x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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

55:14

Micronations: Monaco is More than a Casino!

Ridiculous History ·

2023/05/16

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 perhaps best known for the wealth of its residents and its opulent approach to gambling. However, there's much, much more to the story. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the origin story of this unique micronation, from the ancient past to the modern day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

47:28

Fonts They Love to Hate, Part Two: Papyrus, Times New...

Ridiculous History ·

2023/05/11

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, Ben, Noel and Max explore the nature of print. Papyrus, New Times Roman, Wingdings -- if you can name a font, it turns out there's a story behind it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

34:07

Fonts They Love to Hate, Part One: Origins of Comic Sans

Ridiculous History ·

2023/05/09

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 how you process the information. In the first part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the origins of some of the world's-least favorite fonts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

42:40

Even More Ridiculous Royal Deaths

Ridiculous History ·

2023/05/04

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 deaths, from a mysterious accident/assassination to a fatal chair, a drunken boat ride and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

45:00

A (Completely Different) History of Sampling: Free Stuff

Ridiculous History ·

2023/05/02

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 grocery stores to the bizarre evolution of freebies in general. Strap in, Ridiculous Historians: it's much weirder than you think.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

56:38

A History of Sampling, Part Two: Creativity in Court

Ridiculous History ·

2023/04/27

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 two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the -- wait for it -- ridiculously complicated legalities surrounding the science and art of sampling in the modern day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

52:47

A History of Sampling, Part One: An Origin Story

Ridiculous History ·

2023/04/25

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, fascinating evolution of sampling, from the early days of cutting physical tape to the dawn of hiphop and more. (Spoiler, we also spend some time talking about our recent Monster Jam adventure.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

52:53

How Did Monster Trucks Become a Thing?

Ridiculous History ·

2023/04/20

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 destruction in arenas and stadiums across the United States. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into their strange origin story... along with the rivalries that ensued offstage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

50:30

The Ridiculous, Scrumptious Desserts of Mardi Gras

Ridiculous History ·

2023/04/18

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 desserts. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the most ridiculous Mardi Gras desserts (spoiler: it goes way past king cake).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

33:00

The Amazing History of Japanese Toys, Part Two: The...

Ridiculous History ·

2023/04/13

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 materials and setting up shop in abandoned cattle sheds. In the second part of this two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the rise of Japanese toys.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

32:03

The Amazing History of Japanese Toys, Part One: A...

Ridiculous History ·

2023/04/11

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 business -- and, more than once, they played a vital role in Japan's postwar economy. In part one of this week's special two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the amazing story of master toymaker Matsuzo Kosuge.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

32:14

The Weird Journey of the $2 Bill

Ridiculous History ·

2023/04/06

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 fact, many people assume the $2 bill is a thing of the past... but that turns out not to be true. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the origin of the Deuce, why it was so controversial, and why it's still around in the modern day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

47:58

The Fascinating History of Ice Cream Trucks

Ridiculous History ·

2023/04/04

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 waffle cone of ice cream history for the scoop on one of the world's most successful street food industries. (We also don't actually get to waffle cones, but that's a story for another day.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

59:12

The Strange Tale of Charles Entertainment Cheese,...

Ridiculous History ·

2023/03/30

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 Max explore how Charles Entertainment Cheese weathered numerous ups and downs through the decades -- along with some pretty weird trivia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

37:37

The Strange Tale of Charles Entertainment Cheese,...

Ridiculous History ·

2023/03/28

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 week's special two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive deep into the strange history of Chuck E. Cheese, from its founding days in the shadow of Atari, all the way to the modern day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

29:57

CLASSIC: What's the Deal with Smashing Cake at Weddings?

Ridiculous History ·

2023/03/23

Weddings are an ancient tradition, and over the millenia the various rituals associated with (theoretically) life-long partnership have evolved and changed. One ritual in particular became both prominent and controversial in the West: the act of newly-married couples smashing wedding cake into each other's faces. So where did it come from? Why does it happen, and what do its critics think the practice means?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

28:30

THE LAST SOVIET - EP 5: Three Hot Days in August

Ridiculous History ·

2023/03/22

Sergei makes the decision to stay in the space station. But a few weeks later something happens that changes everything. Mikhail Gorbachev disappears. What happens over the next 3 days will decide the future of the Soviet Union once and for all. Three days that changed the world. Like what you hear? Follow us @kscope_nyc on Twitter and Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

32:45

CLASSIC: Conquest via Bird Poop: One Island at a Time

Ridiculous History ·

2023/03/21

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 eye out for guano! Why, you ask? Well, due to a relatively obscure law, the presence of guano on a deserted island may allow you to declare it property of the United States! Sort of. Tune into today's classic episode learn more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

43:49

The Architecture of Spite, Part One: Lovers,...

Ridiculous History ·

2023/03/16

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 tremendous avenue for all sorts of less cool emotions: pettiness, spite, vengeance -- you name it. In the first part of this recurring series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the wide, surprising (and, frankly, ridiculous) world of spiteful architecture. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

31:36

Turn, Turn, Turn: A History of Turn Signals

Ridiculous History ·

2023/03/14

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 little blinking lights come from? Why didn't they come along until years after the invention of the automobile? Join Ben, Max and Noel as they explore the strange evolution of signaling, from the early days of on-the-road hand gestures all the way to modern, electronic turn signals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

1,005 results

Similar Podcasts

The Old Front Line

Paul Reed

Today In History with The Retrospectors

The Retrospectors

جنود خلدهم التاريخ

ALSUMOOD PODCAST

Film History - Daily

Inception Point Ai

Madonna - Biography Flash

Inception Point Ai