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: Nosy Boraha: The Pirate's Paradise (And Cemetery)
Nowadays most people know the pirates depicted in fiction bear little resemblance to real-life, historical pirates. Few actually buried any treasure, and fewer…
- Ridiculous History
The Outlaw Origins of NASCAR: From Moonshine to Racing
NASCAR! This thoroughly American racing organization is huge in the United States -- and has a lot of international gearhead fans, as well. However, as Ben…
- Ridiculous History
The Real Johnny Appleseed was SUPER WEIRD (and Pretty Cool)
For a lot grade-school kids in the States, the story of Johnny Appleseed is a modern American myth. The story centers on a quixotic, wandering nomad that (for…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: How the Black Death Came To Norway On A Ghost Ship
In the 1300s, the Black Death sprang up in central Asia and swept across continents, killing millions. Quarantines became common as various nations sought…
- Ridiculous History
Germans, Sausages and Dachshunds: Oh, My!
From baseball games to picnics, from street vendors to haute cuisine, the humble hot dog is an American icon. But where did it come from, and how did it get so…
- Ridiculous History
The Ridiculous History of Atlanta's Street Names
OK, folks: yes, Ben, Noel and Max are well aware of Atlanta's bizarre habit of naming every other street 'Peachtree' something-or-other. But did you know this…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Susanna Caroline Matilda: The Colonial Grifter Princess
In this week's Classic episode: Have you ever dreamed about shedding your old identity, casting aside your obligations and becoming an entirely different…
- Ridiculous History
A Samurai Walks Into The White House
History is often taught as a series of discrete, unrelated events -- and that could not be further from the truth. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max…
- Ridiculous History
What is SantaCon -- and Why Do So Many People Hate it?
One thing about the United States -- we'll throw a party for anything. As a result, it's no surprise that back in 1994, a group of well-meaning pranksters in…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: History's Weirdest Flexes, Part Two
While the phrase 'weird flex' may be relatively recent, it turns out that this phenomenon is as old as human civilization. Join the guys with special guests…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: History's Weirdest Flexes, Part One
Do you know anyone who decided to show off in a weird way? While the phrase 'weird flex' may be relatively recent, it turns out that this phenomenon is as old…
- Ridiculous History
The Bizarre Parable of New Coke, Chapter Two: A Rise. A Fall. A Conspiracy?
Back in the 1980s, Coca-Cola -- for reasons the public still can't agree on -- rolled out a controversial new formulation of their legendary, still-secret cola…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: How Robert "The Fastest Knife In The West End" Liston Conducted A Surgery With A 300% Mortality Rate
In this week's Classic episode: It's no secret that hospitals can be intimidating, scary places -- but the medical operations of the modern day can't hold a…
- Ridiculous History
The Bizarre Parable of New Coke, Chapter One: Sweeter, Stranger, Strange
Heads-up! We are extremely biased on this one. Back in the 1980s, Coca-Cola was terrified of losing the Great Soda War to Pepsi. In the depths of desperation…
- Ridiculous History
"Resting Bicycle Face": Bikes and Women's Rights
Nowadays bicycles are a common sight across the world -- they're efficient, convenient, and a great way to get in some exercise. Yet in the late 1800s they…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: How Oliver Cromwell Got Executed Several Years After His Death
In this week's Classic episode: today, Oliver Cromwell is known as one of the most famous figures in English history -- he was a Puritan with no military…
- Ridiculous History
The Bizarre Life of Elvis, Part Two: Public Fame, Private Chaos
Have you ever assaulted your hamburger guy? How do you handle your problematic pet chimpanzee? For a lot of us in the crowd, these questions sound ridiculous…
- Ridiculous History
The Bizarre Life of Elvis, Part One: From Poverty to Pop Stardom
How far would you fly for a sandwich? Decades after his death at just 42, Elvis Presley remains a global pop phenomenon. His short life was full of strange…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC:Hong Xiuquan: The Younger Brother of Jesus Christ Who Led a Bloody Rebellion in China
In this week's Classic episode: when the schoolteacher who would come to be called Hong Xiuquan first heard of the Christian religion, he wasn't particularly…
- Ridiculous History
The Bizarre Saga of the Red Solo Cup
If you're from the United States, you'll instantly recognize the iconic red Solo cup. It's ubquitous at picnics, parties, sports events -- and often seen in TV…
- Ridiculous History
The Day a Dalí Escaped From Prison
For decades, the infamous Rikers Island prison was home to a surprising artifact -- a drawing by none other than the world-renowned surrealist artist Salvado…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: How Big Bill Speakman Fought Off North Korea With Beer Bottles
In this week's Classic episode: Bill Speakman, better known as the “Beer Bottle VC”, single-handedly took on a brigade of Chinese People’s…
- Ridiculous History
A Ridiculous History of Potatoes, Part One: the Origin Story
Potatoes are amazing. While these sturdy little tubers may not seem immediately impressive, they're one of agricultural's biggest success stories. So, how did…
- Ridiculous History
When Did We All Start Saying "Bulls*t"?
