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: The Rise of Harvey Wiley's Poison Squad
Nowadays U.S. grocery shoppers can be reasonably certain that the foods they purchase are safe (if not healthy). Yet this wasn't always the case. In today's…
- Ridiculous History
The Preposterous History of Artificial Flavors, Part One: The Vanilla Problem
For most of human history, people were locked in a continual struggle to find food and avoid starvation. Eating for pleasure wasn't really a thing the common…
- Ridiculous History
"Right on," Said the Pope: How the Swiss Guard became the Elite Protectors of the Vatican
At first glance, the Vatican's security service makes no sense. The Swiss Guard is an elite force from, well, Switzerland. So what the heck are these guys from…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Step Aside, James Bond: The Strange Stories of Espionage Animals
It's no secret that espionage and spycraft are common tools in the murky realm of geopolitics -- but not every spy is some sort of James Bond type character in…
- Ridiculous History
Ottoman Harems Were Disturbing and Ridiculous, Part Two: A Real-life Game of Thrones
Behind the heavily-guarded walls of the palace, the Ottoman Empire's harem was a world all its own. In the second part of this special two-part episode, Ben…
- Ridiculous History
Ottoman Harems Were Disturbing and Ridiculous, Part One: Busting Myths
For centuries, westerners devoured lurid, embellished stories about the mysteries of Near Eastern culture -- and, chief amid their fascinations, the idea of…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: How Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Influenced Star Trek
Star Trek is one of the world's most well-known sci-fi franchises, spanning decades in film, TV, books, games and more. While it's had its fair share of…
- Ridiculous History
Popeye Changed America, Part Two: Popeye Ain't Perfect
As Popeye's popularity continued to skyrocket through the Great Depression and the second World War, his pantheon of related characters only grew. And…
- Ridiculous History
Popeye Changed America, Part One: A Breakout Star
Nowadays Popeye the Sailor Man is a world-famous icon, represented in almost any form of media you can imagine. Yet this wasn't always the case. In part one of…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: What was the 'Great Stink' of London?
Every city has its drawbacks -- parking, for example, or crime, or the price of a decent pizza slice -- but in the 1800s London faced a particularly unusual…
- Ridiculous History
The Constitution is Amazing (and Ridiculous), Part Two: The Game of Amendments
The founders of the United States knew the Constitution wasn't perfect, and so they baked in a process for revising their original document. Today, the first…
- Ridiculous History
The Constitution is Amazing (and Ridiculous), Part One: A Troubled, Ambitious Origin Story
Something like 60% of Americans have never fully read the US Constitution. How did such a short document become one of the most important pieces of writing in…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: How Farmers Built A Barbed Wire Phone Network
Nowadays smartphones are an ubiquitous part of many civilizations, but not so long ago telephones of any sort were a rare commodity -- and the infrastructure…
- Ridiculous History
Ridiculous Video Game Tie-ins, Part Two: The Olympics and the Great Game of Chex Quest
Imagine grabbing a box of (at best) mid cereal, only to discover the greatest game, free withing the box. Imagine making an entire game based on an…
- Ridiculous History
Ridiculous Video Game Tie-ins, Part One: The Rise of Cool Spot -- and Fall of the Noid
Cast your memories back to the strange days of the 1980s and 1990s -- boy howdy, things were weird. At some point, marketing executives the world round…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: The Strange Story of Canadian Margarine Bootleggers
True story: once upon a time, both Canada and the United States once had bizarre laws banning the production or importation of margarine -- and prohibition…
- Ridiculous History
Malta: Tiny and Amazing, Just Like The Dog
How did this tiny, strategically crucial archipelago change the course of World War II? Join Ben, Noel and Max as they explore the deep -- at times, ridiculous…
- Ridiculous History
The Ridiculous History of Credit Cards
When you think about it, credit cards are a pretty fascinating idea -- they're convenient, ubiquitous and, often, predatory. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: San Francisco's Egg War
How much would you pay for an egg? Would you kill for one? In today's classic episode, join the guys as they explore the strange story of the Gold Rush, the…
Ridiculous HistoryIntroducing: Sixteenth Minute (of Fame)
Hi Ridiculous History Fans! Take a listen to the trailer of our newest show Sixteenth Minute (of Fame) About the show: Sixteenth Minute (of Fame) is a weekly…
- Ridiculous History
Skyscrapers, Part Two: An Arms Race to the Sky
Once society became convinced that you could build skyscrapers without them immediately collapsing, cities across the United States -- and, soon the world --…
