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
History Is Absolutely Riddled With Famous Mistranslations
True story: back in the late 70s, US President Jimmy Carter accidentally claimed he'd left the states forever, and wanted to sleep with everyone in Poland…
- Ridiculous History
Stuff That Got Left Over, Part Two: Hot Tubs, The Last Shantyman, President Taft Had Pet Cows
In our continually ridiculous mission to explore the funniest events of yesteryear, Ben, Noel and Max often leave some stones unturned. In today's episode the…
- Ridiculous History
The Puzzler Returns, Part Two: A Field Trip to the CIA
True story: in the heart of the CIA headquarters at Langley, Virginia, there's a puzzle no one has solved. In the second part of this special two-part episode…
- Ridiculous History
The Puzzler Returns, Part One: Puzzles and Spies
For most people, puzzles are a fun, fascinating diversion. Yet throughout history, they've also played a crucial role in the great game of espionage. Join Ben…
- Ridiculous History
A Boeing Wonderland, Part Two: A Fake Rooftop City For All!
As paranoia increases in the wake of the Pearl Harbor attacks, amateur magician (and storied military official) John Francis Ohmer, Jr. finds Uncle Sam and…
- Ridiculous History
A Boeing Wonderland, Part One: A Magician Tries to Camouflage Entire Airfields
In the wake of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, paranoia reigned across the western US -- and the country entirely. From California to Washington…
- Ridiculous History
Calvin Coolidge Was Super Weird...and Surprisingly Cool
When President Warren G Harding passed away abruptly while in office, his Vice President Calvin Coolidge assumed in the role of Commander in Chief. Today, he's…
- Ridiculous History
The Ridiculous History of Baseball Caps: How One Hat Traveled the World
Nowadays it feels like everyone has a baseball cap at home... even though most of the folks wearing them do not, in fact, play baseball. So how did this one…
- Ridiculous History
Breeching: A Weird Historical Obsession with Children's Pants
Have you ever looked at a childhood photo of a noted historical dude and thought -- huh, why did his folks put him in a dress? If so, you're seeing evidence of…
- Ridiculous History
The Salton Sea: How A Little Whoopsie Turned into Ecological Disaster
Located in southern Riverside and northern Imperial counties, the Salton Sea is California's largest lake. Although large seas have cyclically formed and dried…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Digging Up James K Polk (For the Third Time)
The average American may not hear much about James K Polk in school today, but during his time in office the 11th U.S. President was responsible for a number…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: The Atomic Whoops: When the US Air Force Bombed South Carolina
During the height of the Cold War, both the US and the USSR constantly ran drills in anticipation of a possible nuclear conflict. While the Gregg family of…
- Ridiculous History
The History of Soda Pop is So Weird, Part Two: Nostalgia is a Heck of a Drug
Once humans nailed down the spicy art of carbonation, they went absolutely bonkers with flavors and gimmicks. While Coca-Cola and Pepsi may be the world's most…
- Ridiculous History
The History of Soda Pop is So Weird, Part One: The Saga of Spicy Water
There's nothing quite like the fizzy kick of soda -- since ancient times, cabonation beverages have always delighted and fascinated humanity... even though…
- Ridiculous History
The Puzzler, Part Two: Waldo, Rubik, and More
How did the Rubik's Cube become a global phenomenon? Where exactly is Waldo? In part one of this series, legendary author and podcaster AJ Jacobs regales the…
- Ridiculous History
The Puzzler, Part One: The Crossword Moral Panic
This week, Ben, Noel and Max welcome special guest, the legendary author AJ Jacobs, to explore the world's strangest historical puzzle crazes. In part one of…
- Ridiculous History
Christmas Has A Dark Side: The Krampus Episode
As the western world gears up for its biggest holiday, the guys dive into the strange story of Krampus: a pre-Christian, pagan entity that somehow not only…
- Ridiculous History
A House Divided: Various Times Congress Tried to Beat the Snot Out of Each Other
Media pundits love to say America is 'divided as never before' -- but how true is that? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into multiple Congressional…
- Ridiculous History
Scientists Who Were Horrifically Persecuted, Part Two: Alan Turing
Human history is absolutely riddled with cases of one person making a magnificent discovery -- only to be punished by the society in which they reside. In part…
- Ridiculous History
Serious Diseases with Seriously Funny Names, Part Two: Rickets, Brain Fever, and Maple Syrup
History is riddled with oddly-named diseases -- rickets, scurvy, brain fever and more. But where do these names come from? In the second part of this special…
- Ridiculous History
Serious Diseases with Seriously Funny Names, Part One: Dropsy
History is riddled with oddly-named diseases -- rickets, scurvy, brain fever and more. But where do these names come from? In the first part of this special…
- Ridiculous History
Oh Man, James Joyce was a Dirty Dude!
