On this episode of Dave Does History, we turn our gaze to ancient Rome and the stormy life of Emperor Caracalla—warrior, builder, butcher, and the man behind one of the bloodiest family feuds in imperial history.

Born into power and raised on ambition, Caracalla ruled an empire with a sword in one hand and a scowl carved into marble. From the grandeur of the Baths of Caracalla to the chilling murder of his own brother, this episode dives into the legacy of a ruler both feared and fascinating.

Subscribe now on Spotify, iTunes, or iHeart Radio—history like Rome, never dull.

In this episode of Dave Does History, we saddle up and gallop into one of the most iconic yet short-lived chapters of the American West—the Pony Express.

Born out of urgency and ambition in 1860, this daring mail service bridged nearly 2,000 miles of rugged terrain, linking East to West in just ten days. Though it ran for only 18 months, its legend endures.

We’ll explore the facts, the folklore, and the fearless riders—including my own great-grandfather, Francis Marion Holt—who carried the nation's hopes on horseback, even as the telegraph wires closed in.

This is the true ride of the Pony Express.

In this episode of Dave Does History, we dive into one of the most pivotal speeches in American history—President Woodrow Wilson’s April 2, 1917 address to Congress, calling for a declaration of war against Germany.

With a nation divided and neutrality hanging by a thread, Wilson laid out his case in moral and measured tones. Why did America finally join the Great War? What tipped the scales—from sunken ships to secret telegrams?

Join us as we explore the speech, the drama in Congress, and the lasting legacy of Wilson’s words. History is calling—and this time, it declared war.

April 1st isn't just for pranksters—it's for historians with a wicked sense of humor.

In this episode on Bill Mick Live, Dave peels back the glittery nonsense of April Fools’ Day to uncover its shadowy (and often fictional) past. From Chaucer’s chicken to a Flemish prank poem, and the legendary hoax that duped the Associated Press, it all leads to one irresistible conclusion: we should be calling it Boskin Day.

Tune in for history, hilarity, and a few paper fish stuck to your back. Trust nothing. Laugh anyway.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we journey back to March 31, 1870—one day after the Fifteenth Amendment was certified.

In a small town called Perth Amboy, New Jersey, a man named Thomas Mundy Peterson quietly made history. Born to an enslaved mother and a free father, Peterson became the first African American to cast a vote under the new constitutional protections of the Fifteenth Amendment.

His vote may have been cast in a local election, but its impact echoed across a divided nation.

This is the story of a single ballot that helped redefine American democracy.

On March 30, 1981, a bullet changed history—and a jar of peanut butter changed my life.

In this episode of Dave Does History, I take you back to the surreal day President Reagan was shot, seen not from a D.C. press room, but through the eyes of a seventeen-year-old navigating high school, Navy dreams, and a cantankerous grandfather with strong opinions and crunchy peanut butter ambitions. This isn’t just political history—it’s personal.

From kitchen-table arguments to constitutional awakenings, join me for a firsthand account of the day America held its breath, and I began to understand the weight of an oath.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we turn our attention to a man many have forgotten—but whose actions echo through every peaceful transfer of presidential power in American history.

John Tyler, the tenth President of the United States, never won the office by vote, yet he forever changed the presidency. From Virginia aristocrat to accidental Commander-in-Chief, Tyler’s term was riddled with political isolation, constitutional crisis, and bold action.

So buckle up as we explore the life, rise, and legacy of a president dubbed “His Accidency”—but who may just have been one of the most consequential leaders we rarely remember.

In this episode of Dave Does History, we saddle up and ride west—far west—to the rugged terrain of New Mexico in 1862.

While most folks picture Civil War battles back east, there was a fiery clash in the high desert that proved just as pivotal. Known as the “Gettysburg of the West,” the Battle of Glorieta Pass was a bold Confederate gamble to seize the Southwest—and its gold.

But what unfolded in those narrow canyons changed the course of the war out west. Join us as we uncover the forgotten fight that ended Dixie’s dreams of a desert empire.

In the wake of the Civil War, America faced a new battle—not for territory, but for the soul of the republic.

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 aimed to secure basic rights for newly freed African Americans, but President Andrew Johnson had other ideas. His veto of the bill ignited a fierce showdown with Congress, laying bare the deep rifts in post-war America.

Today we explore the Act’s introduction, Johnson’s controversial veto, the unprecedented congressional override, and the legacy that still echoes today.

At Dave Does History, we dig into the clash that redefined Reconstruction—and the presidency itself.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we are heading back to 1351 for one of the most curious, chivalrous, and downright cinematic episodes of the Hundred Years’ War—the Combat of the Thirty.

Picture it: thirty knights loyal to England, thirty to France, meeting under a lone oak tree in Brittany for a fight to the death—not for land, not for gold, but for honor.

Or so the story goes. Was it a noble duel or a public relations stunt wrapped in chainmail?

Join me as we pull back the curtain on a battle that became legend—bloody, bold, and unforgettable.