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History Dispatches

Matt and McKinley Breen
World War II
World War I
Wisconsin
Civil War
Cold War
Soviet Union
Grace Hopper
Sterling Hall Bombing
Edmund Fitzgerald
Amber Room
Irish History
Nellie Bly
Vietnam War
Robert Smalls
Operation Everglades
Christopher Knight
Dodo Bird
Nazi Germany
Rome
Battle Of Mers-El-Kébir

History Dispatches is a daily history show hosted by father and son duo Matt and McKinley Breen. The show covers people, places, events and even objects from throughout history. While any topic is fair game, Matt and McKinley hold a soft spot for the offbeat and wacky stories that most people don’t know about.

PublishesDailyEpisodes367Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for History Dispatches

Latest Episodes

On a blustery, wet day in May of 1954, British runner Roger Bannister - an Oxford medical student - accomplished a long distance running feat that many had said would never be achieved. It would make Bannister the sportsperson of the year - and his a... more

Sliced bread is a simple yet ingenious invention with a surprisingly short history. Almost as soon as it came onto the market, it took over American bakeries and became a staple in every household. Except, for a brief few months in 1943 when the Unit... more

From 2008-10, the Lower Merion School District - in suburban Philadelphia - issued laptops to more than 2,300 high school students for school and home use. What they didn’t tell the kids or their parents was that the district loaded the laptops with ... more

Defenestrate is a highly specific word. It means to throw someone out of a window. And it comes from the city of Prague where several people were tossed out of a window and helped ignite a brutal religious war. And then it happened again 200 years la... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Chris Stewart
Host of History of China podcast
History of China podcast
Episode: Katyn Massacre
Monet Izabeth
Explorer, first American woman to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole
Independent explorer
Episode: Monet Izabeth – the first American woman to ski solo, and unsupported, to the South Pole
Will Clark
Host of Grey History, a podcast focusing on the French Revolution
Grey History
Episode: How the French Stole Christmas
Ian Sanders
Host of Cold War Conversations Podcast, an expert in Cold War history and personal testimonies.
Cold War Conversations Podcast
Episode: Oleg Gordievsky - MI6's most valuable Cold War Spy
Jeff Moore
A musician and participant in the 504 protest
Episode: 504 Protest
Mike Troy
Host of the American Revolution Podcast, an expert in American Revolutionary history
American Revolution Podcast
Episode: Battle of Bunker Hill
Howard Dorre
Runs the Plodding Through the Presidents podcast
Plodding Through the Presidents
Episode: Billy Possum
Steve Silverman
Podcast host and teacher, known for the Useless Information Podcast
Useless Information Podcast
Episode: The Denver Spiderman

Hosts

Matt Breen
Host of History Dispatches; father in the father–son hosting duo; regular narrative guide and co-presenter.
McKinley Breen
Co-host of History Dispatches; provides storytelling, host introductions, and collaborative discussion.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 326 ratings
  • I love these short stories. BUT please stop advertising Gambling. Gambling does great harm. Plus the adds come on way too loud! Actually, unsubscribed.

    Podcast Addict
    2
    Dallas
    9 days ago
  • Going Political

    I used to enjoy this podcast but now it is more political. It makes me sad because history shouldn’t be told with a spin.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Burger awesome
    United States23 days ago
  • Super fun show!

    Love these guys’ dynamic and it’s always informative and entertaining. Keep up the great work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Refriger8tor
    United States2 months ago
  • Great Stories & Chemistry

    This show is always my first podcast of the day. I enjoy shows with a wide variety of topics. History Dispatches gives me that, plus they do a good job of researching the material.

    Having Matt (dad) & Mic (son) co-host makes it fun and unique.

    Someone please buy some advertising from them!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    prhang
    United States3 months ago
  • Love it!

    I absolutely love this show! I am a teacher and listen to it every day on my drive into work. Matt and McKinley have such a great banter on the show. They cover the most interesting topics and do it with such great. I love the fact that any age can listen to and enjoy the show. I highly recommend it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    krisev
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the father–son banter and clear explanations.
Many note the show as approachable for all ages and great for quick history bites.
Family-friendly and easy to listen to during commutes or car trips.
A few listeners criticize occasional woke bias in some episodes.
Positive feedback on varied topics and entertaining storytelling.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#216
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#183
Colombia/History
Apple Podcasts
#208
Hong Kong/History
Apple Podcasts
#238
Singapore/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Typhoid Mary
Q: What made Mary Mallon stand out as a case in public health history?
She was identified as the first known asymptomatic carrier of typhoid, capable of shedding the bacteria without showing symptoms, which prompted aggressive quarantine and a debate about civil liberties versus public safety.
Monet Izabeth – the first American woman to ski solo, and unsupported, to the South Pole
Q: How did she prepare physically and mentally for the journey?
She followed a structured training plan with a polar-coach, engaged in heavy physical work six days a week, and used two tires to simulate sled-pulling, plus mental strategies like expedition rules and personal video diaries to cope with hardship.
Monet Izabeth – the first American woman to ski solo, and unsupported, to the South Pole
Q: What does solo and unsupported mean in her expedition?
Monet explains that she would be entirely alone and had to haul all gear without outside resupply, using a two-sled setup and following a fixed route (Hercules Inlet) to the South Pole, which emphasized self-sufficiency.
James R. Vineyard - The man who shot and killed a fellow legislator - and got away with it
Q: Do we know exactly what his argument was that got him off of his manslaughter charges?
His lawyers argued self-defense since Vineyards was punched first.
How the French Stole Christmas
Q: What event flips the script back where it's okay to go back to church?
The end of the de-Christianization campaign began with the Thermidorian Reaction around mid-1794, which saw more moderate stances towards religion, but full public religious observance wouldn't return until 1795.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About History Dispatches

What is History Dispatches about and what kind of topics does it cover?

History Dispatches is a daily history show hosted by a father–son duo who bring compact, story-driven histories to a broad audience. Episodes cover a wide range of topics—from well-known events to offbeat curiosities—delivered with accessible explanations, brisk pacing, and humorous banter. The format tends to favor bite-sized narratives, clear takeaways, and occasional tangents that keep the material lively and approachable for listeners at work, in the car, or at home. A notable strength is the blend of solid research with warm, family-friendly dynamics, making it easy to binge and suitable for curious minds of many ages. One-off critiques aside, the program stands out for its consistently engaging delivery and breadth of topics across hi... more

Where can I find podcast stats for History Dispatches?

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How many listeners does History Dispatches get?

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How many subscribers and views does History Dispatches have?

To see how many followers or subscribers History Dispatches has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to History Dispatches?

These podcasts share a similar audience with History Dispatches:

1. The Explorers Podcast
2. Useless Information Podcast
3. The Ancient World
4. American History Hit
5. Key Battles of American History

How many episodes of History Dispatches are there?

History Dispatches launched a year ago and published 367 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact History Dispatches?

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What guests have appeared on History Dispatches?

Recent guests on History Dispatches include:

1. Chris Stewart
2. Monet Izabeth
3. Will Clark
4. Ian Sanders
5. Jeff Moore
6. Mike Troy
7. Howard Dorre
8. Steve Silverman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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