Dave Does History

On this episode of Dave Does History, we turn the spotlight on a man whose name echoes through hospitals, universities, and research labs—but whose own story is often overlooked.

Johns Hopkins was more than a name on a building. He was a hard-nosed Quaker businessman, a visionary philanthropist, and a man full of contradictions. From selling whiskey in wagons to founding America’s first research university, his life shaped Baltimore and the nation.

Join us as we explore the man behind the myth, his legacy, and the modern questions surrounding his past—available now, wherever you get your podcasts.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we set sail—so to speak—on a journey from cartoons to quatrains as we explore the life and legacy of Omar Khayyam.

You may know his name from the Rubáiyát, or maybe, like me, you first heard it in a Rocky and Bullwinkle pun. But Khayyam was far more than a punchline. Mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, and reluctant poet, his ideas reshaped science and mysticism alike.

Join us as we trace the story of a Persian genius whose verses echo across centuries—available now wherever you get your podcasts.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we head back to May 17, 1756—the day Great Britain officially declared war on France and launched what many historians call the first true world war: the Seven Years’ War.

From the forests of North America to the battlefields of Europe, and from the trading posts of India to the sugar islands of the Caribbean, this conflict redrew the global map and set the stage for revolutions and empires.

Join us as we uncover the causes, characters, and consequences of a war that quite literally set the world on fire.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we travel back to May 16, 1969, when the Soviet Union dropped a robot into the blazing heart of Venus.

Venera 5 was no ordinary probe—it was built like a tank, wired like a scientist, and plunged into an atmosphere so fierce it would crush a submarine. For 53 minutes, it battled heat, pressure, and gravity, sending back data that shattered old assumptions about our sister planet.

This is the story of Soviet engineering, scientific grit, and a one-way trip into the unknown skies of Venus.

Available now, wherever you get your podcasts.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we climb aboard Faith 7 with astronaut Gordon Cooper for the final mission of Project Mercury.

Launched on May 15, 1963, Mercury-Atlas 9 pushed the limits of solo spaceflight as Cooper orbited the Earth 22 times over 34 hours. When systems failed, he did not panic—he calculated reentry by hand and brought it home with calm, cowboy confidence. It was a mission built on grit, skill, and something deeper: faith.

Join us as we explore the story of a man, a machine, and a moment that helped define America’s path to the stars.

Today on Dave Does History, we celebrate the life and legacy of Otto Klemperer, born May 14, 1885.

From Mahler’s protégé to one of the 20th century’s most revered conductors, Klemperer’s journey wove through exile, illness, rebirth, and artistic triumph. He shaped the sound of Beethoven, Bruckner, and Mahler for generations, all while battling personal demons and political upheaval.

And in a curious twist, his son Werner became TV’s beloved Colonel Klink.

Join us as we explore the story of a man who conducted not only orchestras, but the turbulent rhythms of the modern world.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we begin a powerful new series leading up to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Dave explores the forgotten difference between freedom and liberty—two words we often confuse, but which meant very different things to our Founding generation.

With insights from Captain Levi Preston and a surprising lesson from the Book of Genesis, Dave reminds us that liberty is not just a legal concept—it is a lived conviction, a habit of the heart. If we do not understand it, we will not keep it.

Join us as the journey begins.

Today on Dave Does History, we honor the quiet heroes in scrubs by diving into the legacy of Florence Nightingale—the woman who transformed nursing from a thankless task into a global profession.

On International Nurses Day, we reflect on her bold defiance of Victorian norms, her relentless pursuit of reform during the Crimean War, and how her spirit still burns bright in every hospital hallway.

From battlefield tents to delivery rooms, the lamp she carried still lights the way. Join us for a heartfelt look at the Lady with the Lamp and the nurses who carry on her mission today.

In today’s episode of Dave Does History, we delve into the dramatic and tragic Mussel Slough Tragedy of 1880.

This shootout between settlers and agents of the Southern Pacific Railroad over disputed land titles left seven men dead and sparked a nationwide conversation about corporate monopolies, land rights, and the battle between the little guy and big business.

Join me as we explore the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley, where passion, politics, and power collided, shaping the future of the region. Tune in for an insightful, human-centered look at this pivotal moment in American history.

Today on Dave Does History, we explore the scandalous story of John Wilkes and his infamous North Briton No. 45.

Wilkes, an outspoken journalist and politician, took on the British government with his bold critiques of King George III and his ministers. His defiance sparked legal battles, public outcry, and even a rallying cry for liberty that resonated across the Atlantic.

Join us as we dive into the life of a man who, while championing freedom of speech, became a controversial figure in the struggle for personal liberty—and in the early stirrings of the American Revolution.