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PODCAST

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.

history

All Episodes

49:30

The US Camel Corps, Part Two: The Legend of the Red...

Ridiculous History ·

2025/03/06

As Major Wayne and company finally make the US Camel Corps a reality, tensions continue to rise across the US: the increasingly divided North and South stand at the brink of war. As Ben, Noel and returning guest Jonathan Strickland discover, this is probably why we don't have a US Camel Corps today. However, the Camel Corps did leave us with one fascinating, related tale: the Legend of the Red Ghost.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

46:23

The US Camel Corps, Part One: Several People With A...

Ridiculous History ·

2025/03/04

Let's face it: camels look goofy. And we say this with great affection! In fact, the camel's seemingly awkward appearance is the result of some stellar adaptation toward survival in one of the world's most inhospitable biomes. Back in the 1800s, a small group of camel enthusiasts and supply chain experts looked at the vast swathes of American desert and said "hang on... what if we had camels, too?" Join the guys with special guest Jonathan Strickland as they explore the rise and fall of the U.S

en-US

45:45

CLASSIC: Adidas Versus Puma: A Tale of Two Brothers

Ridiculous History ·

2025/03/01

Today Adidas and Puma are two of the industry's most well-known tennis shoe makers, and people around the world prize the footwear for its unique design and reliable craftsmanship. Yet there's a strange, bitter origin story behind these giants of the sneaker world. Join the guys as they delve into a tale of petty recrimination, family feuds and the unending contempt that, ultimately, created the Adidas and Puma we know today. Join Ben and Noel as they explore some peak Ridiculous History in this

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33:34

CLASSIC: The WWII Naval Battle Won Using Potatoes

Ridiculous History ·

2025/02/27

The U.S.S. O'Bannon was a Fletcher-class navy destroyer with an impressive array of weaponry and a solid track record in conflicts in WWII. However, even the most experienced sailors aren't perfect -- and when the O'Bannon happened upon a hapless Japanese submarine, both crew engaged in a desperate and bizarre food fight. Join Ben and Noel to learn more in today's Classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

23:57

CLASSIC: The Korean Soldier Who Fought for 3 Armies...

Ridiculous History ·

2025/02/25

Born in what is now North Korea, Yang Kyoungjong didn't set out to become a soldier -- but fate had other plans. In today's classic episode, Ben and Noel trace one man's journey through prisons, battlefields and multiple armies in a desperate bid to survive World War II.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

45:44

CLASSIC: Philadelphia's Transylvanian Doomsday Cult:...

Ridiculous History ·

2025/02/22

There's a nifty bit of hidden history tucked away in Philadelphia's Wissahickon Valley Park -- a cave that, legend has it, was home to a doomsday cult. In today's episode, the guys follow the strange journey of Johannes Kelpius and his followers from Europe to North America as they prepared for the end of days (first in 1694, then in 1700). Tune in to learn what motivated the group, how they influenced American history, and what happened to them after the world kept spinning in today's Classic

en-US

44:44

CLASSIC: Weird Wars Fought For Dumb Reasons

Ridiculous History ·

2025/02/20

What do a camel, a bucket and an ear all have in common? Each was, at some point, responsible for starting a war. In today's Classic episode, join Ben and Noel as they dive into true stories of weird wars fought over cartoonishly dumb things.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

47:12

CLASSIC: The FBI's Quest to Understand "Louie, Louie"

Ridiculous History ·

2025/02/18

The Kingsmen's cover of "Louie, Louie" is one of the world's most famously unintelligible songs -- and this haunted the FBI. In this episode, Ben and Noel recount the evolution of "Louie, Louie", as well as Uncle Sam's insanely thorough (and hilariously unsuccessful) attempt to figure out the song's lyrics. The guys also rack up some extra credit with their special guest Christopher Hassiotis, who introduces them to the wide, wide world of "Louie, Louie" cover songs across multiple musical

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43:54

CLASSIC: The Time a Soviet Premier Was Banned From...

Ridiculous History ·

2025/02/15

At the height of the Cold War a series of debates in a model kitchen in Moscow (true story!) led Nikita Khrushchev to visit the US on a whirlwind publicity tour. The Soviet leader hobnobbed with politicians, celebrities and business tycoons, soaking up all that America had to offer, often with a few choice remarks along the way. However, there was one place he wasn't allowed to enter: Disneyland. Join Ben and Noel as they take a closer look at Khrushchev's doomed quest to meet America's most famous

en-US

38:01

That Time Japan Absolutely Rinsed Russia, Part Two:...

