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
Broken Arrows, Part 1: Whoops, Where's Our Nuke?
Nuclear weapons are one of the most dangerous things humanity ever invented. So while we might reasonably assume people would keep a close eye on these…
- Ridiculous History
New Providence: That Time Pirates Had A Government
The so-called Golden Age of Piracy was a time of lawless, terrifying, at-times amazing and objectively ridiculous history. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and…
- Ridiculous History
Tons of People Married Their First Cousins
What do Albert Einstein, Jesse James and Saddam Hussein have in common? Like many notable figures throughout history, these men ended up marrying their first…
- Ridiculous History
Lost Media, Part 2: The Magnificent Ambersons
True story: Orson Welles has a film no one will ever see. In the second part of this continuing series, the guys explore "The Magnificent Ambersons," from its…
- Ridiculous History
The Ridiculous History of "Snake Oil"
Nowadays, "snake oil" usually means a fake medicine or treatment that claims -- with no evidence -- to cure any number of medical conditions. But where did…
- Ridiculous History
Badass of the Week, Part 2: Rise of the Kung Fu Werewolf
Everyone can agree the story of T'ai Djin is amazing -- he was born afflicted with a rare genetic condition that made him look like a werewolf, was adopted by…
- Ridiculous History
Badass of the Week, Part 1: An Origin Story
What makes an historical figure larger than life? Since 2004, author and historian Ben Thompson has been writing about the most badass people in history, from…
- Ridiculous History
That Time Abe Lincoln Trolled His Way Into a Real-life Duel
In 1842, Abraham Lincoln wrote an article clowning a guy named James Shields. Although the article was satirical, and attributed to a made-up author, Shields…
- Ridiculous History
The Creation of (and Backlash Against) Father's Day
With another Father's Day in the books, Ben, Noel and Max hit the new studio for the first time, exploring the history of this paternal partner to the…
- Ridiculous History
Colorado's Ridiculous, Disturbingly Corrupt 1904 Election, Part Two: Everyone Resigns
What happens when both candidates in a gubernatorial election are cartoonishly corrupt? That's the question Colorado wrestled with back in 1904 -- in part two…
- Ridiculous History
Colorado's Ridiculous, Disturbingly Corrupt 1904 Election, Part One: Let's Jump Off The Train
Elections are somewhere between sports and religions for the United States. It seems that, each and every time, people have problems with the official results…
- Ridiculous History
How Horrible Chocolate Helped Win World War II
A successful military hinges on nutrition, and modern warfare is no different. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive to the strange deal Uncle Sam made…
- Ridiculous History
Micronations: How a Guy Got Ran Out of Town and Created San Marino
While San Marino may not make many international headlines, this micronation has one of the most fascinating origin stories in all of Europe. In today's…
Ridiculous HistoryThe Library of Congress is Full of Super Weird Stuff
Since 1800, the Library of Congress has functioned as the national library of the United States. Don't let the name fool you -- this institution isn't just a…
- Ridiculous History
That Time A Guy Literally Bought The London Bridge
Let's say you have a big dream: you're creating a new community, smack-dab in the middle of nowhere. Problem is, not a ton of people want to live in the middle…
- Ridiculous History
We Got Super Into Toy Cars, Part Two: Rivalry and Nostalgia
As the toy car industry exploded, new companies entered the market -- but the Matchbox/Hot Wheels rivalry remained front and center for collectors and…
- Ridiculous History
We Got Super Into Toy Cars, Part One: Matchbox versus Hot Wheels
Remember toy cars? Ben, Noel and Max investigate the surprisingly weird evolution of old-school, die-cast car models from their origins to the modern day…
- Ridiculous History
Why The Creator of Mother's Day Got So Mad About Mothers' Day
Continuing our grand tradition of being a bit late to things, we celebrate Mother's Day with an exploration of the multiple women -- activists, poets, and…
- Ridiculous History
Micronations: Monaco is More than a Casino!
