit. Sources https://www.gq.com/story/the-last-true-hermit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Thomas_Knight History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1701, construction of the famed Amber Room began. It was made of 1,000 pounds of amber panels, gold, gemstones, and mirrors. It was so extraordinary, it was called the "Eighth Wonder of the World". Then, in WWII, the Nazis looted the Amber Room from Russia, and took it back to Prussia. The room was there until the waning days of WWII - but after that - it disappeared. Was it destroyed or buried in the bombing and artillery attacks? Or had it been spirited away by ship or train? To this day - no one knows. This is the story of the Amber Room. Sources https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/amber-room-mystery-russia-nazis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amber_Room Image: File:Catherine Palace interior - Amber Room (1).jpg - Wikimedia Commons History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate Warne became America's first female private detective in 1856, joining the famed Pinkerton detective agency. During her 12-year career she helped thwart Confederate spies, protect high profile targets, and even assisted in preventing the Baltimore plot - an assassination attempt on Abraham Lincoln. This is the story of Kate Warne. Sources "The Baltimore Plot: The First Conspiracy to Assassinate Abraham Lincoln" by Michael Kline https://www.nps.gov/foth/learn/historyculture/kate-warne-private-detective.htm Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kate-warne(cropped).jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On March 4, 1865, Vice-President-Elect Andrew Johnson gave the most memorable - and controversial - vice-presidential inauguration speech in American history. And that is because Johnson, according to most observers, was resoundingly drunk - and had been on and off for the previous week. Johnson would mumble, slur, and insult his way through his speech, which would color him - and his subsequent presidency - for the rest of his life. This is the story of Andrew Johnson's drunken vice-presidential inaugural address. Sources https://www.npca.org/articles/1720-the-drunken-veep https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson%27s_drunk_vice-presidential_inaugural_address https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Andy_Johnson,_Military_Gov._of_Tenn_LCCN2003654038.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 1970s and 80s the swamps of south Florida became the perfect place to smuggle drugs into the United States. And the fishermen of the swamps were the perfect smugglers to ferry these illicit goods. The epicenter of this smuggling was Everglades City where almost the entire town was involved in the drug trade. This all came to a head in 1983 with Operation Everglades where nearly 80% of the adult male population was arrested for their involvement in smuggling. This is the story of Operation Everglades. Sources https://www.flmd.uscourts.gov/drug-smuggling http://www.floridahistorynetwork.com/july-7-1983---operation-everglades-drug-bust-rocks-everglades-city.html https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/reporter/F2/779/779.F2d.1520.84-5499.84-5472.html History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In November of 1956, the Hungarian Water Polo team came to Melbourne, Australia, for the Olympic games. But back in Europe, the player’s homeland was only a couple of weeks removed from a bloody - and failed - uprising against the Soviet Union. Then, on Dec. 6, in the semi finals - the Hungarian polo team was slated to face the Soviet Union - who many saw as their suppressors and overlords. What followed was one of the most brutal matches - of any sport - in Olympic history. This is the story of the Blood on the Water polo match. Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom%27s_Fury https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_in_the_Water_match https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_Revolution_of_1956 History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the South Pacific island of Tanna, the locals are waiting for a man to return and save them this man’s name, John Frum. He is the central figure in the most prominent cargo cult in the south pacific, dating to the start of World War Two. But the origins are just as murky as the man himself. This is the story of the John Frum Cargo Cult. "John Frum He Come" by Edward Rice https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/in-john-they-trust-109294882/ Image: By Leigh Cooney - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flow_My_Tears_John_Frum_Said_-_Painting_by_Leigh_Cooney.jpg This thumbnail image is titled "Flow My Tears, John Fruma Said" and features Leigh Cooney's interpretation of John Frum as a Christ Figure to represent the absurdity of turning to Gods as a source of answers for aspects of life we don't understand. History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Sept 10, 1813, on Lake Erie, nine vessels of the United States Navy met - and defeated - six ships of the British Royal Navy in one of the biggest naval battles of the War of 1812. The battle ensured American control of the lake for the rest of the war, which in turn allowed the Americans to recover Detroit, and win the Battle of the Thames - which broke the Indian confederation of Tecumseh. This is the Battle of Lake Erie. Sources https://www.nps.gov/pevi/learn/historyculture/battle_erie_detail.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lake_Erie Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Battle_of_Lake_Erie.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Around 1150 AD, near the village of Woolpit - in East England - two mysterious children suddenly appeared. They wore odd clothing and spoke a strange language. And most shockingly - their skin was green. This is the story of Green Children of Woolpit. Sources https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/The-Green-Children-of-Woolpit/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_children_of_Woolpit https://www.historyskills.com/classroom/year-8/green-children/ History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The most isolated island in the world is Bouvet Island. It is located over a thousand miles from any other location The nearest land Antarctica. It has an amazing history of discovery, loss, phantom islands, and much more. This is the story of Bouvet Island. Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouvet_Island https://www.lifeinnorway.net/bouvet-island/ Image courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center. http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov - ID# ISS017-E-16161 History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 892, the Viking warrior Sigurd Eysteinsson was the scourge of the north of Scotland. Through unscrupulous means, he had just defeated one of his main rivals - a Pictish chief named Máel Brigte. He rode off the battlefield with the head of his foe hanging from his saddle - a trophy of his victory. However, despite being dead, Máel Brigte would have his revenge - killing Sigurd in a most unique manner. This is the story of the Death of Sigurd Eysteinsson. Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigurd_Eysteinsson https://theorkneynews.scot/2024/03/19/earl-sigurd-i-the-mighty/ History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1816, the 40-gun French frigate, the Medusa, departed for the overseas colony of Senegal, carrying 400 people. Incompetent and selfish decisions allowed the ship run aground, and 147 people were stranded on a raft. Only 15 survived. Their harrowing story includes murder and cannibalism. This is the story of the raft of the Medusa. Sources https://shipwrecks.hist.sites.carleton.edu/the-medusa/the-medusa-historical-background/ https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-147348 "Narrative of a Voyage to Senegal in 1816" by Jean Baptiste Henri Savigny and Alexandre Corréard Raft the Medusa painting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Raft_of_the_Medusa Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JEAN_LOUIS_THÉODORE_GÉRICAULT_-_La_Balsa_de_la_Medusa_(Museo_del_Louvre,_1818-19).jpg#mw-jump-to-license History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1862, a man born into slavery - Robert Smalls - pulled off an unlikely escape from his captors. He, his friends, and their families, stole a ship, and sailed out of Charleston harbor - right under the noses of the Confederates. But Smalls' extraordinary life was just beginning. He would serve with Union forces throughout the Civil War, then become a successful businessman, and politician. This is the life of Robert Smalls. Sources https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/21764 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Smalls Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Robert_Smalls,_captain_of_the_gun-boat_%22Planter%22_The_gun-boat_%22Planter,%22_run_out_of_Charleston,_S.C.,_by_Robert_Smalls,_May_1862._LCCN97512451_Trim.jpg History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices