Shows / Ridiculous History
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.
Episodes
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: When People Thought They Were Made of Glass
In 1422, King Charles VI died after ruling France for more than 40 years. He was also remembered as Charles the Mad, in part because he was convinced that his…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Nazis, Churchill and Chocolate
When Lord Victor Rothschild first heard the news, he was incredulous -- surely Nazi Germany wasn't seriously planning to assassinate Winston Churchill with an…
- Ridiculous History
Ridiculous Royal Deaths, Part Two: Don't Drink Mercury
Throughout history, despite all their occasional arguments to the contrary, members of royal families have been just as human as everyone else. In part two of…
- Ridiculous History
Ridiculous Royal Deaths, Part One: Revenge of the Buck-Toothed
It's no secret that the lives of historical royalty have often been filled with triumph and tragedy -- and, sadly, many royals have met strange, untimely ends…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: When Dentist Sold Dentures Made with Corpse Teeth
Here in the modern day, most people don’t love going to the dentist — but we still have it much better than the dental patients of yesteryear! In today's…
- Ridiculous History
From Mesopotamia to Hot Dogs: A History of Mustard
Mustard! Whether you like it, love it, or hate it, you've almost definitely tried it in one of many varieties. In this installment of their continuing series…
- Ridiculous History
Coca-Cola, Dr. King, and the Civil Rights
When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. won the Nobel Prize, Atlanta Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr. spearheaded a interdenominational celebration of King's work -- but many…
- Ridiculous History
William Mitchell Was Basically a Real-life Willy Wonka
Do you like Tang? Are you known to gobble Pop Rocks, or find yourself lying awake at night, worried about the world's supply of tapioca substitutes? If so, you…
- Ridiculous History
The Olympics Used to Have an... Extraordinarily Weird Art Competition
Everyone's heard of the Olympics. This global competition brings athletes from around the world together to compete in various sports -- but, not too long ago…
- Ridiculous History
A Circus, or a Cult? The Strange Story of Shen Yun
If you live near any large city outside of mainland China, you may have seen advertisements for the world-famous Shen Yun Performing Arts Company, a US-based…
- Ridiculous History
How A Massive Turkey Screw-up Created TV Dinners
Hey, it's us, your pals Ben, Noel and Max from Ridiculous History. We figured the holidays can be stressful for everyone, and we're pretty sure you've heard…
- Ridiculous History
J. Paul Getty, Part Two: A Kidnapping Discount
For members of the mob, the plot to kidnap J. Paul Getty's grandson was a home run -- after all, what's a few million to a literal billionaire? Yet, as it…
- Ridiculous History
J. Paul Getty, Part One: Money Doesn't Make You Happy
It's often said that money doesn't buy happiness -- and, in the tragic case of the Getty family, it seems that saying holds true. In part one of this two-part…
- Ridiculous History
Have you heard of Andorra?
While it may be unfamiliar to many folks outside the region, the 6th-smallest country in Europe has a fascinating history all its own. In today's episode, Ben…
- Ridiculous History
How Smart Was Alex the Grey Parrot?
Picked at random from a pet store, a humble grey parrot named Alex went on to fundamentally alter the way humans think about animal cognition. In today's…
- Ridiculous History
Surprising Former Careers, Part 2: Truman Can't Sell Hats
Years before he became a world-famous actor, Christopher Lee did wetwork with elite special forces during World War II. Before entering public office, Harry…
- Ridiculous History
The Ancient -- and Surprisingly Divisive! -- Story of Ketchup
Ketchup is in almost 97% of US homes today -- and, while this statistic may sound surprising, it turns out there's a long story behind this humble condiment…
- Ridiculous History
The Bizarrely Xenophobic Origins of Scotch Tape
There's no two ways about it: tape is a pretty handy, amazing thing -- and one we often take for granted. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive deep into…
- Ridiculous History
Lost Media, Part Two: We Didn't Start The Fire
Silent films took the world by storm, but the material they were manufactured from was notoriously -- cartoonishly -- flammable. Soon multiple studio buildings…
- Ridiculous History
Lost Media, Part One: What Happened to All Those Silent Films?
