Plausibly Live! - The Official Podcast Of The Dave Bowman Show

Long before the thunder of muskets at Lexington or the echo of Jefferson’s pen across the pages of the Declaration of Independence, the American colonies were already engulfed in a struggle that would change the world. In this week’s episode of Dave Does History on Bill Mick Live, we trace the origins of that struggle—not to July 1776, but back to the tangled frontier of 1754. That’s when a 22-year-old Virginian named George Washington led a small detachment of colonial militia into the Ohio Country, unknowingly lighting the match that would ignite a global firestorm.

When most people hear the name Johns Hopkins, they think of hospitals, white coats, and maybe a university that sounds a little like a typo. But behind the name is a story worth telling—a story of grit, generosity, contradiction, and vision. Johns Hopkins was a man whose life shaped the very city he called home, and whose legacy continues to shape medicine, education, and philanthropy in America.

This week on *What The Frock?*, Rabbi Dave and Friar Rod tackle the fallout from Jake Tapper’s new book *Original Sin*, which bravely reveals everything we already knew—but couldn’t say—about President Biden’s cognitive decline. From media complicity to George Clooney’s suspiciously timed “epiphany,” the guys unpack how the press and the political class gaslit America into silence… until it was time to cash in. Along the way, they explore Big Pharma’s ad dollars, TikTok trans tantrums, Iraqis with pet lions, and whether American bread is actually poison (spoiler: it’s not). Dave discovers the French phrase for “Cat, I farted,” and Rod finally confesses his deep love of Prince’s guitar solos. If you like biting satire, honest takes, and a podcast that says what everyone else is afraid to, this episode delivers. *What The Frock?*—available now on the iHeart Radio App, Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Omar Khayyam, the man behind the Rubáiyát, was no ordinary poet. He was born on May 18, 1048, in Nishapur, in what is now northeastern Iran. His surname, “Khayyam,” meaning tentmaker, likely described his father’s profession. But young Omar quickly outgrew any legacy of canvas and rope. His teachers recognized a prodigious intellect, and he was sent to study with the most respected scholar in the region, Imam Muwaffaq Nishapuri. This was not merely book learning. Omar became fluent in philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, medicine, and the fine art of skeptical inquiry.

It began with a piece of parchment and a declaration. On May 17, 1756, the Kingdom of Great Britain formally declared war on the Kingdom of France. For anyone watching the slow-burning tensions of the past decade, it was hardly a surprise. But the significance of that declaration cannot be overstated. In that moment, what had been a series of regional conflicts transformed into a single, globe-spanning firestorm: the Seven Years’ War.

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.

In 1963, astronaut Gordon Cooper launched on the Faith 7 mission, completing 22 orbits in over 34 hours. Facing equipment failures, he maintained composure and used manual calculations to safely return. Cooper's journey symbolized American perseverance and faith, shaping future space missions while capturing the spirit of a changing era.

Otto Klemperer, born in 1885 in Breslau, was a prominent conductor who navigated a tumultuous musical and personal life. He fled Nazi Germany, struggled with health issues, and yet triumphed, conducting major orchestras and championing diverse repertoires. His legacy endures through his music and the notable career of his son, Werner.

In this first episode of our new series, Dave lays the cornerstone by drawing a sharp and necessary distinction between two words we often treat as interchangeable: freedom and liberty. With stories ranging from Captain Levi Preston's 1840s recollections to the tale of Joseph in Genesis, Dave shows how liberty—unlike mere freedom—is a deeply rooted condition of the soul. It is not the ability to do whatever one wants. It is the right to self-govern, the responsibility to live uprightly, and the power to say no to tyranny.

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.

What do Achilles and Thomas Jefferson have in common? No, this is not the start of a bad bar joke involving sandals and powdered wigs. It is the central question of today’s episode of Dave Does History, where we continue our Liberty – 250 journey by looking at how flawed men—sometimes deeply flawed—can still forge greatness.

This week on *What the Frock?*, Rabbi Dave and Friar Rod roll the dice—literally and figuratively—as they reckon with being hilariously wrong about everything. From the surprise passage of statewide rent control in Washington to the shock election of an American Pope (a White Sox fan, no less!), the divine comedy unfolds with sarcasm, snark, and a healthy dose of skepticism. Zeus even makes a cameo. The boys also dive into AI in the courtroom, Salt Lake City’s flag follies, and the mysteries of divine will—especially when it sounds suspiciously like politics. Grab your rosary and your riot helmet, because things are about to get weird. Listen now on the iHeart Radio App, Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Holy Spirit may or may not approve.

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.

In the early 1760s, Britain was a country deeply embroiled in political upheaval. King George III had recently ascended the throne, and the country was recovering from the tumult of the Seven Years' War. As Britain’s new monarch, George was eager to restore stability, but his government, particularly under Prime Minister Earl of Bute, was unpopular. The country was divided, with tensions brewing both domestically and abroad. Amidst this backdrop, one man would stand out—John Wilkes, a radical journalist whose influence would extend far beyond the confines of Britain, even impacting the revolutionary fervor in the American colonies.

According to the Dickson Baseball Dictionary, a Punch and Judy hitter is someone who does not swing for the fences. He chokes up, pokes the ball, slaps it to the opposite field, and drops it just where no one can catch it. No power. No fireworks. But he gets on base. The term, it turns out, is borrowed from the chaotic world of British puppet shows. Punch and Judy, in their original setting, were not exactly known for subtlety.

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.

There was a time when history was not written—it was spoken. Passed from elder to child, rabbi to disciple, warrior to scribe. It pulsed with breath, gesture, tone, and rhythm. But somewhere along the road to modernity, history put down the mic and picked up a pen. In this week’s episode of Dave Does History, we explore the great divide between oral tradition and written tradition, and why understanding the difference matters now more than ever.

This week 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.

It began on a spring day in Beijing, May 4th, 1919. More than three thousand students from thirteen universities gathered in Tiananmen Square, not to celebrate or observe a holiday, but to protest. They were angry, frustrated, and determined. Their government had failed them, their nation had been betrayed, and they were not going to remain silent. That day would not only be remembered for a student demonstration, but as the birth of modern China.