- Ridiculous History
Skyscrapers, Part One: A Guy and a Birdcage
Skyscrapers are beautiful -- and utterly ridiculous. In the first part of this two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max learn how modern skyscrapers were largely…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: The Wild West Was Actually Pretty Chill
If you're like most people, the phrase "Wild West" conjures images of brutal gunfights in dusty, tumbleweed-ridden streets, visions of criminals slinking into…
- Ridiculous History
On Theme, Part Two: The Cyclical Evolution of Music
As Ernest Hogan reaches new heights of success, critics turn against ragtime and "coon songs," prompting a larger conversation about the cyclical nature of…
- Ridiculous History
On Theme, Part One: Ernest Hogan's Success and Regret
Today the world agrees minstrel shows were horrific, weaponized stereotypes meant to dehumanize people. But not too long ago, minstrel shows and the related…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: How A Grudge Match Launched the Ford GT40
Today the Ford GT40 is one of the world's most iconic vehicles -- but this award winning automotive beast is, it turns out, the result of a serious grudge…
- Ridiculous History
The QWERTY Keyboard is Purposely Bad
If you're like most folks in the West, your laptop and phone use something called the QWERTY keyboard, named for the six letters at the upper left of the…
- Ridiculous History
Auction Houses: It's Not *All* Money Laundering
We've all heard of auction houses. Nowadays, these are often best-known as specialized institutions catering to international institutions and a small…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: "Vitamin Donuts" Were A Real Thing
Donuts: they're sweet, delectable and dangerous. Nowadays they're best known as a sugary snack or a nice accompaniment to a cup of coffee, but this wasn't…
- Ridiculous History
Thomas Nast, Part Two: A Cartoonist Conquers Corruption (and Moves to Ecuador)
Rising from humble beginnings, Thomas Nast soon became something very much like the conscience of America. His illustrated takedowns of corruption spoke…
- Ridiculous History
Thomas Nast, Part One: The Cartoonist Who Shaped America
Tons of people have a soft spot for their favorite cartoon or comic strip -- yet few have attained the social status of the legendary artist Thomas Nast, the…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: The Rotten, Sausagey Secret Origin of Botox
Today botox is one of the world's most well-known wrinkle treatments, as well as a go-to joke in the realm of pop culture. But where did this treatment come…
- Ridiculous History
Books You Can't Read -- By Design!
Books are amazing. When you think about it, a good book can be a portal to another world. A book can a time machine, and the right story can genuinely change a…
- Ridiculous History
La Maupin: The Swordfighting Opera Singer of France
During the era of Louis XIV, Julie D'Aubigny became one of the most popular criminals in all of high society. In today's episode, the guys welcome returning…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: The Weird World of Meat Jell-O (A Gelatin Origin Story)
Today Jell-O and other gelatin foodstuffs are generally relegated to world of desserts, but this wasn't always the case. In fact, gelatin took a long, strange…
- Ridiculous History
A History of Roller Coasters, Part Two: Higher, Faster, More Expensive
In the history of roller coasters, one thing became clear: the public wanted extremes -- the fastest, the highest, the most dangerous of rides. In part two of…
- Ridiculous History
A History of Roller Coasters, Part One: Early Ups and Downs
If you described the concept of a roller coaster to an alien, they'd probably be baffled: Why on Earth are humans purposely recreated the sensation of falling…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: London Made a Train for the Dead
In the mid-19th century, London was literally filling with corpses. When the city was in the grips of a cholera epidemic, the already-overfilled cemetaries…
- Ridiculous History
The Page-turning Evolution of the Encyclopædia Britannica
In a burst of meta-humor, the Encyclopædia Britannica defines encyclopædia as "reference work that contains information on all branches of knowledge or that…
- Ridiculous History
A Ridiculous History of Worcestershire Sauce
It's tangy. It's salty. It's sweet. It's unctuous... but what exactly is Worcestershire sauce? Join Ben, Noel and Max on their continuing condiment journey as…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Roald Dahl: Children's Author and Secret Agent
Today author Roald Dahl is best-known for his prolific writing career -- but, as it turns out, he lived an entirely different life before he ever put pen to…
- Ridiculous History
Micronations: How Liechtenstein Became A Country
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a small, landlocked country out in the alpines -- and while it's a tiny nation, it has an enormous depth of history. In…
- Ridiculous History
Why Are There So Many Captain Marvels?
