Dave Does History

On this episode of Dave Does History, we explore the boldest land deal in American history—the Louisiana Purchase.

Signed on April 30, 1803, this momentous decision doubled the size of the young republic, redrew the map, and set the United States on a course for continental dominance. But it was more than a bargain—it was a gamble filled with political controversy, diplomatic drama, and far-reaching consequences for Native peoples.

Join Dave as he unpacks the personalities, politics, and promises behind the deal that made America—and how a midnight letter in Paris changed everything.

Welcome to Dave Does History, with a special year-long focus on the Liberty! 250 series, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

From the causes of the American Revolution to the enduring meaning of liberty, this is not your high school history class.

It is history the way it should be: honest, riveting, and vital to understanding today’s world.

Today on Dave Does History, we journey into the remarkable life of James Monroe — soldier, statesman, and the Last Founding Father to serve as President.

Often overshadowed by louder names, Monroe quietly forged a nation, expanded its borders, and warned the Old World to keep its hands off the New. From the bloody fields of Trenton to the bold declaration of the Monroe Doctrine, his story is one of courage, vision, and quiet greatness. Join us as we remember a man who bled for liberty and built the foundation for an American century.

His name deserves to be heard again.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we march back to 1805 and the windswept shores of Derna, Libya, where a handful of U.S. Marines etched their place in American legend.

From the burning sands of the desert to the thundering guns offshore, the Battle of Derna was the first time the Stars and Stripes flew in victory on foreign soil.

Join Dave as he explores the grit, glory, and gamble behind the phrase “to the shores of Tripoli,” and how a bold plan, a borrowed army, and a Marine named O’Bannon helped forge the Corps' enduring legacy.

Today on Dave Does History, we set sail with Esek Hopkins, the fiery, flawed, and first Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Navy.

Before John Paul Jones declared he had not yet begun to fight, Hopkins was already in the thick of it—raiding British ports, outmaneuvering orders, and making enemies in Congress.

But his story is no straightforward hero’s tale. From triumph in Nassau to tragedy aboard a slave ship, Hopkins leaves us with a legacy as turbulent as the seas he sailed.

Join us as we unpack the rise, fall, and reckoning of America’s original naval commodore.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we journey back to April 25, 404 BCE—the day the mighty city of Athens fell and the Peloponnesian War came to a crushing end.

After nearly thirty years of conflict, starvation, and political chaos, Sparta stood triumphant and Athens bowed to a brutal new order. We will explore the final moves of the war, the rise of Lysander, and the long-term fallout for Greece and the Western world.

It is a story of glory lost, ideals tested, and the haunting echo of flutes as the walls came down.

Tune in now on iHeart, iTunes, or Spotify.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we turn the clocks back to April 24, 1183 BCE—the day Troy burned.

Join Dave as he walks through the smoldering ruins of the legendary city, uncovering the epic tale of gods, warriors, betrayal, and a giant wooden horse.

From Achilles’ wrath to Aeneas’ escape, this story shaped empires and echoed through time. Drawing from Homer, Virgil, and archaeological clues, we blend myth and memory into a vivid narrative of the Bronze Age’s fiery twilight.

Buckle up—history is about to get heroic, tragic, and just a bit divine.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we mark the birthday of James Buchanan—America’s only bachelor president and, many say, its most ineffectual.

Born April 23, 1791, Buchanan entered office with unmatched experience and left it as the nation shattered into civil war.

What went wrong? Was he a victim of circumstance or a man who mistook inaction for wisdom?

Join us as we explore Buchanan’s tragic love story, tangled presidency, and the fateful decisions—or lack thereof—that helped bring the Union to the brink. It is a cautionary tale of a gentleman lawyer in an age that demanded a warrior.

Pope Francis has died, and the world now turns its eyes to the smoke above the Sistine Chapel.

In this episode of Dave Does History, Dave Bowman joins Bill Mick to break down the ancient—and often misunderstood—process of the papal conclave.

From medieval roof removals to modern-day power plays, Dave explores the rituals, rules, and raw politics of picking the next pope. Was it always this secretive? (Yes.) Was it always this messy? (Also yes.)

Tune in for history, humor, and maybe a few holy surprises. It’s “Game of Thrones,” but with incense and Latin.

Today on Dave Does History, we journey back to the sacred soil of the Palatine Hill for the story that launched an empire.

From the flames of Troy to the she-wolf’s lair on the banks of the Tiber, discover how Aeneas, Romulus, and Remus forged the foundations of Rome—not just as myth, but as history, taught and believed by the American Founding Fathers.

Join Dave as he channels Livy, pierces the fog of legend, and uncovers the moral heart of a city destined to rule the world.

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