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
The Mysterious Dark Day That Terrified New England
As New Englanders woke on the morning of May 19th, 1780, they realized something was... off. The sunrise looked oddly colored and dim. As the day wore on, the…
- Ridiculous History
The Windham Frog Fight of 1754
As the French and Indian War escalated, the residents of Windham, Connecticut lived in constant fear of possible attacks, crop-ruining weather, disease and…
- Ridiculous History
Ancient Mesopotamian Societies Sacrificed Substitute Kings to Eclipses
Thousands of years before the current day, ancient civilizations accurately predicted both lunar and solar eclipses. They often believed these events were…
- Ridiculous History
The Mad Gasser of Mattoon, Part 2
As the small town of Mattoon captured national attention during the reign of the Mad Gasser, the investigation took a turn. Authorities were baffled by the…
- Ridiculous History
The Mad Gasser of Mattoon, Part 1
As wartime fears peaked across the US during World War II, people throughout the nation were overwhelmed with fears of invading Nazis, secret biological…
- Ridiculous History
A Currency for Colonies: The Strange Story of "Leprosy Money"
For thousands of years people across the planet lived in fear of leprosy (now known as ‘Hansen's Disease). In many cases, people infected with the disease, or…
- Ridiculous History
Wyoming Tales, Part 2: Absaroka, the State That Almost Was
Back in the 1930s, the residents of Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota felt the federal government— and the state legislatures— ignored them. They felt unheard…
- Ridiculous History
Wyoming Tales, Part 1: Walking in the Shoes of Big Nose George
George Parrott was a career outlaw -- a known thief, murderer and would-be train robber. When justice finally caught up with him and his game, he was destined…
- Ridiculous History
The Rise and Fall of the Flea Circus, Part 2
In the second part of this two-part episode, Ben, Noel and special guest Gabe Luzier drill down into the nuts and bolts of flea circuses -- how did they…
- Ridiculous History
The Rise and Fall of the Flea Circus, Part 1
Fleas -- they're one of the only animals Ben actually doesn't like! Yet, once upon a time, these bloodsucking nuisances were star performers in novelty acts…
- Ridiculous History
History's Most Ridiculous (and Deadly) Beauty Trends
It's a Ridiculous History takeover! In honor of International Women's Day, join the hosts of the podcast Stuff Mom Never Told You for this very special episode…
- Ridiculous History
Billy Cottrell, the Tyrant Mayor of Cedar Key, Florida
The politically-connected, cartoonishly belligerent Billy Cottrell was a terrible Mayor, hated and feared by the locals of Cedar Key, Florida -- and no one was…
- Ridiculous History
The US and the UK Almost Went to War over a Pig
In 1859, a dispute between neighbors in the San Juan Islands of the Pacific Northwest led to the untimely death of a local (and very unlucky) pig. What could…
- Ridiculous History
The 1973 Michigan Pizza Funeral
Illario 'Mario' Fabbrini was true American success story: An immigrant who built his own pizza empire just as this iconic food was becoming a normalized…
- Ridiculous History
Elagabalus The Raunchy, Racy High Priest Who Became a Roman Emperor
Born Varius Avitus Bassianus, the emperor now known as Elagabalus scandalized ancient Rome with his constant displays of extravagance, his numerous sexual…
- Ridiculous History
John Wilkins Started a 17th-century Astronaut Program, Part 2: Wilkins (Tries to) Start a Space Program
As John Wilkins began to put more serious thought into the idea of sending people to the moon, he reached out to fellow intellectuals in hopes of exploring the…
- Ridiculous History
John Wilkins Started a 17th-century Astronaut Program, Part 1: Why not aim for the Moon?