For the vast majority of the world, Monaco seems like something out of a billionaire's fever dream -- completely surrounded by France, this tiny country is…
- Ridiculous History
Fonts They Love to Hate, Part Two: Papyrus, Times New Roman and Beyond
From serif to san, from kerning to Krueger, it turns out people have some pretty extreme opinions about fonts. In part two of this special two-part episode…
- Ridiculous History
Fonts They Love to Hate, Part One: Origins of Comic Sans
While many people outside of graphic design may not think about fonts in a conscious manner, it turns out the way a word is depicted can have a huge impact on…
- Ridiculous History
Even More Ridiculous Royal Deaths
As the old saying goes, it's good to be king -- unfortunately, it can also be pretty dangerous. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore strange royal…
- Ridiculous History
A (Completely Different) History of Sampling: Free Stuff
In the ridiculous aftermath of their series on music samples, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the scrumptious, weird history of everything from free samples in…
- Ridiculous History
A History of Sampling, Part Two: Creativity in Court
What happens when your favorite artist uses a sample in their own work? Are they merely inspired, or are they stealing? In the second part of this special…
- Ridiculous History
A History of Sampling, Part One: An Origin Story
In the world of music, sampling is somewhere between an art and a science. In this week's special two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the strange…
- Ridiculous History
How Did Monster Trucks Become a Thing?
Even if you're not a fan of cars or racing, you've heard of monster trucks -- they're the huge, modded vehicles famous for committing acts of wanton…
- Ridiculous History
The Ridiculous, Scrumptious Desserts of Mardi Gras
From the epic parade to the krewes and flambeaux, Mardi Gras is a celebration chock-full of tradition -- and these traditions include some pretty amazing…
- Ridiculous History
The Amazing History of Japanese Toys, Part Two: The World Takeover
As Matsuzo Kosuge struggled to keep his business afloat amid the chaos of war, he became incredibly inventive, using cast-off beer and soup cans as raw…
- Ridiculous History
The Amazing History of Japanese Toys, Part One: A Serious Business
When most of us think of toys, we fondly recall moments from childhood, or think of toys we gifted to loved ones over the years. Yet toys are a serious, big…
- Ridiculous History
The Weird Journey of the $2 Bill
If you've spent your life in the US, you've probably seen a $2 bill every once in a while -- they're much less common than, say, the $1, the $10 or the $20. In…
- Ridiculous History
The Fascinating History of Ice Cream Trucks
The iconic ice cream truck holds a special place in American culture -- but where did they come from? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive deep into the…
- Ridiculous History
The Strange Tale of Charles Entertainment Cheese, Part Two: Betrayal and Nostalgia
As Nolan Bushnell's Chuck E. Cheese concept took America by storm, competitors entered the field. In the second part of this two-part episode, Ben, Noel and…
- Ridiculous History
The Strange Tale of Charles Entertainment Cheese, Part One: Atari and Pizza
For many Americans, Chuck E. Cheese is an immediate hit of pure nostalgia -- the pizza! The birthdays! The games! And, of course, the characters. In this…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: What's the Deal with Smashing Cake at Weddings?
Weddings are an ancient tradition, and over the millenia the various rituals associated with (theoretically) life-long partnership have evolved and changed…
Ridiculous HistoryTHE LAST SOVIET - EP 5: Three Hot Days in August
Sergei makes the decision to stay in the space station. But a few weeks later something happens that changes everything. Mikhail Gorbachev disappears. What…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: Conquest via Bird Poop: One Island at a Time
If you land on a deserted island, you might be tempted to search for the basic stuff first -- food, water, shelter, and so on -- but don't forget to keep an…
- Ridiculous History
The Architecture of Spite, Part One: Lovers, Loiterers and Murderers
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
Turn, Turn, Turn: A History of Turn Signals
If you've ever been stuck in traffic, you know turn signals are a vital part of safe driving (though not everyone seems to think so). But where did these nifty…
- Ridiculous History
A Legally Haunted House
These days, many people associate the idea of a 'haunted house' with horror novels, campfire tales and scary movies. But what happens when someone goes to…
- Ridiculous History
The Oddly Dark History of Crash Test Dummies (Not The Band)
