Dave Does History

Ever wonder why a weak-hitting batter gets called a “Punch and Judy hitter”?

Today on Dave Does History, we go from the batter’s box to the puppet booth to uncover the wild, whacking world of Punch and Judy. These slapstick puppets have been causing mayhem since the 1600s, and their names still echo through baseball dugouts today.

From their anarchic roots in Italy to seaside fame in Britain and reinvention in America, Punch and Judy are more than comic relief—they are cultural survivors. Join us as we swing into the history behind the phrase, the puppets, and the punchlines.

In the spring of 1721, Rome became the stage for one of the most politically charged papal conclaves in history. Over thirty-nine tense days and seventy-five ballots, powerful factions battled for control of the Church’s future.

Out of this storm emerged a quiet and steady figure—Michelangelo dei Conti, who would become Pope Innocent XIII.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we take you behind the locked doors of the conclave, exploring the intrigue, the backroom deals, and the man who rose to the papacy not through ambition, but as the compromise candidate no one hated—and the Church desperately needed.

It was a clear spring day, May 7, 1915, when a British ocean liner—the RMS Lusitania—slipped beneath the waves off the southern coast of Ireland.

She had left New York six days earlier, bound for Liverpool, and was now just hours from her destination. On board were nearly two thousand souls—men, women, children, businessmen, families, and a significant number of Americans. The war in Europe had raged for almost a year, but for most Americans, the Atlantic still felt like a wide and safe buffer.

That illusion was shattered in under twenty minutes.

On May 6, 1937, the majestic German airship Hindenburg burst into flames over Lakehurst, New Jersey, ending the era of transatlantic zeppelin travel in just 34 seconds.

In today’s episode of Dave Does History, we explore the rise of the airship dream, the fatal decision to use hydrogen, and the fiery catastrophe that captivated the world.

From Count Zeppelin’s vision to Herbert Morrison’s unforgettable cry—“Oh, the humanity!”—this is a story of ambition, arrogance, and aerial disaster.

Join us on the iHeart Radio App, Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts, for a sky-high tragedy that changed aviation forever.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we take a thoughtful—and occasionally hilarious—look at the differences between oral and written traditions.

From ancient scrolls to text messages filled with emojis, we explore how meaning changes when words are spoken versus when they are inked.

With a detour through Eddie Izzard’s comedy, a stop at the Talmud, and a glance at your phone’s last LOL, this episode sets the stage for next week’s deep dive into the word “Liberty.”

Tune in as we ask: when history speaks, do we really hear it?

Listen now on the iHeart Radio App, Spotify, or iTunes.

Today on Dave Does History, we bring you the astonishing story of Nellie Bly—the fearless reporter who exposed cruelty inside an asylum, circled the globe faster than Phileas Fogg, and redefined what women could do in journalism.

Born Elizabeth Jane Cochran, Bly smashed through 19th-century expectations with a pen, a passport, and relentless grit. From undercover stunts to war reporting, her career was a whirlwind of courage and conviction.

Join us as we explore her extraordinary life, her legacy in investigative journalism, and the lessons she still offers a world hungry for truth.

This is Nellie Bly’s story.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we travel back to May 4th, 1919—when thousands of Chinese students flooded Tiananmen Square, outraged by the betrayal of the Treaty of Versailles.

What began as a protest against foreign domination and political weakness became the spark that lit modern China’s fire. From cultural upheaval to the birth of new political movements, this was no ordinary student rally. It was a national awakening.

Join us as we uncover how a group of passionate youth helped reshape a civilization.

Available now on the iHeart Radio App, Spotify, and iTunes—this is Dave Does History.

She was called “the only man in the cabinet,” the Iron Lady of Israeli politics before that nickname ever reached London.

From a childhood dodging pogroms in Kiev to signing Israel’s Declaration of Independence, Golda Meir’s journey was anything but ordinary.

In this episode of Dave Does History, we dive into the life of the Milwaukee schoolteacher who became a stateswoman, fundraiser, wartime leader, and lightning rod for controversy.

With grit, vision, and a famously stubborn streak, Golda Meir helped shape the modern State of Israel—and left a legacy as complex as the times she lived through.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we follow Stonewall Jackson into the shadows of Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863—the day the thunder rolled through the Wilderness.

With audacity that bordered on reckless, Jackson launched one of the most daring flank attacks in American military history, shattering the Union right and changing the tide of the battle.

But triumph came at a cost. In the confusion and darkness, Confederate bullets found their own legend.

Join us as we relive the drama, decisions, and destiny of Day 2 at Chancellorsville, streaming now on iHeart Radio, Spotify, and iTunes.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we step into the tangled thickets of Virginia’s Wilderness to relive the first day of the Battle of Chancellorsville—May 1, 1863.

It was a day filled with promise, hesitation, and bold defiance, as Union General Joseph Hooker surrendered the initiative and Robert E. Lee seized it.

With vivid storytelling and sharp analysis, we explore how one day of missteps and momentum shifts set the stage for one of the Civil War’s most dramatic gambles.

Tune in on iHeart Radio, Spotify, or iTunes for a front-row seat to the chaos and courage of Chancellorsville.