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History Dispatches

Matt and McKinley Breen
World War II
Soviet Union
World War I
Civil War
Cold War
Wisconsin
Roman Empire
Alcibiades
Nazi Germany
Battle Of Teutoburg Forest
Bob Beamon
Grace Hopper
Sterling Hall Bombing
Amber Room
Rome
Irish History
Nellie Bly
Robert Smalls
Christopher Knight
Operation Everglades

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes334Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for History Dispatches

Latest Episodes

In August of 1969, the festering discontent felt by Irish Catholics in Northern Ireland would erupt into three days of fighting in the city of Derry - in an area called the Bogside. When the rioting was done, the British army was deployed for the fir... more

Mary Mallon was a simple cook - no one special. At least until she was identified as the very first asymptomatic carrier of typhoid fever. In her life she unknowingly infected hundreds of people. As a result, she was quarantined against her will for ... more

Near the town of Kutná Hora in the Czech Republic is a gothic chapel that many say resembles something out of a horror film. The chapel holds the bones of upwards of 70,000 people. And the bones are the chapel’s furnishings and decorations, including... more

The film industry loves a good war movie. It’s usually a way to put action and heroics on the big screen. As we observe Memorial Day in the United States - which is to honor those who died in the military - we share with you some of our favorite war ... more

Key Facts

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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; affiliated with History Dispatches in most episodes.
McKinley Breen
Co-host; provides historical narration and host banter.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 309 ratings
  • 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 States20 days ago
  • Great podcast

    I love the banter between the hosts and how they explain things pragmatically without entertaining conspiracy theories.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Monty mountain
    United States2 months ago
  • Great for curious kids and adults!

    Everyone in the car on the way to a soccer game enjoys it. The grandparents, parents, teenagers, and elementary kids. Matt and McKinley give you enough info to grasp the event but allow for more discovery if you want to dig deeper.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BenznStudents
    United States2 months ago
  • Easy learning

    Love the easy style between father and son. Great and unexpected topics covered. Don’t take themselves super seriously either.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Donkey Ote
    Australia2 months ago
  • Fantastic

    Love this show, short sharp and often funny reviews by a father son team who have a genuine appreciation for interning history and good story telling

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    julianhuitfeldt
    Sweden2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the father–son banter and clear, engaging delivery.
Many praise accessibility for all ages and quick, informative episodes.
The show explains topics pragmatically with approachable storytelling.
Some critiques mention occasional perceived bias in certain topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#213
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#239
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#133
Colombia/History
Apple Podcasts
#197
Philippines/History
Apple Podcasts
#219
Ukraine/History
Apple Podcasts
#225
Israel/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
How the French Stole Christmas
Q: How does this all affect Christmas?
Due to the de-Christianization efforts, the National Convention closed churches, targeting significant traditions like Midnight Mass, which contributed to the public celebration of Christmas being effectively canceled across large areas of France, alongside the imposition of a new revolutionary calendar.

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?

Daily history shorts hosted by a father–son duo, blending informative storytelling with light banter. Episodes span a wide range of topics—from local archival tales to famous historical figures and cultural milestones—delivered in approachable 20-minute segments. The format often combines lively narrative, small-scale humor, and clear takeaways, making history feel accessible for a broad audience including casual listeners, students, and families. A noteworthy edge is the duo's chemistry and willingness to tackle offbeat or lesser-known stories, sometimes weaving in modern connections or listener-suggested topics, which keeps the feed fresh and engaging for sponsor-friendly, broad-reach campaigns.

Where can I find podcast stats for History Dispatches?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for History Dispatches. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to History Dispatches and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does History Dispatches get?

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What are the audience demographics for History Dispatches?

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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. History Unplugged Podcast
3. American History Hit
4. Short History Of...
5. History Daily

How many episodes of History Dispatches are there?

History Dispatches launched a year ago and published 334 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for History Dispatches?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for History Dispatches from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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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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