As automobiles took the world by storm, manufacturers quickly realized they needed to make a ton of safety improvements -- and fast. But how could you…
- Ridiculous History
The Deeply Weird Stories of Patron Saints
Did you know there’s a Patron Saint of (repentant) murderers? And another one for ugly people? In today’s episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore how some Catholic…
- Ridiculous History
Svetlana! Svetlana! The Strange Life of Josef Stalin's Daughter, with Dan Kitrosser
As the daughter of Josef Stalin, it's safe to say Svetlana Iosifovna Alliluyeva was never destined for a normal life. Still, no one could have predicted the…
Ridiculous HistoryLet's Start a Coup! Ep 1 – A Basket Full of Fascists
Nowadays, most people can agree that fascism is, well, a bad thing. But back in the 1930s, life absolutely sucked for most Americans, and fascism still had a…
- Ridiculous History
Weird Epidemics, Part One: From Sweating to Pokemon
What makes people laugh uncontrollably, for hours at a time? Whatever happened to that 'Sweating Sickness,' and why did so many parents in Japan become…
- Ridiculous History
CLASSIC: When Scientists Hid Under Beds To Spy On Kids
Let's say you're a scientist -- how far would you go to carry out a study? Back in the 1930s, two intrepid researchers went into full spy mode, stalking…
- Ridiculous History
Surprising Former Careers, Part III: Goldberg, Trudeau and Buscemi
While many celebrities and public figures are known for achievements in just a few specific fields, almost everyone has had more than a few odd jobs on the way…
Ridiculous HistoryIntroducing: The Last Soviet
Hey, Ridiculous History listeners! The newest hit docuseries of another star-studded podcast, The Last Soviet is live. Go check out the beginning of this…
- Ridiculous History
It Turns Out Blue Laws Aren't Entirely Terrible
If you've ever tried to buy beer at the wrong time in certain parts of the US, you may have run into the odd proscriptions known as blue laws. Originally…
- Ridiculous History
The Origin of Moby Dick, Part Two: Horrors At Sea
Captain George Pollard Jr. was just 29 years old when his whaling vessel, the Essex, met with disaster. As the hapless crew struggled (and largely failed) to…
- Ridiculous History
The Origin of Moby Dick, Part One: Mocha Dick
Today, Herman Melville's magnum opus Moby Dick is lauded as a classic of American literature -- but it turns out Melville didn't invent the whole thing on his…
- Ridiculous History
The (Weirdly Crooked) History of the Food Pyramid
Nutrition is a big deal -- across the United States, tons of kids learned the basics of nutrition through a handy infographic called the 'Food Pyramid,' which…
- Ridiculous History
That Time Europeans Went Nuts For Dancing
If you've ever been to a great concert or a banging dance party, then you know sometimes the spirit can overwhelm you -- you might feel compelled to dance. For…
- Ridiculous History
Star Trek Almost Never Happened, Part Two: In Which We Boldly Go
After just three seasons, the original run of Star Trek reached syndication -- which would become key to everything that happened afterward. In the second part…
- Ridiculous History
Star Trek Almost Never Happened, Part One: Pilots and Peril
Nowadays Star Trek is more than just a show -- it's a global pop culture phenomenon, with measurable impacts on the real world. In part one of this special…
- Ridiculous History
“It’s Edible!” The Origin of Breakfast Cereal, Part Two
Cereal is everywhere these days. While diet trends come and go, those ubiquitous boxes and mascots seem here to stay -- and, in some cases, it seems people are…
- Ridiculous History
“It’s Edible!” The Origin of Breakfast Cereal, Part One
Cereal is everywhere nowadays, but how did it become a thing? For most of us, this stuff is the ultimate convenient breakfast, and even the most sugary…
- Ridiculous History
Would-be Presidents, Part One: If At First You Don't Succeed...
It takes a lot of skill -- and luck -- to become the President of the United States. We always hear about the folks who won elections... but what about the…
- Ridiculous History
The Leaf Blower Episode
Out of all the weirdly specific inventions for your yard, the leaf blower remains the most controversial (by far). In today's long-overdue episode, Ben, Noel…
- Ridiculous History
The US Navy Teamed Up With Mobsters, Part Two: The Mob Goes to War
As the Mob clamps down on possible terrorists in the New York docks, the organization looks for new ways to expand their partnership with Uncle Sam -- as it…
- Ridiculous History
The US Navy Teamed Up With Mobsters, Part One: Luciano Gets Lucky
After the suspicious destruction of the USS Lafayette in Manhattan, the Navy became convinced saboteurs may be at work on American soil. There was another…