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird. It's a plane. It's... "definitely not Superman." At least, that's what Fawcett Comics told the courts, beginning a…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: When did ALL-CAPS type become YELLING?
You've seen them before, whether in forwarded spam email, a strangely passionate TikTok comment: THE DREADED ALL-CAPS TYPER.Where does this practice come from?…
- Ridiculous History
Look at Us, Late to the Ridiculous History of Easter
Easter! It's a big deal, all across the world. And just like earlier celebrations of spirituality, it's been commodified in the United States. In today's…
- Ridiculous History
Royal Deaths, Part Four: The Unfortunate Lives of Scottish Kings
Have you ever shown off your favorite cannon, or deparately rode a horse through the night for a little birthday romance? If so, thank your lucky stars you…
- Ridiculous History
The Delaware Wedge, Part Two: The Wedge and The Horn
As early miscalculations and subsequent confusion continued to build, Delaware found itself in a three-state beef over a tiny section of land -- and though the…
- Ridiculous History
The Delaware Wedge, Part One: A Tiny State with Massive History
Although it's the second-smallest state in the US, don't let Delaware's diminutive geography fool you. This state has a tremendous economy, and loads of…
- Ridiculous History
Back to the Choo-ture: the Enduring Nostalgia of Model Trains
What is it about model trains that so captivates people, young and old alike? How did they start as an icon of innovation, and then become such a treasured…
- Ridiculous History
PEZ: Candy or Anti-smoking Aid?
The Austrian candy brand Pez is perhaps more well-known for its iconic dispensers than for the candy itself. While they may seem commonplace today, these…
- Ridiculous History
Mobituaries with Mo Rocca, Part Two: What's Past is Prologue
What happened to the payphone? Were you also stunned the first time you saw Abe Lincoln without a beard? In the second part of this special two-part series, Mo…
- Ridiculous History
Mobituaries with Mo Rocca, Part One: Mo Eulogizes The Pager
In the world of journalism and literature, there's nothing quite like the obituary. Sometimes called the first draft of history, an obituary can function as a…
- Ridiculous History
Awful Candy, Part Two: Peeps, Licorice, Wax Lips and More
Are you a fan of licorice? Have you ever encountered wax lips in the wild? Where do you stand in the great Peeps debate? Join Ben, Noel and Max as they…
- Ridiculous History
Awful Candy, Part One: Tootsie Rolls Saved the War -- and Divided the World
Whether or not you have a sweet tooth, odds are you probably have some strong opinions about candy. Following up (finally!) on their earlier Halloween…
- Ridiculous History
It Is Literally Time For The Leap Year Episode
Let's be honest: leap year sounds pretty nuts when you explain it. We have the regular 365-day year three times in a row, but every fourth year we add one…
- Ridiculous History
The Ridiculous History of Hot Sauce
Today, hot sauce is a global phenomenon, with millions of bottles sold every single year. But where does it come from? What makes it so popular -- and why…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Why does the Guinness Beer Company Track World Records?
Odds are you've heard about the Guinness Book of World Records, the famous, often inaccurate compilation of various impressive, important, and ridiculous feats…
- Ridiculous History
20 Questions: A Ridiculous Crossover, Part One
Long-time listeners will know Ben, Noel and Max are big fans of their peer podcast, Ridiculous Crime -- but what happens when the guys join forces with…
- Ridiculous History
Tecumseh's Curse, Part Two: Boy, It's Tough to be President
As curses go, Tecumseh's is, according to the legend, ridiculously specific. Every US President elected in a year divisible by twenty is doomed to meet…
- Ridiculous History
Tecumseh's Curse, Part One: Rise of The Prophet
Did the legendary Shawnee chief Tecumseh really lay a curse on US Presidents? In the first part of this special two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max dive deep…