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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

45:23

You Auto-go to the Drive-in, Part Two: Driving In and...

Ridiculous History ·

2024/08/29

What made drive-in theatres so iconic? What led to their demise? In the second part of this week's two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max investigate the rise and fall of the old-school drive-in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

35:08

You Auto-go to the Drive-in, Part One: Cars Meet Cinema

Ridiculous History ·

2024/08/27

Have you ever visited a drive-in theatre? These fascinating outfits are increasingly rare in 2024, but not too long ago they were all the rage. In the first part of this week's two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the origin story of the iconic drive-in cinema.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

37:53

CLASSIC: Japan, Baseball and the Curse of the Colonel

Ridiculous History ·

2024/08/24

First things first: You may think Kentucky Fried Chicken is popular in the States, but we've got nothing on Japan. Join the guys as they delve into a story involving baseball, fried chicken, superstition, curses and drunken revelry in today's episode on the Hanshin Tigers and the infamous Curse of the Colonel in today's Classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

38:38

The Disturbing History of Last Meals, Part Two:...

Ridiculous History ·

2024/08/22

Now that we know the origin of last meals, it's time to dive into the reality of this somewhat disturbing practice. In the second part of this special two-part episode, Ben and Noel don't just walk explore the final suppers of criminals, presidents, and celebrities -- they also give you the inside scoop on some of your favorite podcasters' last meals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

35:59

The Disturbing History of Last Meals, Part One: A...

Ridiculous History ·

2024/08/20

It's a classic trope of crime stories and folklore across the planet: a criminal due for execution is granted one last meal as a send-off to the afterlife. But where exactly does this strange practice come from? The Biblical Last Supper is by far the most famous example of a last meal in the Western world -- but, as Ben and Noel learn in this special two-part episode, this is far from the first example of this bizarre, at-times ghoulish practice. Tune in to learn more.See omnystudio.com/listener for

en-US

33:10

CLASSIC: That Time the US Built a Flying Aircraft...

Ridiculous History ·

2024/08/17

Nowadays airships are seen as historical relics or novelties meant to fly overhead during sports games. However, not so long ago, the US military thought airships might be the future of warfare. Today the guys delve into the strange history of the USS Akron, an airship designed not just to carry human beings -- but to carry planes as well. Learn more about the construction of the Akron -- and why it's not aloft today -- in today's Classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

en-US

3:11

Introducing: Weird Little Guys

Ridiculous History ·

2024/08/16

Hi Ridiculous History Fans! Take a listen to the trailer of our newest show, Weird Little Guys. About the show: Investigative journalist Molly Conger takes you beyond the headlines to examine some of the worst people on the planet, most of whom you’ve never heard of. These are the weird little guys trying to ruin life as we know it. Listen here and subscribe to Weird Little Guys on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

38:56

CLASSIC: Yes, Those are Corpses in the Diorama

Ridiculous History ·

2024/08/15

The Carnegie Museum of Natural History is one of the most storied institutions of its kind in the United States, and it's chockful of priceless objects from across the span of history and the globe. However... investigators recently discovered a grisly secret hidden within one of the dioramas. Join Ben and Noel as they explore the macabre secret of the Carnegie Museum in today's Classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

36:21

CLASSIC: Weird People Who Built Weird Things

Ridiculous History ·

2024/08/13

Simeon Ellerton spent years building a house out of stones he found and carried home, one by one. Rejected by his one true love, Edward Leeskalnin spent decades erecting a bizarre monument for her, built of giant coral stones in Florida. But what exactly motivated these guys? How did they stick with their strange obsessions, and what mysteries surround them in the modern day? Tune in to learn more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

43:49

CLASSIC: What was the West Point Eggnog Riot?

Ridiculous History ·

2024/08/10

Today the United States Military Academy at West Point is known as one the country's top-notch training institutions, but back in 1826 it was home to a night of pure egg-nog-fueled pandemonium. Join Ben and Noel as they retrace the drunken, crazed steps of cooped-up cadets who decided to fight the power one Christmas in today's Classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

37:38

The Noble -- and Kind of Ridiculous -- History of...

