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

Welcome to another irreverent, thought-provoking, and occasionally eyebrow-raising episode of What the Frock?, where Rabbi Dave and Friar Rod take a chainsaw to the sacred trees of modern absurdity. This week, our fearless hosts dive into a smorgasbord of political and cultural insanity, with a special focus on the mind-boggling use of taxpayer money for, shall we say, unique purposes... and that's just the beginning...

In February of 1942, a Japanese submarine shelled the California coast, triggering panic and fueling wartime paranoia. The Ellwood Bombardment led to wild invasion fears, the infamous "Battle of Los Angeles," and even played a role in Japanese American internment. Hear the true story!

History meets the future here. Using cutting-edge AI alongside deep historical research, we uncover the stories that shaped our world—bringing forgotten figures, pivotal battles, and game-changing events to life. AI helps streamline research, refine narratives, and enhance storytelling, but make no mistake—this is still *me*, crafting each episode with analysis, wit, and passion. Whether it's ancient wars, modern revolutions, or the strange twists of fate, we blend technology with tradition to make history more accessible than ever. Hit play, subscribe, and explore the past—powered by AI, but driven by human curiosity.

The Battle of Iwo Jima was a desperate clash in the final months of the Pacific War, an engagement that tested the endurance and strategy of both American and Japanese forces. Located in the Volcano Islands, Iwo Jima was a crucial waypoint between the Mariana Islands and the Japanese home islands. It was small—just eight square miles of volcanic rock—but its strategic value was enormous. Capturing Iwo Jima would provide the U.S. with airfields for fighter escorts to protect B-29 bombers on their missions over Japan. It would also serve as an emergency landing site for crippled bombers returning from those raids. The Japanese knew this, and they turned the island into a fortress.

Luther Martin was one of the most vocal and controversial figures of America’s founding—a brilliant but cantankerous lawyer who fought tooth and nail against the Constitution’s centralization of power. A fierce defender of state sovereignty, he clashed with giants like Madison and Hamilton, delivering fiery speeches that shaped the ratification debate. Though history often overlooks him, Martin’s legacy as an Anti-Federalist, legal powerhouse, and defender of the accused deserves a closer look. This is his story.

In 1600, the Peruvian volcano Huaynaputina erupted with cataclysmic force, unleashing one of the most powerful eruptions in recorded history. Its devastating impact reshaped the Andean landscape, buried villages in ash, and triggered a global climate crisis. From famine in Russia to freezing summers in Europe and Asia, the world felt its wrath. Join us as we explore the eruption, its eyewitness accounts, and its far-reaching consequences that still echo through history.

In 1878 Lincoln County, New Mexico, power wasn’t held by elected officials—it was owned by The House, a corrupt monopoly that controlled everything from cattle sales to banking. When John Tunstall arrived to challenge their grip, he paid with his life, sparking the Lincoln County War. Outlaws, lawmen, and gunfighters clashed in a brutal cycle of revenge, with Billy the Kid rising as both an avenger and a fugitive. Join Dave Does History on Bill Mick Live as we uncover the corruption, shootouts, and legendary figures that shaped this violent chapter of the Old West. Was Billy the Kid a hero or a criminal? Did those who fought back against injustice break the law—or save their people? It’s history as it really happened, not the Hollywood version. Tune in and decide for yourself!

Giordano Bruno, born in 1548, was a radical thinker and heretic whose ideas challenged the Catholic Church's doctrines. Embracing a boundless universe with countless worlds, he defied traditional views and even rejected core Christian teachings. After fleeing from the Dominican Order, Bruno became a controversial figure across Europe, ultimately leading to his arrest by the Inquisition. He refused to recant his beliefs, resulting in his execution by burning in 1600—a martyr for the cause of free thought whose legacy endures today.

Welcome back to What The Frock?, where the podcast dives deep into the absurdity of the world, offering humor, sharp observations, and sometimes… critical reflections. In this episode, Rabbi Dave and Friar Rod provide an energetic, somewhat tangential, yet insightful exploration of everything from geopolitics to hockey brawls—and, of course, the state of critical thinking in the modern world.

The Fairbank Train Robbery of February 15, 1900, was a chaotic clash between Old West outlaws and a determined lawman. Orchestrated by corrupt deputies-turned-criminals Burt Alvord and Billy Stiles, the robbery aimed to loot a Wells Fargo express car at the Fairbank station. Their gang expected an easy score but instead faced Jeff Milton, a hardened express messenger who, despite being shot, fought back with deadly force. What unfolded was one of Arizona’s last great train heists.

The fall of the Purépecha Empire in 1530 was a brutal chapter in the Spanish conquest of Mesoamerica. Unlike the Aztecs, who fought fiercely, the Purépecha under Tangáxuan II initially sought peace, only to be betrayed. After submitting to Hernán Cortés, Tangáxuan found himself at the mercy of Nuño de Guzmán, a ruthless conquistador with a thirst for power. Accused of rebellion, Tangáxuan was tortured and executed, marking the violent end of his empire and the rise of Spanish rule.