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- Ridiculous History
Turtle Soup, Part 2: Rise of the Mock Turtle
In the second part of this series, the guys dive deeper into the story of turtle soup -- and how it soon gave rise to the more affordable, equally delicious…
- Ridiculous History
Turtle Soup, Part 1: A Delicacy of Yesteryear
Today it's uncommon to see turtle soup on most restaurant menus-- but, not too long ago, this was considered a top-notch delicacy, praised for its flavor…
- Ridiculous History
Stab Yourself to Health and Happiness: The Bizarre Rise of the Lebensweker
When a bug bit German inventor Carl Baunscheidt, he was struck with an epiphany of sorts -- could 'venting' the human body through the creation of artificial…
- Ridiculous History
The Hatpin Peril
Nowadays, hatpins are a somewhat archaic fashion accessory--but at the turn of the century, they were often used as weapons to deter ne'er-do-wells and…
- Ridiculous History
It's a Cat's World, Part 2: The Rise of the Cat Show
In the second part of this series, the guys explore the story of Harrison Weir, "The Father of the Cat Fancy." Learn how Weir led the charge to save the…
- Ridiculous History
It's a Cat's World, Part 1: The Sacred and the Suspicious
Whether you love them or hate them, there's no denying that cats hold a unique position in human society. They're (in)famous for making their own way -- "I…
- Ridiculous History
Dan Sickles, American Scoundrel, Part 2: The Civil War
After literally getting away with murder, Dan Sickles joined the military, later leveraging the dubious events of his military career to reinvent himself as a…
- Ridiculous History
Dan Sickles, American Scoundrel, Part 1: How to Get Away with Murder
Daniel Sickles was a real pill. For a time, the wealthy New Yorker was famous for his philandering -- and then he became famous for not only murdering a man in…
- Ridiculous History
That Time New York Banned Spitting
As tuberculosis spread throughout the US, New York City banned spitting. Learn how the Ladies’ Health Protective Association saved the Big Apple from a…
- Ridiculous History
Admiral Byrd and the Polar Dairy
In 1933, on his second expedition to Antarctica, Richard E. Byrd took the unusual, highly-publicized step of bringing some non-human crew along: Klondike Gay…
- Ridiculous History
Weird 21st Century Predictions from Ages Past, Part 2: Your Personal Plane, A World Without Disaster and Retiring on the Moon
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- Ridiculous History
Weird 21st Century Predictions from Ages Past, Part 1: Tesla, Square Tomatoes and Pseudosteak
It's the first Ridiculous History episode of the New Year! Ben, Noel and Casey are ringing it in with some predictions--not their own predictions, mind you…
- Ridiculous History
The Old Rituals of New Years, Part 2: Neuroscience, Resolutions and the Rick Steves Fan Club
What a year, right? If you're listening to today's episode, you have (almost) officially survived. I'm ringing in 2021 with Noel, Casey and the rest of our…
- Ridiculous History
Holiday Classic: When the Puritans Canceled Christmas
Nowadays Christmas is a globally-recognized holiday celebrated by millions of people, but in the past this wasn't the case. In fact, some groups of Christians…
- Ridiculous History
Holiday Classic: The Strange History of Antarctic Fruitcake
Nowadays fruitcake is considered a stereotypical, often comical holiday punchline, but even in the modern day people across the planet can agree on at least…
- Ridiculous History
Goodyear and the Mystery of the Ghost Blimp
In 1942, a U.S. Navy airship flew out over the Pacific to search for Japanese submarines. It lost radio contact and, hours later, slowly crashed in the San…
- Ridiculous History
Benito Mussolini was Super into Wearable Milk
Today Benito Mussolini is probably best known as the founder of Italy's National Fascist Party, but he was also very, very into milk. So much so, in fact, that…
- Ridiculous History
Snowmen as Protest: The Miracle of 1511
During the brutal winter of 1511, residents of Brussels built more than one hundred snowmen... and these sculptures weren't the type of snow sculpture you see…
- Ridiculous History
Why are Chimney Sweeps good luck at weddings?
