Episodes

  • The Centennial Light: The Bulb That Refused to Burn Out

    The Centennial Light: The Bulb That Refused to Burn Out
    Jun 12 2026
    In a fire station in Livermore, California, a small light bulb has been glowing for more than a century. Known as the Centennial Light, it has witnessed the rise of automobiles, two world wars, the dawn of the space age, and the emergence of the digital era, all while continuing to shine. Its extraordinary lifespan has made it a symbol of durability and sparked endless questions about how early light bulbs were made and why modern bulbs seem so short-lived by comparison. In this episode, we'll explore the history of the Centennial Light, and the surprising story of a humble bulb that became one of the world's most enduring technological marvels. Sources https://www.centennialbulb.org/docs/centennial%20bulb%20report.pdf https://www.centennialbulb.org/ Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centennial_Light#/media/File:Livermore_Centennial_Light_Bulb.jpg Sponsor Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box. New subscribers only. While supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details). 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
  • Haymarket Affair: Blood, Bombs, and Labor Rights

    Haymarket Affair: Blood, Bombs, and Labor Rights
    Jun 10 2026
    On the evening of May 4, 1886, a labor rally in Chicago's Haymarket Square turned into one of the most controversial events in American history. What began as a peaceful gathering in support of workers demanding an eight-hour workday ended in chaos when a bomb exploded among police officers attempting to disperse the crowd. The blast and the gunfire that followed left 11 people dead and many more injured, sparking a national debate over labor rights, immigration, anarchism, and the limits of free speech. In this episode, we'll examine the events of that fateful night, the highly contentious trial that followed, and the lasting impact of the Haymarket Affair on the American labor movement and beyond. Sources https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/chicago-anarchists-and-haymarket-square-incident/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haymarket_affair Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HaymarketRiot-Harpers.jpg Sponsor Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box. New subscribers only. While supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details). 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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    24 mins
  • The Hanging Gardens of Babylon: Wonder or Myth?

    The Hanging Gardens of Babylon: Wonder or Myth?
    Jun 8 2026
    Among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, none may be more mysterious than the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Described by ancient writers as a breathtaking oasis of terraces, trees, and flowing water rising above the Mesopotamian landscape, the gardens have captured imaginations for more than two thousand years. Yet despite their fame, no definitive archaeological evidence has ever confirmed their existence. Were the Hanging Gardens a remarkable feat of engineering built by a powerful king for his beloved queen, or are they a legend that grew larger with time? And were they even located in Babylon? In this episode, we'll explore the history, myths, and enduring mystery surrounding one of antiquity's most fascinating wonders. Sources "The Mystery of the Hanging Garden of Babylon: An Elusive World Wonder Traced" by Stephanie Dalley Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hanging_Gardens_of_Babylon.jpg Sponsor Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box. New subscribers only. While supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details). 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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    22 mins
  • Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (Encore)

    Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (Encore)
    Jun 5 2026
    On Nov 10, 1975, a storm swept over Lake Superior. For hours and hours, the freighter Edmund Fitzgerald was tossed and battered. Then, a little after 7:00 pm, contact was lost with one of the biggest and most celebrated vessels to ever sail the Great Lakes. This is the story of the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Edmund_Fitzgerald https://shipwreckmuseum.com/edmund-fitzgerald/ Gordon Lightfoot's 'Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuzTkGyxkYI Image: Credit: Greenmars - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edmund_Fitzgerald,_1971,_3_of_4_(restored;_cropped).jpg Sponsor Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box. New subscribers only. While supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details). 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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    27 mins
  • The 335 Year War (Encore)

    The 335 Year War (Encore)
    Jun 4 2026
    For 335 years the Netherlands - maybe - fought a long, protracted war against the Isles of Scilly, in the English Channel. It would drag on and on, costing a grand total of zero lives, and only ended when someone bothered to figure out if they were actually still at war. The is the story of the 335 Year War. Sources https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/The-335-Year-War-the-Longest-War-in-History/ "Scilly at War" by R. L. Bowley Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abraham_Willaerts,_First_Dutch_War.jpeg Sponsor Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box. New subscribers only. While supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details). 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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    11 mins
  • The Rosetta Stone - the Key to Unlocking Egypt's Past (Encore)

    The Rosetta Stone - the Key to Unlocking Egypt's Past (Encore)
    Jun 3 2026
    On July 15, 1799, French soldiers discovered a large stone slab along the Nile Delta. They knew it was something special. But no one at the time realized it was the key to opening up the vast history of ancient Egypt. This is the story of the Rosetta Stone. Sources https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/everything-you-ever-wanted-know-about-rosetta-stone https://arce.org/resource/rosetta-stone-unlocking-ancient-egyptian-language/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosetta_Stone Image: @Hans Hillewaert - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rosetta_Stone.JPG Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    21 mins
  • Catacombs of Paris (Encore)

    Catacombs of Paris (Encore)
    Jun 2 2026
    Beneath the city of Paris lies a network of tunnels stretching hundreds of miles - many of which are not totally explored. Their origin dates back to the Middle Ages, and today are home to a massive cemetery. This is the story of the Catacombs of Paris. Sources https://www.catacombes.paris.fr/en/history/site-history https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/strange-maps-paris-catacombs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mines_of_Paris Image: Vlastula at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catacombes_de_Paris.JPG Sponsor Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box. New subscribers only. While supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details). 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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    16 mins
  • Bobbi Gibb - the First Woman to Run the Boston Marathon (Encore)

    Bobbi Gibb - the First Woman to Run the Boston Marathon (Encore)
    Jun 1 2026
    On an April morning in Boston in 1966, despite being told she was physically incapable of running 20+ miles, Bobbi Gibb slipped into the crowd of 500 runners. Three hours and 21 minutes later, she became the first woman to ever run the fabled Boston Marathon. Sources https://www.sportsmuseum.org/curators-corner/bobbi-gibb-marathon-pioneer/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobbi_Gibb http://www.runningpast.com/gibb_story.htm Sponsor Go to factormeals.com/dispatchespod50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box. New subscribers only. While supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details). 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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    15 mins