Heads-up, fellow Ridiculous Historians: this is an explicit episode, and maynot be appropriate for all audiences. It's no secret that Ben, Noel and Max are…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: New Providence: That Time Pirates Had A Government
Fellow Ridiculous Historians, we just returned from the beautiful Baha Mar resort, and we're going through a pirate phase. So, naturally, we have to share an…
- Ridiculous History
The Ridiculous Truth About Pirates, Chapter Two: History's Most Successful Pirate Was A Woman
Live from the beautiful Baha Mar resort, Ben, Noel, Max and returning guest Matt dive into popular misconceptions about pirates. First, piracy was by no means…
- Ridiculous History
The Ridiculous Truth About Pirates, Chapter One: The Caribbean
Fellow Ridiculous Historians, Ben, Noel and Max are back on their pirate obsession. In this special two-part series live from the legendary Baha Mar, the guys…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Teddy Roosevelt May Just Have Saved Modern (American) Football
In recent years the public has become increasingly aware of the long-term dangers posed by sports injuries -- but at the turn of the 20th century this wasn't…
- Ridiculous History
Eurovision, Chapter Two: Pop Music as Problematic Diplomacy
Now, we know this is going to sound weird, but... it turns out one of the world's most popular pop music contests is also one of the world's best examples of…
- Ridiculous History
Eurovision, Chapter One: A Ridiculous Origin Story -- and A Smash Success
The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the most popular talent shows on the planet, with multiple countries showcasing their culture through pop music…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Prohibition, Prescriptions and the Rise of 'Medicinal' Booze
From 1920 to 1933, the United States was, technically speaking, a dry country. The National Prohibition Act made the manufacture, transport and sale of alcohol…
- Ridiculous History
Fort Sauerkraut: North Dakota’s Strange, Ill-Planned Origin Story
As the gang gets ever closer to finally completing their mission to do an episode on every state in the United States, they arrive at North Dakota. While North…
- Ridiculous History
The Bizarre Tale of the 1909 Catnip Riot
Here's one for the cat lovers: Does your feline friend absolutely love catnip? If you have a cat with the right sensitivities, this stuff completely rocks…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Did Robert E. Lee hate Confederate Memorials?
In this week's Classic episode, the guys return to a strange, oft-overlooked aspect of the Civil War. From 1861 to 1865, the United States of America was a…
- Ridiculous History
IQ Tests are (Kind of) Dumb
Have you ever taken an IQ test? Originally envisioned as a way to determine which French children should be locked in asylums, Alfred Binet's attempt to…
- Ridiculous History
Did Lead Lead to the Fall of the Roman Empire?
Don't do lead, kids! Nowadays everyone knows the dangers this substance poses to humans -- especially children in their formative years -- but back in the day…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: California Schoolchildren and the Great Squirrel War
In this week's Classic episode: In 1918, as the planet was consumed by World War I, the government of California found itself combating an unexpected and…
- Ridiculous History
Don’t Be a Schmo Yo, Try a Yoyo!