It seems odd, at first - the idea that a random chimney cleaner might pass by a wedding, then be brought into the party, shake sooty hands with the couple, and…
- Ridiculous History
People Have Been Convinced Robots Will Take Their Jobs For Centuries
Nowadays automation is affecting almost every industry on the planet, and numerous experts are raising alarms: AI, robotics and automation, they say, may well…
- Ridiculous History
That Time the US was Terrified of Tomatoes
Nowadays the tomato is an ubiquitous foodstuff in households across the planet - but in the US, this humble staple was once considered downright poisonous…
- Ridiculous History
How the Pandemic Helped (and Hurt) the Struggle for Women's Rights
The 1918 epidemic played a massive, sometimes unacknowledged role in the struggle for women's rights. Tune in and learn more in today's episode. Learn more…
- Ridiculous History
How a German Prince Built his own Artificial Volcano
Like many nobles of his day, Leopold III Friedrich Franz traveled widely in his youth, taking in the ancient wonders of Europe. A stunning experience…
- Ridiculous History
The Weird Origin of Pink Lemonade, Part 2: The Rise of Clown Pants
As historians dove into the evolution of pink lemonade, one theory about its origin seemed particularly compelling (if gross): Pink lemonade, they argued, owes…
- Ridiculous History
The Weird Origin of Pink Lemonade, Part 1: A Humble Citrus
Nowadays, lemonade is a pretty popular drink -- and its counterpart, pink lemonade, occupies a space all its own. But where did this drink come from? Join the…
- Ridiculous History
An Elephant in the Vatican, Part 2: An Elephant in the Reformation
As Pope Leo X's favorite pal, Hanno enjoyed a unique position in the Vatican -- he was the star of multiple gatherings and celebrations (which didn't always go…
- Ridiculous History
An Elephant in the Vatican, Part 1: The Discovery of Hanno
In February of 1962, HVAC workers discovered the remains of an elephant beneath the Cortile del Belvedere -- and a mystery was ahoof. The story begins in 1513…
- Ridiculous History
S T O V E G O B L I N
Today's setting: Zaragoza, Spain. The time: September of 1934. The problem? A stove goblin. At least, that's what the hapless Palazón thought as they tried to…
- Ridiculous History
The US Didn't Always Have Secret Ballots
Nowadays, voters in the US consider secret ballots a fundamental part of any election. Yet -- perhaps surprisingly -- this wasn't always the case. The road to…
- Ridiculous History
The Case of the Greenbrier Ghost, Part 2: The Court
When the defense called Mary Jane Heaster to the stand, they likely meant to discredit her. However, she maintained that her daughter, Elva, had visited her --…
- Ridiculous History
Ridiculous History Presents: Criminalia
If you like Ridiculous History, check out this iHeartRadio & Shondaland Audio podcast – Criminalia. On Criminalia, hosts Holly Frey and Maria Trimarchi explroe…
- Ridiculous History
The Case of the Greenbrier Ghost, Part 1: An 'Everlasting Faint'
When Elva Zona Heaster passed away, the town doctor attributed the death to a heart attack. Elva's mother disagreed. Convinced that her daughter visited her…
- Ridiculous History
The Hand of Glory, Part 2: Recipes, Necropants and Toes
Like any recipe, instructions for creating a Hand of Glory often varied - which one was considered legitimate? Also, the guys explore the odd, morbid magical…
- Ridiculous History
The Hand of Glory, Part 1: A Thief's Theme
If you were an enterprising thief in the days of yore, there were few legendary tools as valuable as the grisly Hand of Glory -- the severed hand of a…
- Ridiculous History
Brooms and Witchcraft, Part 2: Inquisitions and Iniquity
Could the stereotype of witches on broomsticks actually be a drug reference? Join Ben, Noel and Casey as they continue digging through the history and folklore…
- Ridiculous History
Brooms and Witchcraft, Part 1: A Killer in the Rye?
Most people are familiar with the stereotypical image of a witch: a haggard, often older individual with a peaked hat, black robes, a demonic familiar and…
- Ridiculous History
The Beast of Gévaudan, Part 2: The Birth of a Grisly Legend
As the investigation into the Beast became a national obsession, the French monarchy stepped in, offering rewards (and threats) in their attempt to capture the…
- Ridiculous History
The Beast of Gévaudan, Part 1: Murders In France
For three years, a monster terrified the backwater region of Gévaudan. From 1764 - 1767, people found the mutilated corpses, one by one, across the…
- Ridiculous History
The BBC Convinced People Spaghetti Grows on Trees
On the first of April in 1957, cameraman Charles de Jaeger's childhood dream came true: Panorama, Britain's most popular news program, aired a segment…
- Ridiculous History
The US Waged War on Pinball for Decades
Today, pinball is seen as a sort of retro novelty -- it's enjoyable, kitschy and wholesome. Yet for decades, political officials in cities across the United…
- Ridiculous History
The Misadventures of Wade Boggs, Part 2
Wade Boggs is a legendary, larger-than-life figure in the world of sports -- but one of his strangest achievements has nothing to do with baseball. Join the…
- Ridiculous History
The Misadventures of Wade Boggs, Part 1
Wade Boggs has always been regarded as a legend, both on and off the ballfield. However, some of his strangest experiences have very little to do with…
- Ridiculous History
The Tragic Tale of the 'Turnspit Dog'
Before the rise of household automation, British elites struggled to find the perfect method for cooking meat. They preferred it roasted, slowly, turning…