Ridiculous History ·

2025/02/13

As Japan corners Russian forces in Port Arthur, the Tsar sends a new fleet of ships on a 7-month journey to break the barricade. In a stunning battle that alters the course of history, Japanese Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō executes a brilliant series of manuevers that remain some of the most thoroughly-studied maritime tactics in the entirety of naval history. In the second part of this week's two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore how Japan absolutely waxed the great Russian Empire in a conflict

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35:24

That Time Japan Absolutely Rinsed Russia, Part One:...

Ridiculous History ·

2025/02/11

Two Empires. One region, in tenuous balance. While often forgotten in the modern day, the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 was a pivotal turning point in early 20th century geopolitics. On one side, the vast Russian Empire: having established control over Siberia, Nicholas II seeks to secure outlets to the Pacific. On the other side of the conflict, an expansionist Japan rushes headlong toward modernity and empire. Something has to give. In the first part of this week's two-part series, Ben, Noel and

en-US

33:59

CLASSIC: Kidnapping, Binge Drinking and Costumes:...

Ridiculous History ·

2025/02/08

Allegations of U.S. voter fraud have made the rounds in recent years -- but, once upon a time, these were much more than allegations. Join the guys as they explore the massive voting fraud operations that riddled U.S. politics throughout the 19th century in this week's Classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

37:10

Victorians Got Super Weird With Flirting, Part Two:...

Ridiculous History ·

2025/02/06

Cast your mind back to the Victorian Era, when countless singles and would-be paramours struggled to circumvent strict social mores in the search for true love. In the second part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max continue their exploration of Victorian Era, conspiratorial methods -- especially the infamous 'acquaintance card.'See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

41:26

Victorians Got Super Weird With Flirting, Part One:...

Ridiculous History ·

2025/02/04

The Victorian Era was, on the surface, a time of almost cartoonish sexual repression. Courtship was governed by rigid sets of rules and heirarchy, and even meeting a prospective partner outside of these codified steps could be considered a breach of cultural mores. So, what's a lover to do? In the first part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the conspiratorial, ridiculous ways people flirted in the Victorian Era.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

31:30

Why did people hate the Malheur National Wildlife...

Ridiculous History ·

2025/02/01

Nowadays most people are fans of national parks, but this wasn't always the case. Join the guys as they delve into the strange "birds vs. babies" conflict over Lake Malheur.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

40:38

First Ladies Who Weren't Wives, Part One: The Niece...

Ridiculous History ·

2025/01/30

For more than two hundred years, the American public has elected not just a president, but a family. While the position of First Lady of the United States is not outlined in the Constitution, you literally cannot be the President without someone at your side. As a result, the position of FLOTUS wields immense, subtle power -- often in ways the public does not understand. In the first part of this continuing series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the intricate, bizarre -- dare we say, ridiculous --

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39:44

Some of History's Funniest Honorifics, Part One: The...

Ridiculous History ·

2025/01/28

Honorifics are perhaps best described as the fancier version of nicknames, with some of the same familiar rules: just like nicknames, you don't get to give yourself an honorific. And, again, just like nicknames, not all honorifics are particularly flattering. What do we mean? Join Ben, Noel and Max to learn more about ridiculous honorifics in today's episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

49:33

IP, Part Two: The Baffling World of Trademarks

Ridiculous History ·

2025/01/23

What does it mean to own an idea, a brand, a catchphrase or a concept? In part two of their continuing exploration of the weird world of intellectual property, the guys suss out what exactly is (or isn't) a trademark, and why people still find it so confusing in the modern day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

36:42

A Ton of Inventors Died Due To Their Own Inventions,...

Ridiculous History ·

2025/01/22

The world is riddled with inventors whose discoveries led to their demise. Thomas Midgley, Jr. is the world's worst inventor. Marie Curie discovered radioactivity and it killed her. Li Si invented the torture method his Emperor would later use for his own execution. In the newest installment of this continuing series, Ben, Noel, and Max explore more stories of inventors who died as a result of their own discoveries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

33:34

CLASSIC: The 1904 Racist Summer Olympic Games in St....

Ridiculous History ·

2025/01/18

A few years after Baron Pierre de Coubertin revived the ancient sporting event known as the Olympics, he brought the games to the U.S. for the first time. The 1904 Summer Olympics were held in St. Louis, Missouri, coinciding with the 1904 World's Fair. Seems set to make history, right? Not the way you'd think. Join Ben and Noel as they take a closer look at the series of disastrous decisions and bizarre notions that led one games organizer to set up his own racist olympics in this week's Classic

en-US

1,004 results

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