Ridiculous History
Episodes
A Samurai Walks Into The White House
04 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
History is often taught as a series of discrete, unrelated events -- and that could not be further from the truth. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and M...
What is SantaCon -- and Why Do So Many People Hate it?
02 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
One thing about the United States -- we'll throw a party for anything. As a result, it's no surprise that back in 1994, a group of well-meaning pranks...
CLASSIC: History's Weirdest Flexes, Part Two
30 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
While the phrase 'weird flex' may be relatively recent, it turns out that this phenomenon is as old as human civilization. Join the guys with special ...
CLASSIC: History's Weirdest Flexes, Part One
28 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know anyone who decided to show off in a weird way? While the phrase 'weird flex' may be relatively recent, it turns out that this phenomenon i...
The Bizarre Parable of New Coke, Chapter Two: A Rise. A Fall. A Conspiracy?
26 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Back in the 1980s, Coca-Cola -- for reasons the public still can't agree on -- rolled out a controversial new formulation of their legendary, still-se...
CLASSIC: How Robert "The Fastest Knife In The West End" Liston Conducted A Surgery With A 300% Mortality Rate
23 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Classic episode: It's no secret that hospitals can be intimidating, scary places -- but the medical operations of the modern day can't ...
The Bizarre Parable of New Coke, Chapter One: Sweeter, Stranger, Strange
21 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Heads-up! We are extremely biased on this one. Back in the 1980s, Coca-Cola was terrified of losing the Great Soda War to Pepsi. In the depths of desp...
"Resting Bicycle Face": Bikes and Women's Rights
19 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Nowadays bicycles are a common sight across the world -- they're efficient, convenient, and a great way to get in some exercise. Yet in the late 1800s...
CLASSIC: How Oliver Cromwell Got Executed Several Years After His Death
15 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Classic episode: today, Oliver Cromwell is known as one of the most famous figures in English history -- he was a Puritan with no milit...
The Bizarre Life of Elvis, Part Two: Public Fame, Private Chaos
14 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever assaulted your hamburger guy? How do you handle your problematic pet chimpanzee? For a lot of us in the crowd, these questions sound rid...
The Bizarre Life of Elvis, Part One: From Poverty to Pop Stardom
12 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How far would you fly for a sandwich? Decades after his death at just 42, Elvis Presley remains a global pop phenomenon. His short life was full of st...
CLASSIC:Hong Xiuquan: The Younger Brother of Jesus Christ Who Led a Bloody Rebellion in China
09 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Classic episode: when the schoolteacher who would come to be called Hong Xiuquan first heard of the Christian religion, he wasn't parti...
The Bizarre Saga of the Red Solo Cup
07 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you're from the United States, you'll instantly recognize the iconic red Solo cup. It's ubquitous at picnics, parties, sports events -- and often s...
The Day a Dalí Escaped From Prison
05 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For decades, the infamous Rikers Island prison was home to a surprising artifact -- a drawing by none other than the world-renowned surrealist artist ...
CLASSIC: How Big Bill Speakman Fought Off North Korea With Beer Bottles
02 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Classic episode: Bill Speakman, better known as the “Beer Bottle VC”, single-handedly took on a brigade of Chinese People&r...
A Ridiculous History of Potatoes, Part One: the Origin Story
30 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Potatoes are amazing. While these sturdy little tubers may not seem immediately impressive, they're one of agricultural's biggest success stories. So,...
When Did We All Start Saying "Bulls*t"?
28 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Heads-up, fellow Ridiculous Historians: this is an explicit episode, and maynot be appropriate for all audiences. It's no secret that Ben, Noel and Ma...
CLASSIC: New Providence: That Time Pirates Had A Government
25 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Fellow Ridiculous Historians, we just returned from the beautiful Baha Mar resort, and we're going through a pirate phase. So, naturally, we have to s...
The Ridiculous Truth About Pirates, Chapter Two: History's Most Successful Pirate Was A Woman
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Live from the beautiful Baha Mar resort, Ben, Noel, Max and returning guest Matt dive into popular misconceptions about pirates. First, piracy was by ...
