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: Operation Gunnerside: How a Crew of Military Skiers Ruined the Nazi Bomb
What's the weirdest wartime heist you've ever heard of? In today's Classic episode, Ben, Noel and Max return to one of their favorites: On February 27, 1942…
- Ridiculous History
The Thai Restaurant Conspiracy
Despite being a relatively small country, the South East Asian nation of Thailand is famous across the planet for its unique, delectable cuisine. Heck…
- Ridiculous History
The Ridiculous History of Ping Pong
Whether you call it table tennis, whiff-whaff or ping pong, there's no denying this fun sport of "tennis for the home" has become a global phenomenon. But…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: How far did Isaac Newton go to hunt down forgers?
Today, Isaac Newton is best known for his scientific pursuits -- but he also served as Warden and, later, Master of the Royal Mint. And this wasn't some sort…
- Ridiculous History
A Ridiculous Love Letter to Atari, Part Two: a Rise, a Fall, and a Legacy
Oof! Atari! As our producer Max likes to say, 'it was a thing.' In the second part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the pioneering rise of…
- Ridiculous History
A Ridiculous Love Letter to Atari, Part One: From Pings to Pongs
Nowadays most people either play video games, or know someone who does -- yet this wasn't always the case. As civilization skyrockets toward gaming experiences…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: How Admiral Horatio Nelson Ended Up Dead in a Barrel of Brandy
Naval legend Admiral Nelson died on October 21st, 1805 shortly after being shot by a French sniper while standing on the deck his ship, Victory. Following the…
- Ridiculous History
What makes a word a 'word'?
Words are everywhere -- and we're grateful, because we can't do this show without them. But all words were, at some point, just made up. So how does society…
- Ridiculous History
The Rise (and Crash) of the Concorde Jet
What if you could hop from France to New York in less than four hours? Traveling twice the speed of sound, with caviar, lobster, champagne and cigars? This was…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: English Men Used to Sell Their Wives
In late 17th-century England, it was almost impossible for anyone outside of the upper class to successfully get a divorce -- the process was expensive and…
- Ridiculous History
A Ridiculous History of "Fad Diets," Part Two: Beverly Hills, Scarsdale and More
As the Western world embarks on 2026, Ben, Max and Noel welcome everyone's New Year's resolutions. (Here's hoping that gym schedule continues through…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: How Louisiana Almost Became a Hippo Ranching Hub
Nowadays beef, chicken and pork are the most common meats in the US -- but, not so long ago, that could have all changed. Join the guys as they travel back to…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Who was the highest paid athlete in history?
Today, most people probably don't remember the career of once-famous charioteer Gaius Appuleius Diocles -- however, in his day we was a cultural icon, one of…
- Ridiculous History
Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu, with Tom Freston
Happy New Year! It's no secret that MTV fundamentally changed the nature of media and entertainment. But how did it actually get started? What made the world…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: The Weird Life of George Washington, Part 2
Join Ben, Noel, Casey and returning guest Christopher Hassiotis as they continue exploring the strange life and times of George Washington in the second part…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: The Weird Life of George Washington, Part 1
Returning special guest Christopher Hassiotis joins the guys today for a round-robin discussion of the very weird life of George Washington, first President of…
- Ridiculous History
Folks, We're Doing A Clip Show: Leftovers, 2025
Hey there, Merry Christmas to all who celebrate. Ben, Noel and Max here: as we travel to hang with our friends and family, we like to do a little thing at the…
- Ridiculous History
Was 536 Really the Worst Year in History?
Welcome to the end of the year, fellow Ridiculous Historians! As Ben, Noel and Max look back on the events of 2025, they discovered historians do, in fact…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Clara, The World's Most Famous Rhinoceros
For centuries most people in Europe thought of rhinos as another form of mythical creature, like unicorns or griffins. However, this all changed when an…
- Ridiculous History
Christmas Traditions Are So Incredibly Weird!