For a relatively brief period of time, silent films rocked the world of entertainment. However, these nitrate- and acetate-based films proved both fragile --…
- Ridiculous History
A Ridiculous History of Hot Tubs
While hot tubs may not always have the... best reputation in some circles, there's no denying people across the world love a good, hot soak after a long day…
- Ridiculous History
Eugene V Debs, Part Two: A Prisoner Runs For President
As a known agitator, Eugene V. Debs soon caught the attention of the US power structure -- and his outspoken nature led to him to court. In part two of this…
- Ridiculous History
Eugene V Debs, Part One: Railroad Workers Fight The Power
You may not have heard of Eugene V. Debs before this podcast -- but in his day this political activist was one of the most prominent (and at-times…
- Ridiculous History
The Michelin Man was an Unhinged Lunatic
Virtually every foodie is aware of the Michelin Guide -- the last word in high-end restaurant ratings -- but originally came about as a way to sell more cars…
- Ridiculous History
The Yukio Mishima Story, Part Two: Mishima's End
In his heyday, Japanese author Yukio Mishima was one of the most well-known writers in the world. But where did he come from -- and what on Earth led to his…
- Ridiculous History
The Yukio Mishima Story, Part One: Confessions of a Mask
In his heyday, Japanese author Yukio Mishima was one of the most well-known writers in the world. But where did he come from -- and what on Earth led to his…
- Ridiculous History
Wait, How Do I Know It's Funny? A Rollicking History of Laugh Tracks
We've all heard them. You're watching or hearing a show, a character says something, and -- boom! -- an invisible choir of audience members loses their minds…
- Ridiculous History
Who, exactly, were the Luddites?
Today you'll hear people described as 'Luddites' if they don't care for -- or don't understand -- some newer piece of technology, but where did this phrase…
- Ridiculous History
Instant Noodles Changed The World, Part Two: Going Global
As Momofuku Ando's instant noodles take Japan by storm, he sets his sights on the global horizon. In part two of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max…
- Ridiculous History
Instant Noodles Changed The World, Part One: An Origin Story
Today, instant noodles are ubiquitous. You can find them in almost every grocery store, in any number of flavors sold by any number of brands -- but where did…
- Ridiculous History
The Accidental Invention of Holding Music
We've all been there -- you're calling a bank, a loan company, you name it, and boom: you're put on hold. But where does that music come from? In today's…
- Ridiculous History
Inventors Killed By Their Own Inventions: Flyin' or Dyin', Part Two
How far would you go to fly? It's a question many inventors have asked themselves over the ages and, tragically, for every successful breakthrough it seems…
- Ridiculous History
Inventors Killed By Their Own Inventions: Flyin' or Dyin', Part One
Humans can swim, though not as well as a fish. Humans can run, though not as swift as a cheetah. From ancient civilization to the modern day, no human being…
- Ridiculous History
Wilhelm Reich and Orgone, Part 2: Willy vs. The Feds
If Reich's concept of orgone was simple pseudoscience, why did the US government ban -- and burn -- his books? In part two of this two-part episode on Wilhelm…
- Ridiculous History
Wilhelm Reich and Orgone, Part 1: Sexy Psychoanalysis
Born in 1897, Wilhelm Reich was an Austrian doctor of medicine and a psychoanalyst, as well as -- for a time -- a follower of Sigmund Freud. Today, he's most…
- Ridiculous History
The History of Pringles: Once You Pop...
Pretty much everyone recognizes Pringles -- these tasty, not-quite potato chips come in tons of at-times bizarre flavors, all neatly packed in a nifty tube…
- Ridiculous History
Lincoln Loved Cats, and Other Presidential Pets
Are you a cat person, a dog person, or somewhere in between? It turns out that famous trash-talking wrestler -- and former President -- Abraham Lincoln was…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC - Presidents Love Their Ridiculous Pets
In today's episode, we venture into the podcast vault to talk about some snuggly friends, many of the ridiculous variety. It's no secret that, until very…
- Ridiculous History
What Happened to Ronald McDonald? Part Two: Supersizing A Mystery
In a world where the iconic McDonald's arches became as recognizable as the Pope or Mickey Mouse, Ronald McDonald himself became synonymous with not just fast…
- Ridiculous History
What Happened to Ronald McDonald? Part One: Everybody Loves A Clown
Today, billions of people across the world recognize McDonald's — it's one of the planet's most well-known brands. Yet, in recent years, McDonald's has also…
- Ridiculous History
The 1904 St. Louis Marathon Was Absolutely Bonkers
It's no secret that the Olympics have evolved over time, and met with their fair share of controversy over the years -- but the 1904 Olympic marathon remains a…
- Ridiculous History
Andrew Jackson Beat the Snot Out of His Would-be Assassin
Known as Old Hickory to his fans, and King Andrew to his critics, Andrew Jackson was an outspoken, deeply divisive figure. When he was attacked by an assassin…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: When (and why) did the US start calling its citizens consumers?