The Ridiculous Truth About Pirates, Chapter One: The Caribbean
21 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Fellow Ridiculous Historians, Ben, Noel and Max are back on their pirate obsession. In this special two-part series live from the legendary Baha Mar, ...
CLASSIC: Teddy Roosevelt May Just Have Saved Modern (American) Football
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In recent years the public has become increasingly aware of the long-term dangers posed by sports injuries -- but at the turn of the 20th century this...
Eurovision, Chapter Two: Pop Music as Problematic Diplomacy
16 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Now, we know this is going to sound weird, but... it turns out one of the world's most popular pop music contests is also one of the world's best exam...
Eurovision, Chapter One: A Ridiculous Origin Story -- and A Smash Success
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the most popular talent shows on the planet, with multiple countries showcasing their culture through pop music ...
CLASSIC: Prohibition, Prescriptions and the Rise of 'Medicinal' Booze
11 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
From 1920 to 1933, the United States was, technically speaking, a dry country. The National Prohibition Act made the manufacture, transport and sale o...
Fort Sauerkraut: North Dakota’s Strange, Ill-Planned Origin Story
09 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As the gang gets ever closer to finally completing their mission to do an episode on every state in the United States, they arrive at North Dakota. Wh...
The Bizarre Tale of the 1909 Catnip Riot
07 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Here's one for the cat lovers: Does your feline friend absolutely love catnip? If you have a cat with the right sensitivities, this stuff completely r...
CLASSIC: Did Robert E. Lee hate Confederate Memorials?
04 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Classic episode, the guys return to a strange, oft-overlooked aspect of the Civil War. From 1861 to 1865, the United States of America ...
IQ Tests are (Kind of) Dumb
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever taken an IQ test? Originally envisioned as a way to determine which French children should be locked in asylums, Alfred Binet's attempt ...
Did Lead Lead to the Fall of the Roman Empire?
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Don't do lead, kids! Nowadays everyone knows the dangers this substance poses to humans -- especially children in their formative years -- but back in...
CLASSIC: California Schoolchildren and the Great Squirrel War
28 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Classic episode: In 1918, as the planet was consumed by World War I, the government of California found itself combating an unexpected ...
Don’t Be a Schmo Yo, Try a Yoyo!
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most people think of yo-yos as a fun, old-school toy for kids: a pretty simple, clever device leveraging physics with a string and a weight. Yet as Be...
The Ridiculous Secret of "Supreme" Pizza
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The results are in: pretty much everyone loves pizza... but what doth a pizza make varies from place to place. Obsessed with a game-changing message f...
CLASSIC: When West Virginia Begged the USSR for Foreign Aid
21 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Classic episode: Were it not for the coal mine, the town of Vulcan, West Virginia may well have never existed. As a rural and geographi...
Knitting as Espionage, Part Two: Legendary Spies -- and One Traitor
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Espionage takes many forms. As Ben, Noel and Max learned in the first part of this two-part series, one of those forms was knitting. In today's episod...
Knitting as Espionage, Part One: Secrets in the Stitch
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For a lot of folks in the modern day, knitting is more a relaxing hobby than a household necessity. However, not too long ago, this needlecraft was a ...
CLASSIC: Idiomatic for the People II, Part II
14 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Language is beautiful and, in many cases, continually evolving. As a result, we end up with hundreds of strange idioms and figures of speech that we u...
Inventors Who Died Due To Their Own Inventions: The Irrational Death of Hippasus
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We all know pi, right? It's one of the most famous 'irrational numbers' in history, and mathematicians are still trying to figure it out in the modern...
The Spiritualism Movement Was Utterly Ridiculous, Part Two: Con Artists, Skeptics, and Ghosts
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As the Fox sisters became global superstars for their purported ability to speak with the dead, the Spiritualism movement became both a social phenome...
CLASSIC: Idiomatic for the People II, Part I: What's in a word?
07 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Language is beautiful and, in many cases, continually evolving. As a result, we end up with hundreds of strange idioms and figures of speech that we u...