What's the strangest Christmas tradition you practice? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max ring in the end of the year with an exploration of Christmas…
- Ridiculous History
The Grim Christmas Folklore of Johnny Ace, with Jake Brennan
While the career of rhythm-and-blues vocalist Johnny Ace was short, he left a huge mark on the music world. Up until Christmas Day of 1954, Ace seemed set to…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: How the Monopoly Board Game Became a World War II Escape Kit
Ben, Noel and Max return with this week's Classic episode! Monopoly is a pretty divisive game, and people tend to either love it or hate it. However, for…
- Ridiculous History
The Deliciously Ridiculous History of Fruitcakes
Let's be honest. If you live in the United States, you probably think fruitcake is ridiculous. It's like the MRE of Christmas, passed around from one family to…
- Ridiculous History
That Time the US Government Brainwashed America into DIY Bomb Shelters
Picture this: it's just after World War II -- the world knows nuclear weapons can end civilization. So, how can a government help the public feel safe? In…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Idiomatic For The People, Part I
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
Spontaneous Human Combustion: A Bizarre Controversy
Can people really just, for no discernable reason, catch on fire? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the centuries old folklore and investigations…
- Ridiculous History
IP, Part Three: A Copyright for Everyone!
As Ben, Noel and Max close out another year of Ridiculous History, they return to the patently baffling world of intellectual property. In part three of this…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Was there a real-life Rapunzel?
Most people in the West are familiar with the old Rapunzel fairy tale -- a beautiful princess is confined to a tower until a prince, captivated by her beauty…
- Ridiculous History
Ridiculous Maps: That Time Everyone Thought California Was An Island
Nowadays, pretty much anyone can easily find an accurate map of a city, a country, or the entire world. But this wasn't always the case. In today's episode…
- Ridiculous History
The Chicago Tylenol Murders
For most people, Tylenol is nothing more than an ol' stand-by, over-the-counter pain reliever. Yet, as Ben, Noel and Max learn in today's episode -- this…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Benjamin Franklin's Advice On "Finding A Mistress"
Founding Father Benjamin Franklin was a man of many interests, but his endeavors were by no means limited to technical innovation, philosophy and politics. In…
- Ridiculous History
Wait! Can a tree really own itself?
Do you have a favorite tree? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max head over to the famous college town of Athens, Georgia where -- legend has it -- one guy…
- Ridiculous History
Doc Holliday Was, In Fact, A Deadly Dentist
Longtime listeners are well-aware that the history of the 'Wild West' is more than a bit... embellished. Yet a grain of truth exists at the heart of almost…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: What does "Idaho" actually mean?
Idaho was the 43rd state admitted to the Union, and today it's well-known for potatoes, mining, and stunning forests -- but, even in the modern day, Idaho is…
- Ridiculous History
The Ridiculous History of Dog Food
Here on Ridiculous History, we are avowedly pro-dog. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into a strange evolution of slave, to companion, to family…
- Ridiculous History
Bir Tawil: The Ridiculous Tale of "Earth's Worst Real Estate"
Land! Historically speaking, it's a pretty popular thing. In fact, a great deal of human conflict is based upon fighting over real estate -- yet, as Ben, Noel…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Uncle Sam Tried to End World War II With Bat Bombs
Folks, we are phenomenally excited about this week's Classic episode. It sounds like something straight out of the cave beneath Bruce Wayne's Manor, but thanks…
- Ridiculous History
The Ridiculous History of the "Ice Cream Sundae"
For fans of sweet, frozen sweets, there's nothing as perfect as ice cream. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max scoop into a bizarrely niche controversy: Who…
- Ridiculous History
Zombies, Part Two: The Movies!
On the shambling heels of their recent episode exploring the bizarre legendary origins of zombies, Ben, Noel and Max dive headfirst into the cinematic side of…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: The American Soldiers Who Defected to North Korea and Became Movie Stars
In this weekend's Classic episode, Ben quizzes Max on his dreams of being a director, ultimately asking: What would the average person do to become famous?…
- Ridiculous History
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The Temple of Artemis
It's no secret that the Wonders of the Ancient World were pretty... wonderful -- yet also pretty mischaracterized. In today's episode, Ben, Noel, and Super…
- Ridiculous History
That Time Everyone Loved Radium: What Could Go Wrong?
