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 Great Diamond Hoax - Part 1
The California Gold Rush of the mid-1800s did more than just move hundreds of thousands of people across the continent -- it also convinced these people that…
- Ridiculous History
'Mad' Jack Churchill: The Bagpipe Playing Soldier Who Hunted Nazis with a Longbow - Part 2
It sounds like something straight out of a Tarantino film -- a bloodthirsty, eccentric soldier welding a longbow and claymore against Nazis, then celebrating…
- Ridiculous History
'Mad' Jack Churchill: The Bagpipe Playing Soldier Who Hunted Nazis with a Longbow - Part 1
It sounds like something straight out of a Tarantino film -- a bloodthirsty, eccentric soldier welding a longbow and claymore against Nazis, then celebrating…
- Ridiculous History
Erasto Mpemba: The High School Student Who Disproved Thermodynamics
Let's say you put two containers of water in a freezer. Water in one container is at room temperature, while water in the other container is hot. Which one…
- Ridiculous History
The Straw Hat Riots of 1922
The world of fashion has historically been a landmine of strange, seemingly arbitrary rules, from when to wear white around labor day to what constitutes…
- Ridiculous History
The Legend of Tarrare, the Insatiable Glutton Who Ate a Quarter of a Cow Daily
What's the craziest thing you've ever eaten? Odds are you have nothing on the legendary Tarrare, the infamous Frenchman famous for eating everything from whole…
- Ridiculous History
Why Genghis Khan's Great-Great Granddaughter Was Just as Badass
Khutulun was the warrior daughter of Kaidu, and the great-great granddaughter of Genghis Khan. While she was fearless in battle and an accomplished…
- Ridiculous History
That Time Ernest Hemingway's Younger Brother Started His Own Country
Most people have heard of Ernest Hemingway, but what about his younger brother, Leicester? 16 years Ernest's junior, Leicester seemed set to live in his older…
- Ridiculous History
The Ersatz Wild West Shootouts of Palisade, Nevada
During the glory days of the railroad era, the public was gripped by mythic, larger-than-life tales of the Wild West -- people reveled in visions of train…
- Ridiculous History
The Great Goldfish Gulping Craze That (For Some Reason) Swept America
It's no secret that kids do all sorts of dumb things -- but have you ever swallowed a live goldfish? If so, you're not alone. In fact, it wasn't so long ago…
- Ridiculous History
Pneumatic Tubes: The 'Futuristic' Transport System That's Over 150-Years-Old
Did you ever use on of those neat little pneumatic tubes at the drive-through of your local bank? If so, you may be surprised to learn just how far the roots…
- Ridiculous History
Violet Jessop, the Unsinkable Stewardess Who Survived Three Famous Shipwrecks
Have you ever been on a cruise ship? Have your ship ever sank? This happened not once, not twice, but three times to cabin attendant Violet Jessop. Tune in to…
- Ridiculous History
Abandoned Ship: What Really Happened Aboard the "Mary Celeste"?
Once upon a time the Mary Celeste was just a ship like any other, ferrying goods to and fro across the oceans -- at least, that is, until December 1872, when…
- Ridiculous History
That Time America Fell In Love With Competitive Walking
While people often call baseball the "national pastime" of the United States, there was once another contender for this crown -- the sport known as…
- Ridiculous History
The Weird Stories Behind Your Favorite Christmas Carols
Christmas carols have a storied, strange history. Join the guys on the last day of 2019 as they crack open the eggnog and dive into the ridiculous histories of…
- Ridiculous History
The Time Salvador Dali Partnered with Walt Disney - Part 2
Salvador Dali and Walt Disney weren't just two of the greatest artistic innovators of their time — they were also close friends with a bromance for the ages…
- Ridiculous History
The Time Salvador Dali Partnered with Walt Disney - Part 1
Salvador Dali and Walt Disney weren't just two of the greatest artistic innovators of their time — they were also close friends with a bromance for the ages…
- Ridiculous History
Colonel Blood and the Theft of the Crown Jewels
The grifter, adventurer, thief and (probable) spy known as Thomas Blood spent much of his life as a widely-known rogue and all-around scoundrel -- but when and…
- Ridiculous History
The Starving Time: When Jamestown Colonists Turned Cannibal, Part 2
While children are often taught a sanitized version of early American history, the reality of life in a European colony was brutal -- and, at times, fatal…
- Ridiculous History
The Starving Time: When Jamestown Colonists Turned Cannibal, Part 1