James Joyce is, without question, one of the most famous authors in the English language. Millions of readers have enjoyed (and sometimes struggled with) his…
- Ridiculous History
What's the Deal with Turkey on Thanksgiving?
It's Thanksgiving in the United States -- and Thanksgiving is weird! In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore some of the big questions about…
- Ridiculous History
Tammany Hall: America's Early Puppet Masters
It's no secret that politics can often have a dark side -- smoky backrooms, corruption and graft have always had their place in American history. And, amid all…
- Ridiculous History
The Hoover Dam is Ridiculous, Part Two: The Audacity!
As the railroads tried and failed to control flooding in the Salton Sink, state and federal leaders realized America needed a bigger solution. With the Great…
- Ridiculous History
The Hoover Dam is Ridiculous, Part One: Man Versus Nature
The next time you're in Vegas, rent a car and spend a day at the Hoover Dam. This towering, larger-than-life marvel of human engineering has fundamentally…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Waging War With Hallucinogenic Honey
Honey is popular around the world, and for good reason. This addictively sweet substance is a common ingredient in hundreds of recipes, and people historically…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Ben Franklin Tried To Reinvent the Alphabet
"For such a popular, well-known language, English is full of strange, seemingly arbitrary rules. Most people just accept these various idiosyncrasies... but…
- Ridiculous History
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
How Did Trick-Or-Treating Become a Thing?
Every year at the end of October, countless children (and adults) don costumes and head into the night, going door to door with the same ritual cry: Trick or…
- Ridiculous History
The Tangled History of Topiary, Part Two: That Shrub Is Looking at Me Funny
Ben, Noel and super producer Casey Pegram dive back into the weeds of the surprisingly ancient (and ridiculous) art of trimming flora into bizarre and…
- Ridiculous History
The Tangled History of Topiary, Part One: The Ancient Art of Fancy Plants
If you've ever looked at a bush and thought "this would be way cooler if it was shaped like a rabbit," then you're part of a long line of topiary enthusiasts…
- Ridiculous History
Scientists Who Were Horrifically Persecuted, Part One
Today, scientists are treated with respect (for the most part), but this wasn't always the case. In the first part of this recurring series, Ben, Noel and…
- Ridiculous History
The Crappy, Commodious History of Toilets
Since the dawn of civilization, humanity has been trying to figure out where to put all its poop. While it's easy to take your average flushing commode for…
- Ridiculous History
Aaron Burr, Part Two: The Fall of a Guy Nobody Liked
In the second part of this series, Ben, Noel and Max explore how Burr's struggle to acquire political power seemed to lead him, again and again, into conflict…
- Ridiculous History
Aaron Burr, Part One: The Rise of a Guy Nobody Liked
Thanks in large part to the musical Hamilton, Aaron Burr has re-entered the public zeitgeist. In the first part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max…
Ridiculous HistoryIntroducing: McCartney A Life in Lyrics
Hi, Ridiculous History fans! Listen to McCartney: A Life in Lyrics hosted by Paul McCartney! A new masterclass podcast that dives into an improvised journey…
- Ridiculous History
Royals Who Died on the Toilet: Our Classiest Episode Yet
In the newest installment of this continuing series on weird royal deaths, Ben, Noel and Max explore intensely ...crappy... stories of royals who, despite all…
- Ridiculous History
That Time Indiana Tried to Change Pi
Pi itself is pretty ridiculous. This number -- the ratio of the circumference of any circle to the diameter of that circle -- appears to continue into…
- Ridiculous History
Why Don't People Wear White After Labor Day?