The Spiritualism Movement Was Utterly Ridiculous, Part One: A Prank Goes Viral
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It's a pickle for the ages: What happens when you die? The Spiritualism movement may seem obscure today -- but back in the mid-19th century, this reli...
History's Weirdest National Anthems
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Let's be honest: national anthems are cool... but definitely propaganda, and often objectively weird. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore so...
CLASSIC: The Statue of Liberty Almost Lived in Egypt
28 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today the Statue of Liberty is one of the most famous landmarks in the United States -- but it almost didn't make it to Ellis Island. Join the Ben and...
Vacuum Cleaners are Ridiculous!
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know over 90% of US households own a vacuum cleaner? These handy-dandy descendents of the carpet sweeper revolutionized the cleaning game... b...
The Ridiculously Adorable, Feminist History of Kewpie Dolls
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When illustrator and novelist Rose O'Neill first debuted the Kewpie cartoons in 1909, these loveable little characters took the world by storm. Yet O'...
CLASSIC: Agent Garbo: The Strange Tale of the Man Who Saved D-Day
21 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When Juan Pujol first volunteered to spy for the British during World War II, they didn’t take him seriously. That all changed when he got a gig...
The Most-hated Condiment? A Ridiculous History of Mayonnaise
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Often called "the thick, creamy bastard child of oil and eggs" (well, called that at least once by Ben), mayonnaise remains one of the world's most di...
The Gang Goes To Waffle House
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In a small suburb of Atlanta back in the 1950s, two men hatched an amazing concept: a restaurant that never closes. In today's episode, the guys explo...
CLASSIC: The War of the Stray Dog: How Far Would You Go For Your Pet?
14 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, it didn't take the newly-independent nations of Greece and Bulgaria long to begin bickering over their borders. ...
Ancient Wonders of the Modern World: the Lighthouse of Alexandria
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ptolemy II was known for a lot of things, none of which involved being humble. In the newest installment of this continuing series, Ben, Noel and Max ...
People Knew the Earth Was Round Way Earlier Than You Think
11 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
So many people grew up hearing the myth that Columbus proved the Earth was round. It's a great story— but it's also utter bunk! In today's episo...
CLASSIC: The Tragic Origin Story of Morse Code
07 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The telegraph and the communication system known as Morse code revolutionized the way we transmit information, but how did it get here? Join the guys ...
The Secret World Of Roald Dahl, with Aaron Tracy, Part Two: the Man Behind the Author
05 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A beloved children's author. A spy. An ace fighter pilot, a notorious lady's man, and a strident antisemite: Roald Dahl was all these things and more....
The Secret World Of Roald Dahl, Part One: A "Noisy" Life
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Nowadays, most everyone knows a classic Roald Dahl story — yet who knows the man himself? In the first part of this special two-part interview, ...
CLASSIC: Operation Gunnerside: How a Crew of Military Skiers Ruined the Nazi Bomb
31 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What's the weirdest wartime heist you've ever heard of? In today's Classic episode, Ben, Noel and Max return to one of their favorites: On February 27...
The Thai Restaurant Conspiracy
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Despite being a relatively small country, the South East Asian nation of Thailand is famous across the planet for its unique, delectable cuisine. Heck...
The Ridiculous History of Ping Pong
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you call it table tennis, whiff-whaff or ping pong, there's no denying this fun sport of "tennis for the home" has become a global phenomenon....
CLASSIC: How far did Isaac Newton go to hunt down forgers?
24 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today, Isaac Newton is best known for his scientific pursuits -- but he also served as Warden and, later, Master of the Royal Mint. And this wasn't so...
A Ridiculous Love Letter to Atari, Part Two: a Rise, a Fall, and a Legacy
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Oof! Atari! As our producer Max likes to say, 'it was a thing.' In the second part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the pioneering r...
A Ridiculous Love Letter to Atari, Part One: From Pings to Pongs
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Nowadays most people either play video games, or know someone who does -- yet this wasn't always the case. As civilization skyrockets toward gaming ex...
