Episodes

  • Indestructible Jack Lucas

    Indestructible Jack Lucas
    Apr 21 2026
    In 1942, 14-year old Jack Lucas lied about his age to join the Marines - even bribing a notary to attest he was 17. Tired of missing out on the action, he later abandoned his unit to join another marine detachment - which was bound for Iwo Jima. He then joined in the invasion of the island - and in the process - became the youngest Marine to ever receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. He did this by diving on two grenades to save the lives of his comrades - and - miraculously - survived. This is the story of indestructible Jack Lucas. 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/Jacklyn_H._Lucas https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/incredible-story-jack-lucas-youngest-medal-honor-recipient-world-war-ii https://www.military.com/marine-corps-birthday/badass-of-the-week-jacklyn-h-lucas.html Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lucas_JH.jpg 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 more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    14 mins
  • The East German Hot Air Balloon Escape

    The East German Hot Air Balloon Escape
    Apr 20 2026
    In September of 1979, two East German families escaped to the west using a very unconventional method - a hot air balloon. It was an escape that required failed prototypes, a near disaster, and raw gumption. This is the story of the East German Hot Air Balloon Escape. 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/East_Germany_balloon_escape https://thewallmuseum.com/en/balloon-escape-from-the-gdr Popular Mechanics: Feb 1980; "The Freedom Balloon" 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 more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    20 mins
  • War of the Golden Stool

    War of the Golden Stool
    Apr 17 2026
    In 1900, a British colonial official demanded an African tribe - the Ashanti - give him a holy relic as a symbol of their capitulation to the English Crown. They refused - and instead took up arms against the British. The end result was thousands dead. This is the story of the War of the Golden Stool. 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://adf-magazine.com/2022/08/nana-yaa-asantewaa-and-the-war-of-the-golden-stool/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Golden_Stool https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Stool Images: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Typical_fight_in_the_forest,_Anglo-Ashanti_War_of_1900_(Battles_of_the_nineteenth_century,_1901).jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Ashanti.svg 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 more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    14 mins
  • Milwaukee Bridge War

    Milwaukee Bridge War
    Apr 16 2026
    The city of Milwaukee began as a collection of three towns around the mouth of the Milwaukee River. None of these communities liked each other very much, and vied for supremacy over the area. This competition would turn into open conflict, and the main target, was the cities' bridges. This is the story of the Milwaukee Bridge 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://emke.uwm.edu/entry/bridge-war/ https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/ae-feature/bridge-wars/ Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Milwaukee_1858.jpg 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 more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    14 mins
  • Florentine Diamond

    Florentine Diamond
    Apr 15 2026
    The Florentine Diamond is a 137-carat diamond, known for its long association with European royalty. However, after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 - the diamond disappeared. And it would remain that way until November of 2025 - when the fate of the famed gem would be revealed. This is the story of the Florentine Diamond. 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.instyle.com/florentine-diamond-found-story-mystery-value-11845394 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florentine_Diamond https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/arts/design/florentine-diamond-resurfaces-hapsburg.html Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Florentiner_Glaskopie_NHM_Ay762.jpg 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 more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    14 mins
  • St. Olga of Kyiv

    St. Olga of Kyiv
    Apr 14 2026
    Saints, in the Christian tradition, are people that are in heaven and can influence the world. Most saints are there for their kindness, generosity, piety, or any number of good traits. And then there is St. Olga of Kyiv, who, as regent of Kievan Rus, avenged her husband by burying enemies alive, burning envoys, and torching entire cities in the name of revenge. This is the story of St. Olga of Kyiv. 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 Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Olga_by_Nesterov_in_1892_(cropped).jpg 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 more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    19 mins
  • Cher Ami - the Hero Pigeon

    Cher Ami - the Hero Pigeon
    Apr 13 2026
    In darkest hours of World War I, more than 500 American troops were surrounded by the Germans in the Argonne Forest in France. They were facing furious fire - and were subject to artillery fire from their own forces. The American commander would need a hero to get word to his comrades to stop the shelling - and get his troops rescued. And a hero would step up. Or should we say - fly up. This is the story of Cher Ami - the pigeon who saved the Lost Battalion. 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/Cher_Ami https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news/1210-cher-ami-the-pigeon-that-saved-the-lost-battalion.html 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 more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    18 mins
  • Ocracoke Island Cemetery

    Ocracoke Island Cemetery
    Apr 10 2026
    The British flag flies in many places around the globe, but one of the most unlikely is a small cemetery on Ocracoke island in North Carolina. Its origin dates back to WWII, and the location has been permanently leased to the British Government. This is the story of the British cemetery on Ocracoke Island. 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://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/missions/battleoftheatlantic2/bedfordshire.html https://www.ocracokepreservationsociety.org/ops-events/britishcemetery https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/find-cemeteries-memorials/cemetery-details/2073156/ocracoke-island-british-cemetery/ Image: By Sedna10387 - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ocracoke_Part_2_030.JPG 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 more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    14 mins