Ridiculous History ·

2024/08/08

Are you a millionaire, billionaire or aristocrat too busy to manage the day-to-day affairs of palatial estate? If so, you may have already secured the last word in personal service: the butler. In today's episode, inspired by strange memories of the sitcom Mr. Belvedere, Ben, Noel and Max explore the real history of butlerdom, from supervising jugs of booze all the way to the bespoke managerial services of the modern day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

28:47

CLASSIC: Lyndon Johnson Chatted on the Phone More...

Ridiculous History ·

2024/08/06

The 36th President of the United States is often recalled as a complex, flawed individual responsible for profoundly important legislation. However, he was also a notorious telephone fanatic, installing loads of phones in both the White House and his Texas ranch. Here's the kicker: He recorded almost everything. Tune in as the guys see a... pretty strange behind-the-scenes portrait of President Lyndon Johnson in today's Classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

32:37

The Founding of the Smithsonian, Part Two: James...

Ridiculous History ·

2024/08/01

There's no way around it: James Smithson had a tough life. Yet his unhappiness may, in an indirect way, be the prime reason the Smithsonian Institute exists today. In part two of this special two-part episode, special guest Lizzie Peabody, the host of Sidedoor, delves into the story of how James Smithson donated a massive windfall to the United States -- and, at the same time, gave them an enormous mission. Tune in to learn more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

30:08

The Founding of the Smithsonian, Part One: The...

Ridiculous History ·

2024/07/30

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex -- but how did it get here? Join Ben, Noel and Max as they welcome Lizzie Peabody, host of Sidedoor, the Smithsonian Institution's own official podcast, to learn the stunning origin story of their favorite museums. In part one of this special two-part episode, we meet a young man named James Smithson.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

38:33

CLASSIC: Arsenic: The Assassin's Dream Weapon

Ridiculous History ·

2024/07/27

For centuries people from all walks of life sought to eliminate friends, strangers and enemies using the devious, subtle poison known as arsenic. Arsenic poisoning became such a well-known method of murder that people in Britain began calling it "inheritance powder". But what made it so popular? How did this particular substance become the stuff of history? Join Ben and Noel as they delve into the fascinating, morbid story of arsenic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

43:05

The Orphan Train: That Time the US Auctioned Children...

Ridiculous History ·

2024/07/25

New York was a pretty terrible place in the late 1800s. The population was riddled with disease, crime, and terror -- things were especially bad for the virtual army of street urchins. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max learn how one man created an innovative (and imperfect) system to save New York's orphans: shipping them to the Midwest en masse, and auctioning them off to farmers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

73:33

20 Questions: A Ridiculous Crossover, Part Two

Ridiculous History ·

2024/07/23

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 Elizabeth, Zaron and Dave? Tune in for the long-awaited conclusion to our first team-up, as Ridiculous Crime and Ridiculous History seek to stump each other in a lively game of 20 Questions, all based on strange historical flexes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

46:48

CLASSIC: The Killer Marketing Campaign Behind Guy Fawkes

Ridiculous History ·

2024/07/20

Nowadays people across the planet are familiar with the story of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot. People even celebrate the anniversary of the event, often interpreting it as a protest againt overarching government authority. However, as Ben and Noel learn in today's Classic episode, the real story is a bit more complicated. Some historians believe Fawkes and the crew he worked for were set up by factions of the government -- making the Gunpowder Plot something between a false flag attack and a

en-US

29:57

CLASSIC: When Ancient India Beat Machiavelli to the...

Ridiculous History ·

2024/07/18

Commonly regarded as one of humanity's premiere works on the art of pursuing and securing power, Niccolò Machiavelli's book "The Prince" has become so popular that the name of its author is synonymous with unethical behavior in the modern day. However, it turns out that Machiavelli himself wasn't the first proponent of ruthless behavior -- the author (or authors) of ancient India's Arthashastra outlined incredibly similar strategies almost 2,000 years before the publication of Machiavelli's

en-US

51:00

The Preposterous History of Artificial Flavors, Part...

Ridiculous History ·

2024/07/16

What makes a flavor "artificial," exactly? Why doesn't banana candy taste like bananas in the grocery store? What on Earth is the flavor behind "Juicy Fruit" -- spoiler, the answer will surprise you. In the second part of this week's special two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the delightful origin of modern synthetic flavor science. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

1,004 results

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