CLASSIC: How Admiral Horatio Nelson Ended Up Dead in a Barrel of Brandy
17 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Naval legend Admiral Nelson died on October 21st, 1805 shortly after being shot by a French sniper while standing on the deck his ship, Victory. Follo...
What makes a word a 'word'?
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Words are everywhere -- and we're grateful, because we can't do this show without them. But all words were, at some point, just made up. So how does s...
The Rise (and Crash) of the Concorde Jet
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What if you could hop from France to New York in less than four hours? Traveling twice the speed of sound, with caviar, lobster, champagne and cigars?...
CLASSIC: English Men Used to Sell Their Wives
12 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In late 17th-century England, it was almost impossible for anyone outside of the upper class to successfully get a divorce -- the process was expensiv...
A Ridiculous History of "Fad Diets," Part Two: Beverly Hills, Scarsdale and More
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As the Western world embarks on 2026, Ben, Max and Noel welcome everyone's New Year's resolutions. (Here's hoping that gym schedule continues through ...
CLASSIC: How Louisiana Almost Became a Hippo Ranching Hub
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Nowadays beef, chicken and pork are the most common meats in the US -- but, not so long ago, that could have all changed. Join the guys as they travel...
CLASSIC: Who was the highest paid athlete in history?
03 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today, most people probably don't remember the career of once-famous charioteer Gaius Appuleius Diocles -- however, in his day we was a cultural icon,...
Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu, with Tom Freston
01 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Happy New Year! It's no secret that MTV fundamentally changed the nature of media and entertainment. But how did it actually get started? What made th...
CLASSIC: The Weird Life of George Washington, Part 2
30 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ben, Noel, Casey and returning guest Christopher Hassiotis as they continue exploring the strange life and times of George Washington in the seco...
CLASSIC: The Weird Life of George Washington, Part 1
27 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Returning special guest Christopher Hassiotis joins the guys today for a round-robin discussion of the very weird life of George Washington, first Pre...
Folks, We're Doing A Clip Show: Leftovers, 2025
25 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hey there, Merry Christmas to all who celebrate. Ben, Noel and Max here: as we travel to hang with our friends and family, we like to do a little thin...
Was 536 Really the Worst Year in History?
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the end of the year, fellow Ridiculous Historians! As Ben, Noel and Max look back on the events of 2025, they discovered historians do, in ...
CLASSIC: Clara, The World's Most Famous Rhinoceros
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For centuries most people in Europe thought of rhinos as another form of mythical creature, like unicorns or griffins. However, this all changed when ...
Christmas Traditions Are So Incredibly Weird!
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What's the strangest Christmas tradition you practice? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max ring in the end of the year with an exploration of Christ...
The Grim Christmas Folklore of Johnny Ace, with Jake Brennan
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While the career of rhythm-and-blues vocalist Johnny Ace was short, he left a huge mark on the music world. Up until Christmas Day of 1954, Ace seemed...
CLASSIC: How the Monopoly Board Game Became a World War II Escape Kit
13 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben, Noel and Max return with this week's Classic episode! Monopoly is a pretty divisive game, and people tend to either love it or hate it. However, ...
The Deliciously Ridiculous History of Fruitcakes
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let's be honest. If you live in the United States, you probably think fruitcake is ridiculous. It's like the MRE of Christmas, passed around from one ...
That Time the US Government Brainwashed America into DIY Bomb Shelters
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Picture this: it's just after World War II -- the world knows nuclear weapons can end civilization. So, how can a government help the public feel safe...
CLASSIC: Idiomatic For The People, Part I
06 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Language is beautiful and, in many cases, continually evolving. As a result, we end up with hundreds of strange idioms and figures of speech that we u...
Spontaneous Human Combustion: A Bizarre Controversy
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can people really just, for no discernable reason, catch on fire? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the centuries old folklore and investi...
IP, Part Three: A Copyright for Everyone!
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As Ben, Noel and Max close out another year of Ridiculous History, they return to the patently baffling world of intellectual property. In part three ...