Fellow Ridiculous Historians, we all know the inspiring and tragic story of Marie Curie -- however, not everyone is familiar with the absolute boom in…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: How a Broken Toilet Foiled a German Sub
Toward the end of World War II, the German Type VIIC submarine was acknowledged to be one of the most advanced -- and deadliest -- predators on the seas. Yet…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Creature Feature: The Dark Tetrad
It's the weekend! Time to get outdoors, enjoy nature... and, honestly, watch out for crazy animals. Join the guys in this Classic episode as they make an…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Gustaf Broman Tried to Cross the Atlantic in a Canoe . . . Or Did He?
Ben here: Noel and I are sailing the seas this week -- wish us luck! Luckily, our Super Producer Max is holding it down with some of our favorite Classic…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: The Weird, Surprisingly Recent Origin of the Tooth Fairy
Ben here: Noel and I are sailing the seas this week -- wish us luck! Luckily, our Super Producer Max is holding it down with some of our favorite Classic…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: When Vikings Loot The Wrong Town
Ben here: we're out on the high seas this week -- true story! While we're away, we're sharing some of our favorite Classic episode. Here's one we absolutely…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Were Tulips Really The Bitcoin of the 1600s?
In the 1600s, residents of the Dutch Republic were -- according to the story -- absolutely bonkers for tulips. A market sprang up around the tulip trade, and…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: (Some of) History's Dumbest Military Prototypes
As Ben and Noel hit the high seas, they're celebrating with a special week of their favorite Classics. It's true that the world's militaries often pioneer…
- Ridiculous History
The Dumbest Mobster Ever Tried To Steal Ruby Slippers
There are few pieces of film history more iconic than Dorothy's magic ruby slippers from 1939's The Wizard of Oz. Yet, at first, the studio had no idea how…
- Ridiculous History
The Ridiculously Disturbing History of North Korea
As one of the most isolated countries on the planet, it's no surprise the Democratic People's Republic of Korea remains mysterious in the modern day. So, how…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: The Forty Elephants: London’s All-Female Jewel Thieves
For at least 200 years, part of London’s criminal underground was ruled by a gang of brilliant, all-female jewel thieves. In this week's classic episode…
- Ridiculous History
Disco Balls are Ridiculous, and We Love Them
Human history is absolutely riddled with ridiculous inventions. Some are cartoonishly specific. Others, like the disco ball, serve no purpose other than…
- Ridiculous History
The Truth About "Zombies"
As summer turns and fall begins, Ridiculous History officially enters the most wonderful time of the year. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: The Malleus Maleficarum: A Real-life Witch Hunter's Bible
During Europe's period of witchcraft hysteria, one enterprising (and failed) witch hunter sought to bolster his reputation by creating an authoritative text on…
- Ridiculous History
How the Kentucky Derby Became a Thing
We’ve all been there, right? You wake up one day, and you say: “You know what? Forget work! It’s so nice outside. I want to put on a fancy…
- Ridiculous History
The Ridiculous History of the 90s and Low Culture, with Ross Benes
The 1990s were a time of chaos, aspiration, and, above all, ridiculous things. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max welcome returning guest Ross Benes, the…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: The Great London Beer Flood of 1814
In 1814, a poor neighborhood in London fell victim to a strange, tragic and boozy disaster -- this calamity would eventually leave eight people dead. So what…
- Ridiculous History
The True Story of Pac Man -- and a Ton of Weird Theories
As one of the most iconic games in all of arcade history, Pac Man is recognized across the planet. But how did it get here -- and why are there so many…
- Ridiculous History
The Ridiculous Origin of the the Word "Ridiculous"
With nearly one thousand episodes out in the world over the years, Ben, Noel and Max realized they've never asked about the origin of the word "ridiculous." In…