While children are often taught a sanitized version of early American history, the reality of life in a European colony was brutal -- and, at times, fatal…
- Ridiculous History
The Strange Tradition that Forced Everyone in New York to Move House on the Same Day
It's no secret that moving can be a hassle -- the packing, preparation, time and money spent relocating from one home to another can be a huge pain. Now…
- Ridiculous History
French Waiters Once Had to Strike for Their Right to Wear Mustaches
If you're going for controversial facial hair, there's not much that can top the hirsute hot take known as the mustache. While most people can generally do…
- Ridiculous History
The Honey Trap: Sex in Espionage Throughout History
Sure, love at first sight may be a real thing -- but, occasionally, there's an ulterior motive involved. Join the guys as they explore the bizarre practice…
- Ridiculous History
The Weird, Weird History of Shipping: Part 2
How far did the components of your phone travel to land in the palm of your hand? Nowadays, even the most mundane items can come from half a world away. This…
- Ridiculous History
The Weird, Weird History of Shipping: Part 1
How far did the components of your phone travel to land in the palm of your hand? Nowadays, even the most mundane items can come from half a world away. This…
- Ridiculous History
Benjamin Lay: The Quaker Who Called Out the Hypocrisy of Slavery, Part 2
As Benjamin Lay continued his one-man protest against the hypocrisy of slavery in the Quaker community, he inspired some folks and frustrated others (primarily…
- Ridiculous History
Benjamin Lay: The Quaker Who Called Out the Hypocrisy of Slavery, Part 1
Nowadays, people often look back on U.S. Quakers as staunch abolitionists, but this wasn't always the case. In fact, when the Quakers first arrived on the…
- Ridiculous History
How Bertha Heyman Conned Her Way Into Show Business
Bertha Heyman was a notorious con artist with a robust rap sheet and a penchant for bilking well-to-do, otherwise shrewd men. Listen in to learn how Bertha's…
- Ridiculous History
That Time Germany Got Obsessed With Polar Bear Photos
When French photo collector Jean-Marie Donat stumbled upon his first vintage picture of a German dressed as a polar bear, he initially thought it was just an…
- Ridiculous History
Rose Mackenberg: Houdini's Ghostbuster
While the papers of the time relegated Rose Mackenberg to a sidekick role as the "girl detective" working with famed skeptic and escape artist Harry Houdini…
- Ridiculous History
Science and Spiritualism: Why were ghost stories so popular in the 1800s?
Nowadays western historians tend to regard the scientific progress of the 19th century as a linear, indelible line from one breakthrough to the next. Yet these…
- Ridiculous History
John of Bohemia, the Blind King Who Charged Into Battle
We recount the epic tale of John of Bohemia, a 14th-century king who charged into the Battle of Crécy at age 50 - despite having been blind for the past ten…
- Ridiculous History
Kakigōri: The Story of Japan's Famous Shaved Ice
While this Japanese delicacy isn't the world's only icy dessert, it's certainly one of the most unique -- that iconic, delicate texture sets it apart. Kakigōri…
- Ridiculous History
John Edmonstone: The Man Who Trained Darwin
Born into slavery in the 1700s, John Edmonstone gained his freedom in 1817 and moved to Edinburgh, where he stuffed birds for the Natural Museum and taught…
- Ridiculous History
The Death of Luxury Air Travel
Flying in an airplane is an enormous privilege, but nowadays it's often seen as an inconvenience more than anything else -- the crowding, the lines, the…
- Ridiculous History
The Bizarre Capitulation of Stettin
When French General Antoine Lasalle first arrived at the Prussian-held city of Stettin in 1806, his odds of successfully capturing the community seemed…
- Ridiculous History
John Wilkes Booth's Brother Saved Abraham Lincoln's Son
Sometime in 1864 or 1865, Robert Lincoln, son of President Abraham Lincoln, had a close call with death in a subway station when he was saved at the last…
- Ridiculous History
John Clem: The 12-year Old Civil War Hero
Although most soldiers in the U.S. Civil War were between 18 and 39, an estimated 20% of the soldiers were underage -- and thousands of those children were…
- Ridiculous History
Christopher Columbus Was Such A Jerk That Even Spain Turned Against Him
For decades in the West, Christopher Columbus was often inaccurately portrayed as a pioneering explorer, his life, times and crimes sanitized in the public…
- Ridiculous History
The Kaiser’s Plan to Invade the United States
Kaiser Wilhelm II was nothing if not ambitious, and he had grand geopolitical plans to increase German influence across the planet. In his mind, there was one…
- Ridiculous History