Today, the terms "citizen" and "consumer" are often used interchangeably by authors, journalists and politicians. To some experts, this shift has disturbing…
- Ridiculous History
A Ridiculous History of Reality TV, Part Two: Reality Goes Global
As reality TV continued to grow across networks and genres, it also spread across the planet. In the second part of this two-part series, special guest Anna…
- Ridiculous History
A Ridiculous History of Reality TV, Part One: An Origin Story
However you define it, reality TV is a giant in the world of entertainment. From soap operas to game shows and the hazards of dating, it seems almost any genre…
- Ridiculous History
Surprising Former Careers of the Famous
Did you know Abraham Lincoln was an infamous, trash-talking wrestler? Ronald Reagan spent his younger years saving people from drowning (and throwing rocks at…
- Ridiculous History
A Humorous History of Genetics
What makes you... well, you? It's a question humanity has wrestled with since the dawn of recorded history all the way to the modern day. In today's special…
- Ridiculous History
Tsutomu Yamaguchi: The World's Only (Recognized) Double Atomic Bomb Victim
On August 6th, 1945, Mitsubishi engineer Tsutomu Yamaguchi was finally heading home from a three month assignment in Hiroshima... until the United States…
- Ridiculous History
Gods of Deception, Part II: Art, History, Fiction and War
As Ben and Noel continue their conversation with novelist and art historian David Adams Cleveland, the group finds themselves going far beyond the world of…
- Ridiculous History
Gods of Deception, Part I: Alger Hiss in the Halls of Power
Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Alger Hiss was a mover and shaker in the political sphere. Highly educated and deeply connected, Hiss worked as a lawyer…
- Ridiculous History
Operation LAC: That Time Uncle Sam Sprayed Poison Across St. Louis
As the US government became increasingly concerned about the possibility of large-scale biological weapons, they decided something must be done: they needed to…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC - Does the US Confederacy Still Exist in Americana, Brazil?
The guys took a day off to celebrate the 4th of July -- and what better time to share a classic episode about another (very strange) form of patriotism? At the…
- Ridiculous History
Millerism, Part II: The Great Disappointment (and the Aftermath)
As the alleged End of the World drew ever closer, William Miller and the Millerism movement became a pop culture phenomenon. Thousands of people quit their…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC - Did a Real-Life Rainmaker Almost Drown San Diego?
In today's episode we are revisiting a classic. Charles Mallory Hatfield considered himself a real-life rainmaker (or, as he preferred to describe himself, a…
- Ridiculous History
Millerism: America’s First End Times Gospel
You might not have heard of William Miller, but in his time he was a pretty big deal. In the first part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max dive into…
- Ridiculous History
Ben Franklin Faked a Rival's Death to Promote His Almanac
Benjamin Franklin was many things: an inventor, a Founding Father, a publisher... and, it turns out, a massive troll. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max…
- Ridiculous History
Why was Phrenology a Thing? Part II: A Pseudoscience (Sort of) Informs the Modern Day
While the credibility of phrenology inevitably deteriorated over time, it was neither a completely original concept, nor, in some respects, a completely…
- Ridiculous History
Why was Phrenology a Thing? Part I: The Rise of Dr. Finger
Once upon a time, a young man named Franz Joseph Gall thought "That's weird... all my school chums with big eyes are good at memorizing things." Years later…
- Ridiculous History
Nancy Wake, the White Mouse of the French Resistance
Although Nancy Wake began her career as a journalist, her first-hand experience with Nazis compelled her to a new calling: the French Resistance. In today's…
- Ridiculous History
The US Boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics, and Puerto Rican Boxers Went Anyway
In a response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the US, along with more than 60 other countries, boycotted the Olympics. Yet three Puerto Rican boxers…