Most people think of yo-yos as a fun, old-school toy for kids: a pretty simple, clever device leveraging physics with a string and a weight. Yet as Ben, Noel…
- Ridiculous History
The Ridiculous Secret of "Supreme" Pizza
The results are in: pretty much everyone loves pizza... but what doth a pizza make varies from place to place. Obsessed with a game-changing message from a…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: When West Virginia Begged the USSR for Foreign Aid
In this week's Classic episode: Were it not for the coal mine, the town of Vulcan, West Virginia may well have never existed. As a rural and geographically…
- Ridiculous History
Knitting as Espionage, Part Two: Legendary Spies -- and One Traitor
Espionage takes many forms. As Ben, Noel and Max learned in the first part of this two-part series, one of those forms was knitting. In today's episode, the…
- Ridiculous History
Knitting as Espionage, Part One: Secrets in the Stitch
For a lot of folks in the modern day, knitting is more a relaxing hobby than a household necessity. However, not too long ago, this needlecraft was a genuine…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Idiomatic for the People II, Part II
Language is beautiful and, in many cases, continually evolving. As a result, we end up with hundreds of strange idioms and figures of speech that we use on a…
- Ridiculous History
Inventors Who Died Due To Their Own Inventions: The Irrational Death of Hippasus
We all know pi, right? It's one of the most famous 'irrational numbers' in history, and mathematicians are still trying to figure it out in the modern day…
- Ridiculous History
The Spiritualism Movement Was Utterly Ridiculous, Part Two: Con Artists, Skeptics, and Ghosts
As the Fox sisters became global superstars for their purported ability to speak with the dead, the Spiritualism movement became both a social phenomena and a…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Idiomatic for the People II, Part I: What's in a word?
Language is beautiful and, in many cases, continually evolving. As a result, we end up with hundreds of strange idioms and figures of speech that we use on a…
- Ridiculous History
The Spiritualism Movement Was Utterly Ridiculous, Part One: A Prank Goes Viral
It's a pickle for the ages: What happens when you die? The Spiritualism movement may seem obscure today -- but back in the mid-19th century, this religious and…
- Ridiculous History
History's Weirdest National Anthems
Let's be honest: national anthems are cool... but definitely propaganda, and often objectively weird. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore some of…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: The Statue of Liberty Almost Lived in Egypt
Today the Statue of Liberty is one of the most famous landmarks in the United States -- but it almost didn't make it to Ellis Island. Join the Ben and Noel as…
- Ridiculous History
Vacuum Cleaners are Ridiculous!
Did you know over 90% of US households own a vacuum cleaner? These handy-dandy descendents of the carpet sweeper revolutionized the cleaning game... but where…
- Ridiculous History
The Ridiculously Adorable, Feminist History of Kewpie Dolls
When illustrator and novelist Rose O'Neill first debuted the Kewpie cartoons in 1909, these loveable little characters took the world by storm. Yet O'Neill…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Agent Garbo: The Strange Tale of the Man Who Saved D-Day
When Juan Pujol first volunteered to spy for the British during World War II, they didn’t take him seriously. That all changed when he got a gig spying…
- Ridiculous History
The Most-hated Condiment? A Ridiculous History of Mayonnaise
Often called "the thick, creamy bastard child of oil and eggs" (well, called that at least once by Ben), mayonnaise remains one of the world's most divisive…
- Ridiculous History
The Gang Goes To Waffle House
In a small suburb of Atlanta back in the 1950s, two men hatched an amazing concept: a restaurant that never closes. In today's episode, the guys explore the…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: The War of the Stray Dog: How Far Would You Go For Your Pet?
After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, it didn't take the newly-independent nations of Greece and Bulgaria long to begin bickering over their borders…
- Ridiculous History
Ancient Wonders of the Modern World: the Lighthouse of Alexandria
Ptolemy II was known for a lot of things, none of which involved being humble. In the newest installment of this continuing series, Ben, Noel and Max explore…
- Ridiculous History
People Knew the Earth Was Round Way Earlier Than You Think
So many people grew up hearing the myth that Columbus proved the Earth was round. It's a great story— but it's also utter bunk! In today's episode, Ben…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: The Tragic Origin Story of Morse Code
The telegraph and the communication system known as Morse code revolutionized the way we transmit information, but how did it get here? Join the guys as they…
- Ridiculous History
The Secret World Of Roald Dahl, with Aaron Tracy, Part Two: the Man Behind the Author
A beloved children's author. A spy. An ace fighter pilot, a notorious lady's man, and a strident antisemite: Roald Dahl was all these things and more. In the…
- Ridiculous History
The Secret World Of Roald Dahl, Part One: A "Noisy" Life
Nowadays, most everyone knows a classic Roald Dahl story — yet who knows the man himself? In the first part of this special two-part interview, the guys…