CLASSIC: Was there a real-life Rapunzel?
29 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most people in the West are familiar with the old Rapunzel fairy tale -- a beautiful princess is confined to a tower until a prince, captivated by her...
Ridiculous Maps: That Time Everyone Thought California Was An Island
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nowadays, pretty much anyone can easily find an accurate map of a city, a country, or the entire world. But this wasn't always the case. In today's ep...
The Chicago Tylenol Murders
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For most people, Tylenol is nothing more than an ol' stand-by, over-the-counter pain reliever. Yet, as Ben, Noel and Max learn in today's episode -- t...
CLASSIC: Benjamin Franklin's Advice On "Finding A Mistress"
22 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Founding Father Benjamin Franklin was a man of many interests, but his endeavors were by no means limited to technical innovation, philosophy and poli...
Wait! Can a tree really own itself?
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a favorite tree? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max head over to the famous college town of Athens, Georgia where -- legend has it -- o...
Doc Holliday Was, In Fact, A Deadly Dentist
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Longtime listeners are well-aware that the history of the 'Wild West' is more than a bit... embellished. Yet a grain of truth exists at the heart of a...
CLASSIC: What does "Idaho" actually mean?
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Idaho was the 43rd state admitted to the Union, and today it's well-known for potatoes, mining, and stunning forests -- but, even in the modern day, I...
The Ridiculous History of Dog Food
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Here on Ridiculous History, we are avowedly pro-dog. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into a strange evolution of slave, to companion, to fa...
Bir Tawil: The Ridiculous Tale of "Earth's Worst Real Estate"
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Land! Historically speaking, it's a pretty popular thing. In fact, a great deal of human conflict is based upon fighting over real estate -- yet, as B...
CLASSIC: Uncle Sam Tried to End World War II With Bat Bombs
08 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Folks, we are phenomenally excited about this week's Classic episode. It sounds like something straight out of the cave beneath Bruce Wayne's Manor, b...
The Ridiculous History of the "Ice Cream Sundae"
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For fans of sweet, frozen sweets, there's nothing as perfect as ice cream. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max scoop into a bizarrely niche controve...
Zombies, Part Two: The Movies!
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On the shambling heels of their recent episode exploring the bizarre legendary origins of zombies, Ben, Noel and Max dive headfirst into the cinematic...
CLASSIC: The American Soldiers Who Defected to North Korea and Became Movie Stars
01 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this weekend's Classic episode, Ben quizzes Max on his dreams of being a director, ultimately asking: What would the average person do to become fa...
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The Temple of Artemis
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's no secret that the Wonders of the Ancient World were pretty... wonderful -- yet also pretty mischaracterized. In today's episode, Ben, Noel, and ...
That Time Everyone Loved Radium: What Could Go Wrong?
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Fellow Ridiculous Historians, we all know the inspiring and tragic story of Marie Curie -- however, not everyone is familiar with the absolute boom in...
CLASSIC: How a Broken Toilet Foiled a German Sub
25 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Toward the end of World War II, the German Type VIIC submarine was acknowledged to be one of the most advanced -- and deadliest -- predators on the se...
CLASSIC: Creature Feature: The Dark Tetrad
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's the weekend! Time to get outdoors, enjoy nature... and, honestly, watch out for crazy animals. Join the guys in this Classic episode as they make...
CLASSIC: Gustaf Broman Tried to Cross the Atlantic in a Canoe . . . Or Did He?
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben here: Noel and I are sailing the seas this week -- wish us luck! Luckily, our Super Producer Max is holding it down with some of our favorite Clas...
CLASSIC: The Weird, Surprisingly Recent Origin of the Tooth Fairy
18 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben here: Noel and I are sailing the seas this week -- wish us luck! Luckily, our Super Producer Max is holding it down with some of our favorite Clas...
CLASSIC: When Vikings Loot The Wrong Town
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben here: we're out on the high seas this week -- true story! While we're away, we're sharing some of our favorite Classic episode. Here's one we abso...