The Nashville Sit-ins of 1960, a significant moment in the Civil Rights Movement, emerged amid pervasive racial segregation in the South. Led by activists like James Lawson and supported by the Nashville Christian Leadership Council, students organized a series of nonviolent protests at lunch counters. The escalating demonstrations faced hostility but garnered public sympathy. Their resilience led to the desegregation of downtown lunch counters in Nashville, setting a precedent for similar actions across the South and reaffirming the power of disciplined nonviolence in enacting social change.

Georgia's founding in 1732 by James Oglethorpe aimed to create a philanthropic colony for debtors, emphasizing small farms and banning slavery. Initially peaceful relations with Native Americans characterized its development, but economic pressures led to the eventual adoption of plantation agriculture. Today, Georgia reflects its ambitious origins while highlighting the tensions between ideals and practicalities.

On this episode of Bill Mick Live, it’s Tuesday, which means Dave Does History—and today, we’re taking on one of the most infamous political tricks in American history: gerrymandering. The term was coined on February 11, 1812, when Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry signed off on a redistricting plan that reshaped voting districts to benefit his party. A satirical cartoonist noticed that one district looked like a salamander, and just like that—the “Gerry-mander” was born. But there’s more to Gerry than just a political scandal. He was a Founding Father, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and even served as Vice President. So how did his name get tied to a practice both sides love to hate? And more importantly—is gerrymandering actually the problem, or is low voter engagement the real issue? Join Dave Bowman and Bill Mick as they break down the history, controversy, and lasting impact of gerrymandering—past, present, and future. Listen now!

At the dawn of the 20th century, the world’s great powers were locked in an arms race, each vying for dominance on the high seas. The British Royal Navy, long the master of the oceans, faced a new challenge as rival nations built bigger and more powerful fleets. Enter Admiral Sir Jackie Fisher, a man who didn’t just anticipate change—he demanded it. Fisher’s vision was bold: a new kind of battleship, faster, deadlier, and more powerful than anything before. The result was HMS Dreadnought, launched on February 10, 1906, a ship so advanced that it made every other battleship in the world obsolete overnight. Dreadnought didn’t just change naval warfare; she defined it. But despite her revolutionary design, she had a surprisingly quiet career, remembered more for a bizarre prank and sinking a submarine than for battle. Today, we explore the legacy of the ship that rewrote the rules of naval power.

This week’s episode of What The Frock? is a wild ride through the absurd, the infuriating, and the outright hilarious. With Rabbi Dave and Friar Rod at the helm, we navigate a world where the Super Bowl is more of a sideshow, government corruption is business as usual, and a man once decided to live among goats just to escape the madness of modern life. The episode kicks off with the Superb Owl—or, as normal people call it, the Super Bowl—but don’t expect a traditional sports breakdown. Rabbi Dave’s real excitement isn’t about the game, Taylor Swift conspiracy theories, or questionable officiating; it’s about the return of baseball. Meanwhile, Friar Rod, ever the voice of detached amusement, would rather explore distant galaxies in No Man’s Sky than pretend to care about the Chiefs’ dynasty. But the real heart of this episode isn’t in the end zones of Vegas—it’s in the corridors of Washington. The duo dives headfirst into the latest government scandal, this time centered on USAID and its staggering misuse o

The Election of 1824 wasn’t just another presidential contest—it was a political brawl that exposed the fractures in the so-called “Era of Good Feelings.” Four candidates, all claiming the banner of the Democratic-Republican Party, fought for control of the White House, but none secured an electoral majority. Enter the House of Representatives, where backroom deals and personal vendettas determined the outcome. Andrew Jackson won the popular vote, but John Quincy Adams took the presidency, thanks to what Jackson’s supporters called a “corrupt bargain.” Today, we break down the election that changed everything—and set the stage for modern American politics.

In the final months of World War II, Soviet pilot Mikhail Devyataev pulled off one of the most daring escapes in history. Captured by the Nazis and imprisoned in a brutal labor camp on the island of Usedom, he faced near-certain death. But instead of waiting for fate to take its course, he did the unthinkable—he and a group of fellow prisoners hijacked a Heinkel He 111 bomber and flew to freedom. This is the incredible true story of how one man turned the enemy’s own war machine against them, outwitting the Nazis and changing the course of history.

This episode of Dave Does History dives into the legal and political firestorm ignited by Chisholm v. Georgia, a case that dared to question state immunity and ended up forcing the first major amendment after the Bill of Rights. When the Supreme Court ruled that states could be dragged into federal court by private citizens, the reaction was swift—Congress and the states wasted no time in slamming that door shut. We break down the case, the crisis, and how the 11th Amendment reshaped American law.

Aaron Burr was one of the most controversial figures in early American history—a war hero, politician, and vice president whose ambition led to both greatness and infamy. Best known for killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel, Burr’s story didn’t end there. His life was marked by political intrigue, a treason trial, and a failed scheme that still sparks debate. Was he a traitor or a visionary ahead of his time? This episode explores Burr’s rise, his conflicts with Hamilton and Jefferson, the infamous duel, and his dramatic downfall, revealing a man who shaped—and was ultimately undone by—his own relentless ambition.