The boys hit the road, traveling to Las Vegas and recording live. In this special episode, Ben, Noel, Max and guest producer Paul Dechant explore the evolution…
- Ridiculous History
Michigan Has Its Own Bermuda Triangle
It's true! At least, to some. For decades various people have claimed Michigan has its own area of intense paranormal activity -- UFOs, ghosts, disappearances…
- Ridiculous History
The Road to Modern Basketball, Part Two: How Dribbling Became A Thing
As James Naismith's new sport became increasingly popular, more and more people looked for ways to evolve, adjust, or flat-out change Naismith's original…
- Ridiculous History
The Road to Modern Basketball, Part One: Naismith and "The Incorrigibles"
These days basketball is a billion dollar cultural phenomenon -- but where did it come from? In the first part of this week's series, Ben, Noel and Max explore…
- Ridiculous History
The 10th President's Grandson is Alive Today
John Tyler was the president of the United States from 1841 to 1845 -- and, while some historians may not remember him as the best of presidents, he has…
- Ridiculous History
Stuff That Got Left Over: Nukes
When the guys recorded their episode on broken arrows -- lost nuclear weapons throughout history -- they didn't get to one fascinating (and disturbing)…
- Ridiculous History
Ralph Nader Versus Big Auto
While Ralph Nader may not be everyone's favorite politician, he's responsible for some of the biggest life-saving changes in American government. In today's…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Baguettes and Vacation: France versus Bakers
You've probably heard that France takes its bread seriously -- but did you know France had specific laws governing the lives of bakers? For centuries the…
- Ridiculous History
Everyone Was Covered in Poop: A Grimy History of Soap
Today, soap is ubiquitous. It comes in thousands of forms, brands, and varieties -- but this wasn't always the case. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max…
- Ridiculous History
Behind the Logo: The Story of the Nike Swoosh
Everyone knows the Nike swoosh — but where did it come from? In today’s episode, the guys dive into the origin story of one of the world’s most recognizable…
- Ridiculous History
The Architecture of Spite, Part Three: The Pie House and a Scorned Argentine
How far would you go in the name of love? In this installment of The Architecture, Ben, Noel and Max dive into more amazing -- and ridiculous -- tales of…
- Ridiculous History
The Architecture of Spite, Part Two: Macy's and The Skinny House
At its best, architecture is a kind of poetry made tangible, frozen in time for generations to come. But, as it turns out, architecture can also be a…
- Ridiculous History
The Ridiculous History of Intellectual Property, Part 2: When Things Get Weird
Who owns an idea? Who should -- or should not -- profit from a concept? In part two of this special two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the modern…
- Ridiculous History
The Ridiculous History of Intellectual Property, Part 1: The Ancient Past
Today the concept of intellectual property, or IP, is pretty well-established. And this notion of ownership over some often intangible concept, brand or idea…
- Ridiculous History
World War II's Alaskan Front: The Aleutian Island Campaign
Alaska is known for its stunning beauty, harsh climate, and remoteness -- but it was also the site of an intensely strange series of battles between the…
- Ridiculous History
Micronations: The Amazing Story of Vatican City
Despite the name, Vatican City is an independent, sovereign nation -- and its history may surprise you. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the story…
- Ridiculous History
The FBI versus Hip-Hop
Nowadays, hip-hop is everywhere -- this genre informs countless aspects of modern music around the world. Shortly after its creation, power structures in the…
- Ridiculous History
The Inventor of the Saxophone Had Some of the World's Worst Luck
Today the saxophone is a well-known musical instrument, popular across the planet. But, when you learn the story of its inventor Adolphe Sax, you quickly learn…
- Ridiculous History
Animals On Trial, Part 2: Legal Personhood "Goes Wild"
Given that more and more evidence shows all kinds of non-human animals are capable of experiencing grief, loss, joy and pain, should they not have some of the…
- Ridiculous History
Animals On Trial, Part 1: Tons of Animals Went to Kangaroo Courts
While the the concept of a court system is an entirely human invention, it turns out non-human animals have been in some sort of court not once, but countless…
- Ridiculous History
Broken Arrows, Part 2: In Which Actions Have Consequence
In part two of this special two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max dive further into the (objectively disturbing) truth about just how many nuclear weapons are…