How Uncle Tom's Cabin Became One of the Most Popular Books in China
Published in 1852, Uncle Tom's Cabin quickly reached international acclaim, becoming the best-selling novel of the 19th century, and the second-best selling…
- Ridiculous History
Tom Watson Gordy: How One Uncle’s Adventures Inspired Jimmy Carter to Join the Navy
Former President Jimmy Carter has dedicated his life to public service, but even now few people know what exactly inspired him. Join Ben, Noel and special…
- Ridiculous History
Teddy Bears, Rhinos, Safari and Everywhere Else: A Conversation with Daniel Scheffler
Although he was wildly popular during his final Presidential term (the world-famous Teddy Bear was even inspired by him), Theodore Roosevelt declined to run…
- Ridiculous History
The Gaspee Affair: Rhode Island’s Revolutionary “Tea Party”
Most US residents are familiar with the famous Boston Tea Party - but it was far from the only conflict of this type. Join the guys as they explore Rhode…
- Ridiculous History
Otto Rahn, The Nazi Occultist Who Hated Nazis and Inspired Indiana Jones
Otto Rahn was a German writer obsessed with finding the Holy Grail -- and, despite being opposed to the Nazi party, as well as openly gay, Otto was financed by…
- Ridiculous History
4 Times Women in the US Were Actually Arrested for Wearing Pants
Today we take a look at a practice that many of us do every day without a second thought - namely, wear pants. However, for women throughout history, wearing…
- Ridiculous History
Sir Francis Drake and the Great Iowa Swindle
When Oscar Hartzell's mother met Milo and Sudie, she fell for a story too good to be true: She, as an heir to the fortune of Sir Francis Drake, was eligible to…
- Ridiculous History
Around the World in a Model T: The Story of Aloha Wanderwell
Nowadays her name may be unfamiliar, but in the 1920s Aloha Wanderwell was an international celebrity, traveling hundreds of thousands of miles across the…
- Ridiculous History
Why George Washington is Huge in Barbados
Before he became one of the leaders of the Revolutionary War, George Washington was just another young man with big dreams and no small amount of wanderlust…
- Ridiculous History
John Willis Menard: The First African American Elected To US Congress
A statesman, editor, publisher, poet, activist and more, John Willis Menard was a true Renaissance man, and he dedicated his life to public service. Listen in…
- Ridiculous History
The Bloody Revenge of Saint Olga of Kiev
When the rebellious Drevlian tribe killed Princess Olga of Kiev's husband, Igor, she set forth on one of history's bloodiest revenge's schemes, instigating not…
- Ridiculous History
The Super Fight: When Muhammad Ali and Rocky Marciano Had A Fight That Never Happened
Radio executive Murray Woroner had a dream -- a fantasy radio boxing tournament matching 16 fighters from different eras. In a move that pushed the boundaries…
- Ridiculous History
Shame and Fish: The Embarrassing and Tragic Story of François Vatel
In this episode, Ben and Noel dive into the story of François Vatel, a majordomo who was tasked with organizing an extravagant royal banquet in 1671. With…
- Ridiculous History
Creature Feature: Go Home Nature, You're Drunk
Join the guys as they make a return appearance on Creature Feature, the podcast that takes a critter’s eye view to explore how animal behavior parallels the…
- Ridiculous History
Hunting Fireflies for Fun (and Profit)
From the 1960s well into the 1990s, thousands of children in the United States were actually paid to hunt fireflies. Join the guys as they explore the strange…
- Ridiculous History
The Listener Mail Extravaganza
The guys often end the show by asking you and your fellow listeners for your own takes on everything from strange town names, crackpot military experiments and…
- Ridiculous History
That Time Ancient Monks Waged War Over A Copyright
The first modern copyright law was the Statute of St. Anne, passed in Great Britain in 1710. However, copyright disputes themselves are much older -- and in at…
- Ridiculous History
Ye Xian: The Story of China's Cinderella
We've all heard the story of Cinderella -- it's one of the world's most popular fairy tales! However, this story exists in multiple versions across the world…
- Ridiculous History
The Portuguese Bank Note Crisis: How One Lucky Forger Almost Destroyed A Nation's Economy
Artur Virgilio Alves dos Reis had a gift. He wasn't the smartest kid growing up, nor was he the most athletic -- he was, however, one of Europe's most talented…
- Ridiculous History
Cow Shoe Camouflage: How Prohibition-era Moonshiners Outsmarted the Feds
During the Prohibition Era, moonshiners and federal agents continually tried to outsmart one another — and one of the moonshiners’ most creative inventions?…