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

Golda Meir was not born into power. She was born into pogroms. On May 3, 1898, in Kiev, within the crumbling Russian Empire, a little Jewish girl named Golda Mabovitch entered the world with history already pressing against her door. Her earliest memory, as she would later recount, was watching her father hammer boards across the entrance of their home to keep out the mob. Violence was not abstract. It was the soundtrack of her childhood.

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.

The morning of May 1, 1863, broke over the tangled thickets of Virginia’s Wilderness with the kind of deceptive peace that war often wraps itself in. The sun rose, the birds sang, and thousands of men stirred in the dew-drenched underbrush, tightening their belts, adjusting gear, preparing for something that none of them could yet name. At a brick inn called Chancellorsville—really more of a crossroads mansion than a village—Major General Joseph Hooker of the Union Army sat poised on the edge of greatness. At least, that was what he believed.

In the dim light of the eastern horizon, on what tradition holds as April 24, 1183 BCE, the city of Troy, proud and impregnable for a decade, finally succumbed to the cleverest of tricks and the fiercest of wrath. Flames licked the sky. Statues crumbled. The gods, once patrons of heroes and city alike, now watched in silence as the once-glorious citadel groaned under the weight of Greek vengeance. This is not a tale of gentle endings, but one of blood, deception, and divine manipulation. If you believe the poets, and today, we shall, then the fall of Troy was less a collapse and more a cursed symphony played out beneath the stars.

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.

When we talk about the American Revolution, it is easy to get lost in a tangle of causes: taxes, representation, gun rights, even modern revisionist theories. But what if the real cause was something simpler — and far deeper? What if the Revolution was born of an idea so profound that it shaped not only 1776, but still echoes through our lives today?

James Monroe’s name today stirs little beyond a few dusty mentions in schoolbooks, a Doctrine vaguely remembered, and a presidency draped in the soft mist of the so-called Era of Good Feelings. Yet behind that fading silhouette stands a man forged in blood, battered by war, and tempered by a hard love for a fragile, hungry young nation. Monroe was the last of the Founders to hold the highest office — the last to remember what liberty had cost, and the last to bear its burden without flinching. In an age drifting ever further from gratitude and duty, Monroe’s life reminds us, sometimes uncomfortably, that real greatness is often found not in noise, but in steady hands and battered hearts. He was the Republic’s quiet hammer, building while others bickered, and warning a restless world: this land is not yours to take. His story deserves better than silence. It deserves to be told.

In the spring of 1805, on a dusty strip of Libyan coastline, a small band of Americans, mercenaries, and one exiled prince marched into the pages of history. Their objective was a fortified town called Derna, perched between the Mediterranean Sea and the desert, ruled by a Bashaw named Yusuf Karamanli. What happened there gave the United States its first military victory on foreign soil and immortalized the phrase “to the shores of Tripoli” in the Marine Corps Hymn.

This week on What The Frock?, Rabbi Dave and Friar Rod take a no-holds-barred swing at the madness of the week! From the myth of the Pope Hammer to Trump’s controversial blue suit, from Washington State’s political implosion to a college sperm race you just cannot un-hear, the guys call it like it is — with humor, skepticism, and a healthy dose of rock ’n’ roll spirit. Plus: Deion Sanders, Shadour’s draft disaster, and Rabbi Dave’s ongoing war with his kidneys. Tune in and join the chaos — available now on iHeart Radio, Spotify, and iTunes!

There are names in American naval history that echo like cannon fire across the centuries. John Paul Jones. David Farragut. Chester Nimitz. But before them all, before the Navy had steel hulls and nuclear reactors, before the Stars and Stripes flew over a single commissioned warship, there was Esek Hopkins. For a brief and storm-tossed moment, he was the man in charge of the very first American fleet. He was bold, controversial, irascible, and imperfect. And yet, without him, the United States Navy might never have gotten off the ground—or, more precisely, off the docks.

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 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. Subscribe now on Spotify, iHeart Radio, and iTunes.

In this week's episode of *What The Frock?*, Rabbi Dave and Friar Rod set their sights on Hungary—yes, the land of goulash, Rubik’s Cubes, and oddly aggressive water polo. Discover why two-thirds of Hungarians are podcast addicts, why paprika is practically a religion, and why clinking beer glasses might start a diplomatic incident. With classic banter, a belly-rubbing statue, and Rabbi Dave's fight against diabetic chaos, this episode welcomes our new Magyar friends with humor, heresy, and a healthy dose of Pálinka-fueled goodwill. Tune in for laughter, wisdom, and Hungarian proverbs you never knew you needed. Jó étvágyat!

On this episode of *Dave Does History*, we dive into the fiery moment that launched America onto the global stage—the 1898 declaration of war against Spain. From the mysterious explosion of the USS *Maine* to the explosive headlines of Hearst and Pulitzer, we explore how media, politics, and patriotism collided to send the United States into war. Was it a fight for Cuban freedom—or the birth of an empire? Join us as we uncover the characters, controversies, and consequences behind one of the most pivotal declarations in American history. Subscribe now on Spotify, iHeartRadio, or iTunes.

On this episode of *Dave Does History*, we travel back to April 19, 1775, and the misty morning on Lexington Green where the first shots of the American Revolution were fired. But we are not just talking about battles—we are talking about people. Join Dave as he shares the story of Ebenezer Bowman, a seventeen-year-old Minute Man who stood his ground, witnessed the opening volleys of war, and later helped shape the new nation. It is a personal look at the dawn of American independence, and why that moment still matters today. This is history that hits home.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we salute one of America’s greatest unsung heroes—Joe Foss. From dust-choked South Dakota fields to the war-torn skies over Guadalcanal, Foss became a WWII flying ace, Medal of Honor recipient, governor, football commissioner, and NRA president. His story is not just about dogfights and medals—it is about grit, service, and what it truly means to be an American. Join us as we explore the remarkable life of the man who defied odds, shaped history, and reminded a nation that patriotism still has a human face. This is Joe Foss—fighter, leader, legend.

On this episode of *Dave Does History*, we journey to the windswept heights of Masada, where nearly two thousand years ago, Jewish rebels made their final, fateful stand against the Roman Empire. Was it mass suicide, martyrdom, or myth? Host Dave unpacks the powerful story passed down from Josephus, explores the archaeological evidence, and examines how Masada became a national symbol—and a cautionary tale. From flaming battlements to modern memory, this is not just a history lesson. It is a conversation about truth, identity, and the enduring human struggle between resistance and survival. Tune in for the real story.

In 1561, the skies over Nuremberg erupted in what witnesses described as a celestial battle—spheres, rods, crosses, and a massive black spear appeared above the city at dawn. Was it divine warning, extraterrestrial war, or misunderstood natural phenomenon? This week on *Dave Does History*, we explore Hans Glaser’s famous broadsheet, the Reformation-era mindset behind it, and how this event morphed into modern UFO legend. With both historical insight and skeptical analysis, we unravel the story behind one of the strangest sightings in recorded history—and why it still sparks debate more than 450 years later. Tune in for truth... and a few clouds.