Ridiculous History

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...

CLASSIC: Were Tulips Really The Bitcoin of the 1600s?

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the 1600s, residents of the Dutch Republic were -- according to the story -- absolutely bonkers for tulips. A market sprang up around the tulip tra...

CLASSIC: (Some of) History's Dumbest Military Prototypes

11 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As Ben and Noel hit the high seas, they're celebrating with a special week of their favorite Classics. It's true that the world's militaries often pio...

The Dumbest Mobster Ever Tried To Steal Ruby Slippers

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There are few pieces of film history more iconic than Dorothy's magic ruby slippers from 1939's The Wizard of Oz. Yet, at first, the studio had no ide...

The Ridiculously Disturbing History of North Korea

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As one of the most isolated countries on the planet, it's no surprise the Democratic People's Republic of Korea remains mysterious in the modern day. ...

CLASSIC: The Forty Elephants: London’s All-Female Jewel Thieves

04 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For at least 200 years, part of London’s criminal underground was ruled by a gang of brilliant, all-female jewel thieves. In this week's classic...

Disco Balls are Ridiculous, and We Love Them

02 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Human history is absolutely riddled with ridiculous inventions. Some are cartoonishly specific. Others, like the disco ball, serve no purpose other th...

The Truth About "Zombies"

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As summer turns and fall begins, Ridiculous History officially enters the most wonderful time of the year. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive ...

CLASSIC: The Malleus Maleficarum: A Real-life Witch Hunter's Bible

27 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

During Europe's period of witchcraft hysteria, one enterprising (and failed) witch hunter sought to bolster his reputation by creating an authoritativ...

How the Kentucky Derby Became a Thing

25 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve all been there, right? You wake up one day, and you say: “You know what? Forget work! It’s so nice outside. I want to put on a...

The Ridiculous History of the 90s and Low Culture, with Ross Benes

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The 1990s were a time of chaos, aspiration, and, above all, ridiculous things. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max welcome returning guest Ross Bene...

CLASSIC: The Great London Beer Flood of 1814

20 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 1814, a poor neighborhood in London fell victim to a strange, tragic and boozy disaster -- this calamity would eventually leave eight people dead. ...

The True Story of Pac Man -- and a Ton of Weird Theories

18 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As one of the most iconic games in all of arcade history, Pac Man is recognized across the planet. But how did it get here -- and why are there so man...

The Ridiculous Origin of the the Word "Ridiculous"

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With nearly one thousand episodes out in the world over the years, Ben, Noel and Max realized they've never asked about the origin of the word "ridicu...

CLASSIC: Dr. Seuss Wrote His Most Famous Book On A Bet

13 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What are your favorite children's books? In this Classic episode, Ben and the gang acknowledge Dr. Seuss is one of the most well-known writers on the ...

The Terrifying Science of Tiny Subs and D-Day, Part Two: The Rise of the Chamber Divers

11 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As Axis powers swarm across Europe in the lead-up to D-Day, a small group of scientists refuse to leave their lab, throwing a fair amount of modern et...

The Terrifying Science of Tiny Subs and D-Day, Part One: The Return of Dr. Rachel "Big Spinach" Lance

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Years after their initial conversation with the world's foremost expert on underwater explosions, Ben still sings the praises of Dr. Rachel "Big Spina...

CLASSIC: Feral Children and the True Story Behind The Jungle Book

06 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Now, let's be honest. Rudyard Kipling was a cartoonishly problematic guy. Yet his work made a permanent impression on global literature -- and, to a s...

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The Colossus of Rhodes

04 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine you're an ancient traveler, visiting Rhodes for the first time in 280 BCE. As you approach the famed city, a singular object dominates the hor...

Unlucky Numbers Across The Globe -- And Why They Are Ridiculous

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you have a number you love, or a number you hate? As Ben, Noel and Max discover in today's episode, people have always assigned symbolic meaning to...

CLASSIC: The Ridiculously Laxative-laden Journey of Lewis and Clark

30 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Classic episode, Ben and Noel reluctantly sing the praises of poop research. You see, folks, before Lewis and Clark set out to explore the ...